Renewable Energy Today articles from December 2003

Renewable Energy Today archives from December 2003

Power Tube to Develop Prototype of 'Geomagmatic' Technology.
December 1, 2003... Austin, TX-based clean energy power developer Power Tube, Inc. recently announced it has completed a successful engineering review of its "Argus" technology for "turning the heat of the Earth into electrical power" and now plans to develop a...

Windsave Launches Rooftop Wind Turbine.
December 1, 2003... Glasgow, Scotland-based wind turbine developer Windsave recently announced the launch of a "unique, slow-turn" wind turbine designed for installation atop residential or commercial buildings. According to Windsave, the 750-pound (about...

U.K. Official Assures Industry of Renewables Commitment.
December 1, 2003... U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) director general Joan MacNaughton assured power industry officials during a meeting held late last month that although new government-supported research reveals that U.K. renewable industry investors...

ARISE Receives Patent for Solar Power Management System.
December 1, 2003... Kitchener, Ontario-based solar energy technology firm Appropriate Renewable Intelligent Sustainable Energy (ARISE) Technologies Corporation recently announced it has been issued a U.S. patent for its solar power management system. ...

Rushbrook Designs Plans Tidal Power Project in U.K.
December 1, 2003... Bournemouth, England-based renewable energy firm Rushbrook Designs recently announced plans for a tidal power station at the Churchill Barriers of Scotland's Scapa Flow. According to the company, the proposed 50-million-pound (about...

AWEA Says Wind Energy PTC Set to Expire.
December 2, 2003... The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently reported that the wind energy production tax credit (PTC), which provides a 1.5-cent-per-kilowatt-hour credit for electricity generated from wind resources, is scheduled to expire at the end...

Marine Corps Awarded $4.5 Million for 1.1-MW PV System.
December 2, 2003... Southern California Gas Company recently presented a $4.5-million incentive award to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Training Command Twentynine Palms base for installation of a 1.1-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) system expected to...

Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Facility for Sale, Lease.
December 2, 2003... Ernst & Young Corporate Finance, LLC (EYCF) recently announced that HSBC Bank USA is "inviting expressions of interest" from entities interested in leasing, operating or acquiring the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Facility on the...

KWP, Black & Veatch Partner for Wind Transmission Studies.
December 2, 2003... Kansas Wind Power (KWP) recently announced it has signed an agreement with Overland Park, KS-based global engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch to study the impact of new wind generation on the regional transmission...

Britain Plans Legislation for Nuclear Management.
December 2, 2003... Government officials in Britain recently announced plans to approve energy legislation next year designed to establish a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and promote renewable energy. Under the legislation, officials said the proposed...

Shell Solar Expands PV Module Assembly Capacity in Portugal.
December 3, 2003... Shell Solar GmbH recently announced it has signed an agreement to expand the photovoltaic (PV) module assembly capacity of the AJ Lobo LDA production facility in Evora, Portugal to 17 megawatts per year. According to the company, the...

ORMAT Commissions New Geothermal Plant in Japan.
December 3, 2003... Sparks, NV-based power systems developer and manufacturer ORMAT Group recently announced the commissioning of a new two-megawatt ORMAT energy converter (OEC) binary geothermal plant at Kyushu Electric Power Company, Inc.'s Hatchobaru facility...

DuPont Canada to Evaluate Use of Wind Energy in Ontario.
December 3, 2003... DuPont Canada recently announced it has reached an agreement with Vector Wind Energy, Inc. for the installation of a meteorological tower designed to evaluate the viability of wind turbines in Kingston, Ontario. According to DuPont Canada,...

U.K. Proposes Increased Financial Support for Renewables.
December 3, 2003... The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently reported that the federal government has announced proposals to raise the level of the renewables obligation beyond 2010/11 to 2015/16, which is expected to lead to the development of...

