News

Gamesa, a leading wind turbine maker from Spain, signed memoranda of understanding for 900MW wind turbines with three Chinese companies Wednesday in Beijing. The MOUs with Longyuan, China Resources Power and Datang may culminate in firm contracts to supply 900MW in turbine capacity in the coming months, said Gamesa Chairman and CEO Jorge Calvet. Additionally, …

South Korea will be starting constructions for the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell power plant at Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. The Korea Hydro Nuclear Power (KHNP) – subsidiary of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) specializing in large nuclear and hydroelectric plants in Korea – said on Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of …

Asia Cleantech Gateway (HK) Ltd. launched its online networking platform aimed at facilitating East-West cleantech business at the Hanover H2+FC Fair last week. After 6 months in development, ACG aims to grow the platform into the leading web-based tool for identifying and making contact with potential clients and partners for companies in the cleantech sector. …

West Holdings Corp. aims to sell 4,500 residential solar power generation systems per month in 2011, 50% more than it was targeting before the March 11 earthquake. The company recently inked an exclusive sales agreement for Japan with South Korean solar cell producer Hanwha Group. Beginning in June, the Japanese firm aims to sell more …

IHI Corp. seeks to commercialize as early as fiscal 2015 a marine wind power station that costs half as much to install as existing models. The company expects that power generation using renewable energy such as sunlight and wind will become more popular as the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant limits nuclear …

Start-up companies that make small generators are ramping up production and launching new products as demand for handy emergency power sources grows strongly in the wake of the devastating earthquake. Next Energy & Resources Co., a manufacturer in Komagane, Nagano Prefecture, is expanding almost fivefold its supply of stand-alone systems that can power lighting and …

China may double its target for photovoltaic power capacity over the next five years in the wake of Japan’s nuclear crisis, the official China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday. Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said the government may be looking at a new target of having installed capacity of 10 gigawatts (GW) of PV power …

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said Wednesday it will start tie-up talks with Taiwan’s Auria Solar Co., as the Japanese firm considers outsourcing some of its domestic solar cell production. Mitsubishi and Auria Solar will discuss the possibility of forging capital ties, sharing technology and shifting part of the Japanese firm’s production to the Taiwanese firm. …

China remains the world’s leading investor in low-carbon energy technology, a global study has shown. The table, published by the US Pew Environment Group, showed that the Chinese invested $54.4bn (£34.1bn) in 2010, up from $39.1bn in 2009. While the US saw investment increase by 51% to $34bn, it still slipped from 2nd to 3rd …

Given the ongoing nuclear plant crisis, the government “will put more emphasis on renewable energy” in developing future energy policies, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Tuesday. Renewable energy will play a key role “when thinking about policies that would bring hope for the future,” Edano told reporters. “Given the extent of damage (caused by …