Home: Renewable Energy News: January 2009

Renewable Energy News

JANUARY 2009 | View archive list |

Friday 30 January, 2009

Australia Solar Credits Scheme Questioned By ATA
The upcoming Australian Solar Credits scheme, due to replace the current Solar Homes and Communities Program $8,000 rebate in July this year has come under scrutiny by the Alternative Energy Association (ATA).

Australia And The International Renewable Energy Agency
Government delegates from more than 100 countries attended the first meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency in Bonn, Germany and 75 countries signed the founding document of IRENA. Australia was not one of them

Thursday 29 January, 2009

Solar Power Vs Clean Coal In Australia
It's been revealed a solar gross feed in tariff scheme would have only cost households in the Australian state of Victoria in the range of an additional 2 and 4% on current electricity bills. Solar power is looking increasingly attractive compared to "clean coal" technology, which has been estimated to increase current power generation costs 50 to 75%.

Students Switching Schools Onto Solar Energy
Australian students concerned about energy related carbon dioxide emissions might want to pay a visit to the site of Students For Solar Schools, a group in the USA, for a bit of inspiration that can be applied locally.

Wednesday 28 January, 2009

Australia Scaring Off Overseas Solar Power Investment?
Australia is losing out billions of dollars in overseas investment and countless local jobs through not providing solar companies incentives that are available in other countries

Suntech Scores Solar Panel Supply Scoop
After recently securing a contract for the supply of 5 megawatts of Suntech solar panels for a 10 megawatt solar farm to power Masdar City, the company has also just inked a one year deal with a US company for the supply of 5MW of solar panels during 2009.

Tuesday 27 January, 2009

Australian Solar Feed In Tariff Petition Launched
Energy Matters (http://www.energymatters.com.au), a leading provider of wind and solar power equipment and installation services, has launched a national petition at FeedInTariff.com.au, concerning the issue of renewable energy feed in tariffs.

US Renewable Energy Record Set
According to a recent report released by the Energy Information Administration, 2007 saw renewable energy sources, other than conventional hydroelectric capacity, accounting for the largest portion of capacity additions.

Monday 26 January, 2009

Clean Coal Confuses Consumers
It's a term that's being increasingly bandied around by politicians and commentators - clean coal; but one that even that some coal industry representative bodies are hesitant to use as it confuses consumers.

Robotic Wind Turbine Inspector Developed
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF have developed RIWEA, a robot that checks the rotor blades of wind turbines.

Friday 23 January, 2009

Wind And Solar Energy Assisted Ferry
Alcatraz Cruises in the USA has introduced the Hornblower Hybrid, the first multi-hulled hybrid passenger vessel in the country.

Thursday 22 January, 2009

Brown: Turn Mining Cuts Into Clean Energy Jobs
Leader of the Australian Greens, Bob Brown, has called on the Australian government to assist those losing their jobs in mining by re-skilling them for careers in cleaner energy alternatives.

Kenya Undertakes Huge Wind Power Project
Lake Turkana Wind Power consortium (LTWP) has announced plans to supply 300 megawatts of green power to Kenya's mains electricity grid.

Wednesday 21 January, 2009

1 Million Wind Power Jobs
In these somewhat gloomy economic times, the renewable energy sector continues to be a hotbed of activity and offers the promise of playing an integral part of stimulating economies.

Buyers Groups Saving Big On Solar Energy
With the $8000 solar power rebate for households with incomes under $100,000 ending in less than 6 months, then to be replaced by the solar credits program, increasing numbers of solar buyers groups are being formed in order to get the best deal for their members on grid connected solar energy systems.

Tuesday 20 January, 2009

Suntech To Supply Solar Panels For Masdar City
Suntech Power Holdings, the world's largest solar panel manufacturer announced today the supply of 5 megawatts of Suntech solar energy modules for a 10 megawatt solar farm to power Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Electric Cadillac Incorporates Solar Power
General Motors recently unveiled another electric car concept; a luxury model called the Cadillac Converj that draws part of its power from solar energy.

Monday 19 January, 2009

Australian Solar Energy Institute Launched
Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, launched the $100 million Australian Solar Institute on Friday.

