In France, tax credit for photovoltaic energy is set to go down from 50% to 25%, and disappear completely for overseas departments, after a vote in the National Assembly on 22 October 2010. The French overseas business federation has estimated the move will threaten 1,700 jobs, and there are concerns over its environmental implications. However, [...]

Construction for the 12 million euro (16.70 million dollar) project should begin in autumn 2011. For the time being, the construction permit has not been approved by the department of Tarn prefecture because the land is still subject to mining laws. Once started, work should only last nine months. The finished solar power plant will [...]

 Infrabel, the managing group of Belgium’s railway network has taken a step forward in their bid to reduce the production of greenhouse gases through the use of renewable energy. They announced plans to install up to 16,000 solar panels along various routes, most notably along the roof of 3.4km tunnel linking Amsterdam and Paris.  An [...]

A report by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) says the wind industry in the country is below the level needed to reach the target of 15% CO2 reduction by 2020.In order to save costs in infrastructures, the report suggests to the UK government to build domestic wind farms, since their price has increased in [...]

One of the main articles of the Grenelle Environment II on wind energy has been adopted by the French Parliament on Friday after lengthy debates and in spite of hostility from environmental organizations and the industrial sector. The main right wing party UMP took the decision to maintain the measure that will limit new developments [...]

It’s not a good situation the one described by the Blue Book 2010, the annual study of Italy’s water sector prepared by research group Utilitatis: old pipes, a lot of water waste trough leaks and a big consumption for agricultural irrigation are placing Italy among the most critical countries in Europe. This will require around [...]

The world’s largest offshore wind farm has been officially opened off the UK coast.The 100-turbine Thanet wind farm, off the coast of Kent, will produce enough electricity to supply the equivalent of more than 200,000 homes a year, and brings the UK’s total power from onshore and offshore wind to more than five gigawatts – [...]

As photovoltaic energy is making big steps forward in Italy, the problem of inadequate grid is standing out. Given the impressive numbers of installed capacity in recent years, that should overtake 2,500 MW by the end of 2010, the risk of saturation is real, especially in some critical areas. The increasing number of plants, especially [...]

The majority of solar energy experts have gathered in Valencia on the occasion of the opening of the 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC) have lamented that the energy market is conditioned by the incentives and government subsidies. During the presentation of this meeting, which is also European Solar Energy Fair (EUPVSEC), the [...]

While the government tries to control the amount of renewable energy power entering the system, the autonomous territories, with responsibility for licensing in regard to the installation of wind farms and renewable plants, have been pulling competitions for the placement of power in their territories. While business sources recognise that “these contests are creating wealth [...]