Reflecting on how to finance renewable energy development

Fierce Energy provided an excellent article by Lucas Porter, Patrick Hurley and Dan Bradley of Navigant about how to make renewable energy projects more viable. This is a concern that confronts all projects regardless where they are. Hopefully you will find this useful in your related activities. Renewable energy financing One of the most prominent … Continue reading Reflecting on how to finance renewable energy development →

Irish Minister criticises EU plan to phase out feed-in tariffs for mature players

Even when renewable energy technologies are considered mature, the Irish argue that there is still need for cost-effective support, according to article written by Valerie Flynn in the Irish Times. The minister makes a good argument, but will it be listened to? EU to change renewables subsidy Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte has criticised a … Continue reading Irish Minister criticises EU plan to phase out feed-in tariffs for mature players →

Will the sun’s effects tower over London?

Londoners could soon be in awe at how Big Ben chimes. Serious consideration is now being given to using solar panels on the famous clock face, writes Jessica Shankleman for BusinessGreen, part of the Guardian Environment Network. This could change how we think of foggy, drizzly London. Solar-powered Big Ben mulled in plan to … Continue reading Will the sun’s effects tower over London? →

Women finding opportunities in Scottish renewable energy sector

ClickGreen provides an interesting article showing that there is a greater proportion of women working in the renewable energy sector in Scotland than in the oil, gas or nuclear energy sectors. It would be interesting to know if this is true in other countries. And it would be good to know how many women are … Continue reading Women finding opportunities in Scottish renewable energy sector →

No time to delay . . .

Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Environment Programme, is worried about any delays to a shift to a low carbon economy. Suzanne Goldenberg writes in the Guardian about Steiner’s recent comments about is worry that transition fuels, including the rush for shale gas, will have a serious impact on the transition to renewables. Achim … Continue reading No time to delay . . . →

Solar developments in California

All watchers of the solar industry at some point turn to what is going on in California. Such is the case today with the article written by Diane Cardwell for the New York Times. Interestingly, Cardwell describes an incubator-accelerator programme that is designed to attract and nurture other solar start-ups. It is certainly worth following … Continue reading Solar developments in California →

This will get the Irish singing – renewable energy playing key role in energy policy

Tina Costanza writes in siliconrepublic.com that the use of renewable energy has already saved importing more than €1 billion. This will definitely be welcome news to a country that has been making every effort to get out of the financial crisis that has punished the economy. Renewable energy has saved Ireland more than €1bn … Continue reading This will get the Irish singing – renewable energy playing key role in energy policy →

Renewable energy markets gets boost with lowering solar PV costs

Many global electricity systems are in a low carbon transition and these will benefit from the lower manufacturing costs for solar panels. Giles Parkinson writes in Australia’s RenewEconomy about the dynamics in the global industry. Impressively manufacturing costs dropped 70-80 per cent between 2007 and 2012. Importantly, the article shows that those price drops were … Continue reading Renewable energy markets gets boost with lowering solar PV costs →

Backlash in Germany’s industry to increased costs to support renewable energy

Australia’s Business Spectator provides an important article on how Germany’s heavy industry is being hit in the pocketbook to help fund renewable energy as part of Germany’s energy transition strategy. Surely there must be a better way to promote auto-production. The success of Europe’s energy policies will obviously have a big impact on Australia’s policies. … Continue reading Backlash in Germany’s industry to increased costs to support renewable energy →

Exploring the dynamics of the 21st century energy industry

Sometimes we complain that the low carbon transition is not happening fast enough. This week I was in Brussels and many people I met were worried that we may be going to fast and that the repercussions on our electricity system may lead to fewer long-term investments for both generation and transmission. And there are … Continue reading Exploring the dynamics of the 21st century energy industry →