• 
  GENeco
• Elsevier Ltd is not responsible for the content of external
  websites.

• Schmack Biogas wins 5 MW contract to supply Isle of Wight with biomethane
  Schmack Biogas UK, in partnership with its project partner Wight Farm Energy, is establishing the first biogas plant in the Isle of Wight, on the English south coast.
  
• Nominations now open for Regen SW’s Green Energy Awards 2014
  Awards programme celebrates the projects, companies and innovators behind the sustainable energy revolution in the south west of England.
• FLI Energy begins construction of Euston Biomethane-to-Grid AD project
  Once operating to full capacity, the anaerobic digestion plant will generate 10 million cubic meters of biogas.
• Biomethane: a promising transport fuel for the future as Coca-Cola test results show
  While some cost issues remain, the use of biomethane as a transport fuel has several positive benefits, as a recent trial by Coco-Cola Enterprises shows, writes Robert Potts of RPM Fuels and Tanks.
• Biogas to power Chesterfield vehicles
  Sheffield City Council, UK, is to conduct a demonstration running light vans and other council vehicles on biomethane with infrastructure supplied by Chesterfield BioGas.

Loading related stories…

‘;
Event.onDOMReady(function () {
cp.ajax.post({
url: ‘/content/article/article-related-stories.aspx?articleId=40767’,
success: function (xhr) {
if (xhr.response) {
target.innerHTML = xhr.response;
} else {
if (xhr.responseText) {
target.innerHTML = xhr.responseText;
}
}
}
});
});
}
*/

• 
  Gamesa
• Elsevier Ltd is not responsible for the content of external
  websites.

• Gamesa renews wind turbine OM contract with Società Energie Rinnovabili
  Gamesa to service SER’s entire wind turbine fleet in Italy.
• Gamesa turbine awarded first type certificate under DNV GL’s wind guideline GL2010
  Certified G97-2.0 MW turbine is the first to be equipped with Gamesa’s infused blade.
• Gamesa completes installation of 5 MW prototype in Alaiz, Spain
  Assembly marks the start of onshore turbine’s validation process.

Loading related stories…

‘;
Event.onDOMReady(function () {
cp.ajax.post({
url: ‘/content/article/article-related-stories.aspx?articleId=40768’,
success: function (xhr) {
if (xhr.response) {
target.innerHTML = xhr.response;
} else {
if (xhr.responseText) {
target.innerHTML = xhr.responseText;
}
}
}
});
});
}
*/

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Acting Director Walter Cruickshank earlier this week announced that more than 742,000 acres offshore Massachusetts will be offered for commercial wind energy development in a January 29, 2015, competitive lease sale.  The move — believed to be DOI’s largest competitive lease sale to date for offshore wind energy development — is part of President Obama’s comprehensive Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources and cut carbon pollution,

“This sale will triple the amount of federal offshore acreage available for commercial-scale wind energy projects, bringing Massachusetts to the forefront of our nation’s new energy frontier,» said Governor Patrick.

Twelve companies have qualified to participate in the auction for the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area. Among them: Deepwater Wind New England, LLC; EDF Renewable Development, Inc; Energy Management, Inc; Fisherman’s Energy, LLC; Green Sail Energy, LLC; Iberdrola Renewables, Inc; NRG Bluewater Wind Massachusetts, LLC; Offshore MW, LLC; RES America Developments, Inc; Sea Breeze Energy, LLC; US Mainstream Renewable Power (Offshore), Inc; and US Wind, Inc.
 

In a consultation launched today, the UK government is seeking views on removing a barrier for building-mounted solar PV by allowing medium and large installations to be moved between buildings without loss of Feed-in-Tariff payments. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the proposed policy change would allow businesses to continue to reap the benefits of lower bills under proposed changes planned by government.  

The change would apply to medium and large sized solar installations above 50kW.

“Around 900 businesses already use solar PV, but I want to see more generating their own electricity,” said Amber Rudd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy. “There’s potential for significant growth in this area, so it’s vital that we remove the barriers which prevent businesses from benefiting. If there’s more rooftop solar, we’ll see job creation as well as helping us deliver the clean, reliable energy supplies that the country needs at the lowest possible cost to consumers.”

