Archive for the ‘Green news’ Category
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa has chosen 19 renewable energy projects in the second stage of its drive to cut its reliance on coal-fired plants, and bidders have until December to prove the projects are financially viable, the energy minister said on Monday.
Africa’s largest economy depends on coal for 85 percent of its electricity supply of around 41,000 MW.
In a bid to reduce its carbon footprint it launched a bidding process to eventually add up to 3,725 MW of green energy to the national grid by 2016, a move seen attracting investment of 100 billion rand.
A total of 79 bids were received by the March 5 closing date. The 19 selected projects, mostly wind and solar plants, could supply 1,043.9 MW, the ministry said.
“The bid process has so far attracted bidders from international developers and funders, and been hailed as highly successful across the board,” Minister Dipuo Peters told a news conference in Pretoria.
South Africa has been struggling to meet fast-rising demand for electricity in the world’s top producer of platinum and a major gold miner. A power supply crisis in 2008 shut mines for days and cost the country billions of dollars in lost output.
The process of adding more renewable power to the grid has dragged on for years, raising doubts about the government’s ability to deliver, but developers have commended the ministry for how smoothly the recent bidding process has proceeded.
South Africa wants to use the green energy drive to boost job creation through manufacturing and by making the need to source materials locally a key requirement.
Targets for locally sourced materials, economic development and better pricing have become more stringent with each round.
A previous plan to attract independent producers with subsidised tariffs was scrapped in the face of legal and regulatory hurdles, but South Africa is confident that the new procurement plan, which does not include subsidies, will work.
The government selected projects worth 1,415.5 MW in the first round of the process, but the minister said some of the ventures selected during that round were facing challenges in reaching financial closure as required in June.
Should some projects fall through, their allocated capacity would be added to the remaining 1,165.6 MW still up for grabs in future bidding rounds.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/africa-picks-next-19-projects-green-energy-drive-132455376.html
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped six cents over the past two weeks.
That’s according to the Lundberg Survey of fuel prices, released Sunday, which puts the price of a gallon of regular at $3.78.
Midgrade costs an average of $3.94 a gallon, and premium is at $4.06.
Diesel dropped six cents to $4.09 a gallon.
Of the cities surveyed, Memphis has the nation’s lowest average price for gas at $3.34. San Francisco has the highest at $4.36.
In California, the lowest average price was $4.24 in Fresno. The average statewide for a gallon of regular was $4.33, up about 16 cents.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/national-gas-prices-down-6-cents-past-2-142027311--finance.html
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gasoline prices in Ohio have increased slightly ahead of Memorial Day and the traditional start of the summer driving season.
The average price for regular gas in Ohio is about $3.66 a gallon in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s up 3 cents from a week ago but a bit cheaper than the $3.81 drivers were paying at this time last year.
Nationally, the average price for regular gas is $3.69, or 4 cents cheaper than a week ago.
Crude oil prices have dropped this month amid signs of slowing global economic growth. But the cost of oil may rise because of concerns that there could be a military conflict over Iran’s nuclear program that could hurt crude supplies.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/ohio-gas-prices-rise-kickoff-summer-driving-145030886--finance.html
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gas prices in Maine are continuing to fall and are getting closer to the national average.
Price-monitoring website MaineGasPrices.com reports Monday the average retail price for a gallon of gas in Maine has dropped more than three cents in the past week to an average of $3.76.
That compares to a national average of $3.70 per gallon.
Maine prices are now almost 15 cents lower than at the same time a year ago and more than 19 cents lower than a month ago.
A company analyst says prices are likely to keep falling even with a holiday weekend is approaching.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/maine-gas-prices-down-3-cents-145102079--finance.html
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — AAA Michigan says gasoline prices rose about 5 cents during the past week to a statewide average of $3.74 per gallon.
The auto club said Monday the average is about 18 cents per gallon less than last year at this time. AAA Michigan says the decline in the price of gas from a year ago comes as its estimates show more than 1.1 million Michigan motorists will hit the road for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Of the cities it surveys, AAA Michigan says the cheapest price for self-serve unleaded fuel is in the Flint area, where it’s $3.68 a gallon. The highest average is in the Marquette area at $3.85.
