Cleantech news as it happens — check back for regular updates:

• CVIS, European flagship project for Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure Systems, today co-organises the first on-road demonstrations of core technologies and applications developed for Europe’s universal platform for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and services;
• The EUREKA ITEA software Cluster ANSO project makes possible the seamless integration of domestic networked multimedia, home control and communications devices, providing universal access to computing and entertainment services. As a result, intelligent sensors, actuators, wireless networks and terminal devices will blend into our daily living environments;
• The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a tool together with Rapal Oy that can be used to determine the environmental load caused by various premise solutions. The calculator helps to set objectives and monitor results simultaneously with respect to both finance and environmental impacts, and supports property management that is in accordance with sustainable development;
• New research from Frost & Sullivan finds that increased competition and the global economic crisis have cast clouds upon the Western European solar energy market. Falling polysilicon and solar module prices have the potential to cement China’s role as a solar manufacturing hub;
• Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today announced the 16 members of the new Third Sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development;
• Sanipost, which has been introduced to a number of shopping centres in the UK, is a free-standing environmentally friendly unit which is battery operated and offers a convenient hand-cleaning service to the public, without any need for water or paper towels;
• Deutsche Bahn has launched a nationwide environment campaign that includes the planting of 4,000 trees in the Thuringian Forest;
• “Innovating for the upturn” in the Scottish economy is the focus for politicians and Scottish business leaders gathering at Holyrood next month for the fifth annual Business in the Parliament conference.

• Green technology investors seek safer havens in 2011
• New US consortium plans $1.4bn in cleantech investments
• What does 2011 hold for China, US?
• World Economic Forum: Cleantech rules
• Virtual design speeds green reality
• Opinion: Darling’s green bank idea is laughably small
• Some guys and Holy Grails: 5 rules for spotting ‘cleantech porn’
• Despite some ‘green shoots,’ cleantech VCs see trouble ahead
• Cleantech Connect Awards recognise fast-growing innovators
• Irish cleantech firms seek opportunities in Silicon Valley