GE has added a new renewable energy business to its portfolio, which it introduced at EWEA 2015 in Paris this week. The new unit significantly expands GE’s wind portfolio in the wake of its recent acquisition of Alstom’s power and grid businesses. “[This] is an exciting day for the future of the wind industry,” said…
Over 25% of Brazil’s total power capacity will come from non-hydro renewables by 2025
Brazil’s non-hydro renewable power sector is expected to account for more than 25% of Brazil’s total capacity by 2025, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. Non-hydro renewables’ cumulative installed capacity will also more than triple from 17.1 GW in 2014 to an estimated 57.8 GW by 2025. The company’s report, Brazil Power Market Outlook to…
Sand emerging as a key ingredient in race to develop viable energy storage systems
Energy storage development company, Latent Heat Storage, has developed a low-cost thermal energy storage system based on the latent heat properties of silicon derived from sand. The new device – known as TESS – is being developed in South Australia with the help of an AUD $400,000 government grant to take it from prototype to…
AltaLink shows support for wind power in Alberta
AltaLink, Alberta’s largest regulated electricity transmission company, recently submitted a proposal to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel with recommendations for lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This past September, AltaLink also completed construction and energized a new transmission line, which will deliver wind energy from renewable generators in southern Alberta for the benefit of all of those…
New ACORE report: The west leads in renewables’ generation and investment
According to a new report from the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), the U.S. West leads the rest of the country in generation and investment for renewable energy. Fully redesigned for 2015, ACORE’s “Renewable Energy in the 50 States: Western Region” report examines state energy policies and programs, investment, and market openness in the…
Quercus to launch new renewable-energy infrastructure funds
Quercus Assets Selection, which specializes in infrastructure investments with a focus on renewable energy, announced that it will launch two new renewable energy infrastructure funds, bringing the total number of funds in its portfolio to five. The launch of the two new funds – a wind and PV solar one – will complement the recently launched…
A new Prime Minister for Canada sets the stage for economic growth and climate change
This week the Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity congratulated Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau on his election win. According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), the newly elected Prime Minister has the opportunity to create more positive energy changes while setting the stage for greater emission reductions in the country. “The Liberal party has made clean job…
ACCIONA and Mexico officials sign memorandum to develop more renewable projects
The Spanish company ACCIONA and the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on electricity generation projects based on renewable energies in Mexico. ACCIONA President José Manuel Entrecanales and CFE Director-General Doctor Enrique Ochoa Reza were present at the signature ceremony. The memorandum has been signed within the…
Global leaders launch Women in Sustainability, Environment & Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative
As world leaders gathered in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly, over 80 top officials representing a diverse range of organizations convened to launch the Women in Sustainability, Environment & Renewable Energy (WiSER) Initiative. Founded by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, WiSER aims to empower and…
EDF Renewable Energy acquires wind developer OwnEnergy
EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE) announced that it has closed the acquisition of OwnEnergy – a national developer of mid-sized wind projects. The transaction encompasses 100% of OwnEnergy’s assets, including its pipeline of future wind projects. Since its founding in 2007, OwnEnergy has demonstrated its acumen to build partnerships with individuals, companies, and communities with…
DNV GL calls for stronger consideration of European guidelines on electricity market design
The introduction of an Energy-Only Market which is strengthened by a capacity reserve lies at the heart of the White Paper, An Electricity Market for the Energy Transition, which was presented at the conclusion of the consultation phase for the Green Paper by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. DNV GL, the…
Milbank adds tax partner Michael Duff, with focus on structuring renewable energy and project finance deals in LA
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP announced a prominent new member of its project finance and renewable energy team with the addition of Tax partner Michael O’Hara Duff, who joins the firm’s Los Angeles office. With a practice focused on federal taxation issues, Mr. Duff advises on complex partnerships and other corporate structures used to…
IT industry’s renewable energy procurement is significant and set to climb
The percentage of renewable electricity purchased by U.S. companies in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector is growing and will likely increase significantly by the start of the next decade, according to a first-ever analysis by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The report, “Renewable Electricity Use by the U.S. Information and…
Renewable energy targets quadrupled globally since 2005, new IRENA report finds
Renewable energy targets are now a defining feature of the global energy landscape, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Energy Target Setting, launched on the side lines of IRENA’s ninth Council meeting, finds that 164 countries have adopted at least one type of renewable energy target, up from…
Renewable energy must be key component of U.S. energy policy, according to industry leaders
Energy industry leaders are meeting in Washington D.C. to discuss renewable energy as an important component of U.S. energy policy – key to addressing the issues of climate change, energy security, and economic development. The event, The Renewable Energy Transition, is co-organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Atlantic Council Global Energy…
Nation’s first power-to-gas project explores solution for storing excess renewable energy
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has joined with the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) to launch demonstration projects to create and test a carbon-free, power-to-gas system for the first time ever in the United States. The technology converts electricity into gaseous energy and could provide North…
North Dakota grid expansion provides reliable, affordable outlets for renewable energy
Electric utility executives, renewable energy supporters, state officials, and legislators gathered in North Dakota near St. Cloud and Fargo earlier this week to celebrate generation of two high-voltage transmission lines. These projects, which span nearly 500 miles, are part of CapX2020, the largest electric transmission expansion in the Upper Midwest in decades. North Dakota Congressman…
SgurrEnergy shortlisted in two categories for British Renewable Energy Awards
Renewable energy consultancy, SgurrEnergy, has been shortlisted in two award categories for the 10th British Renewable Energy Awards (BREA), hosted by the Renewable Energy Association. This double recognition follows a win in the project category during last year’s awards for their work on the development of the Salkhit project, Mongolia’s first wind farm. This year,…
California Tribe installs first renewable hybrid microgrid
The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is installing the first California Tribal renewable microgrid system this summer in Loleta, California. The Bear River Band’s new energy system is the only system of its kind combining wind energy, solar energy, and advanced energy storage. “Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria has a long-term investment in…
On Earth Day: Ex-Im Bank names Siemens renewable exporter of the year
In honor of Earth Day, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) announced that it will present its Deal of the Year and Renewable Exporter of the Year awards to Siemens Energy Inc. at the Bank’s Annual Conference in Washington on Thursday, April 23rd. Thanks to Ex-Im Bank financing, Siemens was able to…