Vestas Wind Systems A/S is vying with General Electric Co. for the lead in the global wind turbine market, with two studies disagreeing over which manufacturer topped the rankings last year.
Author: Dr. Jim
Policy Still a Concern for Renewables Investors in Top 10 Nations
The global renewable energy sector held steady in the first quarter of 2013, as shown in the quarterly All-Renewables Index from Ernst & Young (EY). So far 2013 has seen few changes on a broad scale, but some interesting trends in many countries.
Current Builds Behind Tidal Energy Take-off
These are heady times for tidal energy, says Matthew Reed, engineering director at Marine Current Turbines (MCT). “It’s all kicking off now,” he said in an interview at RenewableUK’s Wave & Tidal 2013 event in mid-March. “There’s a sense of excitement.”
Alloy Developed at Sandia Has Potential for Electronics in Geothermal Wells
An alloy that may improve high-temperature electronics in oil and geothermal wells was really a solution in search of a problem.
Wind Power Peaks in the UK, Denmark, US
Wind energy generated more than 5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity consistently over a 48-hour period last week, enough to power more than 10 percent of the country’s overall electricity needs, and the equivalent of nearly four out of every 10 homes…
NRG Skips the Utility, Powers Consumers with Solar Energy
NRG Energy Inc., the biggest power provider to U.S. utilities, has become a renegade in the $370 billion energy-distribution industry by providing electricity directly to consumers.
5 Middle East Solar Markets to Watch
Solar markets in the Middle East are poised for massive growth, but evaluating new solar market opportunities can be an extremely difficult challenge. Market potential often depends on a number of complicated factors and assumptions that are either har…
When Should Geothermal Heat Pumps Qualify for State Renewable Energy Credits?
A relatively new policy being considered for state renewable energy standards (RESs) is to allow geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) to be treated the same as traditional renewable energy sources for awarding renewable energy credits (RECs).
Romania To Scale Back Subsidies
Romania, which Ernst & Young called “Eastern Europe’s renewables haven” just a few months ago, now plans to follow other nations’ recent moves in scaling back renewable energy subsidies to avoid further consumer price increases, the nation’s minister-delegate for energy, Constantin Nita, announced in early March. The country is planning to cut the maximum value of its green certificates this summer or early in 2014, Nita said.
Policy Support for Solar Power Grows in Sub-Saharan Nations
Much of sub-Saharan Africa has experienced remarkable economic growth since the start of the 21st century. Six of the ten fastest-growing economies worldwide between 2000 and 2010 were in the region and, if current growth rates continue, Africa’s GDP s…
Solar Glut Outlasting Suntech as Customers Seek New Supply
A day after Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. became the solar industry’s biggest corporate failure, workers continued to load and unload trucks at its main factory in China, adding to the global oversupply of panels.
The Clouds are Getting Greener: Apple Data Centers Powered by 100% Renewables
Just one year after Greenpeace called out Apple for its use of fossil fuels in its “How Green Is Your Cloud” report – which graded Apple no higher than a “D” in four categories consisting of energy transparency, infrastructure siting, energy efficiency, and renewables and advocacy – Apple announced that its data centers are now powered by 100 percent renewable energy. In fact, renewables contribute to 75 percent of its entire corporate operations energy needs, according to its website.
Unlocking Renewable Potential in the Caribbean
Caribbean nations face an uncertain energy future. With an energy infrastructure designed in the era of low-priced and abundant oil, many of these nations depend almost entirely on petroleum to supply their electricity demands. With oil prices hoveri…
European Renewables Inverter Market Could Hit $6.7 Billion
The inverter market for renewable energy systems in Europe earned more than €3.58 billion ($4.63 billion) in 2012 and this figure could rise to €5.24 billion ($6.77 billion) in 2018, according to new research.
Vestas Chiefs Signal Worst Is Over as Turnaround Work Continues
Vestas Wind Systems A/S Chairman Bert Nordberg and Chief Executive Officer Ditlev Engel said the worst may be over for the wind turbine maker, which has lost 91 percent of its value since 2008.
Reaching New Heights: Cumulative PV Demand to Double Again by 2015
Although end-market demand in 2012 did not achieve the levels many had hoped for, it still set a new record in terms of annual installed capacity.
Cape Wind Finds Financing Partner, Enters Home Stretch
One of the final steps for the Cape Wind offshore wind project in Massachusetts is being made with the signing of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) to arrange debt financing. BTMU itself is pitching in “a significant amount of debt capital” that will…
LADWP to Eliminate Coal-fired Power from Energy Mix by 2025
Following a recent pledge made by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to wean the city off of coal-fired generation within 12 years, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has unveiled its ambitious plans to abandon the use of coal-fu…
Independence Would Damage Scotland’s Renewables Growth, Says Ed Davey
UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey has said that Scotland’s renewable energy industry would be damaged if it were to become independent from the rest of Britain.
Integrating Variable Renewables as Germany Expands Its Grid
Until some years ago, the electricity in German grids flowed in only one direction – from a large-scale power station to transformer stations and from there to nearby consumers.