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Energy: Technology, finance and renewable resources 

 

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A building with an energy all its own

Report on Business 11/11/08

Fritz Lang likely never dreamed of this for his futuristic city in Metropolis: Offices and retail centres that harness the earth, wind, sun - and even people - to generate energy for their own needs, to share with adjacent buildings, or to sell to the power grid.

It may seem the stuff of a filmmaker's fantasy, but some architects believe buildings that require zero energy from public utilities - and might double as power plants in their own right - will become common over the next decade.

Obama plan could boost US solar industry

Ciol 11/11/08

President-elect Barack Obama's New Energy for America plan could have a significant impact on the US solar industry. The plan's provisions include:

• A federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires 10 percent of electricity consumed in the US to come from renewable sources by 2012.

• A $150 billion investment over 10 years in research, technology demonstration and commercial deployment of clean energy technology.

• Extension of production tax credits for five years to encourage renewable energy production.

• A cap-and-trade system of carbon credits to provide an incentive for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing USA Announces New Solar Module

Marketwatch 11/10/08

Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing USA, Inc., a U.S.-based China engineering and manufacturing company specializing in photovoltaic module technology and international contract manufacturing for products in the solar energy, aerospace, wireless telecommunications, medical equipment and automotive industries, today announced the establishment of a new solar module production and R&D facility. Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing has leased a 128,000-square-foot facility in Ningbo, China. This facility will house the company's research center and part of its photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing operations.

A ray of sunshine for solar energy

Toronto Star 11/11/08

John Paul Morgan was a cutting-edge engineer at JDS Uniphase Corp., back when the optical telecom giant was a market titan and solar power was still perceived by many as a backwoods technology for off-grid tree huggers.

Seven years later, the high-tech whiz kid has become a solar hotshot. Morgan has developed a new type of solar panel that, like many other systems on the market, concentrates the sun's rays on to high-efficiency solar cells. The big difference is the simplicity of his design and the lower-cost materials used to build it could soon make power from the sun as affordable as electricity from fossil fuels.

"Solar City" proves allure of sun's energy in Japan

Yahoo 11/11/08

Solar panels glisten across Ota City's tiny Pal Town neighborhood, nestled among strawberry fields in one of Japan's sunniest spots, a testament to the allure of renewable energy in this resource-poor country.

Three-quarters of Pal Town's homes are covered by solar panels, which are distributed for free and have become one of the main draw-cards for residents keen to minimize their power bills.

Panasonic to buy Sanyo, more deals may follow

Rueters 11/7/08

Panasonic Corp said it would acquire smaller rival Sanyo Electric Co, creating Japan's top electronics maker and foreshadowing further consolidation in an industry hit by slowing consumer demand.

The acquisition, which one analyst estimated could cost about $8.8 billion, would fortify Panasonic's competitiveness in rechargeable batteries and solar power equipment as demand grows for greener energy sources.

Global investors urge action on climate change

Yahoo 11/11/08

Global institutional investors holding more than $6 trillion in assets pushed policymakers Tuesday to quickly hash out a binding agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean technology.  More than 130 big investors, including London Pensions Fund Authority, want countries to agree to reduce the climate- warming emissions by 50 percent to 80 percent by 2050.


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