Offshore Wind Fastest Growing Power Sector in Europe

Joanna Schroeder

Offshore wind energy development in Europe is the fastest growing power sector with 4.9 GW of new capacity under construction according to the European Wind Energy (EWEA). The 4.9 GW will be comprised of 16 commercial offshore wind farms under construction. During the first six months of 2014, 224 new offshore wind turbines totaling 781 megawatts were fully connected tot …

International, offshore wind, Renewable Energy

Researchers Make Green Plastic from Biodiesel By-Product

John Davis

Researchers in India have created a green plastic from the biodiesel by-product glycerin. This article from the Business Times says the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) developed the biodegradable plastic from a jatropha-based biodiesel process. “We had initiated a research on using the residue of bio-diesel to be converted to plastic.The idea of green plastic came as …

biochemicals, Biodiesel, International

EU Tariffs on U.S. Biodiesel Could be Renewed

John Davis

Tariffs by the European Union against American biodiesel could be renewed. This article from Bloomberg says the EU is threatening to renew the tariffs of up to $323 per metric ton based on some probes against Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (ADM), the world’s biggest corn processor, and Cargill Inc. The inquiries will determine whether the expiry of the import taxes would be …

Biodiesel, International

Globeleq Inaugurates Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm

Joanna Schroeder

Globeleq has inaugurated its latest wind energy project in South Africa. The 138 MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm is located between the towns of Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp in Eastern Cape and has an estimated annual production of 460 GWh and will provide renewable electricity for nearly 100,000 average South African households. Back in April, Globeleq marked the start of …

International, Renewable Energy, Wind

Aemetis’ Biodiesel Gains EPA, EU Approvals

John Davis

A California-based company making biodiesel in India has gained important approvals from the U.S. government and the European Union. This news release from Aemetis, Inc. says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved issuance of D4 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for Aemetis’ imported biodiesel produced from waste fats and oils (WFO) at Aemetis’ 50 million gallon per year plant on …

Biodiesel, EPA, International, RINS

Windiga Energy to Become Indepedent Solar Producer

Joanna Schroeder

Burkina Faso, located in Africa, is going solar. Windiga Energy will become the first independent solar energy producer in the country with the signing of an investment support agreement. The company has selected Siemens Energy Smart Generation Solutions to build and operate the 20MW photovoltaic power plant to be located in Zina, in the Mouhoun province. The solar power system …

International, Renewable Energy, Solar

Indonesia Coming Up Short on Big Biodiesel Goals

John Davis

Indonesia looks to miss some pretty ambitious goals this year for its biodiesel program. Reuters reports that problems with logistics and infrastructure are what government officials cite as the reason for the miss. The government has set a biodiesel consumption target in 2014 of 4 million kilolitres, of which 1.56 million kilolitres is for subsidised diesel for vehicles, with the …

Biodiesel, International

GRFA: UN Sustainable Goals Must Include Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

This week the 12th session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals began at the United Nations in New York City. In response to the meeting, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is encouraging participants to include specific targets for biofuels developments as part of UN’s sustainability goals. In addition, GRFA stressed to delegates that the use of …

biofuels, Climate Change, Environment, International, Renewable Energy