News

• UK consults on mandatory reporting for carbon emissions

  11 May 2011

  Large businesses in the UK could be required to report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, under plans set out by the country's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

• Japanese think-tank proposes 'low-carbon recovery bonds'

  11 May 2011

  The Japanese government should issue several hundred billion dollars worth of 'low-carbon recovery bonds' to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami, according to a leading environmental think-tank.

• Nobao revives plan for $300m US listing

  10 May 2011

  Renewable heat and cooling firm Nobao Renewable Energy has resuscitated plans to raise $300 million through a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

• UK renewables industry warns against any loosening of offshore targets

  09 May 2011

  The UK government should ignore calls from a key advisory committee to ease back on its 2020 offshore wind energy targets, or risk deterring investors, according to the body representing the UK renewable energy sector.

• Italy slashes 2011 solar support by 10-19%

  09 May 2011

  Italian solar developers will have until the end of this month to connect to the grid if they are to qualify for existing incentive rates, after the government announced it will slash support mechanisms and place a funding cap on incentives for larger plants.

• Clean-tech investors chase millions for Asian strategies

  06 May 2011

  A slew of venture capital and private equity funds are raising money into clean-tech funds focused on Asia.

• 'Rainforest bond' aiming to monetise REDD+ credits

  06 May 2011

  A multilateral financial institution is understood to be poised to issue a first-of-its-kind 'rainforest bond' which would repay investors based on returns from the ecosystem services provided by the area of rainforest.

• Revival of Green Bank plan in the US?

  05 May 2011

  A 'Green Bank' would provide more flexibility and financing tools than popular US policies such as the loan guarantee and Treasury grant programmes, financing experts said.

• UK could capture a quarter of $750bn marine energy market – Carbon Trust

  05 May 2011

  Waves and tides could provide up to 240GW of renewable energy globally by 2050, requiring investment of £460 billion ($750 billion), according to the Carbon Trust – although the risk exists of "near zero deployment", it warns.

• Environmental regulations grease wheels for another US utility merger

  05 May 2011

  If regulators give the green light to a proposed merger of US utilities Exelon and Constellation Energy, the combined company will be in a better position to finance the continued transition to cleaner energy sources, which in the US goes beyond renewables to include natural gas and clean coal.