“

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines (AHN) – Belgian company Enfinity has applied with the Philippine Department of Energy for 15 renewable energy service contracts. The firm, through local subsidiary Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources, wants to build solar energy projects in different parts of the country.

Among the planned ventures of the company are two 50-megawatt power facilities in the Clark Freeport Zone and the Cavite Export Zone. Enfinity is also eyeing five other projects in Surigao del Norte, Cebu, Aurora, Quezon and Romblon provinces with a combined capacity of 10 MW.

Other solar projects of the energy firm still in the blueprint stage will be in Tawi-tawi, Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, Davao del Sur and Tarlac provinces and the Mactan Economic Zone in Cebu.

The different projects aim to build a total 500 MW power capacity, which would require an investment of about $1 billion over the next three to five years.

In anticipation of the DOE approval of its applications, Enfinity has entered into agreements with several electric cooperatives in the provinces and the government-owned National Power Corporation.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the DOE is planning to place under a private-public partnership the planned Batangas-Manila pipeline project. The venture will bring natural gas from the Malampaya rig to power stations and gasoline stations in the national capital region.

Almendras said he has asked the Philippine National Oil Company, a state-run energy firm, to study the project as an alternative source of power supply. The secretary foresees the government taking the lead in establishing a liquefied petroleum gas pipeline system because of the long-term investment and payback nature of such a project.

”

Reported in Environmental Issue Stories follow this link for the rest of the article

Product DescriptionThis book of NATO Science Series Room? Senting state-of-the-art desalination powered by renewable energy and her distinctive? Results far p? forskningsomr? senter and the per? potential of this technology? n. It gives an up-to-date reference point p? material, a comprehensive overview of the current status of solar desalination gives b? of research and industrial point of view. . . . More>>

Solar Desalination for the 21st Century: A Review of Modern Technologies and Researches on Desalination Coupled to Renewable Energies

”

This straight-talking, information filled guide is the perfect primer for anyone who wants to better understand and promote renewable energy, whether in industry, study, policy or campaigns.

”

Reported in Environment Stories follow this link for the rest of the article

”

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (TML) – Possessing a fifth of the world’s proven oil reserves, Saudi Arabia has long been synonymous with the petroleum industry, but this is not stopping the kingdom from striving to diversify its energy sources.

Renewable sources could account for up to 10 percent of Saudi Arabia’s power output by 2020, an executive from the state-owned national oil company Aramco said.

“The proposed target is between 7 to 10% of peak electricity generated by renewables by 2020,” Ahmad al-Khowaiter, director of new business evaluation department at Aramco told Reuters.

The renewable energy would most likely be solar energy, he said, and Saudi Arabia will start exporting solar energy by 2020.

Khowaiter said the “strategic move into solar,” could be achieved in 10 years time, when the economy will be in favor of employing solar power.

The kingdom is facing a rapid increase in domestic power demand and is already looking at new ways of creating energy, including nuclear power.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of a new energy complex, in an effort to diversify its oil-based energy industry. The Riyadh-based King Abdullah City for Nuclear and Renewable Energy will be tasked with research and application of nuclear technology and will oversee all aspects of a nuclear power industry.

Saudi Arabia’s economy is oil-based, with strong government controls over major economic activities. The kingdom possesses around 20% of the world’s proven petroleum reserves and ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum in the world.

Saudi Arabia plays a leading role in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and has a petroleum sector that accounts for roughly 80% of its budget revenues, 45% of its GDP and 90% of its export earnings.

But the kingdom’s population growth and energy subsidies have increased domestic consumption of oil and gas, fueling concerns about the future of its energy economy.

“Let us give credit where it is due,” Meena Janardhan, a fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Dubai told The Media Line. “This is an oil-rich region, and for countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to announce renewable energy commitments and initiate work towards achieving these goals, are very positive steps. It is not just economic motivation that turns the wheel in this case.”

“There is an ongoing shift in Saudi Arabia and in the region,” Dr. Theodore Karasik, director for research and development with the Dubai-based Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis told The Media Line.

“It’s significant, because the UAE has taken the lead on this, and of course, the other states want to follow on this path. It’s part of the renewed interest in the environment, and the fact that they need to start moving towards the eventuality of when hydrocarbons run out. It’s 50 years away but that’s also why they’re moving towards nuclear energy. These countries have the highest carbon emissions in the world per capita and so they want to improve that,” he said.

Karasik and Janardhan agreed that the goal of making 10% of Saudi Arabia’s power output based on renewable energy by the year 2010 seemed feasible.

Regarding nuclear energy, some analysts say it is essential for meeting the kingdom’s energy needs.

