News

• Early solar subsidy cuts "a blow" to German solar sector

  29 February 2012

  Germany is to bring forward cuts to its solar feed-in tariffs, it confirmed today, giving the sector less than two weeks to prepare for the changes.

• Water investments poised for dramatic growth

  28 February 2012

  Global investment in water supply infrastructure needs to increase from around $580 billion a year to more than $1,000 billion by 2025, according to the OECD. These figures dwarf those needed for roads and electricity, said Anthony Cox, head of the environment and economy integration division in the organisation's environment directorate.

• Solar consolidation to pave way for market growth, execs say

  28 February 2012

  The solar sector will continue to consolidate over the next few years amid a weak pricing environment, but long-term demand for solar power remains strong due to expected growth in the US and China, according to industry officials.

• Carbon prices plummet despite favourable set-aside vote

  28 February 2012

  EU allowance (EUA) prices plunged today, despite a European Parliament committee voting in favour of measures to address the chronic oversupply of allowances in the market.

• Kingspan paid €2m for bankrupt wind turbine maker

  28 February 2012

  London-listed insulation and building products firm Kingspan paid €2 million ($2.7 million) to acquire Proven Energy from receivership, according to its annual results released on Monday.

• Challenging year ahead for renewables investments – Ernst & Young

  28 February 2012

  Emerging markets will be most attractive to renewable energy investors in 2012, while the outlook for more established markets will be uncertain, according to Ernst & Young.

• EU financiers 'saved US renewables sector'

  27 February 2012

  Financial institutions in the US and China continue to lag behind their European counterparts in supporting the US clean-tech sector, according to a financing expert.

• Renewables developers 'too optimistic' on financing

  27 February 2012

  Renewable energy developers need to be more realistic about their projects to secure financing, experts said.

• Energy bill could promote state feed-in tariffs, PACE, says SEIA

  27 February 2012

  The US is not likely to adopt a feed-in tariff (FiT) at the federal level, but an energy bill this year could help FiTs become more widespread at the state level, and include other benefits for the renewables sector, according to the head of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

• Danish companies invest in Dong offshore wind farm

  23 February 2012

  Danish toy maker Lego and hearing aid manufacturer Oticon have bought 50% of a Dong Energy wind project for 4.7 billion Danish kroner ($840 million).