Commissioned by the EU, Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research is performing pre-normative research into standards for biobased products. Using laboratory research and its knowledge and experience with biobased products, Food & Biobased Research and project coordinator NEN are looking into the demand for specific labelling for and consumer information on biobased products. The project includes a total of 14 European research institutes and companies. Food & Biobased Research is performing specific research into quality requirements for biobased products based on laboratory tests into specific functional characteristics such as strength, flexibility, permeability, recyclability and organic degradability.- Scatec Solar ASA has entered into financing agreements totaling $157 million for construction of a 104 MW(dc) Red Hills solar power plant in Utah. When complete, the Red Hills solar project will be Scatec Solar’s largest developed and constructed project in North America. Total investment for the plant is estimated at $188 million with Google providing tax equity, Prudential Capital Group providing debt financing, and Scatec Solar providing sponsor equity. The power plant will be wholly-owned by a partnership jointly owned by Google and Scatec Solar.
- TXU Energy is helping more of its customers go 100 percent green for their home electricity service. The company’s new TXU Energy GreenUpS option allows existing residential customers to maintain their current TXU Energy plans and benefits while adding renewable energy offsets for 100 percent of the electricity delivered to their homes. That means that for every kilowatt delivered to their homes, an equal number of kilowatts generated by Texas wind will be put onto the Texas electricity grid.
- Duke Energy has signed 20-year agreements with three solar developers to purchase up to 20 megawatts of solar power for its Indiana customers. The company has filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to approve the agreements. Pending regulatory approval, the developers will build and operate four solar panel projects, each producing up to 5 megawatts of electric power. The projects include: Pastime Farm LLC in Clay County and McDonald Solar LLC in Vigo County, developed by Solexus Development and Strata Solar; Geres Energy LLC in Howard County, developed by Inovateus Solar; and Sullivan Solar LLC in Sullivan County, developed by juwi solar.
