Renewable energy

Willing to Pay (a Little) More for Clean Energy - The perception that the American public is adamantly opposed to higher energy costs is at the root of most political opposition to policies favoring the adoption of renewable energy. (Justin Gillis, New York Times)

GE Energy looks out for alternative energy opportunities - Renewable energy industry, nuclear program and natural gas discoveries in Mozambique make Southern Africa an attractive destination. (Siseko Njobeni, Business Day)

Rio+20

Why Rio+20 Will Succeed- The global environmental agenda overflows with meetings. According to unofficial estimates, formal conferences on biodiversity, climate change, and desertification consume more than 240 days per year. (Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca, The Green Line Blog)

Energy access

What Is Our Energy Future? - Global energy consumption will double by mid-century, regardless of what the United States does. It’s not from the 1 billion people already using vast amounts of electricity, or the 1 billion using modest amounts of electricity. (James Conca, Forbes)

China building power transmission line of world's largest capacity - Construction of an ultra-high voltage power transmission line designed with the world's largest capacity started Sunday in China's far western Xinjiang region. (Xinhua, China Daily)

Agnihotri college students invent hybrid solar tricycle - Eight students of Shri Shankarprasad Agnihotri College of Engineering, under the guidance of Prof Vikram Pakhale, have invented a hybrid solar tricycle, keeping in mind the requirement of physically challenged persons. (The Times of India)

Energy efficiency

Development cooperation will play key role in gaining sustainable development - Partnerships and development cooperation among countries will play a key role in accelerating sustainable development, a top United Nations official said today, stressing that assistance will need to focus on helping developing countries find longer-term solutions to eradicate poverty and transition into a green economy. (UN News Center)

Sustainable energy policy

UK wants EU focus on new CO2 cuts, not renewables - Europe should focus on cutting carbon emissions, rather than just repeating an existing range of EU green policy targets that expire at the end of the decade, Britain's energy and climate chief said on Monday. (Nina Chestney and Barbara Lewis, Reuters)

New tariff order to mandate use of 2% green energy - Alongside the revised domestic tariff for financial year 2012-13, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is all set to start the process for green energy. (The Times of India)

Govt working on wind farm allocation policy - The government has initiated the process of putting in place a policy to auction, or award, offshore wind farms in a way that could be similar to the auction of oil and gas blocks. (Sanjay Dutta, The Times of India)

Rio+20

Ban urges progress in Rio+20 negotiations, names post-2015 High-level Panel co-chairs - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged countries to make progress in their negotiations of the outcome document for the United Nations Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20) next month. (UN News Centre)

Analysis: Political shift will make or break Rio+20 summit - The shifting sands of geopolitics, marked by rapid growth of big, emerging economies such as Brazil and China while traditionally rich countries fall behind, could undermine progress to define sustainable development goals at a United Nations conference next month. (Valerie Volcovici and Nina Chestney, Reuters)

Rio+20: Stockholm Conference Issues Call for Action - In the run-up to the Rio+20 summit June 20-22 in Brazil, an international conference in Stockholm has agreed on a set of 13 recommendations for governments, businesses, organizations and individuals to promote and contribute to sustainable development. (R. Nastranis, The International News Magazine)

Renewable energy

International Geothermal Energy Sector Prepares For DC Gathering- Geothermal energy has struggled to grow in recent years but remains an area of distinct potential in a world where much of the growth in baseload power demand remains distant from the fuel that could generate that needed energy. (Peter Gardett, AOL Energy)

Saudi Arabia Aims For 41 GW Solar Power By 2032 - Saudi Arabia and renewable energy probably doesn't roll off your tongue right now. (Mat McDermott, Treehugger)

U.S., India glimpse a bright future together in solar power - There are few places in the world where the opportunity for solar power is more blindingly obvious than India. (Simon Denyer, The Washington Post)

Energy access

UN's Action Agenda drives progress on energy access for all - The UN's launch of its Global Action Agenda will implement the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and marks an important step toward putting ideas into action, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). (The Guardian)

Energy Access Entrepreneurs Seek $500 Million from World Bank at Rio +20 - Twenty of the world’s leading off-grid clean energy entrepreneurs sent a letter today to World Bank Group president Robert Zoellick requesting $500 million in financial commitments to help them deliver on the world’s energy access goals. (Sierra Club Compass)

SIDS High-Level Conference on SE4ALL Adopts Barbados Declaration - On the second day of the SIDS High-Level Conference on Sustainable Development for All (SE4ALL), which convened in Bridgetown, Barbados, from 7-8 May 2012, delegates from the three SIDS regions – the Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and South China Sea (AIMS) – unanimously adopted the Barbados Declaration, which will be taken to the Rio+20 Conference in June. (IISD)

