Business Edition
nr 60
12 July 2007
Special:
Yield of German feed-in tariff exceeds costs
Since the German support system for green power has proven to be very profitable in many ways, the German Ministry of Environment has proposed a continuation, with even higher targets.
Investing in renewables saves fossil fuel costs
A renewable electricity future is far less expensive than a fossil-fuelled one, concludes a joint report from the European Renewable Energy Council and Greenpeace. The investments will be earned back ten times by fuel cost savings.
Read
more
Special Report Biofuels
EU target biofuels has global impact
Last week saw the International Conference on Biofuels, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels. At the opening session, it immediately became clear that the European target of 10% biofuels by 2020 has global consequences.
Lots of policies, too little research
At the end of the International Conference on Biofuels in Brussels, Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner resumed the most important issues of the conference and projected the European biofuel policies
Brazil takes the lead in biofuels debate
Brazil has a long history in biofuel production and it is the world's largest producer of bioethanol, producing 12.9 million tonnes in 2005, followed by the United States in second place producing 11.7 million tonnes. Presently production in Brazil is growing by about 12% per year. More than a million jobs have been created in the biofuel industry in Brazil alone and many more jobs related
Read
more
Food versus fuel: implications not yet charted
The influence of biofuels production on food availability and food prices is a largely uncharted area. There will be winners and losers, but these will only be assessed in concrete examples.
Commission to toughen up biofuel targets
Europe is lagging behind its biofuel targets. In order to achieve 5.75% biofuel by 2010, the Commission is now considering making the target binding.
eBio: 'Single EU import duty for ethanol required'
The current European legal framework for ethanol import brings substantial loopholes for ethanol producers. They can avoid higher import duties offering their product as a chemical blend of petrol or as an ETBE
Read
more
Fuel Quality Directive: more requirements upstream
Incorporating more sustainability into the ‘Fuel Quality Directive’ will require more complex regulations regarding the upstream processes.
WWF launches harmonised bio-energy certification system
WWF’s European policy office has published a proposal for a harmonised European scheme for biomass certification, designed by consultancy firm Ecofys. WWF believes a global approach is the best guarantee for sustainable bio-energy and calls for comments on the scheme.
Turning biodiesel waste into fuel
The fast-growing production of biodiesel has lead to increasing amounts of glycerin, a by-product of the biodiesel manufacturing process. Chemists in the US and Europe are developing ways to convert the glycerol into alcohols, which can also be used as a biofuel.
Read
more
Zerocarbonbritain: Political incorrect climate solutions
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in the UK has published a radical report pointing out a way to make Britain carbon free in only twenty years time. The report features concrete solutions for a low-carbon society.
Read
more
Green Star produces algae for biodiesel production
Green Star Products Inc. (GSPI) has announced that algae production in its 40,000 litre demonstration facility in Montana has successfully been completed. GSPI’s half-open pond appears to be a suitable and cheap way to produce algae as a biodiesel feedstock.
Read
more
Editorial: Renewable energy pays
What we, as stakeholders in the renewable energy business, have already known for ages was confirmed last week: two reports stated that the costs of investing in renewable energy are far less than the costs of investing in conventional energy. In other words: renewable energy pays!
Read more
In brief
EC wants to stimulate energy efficiency with VAT-rates
Biofuel Tax allowance in Poland
Dutch engineers propose energy storage island
Boeing introduces greenish Dreamliner
Green taxes in Danmark ineffective
Robert Watson scientific advisor to UK government
German green building council founded
Extensive growth in renewable energie in Ireland
Agenda Read
more
To the reader
The GreenPrices Business Edition is issued weekly. Daily we publish actual news on our website.
As an introduction, we offer you a reduced subscription price of € 200 for one year, instead of the normal € 300 fee.
Subscribe here.
GreenPrices Weekly contains a ‘paid section’. Paying subscribers can enter the articles in this section after login; free subscribers will be offered the option to purchase a paid subscription.
Headlines and intros, along with some of the articles, will remain for free.
Rolf de Vos
Editor in chief
GreenPrices Newsdesk