News for February 2011

News Archive

Gode Wind II offshore wind farm nearer construction Gode Wind II offshore wind farm nearer construction

PNE WIND AG is closer to construction of the 252 MW Gode Wind II offshore wind farm in the German North Sea zone – and Vestas confirms its position as wind turbine supplier.

Superconductor for hydropower – and potentially wind

Converteam has developed a high temperature superconducting hydropower generator that could also be transferred for wind power applications.

Alstom delivers grid booster to accommodate UK wind

Alstom Grid will design, supply and commission two 400 kV, 2750 MVA Quadrature Boosters valued at £18 million to the UK National Grid, which could help accommodate more wind into the UK grid.

Next-generation PowerBuoy wave power device completed

Ocean Power Technologies has completed the first of its next-generation utility-scale PowerBuoy wave power device, the PB150.

Partrac completes UK tidal site measurements Partrac completes UK tidal site measurements

Oceanographic measurements at the fifth tidal energy site in the UK have been completed by Partrac.

Danish 2050 energy strategy focuses on wind and bioenergy

The Energy Strategy 2050 looks at how Denmark could become independent from coal, oil and gas by 2050 and significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, using more renewable energy.

UK investigates impact of tidal energy devices

The UK Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is developing a model of the UK’s tidal energy resources to look at interactions between extraction systems and the effect energy availability.

Gamesa’s 2010 hit by financial crisis

Gamesa saw a 54% dip in net profits to €50 million in 2010 compared to 2009, as the financial crisis impacted demand.

Bosch to fully acquire aleo Solar?

Bosch, which has a near 82% stake in alea Solar AG, is offering aleo Solar’s remaining shareholders €22 per share.

UK rural enterprise invests in solar PV project

A 5 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system is to be constructed as part of The Regeneration Initiative at the Royal Bath & West of England Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

Aquamarine Power agrees wave energy deal with Fugro Seacore Aquamarine Power agrees wave energy deal with Fugro Seacore

The £3 million deal will see Aquamarine install three more Oyster wave energy devices in the Orkneys.

20% efficiency ‘realistic’ for silicon solar cells

Researchers in Germany claim to have achieved new peak efficiency for large-area easy-to-fabricate silicon solar cells.

Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore wind farm confirmed

DONG Energy has confirmed the development of its 320 MW offshore wind farm Borkum Riffgrund 1 off the coast of Germany, representing an investment of around €1.25 billion.

Q-Cells turns loss to profit in 2010

Q-Cells has recorded a net result from continuing operations of €90.9 million in 2010, compared to a loss of €370.8m in 2009.

Trina Solar’s net income soars 224% in 2010

Trina Solar saw a 224% increase in its net income in 2010 to US$311.5m compared to 2009.

Conergy loss almost halved in 2010

Conergy saw an improvement in its net result to a loss of €42 million in 2010, compared to a loss of €81.1m in 2009.

Solar PV leads renewable growth in Europe

Solar photovoltaics (PV) saw the strongest growth of all renewable technologies in Europe last year.

Gamesa to supply E.ON with offshore wind technology

The wind turbine manufacturer will install its specialist offshore wind equipment in 2012.

Permit granted for first Finnish offshore wind farm

Finnish authorities grant a water permit to the Suurhiekka wind farm, the country’s first offshore wind project.

Horizon, Pilus on bioreactors to produce renewable hydrogen from waste for fuel cells

Ohio-based Pilus Energy has announced a strategic relationship with Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies in Singapore, to combine Horizon hydrogen fuel cells with Pilus Energy’s renewable hydrogen production platform.

JA Solar with 18.2% conversion efficiency solar cell

The new multi-crystalline silicon solar cell uses JA Solar’s proprietary Maple technology.

Eco Marine on-board solar and wind system for ships

The ship-based Aquarius Solar and Wind Marine Power System is being developed by Eco Marine Power.

Location announced for 900 MW offshore wind farm Location announced for 900 MW offshore wind farm

Eneco will builds a 900 MW offshore wind farm off the Dorset and Hampshire coasts, UK.

Good response to EU funding call for renewable projects

The UK Energy Minister has seen a strong interest in marine energy technology for the European fund.

Investor confidence in cleantech and renewable energy still high

Governent attitudes to renewable energy are the most important investment driver, according to a survey by London Bridge Capital.

