14 Feb 2012
Better logistics and recycling solar components could save cost and availability of rare materials.
What happened
The EU may not meet its solar power target of 25% by 2040, due to the scarcity of materials to make photovoltaics (PV,) said the European Commission in reaction to a study [see: Photovoltaic supply falls short of solar power target. (PDF)] The study shows that rare metals, needed in PV production, are in short supply.
To meet this demand the study suggests that current “production rates” be improved, as well as better methods to refine, increase exploitation of...
14 Feb 2012
Indian solar funding up 7-fold on 2010 … Solar atlas to energize Indian solar market … Waste-to-energy technology hits the Philippines … Fronius moves to China to be part of green tech standard … Japan’s home energy packages offer glimpse into energy future
Engerati: India’s Solar Investments Explode!
Natalie Obiko Pearson, at Bloomberg, reports that India’s clean energy investments grew by 52% to US$10.3bn, more than any other country worldwide. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), most of the money went into the solar sector.
US$4.2bn funding was pumped into solar plants connected to the grid, seven times more investment than 2010. Solar capacity increased to an estimated 277MW from 18MW in 2010, and could reach over 1...
02 Nov 2011
Argentina generates electricity with fossil fuels (54%), hydroelectricity (41%), and some nuclear (4%). Less than 0.1% is renewable. A recent surge in economic and population growth threatens a power shortage. The country needs to strengthen its electric supplies in anticipation of increased consumer spending and industrialization. Argentina’s...
The National Promotion Direction (DNPROM) within the Energy Secretariat (SENER) coordinates renewable energy and promotes energy efficiency.
The Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) oversees environmental policy and the protection of renewable and non-renewable resources.
Private and state-owned companies generate electricity in a competitive and liberalized market. Private companies own about 75% of the total installed capacity.
The government owns the nuclear...
09 Feb 2012
Hybrid truck sales to growSolar panel recycling profitable …BP forecasts strong growth in the renewable energy sector.
Pike Research: Hybrid Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks
The Pike Research report analyzes the prospects, and obstacles, faced in the market by hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and battery electric medium and heavy-duty trucks. The study predicts that hybrid truck sales will exceed 100,000 vehicles annually by 2017. The main reasons for this are climbing diesel fuel costs and stringent emissions requirements. The majority of hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and battery electric trucks will...
30 Jan 2012
China’s power hunger shifted into overdrive, with predictions of a ten-fold increase for installed solar photovoltaic (PV) in the next eight years. On the back of a nationwide feed-in-tariff (FIT) for solar power in 2011, the country has doubled its installed solar capacity and made renewable energy a keystone of its electricity policy.
What happened
China’s cumulative installed solar capacity reached over 3GW by the end of 2011, according to a Power Engineering analysis. The country also announced plans to develop 3GW of solar PV installed capacity in 2012, and this is only the beginning, said Eric Wesoff at GreenTech Media. Long term, Beijing plans for a whopping 20GW of installed capacity by 2020.
But the country’s solar power industry also faces headwinds, such as power grid connection difficulties;...
29 Feb 2012
New standards could be dampen Chinese wind sector enthusiasm … Welspun wins 250MW solar in India … Hong Kong gets EV right … and Pike compiles list of world’s top ten Li-ion manufacturers.
Engerati: Chinese Distributed Wind Operators Discouraged by Tech Specs
Power Engineering says China’s wind energy sector has to standardize technical reconstruction in order to thrive. China’s State Grid introduced technical standards, which distributed wind power generators must meet before they can access the power grid.
The National Energy Administration issued guidelines for distributed wind power development and construction. However, the technical standards will raise...
08 May 2012
Austria is 100% nuclear power free ... Enel Green Power builds Sicily’s PV plants ... First Solar lets 2,000 employees go.
Energy Central: Austria decides to forgo importing nuclear power by 2015
Energy Central reports that Austria is now 100% free of nuclear-generated power. The country will do away with nuclear power imports (2013 for private households and 2015 for industry customers with long-term contracts) and it no longer operates nuclear power stations of its own.
Austria’s energy utilities have embraced this commitment voluntarily. The decision comes on the back of a nuclear summit between...
29 Feb 2012
Australia all in on clean tech R&D … while Queensland’s taste for solar dominates … but Senate hears bad news from solar panel inspectors … and political group shields forests from renewables.
EnergyMatters.com.au: $1 Billion Australian Clean Energy Investment Programs Launched
EnergyMatters.com.au announced Australian Prime Minister Gillard’s launch of the Clean Technology Investment Program. The initiative makes AU$1bn (US$1.07bn) available to manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Eligible projects include:
- Technologies that reduce energy and/or use carbon emissions at manufacturing facilities
- Process re-engineering for...
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...
04 Apr 2012
Australia’s Silex Systems started generating at its unique concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) solar power station. The first of its kind in the country, the technology deployed is said to achieve 40% more efficiency than comparable solar systems around the world.
What happened
Giles Parkinson at Renew Economy reported that Silex Systems has begun generating at its unique CPV solar power station in Bridgewater, Victoria. This 500KW pilot serves as a testing facility while the company waits for its 2MW demonstration plant in Mildura, Victoria to come online in 2015.
Silex received an offer of AUD$2m (US$2.07m) from the Australian Solar Institute, says Nilima Choudhury at PV Tech. The investment aims to develop technology to reduce the production costs...
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