M. Soundariya Preetha

COIMBATORE: Windmill installations in the district during 2008-09 are slightly more than the previous year, according to K. Kasthurirangaian, vice-chairman of the Indian Wind Power Association.

He told The Hindu here on Tuesday that 212 MW was installed during 2008-09 in this region, which had the Palghat Pass.

This was about 50 MW more than the previous year.

Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that the government would facilitate and provide investor friendly environment to the Chinese companies in Pakistan. He said that the Chinese interest to invest in the hydel and wind power generation projects would help meet countrys future power requirements at affordable prices.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud yesterday sought assistance from Switzerland for strengthening local government bodies and supplying solar panel to meet the demand for power in remote areas.

Mahmud sought the Swiss cooperation for imparting training to the women vice chairmen of the upazila parishads.

The National Electric Power Authority (Nepra) has announced simplification of licencing procedures and a major cut in the licence fee for small scale renewable energy projects.

Non-availability of long-term loans with stable interest rates is one among the main systemic constraints that hinder the development of renewable energy projects in the country.

National Electric Power Authority (Nepra) has announced simplification of license procedures and a major cut in the license fee for small scale renewable energy projects. Private investors intending to set up renewable energy projects with power generation capacity of 500KW would now be required to pay Rs 24,000 while applying for generation licence.

At first glance, a new day seems to be dawning for the overshadowed solar sector in Australia, the world's sunniest continent.

The government is pushing through a carbon trading scheme that will penalize big greenhouse gas emitters; a major piece of renewables legislation is due for approval within months, setting a target of 20 percent green energy by 2020.

Australia has drafted laws that mandate the generation of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020 and the government aims to have the legislation passed within months.

The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target legislation aims to expand the target under an earlier scheme to 45,000 GWh by 2020 from 9,500 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2010.

Japan's subsidies for home solar panels have attracted far fewer applicants than planned, industry data showed on Wednesday, underscoring the likelihood of bold government steps to promote solar power.