May 15 Energy News

Science and Technology:

¶   Enerkem, a waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals company, is launching a new research project with the Government of Canada, to develop new catalytic processes to convert waste into biofuels that are drop-in replacements for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. [Canada NewsWire]

World:

¶   Eurelectric, whose members are national electric trade associations and affiliates are such organizations as IBM and Siemens, has urged European policy makers to set 2030 carbon targets as soon as possible, with warnings about the results of failure to do so. [Commodities Now]

¶   A report from the governments of Scotland and the UK details the potential for renewable energy in the Scottish Islands. The report indicates the islands can contribute a large amount of power by 2020, and will get thousands of jobs in the process. [The Orcadian]

¶   A study by Siemens concluded that if European renewable installations are built at the sites offering  the highest power yields, some €45 billion of investment can be saved by 2030. [WebWire]

¶   A Berlin renewable energy co-operative group wants to take control of the city’s electricity grid to promote renewable energy. They accuse Vattenfall, the current operator, of failing to seek alternatives to fossil fuels. [Deutsche Welle]

¶   Kuwait is preparing for its first deficit, which could come as soon as 2017.  The country is looking at a switch from oil to renewables. [Green Prophet]

¶   Sixty top Indian scientists have signed a letter asking for a thorough inspection of the Kudankulam nuclear plant before it goes into operation. The plant was found to have been built with substandard components. [Times of India]

¶   A report from Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority says the geologic fault lying directly under a reactor at the Tsuruga nuclear power plant is active. Government regulations say a reactor may not operate if it sits on an active fault, so it is likely it will be decommissioned. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶   According to the analysis released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 32 US states cut their carbon dioxide emissions during the last decade, while 18 increased them. [RenewablesBiz]

¶   Georgia Power has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Rollcast Energy to boost its biomass power capacity by 53.5MW. Under the agreement, the owner of the plant will retain all Renewable Energy Credits. [Energy Business Review]

¶   SolarCity and Forest City Communities announced last week the start of a project providing solar energy for 6,500 military homes at the Marine Corps Base and the Navy Region in Hawaii, located in the Ohana Military Communities. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has repeatedly pushed back the date for a decision on whether to restart the San Onofre nuclear plant. Now, the head of the agency says it will not come until late June at the earliest. [Los Angeles Times]