News

• More clean energy, less coal financing for World Bank?

  07 April 2011

  A leaked draft of the World Bank's energy strategy says renewables and hydropower will receive a bigger proportion of financing from the institution, with further restrictions imposed on coal projects.

• Latin America readies for clean energy rush, despite lack of subsidies

  07 April 2011

  The clean energy sector in Latin America is poised to take off, even without the benefit of the major government subsidies enjoyed in North America and Europe, according to regional experts.

• 'Small delay' for Indian energy efficiency trading scheme

  07 April 2011

  India's flagship energy efficiency scheme, set for a 1 April launch, has been delayed, as energy intensity targets for the 462 participating industrial entities have yet to be finalised.

• DEG's 'water filter' to strain investor risk

  07 April 2011

  German development bank DEG has developed a tool to help investors assess the water risk in individual investments and at the portfolio level.

• Fukushima disaster: Japan's emissions targets 'under review'

  07 April 2011

  Japan's 2020 emissions target is under question as a result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japanese officials have conceded.

• US surges, Asia wanes as Q1 clean-tech investment reaches $2.6 billion

  07 April 2011

  Global clean-tech venture capital (VC) investment surged 52% to $2.57 billion in the first quarter, buoyed by high value, late-stage deals and strong performance among North American companies, according to analysis by California-based research firm the Cleantech Group. However, the number of transactions in the quarter dropped.

• Pension funds increase investments in wind farms

  07 April 2011

  PensionDanmark, a pension fund with around €14 billion ($20 billion) under management, has made its second investment in offshore wind farms and is planning more.

• Corporates say clean-tech investment is good for revenue

  07 April 2011

  Almost three-quarters of corporations surveyed by consultancy Ernst & Young plan to increase or significantly increase clean-tech budgets between 2012 and 2014, reflecting a growing view that such spending can improve corporate revenues.

• California's renewables target to be undermined by weaker Senate bill?

  06 April 2011

  California's aggressive targets on renewable energy could be weakened by too much flexibility and a lack of sanctions for failing utilities, a leading analyst has warned.

• Norway makes first payment to Guyana under pioneering forest carbon deal

  06 April 2011

  Norway is to immediately transfer $40 million to Guyana in the first payment under a novel deal to protect the South American country's forests.