Solar Energy

I love Japan, but I have to say its government has dragged its feet on renewable energy. But there are signs of a big turnaround on the issue in the world’s third largest economy, which would be huge. Despite worries about the impact of planned phasing out of solar subsidies, there are lots of good […]

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Trump’s China Tariffs on Solar backfire; American Natural Gas hurt, as US PV sales Soar

Juan Cole

(Informed Comment) – President Donald Trump’s 30% tariff on Chinese-made solar panels turns out not to have had as severe an impact on the industry as had been feared. Trump was attempting to slow renewables growth in favor of Big Carbon–natural gas and coal, but he failed spectacularly. As it turns out, the Chinese are […]

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India plans 58 GW of new Solar Energy by 2022, as Trump unleashes Dirty Coal

Juan Cole

India has achieved 70 gigawatts of installed renewable capacity, and has another 40 gigs under construction or already bid on. That would take it to 110 gigs of mainly wind and solar. New Delhi had set a goal of 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2022, and clearly will reach it early, though 80 gigs […]

Solar Energy

As UK hits 50% Renewables some Days, will a Huge new Solar Farm Change Everything?

The Conversation

By Alastair Buckley | – Sheffield (The Conversation) – The largest solar power plant ever proposed in the UK will be reviewed by the secretary of state within the next six months. Cleve Hill solar farm will occupy the north coast of Kent and, if built, provide up to 350MW (megawatts) of generating capacity. The […]

Solar Energy

Latin America’s largest solar park turns Mexican desert green

Yussel Gonzalez

Viesca (Mexico) (AFP) – Driving through the endless dunes and cacti of the Chihuahuan desert in northern Mexico, a shimmering blue field suddenly appears on the horizon — not a mirage, but the largest solar park in Latin America. This silent stretch of sand in the state of Coahuila is the spot the Italian energy […]

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“The Light of a Thousand Suns:” India has 5 of World’s largest Solar Farms, Plans Huger

Juan Cole

Once upon a time, if it was big and it was a technological advance, I’d expect to hear it was happening in the United States. As Trump flushes the toilet on true American greatness (its intellectual capital, ability to attract talent from around the world, its open-mindedness and freedom for innovation, its commitment to the […]

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Dear Trump: The Hugest Solar Plant in the New World is in Mexico, not the US

Juan Cole

Mexico wants to produce 43% of its electricity from renewables by 2024, in only 6 years. It has 58 new power plants planned, the majority of them solar and the rest wind. Toward that end, in December it opened the Vilanueva solar farm in the desert, with 2.3 million solar panels, generating enough just to […]

Green Energy

Solar is taking over the World and China is taking over Solar

contributors

By Frédéric Simon | EURACTIV.com | – – Solar power dominated a global ranking of new renewable energy investments “like never before” last year, with China accounting for more than half of the world’s new capacity, the UN said on Thursday (5 April). Investments in Europe, on the other hand, recorded a massive drop. The […]

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Why Electric SUVs will save the American Car Companies, not China Tariffs

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Joann Muller at Forbes, in a piece on Ford Motor Company’s plans vastly to expand its electric and hybrid offerings, puts her finger on something absolutely crucial. Ford and other American car companies really, really need electric sport utility vehicles in order to get through the […]