Category: Energy Matters

A new Revolution: China hikes Wind and Solar Power Targets

admin /3 November, 2009

October 9, 2009

A New Revolution: China Hikes Wind and Solar Power Targets

China’s National Development and Reform Commission is reported to have recently drafted a stimulus plan for the country’s renewable energy industry.
by Christian Zeppezauer and Connie Carnabuci
London, UK [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

Today, China is already the world’s leading renewable energy producer in absolute numbers, with an installed capacity of 152 GW out of an approximately 800 GW total.

Turbines at dawnHydropower has traditionally been the country’s main source of renewable energy, with over 95% of renewable energy coming from large dam projects such as the famous Three Gorges Dam. The second most common source of grid-connected renewable energy is wind power. As the third fastest-growing wind power market (after the US and Spain), China’s installed wind capacity has increased from 2.3 GW at the end of 2005 to a capacity of about 12.8 GW at the end of 2008.

In contrast, solar power generation has been almost non-existent in China. While solar thermal power is in widespread use, the central government and the five major utilities have deemed photovoltaic (PV) power too expensive, particularly compared with coal, which can generate electricity at an eighth of the cost. Therefore, despite the fact that China’s solar PV industry is the world leader in terms of production, so far over 95% of the produced units have been exported.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies more Than Double Those for Renewables

admin /3 November, 2009

Bushism-Howardism and Ruddism seem to be endemic throughout the developed
nations. What can Obama do to counter this?.
 
October 23, 2009

Fossil Fuel Subsidies More Than Double Those for Renewables

Washington, D.C., United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production, according to research from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). The study, which reviewed fossil fuel and energy subsidies for Fiscal Years 2002-2008, revealed that the lion’s share of energy subsidies supported energy sources that emit high levels of greenhouse gases.

The research demonstrates that the federal government provided substantially larger subsidies to fossil fuels than to renewables. Fossil fuels benefited from approximately US $72 billion over the seven-year period, while subsidies for renewable fuels totaled only $29 billion.

Welsh construction centre leads field in sustainability

admin /1 November, 2009

Welsh construction centre leads field in sustainability

Eifion Rees

16th July, 2009

The new Construction and Sustainable Energy Centre in Haverfordwest is a blueprint for the newbuild higher education buildings of the future, in Wales and beyond

Pembrokeshire is a part of Wales well versed in contradictions. With a coastline rich in biodiversity, as well as some of the finest beaches in the UK, it is also home – in Milford Haven, Europe’s biggest deepwater port – to huge Chevron and Merco oil refineries, and the South Hook and Dragon LNG terminals, starting point for the vast pipeline that carries liquefied natural gas all the way to Gloucestershire.

Roughly 20 per cent of the UK’s energy capacity comes through Pembrokeshire, in fact, so perhaps it’s understandable that it should be at the forefront not only of technological innovations in this sector, but in the world of construction too.

Governments failure to acknowledge oil supply crunch risks conflict and threatens the climate

admin /21 October, 2009

Government failure to acknowledge oil supply crunch risks conflict and threatens the climate

Press Release – 20/10/2009

There is an imminent oil supply crunch that governments have failed to acknowledge or act upon, the impacts of which will be felt throughout every aspect of modern society which is heavily reliant on oil, according to a new report published by campaign group Global Witness today.

Governments have not taken on board the four underlying oil production factors which clearly show there is a problem.  Heads in the Sand outlines these factors – declining output, declining discoveries, increasing demand and insufficient projects in the pipeline – which clearly show that the world is facing an imminent oil supply crunch.  Some of these factors have been apparent for many years. [1]

Biomethane as an energy carrier

admin /21 October, 2009

October 20, 2009

Biomethane as an Energy Carrier

by Thomas R. Blakeslee, Clearlight Foundation

Methane is a better long-distance energy carrier than electricity. Its storage and transportation is much cheaper and easier than electricity. Natural gas pipelines cost half as much to build as electric towers and have about one fourth as much transmission loss. They are also more reliable, safer and visually superior to ugly transmission towers.

Building a hydrogen infrastructure now would be folly. Biomethane can do the job now and will be cleaner and cheaper.

Our electrical grid is only 30% efficient in delivering the energy in fuel burned to the customer. That efficiency could be doubled or even tripled if we used combined heat and power (CHP) generators located where heat is needed. By using the generator’s waste heat, an efficiency of 85% is possible. Clearly it is smarter to expand our gas pipeline network than to build more electrical towers to distribute inefficiently generated electricity from massive power plants.

Is the German Renewable Energy Industry in Jeopardy?

admin /20 October, 2009

Is the German Renewable Energy Industry in Jeopardy? by John Blau, European Contributor Berlin, Germany [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] Germany’s newly elected government could hinder the expansion of renewable energy in the country with its plans to extend the lifetime of nuclear reactors, warns the German Renewable Energy Federation (Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie – BEE). “There has to be Continue Reading →

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