Warren Buffet’s MidAmerican Wind Acquires Two Huge Alta Wind
Projects
MidAmerican Wind announced Sunday the
purchase of two wind projects from California Highwind Power, a subsidiary of
Terra-Gen Power. The two projects - the 168-megawatt Alta Wind VII and the
132-megawatt Alta Wind IX - are part of the Alta Wind Energy Center and will
feature a total of 100 Vestas 3-megawatt V90 wind turbines. Warren Buffet apparently
likes big wind farms. "The Alta Wind VII and Alta Wind IX projects
demonstrate MidAmerican Wind's commitment to developing wind generation in the
U.S.," said Tom Budler, president of MidAmerican Wind. "The two
projects, which are part of the largest wind farm in the country, make an
excellent addition to our growing portfolio of renewable energy assets as we
continue to evaluate and acquire wind projects." To read this article in
full click
here
EU to monitor shipping emissions from next year
Global steps to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry are moving too slowly so
the European Union will introduce its own system next year in a bid to
accelerate reform, its executive body said on Monday. International shipping
accounts for around 3 percent of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, the
greenhouse gas widely blamed for global warming, and this share could go to 18
percent by 2050 if regulation is not in place, according to the International
Maritime Organisation. There is currently no international regulation of
greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Despite years of efforts in the IMO and
the United Nations' climate division, global measures have been limited. To
read this article in full click
here
Iraq to Invest $500 Billion in Energy Sector
At a recent conference, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for
Energy, Dr. Hussain al-Shahristani, announced that his government plans to
invest around $500 billion in the energy sector and linked industries by 2030. They
hope that $80 billion will be provided by the private sector, and believe that
the investment will “generate about $6 trillion in revenues for the
government, mostly from oil exports,” and create 250,000 new jobs. Iraq
boasts the world’s fourth largest oil reserves and is currently producing more
than 3 million barrels a day for the first time in 30 years. The OPEC member
state, which is now experiencing a period of relative peace compared to the
war-torn violence that has afflicted it over recent decades, wishes to increase
production by more than 100 percent, using investments by BP, Shell, Exxon
Mobile, Eni, and Lukoil. To read this article in full click
here
China gets $600m for eco projects
The Asian Development Bank
(ADB) is providing US$600m (£371m) for a package of four green projects in
fast-growing second-tier cities in China. The projects are designed to transform
waste into clean energy, reduce CO2 emissions, expand eco-friendly
transport, and protect fragile wetland areas. “These four projects support
PRC’s transition to a lower-carbon growth path built on a long-term commitment
to green urbanisation, better energy efficiency, and environmental
preservation,” said Robert Wihtol, director general of ADB’s East Asia
department. “We still have a long way to go, but with forward-looking planning
and investment, the Chinese cities of the future can have clean air, blue
skies, clean water and more green areas.” To read this article in full click
here
Siemens launches carbon footprint monitoring app for smart
phones
Siemens has a new smart phone application that will
let its users monitor their carbon emissions.
According to Siemens, its “Environmental Impact
Calculator” can be used by engineers and facility managers to manage a
building’s baseline carbon footprint due to purchased electricity, natural gas
and heating oil. Aside from this, users can also measure the impact of energy
efficiency improvements on a yearly basis or even throughout the length of a
given project’s term using the tool, Siemens said. “Quantifying the impact of
energy consumption and energy conservation efforts in terms of greenhouse gas
emissions is the easiest way to measure environmental impact,” said Ari Kobb,
director at Siemens Sustainability and Green Buildings Solutions. Siemens says
the tool offers a way for users to create a simple carbon footprint for
buildings, measure carbon savings and easily turn that information into easily
understood equivalencies, he added. To read this article in full click
here
Renewable Energy Gets Co-Operative Bank Loan for UK Wind Farms
Renewable Energy Generation
Ltd. (WIND), a U.K.-based clean power developer, got a 16 million-pound ($26
million) loan from The Co-operative Bank Plc for two wind farms. The 10-year loan was offered at a rate of 5.7
percent, Jersey-based REG said today in a statement detailing completion of
project financing for its Sancton Hill and South Sharpley wind parks. REG will
draw down 9.7 million pounds today and 6.3 million pounds when the 6-megawatt
South Sharpley plant in Durham, northern England, starts commercial operation
at the end of the year, according to the statement. The 10-megawatt Sancton Hill
facility in Yorkshire is already operational, according to the company’s
website. To read this article in full click
here
