PwC sees significant M&A activity in renewable energy sector despite industry and economic uncertainty

February 1st, 2012 by PwC

(click on report cover to go to PwC report download page)

Deals for ‘new generation’ renewable technologies – wind, solar, biomass – are entering the big time driving the market to new record highs, reports PwC in its annual global analysis of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the renewable sector. Continue reading

UK electrical energy storage roll-out requires apt regulatory framework

January 31st, 2012 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Energy storage has long been regarded as a transforming technology for the future, enabling the better integration of intermittent renewable electricity such as wind and solar power, without requiring more high-cost peaking capacity.

A report published to clients by analysis company Bloomberg New Energy Finance has found that the breakthrough for storage could be closer than previously thought – thanks in large part to an expected drop in battery prices over the coming few years. Continue reading

Global oil production can no longer keep up if demand continues to rise

January 27th, 2012 by Nature

The impact of dwindling oil supplies on the economy is a persuasive argument for shifting away from fossil fuels, write Professor James Murray and Sir David King in a Comment piece in Nature published on 26 January 2012.

Guernsey oil tanks reflected in a street mirror in St Sampson (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

There was a ‘tipping point’ for oil in 2005. Before then, Continue reading

UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker launches South West Marine Energy Park

January 23rd, 2012 by HM Government Department of Energy and Climate Change

The South West has today been named as the UK’s first Marine Energy Park, firmly placing the region on the international map for leadership in marine renewable energy.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker made the announcement on a visit to Bristol where he met with key members of the new initiative.

UK Climate Changer Minister Greg Barker MP speaking at the RenewableUK Wave and Tidal Conference on 2 March 2011 (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

The South West Marine Energy Park will stretch from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly. Continue reading

Bloomberg New Energy Finance 2011 review of renewable energy investments

January 22nd, 2012 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports that global investment in clean energy reached a new record of $260 billion in 2011, up five percent on 2010 and almost five times the total of $53.6 billion in 2004.

Investment in solar far outstripped that in wind, and perhaps of most note, US clean energy investment moved back ahead of China for the first time since 2008.

Photovoltaic panels in a field near Goch, Germany on 7 January 2012 (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Last year also saw the one trillionth dollar invested in clean energy globally since the company started compiling data in 2004. Continue reading

Bloomberg NEF names Terra Firma top venture capital & private equity investor in clean energy for 2011

January 22nd, 2012 by Terra Firma

Terra Firma, the European private equity firm, has been confirmed by Bloomberg New Energy Finance as the leading Venture Capital and Private Equity investor in its 2011 clean energy league table awards.

The award is based upon the aggregate value of the three acquisitions that Terra Firma completed in 2011 which have created the RTR Group (“RTR”), the leading producer of solar electricity in Italy. Continue reading

UK wind power reaches six gigawatts of installed capacity

January 18th, 2012 by RenewableUK

RenewableUK, the trade association representing the renewable energy industries, has announced that the UK’s wind sector has reached a landmark 6 gigawatts of installed capacity – enough to supply electricity to 3,354,893 homes.

The 6GW threshold was reached by the Ormonde offshore wind farm, off the coast of Cumbria, which now has 120 megawatts (MW) operational – enough to power more than 67,000 homes.

The 153 metre wind turbine, weighing in at 661 tonnes, is the first of 30 to be installed at the Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm (click image to expand - Image courtesy of Vattenfall ©Tony West)

Continue reading

2012 is the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

January 18th, 2012 by United Nations

In his keynote address to the World Future Energy Summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on governments, the private sector, and civil society to make significant commitments to action in support of his Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.

His call to action underscores the importance of energy to sustainable development, and contributes to the global launch of 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.

Continue reading

Sensible and practical actions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions says Nobel Laureate

January 10th, 2012 by Mark Golden

In December 2011, Stanford Nobel laureate Burton Richter received the 2011 Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for ‘Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Climate Change and Energy in the 21st Century‘ (Cambridge University Press, 2010).

Richter, who was in his mid-70s when he began work on the book, remains active, diving into energy and environmental issues. He also has been happily married for 51 years. “That helps a lot,” he says.

International climate negotiations concluded recently in Durban, South Africa. The results were seen as pretty weak. What are your thoughts? Continue reading

Niederrhein Airport meets 2050 C02 emission target with installation of 60,000 photovoltaic panels

January 8th, 2012 by Richard Lord

The terminal building at Niederrhein Am Airport Wesse (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

If you want to see today a vision of the future of energy supply go to Germany and be awed by the massive deployment of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines.

Guernsey has its Airport 2040 vision.

Weeze or Niederrhein Airport near the town of Weeze in North Rhine-Westphalia, next to the German-Dutch border, has already done now what it needs to do to meet its 2050 carbon emission targets. Continue reading