Energy efficiency

Asia-Pacific cannot afford to grow without addressing environmental concerns – UN - Countries in the Asia-Pacific region must find ways to continue to grow economically and lift millions out of poverty while also responding to climate change and environmental concerns, according to a United Nations report released today, which stresses that new methods of production are needed to meet this goal. (UN News Centre)

Sustainable energy policy

Africa: World Bank Urges Governments to Think Green for Inclusive Growth - The World Bank today released a report urging governments to think green when pursing growth policies, which can be inclusive, efficient, affordable and above all necessary to sustain economic expansion in years ahead. (All Africa)

Friends of the Earth takes clean energy access debate to Parliament - The United Nation's Sustainable Energy initiative accepts community involvement is crucial in providing clean, affordable energy for all. (Friends of the Earth)

Top scientists urge governments to solve environmental 'dilemmas' - The world's leading scientific institutions have urged governments to focus on three "global dilemmas": growing demands for water and energy, natural disasters and measuring carbon dioxide. (Fiona Harvey, The Guardian)

Rifkin Urges U.S. to Follow Europe’s ‘Revolution’ in Energy - The U.S. should follow Europe’s lead in boosting renewable energy as part of “the third industrial revolution,” according to Jeremy Rifkin, a Wharton Business School professor. (Sangim Han, Bloomberg

Rio+20

Rio+Social Registration Open - As world leaders gather in Rio de Janiero for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to negotiate and fine tune a series of agreements on development, energy, and sustainable growth,  a more open “people’s forum” will be underway across town. (Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch)

How can investors drive the sustainability agenda at Rio+20? - The financial crisis has highlighted the importance of companies having business strategies that are sustainable over both the short and long term (Mark Robertson, The Guardian)

Sustainable Energy for All - With 2012 as the “International Year of Sustainable Energy for All”, Ericsson, as member of the UN Global Compact Task Force for the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative, supports the UN goals:Ensuring universal access to modern energy services, Doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. (Ericsson Press Release)

Vietnam supports UN sustainable energy initiative - Vietnam welcomes the United Nations’ Sustainable Energy for All Initiative and is working hard to attend the upcoming Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development in Brazil. (VietNamNet Bridge)

Energy access

Press Release: Linkin Park and Music for Relief to Bring Solar Power to Uganda Health Clinics - Band's 'Power The World' campaign allows fans to sign pledge for Sustainable Energy for All. (Press Release, Sustainable Energy for All)

Renewable Energy in Mali - Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities - As Mali strives to become an emerging economy, it is focusing on energy sector reforms to support growth and improve quality of life. (All Africa)

First 2 MW solar power plant of Uttar Pradesh switched on - The state got its first megawatt-capacity solar power plant operational on Thursday. Situated in village Sandauli of Barabanki, the 2 MW project was inaugurated by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. (The Times of India)

Energy efficiency

25x’25 initiative highlights energy-saving efficiencies for livestock operations - The 25x’25 Alliance recently held a webinar highlighting how energy projects in the livestock sector can reduce energy usage and contribute to the goal of producing 25 percent of our energy from renewable resources like wind, solar and biofuels right here in the United States by the year 2025. (Peggy Coffeen, Agri-view)

5 Green Tech Stories You Should Be Reading: May 11, 2012 - Everyone’s reading about solar power for Japan, new EV charging standards, and green developments for a U.K. waterfront and a Boston transit center. (Laura Caseley, CleanTechnica)

Norway aims for carbon leadership - Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg did not shy away from superlatives as he formally inaugurated the carbon capture test facility at Mongstad near Bergen, on Norway's west coast. (Richard Black, BBC)

Renewable energy

India’s Solar Capacity Rises to 979 Megawatts, Ministry Says - India’s solar power capacity has risen to 979 megawatts, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said in a statement today. (Natalie Obiko Pearson, Bloomberg)

Scottish Renewables Draw Asian Interest Before Independence Vote - Scotland’s expanding renewable energy industry is attracting attention from Asian investors who are unfazed about the country’s prospects for gaining independence from the rest of the United Kingdom. (Sally Bakewell, Bloomberg)

The French Revolution In Green Technology - If you are the CEO of a green technology company, you might want to brush up on your language lessons. (Michael Kanellos, Forbes)

Biomass power production unit on the cards - The day is not far off when the state will have its first biomass power production unit in Ramgarh. (Jaideep Deogharia, The Times of India)

