Archive

  • Thinking globally, investing locally

    16 June 2011

    M&A in the renewables sector is hotting up – but investors are cautious, crave policy certainty and, to a large degree, are staying close to home, says KPMG's Andy Cox

  • US ethanol tax break survives repeal effort

    16 June 2011

    Tax credits for ethanol production remain on the US statute books, after an effort by Senate Republicans to repeal the support mechanism failed.

  • Sustainability rating standard needed to 'avoid next BP' – Ceres, Tellus

    16 June 2011

    Investor coalition Ceres and the Tellus Institute have launched an initiative to develop a standardised corporate sustainability ratings – with the aim of "avoiding the next BP disaster".

  • Leading companies call for deeper EU carbon cuts

    16 June 2011

    Companies with a combined turnover of more than €1 trillion ($1.4 trillion) – greater than the collective GDP of Poland, Sweden and Austria – have called for the EU to deepen its 2020 emission reduction targets.

  • Google invests $280m in solar loans for homes, Suntech promises finance

    16 June 2011

    Google has invested $280 million to set up a residential solar fund with installer SolarCity, which leases systems to households that want to avoid the upfront costs of buying and installing their own solar panels.

  • Gas prices dent prospects of US nuclear build

    14 June 2011

    Low natural gas prices have thwarted investment in nuclear generators in the US and federal loan guarantees will not help nuclear power reach parity, experts said.

  • Sustainability reporting on rise in China

    14 June 2011

    More Chinese companies are producing sustainability reports, according to standard-setter the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), driven largely by regulation and stock exchange listing requirements.

  • Taking the carbon markets to Africa

    14 June 2011

    There is no shortage of demand for African carbon credits – but drumming up supply remains challenging. Mark Nicholls reports on efforts to bring carbon finance to the continent

  • Italy's nuclear defeat boosts renewables hope

    14 June 2011

    Italians have voted against rebooting nuclear power generation, thwarting prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's nuclear ambitions and signalling a potential shift toward renewable energy.

  • Wind energy to avoid €24bn of fuel costs in 2015, industry says

    14 June 2011

    Wind power will save €23.7 billion ($34.2 billion) that would otherwise be spent on coal, gas and oil in 2015, according to figures from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).