Energy infrastructure News for December 2009

Energy infrastructure News Archive

South Australia supports renewable energy in the state

The state government of South Australia has made two announcements to promote the use of renewable energy.

Renewable energy increases 21% in Ireland

The use of renewable energy in Ireland expanded by 21% in 2008, according to the analytic report, ‘Energy in Ireland 1990-2008.’

Siemens provides grid access for London Array offshore wind farm

Siemens will provide grid access for the London Array offshore wind farm in addition to the 175 Siemens SWT-3.6 wind turbines totalling 630 MW it is already supplying.

Nexans to provide €100m of cables for the London Array offshore wind farm Nexans to provide €100m of cables for the London Array offshore wind farm

Cable provider Nexans will design, manufacture and supply the high voltage (HV) subsea power export cables for the London Array offshore wind farm under a contract worth around €100 million.

Offshore wind farm links shortlist worth over £1bn announced

UK’s Ofgem E-Serve has announced a short list of firms for the first 9 offshore wind farm links projects following the first tender to run transmission connections to offshore wind farms.

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ETI project to reduce subsea cable costs for wave and tidal power

A project which could considerably reduce the cost of cabling from offshore wave and tidal farms to the shore has been announced by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

COP15: US to promote renewable energy in developing countries

The United States has launched a US$350m ‘Renewables & Efficiency Deployment Initiative’ (Climate REDI) to accelerate deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in developing countries at COP15 in Copenhagen.

Europe gives €562m to offshore wind farms

The European Commission has granted €1.5 billion to offshore wind farms and carbon capture & storage (CCS) schemes that will relaunch Europe’s economy and reduce its GHG emissions.

European cities must implement more renewable energy

Cities in Europe are leaders in environmental performance, but they have a long way to go in the adoption of renewable energy, according to the ‘European Green City Index.’

Smarter Grid Solutions and SSE deploy smart grid on Orkney

Smarter Grid Solutions Ltd and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) have deployed smart grid technology on SSE’s power distribution network on Orkney, allowing the connection of increased amounts of new renewable energy generation.

COP15: Senior US official maps vision for new energy future at UN climate change summit

The international agreements being negotiated in Copenhagen “will propel all of us forward in the clean energy economy,” the US Secretary of the Interior has assured delegates to the UN conference on climate change, COP15, in Copenhagen.

EIB: €3m for 1 GW electricity interconnector between UK and the Netherlands

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide €300 million for the construction of the 1 GW BritNed Interconnector, a new electricity transmission cable between the UK and the Netherlands.

More than 1000 towns and cities commit to use sustainable and renewable energy

The number of municipalities which has signed onto the ‘Covenant of Mayors’ for sustainable and renewable energy has surpassed 1000 since its creation in February.

GridWise Alliance releases two smart grid reports

The GridWise Alliance has released two reports detailing the most important metrics associated with measuring and understanding smart grid success.

Renewable energy is critical to climate change mitigation, says IEA

The International Energy Agency (IEA) will present “key findings” on renewable energy during the climate conference in Copenhagen.

USA remains most attractive country for renewable energy

The United States remains the most attractive country overall for renewable energy, but China has moved ahead of Germany to take second spot in the rankings released by Ernst & Young.

UK signs up to European offshore wind grid

Nine countries including the UK signed up to develop an integrated offshore wind grid in the North and Irish Seas.

ETI announces renewable energy networks projects in the UK

The UK Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is launching two projects to identify the challenges and solutions of collecting and distributing electricity from renewable sources in the UK

Air Liquide acquires Hydrogen Generation Module technology from H2Gen Innovations

In the US, Air Liquide has acquired the Hydrogen Generation Module (HGM) technology from Virginia-based H2Gen Innovations. The HGM technology is being acquired by two Air Liquide affiliates: Air Liquide Process & Construction Inc, and Air Liquide Industrial US LP.

UK rolls out smart meters and smart grids UK rolls out smart meters and smart grids

All UK homes will have smart meters delivered by energy suppliers by the end of 2020 as part of UK’s plans to move towards smart grids, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced.

Air Liquide to supply two hydrogen fueling stations for Korea

Air Liquide has been chosen to supply two new hydrogen fueling stations in South Korea, designed and developed by the group’s Advanced Technologies teams.

Hydrogenics wins new credit line in Europe, to fund 2010 expansion

Hydrogenics Europe NV, the Belgian subsidiary of Canadian-based Hydrogenics Corporation, has secured a €3.5 million (US$5.3 million) operating facility from Dexia Bank SA, a Belgian financial institution. The facility will be used to finance working capital requirements for Hydrogenics’ OnSite Generation business in 2010.

Smart grid could lead to stupid privacy decisions: privacy commissioner

A smart electricity grid could lead to some stupid privacy decisions, according to a report issued by the Information & Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Canada.

At COP15, 16 national associations say major hydrogen programs can reduce climate change

A coalition of 16 associations from around the world has issued a joint statement in Copenhagen, Denmark to underscore how hydrogen technologies can help to curb global greenhouse gas emissions.

Parade of hydrogen cars energizes Copenhagen ahead of COP15

A parade of fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles has crossed the imposing Øresund Bridge between Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark, to demonstrate the potential of these zero-emission vehicles at the COP15 climate change summit.

Fraunhofer ISE looks at intelligent energy management in smart grids Fraunhofer ISE looks at intelligent energy management in smart grids

Fraunhofer ISE is coordinating a demonstration on how all of the features of a smart grid can be realised using an integrated smart metering concept.

Export cable work starts on Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm

A horizontal directional drilling technique to install ducts at Weybourne is being used in preparation of the ‘pull-in’ of the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm’s two export cables.

Innovative Danish technology uses methanol to make fuel cell vehicles competitive Innovative Danish technology uses methanol to make fuel cell vehicles competitive

Metha Energy Solutions and Serenergy have unveiled a ground-breaking electric vehicle, ahead of the COP15 climate change conference in Copenhagen. The partners see future electric vehicle drive-trains as hybrids combining a battery with a reformed methanol fuel cell, where the battery provides the speed and the fuel cell the power.