Germany Adopts Renewable Energy Act Amendment.
December 3, 2003... EUROSOLAR recently reported that the German parliament has adopted a Renewable Energy Act amendment designed to promote the country's photovoltaic (PV) industry. According to the organization, the amendment guarantees a fixed basic...

Uni-Solar Selects SatCon Power Converters for Large PV Systems.
December 4, 2003... Cambridge, MA-based electronic power control systems manufacturer SatCon Technology Corporation recently announced that photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturer United Solar Ovonic (Uni-Solar) has selected SatCon's PowerGate power converter system...

Local OR Residents Voice Opposition to Coastal Wind Farms.
December 4, 2003... Local officials in Oregon recently reported that residents living near the sites of two proposed coastal wind farms have begun to express opposition to the projects on aesthetic, economic and environmental grounds. According to officials,...

Shell Solar to Install PV Systems in China.
December 4, 2003... Shell Solar GmbH recently announced it has won a contract to provide solar-powered electricity to 26 villages in the Yunnan and Xinjiang provinces of the People's Republic of China. Under the 2.7-million euro (about $3.2-million) contract,...

UTSA Activates CPS-ITC Solar Power Station Exhibit.
December 4, 2003... The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) recently announced the activation of the City Public Service-Institute of Texan Cultures (CPS-ITC) solar power station exhibit. According to UTSA, the $300,000 permanent outdoor exhibit includes...

Suzlon Energy Receives World Wind Energy Award 2003.
December 4, 2003... The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) recently announced it has presented Pune, India-based wind power generation firm Suzlon Energy, Ltd. with the World Wind Energy Award 2003 for "extraordinary achievements in the dissemination of wind...

Eastern University Purchases Electricity From Local Wind Farm.
December 5, 2003... Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) recently announced that Eastern University has purchased 37 percent of its electricity from the Exelon-Community Energy wind farms in Pennsylvania. According to CEI, this purchase offsets "a significant...

LADWP Agrees to Purchase Biomass-generated Power.
December 5, 2003... The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently announced that its board of commissioners has approved an agreement to purchase 40 megawatts of new renewable energy from Delaware-based BioConverter, LLC for approximately $16...

CGNPG Announces Plans to Construct Nuclear Power Stations.
December 5, 2003... China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) recently announced plans to construct three new nuclear power stations in the regions of Lingdong, Yangjiang and Taishan in Guangdong Province. Upon completion of the projects, CGNPG said it...

ACEEE Says Renewables Use Can Help Cut Natural Gas Prices.
December 5, 2003... The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Natural Gas Price Effects of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Practices and Policies," which indicates that "policies...

Report Identifies Challenges Facing U.S. Solar Industry.
December 5, 2003... The Solar Catalyst Group recently announced the release of the Solar Opportunity Assessment Report (SOAR), which outlines "what would be required to move solar energy beyond a small, niche market into a thriving industry able to contribute...

Coalition Urges Expansion of Renewable Energy Programs.
December 8, 2003... The Sustainable Energy Coalition recently announced that its 25 member groups have sent a joint letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) director Mike Leavitt calling for the expansion of the agency's sustainable energy programs,...

Georgia Power's Use of Landfill-gas Power Contested.
December 8, 2003... State officials in Georgia recently reported that religious activist group Georgia Interfaith Power & Light and the Sierra Club of Georgia have both expressed concern over Georgia Power's intention to make landfill-gas power available to its...

RG&E to Sell Ginna Nuclear Station to Constellation Generation.
December 8, 2003... New York utility Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) recently announced it has signed an agreement to sell the R.E. Ginna Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, NY to Constellation Generation Group for $422.6 million. According...

IWEA Expresses Concern Over CER Wind Energy Decision.
December 8, 2003... The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) recently expressed concern over the Commission for Energy Regulation's (CER) decision to limit the amount of wind power allowed on Ireland's national electricity grid. CER made the decision after...

