Extreme weather hammering E.U. transport sector

Extreme weather conditions are costing the European Union\'s transport system at least 15 billion euros ($18.423 billion) a year, according to a study from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The most vulnerable to extreme weather is road traffic compared with other modes of transport, with one factor that sector’s not being centralized or professionally controlled, unlike rail and air travel.

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University of York opens new center for development of green chemicals

Britain’s University of York opened the £2.5 million Biorenewables Development Center yesterday. The facility, funded by the U.K.’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the European Regional Development Fund, aims to be a headquarters for the development of renewable chemicals.

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Group urges E.U. leaders to invest in renewables, not oil

The European Wind Energy Association urged leaders who attended the European Union summit in Brussels last week to invest in renewable energy to create more jobs instead of importing oil from Russia and Algeria. \"If E.U. leaders want to create jobs in Europe they should invest in renewable energies.

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Q.Cells sells thin-film solar business to China’s Hanergy

China’s Hanergy Holding Group Limited and Germany’s Q-Cells signed an agreement for the former’s acquisition of Solibro, Q-Cells subsidiary that works with thin-film solar technology. Solibro has developed a co-evaporation technology for producing copper indium gallium diselenide solar modules under the brand name Q-Smart. Based in Germany’s Solar Valley in Thalheim, Solibro currently runs two factories with a combined capacity of 135 megawatts peak and has produced and sold more than 140 MWp.

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German R.E. sector records 380,000 jobs for 2011

Germany’s renewable energy sector, including power generation from solar, wind and biomass, created 381,600 jobs in 2011, with renewable energy installations bringing in 22.9 billion euros ($28.805 billion) in investments. According to a Federal Environment Ministry study, the development and production of renewable energy technologies and the supply of electricity, heat and fuel from renewable sources continues to be a booming business in Germany.

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Spain’s FCC begins construction on Alicante solar thermal plant

Construction has begun on the 240 million euro ($302 million) solar thermal energy plant in the province of Alicante in Spain. Spanish construction conglomerate Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, S.A., who will build the solar thermal plan, holds an interest in the company Enerstar Villena which will operate the facility.

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REC reaches production milestone

Norwegian solar energy company REC announced that they had reached the production milestone of 5 million solar modules during the 13th Solar Expo held on May 9-11 in Verona, Italy. REC, which produces polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules, has had a strong industry presence in Italy since 2009, having installed more than 50 megawatts of capacity in the country.

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Smart Energy Collective to develop smart grid projects in the Netherlands

The members of the Smart Energy Collective have approved the second phase of its smart grid initiative, which involves the development of five large-scale smart grid demonstration projects in the Netherlands. The projects will be implemented at Schiphol airport, some offices of ABB and Siemens, and in residential districts in Gorinchem, Heerhugowaard, and Goes.

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E.U. wind industry expected to create half a million jobs by 2020

The European Wind Energy Association forecasts that more than half a million people will be working for the wind power industry in Europe by 2020, according to its latest report "Green Growth – The Impact of Wind Energy on Jobs and The Economy." The association also predicted the sector’s contribution to the European Union’s economic growth increasing almost threefold in the same time period.

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Bosch Solar expands in France through country’s largest factory

Bosch Solar Energy has begun operations in the French town of Vénissieux, France for the manufacture of crystalline solar modules. The factory, which was completed in only eight months, has a peak capacity of 150 megawatts – said to be the largest of its kind in the country. Bosch is expecting to churn out 2,000 units daily by July, when already at full work. This corresponds to an annual volume of 600,000 units per year, equaling the energy demand from 51,000 French households.

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