First Solar this week announced that it has set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency. The US company said it had achieved a 14.4pc total area efficiency, up from the previous record of 13.4pc, which was also set by First Solar. The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) … Read more
For its “pioneering use of market-based tools to solve environmental issues”, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) was this week awarded the top prize in the SME & NGO category of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Dr Ashok Gadgil, division director at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Professor of CEE at UC Berkeley, won the Lifetime … Read more
Limerick County Council, which claims to have reduced its energy consumption by 45pc over the last two years, today launched an energy code of practice aimed at managing energy consumption and promoting energy efficient practices within the Local Government system in county. The local authority said it has produced 340 fewer tonnes of CO2 and … Read more
The UK wind sector has reached a landmark 6 gigawatts of installed capacity – enough to supply electricity to 3,354,893 homes – according to RenewableUK, the trade association representing the renewable energy industries. The 6GW threshold was reached by the Ormonde offshore wind farm, off the coast of Cumbria, which now has 120 megawatts (MW) … Read more
Following a series of significant increases in energy prices and within the context of Northern Ireland having the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK (double that in Great Britain), the Consumer Council is urging the Executive and the Regulator to re-examine the McIldoon Report and ensure that energy policy and regulatory frameworks provide … Read more
Three utilities in California have launched a web-based tool called Green Button that will deliver real-time energy data to their consumers. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) are the three utilities behind energy data initiative, which will reach out to more than 10m customers … Read more
2011 was a stable year for the offshore wind industry with 235 new offshore wind turbines grid connected, worth approximately Eur2.4 billion. The European Wind Energy Association’s offshore wind statistics for 2011 show that 235 new turbines with a total power capacity of 866 Megawatts (MW) were fully grid connected across nine offshore wind farms. … Read more
Global use of hydropower increased more than 5 percent between 2009 and 2010, according to new research published by the Worldwatch Institute. Hydropower use reached a record 3,427 terawatt-hours, or about 16.1 percent of global electricity consumption, by the end of 2010, continuing the rapid rate of increase experienced between 2003 and 2009. The cost … Read more
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a Eur180 million loan to the Renault Group to contribute to R&D for a new generation of batteries and motors for electric vehicles. The loan will be used in France to develop future generations of motors for electric vehicles, so helping to develop extensive expertise in products and … Read more
OpenHydro and Imperative Energy were among the Top 10 winners in the Global Cleantech Cluster Association’s 2011 Later Stage Award, which were announced at a gala ceremony in Dublin last night. The GCCA said the winning companies from North America and Europe represent the world’s leading cleantech clusters in the categories of biofuels, energy efficiency/green … Read more