“Saudi Arabia is using 15% of its oil output currently for producing electricity and desalinization of sea water, and in 10 years’ time it will be using 20% of its oil output for this purpose,” a Saudi political scientist, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Media Line. “Forty percent of the country’s population is under 14 years of age, and will in the near future build families and require more electricity and desalinized water. The petrochemical industry is requiring ever more natural gas,” he said. “Furthermore, nuclear energy costs 60% the cost of hydrocarbon resources, and the third generation [nuclear power] plants are said to be safer than their old[er] counterparts.”

”

Reported in Environmental Issue Stories follow this link for the rest of the article

photo credit: technicolorcavalry

Solar Is Our Future: Crafting Your Own Green Collar, Solar Business

Starting a home based solar energy business has many rewards and challenges. Starting a business is a big responsibility that includes commitment, professionalism, training, and self-discipline. It involves careful consideration, such as what type of competition you’ll encounter and the demand for the solar rental service you can expect. Start searching for your next dream job.

Due to this commitment, the Department of Energy will be more than willing to give out grants for something like a home-based, solar energy business. Steven Chu, the new Secretary of Energy has pledged to make the Department of Energy’s services more available to the common person. This means that anymore who want to run a business from home promoting the use of solar energy should be able to work their way through the bureaucracy well.

The change in attitude related to renewable, solar energy just offers way more options to a person, who may have lost their job during this economic downturn, to get a let up and start their own, work from home business.

Most of the grants and funding work is done through the Office of Science Grants and Contracts Division. The Office of Science Contracts would make an assessment on whether or not the work from home solar energy business would be viable enough to be worthy of a government subsidy. The DOE has launched what they call the Solar America Initiative. Many new renewable energy initiatives will establish many new forms of energy all from off grid places by twenty-fifteen.

There are other options and ways to start your own solar energy business besides getting the whole business operation up and running by yourself. You can look for other established or emerging companies that have inexpensive ways to become affiliated with them. To be a sales associate in most organizations doesn’t take a lot of work. You may need to pass a test to show you are qualified and know a little about solar energy but that is usually it.

You do not need to be a college graduate or a seasoned sales executive. More often than not, a person with passion and drive can really make a difference. There are opportunities in the renewable energy industry for those who believe in solar power and wish to promote alternate ways to help the U.S. produce electricity.

If you are required to pay a fee to become involved in a business opportunity, it may mean something is fishy. Good business opportunities, especially targeting the home-based entrepreneur, show not fees or additional costs to join. You should be on the lookout if they do. A reputable company will not ask new associates to pay for a “welcome kit” or sample products. The primary objective is about creating a team, a collective of passionate people all doing good by referring U.S. homeowners to exciting aspects of renting a solar energy system for their home.

Obviously the idea of a home based solar energy business that promotes the renting of a solar system versus having to buy one is a super way to offer renewable energy and one great idea that will get us all closer to moving off the grid for good.

A green collar, solar job was talked about so much during the 2008 presidential election. A green collar job would revive the solar manufacturing base in this country and provide opportunity to people who otherwise might not be able to make a good living or who may have recently lost a job. A small business is the lifeblood of the economy for many communities so when a green collar job is a part of a small business, it is a winning combination.

The exciting aspect of solar energy is the potential for growth. The renewable energy industry is still in its infancy. With less than 2.three percent of the U.S. home solar energy market is tapped currently. Renewable energy has a long way to go and much growth to tap into. What’s more, solar power makes up three fifths of a percent of the total renewable share, and yet, solar power has the greatest potential of all renewable types for rapid, exponential growth.

There are also several websites that promote the idea of home based renewable energy. Many of these websites have connections to private equity and venture capital firms who would consider investing in a solar energy company, but the truth is that there is such a calling for something innovative like a home based solar company that large upfront investments are not necessary in many ways.

Home based solar energy companies would fit nicely in the scheme of the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative. Dr. Chu, who was referenced earlier, stresses the need for a strong partnership with the private sector related to the growth of solar.

As a professor at Stanford, Chu has written on the benefits of renewable energy for home usage and how it will help ease our way off fossil fuels. Chu has called for a revolution in alternative fuels and he says there is no better time than now to confront challenges like global warming. This is why 2009-2010 would be a great time to start up a home based solar energy business.

