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GE wind turbine assembly facility in China |
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The GE Energy (Shenyang) Co. Ltd. facility in China is GE
Energy’s first wind turbine assembly plant in the country.
Commissioned to produce 1.5 MW wind turbines, this facility
will also provide local support for the growing wind power
industry in the country and Asia. “The wind plant in Shenyang
meets the requirements on wind turbine localization set by
China’s National Development and Reform Commission,” said Mr.
Victor Abate, GE Energy’s Vice-President. “It expands our
local capabilities to provide technology and services to help
meet China’s growing power capacity requirements,” he added.
Wind power is expected to play a significant role in
supporting China’s national target to create 30 GW of new
renewable energy capacity by 2020. With a potential wind power
capacity of 250 GW onshore and 750 GW offshore, China
possesses the world’s largest wind resource. Over the past two
years, GE has committed a total of 700 MW of its advanced wind
turbine technology to China, which can power around 700,000
homes and prevent future carbon dioxide emissions of more than
1.4 million tonnes/year.
Website:
www.renewableenergyaccess.com |
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Viet Nam focuses on wind energy |
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Viet Nam has a huge wind power potential: according to a World
Bank survey, 8.6 per cent of land in Viet Nam is capable of
large-scale wind energy development, compared to only 2.9 per
cent in Laos and 0.2 per cent in both Thailand and Cambodia.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry plans to harness this
resource for generating 3 per cent of the nation’s total
electrical capacity by 2010, with production doubling to 6 per
cent by 2030. Dr. Herrmann Scheer, General Chairman, World
Council for Renewable Energy, said that hydropower electricity
and wind energy can supplement each other to ensure power
security.
Wind power is especially appealing in the context of
fluctuating world oil prices, pollution caused by the burning
of fossil fuels and the fact that oil and gas reserves will
eventually be depleted. Viet Nam’s wind energy potential is
estimated to reach 513,360 MW/y. About 41 per cent of
agricultural areas nationwide are suitable for small-scale
wind turbines. However, despite interest in the business
community in the central coastal and southern provinces in
wind power, there are currently no government policies
encouraging investment. In order to attract investors, the
government is drafting wind energy development plans as a
sustainable way of dealing with power shortages.
Website:
www.vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn
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Indian joint venture for energy recovery from
waste |
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In India, a new initiative by an environmental company to set
up power plants for converting solid waste into electricity
applying biomethane technology is expected to kill two birds
with one stone – tackle waste disposal while generating power.
Pyramid Projects India has formed a joint venture with Aqua
Consult, Germany, after acquiring 51 per cent share in the
company. The alliance, Pyramid Aqua and Waste System, will
carry out its operations in India and the Asia-Pacific region
from its office in Pune, Maharashtra. It plans to set up power
plants on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis in various parts of
the country. These facilities will be able to use any kind of
solid waste, other than plastic and hazardous waste to produce
biogas. Energy generated in these plants will be supplied to
both private and governmental bodies.
According to Pyramid Asia-Pacific Chairman Mr. Sanjeev
Kulkarni, the potential of the new power plants is immense.
Biodegradable slush formed as a by-product can be used as an
organic fertilizer, which will be provided to farmers at
subsidized rates. Each plant can generate more than 200,000
kg/d of organic fertilizer. The company already has over 550
such plants running successfully in many parts of the world,
including China, Greece, Germany, Estonia and Turkey. The
company is also planning to set up an environmental management
institute and invest in biodiesel refineries.
Website:
www.cities.expressindia.com |
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Sino-Malaysian pact on biodiesel development |
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China’s third largest oil company, China National Offshore Oil
Corp. (CNOOC), has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Malaysia’s Bio Sweet Sdn. Bhd.– which specializes in
biotech and palm diesel R&D – to develop palm oil-based
biodiesel. According to the MoU, CNOOC will build a plant in
Hainan Island in 12 months, with a capacity of 120,000 t.
Apart from this, a joint venture called CNOOC (M) Biofuel Sdn.
Bhd. would be set up for eventual listing in Malaysia.
According to Mr. A.K. Liew, the managing director of Bio
Sweet, more plants may be built in Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Website:
www.biz.thestar.com.my |
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‘Green pricing’ to save energy |
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In 2007, the Republic of Korea government is scheduled to
introduce a ‘green pricing’ system in a move to get public
companies to contribute to energy conservation and development
of clean, reusable energy. According to the Ministry of
Commerce, Industry and Energy, this governmental plan calls
for state-run companies and organizations to make mandatory
use of electricity generated by renewable energy such as solar
power. The ministry stated that using alternative forms of
energy is necessary as the price of Dubai crude is expected to
stay above the US$60-US$70 range in the near future. Some
surveys have revealed that considerable public support exists
for reusable energy.
Website:
www.korea.net |
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Ethanol-blended fuel launched in Pakistan |
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In light of the ever-rising fuel costs, and in a bid to
diversify the sources of energy, Pakistan will begin selling
blended fuel in the country. Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz
said that introduction of blended fuel will help the
government meet the shortfall in energy needs. The blended
fuel will be initially sold under a pilot project through
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) petrol pumps at Islamabad, Lahore and
Karachi. Based on results of this project, the blended fuel
will be made available throughout the country. The project was
proposed by PSO and Hydrocarbon Institute of Pakistan.
This is the first time that the concept of ethanol blending
with petroleum is being introduced in the country. The blended
fuel will have up to 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent
petroleum. Moreover, the blended fuel is environmentally
friendly and cheaper as it contains a higher percentage of
octane. Mr. Aziz said that the provinces would be directed to
amend existing rules to allow for the sale of the new blended
fuel. Production of biofuel would also be encouraged.
Website: www.paktribune.com
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Thailand to produce more power from renewable
sources |
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In Thailand, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
(EGAT) will produce 80 MW of electricity and buy another 60 MW
under the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) programme.
According to Mr. Norkhun Sitthipong, Chairman of the EGAT
board, six hydropower plants will be built at six dams for the
production of 80 MW of electricity, with construction slated
for completion in 2009. Another 60 MW, which will be produced
from renewable energy sources like solar, wind, garbage and
biomass, will be bought from the private sector, Mr. Norkhun
said.
Website:
www.thaisnews.com |
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Indonesia turns to biofuel as alternative energy
resource |
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Faced with its own depleting oil reserves and fluctuating
world oil prices, Indonesia has launched an intensive biofuel
production programme that aims at reducing fossil oil
consumption by 10 per cent in 2010. The President, Dr. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, said that the country is planning to
implement the programme in 2007.
Apart from lowering dependence on fossil fuels, cultivation of
biofuel crops like oil palm, cassava, sugar cane and Jatropha
curcas is also seen as a way to help boost local economies. In
order to carry out the programme, the Indonesian government
will set up a national team and put it in charge of
formulating policies for the development of biodiesel or
biofuel programmes. Chaired by the former Human Resources
Minister Mr. Al Hilal Hamdi, the team will formulate policies
on matters such as infrastructure, cultivation of land,
processing, marketing and funding.
The government has also unveiled a crash programme to build 11
biofuel plants, with production targets of 187 million litres
next year and 1.3 billion litres by 2010, or equivalent to 3
per cent of the country’s total fuel consumption of 41 million
kilolitres in 2005. Fiscal incentives like tax holidays, tax
allowances and reductions for research activities, and
value-added taxes are also being examined.
Website:
www.antara.co.id |
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