renewables | Leonardo ENERGY

Denmark's Wind Power Evolution

By

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:55

Denmark is seen as the great wind power success story. But the number of ordinary Danes participating in the wind power sector actually decreased for many years.

In 2004, 100,000 Danish households owned shares in community wind power projects. 3,000 MW of wind turbines was installed by 2003 – double the target set by the Danish government for 2005.

Read full article

Webinar - Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings and Offsite Renewables

By

Andreas Hermelink

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 10:59

Date : 29th May 2013 - 15h00 Central European Time (check your local time here)

Register :

Read full article

International Energy Agency - Photovoltaic Power Systems 2012 Annual Report

By

Mon, 05/06/2013 - 22:09

As a leading international network of expertise, IEA PVPS has the mission to cooperate on a global level in this rapidly evolving technology area.

Read full article

A new generation of small PV systems for lighting and communication

By

Wed, 04/24/2013 - 11:11

The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) is one of the collaborative R & D agreements established within the IEA and, since 1993, its participants have been conducting a variety of joint projects in the applications of photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into electricity.

Read full article

Shining Sun and Blissful Wind: Access to ICT Solutions in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa Through Access to Renewable Sources

By

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 20:56

Africa is witnessing a trente glorieuses. Nonetheless, high oil prices coupled with global warming concerns have necessitated the development of renewable energy throughout Africa. Much of Africa understands these concerns, but incentive structures should be set so that states continue to diversify their energy supply.

Read full article

A Snapshot of Global PV 1992 / 2012 - IEA PVPS Programme

By

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 19:48

After several years of the PV market’s rapid growth, 2012 has been a year of market consolidation. In total, about 28.4 GW of PV capacity were installed in the IEA PVPS countries and the major other markets during 2012 (2011: 28.9 GW; 2010: 16.7 GW). This raised the total installed capacity in IEA PVPS countries close to 89.5 GW with another estimated 7 GW of capacity installed in other major countries.

Read full article

The need and necessity of an EU-wide renewable energy target for 2030

By

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 17:47

In 2020, some leading EU energy and climate policies will expire. At present, the EU and its Member States are discussing the design of a post-2020 policy portfolio regarding greenhouse gas emissions and low-carbon energy. The central question is: which portfolio provides the most cost-efficient pathways towards a low-carbon energy system by 2050? This paper addresses the need and necessity of an EU-wide renewable energy target for 2030.

Read full article

The Challenge of Institutional Investment in Renewable Energy

By

Tue, 04/02/2013 - 14:31

A report by the Climate Policy Initiative

Institutional investors, which together manage assets of over $70 trillion, often have investment objectives that are aligned with the investment profile of infrastructure. At first glance, access to this large pool of capital and the alignment of objectives should help lower the costs of financing renewable energy.

Read full article

Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings and Offsite Renewables

By

Andreas Hermelink

Tue, 03/05/2013 - 14:38

The energy performance of buildings is key for reaching the European Union’s very ambitious climate targets. “Nearly zero energy building (nZEB)” is the term for a building standard that complies with this ambition. Living in 2013 we have 8 years to go until every single Member State will have to build every single new building as nearly zero energy building, and even only 6 years to go for nearly zero energy public buildings.

Read full article

Hydro and Wind: Friends or Foes?

By

Nicolas Brizard

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 17:25

With a 75% share, hydroelectricity is by far the main contributor to electricity generation from renewables in Europe[1]. In 2011, it accounted for 16% of total electricity production and more than 20% of the total installed generation capacity. With 220 GW of installed capacity[2], hydroelectricity still dwarves wind power that stands at 96 GW.

Read full article

IRELP Portal to Facilitate Education and Training in Renewable Energy

By

Thu, 12/27/2012 - 11:46

In the wake of the financial crisis, global unemployment rates have hit 6% with no improvement projected until after 2016. Recent estimates suggest that the most severely affected are today's youth, with their global unemployment rate reaching 12.7%. Even the most educated generation in terms of higher degree attainment, the Millennial Generation born between early 1980s and mid-90s, are struggling to secure employment.

Read full article

Wind Generator Technology

By

Jose Ignacio Briano

Tue, 11/27/2012 - 22:00

This White Paper starts with an overview of the expected evolutions in the wind market. The initial boom in the global onshore wind market lies behind us, with a growth rate of 31% between 2005 and 2010. That said, the market is expected to continue its growth in the subsequent three years, with a projected growth rate of 12%. The strongest growth for onshore wind power is predicted for countries outside of Europe.

Read full article

Smart electrification as the road forward

By

Bruno De Wachter

Tue, 11/20/2012 - 22:00

In the whitepaper 'Coping with the Energy Challenge / The IEC’s role from 2010 to 2030', smart electrification is seen as the key to a sustainable and efficient global energy system. By opting for renewable energy sources and using electrical energy in a smart and controlled manner, electricity can play the major roll in decarbonizing the global economy. This is not a business-as-usual scenario.

Read full article

Photovoltaic Grid Parity Monitor

By

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:34

The Photovoltaic Grid Parity Monitor analyses PV competitiveness with retail electricity prices for residential consumers and assesses local regulation for self-consumption of fourteen cities in seven countries (Brazil, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, USA - California).

Read full article

World Energy Use in 2011: Slowdown in global energy demand

By

Geraldine Duffour

Fri, 09/14/2012 - 17:03

After the strong growth noticed in 2010, global energy consumption increased at a much slower pace in 2011 (2.2% to 4.9%). While this slowdown is mainly due to the economic crisis that hit OECD countries, the record oil prices also played a role, limiting the growth in global oil consumption even in energy-hungry countries such as China or India.

Read full article

Chilean PV Generation Below Grid Parity

By

Wed, 09/05/2012 - 15:37

A 300 MW PV project in Northern Chile will generate electricity at less than grid parity, according to Matias Mori, Executive Vice President of Chile’s Foreign Investment Committee. Mr. Mori described the development as a huge step in the development of the PV sector and a boost for the technology’s mass adoption.

Read full article

PV Losing Its Training Wheels

By

Mon, 09/03/2012 - 04:41

Over the next three years the global PV industry will be in preparation for life without subsidy, according to analysts. It will be a rocky ride. But ultimately subsidy must go.

Read full article

U.S. Onshore Wind Energy at Record Low Costs

By

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 11:29

During 2013, the cost of energy from newly installed onshore wind turbines in the US will be as much as 39% below the previous record low point set in 2003. U.S.

In early June, Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel expressed fears that the US onshore wind turbine market would drop by 80% next year if the production tax credit is not renewed. The irony is that the PTC could provide greater benefit to the wind industry than was ever possible in the past.

Read full article

A low-energy building policy starts with clear definitions

By

Bruno De Wachter

Thu, 08/23/2012 - 17:55

Is it a zero energy, net zero energy, low carbon, or renewable energy building?

Read full article

Energy-related renovations of Europe’s building stock must accelerate

By

Diedert Debusscher

Mon, 08/13/2012 - 01:00

The cost of energy consumed during a building’s lifetime can be two-thirds of the construction cost. But across Europe, potential savings from energy-efficiency renovations have been largely ignored. There is little evidence that the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive has changed behaviour, according to a recently published report from Ecofys. If the number of major energy-related renovations to European buildings does not accelerate dramatically, it is clear from the data in the ‘Panorama of the European non-residential construction sector’ report that the European Union’s goal of an almost carbon-neutral building stock by 2050 is not achievable.

Read full article

Pages