Building wind farms not as environmentally friendly as thought

One of the general reasons that we build wind farms today is to create clean energy that does not harm the environment, or cause more environmental damage than fossil fuel systems. But a recent study in Norway shows that act of building and operating a wind power plant produces non-renewable emissions.

A land based wind farm

A study in Environmental Research Letters (ERL) has taken a life-cycle approach to evaluate the environmental cost and benefits of creating a wind farm at the fundamental level. The research looked at life cycle inventories for both on shore and off shore wind farms to estimate the total emissions. Using a set of life cycle inventories for fossil fuel power stations they were compared and evaluated the emission saving of the wind-power. Read more ...

Wales to get new green energy plant constructed by BiogenGreenfinch

Gwynedd council Wales has chosen BiogenGreenfinch as the preferred bidder for the construction of a new green energy plant which will take council collected food waste and turn it into renewable energy. Richard Barker, Chief Executive of BiogenGreenfinch, said: "We are proud and delighted to have been selected to build what will be the first anaerobic digestion facility in Wales specifically designed to take Local Authority collected food waste."

The food waste will come from local homes and business through the collection scheme run by the council the project is expected to be in operation by spring 2012. "Residents throughout Gwynedd have shown their commitment to recycling, re-using and composting more of their waste. This exciting project will ensure that Gwynedd’s food waste which will be collected on a weekly basis in communities across Gwynedd can be treated in a more efficient way within the county." Read more ...

Asian countries spending more on renewable resources than the developed countries

At the annual conference Clean Power Asia 2012, Daria La Valle the conference manager said that the Asian countries are overtaking developed ones in terms of spending on renewable and cleaner fossil power projects. The annual conference and exhibition will gather some 600 leading Asian renewable and cleaner fossil power experts, utilities, energy ministries, regulators, investors and technology. As well as service providers to discuss the latest renewable and cleaner fossil power developments in the region as well as the main challenges that utilities face to adopt greener power sources.

 “The future of renewable and clean energy is now in the developing world” says Daria La Valle, “new government policies have made it more palatable for foreign investors to finance clean power projects here in Asia through various financial instruments and clearer regulatory frameworks.” Read more ...

Australia agriculture sector looks to clean energy future

More than 500 applications received from universities, land managers, industry and government agencies for Gillard Government funding to test and develop new ways for farmers to reduce carbon emissions. “The Action on the Ground and Filling the Research Gap programs provide funding for research into on-farm practices and new technologies,” Minister Ludwig said. “The level of interest in these programs shows how keen the agriculture sector is to benefit from the opportunities in the land sector to cut carbon pollution. Read more ...

India shows record growth in renewable energy investments

A BNEF report into renewable energy investments in India showed that renewable energy investments increased by more than 52 percent in 2011, the fastest growth among major global economies. More than US$10.3 billion (€7.836 billion), was invested in renewable energy projects in India last year, with about US$4.6 billion (€3.5 billion) targeting wind energy projects and another US$4.2 billion (€3.5 billion) going toward solar project. “India’s record performance in 2011, and the momentum it is carrying into 2012, is one of the bright spots in the clean energy firmament,” said Michael Liebreich, BNEF’s chief executive. Read more ...

Investment of £25 million into the UK sustainable infrastructure

The Malaysian giants KNM Group Berhad have announced the signing of an agreement with Poplar Holdings Limited for the exclusive rights to conclude the acquisition of the entire paid-up capital of its subsidiary, Poplar Investments Limited, owners of the land earmarked for the development of EnergyPark Peterborough in the East of England.

The agreement, will see KNM take ownership of the EnergyPark site, which is consented for the UK’s first 80MWe biomass from waste to power station. KNM had earlier signed a deal worth UK£450 million (US$705.982 million) with the developers, Green Energy Parks’ (GEP) subsidiary, Peterborough Renewable Energy Ltd in 2010 for the engineering, procurement and construction of the waste to power station. Read more ...

WWF director calls global approach on renewable energy

At the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) held in Abu Dhabi last week, the director general of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Jim Leape called for global collaboration in the transitioning towards a sustainable energy future.