Abengoa furthers lignocellulosic bioethanol efforts

Abengoa plans to achieve a yield of over 300 litres/tonne at its lignocellulosic bioethanol pilot production plant in Babilafuente in Salamanca.

TwentyNinety awarded for its solar PV array

TwentyNinety has won a Shell Springboard award for its solar photovoltaic (PV) Active Array™, which is being launched this year.

Parabel plans potential 90 MW solar park in Germany

Parabel AG plans a 90 MW solar power plant at a former military training ground in Brandenburg, Germany.

Prioritise Australian renewable energy insists SEA

The Australian Government comes under pressure from the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) to incorporate renewable energy infrastructure into the ongoing relief project following the floods in Eastern Australia.

Sharp Energy unveils solar development project Sharp Energy unveils solar development project

The Sun and Stars initiative links renewable energy companies with crisis projects in developing countries.

Vattenfall contracts turbine vessel for offshore wind farm

The vessel will be used to transport and install wind turbines for an offshore wind farm in Germany.

Wind map of Lebanon Wind map of Lebanon

A wind map of Lebanon has been developed by GL Garrad Hassan to support the country’s emerging wind industry.

Updated: Vestas joins floating offshore wind turbine project Updated: Vestas joins floating offshore wind turbine project

Vestas has joined the WindFloat Project for floating offshore wind turbine platforms using a semi-submersible structure.

Spotlight on new solar power electronics technology

New research reveals apprehensions regarding the type of application for emerging solar power electronics technologies that are currently being developed such as micro inverters and power optimisation through maximum power-point tracking (MPPT).

Petratherm announces geothermal test results

Geothermal energy developer Petratherm has released results from a geothermal well injectivity test in South Australia.

Printed electronics research for organic PV

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) could benefit from a European research collaboration into printed electronics.

Dutch researchers help Kuwaiti solar PV

The Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) will advise and support the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in setting up and equipping a test facility for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

IPSol builds solar PV centre in UK

IPSol Energy is establishing what it calls a solar photovoltaic (PV) “centre of excellence” in Nottingham, UK.

Sunways sales up 25% in 2010

Sunways AG has reported preliminary sales figures for the full year 2010 of €222.7 million, up 25% on 2009.

10 countries: 80% of smart grid investment

A new report has shown that by 2030, 10 countries will account for 80% of global smart grid investment.

Carmanah and ADB win solar contract in Afghanistan

The military aviation solar contract has been won by partners Carmanah Technologies and ADB.

Ireland’s first geothermal electricity plant approved

Planning permission for the first geothermal electicity plant in Ireland has been obtained by SLR Consulting.

UK wind industry windfall to communities

The UK wind industry has agreed on a protocol on payments from wind farms to community benefit funds specifying a £1000 minimum payment per year per MW of installed power over the lifetime of a wind farm, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne will announce today.

aleo solar modules for 3 MW rooftop plant in Italy

aleo solar AG will supply over 13,000 of its S_18 solar modules to Italian logistics corporation he Lannutti Group for a 3 MW rooftop plant in Cuneo, Italy.

Gamesa develops 600 MW of wind in China

Gamesa will develop 600 MW of wind projects in the Jilin province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China with two Chinese partners.

Phoenix Solar builds solar PV plant in Saudi Arabia

What could be Saudi Arabia’s largest photovoltaic (PV) power plant will be built by Phoenix Solar.

Alstom signs small hydropower contracts in Brazil

Two small hydropower plants in Brazil will use Alstom’s specialised hydropower plant equipment.

£5m to UK small wind project

Wind turbine manufacturer quietrevolution receives £5 million in project financing from Hazel Capital for the deployment of its qr5 wind turbine.

Parity Solar’s thin-film modules get MCS accreditation Parity Solar’s thin-film modules get MCS accreditation

Parity Solar’s thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules have achieved MCS certification following a review of its manufacturing processes, materials, procedures and products carried out in China by the British Board of Agrément.

Mapping UK’s solar power potential Mapping UK’s solar power potential

Bluesky’s Solar Suitability Map for the UK maps the solar power potential for solar panels on roofs.

BayernLB finances private Bavarian geothermal power plant

BayernLB has facilitated the project financing of a private geothermal power plant in Bavaria, Germany, in cooperation with the development company Süddeutsche Geothermie-Projekte Gesellschaft (SGG).