At the moment, if a FIT accredited installation is moved it becomes ineligible for further support.¹ This can act as a significant deterrent to landlords and tenants who cannot guarantee to have the long-term ownership or lease of a building. Allowing the panels and the tariff to move with their owner will increase flexibility and make solar PV a much more attractive investment.

The Solar Trade Association — which claims to have identified this as one of the major barriers to more solar PV on big rooftops more than a year ago — applauds the move. “In order to secure financing and reduce investment risk, it is so important for businesses to be eligible to take their solar installations with them if they move,” said Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association. “It is great that DECC is now consulting on this key issue.”

With an estimated 250,000 hectares of south facing commercial rooftops – the equivalent of 350,000 football pitches – there is massive potential in the UK to turn buildings into power stations, helping to cut energy bills, reduce pressure on the grid and create jobs.

View the consultation documents and further details of the conditions of transferability online. Note: The consultation is open to all and closes on 5 January 2015.

1. The definition of building-mounted solar under the Feed-in Tariff will be amended to require the building to use at least 10 per cent of the electricity generated. In addition, DECC is introducing a 12-month grid delay grace period for solar PV projects when the Renewable Obligation closes to 5MW-plus schemes. This will provide extra time for accreditation in cases where grid delays cause the project to miss the 31 March 2015 closure date.

REC Solar ASA  has reached an agreement with Bluestar Elkem Investment Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong, whereby Bluestar Elkem will purchase 100% of the shares in a Luxembourg company (to be established) which will own REC Solar Holdings AS and all of the assets and liabilities of REC Solar at a cash purchase price equal to NOK 108.50 per share in REC Solar. 

The transaction is not subject to any financing condition, but is subject to other customary conditions, including all required regulatory approvals. (Closing is expected no later than 16 January 2015.) The rransaction represents a premium of 22.6 % and 27.1% to the 1 and 3-month volume weighted average share price, respectively. The total cash consideration is NOK 4,340 million.

«We are pleased that we today are in position to announce the combination of the Elkem Group and REC Solar,” said Ole Enger, chairman of REC Solar. “The Board of Directors of REC Solar views the combination as a positive outcome for the company, its excellent workforce and other stakeholders, and we look forward to working with the Elkem Group to complete the transaction. The Board believes that a combination with the Elkem Group will provide a strong platform to further develop REC Solar.»

Helge Aasen, the CEO of Elkem AS, concurred, adding that the Elkem Group has a strategic goal to grow its presence in the solar industry. “The ambition is to establish a leading integrated PV player,” Aasen explained. “The Elkem Group and REC Solar have developed a strong business relationship, and there is a good strategic match between the companies.” 

According to Elkem, the combined entity will have a strong basis for further development of the business by leveraging REC Solar’s leading global brand, strong distribution channels and reputation for quality.

• 
  2015 CES Innovation Awards
• 
  Intelligent Energy
• 
  Upp portable power
• Elsevier Ltd is not responsible for the content of external
  websites.

• Hydro Industries water purification technology for India, powered by fuel cells
  Two UK companies are collaborating to help supply water purification technology across India, with Intelligent Energy fuel cells providing electric power for water purification systems developed by Hydro Industries.
• UK consortium delivers enhanced fuel cell systems in collaborative project
  A collaborative project in the UK has demonstrated a more than 30 percent increase in the power density of an Intelligent Energy fuel cell system, as well as reliable cold-start performance at temperatures down to –20°C.
• Intelligent Energy collaborates with Cable Wireless to power consumer electronics
  At this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Intelligent Energy announced a collaboration with Cable Wireless Communications, to test personal energy devices powered by Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell technology.
• Intelligent Energy, Suzuki form joint venture to produce fuel cell systems
  UK-based Intelligent Energy and the Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan are establishing a joint venture company, to develop and manufacture air-cooled PEM fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors.

