Category: Asia


Seambiotic and China Guodian Corporation to build $10 million commercial microalgae farm

December 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Biomass | No Comments

cultivation of microalgae

Seambiotic announced that it has signed a License Agreement and a Joint Venture Agreement with Yantai Hairong Electricity Technology and Penglai Weiyuan Science & Trading, companies associated with China Guodian Corporation, to establish a Chinese joint venture for the commercial cultivation of microalgae.

Under the agreement, Seambiotic will provide its technology for the cultivation of a number of types of microalgae for use in the animal and fish foodstock and nutraceutical industries. The first commercial farm of 12 hectares is expected to cost $10 million, and will be situated in Penglai. The plant will utilize carbon dioxide from the Penglai power station and is planned to become operational during 2010. Additional farms are also planed to be established based upon a pre-agreed timetable…

[source: Seambiotic]


United States and India agree to cooperate on clean energy technologies

December 3rd, 2009 | Posted in General | No Comments

President Barack Obama and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 24 to work together to speed up the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. Through this Green Partnership, the two nations plan to tackle global problems such as energy security, food security and climate change.

President Barack Obama and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

President Barack Obama and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

More concretely, under the new MOU, the two nations will launch a Clean Energy and Climate Change Initiative, with the goal of improving technologies to make clean energy more affordable and efficient. This includes cooperation in wind and solar energy, 2nd-gen biofuels, and energy efficiency, as well as unconventional sources of natural gas and clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and storage. Moreover, the two nations will also mobilize public and private resources to invest in clean energy projects in India.

As a result of all this, the Indo-U.S. Clean Energy Research and Deployment Initiative have begun, supported by government and private-sector funds. A Joint Research Center operating in both countries will be set up to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies.

Finally, the two officials agreed that DOE's National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) will partner with India's Solar Energy Centre to create a "comprehensive nationwide map of the solar potential in India." In terms of wind energy, NREL and India's Centre for Wind Energy Technology will focus on developing a low-speed wind turbine.

Additional details are available from the White House press release and the Green Partnership Fact Sheet (PDF).

[Via: DoE]

Trina Solar announces fourth quarter progress in China

December 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Trina SolarTrina Solar announced the recent progress of its PV module sales in the Chinese domestic market. During the fourth quarter of the year, the company has:

  • Entered into a new sales agreement to supply approximately 8 MW of PV modules products at predetermined prices to the Chinese domestic market. Shipments commenced in November and are scheduled to continue through to the end of December.
  • Received government approval for a project of approximately 2 MW under the Golden Sun program, which aims to install approximately 20 MW of solar power capacity in every province.

Finally, Trina Solar said that it continues to monitor opportunities to participate in utility-scale domestic projects…

[source: Trina Solar]

Solar power program approved by India

December 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

India flag

India's first solar power plan was approved recently, which pledged to boost output from zero to 20 GW by 2020, all in a bid to fight global warming.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters, "The cabinet gave its approval for launching of the Jawaharlal Nehru national solar mission, Solar India… and has given in principle approval."

The plan will see investing $19 billion into the India's solar industry, allowing the country to enter the competition with frontrunners like China. It will also improve India's position in the international talks for the U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen.

Money is to be put toward incentives for production and installation, along with R&D. Additionally, the plan will also offer financial incentives and tax holidays for utilities.

India's huge renewables potential will be unlocked with the help of this bid. Companies like Tata BP Solar, Bharat Heavy Electricals and Lanco Infratech could see a lot of benefit from this move.

[Via: Reuters]

EIB loans a total of EUR 270 million in renewable energy projects in Pakistan and Iceland

November 26th, 2009 | Posted in General | No Comments

eibThe European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a loan worth EUR 100 million to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as partial finance for renewable energy projects in the country. The investment operation is being co-financed in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The lending operation has been structured as a framework plan, which grants support from the EIB for a series of investments in Pakistan's renewable energy sector. This is only a part of much larger financial plan set up by the Pakistani government, involving some USD 2.2 billion. This is the fifth lending operation between EIB and Pakistan, the first having happened back in 1993.

EIB made another loan, EUR 170 million, to Iceland for the purpose of devcelopment of a geothermal energy project. The loan was made to Orkuveita Reykjavikur (Reykjavik Energy), which the company will use to expand its geothermal capacity.

The financing is aimed at further development of the Hellisheidi geothermal complex, which will add 90 MW to the existing capacity, but also for a completely new geothermal project also to have 90 MW of installed capacity. The expansions are planned to supply energy for aluminum smelting operations, an existing one, and a new one to be built soon.

