I’m just back at my desk after an intensive week at the impressive World Future EnergyThe ability to perform work, mainly kinetic, potential, thermal energy, but also in forms of gravitational, sound, elastic and electromagnetic energy. Summit in Abu Dhabi. Thanks to our friends over at IRENA for hosting REEEPThe Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is a non-profit, specialist change agent aiming to catalyse the market for renewable energy and energy efficiency, with a primary focus on emerging markets and developing countries. on their (well-positioned!) stand. We also took the opportunity to hold a workshop on how Linked Open Data can support Clean Energy development. Don’t know what Linked Open Data is yet? Well, see the article below or here for more.

Anyway, that conference is over, here are some more coming up soon in Johannesburg, Vienna, Berlin, San Diego, London and Miami.

Clean Energy Matchmaking

REEEP is a supporter of the CTI PFAN Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing (AFRICEF-2; 16 Feb, Johannesburg, South Africa). The Forum, which follows a business plan competition, will showcase 10 selected clean and renewable energyRenewable energy is power generated from infinite sources, such as wind or solar power. Conventional energy is generated from finite sources, such as natural gas or fossil oil. projects from around Africa who will present their business plans at the Forum. The projects were selected for their commercial viability and environmental benefits from over 85 project proposals and have received intensive coaching from CTI PFAN professional advisors.

For investors, AFRICEF-2 is a great opportunity to access a select group of clean energy projects with high profit potential. There is no charge for participation.

Supporting the European Market

Energy markets are facing uncertain times, and according to Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes, President of the European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF), renewablesRenewable energy is power generated from infinite sources, such as wind or solar power. Conventional energy is generated from finite sources, such as natural gas or fossil oil. are the only available sustainable option. Providing future oriented growth, hundreds of thousands of jobs and stabilizing prices, they will become the main energy sources in Europe. They are already “the main source of newly installed powerUseful energy can be mechanical energy, for example powering a fan. capacity in Europe”. However, more needs to be done to support further growth, including “well-designed national support schemes and a stable and reliable support framework in the Member States and in Europe as a whole”. Hinrichs-Rahlwes will provide a presentation on “The Role of Renewables in the European Energy Market” at the 3rd Annual Renewable Energy Finance & Infrastructure Summit, 22-23 Feb 2012, Vienna, Austria.

Germany replacing nuclear with renewables?

Getting the necessary development in place to reach Germany’s 2020 renewables target relies on huge capital injections, such as German energy giant RWE‘s planned €5bn investment into renewable energy projects, including wind powerWind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. By 2010, a single wind turbine can produce several MW of electric power. and biomassEnergy resources derived from organic matter. These include wood, agricultural waste and other living-cell material that can be burned to produce heat energy. They also include algae, sewage and other organic substances that may be used to make energy through chemical processes.
Biomass, a ..., over the next four years in preparation for Germany’s nuclear shutdown (more on that here). Assessing the needs of the financial community and working closely with them in underpinning how the market will develop is critical in getting your project off the ground. Join the Renewable Energy Finance Forum – Germany in Berlin on 28-29 Feb to hear a leading faculty of financial speakers presenting on capital flows in the industry.

All sunny in California

The California Energy Commission‘s New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP), a $400 million program, offers incentives to encourage solar installations, with high levels of energy efficiencyUsing less energy/electricity to perform the same function. Programs designed to use electricity more efficiently - doing the same with less., in the residential new construction market for investor-owned electric utility service areas. The goal of the NSHP is to install 400 MW of capacity by 2016.

To find out more about how venture capital investors put solar on top as the RE sector that received the most dollars globally in 2011, attend Solar Finance & Investment, 27 February, in San Diego, USA.

European renewables post-2020

“The Commission has said it will produce a post-2020 renewables strategy in the first half of 2012″ according to Philip Lowe, Director General, Energy at the European Commission on ‘ClimateClimate is typically defined as the average weather (or more rigorously a statistical description of the average in terms of the mean and variability) over a period of time, usually 30 years. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate ... Answers’. Philip Lowe explains that the Renewables Directive is essential for promoting renewables as part of the future global energy mix, which requires increased national government support. Lowe will present a keynote address on how European energy policies and the European Commission’s post-2020 renewables strategy are impacting the financing and development of renewable projects at the Clean Energy Finance and Development conference in London, 12-14 March 2012. They’re offering Friends of REEEP a 10% discount.

Sold! to the company with the wind farmsA group of wind turbines interconnected to a common power provider system through a system of transformers, distribution lines, and (usually) one substation. Operation, control, and maintenance functions are often centralized through a network of computerized monitoring systems, supplemented by ...…

The renewable energy landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean has changed dramatically over the past 12 months. The recent wind energyWind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. By 2010, a single wind turbine can produce several MW of electric power. auctions have proven to the region that renewables can rival fossil fuelsConventional energy from fossil sources, such as natural gas and oil. This type of energy contributes to climate change and because of its finite nature it is not a permanent resource. (see here for further details on the winners of the auction). Solar and bioenergyEnergy from sustainable sources such as forests and agriculture (like wood and energy crops), but also manure and other biodegradable wastes. Includes biogas, biofuels and solid biomass. markets are also hot right now, with both forecasting very ambitious plans to develop projects at scale. Join over 200 senior level financiers and developers at the 2nd Renewable Energy Finance Forum – Latin America & Caribbean (24-25 April, Miami, USA) to discuss the enormous potential for your industry moving forward.

More on clean energy events in two weeks time.