New Solar Power Production Record Set in Germany

Solar panels installed on the rooftop of Paul VI’s conference hall, means that Vatican City can now generate enough energy to power all of its 40,000 households.

(Reuters) – German solar power plants produced a world record 22 gigawatts of electricity per hour – equal to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity – through the midday hours on Friday and Saturday, the head of a renewable energy think tank said.

The German government decided to abandon nuclear power after the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year, closing eight plants immediately and shutting down the remaining nine by 2022.

They will be replaced by renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and bio-mass. … Continue Reading

Report; First quarter Renewable Energy transactions increased 41% over 2011

Growth in Global Renewable Energy Investments.

NEW DELHI: Around $21.7 billion worth of renewable energy mergers and acquisitions were completed globally in the first quarter this year and more consolidation in the sector is on the cards, Ernst & Young said in a report.

The M&A activity increased despite difficult economic conditions, largely because of consolidation, according to E&Y’s latest quarterly report on global renewable energy country attractiveness indices. … Continue Reading

Apple’s iCloud data center will use 100% renewable energy by 2013

Apple’s main iCloud data center in Maiden, N.C., will be powered entirely by renewable energy by the end of this year with the construction of two solar array installations.

The feat will be accomplished with the construction of both new solar arrays around the existing North Carolina facility, Reuters reported on Thursday. Together, they will supply 84 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year.

The new solar installations will also reportedly rely on high-energy cells and an advanced solar tracking system. … Continue Reading

Climate change having ‘dramatic impact’ on national security

That's a lot of dirty fuel and money burned if it's not renewable and clean.

Climate change has had a direct effect on national security, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said this week.

Panetta told an audience at the Environmental Defense Fund that climate change has raised the need for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, hitting national security in the process.

“The area of climate change has a dramatic impact on national security,” Panetta said. “Rising sea levels, severe droughts, the melting of the polar caps, the more frequent and devastating natural disasters all raise demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.” … Continue Reading

DOE Aims to Attract More Women in Clean Energy Careers

The Energy Department announced on April 26 a three-part plan to help implement the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Women’s Initiative aimed at attracting more women to clean energy careers and advancing their leadership positions. The new program, in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative, is designed to translate the goals of C3E into action in the United States. … Continue Reading