Renewable energy prize opens $500,000 award in the high school category

The 2013 edition of the Zayed Future Energy Prize for renewable energy and sustainability will for the first time offer a special prize for high schools starting to engage in the sustainability business.The prize, put up in 2008, has been awarded annually to large corporations, individuals, small businesses and nongovernment organizations that have displayed evident effort in advancing renewable energy and sustainable technologies.

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Brunei envisions energy consumption cuts by adding R.E. to the mix

Brunei energy minister Mohammad Yasmin bin Umar said the country would cut energy consumption by 45 percent by 2035 through balancing its energy mix with fossil fuels and renewable sources, apart from setting up a funding scheme for energy efficiency projects.

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Taiwan lays broad outlines for low-carbon plans

Taiwan could save as much as 60 billion New Taiwan dollars ($2 billion) annually on power generation by replacing regular street lamps with energy-saving alternatives, according to Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration minister Stephen Shu-hung Shen.

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Malaysia’s first ‘green’ shopping center now open

Setia City Mall, Malaysia’s first “green” shopping center was officially opened by Sultan of Selangor Sharafuddin Idris Shah on June 23. The shopping center, located at Setia Alam, Shah Alam in Selangor state in Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast can harvest rainwater to water the building’s landscaping. There is also a green car park with bays where electric cars can recharge batteries.

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Asia shift: R.E. investments look beyond U.S., E.U.

Venture capital firms and other investors are racking up investments in renewable energy projects in Asia as government incentives, the rising demand for electricity, and the region’s energy potential sweeten the promise of renewables while Europe and the United States experience problems. China and India continue to be the leading destinations for renewable energy investors.

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Retailers launch month-long online campaign to promote ‘green’ products

Over 50 retailers in Singapore are running a monthlong event which aims to bring “green,” environment friendly and sustainable shopping to the mainstream – online. The Green Singapore Sale started last week and will run until July 22, offering deals and discounts on “green” products and services.

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Seoul to build solar facilities in 1,000 schools

The Seoul municipal government and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education signed up for a project that will develop solar power facilities in about 1,000 schools in the South Korean capital. According to a report from The Korea Times, the city will first install solar power panels in 200 schools in the area within this year based on the agreement.

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Welspun to invest $1 billion in two wind projects in India

Welspun Energy Ltd., an independent Indian electricity producer, said it will invest $1 billion to develop two wind energy projects in the Indian state of Karnataka by 2016. Welspun Energy is a subsidiary of the $3.5 billion Welspun Group, a steel company.

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Kyocera developing solar power projects for the Maldives

Kyocera Corporation will install at least 675 kilowatts of solar power generating systems as part of a Japanese government funded project to promote the utilization of solar energy in the Maldives. The Project for Clean Energy Promotion in Male seeks to promote and develop solar energy in the Maldives and undertake adaption measures against climate change.

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Italy backs 48-megawatt wind power project in the Philippines

The first phase of a 48-megawatt wind power project in the Philippines will begin construction this month after the Italian government signed a memorandum of agreement with local project developers. The $44 million first phase will involve the installation of 16 MW of wind power. The project could be among the largest renewable energy undertakings in the Philippines.

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