Home: Renewable Energy News: November 2008

Renewable Energy News

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Friday 28 November, 2008

NSW Invests $27 Million In Renewable Energy Projects
After being somewhat out in the wilderness in relation to renewable energy, particularly solar power, the NSW government has been busy this week kick-starting investment into the development of alternative energy sources in the state and preparing to encourage the uptake of home solar power systems through financial incentives.

Thursday 27 November, 2008

Climate Change Survey - More Focus On Renewable Energy
In a survey of 12,000 people from 12 countries, More than twice as many respondents stated governments should invest in renewable energy than participate in international agreements on climate change.

Solar Power Station Project For Alice Springs
Speaking at the International Solar Energy Society conference in Sydney yesterday, Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced $3.3 million in Federal funding for a solar power station to be constructed in Alice Springs as part of the Australian Government's Solar City initiative.

Wednesday 26 November, 2008

Wind Power Supply Record Set In Spain
In the early hours of November 24, wind power generation in Spain accounted for 43% of the country's needs - setting a new record.

Committee for Melbourne Wins Fast Thinking Award
Last week, Committee for Melbourne claimed the ultimate Fast Thinking 2008 Innovation Prize and the award for Social Innovation at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum. The awards were made to the organization for its work towards Melbourne's sustainability and ongoing prosperity.

Tuesday 25 November, 2008

Home Wind Power To Boom In The UK
The rollout of tariffs by the UK government could see up to a quarter of households investing in renewable energy options. It's been predicted 195,000 home wind turbines will be installed in the UK over the next 12 years and upwards of 900,000 households will install solar power and/or solar hot water systems.

New Generation Coal - Coal Industry Desperation?
In an attempt to clean up its reputation, Big Coal in Australia has been seeking a new look with "NewGenCoal", aka New Generation Coal. New Gen Coal also appears to have been spending up on bidding for keywords such as "solar power" and other totally non-coal related renewable energy terms on some major search engines.

Monday 24 November, 2008

New South Wales To Announce Solar Feed In Tariff Today
It is expected that the New South Wales government will unveil the introduction of a feed in tariff scheme to be rolled out next year when NSW Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Carmel Tebbutt, speaks at a solar power conference in Sydney later today.

Wal-mart Gets Into Wind Power
In its latest green initiative, Wal-mart announced last Friday it would be partnering with a Duke Energy wind farm in Texas to provide renewable energy to up to 15 percent of 360 Wal-Mart stores and other facilities in the state

Friday 21 November, 2008

A Solar Powered Submarine?
The old jokes state 'useful as deckchairs on a submarine' or 'flyscreens on a submarine', but a solar powered submarine is not a joke or science fiction - it will be a reality soon.

Thursday 20 November, 2008

France Gives Massive Boost To Solar Feed In Tariff
France's solar sector will be a major beneficiary of sweeping changes announced recently by the French Government who have unveiled an ambitious plan calling for expansion of solar energy based electricity production by a factor of 400 by 2020.

Kyocera To Double Solar Panel Output
Kyocera Corporation, a leading manufacturer of solar panels, late last week announced plans to construct a major solar cell manufacturing plant located in Yasu City, Japan, which will become the company's largest production facility in the country.

Wednesday 19 November, 2008

BP To Close Solar Panel Plant In Australia
BP Solar yesterday stated it will close its photovoltaic (PV) cell and solar panel manufacturing plant in Sydney Olympic park (Australia) at the end of March 2009.

Tuesday 18 November, 2008

Solar Shade Act For Australia?
With solar uptake in Australia on the rise, local authorities may soon need to consider the implementation of a Solar Shade Control Act or Solar Rights Act, such as exists in the USA; specifically, California.

Monday 17 November, 2008

Around The World In A Solar Powered Plane
A solar powered plane trip around the world may soon leave the realms of science fiction and become reality. 'Solar Impulse', a 1500 kilogram solar plane with a 61 meter wing span, will be undergoing its first test flight in April next year

Friday 14 November, 2008

Greens Continue Offensive On Big Coal, Pushing Renewable Energy
Senator Christine Milne of the Australian Greens launched an offensive on Wednesday against the coal industry's latest public relations effort in re-branding as "NewGenCoal", stating that "Coal, by any other name, is on the nose".

Thursday 13 November, 2008

IEA Report Favours Renewable Energy - Says Era Of Cheap Oil Over
The World Energy Outlook 2008 report released today by the International Energy Agency has painted a bleak picture for the future of oil and is calling for a global low carbon and renewable energy revolution in spite of the current financial crisis.

Wednesday 12 November, 2008

Schools Around The World Tap Into Solar Power
As countries around the world look to stimulate the uptake of solar power, schools are being recruited for their substantial roof space resources

Development threatens indigenous cultural sites and the environment
A decision by The Hon. Justin Madden, Minister for Planning and Community Development, on one of Victoria's longest running Environment Effects Assessment is now imminent. The proposal for major boating infrastructure at Bastion Point, Mallacoota, an iconic surf beach on Victoria's Wilderness Coast, has met with overwhelming community opposition. The Save Bastion Point Campaign, which is supported by state, national, and international conservation and recreation organizations, maintains the development is both inappropriate and unsustainable, and will irrevocably change, to its detriment, this outstanding coastal environment and tourist destination.

Tuesday 11 November, 2008

Australian Gross Feed In Tariff Pressure Mounts
The Australian Senate Environment Committee’s response yesterday to a proposed uniform and nationalised system of feed-in tariffs to encourage the uptake of renewable energy technologies including wind and solar power has met with mixed reactions.

Monday 10 November, 2008

Greens' Milne Renews Calls For Australian Gross Feed In Tariff
Speaking at Greens National Conference being held in Brisbane, Senator Christine Milne along with 7 other Greens Party MP's has renewed calls for a national uniform gross feed in tariff and to ensure that home owners are fairly recompensed for all renewable energy generated from any source, such as wind energy or solar power - and of any size.

Friday 07 November, 2008

Nuclear vs. wind and solar power
Lester R. Brown, referred to by the Washington Post as "one of the world's most influential thinkers", has recently published his views via the Earth Policy Institute on the nuclear vs. wind and solar power debate; stating that nuclear power is uneconomical compared to renewable energy.

Thursday 06 November, 2008

Wind Power Industry Statistics And Outlook
A recent report states wind power could potentially generate 12% of the world’s energy requirements and save 10 billion tones of CO2 within 12 years; playing a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Wednesday 05 November, 2008

The USA Elections And The Solar Industry
With voting in the US elections almost over, much of the renewable energy industry is hoping for an Obama/Democrats win. On the stock market, the whole solar sector has been trading higher as Barack Obama has been ahead of John McCain in recent polls.

Tuesday 04 November, 2008

Revolutionary Solar Panel Coating Boosts Efficiency
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new anti-reflective coating for solar panels that dramatically increases the amount of sunlight captured across the entire solar spectrum and from just about any angle.

Monday 03 November, 2008

Solar Powered Car Shatters Distance Record
Travelling 15,000 kilometres over 140 days and crossing Canada twice, Canadian Marcelo Da Luz broke the world record for distance travelled in a solar powered vehicle late last week.

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