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Category: Government

US DoE and Masdar testing new PV coating technology

March 1st, 2011 | Posted in Solar

The US Department of Energy (DoE) and Masdar are going to collaborate in testing a new special coating material to be used in the PV industry. PV solar installations suffer from numerous handicaps which are a result of real life operation conditions. One of these negative operational factors are moisture and cementation problems which occur on the surface of solar modules. Basically, dust sticks to the surface of the modules, and is glued to the surface with the help of moisture which accumulates as condensation from the surrounding air ("morning dew"), and creates a coating which grows over time reducing the amount of sunlight that gets through to the reactive layers in the solar modules. This significantly reduces PV module performance, and requires constant cleaning of the surfaces, a task that becomes quite a chore when you have to clean hundreds of thousands of modules at a large scale facility.

Macedonia issues tender for 44 small hydropower plants

February 28th, 2011 | Posted in Hydro

The Macedonian government (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) issued a tender inviting bids from developers for 44 smal hydropower projects in this Southeast European country. Water concessions will be awarded based on the design, build, operate and transfer (DBOT) model.

MoU for 50 small hydropower plants in Serbia signed

February 28th, 2011 | Posted in Hydro

Serbian power utility monopoly EPS signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipality of Ivanjica and the Dunav Osiguranje (Dunav Insurance) for the development of 55 small hydropower plants in the Golija nature park. The MoU binds the signing parties to sign a contract within the next six months marking the beginning of the development of these smalll hydro facilities.

GDF Suez and Quiñenco Group form Franco-Chilean energy group

February 25th, 2011 | Posted in General

GDF Suez (France) and Quiñenco Group (Chile) have formed an energy group in Paris, with focus on dealing with renewable energy and other unconventional sources of energy. The establishment of this bi-national energy group was sponsored by the energy ministers of both countries. The chairmen of the newly established group will be Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ, and Guillermo Luksic, President of the Quiñenco Group.

PNE Wind to assess wind farm sites in central Scotland

February 23rd, 2011 | Posted in Wind

PNE Wind has been chosen as the preferred development partner by the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). The company is to assess potential wind farm sites in central Scotland and provide the results of these investigations by October 2011. FCS has appointed PNE Wind to investigate sites in Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire, Stirling, Perth and Kinross and Angus. Once the assessment period has been concluded, the FCS and PNE Wind will agree on the number of these developments to take forward through the planning process, and on to construction and operations, should they prove successfull.

E.ON awarded right to explore wind potential in Scotland estimated at 500 MW

February 23rd, 2011 | Posted in Wind

E.ON announced the company has been awarded the right to explore wind power generation potential on two lots of land, owned by the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). According to initial estimates, the two locations could yield as much as 500 MW of wind potential. This much capacity would be enough to produce clean electricity for about 270,000 average homes annually.

US DoE finalizes USD 343 million loan for One Nevada Transmission Line

February 17th, 2011 | Posted in General

The US Department of Energy (DoE) announced the finalization of a USD 343 million loan guarantee for the One Nevada Transmission Line project (aka ON Line projecT), which is to connect about 600 MW of electricity generating power capacity to the northern Nevada transmission system. The project is to be carried out by Great Basin Transmission South and NV Energy. It will feature a 500 kV AC transmission line, and will include electricity from renewable energy sources.

Humber Gateway gets green light from UK government

February 10th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change has given its approval for the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm being developed by E.ON, some 8 km off the coast of Yorkshire. Once completed, Humber Gateway will have a total of 230 MW of installed capacity, enough to provide clean electricity for about 150,000 average homes. It will have 77 turbines.

Major offshore wind initiative in US announced by DoI and DoE

February 8th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and US Depertment of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a coordinated strategic plan aimed at accelearating the offshore wind sector in the United States of America. This strategy includes new funding for up to USD 50.5 million for projects which support the deployment of offshore wind energy and several Wind Energy Areas of high priority in the mid-Atlantic (which have been talked about quite a bit in the past year). These measures are expected to boost responsible development of offshore wind energy capacity.

China will develop Nu River hydropower projects despite opposition

February 1st, 2011 | Posted in Hydro

China is determined to start the development of hydropower projects on the Nu River (or Salween River), in the southwestern province of Yunnan. According to a statement by a senior Chinese official to Chinese national radio, the country is hoping to make progress with these projects during the 12th Five Year Plan Period, which just started (2011), ending in 2015.