News
Onyx to purchase 25% stake in China’s Optimum Solar
US cleantech company Onyx has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire 25 per cent of Chinese company Optimum Solar. Financial terms of the purchase will be settled upon completion of Onyx’s due diligence review of Optimum’s existing operations and future valuations. Read more
Go-ahead for Chinese 198MW offshore project
South China's Guangdong province will construct a 198MW offshore wind farm in 2012 which should be connected to the grid in 2014. The project, located in waters off the Guishan district of Zhuhai city, will be the first offshore wind farm in the province. It will be built with a total investment of CNY 4.45 billion ($704.8 million), principally from China Southern Power Grid Comprehensive Energy and Guangdong Electric Power. Turbines will be supplied through public tender. Read more
China's largest electric car charging station opens in Beijing
China's largest electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery swapping station has been put into operation in Beijing. Gaoantun charging station, located in the eastern Beijing district of Chaoyang, has been installed with more than 10 types of EV charging or battery swapping machines, covering all charging modes that are available in China. The station can charge up to eight vehicles simultaneously and it takes only four to six minutes to swap the battery of an EV. Read more
Mining firm held responsible for contamination of south China river
A mining firm has been held responsible for discharging waste, contaminating the Longjiang River in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Supervised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the regional government, authorities in Hechi City, home to the polluted section of the river, have verified that the cadmium pollutants were discharged by the Guangxi Jinhe Mining Co. Ltd. The city government has not yet announced penalty measures. Read more
China moves to lower carbon emissions
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help China set up a pilot provincial emissions trading system that could pave the way for a national scheme and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the country. ADB is providing a US$ 750,000 equivalent grant to lay the groundwork for a cap-and-trade based emission trading system (ETS) in Tianjin municipal area which could begin operations as early as 2013. ADB will help design the platform, including the trading rules and regulatory framework, as well as supporting the commissioning of the trading platform. Read more
China’s CIC Buys 8.68% Stake in U.K.’s Thames Water Utilities
China Investment Corp., the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, said it bought an 8.68 percent stake in Thames Water Utilities Ltd., the biggest U.K. water and sewerage company. CIC is also increasing its foreign acquisitions. The fund will buy 25 percent of former South African politician Cyril Ramaphosa’s Shanduka Group for 2 billion rand ($252 million). It also agreed to tie up with Singapore’s Global Logistic Properties Ltd. to buy 15 warehouses in Japan. Read more
China Sets New Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals
In its newest "12th Five-year Plan on Greenhouse Emission Control (guofa [2011] No. 41)," China has set its new goals of reducing carbon emissions in the next five years and called for pilot programs that aim to promote a low-carbon economy. The newly released Plan aims to reduce China’s carbon intensity – the amount of carbon emitted per unit of GDP – by 17 percent by 2015, compared with 2010 levels. Energy consumption intensity by GDP will also be reduced by 16 percent during the same period. Read more
China's drive for 'green' cars hits roadblocks
Foreign and domestic car makers are struggling to sell environmentally friendly vehicles in China, the world's largest auto market, even as Beijing pumps billions into clean energy. China wants five million "new energy" vehicles on the streets by 2020 to ease chronic pollution and reduce reliance on oil imports, but high prices, lack of infrastructure and consumer reluctance are creating major roadblocks. Read more
Powerway Investing in South Africa
Powerway, the biggest mounting structure producer for utility scale solar farm and the largest independent (non-module producer) solar farm builder in China announced its plan to invest Ran10M$ for production facilities in South Africa for Powerfit, PowerScrew, and PowerTracker, which are neccessary as mounting structures for utility scale PV power plants. Working in conjunction with the South African government’s BBBEE program,Powerway will set up 6 production bases in towns like Kimberley, De Aar, Upington etc… with co-ownership of the local citizens, this investment will create over 2000 jobs for the local population. Read more
China's pre-fab future: green buildings in blink of an eye
A 30-story green building in Hunan province, China, has become the latest internet sensation after a time lapse video showed it being constructed in just 360 hours. The five-star, prefabricated, T30 Hotel at Dongting Lake, was constructed by 200 builders over 15 days and opens on January 18. Zhang Yue, the Chinese air-conditioning tycoon behind the engineering feat, now intends to duplicate the model across the vast and heavily polluted nation. Read more
