Renewable Energy Today articles from December 2006

Renewable Energy Today archives from December 2006

Study reveals Canadian industry's investment in renewable energy.(International Report)
December 1, 2006... A new study released last week from Statistics Canada shows that Canadian industries are setting aside an increasing portion of research and development funds in order to come up with cleaner, more renewable energy practices. Industrial...

Germany's SolarWorld expands recycling to US.(Industry Report)
December 1, 2006... Germany's SolarWorld Industries America has expanded its solar module recycling program to include the US. The company is now offering US customers the opportunity to return used and end-of-life solar modules. SolarWorld Industries America...

Renewable energy industry predicts future capacity.
December 1, 2006... The US renewable energy industry collectively announced last week that its future deliverable energy capacity is between 550 and 700 gigawatts. Industry leaders made the announcement at the annual Renewable Energy in America conference...

Corporations increase renewable energy purchases.(Industry Report)
December 4, 2006... More than 650 corporations including Starbucks and DuPont purchase 7.2 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually, an increase of nearly 240% since the end of 2004., according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA...

IRS announces CREB recipients.(Industry Report)
December 4, 2006... The Internal Revenue Service recently announced allocation of $800 million in tax credit bonds to renewable and alternative energy projects across the US. More than 600 projects received Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. These include 434...

REpower erects new wind turbines in Germany.(International Report)
December 4, 2006... REpower Systems has erected two REpower 5M offshore wind turbines on a test site in Cuxhaven, Germany. Each turbine stands on five tower segments made of steel, and both have a hub height of 117 meters and a rotor diameter of 126 meters....

Cheyenne signs wind power agreement.(Industry Report)
December 5, 2006... Tierra Energy recently announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Happy Jack Windpower, has finalized a 20-year renewable energy purchase agreement with Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power of Wyoming, a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Hills...

WoodMaster unveils renewable energy furnace.(Industry Report)
December 5, 2006... Northwest Manufacturing recently unveiled its WoodMaster PLUS outdoor renewable energy furnace. Fuel options for the WoodMaster include corn, wood or paper pellets, barley, beet pulp, sunflowers, dried cherry pits, soybeans and a variety of...

UK ministry to offsets air travel.(International Report)
December 5, 2006... The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) will offset carbon emissions generated from annual air travel by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2004. REEEP, a global partnership that facilitates financing for...

UPM plans renewable energy power plant for Scotland.(International Report)
December 6, 2006... The UPM-Kymenne Corporation will build a new power plant at its Caledonian mill in Irvine, Scotland. The new boiler will utilize a 350,000 tonne combination of biomass and site-derived residue as its primary fuel. The power plant is...

PG&E to add new renewable geothermal energy.(Industry Report)
December 6, 2006... The California Public Utilities Commission has approved Pacific Gas and Electric Company to contract for up to 120 megawatts of clean geothermal renewable energy under California's Renewables Portfolio Standards Program. The contract to...

DoE offers outlook on energy.(Industry Report)
December 6, 2006... The US Department of Energy Tuesday offered its outlook for energy supply and prices. According to the DoE, consumption will likely rise in the next few decades, but prices will remain stable and, in some cases, even drop. In its Annual...

Crest Energy advances New Zealand tidal power plant project.(International Report)
December 7, 2006... The Northland Regional Council in New Zealand received an application last week from Crest Energy to build a 200-megawatt tidal power plant just north of the country's largest city, Auckland. The proposed project, situated in the mouth of...

EERC receives DoD grant to create renewable fuel for jets.(Industry Report)
December 7, 2006... The Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota has received a $5 million award from the US Department of Defense's Defense-Advanced Research Projects Agency. The EERC will use the funds to create a domestic...

Control Microsystems introduces SOLARPack control system.(Industry Report)
December 7, 2006... Control Microsystems recently released the SOLARPack integrated solar power control and communication system designed for gas-flow installations. The new SOLARPack uses solar power technology and a battery charger that prevents hydrogen...

Weekly update.(Industry Report)
December 7, 2006... Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Building Energy Conference & Trade Show, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston March 13-15, 2007 Annual European NGV Conference, Strasbourg, France, June 19-21, 2007 (EIN STAFF: 12/7)

Thailand establishes renewable energy fund.(International Report)
December 8, 2006... Thailand Energy Ministry Piyasvasti Amranand has earmarked roughly $28 million for a fund that will support projects producing electricity from renewable energy sources. The money will be lent to private investors and state agencies...