Dearborn-based AAA Michigan surveys 2,800 Michigan gas stations daily.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/aaa-mich-gas-prices-5-cents-past-week-150230240--finance.html
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts gas prices are down for the fifth consecutive week.
AAA Southern New England reports Monday that self-serve, regular dropped six cents in the past week and now costs an average of $3.65 per gallon.
The price has now dropped 20 cents per gallon in the past month and is three cents below the national average.
The price is 23 cents lower than at the same time a year ago.
AAA found self-serve, regular selling for as low as $3.46 per gallon and as high as $3.86.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/massachusetts-gas-prices-down-another-6-cents-150935124--finance.html
From a park near Albuquerque, to the top of Japan’s Mount Fuji, to the California coast the effect was dramatic: The moon nearly blotting out the sun creating a blazing “ring of fire” eclipse.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/wind-energy-siemens-procurement-team-talk-wind-energy-080232550.html
AIMS Power, a worldwide supplier of power inverters and solar panels. This week launched a new 60 watt solar panel, the latest addition to the AIMS Power Solar product line.
Reno, NV (PRWEB) May 21, 2012
AIMS Power a global supplier of solar panels and power inverters, just added a 60 watt solar panel to its solar product offering. Over the last two years AIMS Power has been a leader in supplying green energy products including top quality solar panels. AIMS Power recently introduced a new 120 watt solar panel. This week AIMS Power launched a new 60 watt solar panel.
Recently the demand for off-grid solar components has grown exponentially. Today, micro off-grid systems are in place delivering power in many urban areas around the world. AIMS Power has a full line of solar panels, power inverters and solar charge controllers to meet this demand. This new AIMS Power 60 watt panel will be offered at an industry leading price point.
AIMS Power has been offering high quality power inverters for over 10 years. When they decided to enter the solar business, they started with a 230 watt panel. This solar panel was a huge hit among solar installers and consumers alike. The new AIMS Power 60 watt solar panels are easier to deliver anywhere on the globe due to the smaller size when compared to 230 watt panels. “Our new 60 watt solar panel can be shipped in a box anywhere on the globe, saving the end-user the cost of freight shipping,” Bruce De Jong, President of Aims Power.
End users can apply these panels into almost any 12 volt solar system. They can be used in marine applications, recreational vehicles and off-grid homes. One of the more common applications for off-grid solar is emergency backup power. These new AIMS Power 60 watt solar panels are perfect to set-up a backup power system to provide power during a storm or hurricane.
About AIMS Power Inc.
AIMS Power Inc., headquartered in Reno, Nevada, offers a complete line of dc to ac power inverters. AIMS Power Inc. delivers industry leading products in both pure sine wave and modified sine wave, including 12 volt inverters, 24 volt inverters, 48 volts inverters, inverter chargers and low frequency inverters. AIMS power inverters are used around the globe in many different applications including mobile businesses, off-grid power systems, emergency back-up power systems and sump pump backup systems. In addition AIMS power inverters can be used in work trucks, fleet vans, luxury motor coaches, charter buses, conversion vans, rescue and fire vehicles, RV’s and boats. AIMS Power Inc. also offers solar charge controllers, KACO Blue Planet inverters and solar panels in 12 volts and 24 volts. Established in 2001, AIMS Power Inc.
Sean Nichols
AIMS Power Corp
775-359-6703
Email Information
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/aims-power-leader-power-inverter-technologies-launches-60-070321733.html
From a park near Albuquerque, to the top of Japan’s Mount Fuji, to the California coast the effect was dramatic: The moon nearly blotting out the sun creating a blazing “ring of fire” eclipse.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/wind-energy-india-wind-report-gives-confidence-market-080221099.html
From a park near Albuquerque, to the top of Japan’s Mount Fuji, to the California coast the effect was dramatic: The moon nearly blotting out the sun creating a blazing “ring of fire” eclipse.
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/wind-energy-india-wind-report-gives-confidence-market-080221099.html
