06 Mar 2012
Australia invests US$1bn in clean tech but are still short … And slower than rest on renewable energy development…. Still, carbon emissions fell by 1%.... While researchers turn up heat on rooftop solar… But investors cool on green investment risks.
Engerati: Australian Billion Dollar Clean Tech Fund ‘Not Enough’
Leslie Pietersen of Engerati says as the Australian government rolls out its US$1bn clean technology investment programs, local analysts fear it may not be enough to meet the country’s renewable energy targets.
Aimed to promote improved energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, the fund offers improved co-investment to manufacturers of related technologies. Clean and renewable technology investment may...
02 May 2012
Energy exec’s fear looming blackouts … while collaborators ease smart grid adoption … and new technologies create new dependencies.
Smart Grid News: Utility execs warn blackouts more likely
Smart Grid News writes on PwC’s 12th Global Power & Utilities report – The shape of power to come – which surveyed the views of 72 power and utilities companies in 43 countries.
The report found that, despite plans to increase generation capacity, energy executives expect more blackouts in Europe and North America. This results from...
21 Mar 2012
Largest wind farm in Argentina enters commercial operation … as largest wind project in Brazil is commissioned … while Ecuador invests in hydropower … and IDB supports hydro renewal in Haiti.
UPI: Largest wind farm in Argentina starts commercial operation
Argentina’s largest wind farm, the 80MW Rawson wind farm (Parque Eólico Rawson,PER) started commercial operation at the start of the year, UPI reported.
The wholesale market company, CAMMESA, gave the green light to the project, which started to supply the 50MW first phase of the wind farm into the country’s interconnection system (SADI).
State energy company, ENARSA, developed the 43 turbine strong PER....
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 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...
27 Mar 2012
Brazil looks to smart grid to reduce losses … and CPFL to invest US$121m in smart grids by 2013 … Chilectra completes smart meter pilot installation … and Honduras plans to install up to 500,000 smart meters
Smart Grid News: Brazil looks to smart grid to reduce losses
Smart Grid News reported that smart grids in Brazil should reduce losses. According to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s (MCTI) Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE,) 15 of every 100kW of electricity produced in Brazil are lost between generation and consumption. This is more than double the losses in many countries.
Most is due to theft via illegal connections, known in Brazil as “cats...
15 Mar 2012
Rural Africa gets pay-as-you-go solar ... UAE offers to rescue bankrupt German solar company ... Over 70% of roofs in Israeli village produce solar power ... SPX technology to be used for Kenya’s geothermal project!
Engerati: Pay-As-You-Go Solar for Africa
Denise Philip of Engerati reports that a UK-based solar company, Eight19, is introducing a “pay-as-you-go” solar system to off-grid African rural communities. The company intends to provide renewable energy to 1.7 billion Africans and hopes to eventually replace kerosene lighting that is unhealthy, “dirty” and “costly.”
Eight19 is currently offers the system to South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. It provides light...
16 May 2012
A leaked European Commission renewable energy impact assessment suggests that the EU could generate over 3 million jobs by further developing renewables in the EU.
What happened
Reuters revealed details of a leaked European Commission (EC) draft and impact assessment on renewable energy, which will be officially released late May, 2012. The draft suggests the following :
Free access to emerging renewable energy markets including Brazil, China and India will help the European Union stay ahead in the renewable energy market. This will enhance renewable energy export opportunities
Improved infrastructure will allow EU member states to share...
18 Apr 2012
“Many would argue that the global economic recession has made investors more cognizant of the opportunities in Africa.”
How has the global economic recession affected investments in Africa?
The global recession has had a deleterious effect on economic activity around the world. However, one of the continents least affected by the economic downturn has been Africa. Over the last couple years Africa is home to six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world and the growth rate for Africa as a whole has been approximately 7% (on the back of strong commodity prices). Additionally, the continent is...
04 Apr 2012
A growing number of emerging Latin American cities can look forward to sustainable growth with the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) backing.
What happened
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will expand its Sustainable Emerging Cities Initiative to include at least one “medium-size” city from each of its 26 borrowing member countries, reports IDB. IDB President, Luis Alberto Moreno, announced the plans at the recent Emerging Sustainable Cities Initiative: From Diagnosis to Action conference, held in Montevideo, Uruguay. The IDB gives governments, private companies and foundations a chance to support the cities....
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