Solar Cell Efficiency Record Broken - Again
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany recently announced the achievement of a record efficiency of 41.1% for the conversion of sunlight into electricity

Friday 16 January, 2009

Suburban Home Owners Cautioned On Wind Turbines
While the idea of wind turbine in the back yard may be attractive to many, the British Wind Energy Association has warned that home owners may be disappointed by the performance of wind turbines in built-up residential areas.

Thursday 15 January, 2009

Solar Energy Hybrid System - ThermaVolt
Solar panels get hot - very hot at times, which can negatively impact on their efficiency. That wasted heat is also wasted energy, so why not use it to heat water instead of needing to have a separate solar hot water system? Entech Solar have done just that.

Solar Energy's Green Credentials Questioned
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) has released a report expressing concerns regarding the environmental and health hazards of solar panel manufacturing. A number of media outlets and commentators have been somewhat exaggerating the contents of the report, bringing the "green" nature of solar energy equipment under the spotlight in very unfavourable terms.

Wednesday 14 January, 2009

A Mixed Solar Bag For Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings, the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, has experienced mixed fortunes over the last few months, largely thanks to an uncertain economy.

Alternative Transportation Energy Source Scorecard
As the world moves closer towards the uptake of vehicles that don't rely so heavily on crude oil, many questions remain about the actual environmental impact of "green" cars and their associated fuel source technologies.

Tuesday 13 January, 2009

Wind And Solar Powered Car In Development
The rumours of a solar powered car has created a lot of buzz lately, particularly in relation to whispers of Toyota creating such a vehicle - which turned out to be just whispers. A company that is currently developing such a car, with the added element of wind power, is RORMaxx Automotive.

Obama's Renewable Energy Mission
When given lemons, make lemonade - so the old saying goes. The current global economic meltdown is causing a great deal of pain, but it's also providing an opportunity not seen since World War II.

Monday 12 January, 2009

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rising In Eastern Australia
According to the Greenhouse Indicator Report released by The Climate Group today, emissions originating with energy consumption in Australia’s eastern states rose during 2008.

Pakistan Considers A Solar Power Future
On Friday, China offered a partnership for generating and manufacturing solar power equipment in Pakistan to help meet its growing power shortages.

Friday 09 January, 2009

NASA Head Slams Australian Coal
Dr. James Hansen, head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, recently slammed the Australian coal industry and the Australian government in an open letter to President-elect Barack Obama in relation to carbon dioxide emissions.

Suntech Attains 1GW Solar Cell Production Capacity
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. the world's largest solar panel manufacturer, has announced the attainment of 1 gigawatt solar cell and module production capacity; the first company to do so.

Thursday 08 January, 2009

Department Of Energy Releases Marine Hydro Power Database
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a searchable database providing up-to-date information on marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy in the United States and around the world, including Australia.

Wednesday 07 January, 2009

Solar Powered Robotic Lawn Mower
Tired of pushing around your mower? Husqvarana may have the answer for you - a partially solar powered lawn mower

Ontario On Track For Coal-free Power
According to a recent report from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the Canadian province of Ontario is well positioned for the entire phase-out of coal-fired generation by the end of 2014.

Tuesday 06 January, 2009

Wireless Electricity Via Solar Cells
Wireless electricity has mainly been the stuff of sci-fi up until now; but a Californian company has made considerable headway into making it a reality by incorporating the use of a solar cell

Monday 05 January, 2009

Solar Power Still Booming In California
Recession? What recession? Or so it would seem in California where the solar industry is thriving.

Friday 02 January, 2009

Solar Powered Cars Have Arrived
Rumours are flying at the moment regarding Toyota working on a car that will be powered only by solar energy. But solar powered cars are already available through a combination of plug-in hybrids that can be recharged by a grid connected home solar power system

Thursday 01 January, 2009

Portugal's Largest Solar Farm Opens
Portugal's Acciona Energy recently opened the country's largest solar power farm, executing the construction of the project in a record time of 13 months. The solar farm covers an area of 250 hectares in the municipality of Moura (Alentejo region), near the border with Spain.

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