Category: General


Van Oord opens office in Texas

May 4th, 2010 | Posted in General

Van Oord announced it will be officially opening its Houston, Texas office during the OTC Conference & Exhibition in Houston (May 3-6). The company is nesting its North American operation in the oil and gas capital of the Western Hemisphere. Houston is home to major oil and gas, engineering and other energy companies.

The company states the main goal of the new office is to reinforce Van Oord's business development capabilities for its worldwide offshore activities. Since Van Oord is also involved in offshore wind development activities, we will allow ourselves to speculate the Texas office will support these activities as well. If for no other reason, the offshore wind energy industry is just beginning to take off in North America, and a lot of activities are going to be happening along the east coast of the US.

[source: Van Oord]


Raser Technologies deepens collaboration with Hyundai Heavy Industries on renewable energy and EV tech

May 3rd, 2010 | Posted in General

Raser Technologies recently announced its plans for deeper collaboration with Hyundai Heavy Industries on renewable energy and electric vehicle technology. After a series of meetings in Korea and then in the company's headquarters in Provo, Utah, the two companies have announced they will work on clean energy and electric transportation, the two global trends which are gaining ever more momentum. The companies are hoping to be able to combine Raser's advanced electric motor and generator technology and HHI's experience in renewable energy development and generation.

The collaboration between the two companies has roots in 2006, when the initial agreement for RE and electric transportation development was conceived. Additional plans for the electric vehicle industry include the introduction of Raser's motor technology to the trucks and SUVs, which happen to be the highest selling class of vehicle in the US.

[source: Raser Technologies]

Areva to develop clean energy in California and build an offshore substation for wind farm in Germany

May 3rd, 2010 | Posted in General

Clean Energy Park near Fresno, California (visualization).

Last week, Areva announced to developments in its renewable energy activities. The first is the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Fresno Nuclear Energy Group (FNEG), for collaboration in development of nuclear and clean energy projects. Initially, the two companies will work on developing of about 1600 MW of capacity through a nominal US EPR reactor. Additionally, under the agreement, Areva will also be working on concentrated solar power. According to FNEG's president, the goal of the newly agreed collaboration is to create a power production infrastructure that will combine nuclear and clean energy such as solar, and other future technologies. The Clean Energy Park, which is to be developed in the near future, will be a combination of nuclear EPR reactor power and a CSP power plant.

The second announcement is an order for development of an offshore substation, which Areva Transmission and Distribution is build together with the Dutch company Keppel Verolme. The substation is to be built off the coast of Germany, for the purpose of connecting a 400 MW offshore wind farm Global Tech 1, which is to be developed by Wetfeet Offshore. The wind farm is located in Germany's Exclusive Economic Zone in the North Sea. The substation will provide a connection for the wind farm to the offshore High Voltage Direct Current grid (HVDC). Areva will be exectuing operations involved in the project at Keppel Verolme's shipyard. Once completed the offshore high-voltage substation will feature boat landings, a helipad, and accommodations for up to 37 people.

[source: Areva]

US Secretary Chu travelling to China to strengthen US-China clean energy partnership

April 29th, 2010 | Posted in General

The US and China are working on strengthening ties between the two countries on many fronts, one of which is clean energy. Both countries are among the top global carbon emitters, and both countries are taking steps towards reducing their carbon emissions in the near future. Secretary Chu will be visiting China from May 24 for four days, and will meet with government officials, academia and private sector members in Beijing and Shanghai. The purpose of the talks is to learn more about the ways the two countries can collaborate on clean energy research and technological development.

Back in March this year, the US government announced USD 37.5 million in funding for five years of the US-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). The center will provide an environment for joint research and development activities in clean energy technologies, involving scientists and engineers from both countries.

Both the Chinese and the US clean energy market are on a path of growth involving already established renewable energy technologies in wind, solar and hydro energy, but also ground-breaking marine energy and biomass energy technologies as well. Much of the global R&D activities in these areas is taking place in these two countries, with large scale investments and expansion planned for the future.

[source: US DoE]

AWS Truewind becomes AWS Truepower – expands strategic focus

April 28th, 2010 | Posted in General

AWS Truewind, long time leader in renewable energy consulting services, has taken a turn and rebranded the company into AWS Truepower. The new identity reflects the company's change in strategy, to include a broader range of products and solutions for the renewable energy industry mostly in the direction of the solar energy industry. Along with the change in name, the company announced a new suite of services aimed at solar project developers. The new tools will help developers assess, streamline and maximize deployment of solar energy systemes, as well as their operation.

Some of the new products and services are:

  • Resource Assessment: Desktop analysis and solar resource assessment campaigns
  • Energy Assessment: Conceptual design and energy production analysis
  • Project Consulting: Independent engineering and due diligence, as well as contract review
  • Operational Assessments: Solar plant performance evaluations
  • Solar Power Forecasting
  • Feasibility Studies

[source: AWS Truepower]

Activities taking place in order to support the Climate Bill in the US

April 28th, 2010 | Posted in General

The anticipated Climate Bill that was supposed to have been adopted by the US Congress, and bring a whole new set of rules to the climate change and energy management game, has been recalled for review. This puts the US government's effort to push the Climate Bill at a temporary stop. Meanwhile, activities are taking place that are supposed to provide additional support for the bill until the next upcoming voting session.

