Feed-in tariffs for photovoltaics » 22.02.2012
What Lomborg gets wrong
In an article published at Slate.com, Danish political scientist Bjørn Lomborg chimes in on how Germany is allegedly abandoning solar. He may not describe the situation in Germany well, but his attempt to do so certainly proves that criticism of solar still cannot do without a hefty portion of legerdemain – and a few outright inaccurate statements. read more »
Biomass » 21.02.2012
Historical price overview for wood pellets
Germany's Biomass Research Center has published a short study showing how the price of various types of wood pellets have changed over the past few years. The overview is the first of its kind. read more »
Photovoltaics » 21.02.2012
EU requires recycling
The European Parliament has revised its Directive on Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste and now requires solar panels to be recycled. Manufacturers have to pay for the entire process. read more »
Energy policy » 20.02.2012
New Swiss FITs in March
On March 1, 2012, new feed-in tariffs will take effect in Switzerland for photovoltaics, wind power, and biomass from timber. read more »
Industry study » 17.02.2012
Offshore wind jobs
Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) took a look at the potential of the offshore sector for jobs and the economy and found that sales could triple and jobs more than double. read more »
Biomethane » 17.02.2012
Investors interested in Haase Energietechnik
Spokesperson Ursula Packhäuser tells Renewables International that at least a dozen investors have shown interest in the biomethane specialist, which filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of February. read more »
Wind power » 16.02.2012
Weak year for Spanish wind
In 2011, installations of wind turbines fell by a third year-over-year, and the country fell roughly 10 percent short of what should have been possible. read more »
Grid integration of photovoltaics » 16.02.2012
PV to stabilize grid around the clock?
A new inverter technology allows inverters to act as phase-shift oscillators, thereby providing the grid with reactive power from solar plants even overnight – and lowering the cost of grid expansion considerably in the process. read more »
Biofuels » 15.02.2012
Linde buys Choren's Carbo-V technology
Linde Engineering Dresden, a subsidiary of the Linde Group, now owns the process, but the pilot system remains mothballed. The sale is the second success story in the bankrupt firm's insolvency proceedings. read more »
Photovoltaics » 15.02.2012
Unisolar files for bankruptcy
The US manufacturer of thin film has filed for bankruptcy, and the parent company Energy Conversion Devices plans to sell its subsidiary – but keep the patents. read more »
Wind power » 14.02.2012
Vestas posts disappointing results
In 2011, the Danish market leader among the turbine manufacturers posted one of the worst fiscal years in its 30-year history – a loss of 166 million euros. The company even fell short of its guidance, which had been lowered several times already. read more »
Photovoltaics » 14.02.2012
New efficiency record for organic cell
US semiconductor manufacturer Polyerareports 9.1 percent efficiency in the lab, but it is unclear what the efficiency would be in industrial manufacturing – and the price is also unclear. read more »
Biofulels » 13.02.2012
BDI retrofits US biodiesel plant
BDI Bioenergy International is revamping a plant that produces biodiesel, and the contract reveals where the US market is headed. read more »
Wind power » 13.02.2012
New offshore tradeshow "Windforce" a success
Roughly 5 months before the event gets started, 65 exhibitors have already booked floorspace, and another 20 have reserved booths. WAB, which represents Germany's offshore wind sector and is organizing the event, is thus close to its goal of 100 exhibitors already. read more »
Safety » 10.02.2012
Emergency concept for offshore wind farms
The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) is working with wind farm operators to set up an emergency center to handle accidents at offshore wind farms. read more »
