Think Tank

Investing in a renewable future

With an economy struggling out of recession, and uncertainty over energy policy, securing investment in renewables has never been more important to the future of the industry. PES takes a look at current state of energy investment, and how wind is leading the race to secure funding for new projects.

Renewable energies are expanding both in terms of investment, projects and geographical spread. In doing so, they are making an increasing contribution to combating climate change, countering energy poverty and energy insecurity, stimulating green jobs and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

In investment among the developed economies, the US was a big winner, with financial new investment in renewables jumping from just under $16 billion t

With significant investment in wind energy, local communities and economies can enjoy a great deal of fringe benefits that stem from renewables - a secure, clean energy future is just the start. PES takes a look at the wider impacts of wind energy in Texas...

Texas is a global leader in installed wind energy. If Texas were its own country, it would be ranked sixth in the world in terms of installed wind energy capacity (WWEA 2010). It has approximately 10,135 MW of wind energy capacity installed (through April 2011), followed by Iowa with 3,675 MW and California with 3,179 MW (AWEA 2011). The scale of wind energy deployment in Texas has spurred local supply chain development and various activities that contribute to a diversified energy economy. State and fede

As alternatives to conventional vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) running off electricity stored in batteries could decrease oil consumption and reduce carbon emissions. And by using electricity derived from clean energy sources, even greater environmental benefits are obtainable. We take a look at the potential benefits arising from the widespread adoption of PHEVs in light of Alberta, Canada's growing interest in wind power.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
In a PHEV, grid electricity stored in a battery pack is the main power source. And in charge depleting/charge sustaining mode (CD/CS) design, the vehicle uses electricity (CD mode) until the battery reaches a certain charging level. At this point, th

Demand for clean energy has led to a wind turbine building boom. But the industry's leading designers are going beyond what's been done before in an effort boost efficiency and yield. PES investigates.

Everyone's noticed that wind turbines are getting really big - some with blades as long as a football field - and more powerful, often generating 50 times more electricity than the first generation of wind power machines built in the 1980s.

But scientists are also studying how to harness the wind in different ways that could help allay concerns that today's turbines are unattractive, noisy and sometimes even dangerous.

Already in the works: turbines that float
and turbines that fly. Turbines without blades and t

The EU executive has announced its first ever plan to use €9.1 billion from the EU's 2014-2020 budget to help upgrade Europe's energy infrastructure, according to strategic climate and energy needs.

The money will be available under the proposed EU budget for 2014-2020 in the form of newly-minted project bonds, grants and loan guarantees, according to the plan, unveiled in October.

The grants will be awarded to a select group of "common interest" projects which will benefit from a fast-track permit granting procedure.

Projects eligible for EU funding - such as the Southern Gas Corridor to bring gas from the Caspian basin to Europe - could then receive between 50-80 per cent of their funding from the EU

Page 1 of 9