Solar Energy

Ivanpah — The World’s Largest Solar Thermal Power Plant — Passes Its First Functional Test

The 377-megawatt Ivanpah solar thermal power plant achieved a milestone in its development recently, something called the “first flux.” According to Mike Bobinecz, VP Construction Management, BrightSource Energy, “first flux” essentially demonstrates that the plant is ready for operation. Bechtel Corporation, the company constructing the plant is finally at the last stage, … [continued]

Kansas Ignores Koch Brothers, Keeps Renewable Energy Standard

Reposted from the indispensable climate blog Climate Progress: The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that twin votes in Kansas State House and Senate on Thursday put the kibosh on legislative efforts to roll back and delay Kansas’ renewable energy standard (RES). Passed in 2009, Kansas’ RES requires investor-owned utilities to generate 20 percent of peak demand electrical capacity from … [continued]

GRID Alternatives Gets “Climate Change Champion” Honor From EPA

This article has been reposted from the website of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with minor adjustments: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld this week recognized nonprofit GRID Alternatives as a Climate Change Champion. The EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Environmental Award was presented at a ceremony hosted by … [continued]

India’s Budget Includes $145 Million Incentive For Wind Energy, Low-cost Funding For Renewable Energy Projects

The Indian government has announced significant incentives for the renewable energy sector in its Union Budget for financial year 2013–14. The Finance Minister of India, Mr P Chidambaram, specifically offered incentives for wind energy and waste-to-energy projects. The incentives are expected to rekindle growth in India’s renewable energy sector, which … [continued]

China Atop Renewable Energy Ranks As Shale Gas Changes The Game

Stop me if you’ve heard this before – renewable energy technologies face global challenges from fossil fuels and a lack of public subsidies, but new financing mechanisms and government mandates may be key to their continued growth.

What’s different now, according to Ernst & Young’s (E&Y) latest “Renewable energy country attractiveness indices,” is how shale gas development and crashing public financing are changing the way renewable energy is funded across the globe…