Corporate/Finance « Renewbl – renewable energy news

Category: Corporate/Finance

GDF Suez and Eletrobras in agreement over energy project development

September 3rd, 2010 | Posted in General | No Comments

GDF Suez and Eletrobras (Brazil), have entered into a joint agreement for collaboration on the development of energy projects in South America. Under the agreement, the companies are to collaborate in research, project development, and energy production and transmission ventures, focusing on renewable energy sources, but also on other sources of energy as well. The scope of this joint agreement covers all the countries in Central and South America, and Africa. Within Brazil, though, the companies will assess and explore opportunities on a case-by-case basis.

[source: GDF Suez]

Asian Development Bank issuing first clean energy bond

September 2nd, 2010 | Posted in General | No Comments

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced it is issuing its first clean energy bond, in order to support its renewable energy projects in Asia and Pacific. The bond is expected to have four tranches, two denominated in Brazilian reals, one in Turkish lira and one in Australian dollars. ADB has committed to providing at least an equal amount of funding as raised by the clean energy bond. The issuance is targeted at Japanese retail investors, and will distributed in Japan by more than 20 securities companies.

Vestas relocating NA HQ to new building in Portland

August 20th, 2010 | Posted in General | No Comments

Vestas announced plans to relocate its North American HQ in Portland to a new building, which will achieve LEED Platinum certified, and will be adapted to accommodate 250 employees, featuring latest energy saving technology and "ecoproof" terrace and gardens.

Construction activities on the existing structure of the building will begin in October this year, while Vestas expects its employees to officially move in in 2012. To keep things even cleaner, the roof will be packed with solar panels. The total cost of this project is about USD 66 million. Vestas says this is a long term relocation investment.

Solazyme raises USD 52 million in Series D funding

August 18th, 2010 | Posted in Biomass | No Comments

Solazyme announced recently the company has secured USD 52 million in Series D funding. The company's pursuing further development of technology which uses microbial fermentation to produce oil which can be used for the production of scalable biofuels, chemicals, nutritional food ingredients and health and wellness products.

Canadian Solar building manufacturing facility in Ontario

August 13th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Canadian Solar has announced Guelph, Ontario, will be the location for the company's new solar module manufacturing facility.

The new manufacturing plant will be one of the largest solarm module facilities in North America. It will employ about 500 locals, and have annual production capacity of 200 MW.

[source: Canadian Solar]

Nicaragua expanding its geothermal capacity with the help of IDB

August 4th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has give approval for a USD 40 million loan to Nicaragua for financing the second phase of the San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power plant, being developed by Polaris Energy Nicaragua.

Upon completion of the expansions on the first and second phase of the power plant, the plant will be able to output 72 MW of clean electricity. This will increase the country's overall power generation from renewable sources by 7 percent. The San Jacinto-Tizate location is considered to be one of highest quality in terms of geothermal energy potential in the world. The power plant will be the second commercially operational geothermal power plant in Nicaragua. Completion of the second phase of the power plant is scheduled for the end of 2011, and will represent a USD 177 million investment.

Nicaragua has set one of the highest goals for renewable energy in the world. The country plans to reach 86% renewable energy sources in its power portfolio by 2014.

[source: IADB]

Ormat acquires Mammoth complex from Constellation Energy

August 3rd, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Ormat announced the company has acquired Constellation Energy's 50% stake in the Mammoth complex in California (USA), for USD 72.5 million. Ormat now owns the geothermal power plants, the land and associated equipment, but also the rights to more than 10,000 acres of undeveloped federal lands.

Central America getting regional electricity market standards

August 3rd, 2010 | Posted in General | Comments (1)

In November this year a regional standard for electricity sale and purchase is coming into effect in Central American contries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The new standard will provide greater integration of local power grid networks, allowing energy project developers to plan for a broader power grid. At the moment the stadardization project is in its transitional phase, but very soon the project will be entering its main phase, as stated by the Ente Operador Regional (EOR).

Almost all the countries involved in this regional standardization project have or are in the process of developing renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy. Having a standardized regulatory base for importing/exporting electricity will significantly improve development conditions for renewable energy projects in this part of the world.

[via: Central America Data, source: 7dias]

Wurth Solar to acquire Solarmarkt

August 2nd, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Wurth Solar is to acquire Solarmarkt AG, a European PV wholesaler and integrator, and expand its operations to include the US market. With this acquisition, Wurth will also take ownership of Solarmarkt's subsidiaries, in the US – Session Solar, and Creotec in Germany. Wurth Solar Group's strategic plan is to expand its operation globally, and increase its global sales to over USD 650 million by 2014.

Pending approval by the German Federal Cartel Office, once Wurth officially takes over Solarmarkt, all four brands will continue to operate separately, each within its own market and brand.

Both Solarmarkt and Wurth Solar see this merger as a chance for securing future growth in the global solar energy market.

[source: Solarmarkt]

Broadwind Energy opens office in Germany

July 31st, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

Broadwind Energy announced the opening of the company's office in Hamburg, Germany. The company wants to make sure to keep up with the rapidly evolving wind turbine technology. According to the company, many wind turbine manufacturers have engineering offices in this German city, so Broadwind will be doing business in Europe through its new office – Broadwind Energy Europe.

Additionally, the company has named Michael Stegelmann as managing director of Broadwind Energy Europe, a former global supply chain VP in REpower Systems, a German wind turbine manufacturer.

[source: Broadwind Energy]