US Congress Deals Blow to Wind Power Industry

The wind industry is predicting massive layoffs and stalled or abandoned projects after a deal to renew a tax credit for wind production failed last week in Washington. The move is expected to have major ramifications in states such as Illinois, where 13,892 megawatts of wind projects-enough to power 3.3 million homes per year-wait to be connected to the electric grid.

Many of those projects will be abandoned or significantly delayed without federal subsidies.

 Illinois is home to more than 150 companies that support the wind industry. At least 67 of those companies make turbines or components for wind farms. Chicago is the US headquarters to more than a dozen major wind companies who wanted to take advantage of powerful mid-western winds and the fact wind power could be fed into the electric grid. Read more ...

Australia invests in advanced biofuels

The Australian Government has awarded a AUS$5 million (€4 million) grant to James Cook University, funding the development of Australia's first freshwater and marine macro-algae to biofuels project. Not only this, but a new AUS$15 million (€12 million) Advanced Biofuels Investment Readiness (ABIR) Program has been created.

ABIR Program is designed to support the investment case of scalable, pre-commercial advanced biofuels demonstration projects in Australia. "Advanced biofuels, particularly those that can integrate into existing liquid fuel supply chains and are compatible with existing engine technologies and infrastructure could also become a significant source of regional employment," says Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson. Read more ...

Farmers on Black Isle, Scotland urged to develop wind power

A farmers' co-operative, based on the Black Isle, Scotland, is spearheading a drive to develop locally owned small scale wind energy projects across the Highlands. But now with support from Highland LEADER and the Co-operative Enterprise Hub, they have turned their attention to a different kind of harvesting by encouraging farmers to take advantage of the Scottish region’s wind resource.

Steering Group Chairman Alan Whiteford, Castlecraig Nigg, said: "Most of the wind farm investment in the Highlands to date has come from investors outside the region and we are determined to reverse this situation and ensure local farmers and communities are the major beneficiaries of future developments." Read more ...

Subsidies for solar power to be cut by Germany

Germany's government is planning to cut subsidies for solar installations by up to 30 percent due to higher-than-expected demand. The reductions, which could happen within one year, are also down to the scheme proving more costly than initially projected. Germany has been at the forefront of renewable installations in recent years, however the rise in solar projects has surpassed government expectations.

Owners of solar installations in Germany receive a guaranteed above-market price for the electricity they sell to the energy grid. Last year that amounted to a subsidy of around €6 billion (US$7.9 billion), which is financed through a levy on each household’s electricity bill. Concerns have been raised over how the subsidy cuts could affect domestic solar companies, as reductions could come into place as early as next month. Read more ...

Fish biodiesel supported by Canadian Government

The Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development will establish a demonstration bio-refinery that will convert fish oils into biodiesel with support from the Provincial Government. Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced support of this initiative with Can$89,100 (€66,275.043) in funding through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.

 

“The Provincial Government recognises the need to make the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Minister King. “This new demonstration bio-refinery will provide for positive advancements in a more environmentally-sound industry, with the research undoubtedly benefiting Newfoundland and Labrador in the future.” Read more ...

Inedible Biomass Key to Renewable Future?

SCI and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) are hosting a one day meeting for people who want to learn more about the commercial potential of the next generation of biorenewable energy, materials and fuels based on biomass.

Every year more than 40 million tons of wood and agricultural residues is produced. Converting just a fraction of this biomass into chemicals and fuels, like ethanol, could go a long way towards reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and wouldn't take crops away from food production. Read more ...

Cap reform proposals attacked by farmersand the NFU

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and farmers have attacked the cap reforms, Gail Soutar, senior CAP and International Advisor to the NFU told the conference that the greening proposals contained in the CAP reforms proposed by the European Commission are far from perfect. She said "the greening of direct payments in the CAP is inevitable and there is a role for the environment in the reforms of the CAP, but it has to be introduced without affecting production".

However, she said "that British farmers and those who are already involved in environmentally friendly production systems would be disadvantaged by three aspects of the current greening proposals in the reforms, crop diversification, retention of permanent grasslands and the seven percent ecological focus areas. Read more ...

Canadian Government supports fish oil biodiesel

The Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development will establish a demonstration bio-refinery that will convert fish oils into biodiesel with support from the Provincial Government.Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced support of this initiative with Can$89,100 (€66,437.269) in funding through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.

“The Provincial Government recognises the need to make the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery as environmentally friendly as possible,” said Minister King. “This new demonstration bio-refinery will provide for positive advancements in a more environmentally-sound industry, with the research undoubtedly benefiting Newfoundland and Labrador in the future.” Read more ...