News

Spanish power company Iberdrola said it plans to invest $8 billion (5.1 billion euros) in the US between 2008 and 2010. The Bilbao-based firm is aiming to have a 15 per cent share of the wind power market in the US by 2010, it added. It had a wind power production capacity of 2,400 megawatts in the US at the end of March and it expects to reach 3,600 megawatts by the end of the year, the statement added. Iberdrola chairman Mr Ignacio Sanchez Galan has said he considers the US as the company's most exciting growth market.

RAMANATHAPURAM district will soon find its place among the districts in Tamil Nadu, which generate power through windmills. Experts from Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) have conducted a survey along the coast of Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi during the past two years. They have installed wind monitors in three locations to calculate the velocity of wind. Following the assessment of the velocity of the winds along the coastal areas, the TNEB has decided to erect some windmill towers between Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi for power generation.

British utility Scottish Southern Energy Plc(SSE) will build the world's largest offshore wind farm and has awarded $3 billion in contracts to US engineer Fluor Coip and Germany's Siemens AG. Despite industry doubts about the viability of offshore wind .SSE said it would build the farm off Britain's east coast. Work would begin on the 504 mw Greater Gabbard project shortly and power generation would startin2011. The utility added it had bought Texas-based Fluor's 50%stake in the projectfor40 million pounds.

Pradip Sen Alternative and green energy resources like hydropower, wind power, biomass, fuel cell, solar PV, geothermal and other unconventional resources constitute a high potency growth segment. In India, green energy generation has been on the priority list for quite some time, but its potential is yet to be realised because many unhelpful conditions affect viability of green energy. Inadequate power distribution networks, high cost of generation and absence of focussed approach are impediments in making green energy a preferred alternative.

GREEN EARTH Sinivasa Raghotham Around the world, governments and power utilities, struggling against skyhigh oil prices and global warming, are turning to solar power as the next big source. Here are some of the largest projects under implementation or planned.

The Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) Saligao, will be holding the Major State Level Workshop on Accelerated Promotion of Solar water Heating Systems in Domestic, Industrial and Commercial Sectors by Sensitization of Banks/Financial Institutions and other State holders at 10 am on May 21, 2008 which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat in the distinguished presence of Chief Secretary/Chairman (GEDA) and Secretary (Non Conventional Energy Sources).

Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens has placed an the largest ever order for wind turbines: he ordered 667 wind turbines from GE, each costing $3 million dollars, making the total order $2 billion. Picken plans to develop the world's largest wind farm in the panhandle of Texas.

Biofuel manufacturers at an international gathering in Spain have strenuously denied media charges they are driving up food prices and world hunger. As the world seeks sustainable energy supplies and ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions, concern has grown that land used for plant-based fuels is competing with land for growing food. Speaker after speaker at the World Biofuels convention, which ended on Thursday in southern city Seville, said plant-based fuel production accounted for just 3 percent of world demand for grains.

Wipro, the $5 billion company with interests in IT services, consumer care, lighting and furniture, is entering a new set of businesses which will enable the company to leverage its growth on the clean energy and agriculture sectors. The company is readying a plan to include alternate energy, water treatment, food and agriculture businesses under its infrastructure business - Wipro Infrastructure Engineering Limited.

The European Commission has launched a fund to mobilize private sector investments in energy-efficient and renewable energy projects. The Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund