Spending on renewable energy, which surged 16 percent in 2014, will remain strong this year, largely unaffected by the slumping oil prices that have artificially depressed their shares.

For many mining companies, the rallying cry for investigating solar or wind energy options has been that the price of oil and other conventional fuels is too high — and will almost certainly rise over time. Now, though, with oil prices having taken a dramatic nosedive, this argument no longer packs quite the same punch that it once did.

Ormat is a successful developer of geothermal energy projects. Two former employees have brought a lawsuit alleging that Ormat made inaccurate 1603 Cash Grant submissions to obtain grants for projects that should not have qualified for such grants.

Political deadlock over Australia’s clean energy future is prompting companies such as Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Acciona SA to increasingly turn to rival markets for growth.

Europe’s utilities are re-evaluating their business models due to the energy transition. Members of POWER-GEN Europe’s Advisory Board consider how a reliance on fossil fuels is no longer politically desirable, forcing utilities to transform their portfolios to adapt to radical change.

Ongoing growth in renewable energy investment and deployment is creating jobs worldwide — and lots of them. This job growth is helping governments address a fundamental economic problem plaguing developed and developing countries alike. Deploying renewables rather than fossil fuel capacity is also reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental pollution that holds the threat of a sixth great extinction.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chose Sandia National Laboratories as one of five leads in a pilot that will give small, clean-energy companies access to national laboratory expertise and resources. Sandia will receive $2.75 million of DOE’s $20 million investment to launch the voucher pilot for small business assistance and collaborative research.

Here’s a nightmare for you: at night, when you’re asleep and you think things are quiet, there are vampires sucking power out of your house and increasing your electric bill. The fact of the matter is that every plugged in electrical device in your home uses a small amount of standby power -- even if you think these devices are off.

British Columbia-based tidal developer, Yourbrook Energy Systems Ltd., is testing what it calls a prototype of a shallow water tidal-powered generator pump that could one day be used as part of a pumped storage hydroelectric project.
 

According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through June 30, 2013, renewable energy sources (i.e., biofuels, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, solar, and wind) provided 9.81 percent of U.S. energy consumption and 11.82 percent of domestic energy production for the first half of 2013.

Mandatory spending cuts triggered by the March 1st sequester (automatic spending cuts) in the U.S. are being felt across the renewable energy sector sparking fears that reduced federal investment could curtail research, development and commercialization of new renewable energy technologies.

The SEC has finally proposed its rules to allow crowd-funding under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. What do they mean for small-scale investments in renewable energy companies and projects?

Today the Obama administration issued an executive order re-establishing one of the proclamations from the climate change plans it issued this summer: significantly boosting the U.S. federal government's support of renewable energy to supply 20 percent of its energy consumption by 2020.

Technology is catching up with Thomas Edison’s electricity industry, eating away at the utility business model that hasn’t changed much in a century.

Simplifying finance vehicles for renewable energy will lure more investors and lower the costs of capital.

Research reports and study findings related to hydropower for June 2014

South African Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said her department wants to address weaknesses in the process of commissioning renewable-power projects.

A government-appointed panel gave Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott two options to cut emissions more cheaply: either scrap or weaken its main clean energy program.

Political deadlock over Australia’s clean energy future is prompting companies such as Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Acciona SA to increasingly turn to rival markets for growth.

Stocks of clean-energy companies are proving to be better investments than those of companies that produce most of the Western Hemisphere's power, and are outperforming the rest of the stock market as well.

The evidence is found in the New York Stock Exchange Bloomberg Americas Clean Energy Index. Its 141 companies, all based in North and South America, returned 32.62 percent in the past two years. In contrast, the 40 conventional-energy companies in the Standard and Poor's 500 Energy Index returned 1.02 percent over the same period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Clean energy also is beating the rest of the stock market. The Clean Energy Index is up 6.02 percent so far this year. Lagging behind are both the S&P 500 and the Russell 3000 Index, which gained 3.12 percent and 3.86 percent respectively in 2015.

By the time this column is published, oral arguments in the legal challenge to the Clean Power Plan will have already been made. The en banc panel of 10 appeals court judges is not likely to render its decision before the New Year.  No matter the opinion, it will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A trade agreement with China will give European companies the opportunity to compete in the Chinese solar power market, the EU's trade commissioner said.

Rival parties to the conflict in South Sudan are putting military gains ahead of political settlement, a top U.N. official told the Security Council.

Post-employment victimisation and the effects of Jessemy and Onu. The Court of Appeal has recently held that post-employment victimisation is unlawful, overturning the previous decision in Rowstock Ltd & another v Jessemey  and providing he...

Employment Tribunal statistics for the period October to December 2013 have shown a sharp decline in the number of Employment Tribunal claims brought since the fees regime was introduced last Summer. The statistics: in summaryThe latest statistics s...

Since the removal of the default retirement age, there have been surprisingly few cases giving guidance as to when an employee might be lawfully retired.  Some employers have implemented their own ‘Employer Justified Retirement Age’...

Employers have a duty to carry out document checks on individuals before employing them.  The aim of the checks is to ensure that individuals have the legal right to work in the UK.  Correctly carrying out document checks gives employers a...

