World:
¶ Indian and Japanese scientists have found that Indian citizens living downstream from an enormous uranium mining and processing complex are routinely exposed to exceptionally high levels of radiation. The Indian government insists that any illnesses are caused by poverty, not radiation. [Center for Public Integrity]
Villagers drink, bathe and wash themselves in the waters found to have alpha radiation 192% higher than safe limits set by the WHO. Ashish Birulee
¶ Welpsun Renewables announced that it has commissioned a 126-MW wind energy project in the Pratapgarh district of the western Indian state of Rajasthan. The project is expected to generate 290 million kWh electricity every year. It brings Welspun’s total renewable capacity in India to 700 MW. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Continental European power prices fell 9.4% per MWh in November as exceptional wind power output combined with mild temperatures and unexceptional demand, according to a data analysis released by Platts, a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information. [Your Renewable News]
¶ Oslo-listed seismic vessel operator Dolphin Group has announced today that it will file for bankruptcy. The company’s chairman and CEO both blamed the deterioration in the oil service market, the unpredictability of the oil prices, and subsequent spending cuts of the company’s customers [Splash 247]
Dolphin’s Polar Duke
¶ The UK Government’s energy policy has described as potentially illegal in the wake of the COP21 deal. David Cameron was among leaders to praise the deal, heralding it as a “huge step forward in helping to secure the future of our planet”. And now the Tories are coming under fire for cutting green subsidies. [Manx Radio]
¶ EDF EN Canada, a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, has commissioned the 74-MW Mont-Rothery wind farm in Quebec. The project is located in the Regional County Municipalities of La Haute-Gaspésie and La Côte-de-Gaspé and has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Hydro Quebec Distribution. [reNews]
EDF EN’s La Mitis wind farm in Quebec (EDF EN Canada)
¶ Competition from natural gas and environmental regulations have crippled the coal industry in most of the developed world, bankrupting companies in the US and Europe. But in the Philippines and some other developing countries, coal is seen as essential for prosperity. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]
¶ After a summer of looming power shortages due to drought, Taipower has suggested that Taiwan speed up the installation of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has been researching floating solar power plants as one possibility to reach this goal. [Taipei Times]
US:
¶ A $126 million wind farm is nearing completion in southeast Utah and will begin generating power within weeks. So far, 23 out of 27 giant wind turbines of the Latigo Wind Farm Project have been installed along the foothills of the Abajo Mountains, northwest of Monticello and about 65 miles from Cortez. [Cortez Journal]
So far, 23 out of 27 giant wind turbines have been installed. Sam Green/The Journal
¶ Availon, a leading multi-brand independent service provider for wind turbines, announced that the company kept the US wind farms it has under contract at historical levels of availability. The most challenging site is running at above 98.4% availability, and other wind farms between 99.4 % and 99.8%. [Your Renewable News]
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