Science and Technology:
The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has built flexible solar cells out of Corning’s Willow Glass. They are strong enough to function as roofing shingles, significantly shrinking the biggest barrier to mass adoption of solar power: the cost of installation. [ExtremeTech]
New research in Finland indicates that lignocellulosic biomass from forest product residue can be used in the production of high-quality biofuels at moderate cost. The technology is considered ready for commercial-scale production in Europe. [Science Codex]
World:
Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the 630 MW London Array as a “big win for renewable energy” at the offshore wind farm’s official opening. The project is in the outer Thames Estuary, 20 km from the coasts of Kent and Essex, and has 175 turbines. [reNews]
Advanced biofuels, biomethane and electric vehicles could out-compete conventional transport options like gasoline by 2020 if support policies are enhanced and expanded, said a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Wednesday. [Xinhua]
The latest forecast from Navigant Research (formerly known as Pike Research) is that 241,000 MW of new wind power capacity will be installed worldwide from 2012 to 2017.[CleanTechnica]
Solar energy is set to emerge as one of the Gulf region’s main sources of energy by 2017 with approximately 155 billion worth of solar power installation projects in the pipeline to generate more than 84 GW of power. [MENAFN.COM]
A report by renewable firm Regen SW reveals that the renewable energy capacity in the UK’s South West has grown by almost 50% in the past 12 months. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]
US:
A bill signed into law in Hawaii allows landlords to install renewable energy systems on their property and sell the electricity to their tenants or lessees. It requires the rate charged for the electricity to be lower than that charged by the utility and be part of the lease. [Big Island Now]
New Mexico utility PNM announced a plan to increase the solar PV it owns by 30 percent next year and to increase the wind on its system by 50 percent in 2015. The proposal meets the state’s energy portfolio requirement for 2015, while keeping costs below the state’s 3% cost cap.[Deming Headlight]
The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved two crops to use in a renewable fuel program that environmentalists have warned are invasive species. The crops in question are giant reed and napier grass. The agency is putting restrictions on production to avoid spreading. [The Hill]
The California power grid operator passed its first heat wave test of 2013 without the San Onofre nuclear plant and another reactor at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant without much trouble.[Reuters]
The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has built flexible solar cells out of Corning’s Willow Glass. They are strong enough to function as roofing shingles, significantly shrinking the biggest barrier to mass adoption of solar power: the cost of installation. [ExtremeTech]
New research in Finland indicates that lignocellulosic biomass from forest product residue can be used in the production of high-quality biofuels at moderate cost. The technology is considered ready for commercial-scale production in Europe. [Science Codex]
World:
Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the 630 MW London Array as a “big win for renewable energy” at the offshore wind farm’s official opening. The project is in the outer Thames Estuary, 20 km from the coasts of Kent and Essex, and has 175 turbines. [reNews]
Advanced biofuels, biomethane and electric vehicles could out-compete conventional transport options like gasoline by 2020 if support policies are enhanced and expanded, said a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Wednesday. [Xinhua]
The latest forecast from Navigant Research (formerly known as Pike Research) is that 241,000 MW of new wind power capacity will be installed worldwide from 2012 to 2017.[CleanTechnica]
Solar energy is set to emerge as one of the Gulf region’s main sources of energy by 2017 with approximately 155 billion worth of solar power installation projects in the pipeline to generate more than 84 GW of power. [MENAFN.COM]
A report by renewable firm Regen SW reveals that the renewable energy capacity in the UK’s South West has grown by almost 50% in the past 12 months. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]
US:
A bill signed into law in Hawaii allows landlords to install renewable energy systems on their property and sell the electricity to their tenants or lessees. It requires the rate charged for the electricity to be lower than that charged by the utility and be part of the lease. [Big Island Now]
New Mexico utility PNM announced a plan to increase the solar PV it owns by 30 percent next year and to increase the wind on its system by 50 percent in 2015. The proposal meets the state’s energy portfolio requirement for 2015, while keeping costs below the state’s 3% cost cap.[Deming Headlight]
The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved two crops to use in a renewable fuel program that environmentalists have warned are invasive species. The crops in question are giant reed and napier grass. The agency is putting restrictions on production to avoid spreading. [The Hill]
The California power grid operator passed its first heat wave test of 2013 without the San Onofre nuclear plant and another reactor at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant without much trouble.[Reuters]
