07 Feb 2012
Desertec’s goal to inject the EU with clean energy from North Africa is set in motion, as Tunisia gets ready to electrify Italy.
What happened
By 2016, a large solar park in the Tunisian desert will supply electricity to 700,000 European households, reports Smart Planet. This is good news for Italy, as this boost of clean energy will assist the country in meeting the EU-mandated target for renewable energy. The Tunisian oil and gas engineering company, Top Oilfield Services and the British solar firm, Nur Energie, have joined to form TuNur, a project that aims to build an undersea cable across the...
28 Feb 2012
The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) issues technical standards issued guidelines for distributed wind power development and construction.
What happened
Power Engineering reports that the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has introduced new technical standards that distributed wind energy should meet, before it accesses the power grid.
Critics say that this could potentially stem the country’s boom in distributed wind energy generation. Industry protested that rising costs on the back of the new technical requirements as a key deterrent to growth and investment.
Background
With a stunning 62,000MW, in...
21 Feb 2012
With major electricity cuts to avoid blackouts for South Africa – the country looks to its neighbors for more power.
What happened
Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned utility and generation and transmission giant, aims to increase its electricity imports from neighboring countries, as its power supply will be tight for at least two years, reports Miningmx.
Eskom’s CEO, Brian Dames, says the country faces a power shortage until two new coal power stations, currently under construction, become available. The stations will be ready by 2013, but pressure on electricity will only be relieved by 2015,...
29 Feb 2012
Donald Trump condemns Scottish wind power ... but UK solar power to grow despite subsidy cuts ... while Germany’s renewables will account for 36% of its power by 2020 ... and UK and France enter nuclear agreement.
Engerati: Trump’s Turbine Tantrum
Denise Philip of Engerati writes how Donald Trump has condemned Scotland’s plans to build a wind farm near his Menie Estate golf resort development. Trump has threatened to withdraw development plans on the estate as he thinks the wind turbines, “ugly monstrosities," will spoil the estate’s views.
Trump is also concerned for Scotland’s future. He says the farms will have a negative impact on foreign investment, tourism and...
08 Mar 2012
UK turns to cheap nuclear for “clean energy”... Lego invests in German wind power ... European Commission releases renewable energy report ... Scotland and England to get the world’s longest HVDC cable.
Engerati: UK goes the Whole Nine Yards on Nuclear
Denise Philip of Engerati writes how the UK and France will develop civil nuclear energy. The UK Prime Minister David Cameron and France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy signed the deal at a summit in Paris. It will create commercial opportunities worth over US$793m (£500m), and 1,500 UK jobs.
Philip explains that the UK is turning to nuclear energy because it is a cheaper source of “clean energy”, according to a Committee...
12 Apr 2012
California Independent Operator Corporation (Cal ISO) will focus on 30 transmission projects for greater reliability this year.
What happened
On 26 March 2012, CAL ISO – the body that manages the California’s wholesale transmission grid – will follow through on 30 transmission projects necessary to maintain grid reliability, says Smart Grid News.
It stated in the report, “no new major transmission projects are required to be approved by the ISO at this time to support achieving of California’s 33% RPS (renewable portfolio standard) goals given the transmission projects already approved or...
01 Mar 2012
Brazil proposes five forest-friendly hydro dams … During the renewable “revolution” in Nicaragua … As Argentina faces unprecedented energy crisis … And Haiti signs contract to refurbish its principal hydro plant!
Engerati: Brazil’s environmentally-friendly hydroelectric dams
Denise Philip of Engerati writes about Brazil’s plans to build a series of five dams along the Tapajós River, in the Amazon basin. The Brazilian Government insists that they will preserve the Amazon forest throughout the project. During construction it will use platforms similar to those used for offshore oil drilling. This eliminates urbanization and land links with highways. Access to the dams will be by...
05 Feb 2012
North African and Middle Eastern countries have both oil and solar. Developing solar resources allows these countries to continue exporting oil, thus improving their financial well being and build for the future.
What happened
As fossil fuel prices have risen, so solar technologies have become more competitive. Many Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are turning to solar PV for electricity generation, reports Energy Matters. The Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA), in its report “Sunrise in the Desert”, states that solar PV projects are more viable, as oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices climb above US$13/million British thermal units (MMBtu) and about US$80/...
16 Apr 2012
India’s Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company ordered turnkey (SCADA/DMS for the power distribution networks in eight cities.
What happened
According to Smart Grid News, Siemens will install supervisory control and data acquisition technology for power distribution networks in eight Indian cities, including greater Mumbai. The US$24.5m contract was awarded under the Indian government’s Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programs (R-APDRP.)
Background
According to the IEEE Smart grid, India’s R-APDRP was formulated in 2008 to be completed within a three to five year period. R-APDRP...
09 May 2012
Venezuela’s Corpoelec introduces power rationing to relieve the transmission network.
What happened
Venezuela’s electricity system will undergo a temporary load reduction during peak hours until the electricity system becomes stable, reports El Universal. In a MercoPress report, Venezuela’s National Electricity Corporation (Corpoelec) explains that the nationwide power rationing is in response to the imbalance between supply and demand in the National Electricity System (SEN.) The National Centre for Electric Power Delivery (CND) has reported “high levels of...
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