SDB invests in Pakistan Renewable Energy Program.(International Report)
December 8, 2006... The Asian Development Bank will provide Pakistan up to $510 million for its Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Program. The program is the first of its kind in Pakistan and also one of the first to be developed under ADB's...

Postbank receives new EBDR loan.(International Report)
December 8, 2006... The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced last week it will lend Bulgaria's Postbank nearly $20 million to help local industries become more energy efficient. Postbank already received a $6.6 million loan from EBDR in...

Honda to make solar cells.(Industry Report)
December 11, 2006... Honda announced last week it will begin to make and market solar cells in Japan. "As a manufacturer that generates CO2, [it is important to us] to reduce CO2 by creating [clean] energy," Yuji Hatano, of Honda's Corporate Communications...

Congress extends solar tax credit.(Industry Report)
December 11, 2006... The US Congress has passed legislation to extend the 30% solar energy investment tax credit for homeowners and businesses for one additional year, through the end of 2008. Established in 2005, and previously expected to end in 2007, the...

EU funding to support fuel cell project.(International Report)
December 11, 2006... The European Union has awarded $1.3 million to a research consortium in Switzerland focused on developing renewable-fuel-based technology onboard a marine cargo vessel. The group will develop methanol-consuming fuel cells to provide electrical...

California Solar Initiative begins in new year.(Industry Report)
December 12, 2006... The California Solar Initiative, slated to begin at the start of 2007, commits the state to spend more than $3.4 billion over the next 10 years to subsidize installation of 1 million solar roofs. The roofs are expected to generate about...

Carbonfund.org recognized for carbon offset efforts.(Industry Report)
December 12, 2006... Since Carbonfund.org's prices have been consistently lower than those of other providers, the nonprofit has been recognized for offering offsets to neutralize CO2 emissions and increase the availability of renewable energy while making it price...

ABD promotes renewable energy in Pakistan.(Industry Report)
December 12, 2006... The Asia Development Bank will promote development of renewable energy in Pakistan through a financing facility of up to $510 million. The program is the first of its kind in Pakistan and one of the first to be developed under ADB's clean...

Minnesota ethanol plant to add wind turbines.(Industry Report)
December 13, 2006... The Corn Plus ethanol plant in Winnebago, Minnesota will add wind turbines to its facility during the next three to four months, moving closer to the goal of using no outside energy in the processing plant. The wind turbines will provide...

Study: UK wind sector success varies.(International Report)
December 13, 2006... Power generation by the UK wind sector varies enormously with location, according to an independent study commissioned by the UK's Renewable Energy Foundation. Although most wind power sites were built on expected capacity factors of...

Scientists say UK's River Mersey useful for renewable energy.(International Report)
December 13, 2006... The River Mersey in north-western England should be used to produce renewable energy, according to a new study from Cambridge University. The Mersey is one of the best sources of marine renewable energy because of its powerful currents,...

Italy's Enel to invest in renewable energy.(International Report)
December 14, 2006... Electricity producer Enel of Italy last week announced it will invest $5.4 billion over the next five years in emissions abatement technology. The company will spend the money developing new renewable energy plants, improving the energy...

Bulgaria considers renewable energy law.(International Report)
December 14, 2006... The Bulgarian government last week reviewed a new law that would stimulate the use of and investment in renewable energy sources, alternative and bio-fuels. The draft law introduced for the first time a mechanism for encouraging...

Study: North Carolina can develop alternative energy options.(Industry Report)
December 14, 2006... North Carolina has significant potential to develop wind and other alternative energy without drastically increasing customer bills, according to a recent study from the state's Utilities Commission. The report indicates that renewable...

Platina closes wind energy and renewable energy funds.(International Report)
December 14, 2006... Private equity firm Platina Finance has closed the $76 million Mistral Wind Farms I fund. MWF I focused on the construction and management of wind farms in the UK and France. Platina has also closed the $39.5 million Mistral Energy II fund...

Renewable Energy Grant Program receives numerous applications.(Industry Report)
December 14, 2006... The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has received 183 grant proposals in the past month for the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, according to state officials. The grant program is part of the 2006 Florida Energy...