Donauer mobile solar energy system

Donauer Solartechnik’s Mobile Solar Power System (MSPS), designed for extreme climate conditions, will be distributed by the off grid division of Gilching solar wholesaler and was launched at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

European solar PV industry calls for UK feed-in tariff caution

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association has urged the British Government to review its feed-in tariff carefully.

Solar PV plant planned in former Italian quarry

International energy provider Scatec Solar signs a contract with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and Italgen to construct a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in an old quarry, close to Guiglia, Italy.

Crystalline solar PV margins and prices in decline

Prices are falling sharply throughout the solar photovoltaic (PV) crystalline supply chain, according to IMS Research.

Abengoa joins Living Planet Green Tech Europe index

Abengoa is joining the Living Planet Green Tech Europe index created by CA Cheuvreux and Living Planet Fund Management Company (LPF).

Status of feed-in tariffs in Europe 2010

The use of feed-in tariffs (FiTs) to pay for renewable generation now overwhelmingly dominates European renewable energy policy, according to the most recent meeting of the International Feed-in (tariff) Cooperation council (IFIC).

First Solar modules for 25 MWp of Moser Baer solar projects

Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited (MBCEL) will procure 25 MWp DC of First Solar's thin-film solar modules for its solar power generation projects.

Carbon Trust funding down 40%

The UK Carbon Trust is seeing a 40% cut in funding this year, Chief Executive Tom Delay reveals.

ACAL Energy wins £1m in Carbon Trust Fuel Cell Challenge, in push for mass-market fuel cell cars

In the UK, ACAL Energy has been awarded a £1 million investment from The Carbon Trust, by winning the Polymer Fuel Cell Challenge. This initiative aims to accelerate access to new markets for fuel cell products, such as the widespread introduction of hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Contract confirmed for 11 GW hydropower in Brazil

Alstom signs a €500 million contract with Norte Energia de Brazil to provide hydropower equipment for the 11,230 MW Belo Monte Dam, Brazil.

Diesel biofuel found to reduce local air emissions

A fuel trial in Helsinki, Finland, has found that diesel biofuel can significantly reduce air emissions.

Proven Energy and Shetland Wind Power form partnership

Shetland Wind Power has agreed to exclusively sell Proven Energy products in the small wind energy sector.

Atlantis tidal device to Bay of Fundy

Atlantis Resources Corporation has been allocated the fourth berth in the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) for a tidal stream testing in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia in Canada.

SolarWorld saw strong 2010

SolarWorld saw strong growth in 2010 with a 50% increase in profits to €89 million.

Vestas confirms 200 MW Arise Windpower talks

Vestas has issued a statement confirming rumours that it is in talks with Swedish Arise Windpower for a 200 MW wind power project in Sweden.

Glasgow working with EADS on hydrogen storage tanks for aircraft using nanotechnology

Chemists at the University of Glasgow are working with European aerospace giant EADS in using nanotechnology to alter the design and material composition of a storage tank, to use solid-state hydrogen on an industrial scale for aircraft and cars.

Geothermal Engineering bids for share of £1.4bn fund

Geothermal Engineering Ltd has bid for a share of the UK £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund to support the build-out of geothermal plants in Devon and Cornwall, UK.

Conergy sells biogas projects

International solar system manufacturer Conergy is selling its biogas activities to Munich-based RES Projects for an undisclosed sum.

Gehrlicher sells 1.9 MWp Audi solar system

An Audi rooftop system owned by Gehrlicher Solar has been sold to PT Erneuerbare Energien Energy Fund for €4.6 million.

Solar PV materials market to reach US$12.8bn by 2014

The market for solar photovoltaic (PV) materials will have grown 50% in four years, according to GTM Research.

MENA region CSP beneficial for North Africa and Europe

North Africa and the Middle East could profit greatly from the expansion of concentrating solar power (CSP) capacity in the future, according to Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).

Humber Gateway 230 MW offshore wind farm go-ahead

The 230 MW Humber Gateway offshore wind farm off Yorkshire, UK, has been given planning approval by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Vestas profit up 25% despite tough 2010

Vestas saw a 25% increase in profits to €156 million in 2010 despite having a “tough year”.

Step forward for Argentinean wind industry

International renewable energy consultancy Natural Power has signed an agreement with Argentinean renewable company Nowa Energía.

