News
News
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Australia switches on first large-scale solar project
The sun is finally shining on Australia’s nascent renewables sector with the switching on of its first large-scale photovoltaic solar development. The 10 MW Greenough River Solar Farm near Geraldton, Western Australia has been developed by state-owned utility Verve Energy, GE’s Energy Financial Services division and US photovoltaics provider First Solar. The 50-acre solar farm, […]
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UK Chancellor backs renewables but gives shale gas a tax break
In his headline speech to the Conservative Party annual conference yesterday, Chancellor George Osborne promised investment in renewable energy but also new tax breaks for shale gas. At the end of his address, he promised that the government would be “relentless activists” for new infrastructure, roads and power plants. Osborne committed the government to an […]
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Market uncertainty leads to clean energy investment slump
Global clean investment slumped 5% to $56.6 billion in the third quarter of the year thanks to uncertainty in key US and European markets, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The fast approaching end to production tax credits (PTC) for renewable generation in the US has led to a lull in wind farm financing, which […]
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Scotland launches £103 million renewable energy fund
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is today launching a multi-million pound renewable energy investment fund amid criticism that government’s green energy plans are at odds with North Sea oil operations. According to an article in the Guardian newspaper, the Scottish Government’s plans to sell 12-24 billion barrels of oil and gas over the next 40 […]
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UK biomass generators get a double boost
UK biomass generators have received a double boost from the government in the last few days. On Friday, Energy Minister John Hayes announced a new voluntary reporting process under the Renewables Obligation (RO) for generators wishing to convert coal plants to biomass facilities. The government says the change will reduce the regulatory burden for generators, […]
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UK businesses calls for 2030 carbon target to unleash investment
A group of the UK’s largest businesses and industry bodies have written an open letter to the Chancellor George Osborne calling for a 2030 carbon target for the power sector. Only such clarity on the future for the industry can unleash the £110 billion investment needed to transform the UK’s electricity infrastructure, says the statement […]
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Tighening electricity supplies could spell blackouts for UK, warns regulator
The UK energy regulator Ofgem has warned that tightening electricity supplies over the next few years could spell blackouts for the country. The regulator’s forecast of electricity generation margins over the next four years show a fall from a 14% margin in 2012/13 to just 4% in 2015/16. EU environmental legislation is forcing the closure […]
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UK Labour leader says environment “absolutely central” to vision
After disappointing the green community with his keynote party conference speech this week, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has said that the environment is “absolutely central” to his vision for the UK. The former Energy Secretary under the previous Labour government failed to mention the environment in his otherwise well-received ‘one nation’ speech, but has […]
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Audi fills up on promise of Joule’s waste water biofuel
German carmaker Audi and US partner Joule are hailing the development of a simple and cost-effective process that produces petrol and diesel from waste water. The process harnesses genetically modified microorganisms, which are placed in pipes filled with brackish water and reacted with waste CO2 and sunlight. The microorganisms secrete diesel-range paraffinic alkanes without the […]
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“Brutal” economic climate drives clean energy investment to three-year low
Global clean energy investment has fallen to a three-year low, according to the latest analysis by Clean Energy pipeline. Project finance, venture capital and private equity in Europe, China and North America are all at their lowest activity levels since 2009. Clean energy project finance saw a 28% dip to $27.3 billion compared with the […]
Quotes
The cheapest kWh of energy is the one you don't use Delvin Lane, Head of Energy 360, British Gas