Carpet manufacturer uses bio-diesel as fuel.(Industry Report)
December 14, 2006... C&A Floorcoverings is replacing diesel used in its commercial boilers with 100% bio-diesel. The company made the transition to meet the goals of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The company is the first carpet manufacturer to use bio-diesel...

Weekly update.(Conferences)
December 14, 2006... Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Building Energy Conference & Trade Show, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, March 13-15, 2007 Annual European NGV Conference, Strasbourg, France, June 19-21, 2007 (EIN STAFF: 12/14)

Old Country Roofing and BP team up on solar roofing in California.(Industry Report)
December 18, 2006... Old Country Roofing has announced an agreement with BP Solar to offer solar roofing packages to homebuilding companies and homeowners. Beginning Jan. 2007, OCR will offer a package for built-in solar roofs that includes design,...

Minnesota Governor unveils next generation energy initiative.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
December 18, 2006... Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty last week announced the new Next Generation Energy Initiative, aimed at increasing renewable energy, energy conservation and lowering carbon emissions in the state. Pawlenty's proposals will build on...

European Parliament adopts emissions targets.(International Report)
December 18, 2006... By 2020, the EU should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and produce 25% of its primary energy through renewables, according to a report adopted by the European Parliament last week. The European Parliament adopted the Eluned...

Pakistani villages to use solar energy.(International Report)
December 19, 2006... More than 400 villages in Pakistan soon will be electrified by solar energy, according to the country's Alternative Energy Development Board. Roughly 300 villages in Balochistan and 100 in Sindh will benefit from the government-funded...

groSolar acquires energy outfitters.(Industry Report)
December 19, 2006... US solar energy firm groSolar announced this week the acquisition of Energy Outfitters, an Oregon-based solar energy distribution company. The acquisition makes groSolar one of the largest solar distribution and installation firms in the...

Washington adopts renewable energy standard.(Industry Report)
December 19, 2006... The state of Washington has adopted a renewable electricity standard requiring electric utilities to gradually increase their use of renewable energy sources. Under the initiative, the state's largest utilities are required to furnish 15%...

USDA grant program to support renewable energy in Iowa.(Industry Report)
December 20, 2006... The US Department of Agriculture recently announced a grants and loans program in Iowa that will allow rural business and agricultural producers to create renewable energy or make energy-saving improvements to facilities. The grants cover...

OREC and NWPPA announce alliance.(Industry Report)
December 20, 2006... The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition and Northwest Public Power Association have announced an alliance to connect ocean-based renewable technology providers with electric utilities interested in investigating and pursuing ocean renewables. ...

UK government green lights two wind farms.(International Report)
December 20, 2006... The UK government has approved two offshore wind farms for the Thames Estuary; the projects are expected to produce 1.3 gigawatts of electricity. The London Array and Thanet systems will create enough electricity to power a third of...

Weekly update.(Conferences)(Calendar)
December 20, 2006... Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Building Energy Conference & Trade Show, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, March 13-15, 2007 Annual European NGV Conference, Strasbourg, France, June 19-21, 2007 (EIN STAFF: 12/20)

New Delhi approves grants for solar water heating.(International Report)
December 20, 2006... The New Delhi Cabinet recently approved granting rebates to residents who replace electric geysers with solar water heating systems. The grants of roughly $135 would be approved for installation of systems from authorized manufacturers; the...

Pakistan adopts renewable energy policy.(International Report)
December 20, 2006... The Pakistani government has announced the country's first renewable energy policy, offering incentives to those looking to invest in renewable sources for power generation. The Policy for Development of Renewable Energy for Power...

DTE to let customers choose renewable energy sources.(Industry Report)
December 20, 2006... Michigan's DTE Energy will soon give its 2.2 million customers the option of choosing renewable energy for all or part of their electricity needs. The proposal aims to encourage renewable energy projects in the state. The voluntary...

Cape Wind project advances.(Industry Report)
December 22, 2006... The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts last week upheld a 2005 ruling by the state's Energy Facilities Siting Council that approved construction operation of an 18-mile undersea cable to connect the proposed Cape Wind project to the...

Biohaus places $15 million PV order with United Solar Ovonic.(Industry Report)
December 22, 2006... Photovoltaic distributor and system integrator Biohaus PV Handels of Germany last week placed a $15 million order with United Solar Ovonic for Uni-Solar PV products in 2007. "Uni-Solar products are flexible, durable, lightweight, easy to...

