The U.S. installed 4,751 MW of solar PV in 2013, up 41% over 2012 and nearly 15 times the amount installed in 2008.That is the main outcome of the new US Solar Market Insight Report published by GTM Research. There is now a total of 12.1 GW of PV and 918 MW of CSP operating in the U.S., according to the new report. Other major findings: There were 140,000 individual solar installations in the U.S. in 2013, and a total of over 440,000 … [Read more...]
Tomatoes watered by the sea: sprouting a new way of farming
In Australia a former investment banker is growing vegetables in hothouses that use electricity and desalinated seawater all derived from concentrated solar power. According to John Matthews, it's a model that could work well in many areas of the world. … [Read more...]
How the IEA exaggerates the costs and underestimates the growth of solar power
The International Energy Agency (IEA) consistently entertains much too pessimistic assumptions about the growth potential and cost development of solar power,  writes Terje Osmundsen, Senior Vice President of the Norwegian-based international solar power company Scatec Solar. According to Osmundsen, the cost assumptions used by the IEA are 100% higher than even current market prices. He notes that as a result of the IEA’s misleading information, … [Read more...]
WWF: Action required now to ensure supply of critical materials for renewable energy infrastructure
The growing demand for renewable energy could put pressure on the supply of critical materials required in the production of renewable energy infrastructure, says WWF in new report released on 18 February. The report, Critical Materials for the transition to a 100% sustainable energy future, says supply chain bottlenecks can be overcome by applying the right technologies. It is possible for renewable energy to fuel the world reliably while … [Read more...]
An investor speaks: the oil party is almost over
The fact that environmental activist Bill McKibben is waging a relentless “fossil fuel divestment campaign” may not worry established oil and coal companies too much. But he is joined by an increasing number of mainstream investors and analysts. The latest investor to warn that fossil fuel assets may be overvalued is the famous hedge fund manager Jeremy Grantham, owner of the major US asset-management firm GMO. In a thoughtful piece for the GMO … [Read more...]
World Energy Council: Price volatility greater concern than climate change framework
High energy price volatility has for the first time replaced global climate framework as the number-one critical uncertainty driving the world energy agenda, according to the 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor, released on Tuesday 18 February by the World Energy Council (WEC). Global climate framework uncertainty,while still is akeyuncertainty, is now perceived by energy leaders to have less impact than in the previous three years of the study. … [Read more...]
EU’s global cleantech leadership at risk
The EU still leads the world in clean energy technologies, but for how long? In 2012, 70% of new wind power capacity and 40% of new photovoltaic panels were installed outside Europe. Brussels has shied away from new national renewables targets in its 2030 climate and energy proposals. It is preparing fresh rules on state aid that will disadvantage less mature technologies such as offshore wind and solar PV. And the EU internal energy market … [Read more...]
India’s quest for energy: nuclear power & other greener options
India has been among the world's fastest growing economies for the past two decades. The country continues to lead not only in growth but also in energy demand growth. India wants to meet its growing energy demands first of all through expanding its nuclear sector and secondly by the development of other “greener” options. Ritwik Mukherjee, editor of the Indian energy journal Energy Ensemble, discusses the challenges faced by India and the … [Read more...]
Cost of “zero carbon building” drops by half in UK
New analysis produced by Sweett Group for the Zero Carbon Hub, a non-profit association in the UK, shows that “the additional costs associated with building to the proposed Zero Carbon Standard in the UK have declined significantly since 2011, and are expected to continue to fall as we approach 2020.” In a press release the Zero Carbon Hub states that the key findings of the new research are that: At today’s prices, the typical additional … [Read more...]
The four “gamechangers” of the energy sector
Are we headed for a Solar Power Revolution, as many investment analysts are claiming? According to Energy Post editor Karel Beckman, we undoubtedly are. Just as we are headed for a Coal Revolution. And a Nuclear Revolution. And a Shale Revolution. Welcome to the world of energy “gamechangers”. … [Read more...]
Masdar, Abu Dhabi and the future of our global energy system
Abu Dhabi likes to see itself as a global capital of renewable energy – but its ventures into sustainability are built on oil riches, which the country is not prepared to give up. Hypocritical? Perhaps, but it’s a hypocrisy shared by the rest of the world. Most countries and companies are pursuing an energy transformation which at the same time they are kicking down the road. And yet, writes Energy Post editor Karel Beckman in a reflective essay … [Read more...]
How to integrate PV into the grid
The Europe-wide PV GRID consortium has released a consultation document containing key recommendations for the adoption of technical solutions to ease the integration of photovoltaics (PV) into the distribution grid. Over the next three months, fifteen national workshops will take place throughout Europe presenting and discussing the project's findings. Since May 2012, the PV GRID project consortium has been working on identifying and … [Read more...]
M&A activity in renewables keeps growing
M&A activity in the global power and renewables sectors is expected to pick up this year, after the value of deals fell by 10 percent in 2013, according to a new research report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Total worldwide power and renewables 2013 deal value was down 10% year on year, reported PWC. But the Asia Pacific region and the renewables sector bucked the trend. Renewables deal value rose 25% the value of Asia Pacific deals was up … [Read more...]
Irena and Abu Dhabi invest in renewable energy projects
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) have announced approximately $41 million in concessional loans for renewable energy projects in developing countries. The financed projects have a combined total capacity of 35 MW and will bring reliable and sustainable power to rural communities that are currently lacking access to modern energy services. The loans go to a geographically diverse set … [Read more...]
Global clean energy investment falls for second consecutive year
Clean Energy Pipeline, the online daily financial news and data service dedicated to the clean energy sector, on 16 January released its preliminary analysis of venture capital, private equity, project finance, mergers and acquisitions and public markets activity during 4Q13 and 2013. New investment in the global clean energy sector totalled $58.2 billion in 4Q13, a 15% increase on the $50.7 billion invested in 3Q13 but a 21% decrease on the … [Read more...]