Iraq to build solar and wind energy in response to power shortages

Oil-rich Iraq plans to spend as much as $1.6 billion on solar and wind energy projects over the next three years to address the country’s power shortage. According to Reuters, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity has allocated an initial $200 million from next year’s budget to add 50 megawatts to the country’s power grid next year. Iraq has also sent invitations to 25 companies to build solar and wind power plants...

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South Korea doubles 2013 emissions reduction target

South Korea doubled its carbon emissions reduction target for next year in line with the preparations for the country’s nationwide emissions trading scheme in 2015. Asia’s fourth largest economy now plans to cut emissions by 17.5 million tons, instead of the 8 million tons previously marked, reported Channel NewsAsia. The revised target would require about 377 businesses in the industrial and power sectors...

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Solar energy and the future of Bangladesh

The energy gap is one of the largest bottlenecks for economic growth in Bangladesh. Studies indicate that the country loses at least 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product as a result of power shortages. The energy infrastructure in Bangladesh is quite small and insufficient to support the nation’s power demand. Thus the country has one of the lowest energy consumption rates per capita in the world. For instance, its power facilities could only provide about 4,000...

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Vietnam’s renewable energy resources waiting to be tapped – experts

Vietnam has a huge basin of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydropower – all capable of supplying a large part of the country’s energy requirements. Nguyen Duc Cuong, head of the country’s Renewable Energy and Clean Development Mechanisms Center, is calling for more exploration into the economic, social and environmental advantages of exploiting and using renewable in the country, according to the Viet Nam News.

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Iran seeking renewable energy investments

Iran, whose economy is currently under sanctions being imposed by the United States and the European Union over its controversial nuclear scheme, is seeking foreign investment to boost its renewable energy sector. Energy Minister Majid Namjoo said there is a need for greater cooperation between developed and developing nations to spur growth of the sector, according to a report of Islamic Republic News Agency...

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Feed-in tariff: Updates from Asia

A feed-in tariff policy, where renewable energy producers are guaranteed a set rate for power produced for a period of time, is credited for the rapid deployment of wind and solar power in countries such as Denmark, Germany and Spain. The policy typically includes guaranteed grid access and long-term contracts to buy the electricity produced at a fixed price per kilowatt-hour. A feed-in tariff policy, where renewable energy producers are guaranteed a set rate...

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Michigan State to help India manage its forests with USAID fund

A $1.5 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development is going to be used to help manage India’s forests and reduce the developing nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers at Michigan State University will use the grant, part of an overall $14 million USAID effort to build India’s capacity, to develop online tools for carbon monitoring and measurement...

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Kazakhstan oil and gas sector says renewables will have to wait

Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry said the country will have to wait until alternative sources of energy become competitive economically before the energy industry seriously considers it. In a statement from Kazenergy, an association of oil, gas and energy organizations and companies in Kazakhstan, the group said it was ruling out the adoption of alternative energy methods for now, quoting its chairman Timur...

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Southeast Asia’s largest solar PV plant powers up

The 44-megawatt Sunny Bangchak solar project in Thailand, said to be the largest solar photovoltaic plant in Southeast Asia, is up and running. The solar plant is located at the Bang Pa-In district of Ayutthaya province, 40 kilometers from the capital city of Bangkok. Owned by Bangchak Public Petroleum Company, Sunny Bangchak used silicon photovoltaic panels from Suntech Power Holdings Company. The facility was built...

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Nuclear power plants in Asia in tsunami risk zones

Around 23 nuclear power plants – mostly located in South and Southeast Asia – are located in areas across the globe which are at risk of being hit by a tsunami. In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March of last year and triggered the nuclear accident in Fukushima, there has been considerable concern over preventing similar incidents. Spanish researchers headed a study that took a look...

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