Growth on European solar thermal market

The European solar thermal market has exceeded a total surface of 2 million m2, corresponding to an installed capacity of approximately 1,450 MW. The market has grown by 22.8% in 2005. According to the recently published Solar Thermal Barometer from EurObserv’ER, this growth is mainly due to the very good performance of the three leading EU solar thermal markets - Germany, Austria and Greece - and the increase in importance of the French and Spanish markets.

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China invests 187.5 billion US dollars in RE

China will invest 187.5 billion US dollars to increase renewable energy production. Currently, 7.5% of China's energy comes from renewable sources. The country's goal is to make this 10% by 2010 and 16% by 2020, revised from its initial goal of 20%.

"Within 10 years, we will see a population of 30 million the remote rural areas, and we want all those people to have access to electricity, mainly from renewable energy-powered projects," said Wu Guihui, Vice Director General of the Bureau of Energy under the National Development and Reform Commission.

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Clinton Global Initiative gets billions for RE and climate change

Almost half of the estimated 7.3 billion US dollars pledged to address global issues at the second annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York will go towards the promotion and use of renewable energy.

This large share is mainly due to a 3 billion US dollars renewable energy pledge from the British billionaire Sir Richard Branson. A total of 35 pledges was made on global energy and climate issues. The Clinton Global Initiative is headed by former US President Bill Clinton and requires attendees to make specific commitments to address one of four global challenges: energy and climate change, religious and ethnic conflict, poverty alleviation and global health.

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German grid needs 850 kilometres extra in six years

The German power grid desperately needs expansion, following the growing share of renewables in the power supply. If the share indeed grows to more than 20% in 2012, the national grid will have to make some adjustments, the German grid operator VDN stated last week.

“On one hand, the growth of renewables is a good development”, says VDN President Otto Röth. “On the other hand the financial burden on customers will grow and extra grid capacity is required. If we don’t expand the high-voltage grid fast enough, problems with security of supply and efficiency of investments might occur.”

In Germany both biomass and wind power supply will double in the next six years, according to the new VDN prognosis. In 2012 wind energy will supply 52 TWh electricity, biomass 24 TWh and solar cells 4 TWh. The newly planned coal and gas power plants increase the urgency.

The national renewable energy law in Germany will be renewed this year, sparing the industry from high costs.

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First electro-solar car on consumer market

The first high performance electro-solar hybrid vehicle called Astrolab, is ready to be commercialised in the world. This car needs very little energy. The vehicle does not need to be permanently exposed to the sun in order to move. The car consumes no fossil resources in order to work and the CO2 emissions required for its construction will be compensated for by environmental actions. Producer Venturi will put the car on the market on 1 January 2008 for 92,000 Euros (VAT excluded).

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Worlds biggest RE groups aim for big increase in global RE supply

Four of the world’s biggest renewable energy organisations recently agreed to set an increased target: a 25% share of renewable energy in the global primary energy supply by the year 2025. Leaders of the American Council On Renewable Energy, the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, the European Renewable Energy Council and the World Council for Renewable Energy signed a memorandum of understanding on reaching the global energy goal at the Great Wall World Renewable Energy Forum in China. The memorandum calls for the groups to assess the feasibility and policy requirements needed to move the US, Europe and China to the 25% level in their respective areas, and to merge the results together into a joint report one year from now.