MapMuse lists solar energy contractors.(Industry Report)
December 22, 2006... MapMuse.com has recently introduced interactive mapping of solar energy contractors across the US. Over 700 solar energy contractors currently appear on the MapMuse maps. Solar energy contractors add information about their services to...

USDA grant program to support renewable energy in Iowa.(Industry Report)
December 26, 2006... The US Department of Agriculture recently announced a grants and loans program in Iowa that will allow rural business and agricultural producers to create renewable energy or make energy-saving improvements to facilities. The grants cover...

OREC and NWPPA announce alliance.(Industry Report)
December 26, 2006... The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition and Northwest Public Power Association have announced an alliance to connect ocean-based renewable technology providers with electric utilities interested in investigating and pursuing ocean renewables. ...

UK government green lights two wind farms.(International Report)
December 26, 2006... The UK government has approved two offshore wind farms for the Thames Estuary; the projects are expected to produce 1.3 gigawatts of electricity. The London Array and Thanet systems will create enough electricity to power a third of...

BPA issues request for proposals to energy industry.(Industry Report)
December 26, 2006... The US Department of Energy's Bonneville Power Administration has issued a request to the energy industry for proposals for advancement of technology that can help manage intermittent renewable power resources. BPA estimated that about $1...

Direct Energy to purchase power from Horizon.(Industry Report)
December 26, 2006... Direct Energy has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with Horizon Wind Energy's Lone Star Wind Farm. Horizon is a Houston-based subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and develops and operates wind farms across the country. ...

Canadian utility to expand renewable energy offerings.(International Report)
December 26, 2006... Electric utility Nova Scotia Power has announced plans to add 130 megawatts of renewable energy by 2009. The company will begin seeking proposals from independent power producers early next year. Contact:...

California utility signs historic wind energy contract.(Industry Report)
December 27, 2006... Utility Southern California Edison has finalized a wind energy contract that will provide its customers with a source of emission-free power. The agreement with Alta Windpower Development secures for SCE customers 1,500 megawatts or more...

Arizona receives wind power from New Mexico.(Industry Report)
December 27, 2006... The Arizona Public Service Co. started receiving power last week from wind power turbines in New Mexico. As part of a 20-year agreement between APS and the Aragonne Mesa Wind Farm in eastern New Mexico, APS will receive five megawatts of...

European Commission invests in German solar energy project.(International Report)
December 27, 2006... The European Commission has granted roughly $99.8 million in aid to Conergy for a solar energy module production plant in Frankfurt, Germany. The Conergy project aims to producing solar energy modules that convert sunlight into electricity. ...

Groups encourage funding renewable energy programs.(Industry Report)
December 28, 2006... More than 100 business, consumer, environmental, and energy policy groups sent a letter this week to congressional leaders suggesting that US Department of Energy research and development funds should be shifted away from fossil fuel and...

Wal-Mart to install solar energy systems in five states.(Industry Report)
December 28, 2006... Wal-Mart recently issued a request for proposals to install solar energy systems on its stores in five states. Bids are due Jan. 5. According to the RFP document, the move is part of the company's commitment "to reduce our overall...

Alchemy Enterprises becomes Ecotality.(Industry Report)
December 28, 2006... Hydrogen generation technology developer Alchemy Enterprises has announced that it has changed its name to Ecotality. The new name better reflect the goals of the company in the development of renewable energy solutions, the company said....

Weekly update.(Conferences)(Calendar)
December 28, 2006... Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Building Energy Conference & Trade Show, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, March 13-15, 2007 Annual European NGV Conference, Strasbourg, France, June 19-21, 2007 (EIN STAFF: 12/28)

Penn State awards renewable energy contracts.(Industry Report)
December 29, 2006... Penn State has awarded contracts to meet more than 20% of its electrical energy needs through renewable energy sources for the next five years. The university awarded contracts to Community Energy, for Pennsylvania-based wind energy; 3...

Europe's 3i invests in Electrawinds.(International Report)
December 29, 2006... European equity and venture capital company 3i announced last week acquisition of a minority stake in independent renewable energy company Electrawinds of Belgium. The investment will allow Electrawinds to develop new energy projects in...

House to use big oil funds to support renewable energy.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
December 29, 2006... House Democrats in the first weeks of the new Congress plan to establish a dedicated fund to promote renewable energy and conservation, using money from oil companies. Details of a renewable fuels fund have yet to be worked out....