Renewable energy

Who uses renewable power, in one map - We keep hearing that renewable energy is booming in the United States, but where is it? (Brad Plumer, The Washington Post)

Gamesa Plans to Invest in India Factories - Gamesa Wind Turbines Pvt. Ltd., the Indian unit of Spain's Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica SA, said Thursday it plans to spend 2 billion rupees ($37.8 million) between now and December on building factories in the South Asian nation as it looks to tap the country's growing demand for wind energy. (Anirban Chowdhury, The Wall Street Journal)

Japan’s renewable energy options: costs and potential - Japan’s shutdown of all its nuclear power plants leaves it with an energy gap, mostly being made up through greater use of costly imported LNG, coal and oil. Below are some details of the resource-scarce country’s “green energy” options. (Associated Press, The Washington Post)

Rio+20

Returning to Rio to build a more sustainable future -  In 1992, heads of state converged on Rio for the Earth Summit, a bright moment that seemed to herald a new era for sustainable development. Bold speeches were given, important treaties signed. (Manish Bapna and Kirsty Jenkinson, The Guardian)

Masdar maintains commitment to sustainable energy for all - The third High Level Group meeting for the United Nation’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative took place in London last week preceding the 3rd Clean Energy Ministerial. (EQ International)

Energy efficiency

Electric cars in China: Not yet - The main road at the headquarters of BYD, a Chinese car and battery firm in Shenzhen, seems to go on for ever. It winds from gleaming offices past enormous factories and dormitories to a renewable-energy plant and test track. (The Economist)

With electric pace car, NASCAR puts pedal down on green efforts - But in a world turned green, NASCAR is waking up to the reality that American attitudes about automobiles are shifting — from consumers’ demands for better gas mileage to heightened concern about global warming. (Liz Clarke, The Washington Post)

Energy access

Make No Small Plans: Turning On The Lights For 1.4 Billion People - At the recent Fortune Brainstorm Green conference which I attended in Laguna Niguel, California, there was a host of U.S.-focused presentations and conversations. (Ron Pernick, Think Progress)

Mozambique: Electricity Consumption Up By 15 Per Cent - Consumption of electricity in Mozambique increased by 15 per cent in 2011, according to Augusto Sousa, chairperson of the publicly-owned electricity company, EDM. (All Africa)

Offshore power generator proposed for Lynmouth - An energy company hopes to produce electricity for the national grid from the sea bed off north Devon from 2014. (BBC)

Sustainable energy policy

What does the NPPF really mean by sustainable development? - While the National Planning Policy Framework  has been well received for its emphasis on local decision-making and urban redevelopment, what the definitions contained in the framework actually mean presents a problem. (Mark Gaterell, The Guardian)

ROK approves carbon trading scheme - The Republic of Korea's lawmakers approved a national emissions trading scheme on Wednesday to tackle its growing greenhouse gas emissions, overcoming strong industry opposition and joining a growing number of nations to put a price on carbon. (China Daily)

Could a Sarkozy Loss Could be a Green Energy Gain? - Considering the year Southern Europe’s green energy sector has had, it seems that any diversion from dwindling investment and state support comes as a relief. (Christopher Coats, Forbes)