First Wind kicks off construction on 105MW Palouse wind project

Project construction will include the installation of 58 Vestas V100-1.8MW turbines between State Route 195 and the town of Oakesdale. Once complete, the Palouse Wind project will be the largest renewable energy facility in the county with the capacity to generate enough clean energy to power about 30,000 Northwest homes, equal to the total energy load of all of Whitman County.

Construction of the project is expected to be completed by November and it will be online and operating by the end of the year.

“Celebrating our first project in Washington state makes this an exceptional day for First Wind, and we are as grateful to our supporters throughout Whitman County and the state that were integral in bringing the area’s largest renewable energy facility to life,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “In addition to representing a major source of clean energy for years to come, we are also making...
First Wind kicks off construction on 105MW Palouse wind project

Duke Energy acquires Black Mountain Solar Farm in Arizona from SOLON

The Black Mountain Solar Project, under construction in Mohave County, is expected to achieve commercial operation in October this year. UniSource Energy Services (UES) will purchase the power generated at the Black Mountain site through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

"This acquisition expands our footprint in the western United States and helps a premier Arizona energy service provider deliver affordable, zero-emission renewable power to its customers," said Duke Energy Renewables president Greg Wolf.

SOLON designed the solar array, powered by its single-axis tracking technology, and will construct and continue to handle operations, monitoring and maintenance of the system after it is commissioned...
Duke Energy acquires Black Mountain Solar Farm in Arizona from SOLON

Assurant launches new solar project insurance

The new product, designed specifically for the fast growing 100 kilowatts to three megawatts solar market, will allow developers of commercial and industrial scale projects to address problematic risks that have traditionally made financing difficult.

Assurant Solar Project Insurance provides warranty administration and comprehensive protection plan for every phase of commercial-sized solar development projects. Assurant said its solar coverage is tailored to offer an affordable alternative to current solar insurance products geared toward insuring larger-scale projects at a frequently cost-prohibitive price point. It was created with solar developers, lenders, brokers and other industry leaders and leverages the leading specialty insurer's expertise...
Assurant launches new solar project insurance

World energy ministers commit to advance energy efficiency

The commitments build on two years of work by the Clean Energy Ministerial and support the goal of sustainable energy for all by 2030, the primary objective of the Secretary-General’s initiative. Both the CEM and the Sustainable Energy for All initiative seek to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, and ensure access to energy.

Specific commitments by participating CEM governments in each category include...
World energy ministers commit to advance energy efficiency

DTEK selects Vestas V112 turbines for Botievo wind farm in Ukraine

The Botievo project is located in the coastal area of the Zaporozhye region, near the village of Botievo.

The order includes supply, installation and commissioning of 30 V112-3.0MW wind turbines, along with a VestasOnline® Business SCADA system. A service agreement is under negotiation.

The project is scheduled to be competed in the fourth quarter of 2012...
DTEK selects Vestas V112 turbines for Botievo wind farm in Ukraine

Carbon Sciences eyes $150 billion hydrogen market

Steam reforming of natural gas is the primary method for producing over $150 billion per year of hydrogen for use as a critical reactant in fuel and chemical processes and in making the world's fertilizers. There are approximately 2,000 steam methane reforming (SMR) plants around the world using older generation catalysts that require a high steam to natural gas ratio. Carbon Sciences said its new catalyst will allow plant operators to reduce the steam to natural gas ratio. Less steam used means more natural gas is processed in a greener and cleaner solution that saves energy costs, increases profits and reduces CO2 emissions.

Byron Elton, Carbon Sciences CEO, said: "With an abundance of market opportunities ahead of us, we have chosen to focus first on the hydrogen market. Hydrogen is a here and now market and represents the lowest hanging fruit for us. If our catalyst proves to be best of breed, we expect to be adopted very rapidly....
Carbon Sciences eyes $150 billion hydrogen market

World energy ministers commit to advance energy efficiency

The commitments build on two years of work by the Clean Energy Ministerial and support the goal of sustainable energy for all by 2030, the primary objective of the Secretary-General’s initiative. Both the CEM and the Sustainable Energy for All initiative seek to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, and ensure access to energy.

Specific commitments by participating CEM governments in each category include...
World energy ministers commit to advance energy efficiency

UK announces £60 million CCS development funds for emerging markets

The Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) Action Group recommended that $200 million to be allocated internationally to accelerate the deployment of CCS in the near term.

The CCUS Action Group brings together governments, businesses, and organizations to make recommendations to energy ministers at Clean Energy Ministerial meetings to create greater political momentum for advancing the deployment of CCS.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “We recognize that it is important to ensure CCS is deployed in developing as well as developed countries. The funding that the UK has committed today will support the development of new partnerships and capacity building activities in emerging markets.”

The allocated £60 million funds have been drawn....
UK announces £60 million CCS development funds for emerging markets

enXco: 103MW Shiloh IV Wind Project moves into construction phase

Shiloh IV Wind Project, located in Solano County, California, is one of the largest repowering project in the country whereby older technology is upgraded allowing for increased generation of clean energy with fewer wind turbines. Approximately 235 Kenetech 100kW turbines originally installed in 1989 have been removed and will be replaced with 50 REpower 2.05MW turbines.

enXco will develop, build, and own the Shiloh IV Wind Project while Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will purchase the power generated under a 25-year power purchase agreement to supply approximately 40,000 average homes with clean electricity. The project anticipates commercial operations by the end of 2012, and will be operated and maintained by enXco Service Corporation.

"The Shiloh IV project underscores the importance of technical innovation in the wind industry and its continual progress," stated Mark Tholke, vice president for enXco's southwest region.
enXco: 103MW Shiloh IV Wind Project moves into construction phase

Ormat inks new geothermal power plant contract in North America

Under the expected EPC contract, which is currently under negotiation, Ormat will provide two air-cooled Ormat Energy Converters for a geothermal power plant project in North America.

The geothermal power project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

Until the signature of the full EPC contract the parties have entered into an interim agreement in the amount of approximately $9 million for a limited scope of work to ensure timely completion of the project.
Ormat inks new geothermal power plant contract in North America