WATER DRAGON YEAR 2012

WIND PROJECT OF THE YEAR INCORPORATES ENERGY STORAGE

The AES Laurel Mountain Wind Farm is the recipient of the 2012 Excellence in Renewable Energy Award for Wind Project of the Year. Check it out:

OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN EU RENEWABLES SECTOR

by Stephen Lacey

More than 1.1 million people have jobs in Europe’s renewable energy sector, according to new figures released from EurObserv’ER, a renewable energy tracking project supported by the European Commission.

The numbers, which don’t even account for the massive boom in renewables development in 2011, show a 25% increase in employment between 2009 and 2010, bringing documented jobs in the renewable energy sector throughout Europe to 1,144,000.

The boost in activity in 2010 represented about €127 billion ($166 Billion) in economic value, a 15% increase over 2009.

Unlike some reports documenting green jobs in the United States, these figures only include renewable fuels, heat and electricity. They do not include jobs in mass transportation, recycling, and green building design.

They show a very healthy diversity in Europe’s renewable energy sector. According to the 2010 figures, the top three sectors for employment were biomass (273,000), solar PV (268,110), and wind (253,145). The next largest were biogas (52,810) and solar thermal (49,845). Behind those sectors were ground source heat pumps, waste-to-energy, small hydro, and geothermal.

The increase in jobs corresponded with an increase in consumption of renewable energy. In 2010, renewables accounted for 12.4% of final energy consumption in Europe — up from 11.5% in 2009 and 10.5% in 2008.

And last year saw even stronger growth, particularly in the renewable electricity sector, where 68% of new capacity in Europe came from wind and solar.

GOOGLE TOPS GREENPEACE IT RANKING

By James Murray,
BusinessGreen

Google has today taken top spot in Greenpeace's annual Cool IT Leaderboard ranking technology firms' environmental efforts, seizing the crown from networking giant Cisco.

The influential campaign group said Google had climbed to the top of the table on the back of its high profile investment in renewable energy projects and its vocal support for US clean energy policy and EU efforts to increase the ambition of its climate change targets.

However, the group again turned its fire on Apple, refusing to include the firm on the leaderboard on the grounds that it does not meet the ranking's criteria.

"[Apple] has not demonstrated leadership or elected to pursue market opportunities to drive IT energy solutions that many of its competitors have, despite record profits and large cash reserves," the campaign group said in a statement.

Facebook was also excluded from the list, but Greenpeace confirmed it would be included in next year's list after the social networking giant announced late last year that following a high profile campaign against the company's reliance on coal-fired power it would adopt a new policy to source renewable energy wherever possible.

Greenpeace International IT analyst Gary Cook said that the ranking of 21 global technology firms highlighted the crucial role IT firms can play in cutting global greenhouse gas emissions.

"Technology giants have a real opportunity to use their power and influence to change how we produce and use energy - Google tops the table because it's putting its money where its mouth is by pumping investment into renewable energy", he said in a statement.

"The IT sector might like to consider itself forward-thinking, but it is keeping far too quiet while the dirty energy industry continues to exert undue influence on both the political process and financial markets".

Google was followed in the table by Cisco, which dropped from its previous top spot, and Ericsson and Fujitsu in joint third place.

Dell was also praised for sourcing over a fifth of its energy from renewable sources, while Japanese telecommunications company Softbank was also highlighted for the role it played in demanding a shift towards renewable power following the Fukushima disaster.

Business software giant Oracle received the lowest ranking of the firms listed, primarily due to its refusal to disclose information on renewable or carbon intensive energy use.

Cook urged more IT firms to use their status as innovators to step up investment in greener technologies and business models.

"The IT industry must use its influence, innovative spirit and technological know-how to overcome the dirty energy companies who are holding on to the status quo, and holding us back from a transition to a renewable energy economy", he said. "What we're seeing is a lot of talk from companies about moving toward clean energy, but so far, not much of action."

RENEWABLE ENERGY DEALS HITTING RECORD HIGH

Global renewable energy deals climbed 40% to a record high of $53.5 billion last year from $38.2 billion in 2010, as solar, wind and energy efficiency overtook hydropower as the main deal drivers for the first time, a report has stated.

Historically, hydro power has dominated renewables deal flow, but deals worth $1 billion or more in wind, solar, biomass and energy efficiency have outnumbered hydro by seven to one, the PriceWaterHouse Coopers report said.

The renewables market is maturing, fuelling more consolidation, and a rethink of the role of nuclear in many countries after the Japanese nuclear crisis last year provided an extra boost to renewables generation in certain markets.

“Sustained high deal numbers and record total value reflect a maturing of the sector,” said Paul Nillesen, PwC renewables partner.

WHY PESSIMISM IS HEALTHY & THE MODERN WORLD ISN'T

by Alain De Botton

LIGHT BULB WARS

By Tina Casey

After all the (Republican party) fire and brimstone in the US over the impending phase-out of incandescent light bulbs, lighting giant Philips has stepped in to pour oil on troubled waters. The company has just launched a new energy efficient light bulb that looks and acts just like an incandescent light bulb. At 28% energy savings, the company’s new EcoVantage light bulb is designed to satisfy 21st century federal energy efficiency standards while preserving the classic 19th century styling.