Gamesa seeks offshore turbine spots on Spanish wind farm

Gamesa is hoping to install four wind turbines in an experimental Spanish offshore station.

Schott Solar signs 20 MW Indian PV contract

Schott Solar will deliver 200,00 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Premier Solar India.

Parity Solar completes 200 kW BIPV project in China Parity Solar completes 200 kW BIPV project in China

Parity Solar has completed a 200 kW building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) building project at the New Area Court House complex in Zhenjiang City, China.

Jatropha over-hyped? Jatropha over-hyped?

The Jatropha plant, heralded as a top candidate for biofuel production, has been somewhat over-hyped, according to Dr Karl Hilding Thune at the Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute.

LM Wind Power develops blade for Alstom offshore turbine LM Wind Power develops blade for Alstom offshore turbine

LM Wind Power is developing what it calls “the world’s longest wind turbine blade every produced” for Alstom’s 6 MW offshore wind turbine.

Onshore wind mapping resource for the UK

Renewable energy consultancy, GL Garrad Hassan, launches a wind resource map of Great Britain in order to meet the renewed onshore wind activity since feed-in tariffs were introduced last year.

REC revenue almost doubled in Q4 2010

REC Group’s revenues hit NOK4874 million (€618.6m) in the fourth quarter (Q4) in 2010, up 92% from the same quarter in 2009 as sales increased.

European consortium develops thin-film solar PV module

European companies are working together to produce a low-cost thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) module for roofing.

Kyocera introduces 245 Wp solar PV module

Japanese company Kyocera is unveiling its new 245 Wp solar photovoltaic (PV) module in March.

Alstom offshore topside and substructure for Borkum West II wind farm

Alstom Grid will construct an offshore topside and substructure to hose the electrical offshore substation for at Borkum West II offshore wind farm for Trianel Windkraftwerk Borkum GmbH & Co KG.

Large wind turbines test site opens in the Netherlands Large wind turbines test site opens in the Netherlands

A wind turbine test site for prototyping and certificaion, said to be the largest in Europe, has opened in the Netherlands.

India to become renewable energy powerhouse

India could become a renewable energy powerhouse due to its need for alternative energy sources, international pressure and strong Government support, according to Datamonitor.

UK feed-in tariff review “bad news for PV”

The announced review to the UK feed-in tariff for solar power is “bad news for PV,” according to the Renewable Energy Association’s (REA) Technical Director Stuart Pocock.

UK solar farm feed-in tariffs under review

The UK has begun a review of the feed-in tariff scheme for solar power following evidence that large-scale solar farms may affect the amount of money intended to help homes and small businesses generate their own electricity.

Solar PV testing scheme to help buyers

TÜV Rheinland and Solarpraxis have set up a test to compare the quality of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Iberdrola secures half of Hungary’s wind energy market

Three wind farms in Hungary have been sold to Spanish company Iberdrola Renovables.

Romax Wind Business Centre in India

Romax Solutions Pvt Ltd has opened a Wind Business Centre in Chennai, India.

Revised design practice for offshore monopile wind turbine foundations Revised design practice for offshore monopile wind turbine foundations

A joint industry project (JIP) led by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has looked at offshore monopile wind turbine structures to improve the calculation of the axial load capacity and to review current design practices.

Spanish researchers develop 20.5% efficiency solar cells

Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) have produced a silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) cells with a conversion efficiency of 20.5%.

SolarWorld profit soars 51% in 2010

SolarWorld AG’s consolidated profits soared 51% in 2010 to €89 million, according to provisional results.

Juwi expands into South Africa and Chile

Wind, solar and bioenergy developer Juwi has opened subsidiaries near Cape Town and Santiago.

UK invests £2.5m in wave and tidal research

Three wave and tidal research projects have received £2.5 million funding from the UK Government.

REC constructs 24 MW solar power plant in Italy

REC Systems, part of REC, is constructing a 24.2 MW solar power plant together with ABB in the Lazio region of Italy using 100,000 REC solar modules.

Risø improves wind turbine blade testing Risø improves wind turbine blade testing

Risø DTU is looking into ways of improving wind turbine blade testing with partners from the across the industry with the aim of improving wind turbine blade structures and design.

