18 Apr 2012
NZ Wind Association predicts wind boom … even as wind projects halt across the region … and Australia cuts climate body staff!
RenewEconomy.com.au: Wind boom forecast for NZ
Sophie Vorrath said the New Zealand Wind Association predicts a wind industry boom, which could see a six-fold increase over the next 20 years. Further, wind energy will make up 20% of New Zealand’s electricity by 2030, a 5% increase on current levels.
According to Vorrath, the NZ Wind Association based it predictions on:
Wind turbines are increasingly reliable
Operations and maintenance cost will continue to drop
NZ aims to get...
26 Apr 2012
CAREBS unpacks bulk energy storage policy … while Greenpeace versus green Apple … and getting consumers to connect renewables with the smart grid.
Intelligent Utility: Bulk energy storage a modest proposal
Phil Carson writes for Intelligent Utility on the Coalition to Advance Renewable Energy Through Bulk Storage (CAREBS) policy document aimed at power industry stakeholders. (See: Getting Bulk Energy Storage Projects Built.)
CAREBS states that although market and policy conditions favor commercial bulk storage facilities, it cannot “monetize their benefits to the grid.” The organization wants to redefine the “grid...
15 May 2012
Aussie’s NSW biodiesel plant gets go ahead … while Kiwis prepare for GreenWave’s easy-to-use HEMs … Origin Energy enter recording breaking deal … and NZ smart homes project gets top tech platform!
EnergyBusinessNews.com: New South Wales biodiesel plant a go
Lachlan Colquhoun announced that NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, gave the green light to a US$273m soybean processing and biodiesel production facility. The Port Kembla, south-Sydney factory will produce soybean meal, used in stock feed, and also soy biodiesel, to be used as fuel.
The plant will produce 288 million liters of biodiesel annually to supply to major companies like Caltex, Xstrata and BHP. The company in...
04 Apr 2012
Council says Australian politician got electricity hikes all wrong ... while Queensland, Australia new premier cuts millions in green energy funds ... and wind farm tower company cuts jobs.
Oceania Focal Point: Australia - Funding Bolsters First Home-grown Solar Project
Energy Matters: South Australia Power Prices: Redmond gets it wrong
The staff reporter at Energy Matters wrote about the response of the Clean Energy Council to claims by Isobel Redmond, South Australian Opposition Leader, that electricity price hikes in South Australia were largely caused by large-scale renewable energy projects. Redmond responded to a recent study, which found pricing for residential...
23 Feb 2012
According to the BBC, this is enough to power all the homes in Scotland.
Read more on the EU energy sector.
Source
BBC – Largest offshore wind farm opens off Thanet in Kent.
09 Jan 2012
South Africa’s strong economic growth, rapid industrialization and a mass electrification program led to power demand outstripping supply in 2008. Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM) is the state energy company which supplies 95% of the country’s electricity. It has embarked on a massive program, upgrading and expanding the country's...
South Africa has been producing Nuclear energy since the 1980’s and is currently tendering to expand this project. Eskom is investing US$48.6bn into new generation projects through 2013 and plans to have spent in excess of US$126bn by 2026, doubling its capacity to 80,000MW.
Eskom is the largest producer of electricity in Africa, generating 60% of the total electricity generated on the African continent. It is among the top 11 utilities in the world in terms of generation capacity,...
08 Mar 2012
Chinese lawmakers set goals for rapid solar growth ... While the EV market thrives with Chinese state support ... But Chinese wind market growth takes Siemens by surprise... Although solar PV modules makers play dirty games!
Engerati: Chinese EV Market Grows into Leading Player
Leslie Pietersen of Engerati writes that China’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is moving from research and development to industrialization. In 2011, the country produced 8,368 units and sales reached 8,159 units and there were significant gains in the EV market from 2010. With 243 EV charging stations and 1,328 EV charging poles installed in 2011, China became the country with the largest EV infrastructure worldwide.
The...
16 Jan 2012
Renewable energies reach 65% of generation in Central America … But beware excessive consumption of natural resources in region … And Brazil’s development bank quadruples financing for wind in 2011.
ECLAC: Study says Renewable Energies Reach Record 65% of Electricity in Central America
65% of electricity produced in six countries in Central America in 2010 came from renewable energies (hydropower, geothermal, sugar cane, wind), which is a record for the subregion, according to a recent study from ECLAC.
In 2010 Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama produced a total of 40,668.2GWh, while the...
14 Feb 2012
Eskom’s blackouts affect GDP ... Chinese solar comes to SA ... Nedbank’s image not so “green” ... Siemens enters African wind market.
Business Live: Eskom’s silent risk to GDP
Peter Attard Montalto writes how South Africa’s Generation and Transmission giant, Eskom’s planned load-shedding for 2012 will affect South Africa’s GDP. The South African utility must cut consumption by 10% to catch up with much-needed maintenance of ageing power stations. The country’s rising energy consumption, due to economic growth, puts major strain on the system.
In 2008, energy intensive industries cut energy...
07 Feb 2012
Price gap between Europe and Australia carbon taxes…Media bias against Australian wind farms.
Sunday Morning Herald: Europe’s carbon price lows expose gap to Australia’s tax
Paddy Manning at smh.com reports that the carbon price gap between Australia and Europe widens as that continent‘s economic struggles undermine carbon markets.
As of July 1, 2012, Australia’s largest carbon emitters will pay US$23 per ton of carbon waste. This amount rises by 2.5% per year until 2015, “when it will float subject to a floor price of US$15 per ton, itself rising...
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