BIMS Renewable Energy Announces Personnel Changes.
December 8, 2003... Montreal, Quebec-based green power production firm BIMS Renewable Energy, Inc. recently announced the nomination of vice president and chief financial officer Yves Renaud to serve as the company's president, CEO and managing director of the...

Members of Congress Urge More Funding for Sustainable Energy.
December 9, 2003... The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) recently reported that 105 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter delivered to the White House last week calling upon President Bush to increase funding levels in the Department of...

SCE to Purchase Electricity From Solar Power Plant.
December 9, 2003... Southern California Edison (SCE) recently announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase renewable solar energy for its customers from a planned TrueSolar Solutions power plant in Barstow, CA. Under the agreement, which has been...

enXco Signs Wind Power Marketing Agreement.
December 9, 2003... North Palm Springs, CA-based wind project developer enXco recently announced it has signed an agreement with the Center for Ecological Technology (CET), CSGServices, Inc. (CSGS) and Constellation NewEnergy for the marketing of electricity...

Local NV Officials to Assess Wind Power in Pine Nut Mountains.
December 9, 2003... Government officials in Carson City, NV recently announced a joint effort between the city's Bureau of Land Management and San Diego, CA-based SeaWest WindPower to assess the potential for harnessing wind energy at the Pine Nut Mountains. ...

Online Educational Game Promotes Renewable Energy.
December 9, 2003... Hong Kong-based provider of "intelligent agent and mobile computing technology" Artificial Life, Inc. recently announced the release of "Eco Champ," a new educational online game focusing on renewable energy technologies. According to the...

Evergreen Solar Appoints New Product Development Manager.
December 10, 2003... Evergreen Solar, Inc., recently announced the appointment of Christine Bordonaro as the company's new product development manager. Before joining Evergreen, Bordonaro served as manager of applied research at Metso Automation, where she led...

RSS Focuses on Grid-tied, Market-building Strategy.
December 10, 2003... Billerica, MA-based solar power system manufacturer RWE SCHOTT Solar, Inc. (RSS) recently announced it has completed the restructuring and consolidation efforts resulting from the December 2002 merger of RWE and SCHOTT Applied Power...

African Locality Considers Landfill Gas Project.
December 10, 2003... Government officials in the African municipality of Ethekwini recently reported that they are currently evaluating a project designed to produce electricity from landfill gas. According to officials, the project could potentially generate...

Greenpeace Stages Demonstration at Nuclear Plant Site in France.
December 10, 2003... Greenpeace recently reported that activists erected 10 wind turbines last week at the site of a proposed 3- to 3.5-billion-euro nuclear power plant in Penly, France in protest of the French government's decision to build another nuclear reactor...

e7 Releases Renewable Energy Technology Diffusion Report.
December 10, 2003... The e7, "a nonprofit organization consisting of nine leading electric utility companies that spearheads projects and human capacity building activities in developing nations worldwide," recently announced the release of a new report, titled...

TECO Project to Generate Electricity From Bahia Grass.
December 11, 2003... Tampa Electric Company (TECO) recently announced it has received permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to proceed with a biomass project designed to test the viability of generating electricity from Bahia grass at...

NRC Renews Licenses for Catawba, McGuire Nuclear Plants.
December 11, 2003... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced it has renewed the operating licenses of Duke Energy Corporation's Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, in Rock Hill, SC and McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, in Charlotte, NC....

Capstone to Develop Propless Wind Power Generator.
December 11, 2003... Capstone International Corporation recently announced that, through the assistance of First National Power, it has finalized its agreement with inventor Alvin Snaper of Impactive Technology, Inc. to "transfer all of the technology and all...

Scottish Councilman Opposes Local Wind Turbine Installation.
December 11, 2003... County officials in West Lothian, Scotland recently reported that West Lothian Council planning boss Richard Hartland is urging councillors to reject Scottish Water's application for the development of a local 300-foot wind turbine, as the...