Tocardo commissions bi-directional tidal turbine Tocardo commissions bi-directional tidal turbine

Dutch Tocardo has installed and commissioned its first bi-directional tidal turbine at its testing and demonstration facilities in Den Oever, The Netherlands.

REpower sees net profit fall in 9M period

REpower saw its net profit fall 18.4% to €26.2 million for the first 9 months of the fiscal year ending March 2011.

Global renewable energy vision for 2050

An international renewable energy system will be possible by 2050, according to a report by Ecofys and WWF.

Big oil companies slow to take up biofuels Big oil companies slow to take up biofuels

Many major oil companies have missed fuel sustainability performance targets set by the UK Government, according to the Renewable Fuels Agency.

AECOM and EDF look at hydropower in DR Congo

AECOM and Electricité de France (EDF) have been awarded US$13.4 million feasibility study for Grand Inga hydropower site on Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Celestica and Recurrent solar manufacturing JV in Ontario

Celestica Inc and Sharp subsidiary Recurrent Energy have formed a joint venture (JV) to manufacture over 200 MW of solar components annually creating 300 manufacturing jobs in Ontario, Canada.

Alstom and S&C partner on smart grid solutions

Alstom Grid and S&C Electric Company will jointly develop smart grid solutions to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and real-time self-healing networks.

Asia leads global wind power growth Asia leads global wind power growth

Asia leads the growth in global wind power, which grew 35.8 GW in 2010 bringing total global capacity to 194.4 GW – up 22.5% from 2009, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) says.

CSP market set for 2011 solar boom

The market for concentrated solar power (CSP) will reach gigawatt scale this year, according to Lux Research.

Australian renewable industry held back by politics

Lack of a cohesive national policy is restricting the development of renewable energy in Australia, according to Datamonitor.

Electricity from waste heat Electricity from waste heat

Turning waste heat from buildings, and even vehicles, into electricity is being explored by researchers at Denmark’s Risø DTU.

Gamesa India strengthens local wind turbine supply chain

Gamesa India has met with 52 of its wind turbine component suppliers “to make progress on standards for quality, response capability and the development of efficiency improvement solutions.”

GCube ups solar property coverage to US$0.5bn

GCube Underwriting Ltd, a provider of insurance services for renewable energy technologies, has grown its solar property coverage from US$300 million to US$500m for any single solar project or phase.

LM Wind Power signs UN Global Compact

LM Wind Power has signed the United Nations Global Compact and pledges to become ‘greener and cleaner’ in its operations.

Solar industry concern about EU energy finance model

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has expressed concern about the European Commission's latest proposals to finance renewable energy.

UK wind energy employment rises 91%

The number of people employed in the wind energy industry in the UK has risen by 91%, according to a study by RenewableUK.

ITM Power reports successful high power density fuel cell tests with air rather than oxygen

UK-based ITM Power has demonstrated exceptionally high power densities in initial testing of its proprietary hydrocarbon membrane materials for hydrogen/air fuel cells. The company says it has achieved more than double the fuel cell power density performance presently available on the market.

UK-Norwegian interconnector JV

A joint venture, NorthConnect, has been set up between UK, Norwegian and Swedish companies to plan and build an electrical interconnector between UK and Norway.

Ceres Power begins fuel cell residential CHP field trials in consumer homes

In the UK, Ceres Power has commenced commercial field trials of its wall-mounted combined heat and power (CHP) product in occupied homes. The residential CHP systems utilize Ceres Power’s unique intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell technology.

Suzlon in 1 GW wind power deal in India

Suzlon will deliver 1 GW of wind turbines to Caparo Energy (India) Ltd (CEIL) for wind power projects to be developed in India by March 2013.

Cabling started at Ormonde offshore wind farm

Vattenfall has started the cable laying process to connect the Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm to the UK national grid.

Siemens to test molten salt CSP in Portugal

Siemens is building a molten salt concentrating solar power (CSP) test facility in Portugal to test molten salt as a heat transfer medium for CSP.

Technip buys Scottish offshore wind subsea cable installer Subocean

French engineering giant Technip has bought Scottish offshore wind subsea cable installer Subocean with an upfront investment of £10 million following Subocean going into administration last week.

Abengoa sets up renewable and sustainable energy centre

Abengoa and the Loyola Andalucia University Foundation is setting up a research centre to promote education and research activities based on renewable energy and sustainable development.