Home: Renewable Energy News: February 2010

Renewable Energy News

FEBRUARY 2010 | View archive list |

Friday 26 February, 2010

Government Announces Revamped Renewable Energy Target
Two days after the Australian Greens submitted a Private Members Bill with recommendations for a revised Renewable Energy Target, the Rudd Government has announced major changes that should please many solar energy supporters.

Solar Powered Rickshaws For 2010 Commonwealth Games
1,000 solar powered rickshaws are to help reduce transport related greenhouse gas emissions during the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

Thursday 25 February, 2010

Tasmania's Solar Feed In Tariff Ignored As Election Issue
While feed in tariffs exist in most states and territories of Australia; Tasmania remains in the backwaters of solar power generation through lack of solid incentives. Even given the upcoming state election in just a couple of weeks; none of the parties appear to have addressed the lack of a suitable feed-in tariff in the state as an election issue.

Australian Gross Feed In Tariff Petition Attracts 20,000 Signatures
A renewable energy topic to have largely disappeared from the Australian media spotlight is the issue of a national, uniform gross feed in tariff - however, it's an issue that hasn't been forgotten by the Australian public and some political forces.

Australian Greens Table REC And RET Fix
The Greens yesterday introduced a Private Member's Bill the party began drafting in January to address issues relating to the Renewable Energy Target and to "rescue Australia's enormous potential for jobs, investment and clean power in renewable energy."

Wednesday 24 February, 2010

Falkland Islands To Be Powered By 40% Renewable Energy
Already a wind energy generator, annual wind power production in the Falkland Islands is set to rise to 40 per cent with the installation of three new wind turbines.

USD$1.37 Billion Loan Guarantee For Solar Thermal Farm
BrightSource Energy, Inc., yesterday announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has conditionally committed to provide $USD1.37 billion in loan guarantees to support the financing of BrightSource’s Ivanpah Solar Electric System.

Tuesday 23 February, 2010

ACT Solar Buyers Group Free Information Sessions
In addition to current solar rebates, participating in a solar buyers group can save home owners even more money on a home solar power system. Following the success of a buyers group in the nation's capital last year, Energy Matters has a new ACT buyers group taking advantage of the current favourable market conditions.

Solar Energy Could Power The Bloom Box?
The last few days has seen an incredible amount of buzz building up about the Bloom Box; a fuel cell device that could be powered by solar energy and touted to be the solution to on-site clean electricity generation for home and business.

Monday 22 February, 2010

Australian Government Green Loans Fallout
The announcement by the Australian Government last Friday afternoon about the scrapping of its Green Loans program has upset a number of Australian home owners currently in the process of applying who had hoped for loans to install home solar power systems.

South Australia's 11th Wind Farm Opened
South Australian Premier Mike Rann opened Pacific Hydro’s Clements Gap wind farm near Crystal Brook in the state's Mid-North last Friday.

Friday 19 February, 2010

Newsflash : Australian Solar Hot Water Rebate And Green Loan Changes
The Australian Federal Government announced a short time ago major changes to current insulation and solar hot water rebates and to its green loans program.

Solar Power Systems Safe
After recent media coverage of potential risk of electrical fires from poorly installed solar power systems, Energy Matters today assured customers and the public that its solar panels and installation procedures were completely safe and met or exceeded Australian standards.

Czech Republic Solar Power Overload
The Czech Republic has seen so much growth in new solar panel installations, the state electricity control authority has called for a ban on new PV grid connections.

Thursday 18 February, 2010

Suntech Helps Power Lebanon Schools
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. is helping to improve the educational experience for children in 19 remote Lebanese schools by supplying solar panels to provide stable, clean and reliable power.

Wednesday 17 February, 2010

Energy Matters At Melbourne Sustainable Living Festival
Melbourne's Sustainable Living Festival is still in full swing, with the Festival's Main Event to be held at Federation Square in Melbourne on 19-21 February. Energy Matters will be in attendance to provide advice on solar power and will be offering special festival-only solar power deals.

Mitsubishi Sets Two Solar Cell Efficiency Records
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced it has set two new world records for solar cell conversion efficiency.

Tuesday 16 February, 2010

Victorian Sustainability Centres Go Solar
Peppermint Ridge Farm and Cornucopia Living Heritage Centre, located at Tynong North in Victoria, recently greened their operations further by acquiring two 2.94kW grid connected solar power systems; supplied and installed by national solar solutions provider Energy Matters.