ANU, Origin Energy Develop New 'Sliver Cell'.
December 11, 2003... Australian energy provider Origin Energy, together with the Australian National University (ANU), recently announced the development of the "Sliver Cell," a new type of solar cell which "uses just one-tenth of the costly silicon used in...

Florida Installs Solar Water Heaters in Low-income Homes.
December 12, 2003... The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced that the state government is providing solar water heaters to seven households in the Duval Heights community of Gainesville, FL through "Front Porch Sunshine," a...

New Jersey Considers Increase in State Renewables Standard.
December 12, 2003... Public officials in New Jersey recently reported that the state Board of Public Utilities may consider as early as next week a proposal to increase the amount of state power required to derive from renewable resources by June 2008 from the...

Airtricity to Build 19.5-MW Wind Farm in Northern Ireland.
December 12, 2003... Irish renewable energy company Airtricity recently announced it has received planning approval for a new wind farm site in Northern Ireland. According to Airtricity, construction of the planned 16-million-pound (about $27.8-million U.S.)...

NWDA Announces Launch of Northwest Energy Council.
December 12, 2003... The U.K. Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) recently announced the launch of the Northwest Energy Council, which was formed to "increase energy efficiency and encourage an even greater level of renewable energy generation in the region...."...

Report Cites 'Negative Impacts' of Large Hydro Projects.
December 12, 2003... The International Rivers Network (IRN) recently announced that 13 organizations have published a new report, titled "Twelve Reasons to Exclude Large Hydro From Renewables Initiatives," which cites the "negative impacts" of hydroelectric...

Connecticut College Purchases Wind Energy Certificates.
December 15, 2003... New York, NY-based renewable energy certificate vendor EAD Environmental recently announced that Connecticut College has purchased wind power energy certificates that equal approximately 44 percent of the college's annual electricity...

SunPower Installs Solar System at NASA Dryden Flight Center.
December 15, 2003... Sunnyvale, CA-based solar cell manufacturer SunPower Corporation and NASA recently announced the installation of a five-kilowatt solar electric power system at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. ...

FRST Approves Funding for New Zealand Renewables Research.
December 15, 2003... The New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) recently announced the approval of $6 million in funding for four renewable energy research projects in the country. According to FRST, funding will be provided to the...

ESBIE to Supply Green Power to Allied Irish Banks.
December 15, 2003... Dublin, Ireland-based energy supplier ESB Independent Energy (ESBIE) recently announced it has received a 1-million-pound (about $1.7-million) deal to supply green energy to more than 300 Allied Irish Banks (AIB) and First Trust Banks in the...

Freedom Tower to Feature Rooftop Wind Turbines.
December 15, 2003... The Associated Press recently reported that sources closely associated with the development of the new Freedom Tower at the former site of the World Trade Center have revealed that the building's design will now encompass rooftop wind turbines....

Evergreen Solar Appoints New CEO.
December 16, 2003... Evergreen Solar, Inc. recently announced the appointment of Richard Feldt to the position of CEO and president, as well as member of the company's board of directors. "Evergreen Solar's board is very pleased to announce Rick's...

Calpine Launches Santa Rosa Geysers Recharge Project.
December 16, 2003... San Jose, CA-based power company Calpine Corporation recently announced the launch of the Santa Rosa Geysers Recharge Project, an initiative designed to deliver up to 11 million gallons of recycled water per day from the City of Santa Rosa's...

APS to Increase Credit for Solar Installations.
December 16, 2003... Arizona utility APS recently announced plans to double its current purchase credit for customers who buy and install solar systems. Effective January 1, APS said it will begin offering customers a credit of $4 per watt for solar systems...

BIMS Renewable Energy Obtains Funding to Acquire Ecolomondo.
December 16, 2003... Montreal, Ontario-based green energy producer BIMS Renewable Energy, Inc. recently announced the signing of an investment banking agreement with TGLP Capital, an investment fund specializing in financing companies that develop and market...

