UK - It could be lights out for solar power under this government
Terry Macalister for The Guardian: Ministers rightly wring their hands over the 2,200 jobs being lost at the 98-year-old Redcar steelworks hit by low-cost Chinese competition. But they seem deaf to warnings of 27,000 jobs being potentially lost in a brand-new industry now facing crisis due to their own clumsy cuts.
Almost 1,000 redundancies have already been made by the solar panel installersMark Group and Climate Energy. No one in the industry believes this will be the end of the sad story.
The latest flashpoint for “green” developers is the government plan to slash the feed-in tariff – which subsidises people installing solar panels on their home – by almost 90%. Meanwhile, an energy-efficiency regime has been scrapped with only a vague promise of a future replacement.
If these were isolated examples, then companies might be willing to hang on in the hope of better things to come. But they are the latest in a series of cuts not just to solar but also to onshore wind, and come at a time when it seems maximum effort is being expended on removing roadblocks to shale-gas frackingand nuclear power. Cont'd...
Renewable Energy Surpasses Coal in the UK
Written by Keith Kohl for Energy & Capital: For the first time ever, more energy in the UK was supplied by renewable sources than coal. For an entire quarter. Wind, solar, and bioenergy checked in at 25% of the energy supplied.
All of this was possible due to the fact that more wind turbines and solar panels were installed, which must be a good amount if you want to compare it to the same period last year, for which these energy options only accounted for 16.4% of electricity.
Recently, the UK has been working to close aging coal and nuclear power plants.
Of course, this will lead to its own issues...
[Solar Panels] Conservative ministers collectively believe that the subsidies given to renewable energy were too numerous, going so far as to suggest plans for an 87% reduction of solar power, and to cut support for onshore wind farms.
With that kind of spending cut, it's not surprising to hear that industry execs believe these actions would unjustly put an end to renewable energy just as it was gaining traction. Cont'd...
SPI 2015: Tax credit sunset preoccupies a fast-maturing industry
By Herman K. Trabish for UtilityDIVE: Solar photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity is expected to reach 7.7 GW in 2015, up 24% from 2014, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research.
From July 2015 to December 2016, the report forecasts the U.S. solar PV marketwill add 18 GW, which is more than the cumulative capacity built by the industry up to the middle of 2014.
But there are some headwinds for the sector. In a sign it has reached a level of maturity achieved recently by the wind industry, solar advocates now face an uphill political battle for the industry's most vital federal incentive
The mandated term of solar's vital 30% federal investment tax credit (ITC), in place continuously since 2008, will end on December 31, 2016. Beyond that deadline, the tax credit provided at the end of a project’s first year of operation will fall to 10% for commercial investments in solar and to zero for residential solar investments.
SEIA is mounting a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign to secure a five-year extension that will get the industry to 2020, when it hopes the Clean Power Plan can take over to help boost growth. Cont'd...
Obama pledges $120M toward solar power, clean energy
By Timothy Cama for The Hill: The Obama administration announced Wednesday morning a series of efforts worth more than $120 million aimed at boosting solar and other clean energy sources.
The initiatives focus on the Department of Energy, where the bulk of the funding will go to programs to develop solar power technology and get it into homes, businesses and other facilities.
“President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed to promoting smart, simple, low-cost technologies to help America transition to cleaner and more distributed energy sources, help households save on their energy bills, and to address climate change,” the White House said in a fact sheet outlining the efforts.
“All told, this funding will drive the development of affordable clean energy throughout the country,” it said.
The actions aim to help out solar power in 24 states, officials said. Cont'd...
Government publishes 'alarming' review of Feed-in Tariff scheme
Consultation process begins on long anticipated review
Solar Industry Commends Today's PUC Decision on Net Metering
"We look forward to continued engagement in these discussions so the state of Colorado can reap the long-term benefits that come from these smart energy policies."
Government Policies Will Remain Key to Europe's Renewable Energy Growth by 2020, says GlobalData
Feed-in tariffs, quota obligations, capital grants, and subsidies will continue to be instrumental in promoting Europes renewable energy industry growth by 2020
---Renewables accounted for around 40% of the EUs total power generation capacity added in 2014, with Germany the clear leader for installed capacity, says report
Coalition calls on Prime Minister to support small-scale renewables (Feed-in Tariff)
Investing now will bring energy bills down in future, says an alliance of 100 organisations
President Announces New Policies to Remove Barriers to Clean Energy Drawing Strong Support from Solar Industry
Today's announcement cuts through red tape and provides much-needed clarity to developers ready to build out solar projects in underserved areas.
Interior Department Approves 485-Megawatt Blythe Mesa Solar Project in California
57th Commercial Renewable Energy Project Approved on Public Lands, Moving Closer to $40 Billion of Capital Investments in Clean Energy Development
Clean Energy Collective Announces First-Mover Entry into New York Community Solar Market
Roofless community solar model to provide equal access to clean renewable energy and lower utility bills for families, renters, and businesses across New York.
Indian airport becomes world's first to run entirely on solar energy
ROSE TOUP BUCHANAN for The Independent: Â An Indian airport has become the worlds first to run entirely onsolar energy .
Cochin International  Airport, in the south of India, inaugurated a massive 45-acre solar plant on Tuesday.
The plant, made up of 46,000 panels, will provide between 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity every day (totalling 12 megawatts of power alongside pre-existing solar panels ), according to a release from airport authorities.
It has been a long-running project: the airport first installed panels on the roof of its terminal in 2013 and has gradually expanded the initiative. Â Cont'd...
SEIA Applauds Baker Administration for Leadership on Raising Near-Term Net Metering Caps in Massachusetts
Voices Concern Over Longer-Term Framework
DOE Forms Labor Partnership to Maximize Job Creation from Clean Power Plan
Secretary Moniz, Utility Workers, Electrical Workers, Steelworkers Announce Partnership Following Roundtable in Dearborn, MI
EPA PAVES THE WAY FOR ALGENOL'S CARBON REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY:
Helping Utilities Comply With New Emission Standards
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