Sustainablog.com reports China is likely to achieve its renewable energy target of 30% by 2050, surpassing that of the U.S. and European Union, due to its strong government policy and manufacturing base. The Chinese government spent $2 billion (U.S.) and doubled their wind power generating capacity last year, but even with these efforts, it will not be enough to offset coal emissions produced in the country.
Reuters reports Google Inc. plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to promote and encourage cheap, renewable electricity. The company is taking advantage of their growing global recognition to produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in their project titled, Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal. One gigawatt is enough electricity to power San Francisco, and they anticipate this will take place in a matter of years versus decades.
CSIRO reports CSIRO and Cleantech Ventures have invested in Small Storage Pty Ltd to develop a technology that will store electricity created from renewable energy sources. Current battery technology is unable to meet high power demands. Smart Storage is looking to create a high performance and cost effective battery that can be developed at existing lead-acid battery plants.
ZDNet reports scientists at Stanford University are looking to connect wind farms to provide a more reliable source of energy. Since wind is intermittantly blowing, connecting wind farms to create a more steady flow of wind would make for cheaper rates and an easier way to penetrate the growing market for renewable energy sources. Researchers identified 19 sites in the Midwest that if connected could provide a maximum of 47% of yearly averaged wind power to be used as reliable electric power. The question remains if utility companies would be willing to connect.
9news.com reports Xcel Renewable Energy Compliance Plan was filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to outline renewable energy goals for the state requirement passed last year. An average homeowner could expect to see an increase of .79 a month on their electric bill if the plan is accepted. The increase would come from Xcel asking the Public Utilities Commission to increase the Renewable Energy Standard Adjustment from .6% to 2%, the additinal funds would go to purchase more wind and solar energy.
TradingMarkets.com reports Babcock & Brown Wind Partners has acquired Cedar Creek Wind Farm. The farm currently has a wind generating capacity of 300.5 MW with 250.5 MW operational at this time. The additional 20 turbines that are under construction are expected to be acquired within one years time.
Seacoast Online reports former U.S. President, George H.W. Bush is using wind power to provide electricity to his summer home in Maine. Last week, the family installed a 33 ft turbine that will provide 400 kw of the 600 kw used by an average home. Maine is also home to other wind farms, including New England’s largest, Mars Hill.
icWales.co.uk reports Wales has a wind energy target of an additional 800 MW installation by the year 2010 to power 270,000 homes. A key person for Eco2, a Cardiff wind power company, feels the Assembly Government is consistently denying efforts to meet these goals by rejecting wind farm proposals. Members of the Assembly Government claim to take each proposal on a case-by-case basis.
Amherst Daily News reports contracts with six developers for wind projects throughout Nova Scotia are estimated to cost $1.5 billion. These projects are expected to be complete in 2009 with the capacity to power 58, 000 homes - quadrupling the wind energy that is currently running through Nova Scotia, Canada. Nova Scotia Power is also looking at other renewable energy sources such as tidal power and marine turbines to nearly double green energy within a six year time period.
Truro Daily News reports Nova Scotia Power in Canada has entered the final negotiations with six developers for wind farms to power 58,000 homes. These contracts for wind power in eight locations will be of great assistance to the province’s renewable energy goal of reaching 20% by 2020. Nova Scotia is currently producing 13 % of energy needs from renewable resources, the new wind operations will raise that percentage to 15%. The projects are estimated to cost $1.5 billion and are expected to be complete by the end of 2009.