Latest news
Germany: the first EU state to penalize the self-consumption of solar energy
The German government has approved on Wednesday a new solar tax, becoming the first European nation to charge owners of renewable energy plants for their own use of electricity, as part of Merkel’s plan to contain rising power bills. The changes would affect photovoltaics and are now partly being reported as a new retroactive solar tax. The cabinet is expected to officially sign off on the draft law in April before it goes to the Bundestag, which is expected to vote on it in June and could become law on August.
read more... 27/01/2014
Scotland sets a new target to decarbonise power sector by 2030
Scotland established a target to cut carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2030, while pointing out the huge market for offshore wind beyond 2020, with First Minister Alex Salmond criticizing the U.K. government for disregarding such a target.
read more... 24/01/2014
Eolus and Google have signed a new contract for a new wind farm
Google has signed a new agreement to buy all electricity generated from four winds farm in southern Sweden. The project will consist of 29 turbines, having a total capacity of 59 MW, and is likely to be fully operational by 2015. Eolus and Google have announced that planning permission has been granted.
read more... 23/01/2014
Germany plans to curb by a third the renewables subsidies by 2015
Germany’s economy minister envisages curbing the support price paid for electricity from solar and wind power generators by about a third by 2015, according to a recent draft proposal.
read more... 20/01/2014
Belgium to extend life of Tihange 1 nuclear reactor
Belgium has seven nuclear reactors generating about half of its electricity. Electricity production in Belgium was about 78.6 billion kWh (TWh) in 2012, of this 40.3 TWh was from nuclear. Most Belgian electricity is produced by Electrabel, a subsidiary of GDF Suez, which also controls all the nuclear plants. Electrabel owns 50% of Tihange 1 and 89.8% of Tihange 2 and 3.
read more... 14/01/2014