President Obama is doing his part by having visited the Siemens wind turbine production facility yesterday, at Ford Madison, Iowa. The president toured the facility and witnessed the production process for manufacturing a 2.3 Mw wind turbine. He then addressed an auditorium of some 300 employees, visitors and local representatives. He highlighted the facility as a good example of how clean energy technology can help revive local economies. The production facility has been in operation for three years now, and has enjoyed many benefits from the incentives and situmalae package provided by the US government, such as tax credits and additional stimulus funds from the state level.

Another big wind turbine manufacturer is also taking action – GE is touring the country with a giant 131 foot (~40 meters) wind turbine blade, made using the latest technology, which is to cruise around the country for 28 days, and provide a surface for signatures that will be used to support the petition. The message being promoted is "I am helping to build America's energy future". GE hopes the petition will influence governement leaders' view of renewable energy in America's future.

The Climate Bill has been regarded by supporters as the necessary change that will support the US' effort towards more energy independence and energy supply security, as well as job security for the long term.

[source: GE and Siemens]

US and UAE sign MoU on research, development and promotion of clean energy solutions

April 28th, 2010 | Posted in General

The US DoE and Masdar are going to work together on research, developmeng and promotion of clean energy solutions in the future. The memorandum of understanding between the two parties will serve as the backbone for the establishment of a collaboration framework in three key areas: carbon capture and sequestration, water and bio-fuels, as well as building technology.

The United Arab Emirates are one of the biggest oil producers in the world at the moment, but the country's strong ties to the United States, and the global changes in energy production and usage, have made UAE a significant collaborator in sustainable and clean energy development. Masdar, the country's multifaceted renewable energy initiative, is involved in numerous RE developments, of which the most prominent are Masdar City, to be the world first self-sustainable city, and the London Array (large offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary) in which Masdar holds a stake, alondside E.ON and DONG Energy.

[source: US DoE]

Cavico invests in joint-stock company with focus on renewable energy development

April 26th, 2010 | Posted in General

Cavico Corporation, an infrastructure company from Vietnam, has made an investment, through its subsidiary Cavico Vietnam, into a joint-stock company called Cavico Renewable Energy Joint Stock Company (Cavico CRE). The new company's main area of focus will be renewable energy development such as hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, and biomass or biofuels.

Cavico CRE requires a total of USD 14 million in investments, of which USD 4.2 million are to be invested within 90 days from receiving the investment license (which Cavico received on March 31, 2010), while the remaining USD 10 million will be contributed over the next three years, after the initial start-up of the company. Cavico Vietnam will own 10% and Cavico Transport will own 20% of Cavico CRE. The remaining shares in the company are planned for outside investor offerings.

Cavico Corporation regards the formation of Cavico CRE as a strategic move in the expansion of the company's activities. The company will continue to build its market-leading position in traditional engineering, construction and infrastructure projects, but will leverage its expertise in these and other areas by expanding its renewable energy capabilities. The company hopes to be able to broaden its investment opportunities as well as increase its profit margins.

more »

Finland funding renewable energy growth – planning hundreds of millions of euros in funding

April 21st, 2010 | Posted in General

The Finnish government seems to be planning major investments in the renewable energy sector, according to a recent statement made by the country's Prime Minister to national boradcaster YLE. Finland is aiming to cut carbon emissions, and some of the planned activities include the creation of a stimulating environment for renwewable energy development, resulting in hundreds of millions of euros in funding for this energy sector.

The Finnish government is to make a decision soon on whether to proceed with proposed nuclear power capacity development. So far there have been three applicants for nuclear power plant development, although the government has stated there is no need for three projects.

[source: Reuters]

Austria adopts new energy strategy

April 20th, 2010 | Posted in General

Most of Austria's renewable energy capacity comes from hydropower potential.

The Austrian government has recently announced a new energy strategy for the country's future. The new strategy is touted to not only provide a realistic opporutnity for reaching energy and emission reduction targets adopted on the EU level for 2020, but also provide a strong stimulus for the country's economy. Some 80,000 jobs are estimated to be created as a result of the implementation of the new strategy.

According to Austria's minister of the environment, Niki Berlakovich, the new strategy foresees rewards for environmentally friendly behavior, but also penalties for environmentally unfriendly activities. The strategy rests upon three main pillars:

  1. energy efficiency increase
  2. renewable energy development
  3. energy supply security

Probably the most interesting aspect for the renewable energy industry is point number 2, which will put focus on biomass use for producing energy for heating purposes. Other RE developments include an increase in hydropower capacity (at the moment the largest area of renewable energy activity in the country), as well as doubling wind energy capacity in the next decade. Other related developments include the development and expansion of transportation based on alternative and clean energy sources, which include electric vehicles, and electric mobility in general.

Since the announcement of the new strategy, on April 17, some 370 proposals have been received and reviewed. According to designated specialized institutions, such as the Austrian Energy Agency, EPA, E-Control, WIFO, have all concluded that the strategy is implementable and feasible by the year 2020.

[source: Austrian Ministry of Environment (in German), image: Wikimedia]

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