Africa looking to make ‘bold steps’ for smart grid – report

Africa is taking bold steps toward smart and sustainable power infrastructures even in the middle of pressing issues like food and water, according to a report from Zpryme. The report says several multinational companies see great potential for smart grid in Africa. The likes of Siemens, G.E., and Chevron have made investments in the continent where several countries have an “inadequate, stagnant and unreliable electricity infrastructure.”

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Equatorial Guinea president proposes African sustainable development agency

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, during the recent United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, proposed to African leaders the creation of a sole agency that will promote sustainable development in the continent.

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Biogas project in Brazil to receive $48.6 million in financing

A $48.6 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of the United States was extended for the development of the Novo Gramacho biogas project in Brazil, the bank’s first financing for biogas reclamation and development. The 12-year loan will help convert “dirty” methane gas from the 140-hectare Jardim Gramacho landfill near Rio de Jenero to clean, usable biomethane a through the biogas plant to be operated by project owner Gas Verde S.A.

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Gamesa, Globeleq building 44-MW wind project in Nicaragua

Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa is set to deliver and install turbines for a 44-megawatt wind farm in the Central American country of Nicaragua. The contract to build, deliver and install 22 “G90” wind turbines for Eolo de Nicaragua, S.A. Eolo de Nicaragua is owned by Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy (Wind) Limited. This is Gamesa’s first wind contract in Nicaragua.

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R.G.G.I. carbon auction fetches $42 million; 38% remains unsold

The nine states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative accumulated a total of $41.6 million in proceeds from the program’s 15th quarterly auction of carbon dioxide allowances.More than half, 62 percent, of the 34,843,858 allowances offered for sale were sold for bids from $1.93 to $5.35 per allowance. The proceeds will be used by the participating states for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. R.G.G.I. is the first mandatory, market-based carbon dioxide emissions reduction program in the United States, participated in by Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

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SPI Solar to develop second project in Greece

Vertically integrated photovoltaic solar developer SPI Solar, an LDK subsidiary, is set to begin development of a 2-megawatt ground-mounted solar energy facility in Evros, Greece following the successful acquisition of the necessary contracts and permits.

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Latin America, Caribbean get $30 million for renewable energy

Renewable energy projects including wind, solar, small hydropower and geothermal in Latin America and the Caribbean will get a boost in the form of loans worth around $30 million from the Inter-American Development Bank.

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Kansas’ tornado-stricken city of Greensburg attains recovery with wind power

The city of Greensburg in Kansas will soon be opening a 12.5-megawatt wind farm composed of 10 turbines, enough to power 4,000 homes, with the technical assistance of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

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GE to build state-of-the-art battery plant, seeks stimulus funding to boost $ 100M initial investment

GE will be building a state-of-the-art battery manufacturing plant worth $100 million in initial investment in New York State’s Capital Region. The plant, which is expected to be operational by mid-2011, also projects the creation of 350 manufacturing jobs.

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Suntech to construct manufacturing facility in the US

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., a China-based manufacturer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, announced plans to start manufacturing solar energy products in the United States, and is currently scouting possible locations for a production and distribution facility.

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