Number of countries with renewable energy targets doubled between 2005 and 2011

» By | Published 21 Sep 2012 |

Mark Potter, RSA

By Mark Potter, Head of Renewable Energy at RSA

The number of countries with renewable energy targets more than doubled between 2005 and 2011. This is a clear sign that policymakers have seen the importance of promoting the benefits of clean energy, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, job creation, the development of rural areas and greater independence and security of energy supply.

Last year, €12.6 billion was invested in wind farms in the EU. Nevertheless there seem to be some challenges ahead for this sector since the continuing European sovereign debt crisis is likely to negatively affect future growth, as some countries across Europe begin to see investment and subsidies for further development in renewable energy reduced.

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Local newspapers paint the real picture on wind energy

» By | Published 21 Aug 2012 |

North Hoyle offshore wind farm

While this blog frequently focusses on wind power reporting in national-level newspapers, the regional-level or local newspaper does not get as much attention as it perhaps merits.

Last month I was in North Wales – a coastline which is home to the UK’s first large scale offshore wind farm called North Hoyle. It currently has one other operating offshore wind farm – Rhyl Flats, and a massive development is underway further out to sea at Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm which, when completed in 2013, is set to provide electricity to cover nearly one-third of homes in Wales.

There is, of course, local opposition. On this particular stretch of coastline the opposition group is called Save Our Scenery – slightly ironic given that the new offshore farm is 18 km offshore and will be frequently out of vision thanks to the often dense banks of Welsh cloud.

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US wind energy industry vaults over 50 GW milestone

» By | Published 15 Aug 2012 |

Denise Bode, AWEA

Newsrooms, websites and social media have been enthusiastically reporting this past week that the United States wind power sector now has installed at least 50 gigawatts of electric generating capacity.

Chuck Grassley, a Republican Senator from Iowa, said in an American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) press release that attaining 50 GW of wind energy is a milestone for the US sector. “This milestone for wind-energy production marks continued success for this clean, renewable and domestically produced energy source,” Grassley said.

Frank Lucas, a Republican Representative from Oklahoma, also called the new level of installed wind power a milestone: “It is amazing that 50,000 megawatts of our nation’s power is generated from clean and affordable wind energy,” Lucas said. “This is a very big milestone for the wind industry.” continue reading »

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US debate over extending PTC continues to create wind power uncertainty

» By | Published 05 Jul 2012 |

Nancy Sutley, White House Council on Environmental Quality

As US citizens prepare for the summer season and federal politicians lobby for votes in the upcoming November election, an increasingly acrimonious debate over extending the nation’s main wind power incentive continues.

On Monday, Nancy Sutley, President Barack Obama’s principal environmental advisor and Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, joined other politicians in Saint Paul, Minnesota to highlight the need for Congress to extend the existing Production Tax Credit (PTC).

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Minister: Greece needs renewables in time of austerity

» By | Published 19 Jun 2012 |

“At a time of austerity, Greek citizens cannot afford to support practices which prolong energy dependence. The choice of importing oil and gas versus producing renewable energy within the EU, and encouraging clean energy exports among Member States, is obvious”, Greek Energy Minister George Papakonstantinou told Wind Directions magazine recently.
He also rebutted the myth that renewables are expensive, saying it was a view he didn’t share, “especially in regard to proven and tested technologies such as wind and solar PV, whose investment costs have been lowered significantly in the last few years. continue reading »

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