Science and Technology:
¶ A new process for the creation of gasoline-like fuels from cellulosic plant waste materials has been developed by researchers from UC Davis. Cellulosic plant waste is in very plentiful supply. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Sumitomo Corp. has developed and installed the world’s first large-scale power storage system which utilizes used batteries collected from electric vehicles. The prototype for a grid-scale storage system will begin operating in February 2014. [Today’s Energy Solutions]
World:
¶ India has pledged to build the world’s most powerful solar plant, with a nominal capacity of 4,000 MW. The ‘ultra mega’ project will be more than ten times larger than any other solar project built so far. [Scientific American]
¶ 2014 looks like it will be an even better year for electric vehicles than 2013. IHS Automotive predicts that global electric vehicle production will increase by 67% in 2014, while global production for vehicles overall is forecast to increase by only 3.6%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The oil sands of Athabasca are responsible for much higher levels of hazardous pollution and emissions than previously thought, according to a new report from University of Toronto Scarborough. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Mainstream Renewable Power has landed environmental approval for a 94-turbine wind farm named Sarco in northern Chile. The scheme features 2.5MW turbine hardware with 110-metre towers, and could generate around 740 GWh per annum. [reNews]
¶ Solar power has been given lift-off at the Bombardier wing-assembly plant in Belfast after the company was granted planning permission to install a 3.8 MW PV array on the factory roof. [pv magazine]
¶ Carpet tile giant Interface has further boosted its green credentials this week, confirming that it is now operating a factory in the Netherlands using solely renewable energy. [Business Green]
¶ With wind power technology gaining increased popularity and institutional support from across the world, the wind turbine towers market is expected to increase from $12.1 billion in 2013 to $19.3 billion by 2020, according to GlobalData. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ TEPCO has revised the readings on the radioactivity levels at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant well to 5 million becquerels of strontium per liter – both a record, and nearly five times higher than the original reading of 900,000 becquerels per liter. [RT]
¶ Tokyo, one of the largest and most energy-guzzling cities in the world, is set to hold elections for a new governor Feb. 9. Analysts say it could prove crucial in stopping the Japanese government from restarting some nuclear reactors this year. [Independent European Daily Express]
US:
¶ A Seattle wind company has gotten the go-ahead to develop plans for a 30-megawatt offshore wind pilot project off of Oregon’s Coos Bay, officials announced this week. The project, developed by Principle Power, would be about 15 miles off the coast of Oregon. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Solar farming, putting solar power onto an electric grid for a profit, is a relatively new practice in North Carolina. It is driven in part by large tax incentives, the availability of low-cost land and small municipalities hungry for a boost in tax revenue. [Laurinburg Exchange]
¶ A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) says the renewable energy industry is responsible for 615,000 jobs in the United States. Many Americans, from all political stripes, want to see more of it. [Natural Resources Defense Council]
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