World:
¶ China accounted for 35% of the windpower market in 2012. Chinese investment in wind is expected to increase in the near future. [Climate Spectator]
¶ The Japanese government sees windpower as key to building a renewable portfolio. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ Over 23,000 Welsh homes have solar panels installed, providing their own electricity and sending any excess to the grid. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ European Parliament vice-president Anni Podimata says a new target of supplying 45% of energy in the EU from renewable sources by 2030 would be realistic. She said “Renewables can lead the way out of the economic crisis.” [Windpower Monthly]
¶ The CEO of Electricite de France says he is willing to join Centrica in pulling out of building nuclear reactors in the UK unless the government ensures the projects profitability. [BusinessWeek]
… The UK’s Public Accounts Committee is criticizing Sellafield decommissioning efforts, which are nearly all over budget or behind schedule. [New Civil Engineer]
… With cleanup costs out of control, no way of disposing of waste, and investors pulling out, nuclear policy in the UK is in a shambles. [SNP]
¶ The UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron says that in order to compete successfully, the UK is going to have to go green. [Electric.co.uk]
US:
¶ An Alaskan brewing company has cut costs by using its spent grain as fuel. [Detroit Free Press]
¶ The US DOE has a plan to release radioactive materials for recycling into consumer products. It is drawing some criticism. [Consortium News]
geoharvey 