“We only have one earth, and humanity’s ecological footprint is much too heavy for one planet to sustain. We are fast running out of the natural resources on which our lives depend, but a future powered by renewable energies is entirely possible. With political commitment, and investment in the development of solar, wind, wave, and other alternatives as well as energy conservation a future with clean, efficient and secure energy for all is within our grasp”, said Jim Leape. Read more ...

UK slash solar panel tariff by 50 percent

The tariff paid by the government of the UK is to be slashed after December 8, from 43 pence for each kilowatt-hour generated to 21 pence. An eleventh hour rush to install solar panels have been taking place trying to beat the deadline. The decision to cut the benefit has been criticised by environmental campaigners and the green energy industry, with claims the decision will cost thousands of jobs. Ministers claim the feed-in tariff was simply unaffordable at the previous level and argue the cost of photovoltaic panels have fallen since the scheme was launched. Read more ...

Oman authorities to develop an integrated city

The project to develop a city of 100,000 residents in Duqm, Oman are looking to incorporate renewable energy into its power generation plans. The authorities in charge of the new development are looking at ways into the possibility of using alternative energy sources. H E Yahya al Jabri, president of Duqm Special Economic Zones said, "We will be conducting research and development on creating a development based on clean energy". "The special economic zone was designed to be an integrated city based on strong foundations with renewable energy to provide as much power as possible." Read more ...

Australia government help farmers to go green

In Australia the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry senator Joe Ludwig announced the plan for action on the ground program, designed to help farmers cash in on Australia clean energy future. Action on the Ground is funding to help farmers over the next six years to trial and demonstrate on-farm practices and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide or increase soil carbon. “Action on the Ground will provide farmers with support to develop the tools to mitigate the impact of climate change and help Australia meet its emission reduction targets,” Minister Ludwig said. “The first funding round of competitive grants will commit up to AU$25 million (€19.043 million) between now and 2015.” Read more ...

Biomass heating system a landmark step

Minister Allan Kelly opens energy conference in LIT Tipperary (Thurles) and congratulated, the campus for their innovation, calling their innovation of a biomass heating system as a Landmark step in improving the energy efficiency of an academic institution. Kelly said "I congratulate them on their fantastic achievement and their integrated approach to sustainable energy as it meets both energy efficiency and renewable energy objectives." Read more ...

Eneco builds largest bioenergy plant

Eneco a Dutch energy company officially launched the construction of its 49.9 MegaWatt bioenergy plant in the Dutch municipality of Delfzijl. The plant will annually convert 300,000 tons of wood chip from recycled waste wood into green electricity. It is equal to 120,000 households electricity consumption. The wood that is converted to electricity in the plant will arrive by ship, train and truck from the Netherlands and surrounding countries. Approximately 300 thousand tons are required each year, which equals about 150 ship loads. The plant is scheduled to be operational during 2013. Read more ...

Thailand's clean energy company signs an MOU

VIASPACE Inc, a clean energy company from Thailand has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Seema Energy Co, Ltd. They plan to jointly develop a detailed plan for a giant king grass plantation to fuel Seema's proposed 90MW biomass power plant. Dr. Carl Kukkonen, CEO of VIASPACE remarked: "This is a landmark agreement for VIASPACE to support the largest biomass power project being developed in Asia. Read more ...

Government sets out commitment to renewables

The government published its proposals to support renewable electricity and bring forward a surge of investment in the energy infrastructure. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Investing in green energy boosts growth and creates jobs the offshore wind sector alone could provide up to 66,000 jobs in this country by 2020'. He went on to say “Supporting clean, green, secure energy is the right thing to do for both the environment and the economy.“Today’s announcement makes clear the Government’s commitment to supporting long-term investment in the UK’s renewables industries.” Read more ...

Canada's renewable energy future looks bright

Avrim Lazar the president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) believes that with the right government support that Canada could replace nine nuclear reactors with renewable energy from the Canadian Forest Industry. "We could easily triple our clean energy output using waste products from our mills," says Lazar.  "Already we are self-generating about two thirds of our energy needs and about a half dozen of our mills are now net exporters of energy to provincial grids. Further developing this significant source of green energy needs to be a larger part of governments' energy development plans" Read more ...