100% Renewable Energy For Australia By 2020?
Australia currently has a target of 20 per cent of its electricity supply to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. Beyond Zero Emissions yesterday released details of a costed, detailed blueprint that could see the nation move to 100 per cent renewable energy in ten years using proven, commercialised technology.

Monday 15 February, 2010

IBM's Thin Film Solar Cell Contender
IBM says it has constructed a thin film solar cell made entirely of common elements and states it has set a new world record for efficiency for thin film solar cells using the same materials.

SunPower Announces SunRay Acquisition
SunPower Corp. announced on Friday it will acquire SunRay Renewable Energy, a leading European solar farm developer.

Friday 12 February, 2010

Honda's Solar Powered Hydrogen Fuel Station
Late in January, Honda commenced operations of another solar hydrogen fuel station prototype. Honda's forays into solar hydrogen solutions has among its goals the development of a feasible home refueling station.

Thursday 11 February, 2010

Car Bodies As Batteries?
Researchers from Imperial College London are developing a prototype carbon fibre material that can act as a battery and is strong and lightweight enough to be used for car components.

World's Smallest Solar Powered Sensor
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a tiny solar powered sensor - 1,000 times smaller than comparable commercial counterparts.

Wednesday 10 February, 2010

Recommendation Threatens ACT Solar Feed In Tariff
The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission has made a draft recommendation that the premium rate for the ACT's solar feed in tariff program be dropped to 37 cents per kilowatt hour for new systems being connected after June this year.

Tuesday 09 February, 2010

U.S. Senator Pushes For 10 Million More Solar Rooftops
U.S Senator Bernie Sanders last week introduced a bill to encourage the installation of 10 million new rooftop solar power systems on homes and businesses over the next ten years.

Nuclear Power Giant Areva Buys Solar Start-up Ausra
French nuclear power firm Areva announced earlier today the acquisition of Austra, a provider of concentrated solar power electricity generation infrastructure.

Monday 08 February, 2010

Australia A Smart Grid World Leader
Australia is now considered to be one of the world leaders in a technology to play a critical role in addressing how the world utilises energy in the future - smart grid development.

Indoor Solar Panels For The Office?
The idea of indoor solar panels may sound a little like the concept of deck chairs on submarines, but U.S. based Solaroad Technologies may be onto something with their "CubeTube" cylindrical solar panels.

Friday 05 February, 2010

Monash University Goes Solar
Monash University has announced the completion of a 70kW solar farm at its Clayton campus in Victoria, capable of generating 100,00 kilowatt-hours annually.

Thursday 04 February, 2010

Abbot's Emissions Reduction Fund - The Verdict
A couple of days on from Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott's announcement of the coalition's official climate change policies and the Emissions Reduction Fund, the dust has settled somewhat and verdicts from various corners are in.

Wind Energy Powered Ahead Globally In 2009
The Global Wind Energy Council has announced the world’s wind power capacity grew to 157.9 GW in 2009. During last year, 37.5 GW of wind turbine capacity was added, representing growth of 31% over 2008.

Wednesday 03 February, 2010

Saudi Arabia Turns To Solar To Power Desalination
When Saudi Arabia, a major oil producing country, turns to the sun to solve energy problems; the world should definitely sit up and take notice.

Making Solar Cells From Tobacco Plants
Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley have utilised genetically engineered bacteria to produce the basic materials for the development of solar cells from tobacco plants.

Tuesday 02 February, 2010

Tony Abbot's ERF - A 'Solar Sunrise' For Australia?
Tony Abbott announced the Emissions Reduction Fund a short time ago, which will include a range of measures to support the increased uptake and use of renewable energy in homes and communities in Australia.

Obama's Budget - $28.4 Billion For Energy
US President Barack Obama's 2011 Budget will allow USD $28.4 billion for the Department of Energy to support scientific innovation, develop clean and secure energy technologies, maintain national security and reduce environmental risk.

Monday 01 February, 2010

Solarfun Joins Solar Panel Recycling Initiative
Solarfun announced yesterday it had joined PV Cycle; an organisation with the goal of implementing the photovoltaic industry’s commitment to set up a voluntary take back and recycling scheme for retired solar panels.

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