Trends & Growth in Global Geothermal Market

Joanna Schroeder

A new report reveals the international power market is booming with a sustained growth rate of 4 percent to 5 percent. The “2014 Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report,” finds, released by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) finds that nearly 700 projects are currently under development in 76 countries. Among the key factors for growth, finds the report, …

Geothermal, International, Renewable Energy, Research

Microalgae Project Underway in Portugal

Joanna Schroeder

A one-hectare pilot project for the production of microalgae is under construction in Portugal. The facility will demonstrate, what a consortium of biotechnology experts say, is an innovative approach to produce microalgae biomass with biodiesel validation in a sustainable manner. The demonstration pilot facility is one of the milestones expected from the Integrated Sustainable Algae (InteSusAl) project. The project aims …

advanced biofuels, algae, biomass, International

DuPont & Zhenfa to Partner On Solar Power

Joanna Schroeder

DuPont China Holding Co., Ltd. (DuPont) and Zhenfa New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (Zhenfa New Energy), have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to collaborate on improving the performance, reliability and return on investment of solar power installations. Under the agreement, both companies will cooperate in optimizing the selection of durable solar materials and technologies used in solar panels. “Solar energy …

International, Renewable Energy, Solar

UK Announces 8 Major Renewable Energy Projects

Joanna Schroeder

The UK government has announced support for eight major renewable electricity projects giving a big boost to green energy and green jobs. By 2020, the projects will provide up to £12 billion of private sector investment, supporting 8,500 jobs, and they could add a further 4.5GW of low-carbon electricity to Britain’s energy mix (or around 4% of capacity), generating enough …

Alternative energy, bioenergy, Clean Energy, International

Argentina to Cut Biodiesel Taxes

John Davis

As its biodiesel industry is battling the European Union over anti-dumping measures, Argentina is looking to cut taxes on biodiesel for domestic use. This article from Bloomberg says the government is proposing an exemption of a 22 percent tax on biodiesel used in thermoelectric plants and a 19 percent tax on biodiesel for gasoline blends until the dispute with the …

Biodiesel, International

Shell Eco-Marathon Seeks Most Energy Efficient Car

Joanna Schroeder

The North America leg of the Shell Eco-Marathon will kick off in Houston, Texas April 25-27, 2014. The event brings hundreds of high school and college students from around the world together to showcase their energy efficient cars. The winning team’s car will travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. For the Houston leg, Linde North America …

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, Hydrogen, International

BayWa Commissioned Solar Farm in Great Britain

Joanna Schroeder

BayWa r.e. has commissioned its fourth solar farm, Whitland, in Great Britain. Despite the continual bad weather, the project team were able to construct and commission the 18 MWp solar plant in only nine weeks. Matthias Taft, Managing Director of BayWa r.e., said of the project, “The rapid implementation of the Whitland solar farm shows that our project team and …

International, Renewable Energy, Wind

Incbio Delivers Biodiesel Plant for Tunisia

John Davis

Portuguese biodiesel equipment maker Incbio has delivered an 8,000MT per year Biodiesel plant to Tunisia. This company news release says Biokast Energy will operate the fully automated industrial ultrasonic biodiesel plant in North Africa. It uses Incbio’s ultrasonic reactors to produce EN14214 Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil (UCO), collected from restaurants in Tunis. This will be one of the most …

Biodiesel, International

ILUC Modeling Still Unverifiable

Joanna Schroeder

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently released their 2014 Climate Change Mitigation Report. According to the Global Renewable Fuels Association (GRFA), the report confirms that biofuels production is economically beneficial and that Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) modelling is unverifiable. The report, says GRFA spokesperson Bliss Baker, is further proof that biofuels contribute to local economies …

biofuels, Climate Change, Indirect Land Use, International