Energy generation

Fukushima could trigger fast smart grid rollout

by Jonathan Tee (jontee@innovationobservatory.com)

The on-going crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power station is leading to signs of significantly increased public hostility towards nuclear power. Several countries, including the UK, USA, Spain and Switzerland, have announced safety reviews while China has announced a freeze on new nuclear power projects till 2012. Germany, where the political backlash has been most intense, has closed seven of its oldest reactors for a three-month safety review amidst calls for the early closure of its 17 nuclear reactors by the 2020s (rather than by 2036).

Algal Biofuels: Technology and Market Developments

New report: Algal Biofuels: Technology and Market Developments

As energy demands skyrocket and oil reserves begin to falter in their stability, the need for a reliable renewable fuel source grows. While a number of unconventional feedstocks are currently being investigated as potential biofuel producers, microalgae have emerged as one of the most potentially promising routes to making biofuels, especially biodiesel.

New Report: Second Generation Biofuels: Companies, Technologies and Market Prospects

2G Biofuels Report CoverBiofuels sample pageNew report: Second Generation Biofuels: Companies, Technologies and Market Prospects

Where is the smart money going - in the US and worldwide?

US President Obama has been making much of the potential of renewables. He says that “We know that the country that harnesses the power of the clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century” and as part of the US Economic Stimulus package he allocated over USD150 billion over ten years to a range of renewable energy and green energy projects – a tenfold increases on previous levels of departmental support.

China – a greening giant

As the global installed base of renewable electricity generation capacity continues to expand, China is increasing in importance both as a consumer of green technologies, and as an exporter. The world’s biggest manufacturing nation in solar PV cells is increasingly consuming its own output in this area, and China is also ramping up production of wind turbines fast enough to supply half of a colossal domestic demand – and is established as a major exporter too.

The global renewable generation context

Renewables in recession? Mixed evidence from the UK

Some commentators have, perhaps rather optimistically, argued that green energy technology would be one sector that might escape the worst of the recession.

Germany Country Profile

The expansion of renewable energy sources in Germany has been an unprecedented success. The country has emerged as Europe’s leader in wind utilisation and biofuel production. Also, despite being geographically positioned with modest solar radiation, Germany has been experiencing a remarkable boom in solar energy. It is the largest solar thermal market in Europe and a major producer and consumer of PV power systems. Over the past few years, the share of total final energy consumption from renewables has more than doubled, standing at 8.6 % in 2007.

Fuel cell technology and markets: an overview

"The global fuel cell industry is expected to generate more than USD18.6 billion in 2013" according to a recent US Energy Business report Fuel Cell Technology and Market Potential distributed by Real Publishing, and certainly a wide range of applications and potential new markets has opened up for this technology.

Green heat: losing its Cinderella status in the UK

Heat supply has been the Cinderella area in the green energy field - the emphasis has so far mainly been on electricity. But things are changing, in recognition of the fact that, as the UK House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee put it in its new report on the Economics of Renewable Energy, two-fifths of the UK’s energy usage is on heat, and only one fifth on electricity.

Optimism on biogas prospects in the UK

Although the UK Government’s new consultation on its proposed Heat and Energy Saving (HES) strategy (see here) only gave biogas a few passing mentions, more is promised later in the detailed proposals for the new Renewable Heat Initiative (RHI). But certainly biogas - essentially methane produced from wastes - has moved from the margins to be an interesting new heat supply option, as well as a fuel for electricity generation.

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