China, the world’s largest energy user, may spend 11.1 trillion yuan ($1.7 trillion) in the next decade building electricity infrastructure, the 21st Century Business Herald has reported, citing a research report by the China Electricity Council.
The incoming US Congress has its sights on a clean energy standard (CES) that includes clean coal and new nuclear technology rather than a federal renewable electricity standard (RES).
Australia needs to spend up to $130 billion on new power generation and upgrades to its grid to comply with new climate change policies.
Microgrids are set to gross $1.7 billion by 2016, according to a new report on the sector by Pike Research. Microgrids use smart grid technology to control distributed power generation and energy storage on smaller localised grids, separate from the utility power grid.
The international climate conference in Cancún, which concluded this week, has resulted in several important agreements being finalised. Plans to launch a $100 billion Green Climate Fund to finance mitigation and adaptation in developing countries were completed. A framework for monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) emission reductions, and on principles for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) were other notable success.
Toshiba Corp. announced it has agreed with US engineering service provider Shaw Group Inc. to jointly construct nuclear power plants outside Japan.
“China is responding to climate change on many fronts... [and] its efforts in developing green energy are noteworthy”, according to delegates attending the UN climate change conference in Cancun.
The Nigerian government has said the ongoing rehabilitation works on five power stations across the country will further increase power generation by May 2011. The government confirmed that the expected addition of 978 MW will put the total output at 3978 MW. The five power stations include Kainji, Geregu, Sapele, Delta and Egbin.
Chinese power generation volume rose 14.9 per cent year-on-year to 3.4 billion kW/h in the first 10 months of 2010, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. The growth rate was also up 11.7 percentage points year-on-year.
Shares in Weir Group recently surged to a record high as the Glasgow-based engineering company announced the acquisition of American Hydro Corporation, which makes turbine components for hydro power generation.