At Solargies, our mission is to spread the use of renewable energies as simply as possible. We provide U.S. homeowners the option to rent a solar electric system. We also offer entrepreneurs a no cost method to build their own solar energy business. Lost your job recently? Why not create a whole, renewable one. Learn more about Daniel at http://www.EcoCrews.com

photo credit: Erik Charlton

The government is now making an extensive drive of promoting the use of alternative fuels specifically the biodiesel. The government and the private sectors alike are now working hand and hand to make the move to alternative fuels realizable. Both have their own contributions in the development of the alternative fuels. Most of their projects are focused on the developments of the biodiesel and other alternative fuel technologies. But with the lack of information and cooperation from the ordinary people, these projects are moving at slower paces. They need the help of the people in order to see some lights in their projects for their success lies on the people as users and makers of the needed resources. And to attract more people to support the project, the government is giving grants such as the biodiesel grant to all the supporters of the project.

The biodiesel grants give special grants or rewards to biodiesel producers. The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in particular gives small grants worth $3,000 for those who are interested in producing biodiesel. The NCAT is an organization that helps the people and the community to adopt the new technologies that help save energy and other resources. The group also gives the same grant amount to the farmers who raise crops that can be used as good sources of the oil needed in making biodiesel. These grants are also open for projects that deal in the development of biodiesel and discovery of new biodiesel formulas.

If you are a farmer and you want to shift into planting of crops for use in biodiesel, you can use the said biodiesel grant to support your farming needs. You can avail of the special projects of the government and other sectors regarding the development of biodiesel fuels.

Not only the farmers and the biodiesel developers benefit in these grants. In Florida, one of their public bus systems-the Lynx now uses biodiesel on their 290 units. This move by the company from using diesel fuels to the use of biodiesel-blended fuels was given recognition by the government. In fact, the Florida Renewable Energy Grants Program has given them a two-year biodiesel grant worth $2.5 million. With this grant amount and to support heir own consumption of the biodiesel, the Lynx has built its own blending station. Their station will also serve as a medium for the biodiesel and demonstration projects in their area aside from supporting their own fuel needs. Their station is capable of replacing 1.2 million gallons of diesel with cleaner and renewable fuel. The grant given to the Lynx has made their transition easier and at the same time it gave them the resources for their maintenance.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about biodiesel grants, please visit Alternative Fuels Today for current articles and discussions.

photo credit: jonmatthew photography

Environmental conservation has recently become the latest buzzword among major countries in the world. As governments of developed countries realize the importance and inevitability of working towards environmental conservation, major business houses are trying to comply with eco friendly operations. All leading companies around the globe have realized an importance for sustainable trade for their long-term survival.

Most business has realized that suitable conservation of non-renewable energy resources was the ultimate way to attain lasting existence of businesses and mankind. Utilizing oil resources continuously without concern for future has already raised eyebrows and caused havoc in U.S. auto industry. Demand for alternate biodiesel is in constant rise. People are opting for new opportunities of any alternate energy source. Solar energy long promised to develop as a major energy supply but lately there has been no significant achievement as regards to solar power satisfying the human demand for energy.

Also different industries that depend on nature for their raw material requirements are under pressure. They need to shift to eco-friendly production ways that would enable sustained business on a long-term scenario. U.S. paper industry has come forward for the protection of forests and agreed to work towards forests conservation. Increasing global demand for paper has led to an erosion of numerous trees of Cumberland hardwoods – thus threatening the ecological system of the place. Unless immediate preventive steps were exercised the region would not be left with any forest resource to further facilitate human survival and growing industrial needs. Ways to conserve forests include using recycled paper waste and also managing forest resources in a more sustainable way. Major paper industry giants have recently come forward as a positive step for working towards environmental conservation and minimizing uncontrolled use of trees for paper manufacturing.

Many government organizations, business companies and also non-profit-concerns are operating worldwide to enhance commerce and techniques that promote environment conservation. Ways to promote research work for alternate fuels and encouraging business to practice recycling of products are becoming increasingly popular among in U.S. and other concerned countries.

Emphasis to find different sources of energy apart for oil reserves is always being researched. Wind energy, solar energy, bio-fuels, wave energy and many others have been tried and tested for efficient replacement of non-renewable power resource. Many options have also achieved significant amount of success in helping conservation of oil sources that is fast disappearing from earth surface.

Hybrid automobiles have been invented that run on bio-diesel as a measure to find a way for reducing large amounts of oil consumption in U.S. Governments in many countries have introduced certain measures upon corporates to work towards responsible environmental protection. Ways to find new energy efficient methods for production are sought, that not only promotes healthy living conditions but also reduce manufacturing costs for industries. Many industries are actively taking part in a race for achieving eco-friendly manufacturing techniques and using recycled wastes. Realization for proper disposal of industrial wastes only after their proper treatment is essential for nature conservation. Recently a new approach for green building materials has gained a lot of popularity among building constructors to encourage ecological protection.

Mansi aggarwal writes about green business. Learn more at http://www.ecobusinessprimer.com