News

• Investors welcome UK renewables reforms, but eschew solar

  14 February 2012

  Managers of funds investing in UK renewable energy projects have welcomed some of the proposed changes to feed-in tariffs (FiT) announced last week, but say they are unlikely to invest in new solar projects.

• Proportion of top-rated ESG strategies to rise, says Mercer

  14 February 2012

  Around 9% of investment strategies assessed by Mercer are "highly rated" in environmental, social and governance (ESG) terms, a number the investment consultant expects to rise.

• EBRD invests a record €2.6bn in sustainable energy in 2011

  14 February 2012

  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested €2.6 billion ($3.43 billion) in sustainable energy projects in 2011.

• DOE loan liabilities 'well covered' – consultant

  14 February 2012

  Potential losses from the US Department of Energy (DOE) clean-tech loan guarantee programme would be less than the agency projected and well below the funds set aside to cover losses, according to an independent consultant's report.

• Low Carbon Accelerator goes into reverse

  13 February 2012

  Low Carbon Accelerator (LCA), a London-listed company specialising in low-carbon venture capital investment, is to begin liquidating its portfolio after a disappointing performance.

• Munich Re and GCube co-operate on billion-dollar renewables projects

  10 February 2012

  Renewable energy focused insurer GCube has secured a deal with reinsurer Munich Re to boost its capacity to underwrite renewable energy projects.

• Solar PV costs to fall further in 2012 – GTM

  10 February 2012

  Solar photovoltaic (PV) costs are set for another substantial decline in 2012 amid a continuing dramatic fall in polysilicon prices, according to analysis by GTM Research.

• Actis offers 'impact assessment' tool to private equity industry

  09 February 2012

  Private equity firm Actis has introduced a tool to assess the environmental and social impacts of its investments in the energy sector, with a view to better identifying how its investments are adding value.

• More enviro-tech sectors added to China's 'encouraged' list

  09 February 2012

  China has made it easier for foreign investors to invest in environmental technologies and commit capital to venture capital funds in the country, with the first revision of its Foreign Investment Catalogue since 2007.

• Airlines face €500m carbon cost in 2012

  09 February 2012

  The global aviation sector will need to buy 59 million emissions permits under the EU's carbon cap-and-trade system this year, said a market analyst, at an estimated cost of €500 million ($665.4 million).