(EnergyAsia, May 14, Thursday) — Australia will attract more than A$$20 billion of new clean energy investments in the coming years following the approval of the Federal Government’s renewable energy target (RET), said the Clean Energy Council (CEC). US$1=A$1.4). CEC chief executive Matthew Warren said the endorsement by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will...

(EnergyAsia, May 14, Thursday) — China is setting its sights on becoming a world leader in the production and market for electric cars and buses over the next three years. To kick-start its long-term ambitious plan, the government is offering subsidies in selected cities, and has ordered the national state electricity grid to build recharging...

(EnergyAsia, May 14, Thursday) — Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have agreed to distribute their natural gas through Russia’s proposed Central Asia-Center pipeline system, dealing a blow to western Europe’s competing Nabucco network. This week, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev committed his government’s support to the Russian initiative, joining Turkmenistan, with Uzbekistan also showing interest. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan...

(EnergyAsia, May 14, Thursday) — German system integrator Payom Solar AG said it has signed a framework sales contract to obtain 20 megawatts of modules from China’s Yingli Green Energy at a reduced cost. Payom executive Jörg Truelsen said that the supply of the modules will enable the company to compete better. In March, Payom,...

(EnergyAsia, May 14, Thursday) — Greenpeace has accused Finland’s Neste Oil of contributing to “massive” rainforest destruction and climate change in its drive to become a leading biodiesel producer. Earlier this week, 32 activists from the environmental group demonstrated outside Neste’s palm oil-based diesel refinery in Porvoo, Finland. They hung a banner with the text...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — Canadian Solar said it has signed a new sales agreement with Topinfrasolar, a South Korean systems integrator, which will expand the relationship and supply agreement by an additional 5 MW. The contracted deliveries may include both regular and e-modules and stipulates deliveries for Korean installations in 2009. The two companies...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — China aims to have 20 billion watts of wind power capacity in place by 2020. This would easily be doubled the government’s earlier target for wind power capacity. As at the end of 2008, China’s wind power capacity was 12 billion watts. Generous government incentives helped spur investment in the...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — China plans to build “at least” 20 new hydroelectric projects along the mighty Yangtze River by 2020. Planners estimate that at present, only 36% of the river’s hydropower potential is being used. As part of its long-term plans to boost the use of renewable energy, the Chinese government wants to...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — Backed by famed US investor Warren Buffet, China’s vehicle battery maker BYD plans to export its products. The company has also begun talks with foreign partners to develop electric car projects. However, its executives have ruled out selling its technology. The fledgling market for electric vehicles in China and other...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — US science company DuPont has opened a $25 million photovoltaic (PV) technical centre at its China global R&D Center in Shanghai to support the development of material for the fast growing crystalline silicon PV solar energy market. DuPont said it expects to nearly triple its annual photovoltaic sales to more...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — Covanta Energy Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYSE-listed Covanta Holding Corp, said it has acquired an 85% stake in a joint venture with Jiangzu Taineng Group Ltd to build a new waste-to-energy plant to serve the cities of Taixing and Yangzhong in China. The US$30 million project...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — Singapore-listed Asia Power Corporation Limited said a subsidiary has received approval from China’s National Energy Administration to build more efficient and environmentally-friendly power generating units and close down small thermal power units in Heilongjiang. Its 51%-owned subsidiary, Heilongjiang Asiapower Xinbao Heating & Power Co Ltd, will soon begin an economic...

(EnergyAsia, May 13, Wednesday) — While  most  governments are focused  on  dealing  with  the  worst economic crisis in many decades, a UN agency said Asia should be just as wary about the threats posed by food and fuel  price volatility,  and  climate  change. With almost two thirds of the world’s poor and half of its...

(EnergyAsia, May 12, Tuesday) — Taiwan’s new president Ma Ying-jeou has called on lawmakers to pass an integrated law this year to support renewable energy projects. Addressing a recent energy forum in Taipei, Mr Ma said Taiwan is committed to reducing both energy use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Taiwanese government has set a...

(EnergyAsia, May 12, Tuesday) — Japanese oil refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu is venturing deeper into the solar energy business with plans to buy Hitachi’s plasma display television business in Miyazaki prefecture. Showa Shell would use the Hitachi unit as a platform to build a photovoltaic cell factory with annual production capacity of one million kilowatts,...

(EnergyAsia, May 12, Tuesday) — Indian Oil Corp, the country’s largest integrated oil company, said it has launched its first wind farm, a 21 MW project in the Kutch district in Gujarat state. The company said it has invested Rs1.3 billion in the project to generate electricity to support its fuel storage and oil pipelines...

(EnergyAsia, May 12, Tuesday) — The world’s wind power capacity surged by 27,051 megawatts (MW) or nearly 29% to a record 120,798 MW in 2008, said the World Watch Institute. The institute said wind now generates more than 1.5% of the world’s electricity, up from 0.1% in 1997. Around the world, 80 countries are now...

(EnergyAsia, May 12, Tuesday) — Malaysia’s Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and South Korea’s Dongwha GH International have agreed to jointly research and develop (R&D) new medium density fibreboard products. The Malaysian board already has launched 15 R&D and technology projects to use biomass from palm oil and its by-products. Theses include the production of block-board,...

(EnergyAsia, May 11, Monday) — India has agreed to help develop 10 hydropower projects in Bhutan by 2020. The projects will tap four of Bhutan’s main rivers, Puna Tsang Chhu, Wang Chhu, Amo Chhu and Drangme Chhu. Construction could begin as early as 2011. The country has an estimated hydropower potential of 30,000 megawatt, but...

(EnergyAsia, May 12, Tuesday) — The Australian government has invested A$100 million in the recently launched Australian Solar Institute (ASI) at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle. (US$1=A$1.4). Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism, said the initiative delivers on the government’s election commitment to fast track solar research in Australia. Leading research institute...

(EnergyAsia, May 11, Monday) — Taiwan’s Everphoton Energy Corporation said it has won a tender to supply 200 kilowatt of III V triple junction high concentration photovoltaics (HCPV) modules. This is the first phase bidding in 2009 of a 1MW project initiated by the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER). “We are happy and honored...

(EnergyAsia, May 11, Monday) — This is an edited version of the speech by the EMA’s chief executive, Lawrence Wong, at last week’s launch of the electric vehicle test-bed and the MOU signing ceremony with its industry partners. Electrification of transport More than one billion vehicles populate the earth today, pumping significant quantities of greenhouse...

(EnergyAsia, May 11, Monday) — International energy services company John Wood Group PLC said its gas turbine services division (GTS) has launched a new service for the renewable energy sector. Wood Group Renewable Energy Services (WGRES) will focus on the wind turbine market and offer operations, maintenance, asset management, parts sourcing, monitoring and diagnostic and...