NPPD Approves Construction of New Wind Farm in NE.
December 17, 2003... The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) recently announced that its board of directors has approved construction of a new $45-million wind farm to be built near Ainsworth, NE. According to NPPD the wind farm is expected to produce a...

APX Says Software Upgrade Allows 'Banking' of RECs.
December 17, 2003... Automated Power Exchange, Inc. (APX) recently announced the introduction of a software upgrade to New England Power Pool's (NEPOOL) Generation Information System (GIS), which was established last year to help "verify retail electric supply...

NB Power Issues RFP for Wind Generation.
December 17, 2003... Fredericton, New Brunswick-based energy supplier Energie NB Power recently announced the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for the development, ownership and operation of up to 20 megawatts (MW) of wind power generation in the province....

Enel Launches New Hydroelectric Plant in Guatemala.
December 17, 2003... Enel subsidiary Enel Latin America recently announced the commencement of operations at its El Canada greenfield hydroelectric plant in western Guatemala. According to Enel Latin America, the facility, which has a capacity of 43 megawatts...

NREL Presents Second Annual Rappaport Award.
December 17, 2003... The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently announced it has presented the 2003 Paul Rappaport Renewable Energy and Efficiency Award to Ajeet Rohatgi, founding director of the University Center of Excellence...

Midwest Renewables Considers Wind Farm Development in IA.
December 18, 2003... Alden, IA-based Midwest Renewables recently announced it is exploring the development of a new $200-million wind farm near Iowa Falls with the assistance of Stamford, CT-based investment firm Whitney & Company. According to Whitney &...

Mass Megawatts Reports Quarterly Financial Results.
December 18, 2003... Worcester, MA-based wind farm developer Mass Megawatts Wind Power, Inc. recently announced its financial results for the quarter ended October 31, reporting a quarterly net loss of $183,925, or seven cents per share, compared to a net loss of...

Vestas Subsidiary Wins Canadian Contract.
December 18, 2003... Vestas Group recently announced that its subsidiary Canadian Wind Technology has been awarded a contract from Vision Quest Windelectric, Inc. for the supply of 38 V80-1.8 megawatt (MW) wind turbines for the Summerview wind farm located in...

Mitsubishi to Increase Solar System Manufacturing Capacity.
December 18, 2003... Industry officials in Japan recently reported that Mitsubishi Electric Corporation plans to increase its annual solar power systems manufacturing capacity from the current 50 megawatts (MW) to 90 MW by July 2004. According to officials,...

SunPower to Open Solar Wafer Plant in Philippines.
December 18, 2003... SunPower Corporation has chosen the Philippines over India as the site of a new $330-million solar wafer manufacturing facility. "They should start producing by the end of next year," said Philippine energy undersecretary Eduardo Manalac....

Mass Megawatts Begins Construction on New Wind Farm.
December 19, 2003... Mass Megawatts Wind Power, Inc. recently announced the construction of a new wind farm prototype in Blandford, MA. Additionally, Mass Megawatts reported that upgrades are being made to a previous wind farm prototype in Charlton, MA. The...

CT Religious Institutions Commit to Renewable Energy.
December 19, 2003... New York, NY-based renewable energy certificate (REC) marketer EAD Environmental recently announced that representatives of the interfaith community in Hartford, CT have pledged to utilize renewable energy to power their facilities. ...

Tucson to Host Electric Utilities Environmental Conference.
December 19, 2003... The 7th Electric Utilities Environmental Conference (EUEC) will be held January 19 through 22, 2004 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ. According to conference organizers, the objectives of the conference are to "promote the...

Chartwell Releases 'Utility Green Power Programs' Report.
December 19, 2003... Atlanta, GA-based energy and utility research firm Chartwell, Inc. recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Utility Green Power Programs," which indicates that renewable energy "stands out...as the residential product that has...