[source: European Investment Bank]

Cavico to develop Dak Sin hydropower plant

November 23rd, 2009 | Posted in Hydro | No Comments

cavicoCavico Corporation, an infrastructure development company based in Vietnam, announced it has received an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the development of the Dak Sin hydropower plant, representing an investment of USD 30.2 million. Cavico's portion of the deal is expected to be worth about USD 18 million.

Cavico will be constructing the main dam, a spillway dam, an overpass bridge, a water intake portal, a headrace tunnel, a water diversion tunnel, a coffer dam, a vertical surge sharp tank and the necessary service roads – basically the complete project. Work is expected to last about 27 months.

Dak Sin is located near the Dak Sin stream, near the Dong Nai River, just north of Ho Chi Minh City. It will have a total of 28.4 MW once completed, which puts it in the medium class.

[source: Cavico]

First Solar and China's city of Ordos take step forward in 2GW China solar PV project

November 21st, 2009 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

First SolarAs part of its plans to develop solar PV farms in China's deserts, First Solar announced a Cooperation Framework Agreement with China's Ordos City Government that takes another step towards the realization of the world's largest solar power plant in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia.

Under the agreement between the two parties, the first phase of the 2GW solar power plant will start on June 1, 2010, and will include build-out of 30MW of capacity. Phases 1-3 are to be 100MW, 870MW, and 1,000MW, respectively. Phases 2 and 3 are to be completed by 2014 and Phase 4 is to be completed by 2019.

The project is part of a planned 11.95GW Ordos City's New Energy Industry Demonstration Zone, which is expected to combine solar, wind, hydroelectric and biomass power sources to provide a steady supply of renewable energy to the region that includes the Chinese capital.

[source: First Solar]

294 solar power plants to get a subsidy from Chinese government

November 21st, 2009 | Posted in Solar | Comments (1)

China solar plans

As a part of its first pilot program to subsidize investment costs, China has chosen 294 solar power projects, which are to produce 642 MW of power. The total cost of this project will be around 20 billion Yuan, with production expected to begin within the next two years, according to the Chinese Ministry of Finance.

Industrial and commercial firms will construct 232 of the projects which will generate 290 MW of power, which will be consumed by these firms. The construction of 27 PV projects will take place in regions that do not yet have power, generating enough power for 300,000 residents. The final 35 projects are to be utility-scale plants, feeding power into grid networks, with a total of 305 MW in power.

According to statements from the Ministry, 50% of investments will be subsidized for solar projects, including relevant power transmission and distribution systems connected to the grid networks. Specific price and quality requirements have also been arranged in terms of parts and components for the projects that qualify.

China is aiming to raise its 2020 solar power generation target to 10 GW, with the previously mentioned incentives. By 2011, more than 2 GW of solar capacity should be installed.

[Via: PV-tech.org, Image from What Matters]

Sanyo unveils HIT solar cell's global production strategy

November 21st, 2009 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

SANYO production capacity

Sanyo announced that it has completed the third factory building of Nishikinohama Factory (Kaizuka City, Osaka), which will be the mother factory for the PV system business aspect of the company.

High-volume production of HIT solar cells is expected to begin in December 2010, once production equipment and necessary adjustments for high-volume construction is completed.

The solar cell production equipment at the new building will be capable of producing 135 MW annually. The overall production capacity of Nishikinohama Factory will be increased to more than 1.6 times than the current level.

Additionally, Shimane SANYO Electric (Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture), the producer of SANYO's HIT solar cells, plans to increase its annual production capacity to 220 MW (current rate is 130MW) by April 2010.

With these two factories, the combined production capacity of SANYO will be at 565 MW by March 2011, allowing the company to remain competitive in the ever expanding PV market.

[source: Sanyo]

TÜV Rheinland opens new solar laboratory in Taiwan

November 21st, 2009 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

TÜV Rheinland solar testingTÜV Rheinland's sixth global laboratory for testing of solar modules has started operation in Daya, Taiwan. The laboratory covers an area of 1,000 square meters, along with outdoor facilities of the same size. TÜV Rheinland has invested 2.5 million Euros in the new laboratory, reaching another important milestone in its investment program.

According to a study done by the Photon International Magazine, about 80% of product testing for solar module manufacturers worldwide is done by TÜV Rheinland laboratories.

Taiwain is known to be one of the top PV industries in the world, and further growth is expected. The availability of testing capacities, reducing the time of testing and certification of manufacturing facilities to four months, will certainly benefit local manufacturers.

This effectively largest solar test center in Taiwan includes three climate chambers and two sun simulators…

[source: TÜV Rheinland]

 Page 19 of 31  « First  ... « 17  18  19  20  21 » ...  Last »