A solar boom in India (graphic) - Among the Group of 20 countries, India’s clean energy sector was the second-fastest growing in 2011. India is likely to see a continued rise in renewable energy generation in the next decade. (Washington Post)

Sustainable energy policy

Bureau of Energy Resources Coordinator Ambassador Carlos Pascual Travels to India - Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Carlos Pascual will travel to Delhi and Mumbai, India, May 14-17 to meet with Government of India officials, energy industry experts, and members of civil society. (Greg Adams, U.S. Department of State)

'Save the planet', science leaders urge G8 governments - Leaders of the global science community have issued joint statements to world leaders meeting at the G8 summit later this month in the US. (Pallab Ghosh, BBC

Rio+20

Small island nations commit to new steps at UN forum to reduce fossil fuel use - Twenty small island developing nations have announced new actions to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and end poverty, as they wrapped up a sustainable energy conference organized by the United Nations and the Government of Barbados. (UN News Centre)

Food security, climate change and global resource scarcity - Global demand for food will double in coming decades, through population growth and rising levels of consumption. Ensuring the planet produces enough food for all in a sustainable way will be a real challenge, and climate change will hamper our efforts if it is not tackled. (Stephen O'Brien, DevEx)

The World is Watching: Will G20 Countries Lead this June at the Earth Summit? - Three years ago, the Group of 20 countries pledged to phase out environmentally-harmful and ineffective subsidies. (Jake Schmidt, NRDC Switchboard)

UNCSD High-level Roundtables - Four high-level roundtable sessions will convene in parallel with the plenary meetings of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). (IISD)

Sustainable energy policy

Barbados: National Sustainable Energy Policy Launch - Barbados will soon have a National Sustainable Energy Policy to guide policy initiatives and the development of an operational framework to generate incentives that would result in substantial energy savings for the island. (Caribbean Press Release)

Renewable Energies Need New Incentives - Clean, renewable energies contribute to economic growth and job creation while decreasing dependency on imports. (Fabíola Ortiz, IPS)

Energy access

Joint UNIDO and Kenya biomass project to begin in June - According to a report by the news agency Xinhua, the joint UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has joined forces with Kenya to implement a five-year biomass project, which will kick off in June. (Toby Price, Renewable Energy Magazine)

Renewable energy faces access issues - Ambitious plans to roll out green energy may fail if companies do not get access to the electricity grid and land as competition among bidders intensifies. (Siseko Njobeni, Business Day)

South Africa: Inga Project Could Help Meet Renewable Energy Target - South Africa may be able to tap into thousands of megawatts in renewable energy to meet its six percent target of hydro-electricity in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) when the Inga hydro-electric project on the Congo River goes live. (All Africa)

Energy efficiency

South Africa looks to ocean currents for nonstop energy - Durban, the fourth largest city in South Africa, has made plans to become a world leader in ocean current energy as it endeavors to put an end to recent power outages. (Alex Blackburne, Blue & Green Tomorrow)

Renewable energy

Record-Breaking Welsh Wind Farm Approved - While this 299-MW wind farm just approved for South Wales doesn’t compare with the insane 20,000-MW Gansu Wind Farm slowly being built in China, or even the 3,000-MW Alta Wind Energy Center that leads the US (currently at 1,020 MW of capacity), the Pen Y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project is huge by most standards and will be the largest wind farm in England and Wales when completed by Vattenfall. (Zachary Shahan, CleanTechnica)

Chinese solar panel makers eye a nuclear-free Japan - Since the start of this year, at least five Chinese solar panel manufacturers, including Hebei-based Yingli Green Energy, Jiangsu-based Hareon Solar Technology Co Ltd and Shanghai-based Chaori Solar Energy Science & Technology Co Ltd, have set up offices in Japan, eyeing the world's third-largest economy for new business opportunities. (China Daily)

Latin America Report: Work Starts on Chile's Largest Wind Farm - Construction has begun on what will become Chile's largest wind farm, a 115-megawatt development in the Antofagasta region in the northern part of the country. (Renewable Energy World)
CBD Energy Signs Definitive Deal For Westinghouse Solar - CBD Energy Ltd. (CBD.AU) agreed to acquire Westinghouse Solar Inc. (WEST) in an all-stock deal that values Westinghouse at roughly A$2.49 million ($2.5 million) as the Australian renewable energy company looks to gain access to the U.S. market. (The Wall Street Journal)
Private Equity investors line up to cash in on wind energy sector - Trishe Energy, the Chennai-based wind power developer is currently in talks with a number of private equity firms to raise about $100 million, which it plans to re-invest in infrastructure, including land development and power allocation. (Biswarup Gooptu, The Economic Times)