Loading related stories…

‘;
Event.onDOMReady(function () {
cp.ajax.post({
url: ‘/content/article/article-related-stories.aspx?articleId=40736’,
success: function (xhr) {
if (xhr.response) {
target.innerHTML = xhr.response;
} else {
if (xhr.responseText) {
target.innerHTML = xhr.responseText;
}
}
}
});
});
}
*/

Unlocking the growing clean energy investment opportunities of the Middle East and Africa – two of the world’s most promising renewable energy markets – will be a key focus during the 2015 World Future Energy Summit (WFES), which takes place January 19-22, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. 

• Saudi Arabia has committed $US109 billion to the development of 41GW of solar energy as part of a broader plan to deploy 54 GW of clean energy by 2032;
• In Morocco, a US$9 billion solar-power project, accounting for 38 per cent of country’s installed power generation by 2020, is currently under way. It has targeted 42 per cent of domestic energy supply from renewables by 2020;
• Jordan has targeted 10 per cent of power from renewable sources and expects to invest up to $US2.1 billion by 2020;
• The Egyptian government will invest $US1billion in solar energy as it looks to increase the country’s share of renewables to 20 per cent by 2020
• Renewable energy investments in sub-Saharan Africa – particularly in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia – are expected to grow to more than US$7 billion by 2016. 

• The rise of shale gas and its impact on the adoption of renewable energy
• The role of cities in combating climate change
• Risks and opportunities of developing and operating utility-scale solar plants and wind farms
• The opportunity of energy efficiency
• The ‘Internet of Things’ and future smart grid solutions
• Maximizing value from operational solar PV and CSP projects
• Mitigating financial risk in project development.

During this webinar, Solectria Renewables, in conjunction with Solar Power World, will explore the primary considerations of achieving compliance with NEC 2014 for arc fault detection and rapid shutdown requirements.

Even though Massachusetts is currently the only state that follows NEC 2014, many states are slated to adopt this code cycle by the end of 2014, such as Georgia, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico.  Information in this webinar is also valuable for those having to comply with NEC 2011 arc fault detection requirements.

Topics discussed will include:

• Achieving AFDI and rapid shut down compliance for central inverters using string combiners
• Achieving AFDI and rapid shut down compliance for three-phase string inverters
• Arc fault detection technology basics
• Introduction to Solectria’s new arc fault compliant string combiner (ARCCOM)

This webinar is eligible for 1 NABCEP credit.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.

You have a lot of string inverter installations under your belt but aren’t quite ready to make the jump to central inverters to bid on large commercial projects. No problem!

The new SMA Sunny Tripower line of three-phase, transformerless string inverters will scale from a 24kW application all the way to multi-megawatt designs.  Since its release in North America, megawatt-size systems using the Sunny Tripower have  sprouted up all across the continent. Do you share these questions?

• Why should I use the Sunny Tripower for my designs?
• How easy is it to design, install and monitor a Sunny Tripower?
• Why are grid management features important for a Smart grid?

Rounding out the seminar will be an explanation of the Cluster Controller monitoring device and SMA’s unrivaled Performance Package, our free support service that ensures peak operation of your plant.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

9:00am PT

Duration: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

Cost: FREE

The newly launched South African Hydrogen Association aims to promote and develop national expertise in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and elsewhere in Africa.

SAHA was co-founded by Dr Dmitri Bessarabov (HySA Infrastructure), Gordon Freer (Platinum Trust of South Africa), and Professor Bruno Pollet (HySA Systems), with the financial support of the Platinum Trust of South Africa, an initiative of the North West province.

The Association provides an opportunity for all those in the sector to engage with a view to its commercial promotion. Membership is open to commercial companies (including those in the hydrogen and fuel cell, power utility, gas, water, chemical, telecom, and mining sectors), academic and research institutions, laboratories, development councils, government departments, consultants and investors, as well as individuals with an interest in the sector.

SAHA will also facilitate relationships between South African and international researchers and research institutions, to promote hydrogen as an energy source that takes into account local and global needs.