News

China is expected to double its 2011 PV installation of 2.75GW in 2012 to around 5GW, according to market research firm, NPD Solarbuzz.

Studies reveal that wind power density in the Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari regions is in the range of 300-370 watt per square meter, and at a 50 meter hub height.

Japan's government is rushing to restart two nuclear reactors by next month to convince the public that atomic energy is vital.

Indonesia's plan to impose a 25 percent export tax on coal may turn Indian power producers towards Australia and Africa.

An Indian nuclear power plant prompts Sri Lanka to take an unusual move.

Tamil Nadu is targeting to add 4,300 MW of generation capacity in financial year 2012-13, to address massive power shortage.

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto will consider setting up a panel of nuclear experts to verify the safety of nuclear power plants.

The largest electric utility in South Korea reports a surge of foreign interest in its nuclear power plants.

The ratio of electric power generated by thermal power plants in Japan has surpassed 70 percent following the March 2011 nuclear meltdowns.

China Sunergy recently delivered its first shipment of "CSUN Made in France" modules.

Mitsubishi's major wind power project in the USA has hit the doldrums.

The TEPCO and Marubeni joint venture is exploring 10 renewable energy projects in the Philippines.

Japanese joint venture firm TeaM Energy has been exploring at least 10 areas in Luzon and Visayas for prospective renewable energy projects. In a briefing with reporters, TeaM Energy president Federico E. Puno noted that his company’s interests are generally focused on hydro, biomass and geothermal energy developments. The sites it has been evaluating for prospective RE projects include those for mini-hydro in San Juan, La Union; Tabuk-Kalinga; Tuba-Benguet; and Mountain Province. The larger-scale hydro targets are in Tuba, Benguet’s site at the tailings pond of Philex Mining Corporation. Incidentally, the company is currently a capacity off-taker (buyer) of TeaM Energy’s excess capacity in the Sual plant. The rest of the hydro prospects are in various sites in Luzon and Visayas. Geothermal developments, according to the company chief executive, are eyed for the sites being evaluated in Mountain Province and Mount Natib in Bataan Daclan, also in Benguet province. The company has listed two biomass sites being studied in Unisan, Quezon and San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Puno noted that they are currently “awaiting feasibility study from proponent” for the Quezon prospect; while a meeting with another interested party is being scheduled for the Bulacan target. “There were areas that we’ve already looked at, but we have already abandoned some of them because the potential had not been viable for development,” the TeaM Energy chief executive stressed. For the hydro developments, some areas are currently the subject of feasibility studies; while others are already at the process of awarding turnkey contracts leading to the actual construction of the projects. TeaM Energy is among those expressing interests to join the bandwagon of RE investments; but it is one which would be willing to bet on these projects even without the support of feed-in-tariffs. The company noted that it can work on cornering its own market for such developments as long as the other hurdles, such as the sustainability of fuel for biomass projects, can be sufficiently addressed.  

Reliance Power plans to invest more than $1.18 billion to develop solar power projects in Rajasthan over the next two years.

The time frame for improving the electricity transmission system in the Philippines has been extended from 10 to 15 years.

The $280-million San Ramon Power plant of Alsons Group has secured an Environment Compliance Certificate.