wind energy
What will be one of the largest land-based wind farms in Sweden has received a financial jump-start with an investment of around $172 million. Skanska Infrastructure Development, wind farm developer O2 and Jämtkraft are making a joint investment of around SEK 1.1 billion in the project, with Skanska holding
innovation
Small businesses and individuals who are leading the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy can now enter the Zayed Future Energy Prize competition, which recognizes innovation, leadership, long-term vision and impact in renewable energy and sustainability. The 2012 competition, which is now open to entries, features two new categories: the
analytics
Utilities and data center operators have a new analytics tool available to help them make sense of the massive volumes of data being generated by a smarter, increasingly networked power grid. Midas Medici Group Holdings’ new UtiliPoint Analytics is designed to advance smart-grid applications, smart meter data management and data
energy
S&C Electric Company is expanding its UK-based Power Systems Services operation to meet the needs of Europe’s evolving and increasingly complex electricity grids. The expansion is needed to help its customers manage “the biggest changes in power delivery systems in over a century,” said Andrew Jones, managing
energy efficiency
Better control of power supplies and motors could help save significant amounts of energy in places like data centers, and Freescale Semiconductor says it’s come up with just the solution: a family of next-generation digital signal controllers, or DSCs. Even small improvements in the efficiency of power supplies, motors
aviation
A one-of-a-kind airplane with a hybrid electric drive designed to reduce fuel consumption is making its public debut this week at the Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011. The two-seat motor glider had a successful maiden flight on June 8 in Vienna. Developed by Siemens, Diamond Aircraft and EADS, the
energy efficiency
Nearly half of British homeowners are throwing away at least $160 (£100) in wasted energy payments every year because their houses aren’t adequately insulated. The latest figures from the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that only 57% of Britain’s lofts have been properly
electric cars
Starting early next year, drivers of electric cars in Québec will be able to stay charged up through Canada’s first public charging network for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The first charging stations in “The Electric Circuit” are expected to be operational in early 2012. Stations will be located at
solar energy
A 2.5-megawatt solar carport is the latest advance in reinsurance giant Munich Re’s quest to make its worldwide operations carbon-neutral by 2012. San Jose-based SunPower will design and build the solar panel system that will go onto a carport structure at Munich Re’s facility in Plainsboro, New
smart buildings
The spectre of skyrocketing energy prices is driving “record levels” of projects to improve building efficiency around the globe, a new survey finds. The fifth annual global Energy Efficiency Indicator survey — conducted by Johnson Controls’ Institute for Building Efficiency, the International Facility Management Association and the Urban Land Institute — questioned
M2M
A new offering from Qualcomm Atheros Inc. targets companies working to deploy machine-to-machine (M2M) communications in the smart-grid and building automation markets. The AF4100 Wi-Fi system-in-package module is designed to enable long-range transmission while minimizing energy consumption. It’s Qualcomm Atheros’ latest addition to its “Internet of Everything” product portfolio.
photovoltaics
A technology that combines solar energy generation with smart-grid communications has won the top title in two categories of TechAmerica Foundation’s American Technology Awards. New Jersey-based Petra Solar’s SunWave system is a smart-grid-enabled photovoltaic module that can be mounted directly onto utility distribution and streetlight poles to deliver
