30 Nov 2011
Argentines can expect to face increases of between a factor 2 and 3, or even more, on their energy and water bills, as the government starts eliminating the increasingly costly subsidies, now approaching as much as US$17bn per year, from various sectors including energy, water and transport.
What happened
With subsidies to the utility sector (among others) taking an increasing share of Argentina’s annual budget to maintain energy and water prices at the levels following the economic crisis of a decade ago, starting November 2, the country’s government, recently re-elected in a landslide vote, has issued a series of announcements to eliminate these subsidies.
Background
In the first announcement on November 2, the government announced that subsidies would...
30 Nov 2011
Despite the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in March 2011, Japan’ reliance on its export economy gives it no choice but to meet the continuing demand for nuclear power in the rest of Asia.
What happened
Japan finds itself pulled in opposing directions regarding its future in nuclear power generation. Even as the country questions its own dependence on nuclear power, new Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, has endorsed the sale of nuclear technology to Vietnam with a recent US$13bn deal (28th September 2011.)
Background
In post-Fukushima Japan, nuclear power remains a vital part of the economy, both as an electricity source and as a lucrative export. The government has yet...
09 Feb 2012
China follows winning recipe for solar.... Japanese summer sorrows... India’s rich rethink electricity plant additions...Japan solar player win with Solyndra technology.
PowerEngineering.com: Analysis - China to Implement Control on Solar PV Industry
PowerEngineering.com said China seeks to replicate its success with wind power by centralized planning of the solar PV industry. The launch of the first batch of solar projects will see 3GW of installed solar power capacity in 2012. Solar PV targets include 15GW-installed capacity by 2015. Total power generated from solar PV will constitute 1.92% of total overall generation by 2015, the article said.
However,...
04 Apr 2012
Italy’s utility – Enel – looks to Africa for renewable energy growth opportunities.
What happened?
Abundant renewable energy sources in Morocco and South Africa offer attractive investment opportunities for Italy’s largest renewable energy group, Enel Green Power SpA (EGPW), reports Bloomberg. EGPW has its sights set on Africa as Europe’s “demand slumps” due to the recession and subsidy cuts. EGPW Chief Executive Officer, Francesco Starace, says the countries have a “promising abundance” of renewable-energy potential and a “huge...
30 Jan 2012
US President Barrack Obama’s state-of-the-union address on Tuesday – plans for clean energy, more investments, drilling, fracking and US$5bn in clean energy tax credits.
Grist: Obama makes strong call for clean energy — oh, and drilling and fracking too
Lisa Hymas of Grist summarizes US President, Barack Obama’s energy points his state-of-the-union address on Tuesday 24 January 2012 as follows:
“Clean energy rocks. Nice, deserving people get jobs at wind-turbine plants. Solyndra-style investments are critical. Oil-industry subsidies suck. Energy efficiency is an economic engine. We need to drill, baby, drill. And we need to frack, baby...
07 Feb 2012
New “Green Climate Fund” for Africa … Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit 2012 … New meter improves Middle East’s energy efficiency.
Alternative Energy Africa: Part of Norway’s US$300m to be Disbursed in Africa
Alternative Energy Africa questions the creation of yet another “Green Climate Fund” for developing countries when others have yet to reach “financial fruition.” Norway, along with several other EU countries and South Korea, have launched the Energy+ Partnership fund, in which a yearly US$300m will be pledged to developing nations. The Fund aims to reduce CO2 emissions and increase...
25 Jan 2012
African Green City Index and South Africa’s green future funded by new taxes.
Siemens – South and North African cities are greenest among Africa’s major cities.
The African Green City Index, a study initiated by Siemens, shows that African cities in the north and south “deliver the best environmental performance” in comparison to the rest of the continent. Independent research organization, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), carried out the research in 15 major cities across 11 African countries. Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Casablanca,...
31 Jan 2012
South African municipalities neglect maintenance of public services; Ethiopia supplies renewable energy; Saudi Arabia turns to nuclear; 2012 Zayed Future Energy Prize awarded in Abu Dhabi.
SA Commercial Prop News: Municipalities continue to under-spend capital budgets
SA Commercial Prop News reports that South African municipalities utilized only 29.3% of their capital budgets in 2010/2011. This according to the National Treasury, which reported that under-spending stood at 17.1% in 2009/2010. The municipalities have neglected to maintain services such as electricity, refuse and roads repairs.
In Engerati’s South African Grid Snapshot, we report on the prolonged...
08 May 2012
The UK’s smart grid upgrade will increase employment and bring significant economic benefits.
What happened
The UK will see a £13bn (US$21bn) boost to its economy, as well as the creation of 10,000 highly skilled jobs if the country upgrades its electric distribution network with smart grid technology. This is according to an Ernst & Young report, “Smart Grid: A race worth winning.” Click Green says this report offers the “most detailed assessment yet” of the smart grid’s potential benefits for the UK’s economy.
Reuters reports...
14 Mar 2012
Uruguay struggles to meet rising energy demand – it looks to imports for answer.
What happened
Uruguay’s power utility, UTE (Administración Nacional du Usinas Trasmisiones Eléctricas) will import more power from Brazil to meet its increased consumption and low hydro output, writes BNAmericas. The added demand has caused a number of “large-scale” blackouts, affecting 350,000 consumers.
The imports will replace the country’s hydro generation, which decreased drastically in the last three months as a drought led to a severe drop in water...
Visit our archive for Global
