Mexico Soon to be Home of Major Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder

Weymouth, Massachusetts based Vertex Companies is partnering in the development of a 30 megawatt solar electric power plant located in Zacatecas, Mexico. When complete, this project will be one of the largest of its kind in Latin America. The announcement was made during the Massachusetts – Mexico Innovation Partnership Mission. The joint announcement was made by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick …

International, Renewable Energy, Solar

EU Commission Proposes Eliminating Clean Energy Aid

Joanna Schroeder

The European Commission has proposed a plan to phase out support for renewable technologies after 2020. According to state aid guidelines, the Commission recommends removing support mechanisms for renewable technologies that are expected to become “grid competitive” between 2020 ad 2030. The guidelines did not specify was “grid competitive” means and in their current form, only apply to the period …

International, Renewable Energy, Wind

New Biodiesel Mandate Pleases Canadian Farmers

John Davis

The new biodiesel requirement north of the border is pleasing farmers in that area. The trade group Grain Farmers of Ontario welcomed its province’s new 2 percent biodiesel mandate, expected to be a boon for soybean farmers. “The creation of an Ontario Greener Diesel mandate will reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by the transportation sector and will help build a …

Biodiesel, International

SheerWind Commissions Pilot Project in Dubai

Joanna Schroeder

SheerWind Inc., had commissioned a pilot project at Dubai Aluminium PJSC (DUBAL). The 250kW INVELOX wind power generation pilot project will help sustainably offset the company’s carbon emissions. “We are very pleased to be the pioneer in this innovative pilot project in the GCC, especially as the project will contribute measurably to environmental conservation,” said DUBAL’s Tayeb Al Awadhi. “As …

Electricity, International, Renewable Energy, Wind

ASA Concerned over Argentine Biodiesel for RFS

John Davis

While Argentine biodiesel is having a hard time getting into Europe, its prospects to make it into the U.S. could be boosted. And that is worrying soybean growers in this country. This story from Agri-View says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering whether it should allow Argentine biodiesel to be eligible under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The potential …

Biodiesel, EPA, Government, International, RFS

Florida Biodiesel Delivers Refinery to Africa

John Davis

Biodiesel processor maker Florida Biodiesel, Inc. has delivered one of its refiners to Africa. This company news release says a B-500 biodiesel plant was sold to the Lorymat Corporation in the Ivory Coast. The Lorymat Corporation has chosen the B-500 Biodiesel processor for their prime transesterification facility. The B-500 Biodiesel plant is economical to operate and will allow the Lorymat …

Biodiesel, International

Argentina asks WTO to Look into EU Biodiesel Block

John Davis

Argentina has formally asked the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) to look at the European Union’s block of Argentine biodiesel. This article in MercoPress says the South Americans believe the EU’s antidumping measures imposed last November violate the international law. The release recalls that since 2009 Argentina became the main provider of biodiesel to the EU, with …

Biodiesel, International

Global Ethanol Output to Exceed 90 Billion Litres

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest forecast calls for global ethanol production to exceed 90 billion litres, or about 24 billion gallons, in 2014. The Global Annual Ethanol Production Forecast from the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), in cooperation with F.O. Licht, estimates the world’s ethanol output will peak at 90.38 billion litres this year. That amounts to an increase of almost 2.7% growth …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Ecoppia Unveils E4 Robot Cleaned Solar Park

Joanna Schroeder

Ecoppia has announced that the Ketura Sun solar park in Israel’s Negev desert is now the world’s first autonomously-cleaned solar energy production facility. The 8-hectare facility, producing 9 million kilowatt hours per year, is cleaned nightly by a fleet of almost 100 water-free, energy-independent Ecoppia E4 robots. The solar park is jointly owned by Siemens AG and Arava Power. An …

Alternative energy, International, Solar, water

SolarEdge Selected for EV Fast-Charging Stations

Joanna Schroeder

Fastned has selected the SolarEdge solution, solar power technology developed by SolarEdge, for a nationwide network of 200 electric car fast-charging stations. The electric vehicle (EV) network will be strategically located throughout the Netherlands’ highways and will be partially powered by 3 MW of distributed solar power. Fastned said they selected SolarEdge due to its lower installation, operation and maintenance …

Alternative energy, Electric Vehicles, International