Tag Archives: alternative
Latin America Clean Energy Investments Surged 127% Higher In 2012
April 30, 2013 Some $4.6 billion of clean energy investments were made in Latin America (excluding Brazil) in 2012, a whopping 127% increase from 2011, according to figures released in advance of the third annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum – Latin America & Caribbean (REFF-LAC), which is being held in Miami this week. In sharp contrast to the strong gain in Latin America clean energy investments, new clean energy investments fell 11% year over year globally, from $302.32 billion in 2011 to $268.69 billion, according to the latest report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). The global decrease was the first fall in renewable energy financing recorded by BNEF since it began collecting data. Latin America: A Clean Energy Investment Bright Spot In 2012 Latin America was a bright spot amid an overall decline in global renewable energy financing in 2012. Four countries experienced triple-digit clean energy investment growth: Mexico’s total new financial investments in clean energy for 2012 reached $1.9 billion, up 595% year over year; New financial investments in clean energy totaled $1 billion, up 313% from $246 million in 2011; Uruguay’s total new investments in clean energy reached $105 million, a 285% year-over-year increase; Total clean energy investments in Peru reached $643 million, a 176% increase from $233 million in 2011. By dollar amount, Brazil actually led the Latin America & Caribbean region when it came to total clean energy investments. Some $5.17 billion of capital was invested in clean energy in South America’s largest nation in 2012, according to BNEF. Mexico ($1.998 billion) and Chile ($1.018 billion) ranked second and third, respectively. Turning to 2012, LatAm-Caribbean investments in clean energy sectors, biomass and waste attracted the most capital ($822.34 million), biofuels followed ($539.47 million), and geothermal ranked third ($76.69 million), BNEF found. “The increased investments in non-Brazil Latin America was driven by increased activity by the Inter-American Development Bank,” Maria Gabriela da Rocha Oliveira, BNEF’s head of Latin America Research and Analysis, was quoted in a press release. “Additionally, European players, both project developers and manufacturers, have become more active in the region given grim conditions at home.” Added Carlos St. James, president of the Latin American & Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy (LAC-CORE) and CEO of VOLA Investments LLC: “As investments in clean energy declined in 2012 due to the ongoing financial crisis, the sector was actually growing in most of Latin America. This is a huge boon for clean energy finance and the region, which we expect to continue to grow. The most exciting trend is that this has moved beyond Brazil, with other countries now seeing amazing growth and potential.” Read more at http://cleantechnica…8VV0xjeBROwJ.99 Continue reading
Biodiesel Producer REG Closes Strongest First Quarter Ever
Taylor Scott International Continue reading
Enzyme Research Could Lead to Less Expensive Biofuels
New research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has discovered two approaches in which enzymes could break down cell walls more quickly and lead to less expensive biofuels for the transportation industry. Apr 30, 2013 Five NREL scientists and one scientist from the Weizmann Institute of Israel conducted research that could lead to enzymes helping create less expensive biofuel . Their paper, “Fungal Cellulases and Complexed Cellulosomal Enzymes Exhibit Synergistic Mechanisms in Cellulose Deconstruction”, has been published in Energy and Environmental Science. In order to reach the goal of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which involves the U.S. producing 36 billion gallons of biofuel each year by 2022, the high cost of enzyme treatment needs to be properly addressed. Enzyme treatment is a critical step in transforming biomass, such as trees and switchgrass, into liquid fuel. Microorganisms secrete the enzymes that naturally degrade plant cell walls and harvesting their sugars. NREL scientists discovered that two enzyme paradigms, free and complex enzymes, can be used together to degrade biomass at the nanometer scale and enhances catalytic performance. By combining the two enzyme systems, the breakdown of cell walls becomes a faster and more efficient process, which could then make biofuel production a less expensive and time-consuming process, as well. http://eponline.com/ Continue reading
