Green Friendly Globe
Supporting Green Renewable Alternative Energy
Integrating Anaerobic Digestion Into Our Culture Part 1: Language, Visuals and Values<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/26/1332-integrating-anaerobic-digestion-into-our-culture-part-1-language-visuals-and-values.jpg" /> North America is at an inflection point in managing organic materials. Just as paper, metal and plastics were the darlings of the recycling industry a few decades ago, our society is defining a new relationship with organic materials — one that harnesses the full carbon, energy and nutrient potential of organics. In order to help shape that new relationship, industry leaders are cultivating North America's awareness and understanding of anaerobic digestion's features, benefits and potential role in society. This two-part article explores the ways the waste, energy and agricultural industries are integrating this technology into our culture.
Dark Clouds Threaten German Clean Energy Ambitions<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/26/1332-dark-clouds-threaten-german-clean-energy-ambitions.jpg" /> During the fourteen years that I've lived in Switzerland, the Germans have been the world's staunchest supporters of green power and alternative energy. Their aggressive development of wind power was breathtaking, as was their warm embrace of photovoltaic power.
Smart Grid Initiatives Address Cyber Security, Renewable Energy Intermittency<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/25/1332-smart-grid-initiatives-address-cyber-security-renewable-energy-intermittency.jpg" /> Securitizing renewable energy networks from cyber-attacks is not complicated by their oft-cited operational headache of intermittency, but rather by their separation from a utility's control system, said smart grid executives at the Gridwise Global Forum in Washington, DC in early November. Though renewable intermittency adds to the challenge of stabilizing a grid, the forum revealed new evidence of real-world smart grid load shifting that continues to chip away at the tired argument that renewable energy cannot successfully integrate into a legacy grid.
Asia Report: China Has Strong Words Over U.S. Wind Trade Investigation<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/23/1332-asia-report-china-has-strong-words-over-u-s-wind-trade-investigation.jpg" /> So far, the complaint by American wind tower manufacturers against their competition from Asia has mirrored the solar industry petition filed in October.
Vermont Company's Biomass System Outperforms Expectations<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/23/1332-vermont-company-s-biomass-system-outperforms-expectations.jpg" /> To find out if a biomass heating system works smoothly or not, ask the people who really run it — day by day.
LanzaTech Raises $58 Million in Series C Round; Petronas Becomes Strategic Investor<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/23/1332-lanzatech-raises-58-million-in-series-c-round-petronas-becomes-strategic-investor.jpg" /> In Illinois, LanzaTech announced that it has closed its Series C round with new investment totaling US $55.8 million led by the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund.
Gambling on Iraq's Oil<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/20/1332-gambling-on-iraq-s-oil.jpg" /> Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's recent efforts to arrest Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on terrorism charges have elevated the risk of renewed sectarian violence in the wake of the 18 December U.S. military withdrawal.
Influential Women in Cleantech: Top 10 Women of BioFuels<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/20/7300-influential-women-in-cleantech-top-10-women-of-biofuels.jpg" /> As the founder of the Bay Area networking group, Women In Cleantech & Sustainability, I am keenly interested in learning about who the media thinks as being the most influential women in the field. However, it feels like every top ten list for women in Cleantech always lists the same lovely ladies. This is not to say that the women are not
Latin America Report: Critics Urge More Solar, Wind, Geothermal in Chile<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/18/1332-latin-america-report-critics-urge-more-solar-wind-geothermal-in-chile.jpg" /> Chile is built for renewable energy. The seemingly unending coastline that runs the length of its boundary is prime real estate for wind development, and eventually the offshore wind projects, that could power the cities found along its spine. The nation's solar resources, especially in the northern regions, are among the best in the world. And its place along the ring of fire means its geothermal potential is vast, yet untapped.
Leading Global Investors Call the False Dichotomy Between Economy and Environment "Nonsense"<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/18/1332-leading-global-investors-call-the-false-dichotomy-between-economy-and-environment-nonsense.jpg" /> A top GE executive is calling the political battle between economy and environment "nonsense."
In a video interview at an international clean energy investment conference last week, Mark Vachon, vice president of GE's successful Ecomagination program, hailed "environmental performance" as a key driver for business.
Joule Unlimited Raises $70 Million, Heads for Commercialization<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/18/1332-whiskey-from-soda-joule-raises-70-million-heads-for-commercialization.jpg" /> In Massachusetts, Joule Unlimited announced the closing of a $70 million third round of funding, bringing its total to just over $110 million raised to date. The round included investments from both new and prior undisclosed institutional and private sources that joined Flagship Ventures, Joule's founding venture capital investor.
ZeaChem and the Renewable Fuel Standard<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/17/1332-zeachem-and-the-renewable-fuel-standard.jpg" /> ZeaChem launches its 250,000 gallon per year core process. How could this possibly matter in the context of a 500 million gallon cellulosic biofuels target for 2012 that was waived down to 10 million? As it turns out, a lot. The RFS is in much better shape than its critics advertise. Here's why.
When We Struggle, We Learn<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/16/1332-when-we-struggle-we-learn.jpg" /> If there was one key takeaway from the most recent RenewableEnergyWorld.com and Solar Power-gen webcast it was that the year ahead will be difficult for large-scale solar power development due to poor access to capital, an uncertain policy landscape, the pending trade case against China and module prices that are too low to support a healthy indust
Asia Report: China, South Korea Leaders at World Energy Summit<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/16/1332-asia-report-china-south-korea-leaders-at-world-energy-summit.jpg" /> Weeks after the end of the U.N. climate talks, international leaders from across the world are meeting again on the world stage to discuss fossil fuels, nuclear energy and the growth of renewables.
What Do Falling Natural Gas Prices Mean for Renewables?<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/13/1332-what-do-falling-natural-gas-prices-mean-for-renewables.jpg" /> With a glut of shale gas on the market, natural gas prices continue to tumble in the U.S. And they'll only fall more throughout the year.
Latin America Report: Mixed Messages on Wind<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/12/1332-latin-america-report-mixed-messages-on-wind.jpg" /> Vestas on Thursday announced a major restructuring of its global operations, though it remains unclear how the move could affect its plans for the growing and lucrative Latin America market.
The Litmus Test: 8 Projects for 2012 Will Test Perceptions, Reality for Advanced Biofuels<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/11/1332-the-litmus-test-8-projects-for-2012-will-test-perceptions-reality-for-advanced-biofuels.jpg" /> Advanced, next-generation biofuels, chemicals and materials are on the march, say the supporters. Next-generation biofuels are a debacle, according to a chorus of skeptics including the editorial page writers of the Wall Street Journal.
Renewable Energy World Announces Awards Finalists! Vote Now for Readers' Choice<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/11/1332-renewable-energy-world-announces-awards-finalists-vote-now-for-readers-choice.jpg" /> Nominations have been submitted, finalists have been chosen, and now it's your turn to help pick a winner.
Energy for the Masses: Husk Power Helps Fuel India<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/10/1332-energy-for-the-masses-husk-power-helps-fuel-india.jpg" /> In Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, 85 percent of people are not connected to the electricity grid. Households use kerosene lamps when they can afford it, and businesses use expensive and dirty diesel generators.
Generating Biogas from Biomass<img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="110" src="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com//assets/images/story/2012/1/10/0-generating-biogas-from-biomass.jpg" /> Farmers in the UK are still discussing the merits of anaerobic digestion, but in Italy things are moving on along. When the European Union first set out its environmental sustainability parameters, the Italian government responded with an incentive scheme to encourage small farms to generate electricity from biomass energy crops using anaerobic dig