In a recent case the First-tier Tribunal (Tax) confirmed that a compensation payment that was made to an employee on the termination of their employment was taxable, notwithstanding that the payment related to discrimination and injury to feelings. ...

Imposing changes to terms and conditions of employment is rarely a straightforward exercise.  As well as dealing with issues such as collective and individual consultation, the risk of unfair dismissal and breach of contract claims, and (in som...

? ? ? ?First detail published on employer cost cap and actuarial valuati...

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published an information sheet giving guidance to house builders on the VAT implications of letting unsold houses. The guidance has been published in response to enquiries from house builders who are letting hous...

Evidence from low- and middle-income countries suggests that digital and mobile communication technology can improve management of diseases.

The post Mobile technology can improve access to healthcare in Nigeria – if it’s regulated appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

There may be hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 patients without symptoms silently spreading the virus according to medical professionals in their assessment of one week into the relaxation of lockdown imposed by the federal authorities on Lagos and Ogun states as well as Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The post Fears over COVID-19 patients without symptoms appeared first on Vanguard News.

In the last few weeks, many patients have been denied access to healthcare for fear of the unknown by the healthcare professionals in many hospitals across the country. In Lagos, there have been stories of people resorting to self-help s a result of the development.

The post Our problem with COVID-19 patients without symptoms – Faduyile, NMA President appeared first on Vanguard News.

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has asked officials to ensure timely completion of Citizens Facilitation Centres projects in the provincial capital launched under the Digital Access Initiative of the provincial government.He also directed the high-ups of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information...

Suite aux mesures additionnelles annonc�es par le Chef de...

INTERIM Chairman, Douglas Park, discussed a wide range of issues with the Sunday Newspapers. Please find the complete Q&A below: 1: Douglas, it's been a tumultuous few weeks in Scottish football. After everything that's happened - sitting here now - what are your overriding thoughts and emotions? I have to say I am currently feeling a range of emotions. Pride. Sadness. Frustration. Pride because I am experiencing something very rare and special and that's being the Chairman of Rangers Football Club. Sadness because I'm just a football fan, I've been around Scottish football as a fan, sponsor, shareholder and investor for over 50 years and it's really disappointing to see what's being allowed...

Both West African greats won the lot at Stamford Bridge, but who had the greater influence in West London? ......

The Plateau State Government on Saturday disclosed that most of the cases of COVID-19, which led to the number rising to 15 in state were all imported from outside the state, particularly from Kano and Lagos States. The State Government equally stated that out of the 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State, 7 […]

COVID-19: Most cases were imported from Kano, Lagos – Plateau Health Commissioner decries

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday, refuted claims of tampering with the COVID-19 test result of the state’s index case, Mrs. Susan Idoko Okpe. Ortom explained that only the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, conducts COVID-19 test and not state government, hence he would not have tampered with Mrs. Okpe’s result. The governor […]

COVID-19: ‘I didn’t tamper with Benue index case, Susan Okpe’s test result’ – Gov Ortom

United States President, Donald Trump, has said Vice President Mike Pence’s Press Secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for coronavirus. CNN reports that Miller is now the second White House staff member officially confirmed to have tested positive for the coronavirus this week. One of Trump’s personal valets had tested positive earlier in the week. “She’s […]

Coronavirus: Trump deputy’s aide tests positive

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said he may be forced to lock down the state again, if residents continue to ignore public health guidelines. President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, May 4, eased the five-week lockdown he imposed on Lagos, Ogun and Abuja to check the spread of COVID-19. However, there have been chaos and […]

COVID-19: Gov Sanwo-Olu reveals why another lockdown may be imposed on Lagos

A former Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink, has claimed that the Blues’ 2009 UEFA Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona might have been fixed. Hiddink said that the officiating of the encounter by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo was the worst he has ever seen. Chelsea was denied a spot in the Champions League final after Ovrebo […]

Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final match against Barcelona was fixed – Guus Hiddink alleges

Former President, Barack Obama, has attacked President Donald Trump, describing his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster.” The former President launched the attack in a leaked web call on Friday night with former members of his administration. Yahoo News reports that Obama also urged his former staffers to join him in […]

COVID-19: Obama attacks President Trump’s govt

Can an employer dismiss an employee for being a member of a political party? This is a question on some employers' minds following the recent publication of a list containing the names, addresses and in some cases, occupations of BNP members. Whils...

Details have just been published of the annual uprating of compensation limits for tribunal claims and other amounts payable under employment legislation. The new amounts will apply where the relevant event occurs on or after 1 February 2009. For un...

Statistics for 2009-10 released by the Tribunals Service this week reveal that claims to employment tribunals have dramatically increased this year. Despite an overall drop in 2008-9, when the number of claims was 151,028, claims have soared to 236,...

The Government has today published a consultation on employment tribunal reform.  The consultation floats a wide-range of proposals, going well beyond the measures which were rumoured to be up for consideration. The consultation document inclu...

Statistics for April 2010 to March 2011 released by HM Courts and Tribunals Service yesterday reveal that, although the number of claims has fallen since the same period in 2009-10, the 218,100 claims still represent a 44% increase on the 2008-9 fig...