South Africa moving towards renewable energy

South Africa is ready to make its mark in the renewable energy sector. The World Bank has recently granted a $250-million (R1.5- billion) loan through its Clean Technology Fund to South African power utility names Eskom;

the companies’ goal is to help the country to reduce its reliance on coal-based power generation and depend more on renewable energy. Eskom will be developing a wind and solar plant, namely; a 100 megawatt solar power plant in Upington with is in the North Cape Province and also a 100-megwatt wind power project, which is in the Western Cape just north of Cape Town.


These two renewable energy projects will be the largest that have ever been attempted in the entire African continent. Eskom predicts that the construction of the 100-megawatt wind power project will start early in 2012.

Elbrahim Khan from Wesgro, the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency said “These investments are a breath of fresh air and it shows that South Africa is no longer just talking about renewable energy,”

He also added “The good news for South Africa is that there are serious ambitions to get our energy mix right and there are more renewable energy power projects in the pipeline that are to be funded by private investors.”

It is evident that for both the private and public, South Africa is fast becoming a preferred renewable energy investments destination; this is very good news for South Africa’s increasing electricity demands, emerging clean energy sector and the economy.

There are also certain key investment areas in the country; these are the Eastern Cape, Western Cape where investments are predominantly into wind and photovoltaic (PV) solar power and the Northern Cape Province which has been recognised as the best area for concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, this technology uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy onto a small area, this usually takes place with rotating panels.

South Africa certainly has the potential to develop itself into a major player in the clean energy sector. This is clear by the substantial amount of interest that has been shown by investors in recent months.

“We are going for renewable energy in a big way,” Khan said

U.S. passenger's first biofuel flight with United

The first commercial passengers’ biofuel flight flew on Monday with United Airlines Boeing 737-824, powered partly with petroleum-based jet fuel and Honeywell aviation biofuel made from algal-oil.

Flight 1403 from Continental Airlines made history when it landed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport at 1pm CST from Houston.   Jim Reskoske, Honeywell’s vice president and general manager said, “What we have is an evolving product, this is a kind of boutique fuel, priced four times that of regular jet fuel, because it’s not yet widely available.”  He expects this will change as companies secure funding to build plants to produce it on a massive scale.
 
The new environmental “eco-skies” painted Boeing was flown by Continental pilots and the completion of the Continental flight from Houstan, placed parent company United Continental Holdings Inc. in the lead by two days in the competition to launch the first biofuel-power air service in the U.S.

Alaska Airlines has two biofuel-powered passenger flights planned for this week from Seattle, Wash bound for Washington, D.C., and the other for Portland, Ore.   Officials from Alaska Airlines said the 20 percent biofuel blend its planes will use will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent.

Rekoske commented, “Our Green Jet Fuel also offers as much as an 85% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.  We received Defence Department funding from 2006 to 2008 for its initial research to develop military-grade jet fuel from organic waste.” 

President Obama called on the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture and the Navy to each put in $170 million of existing funds to build plants that can make this fuel for the Navy.

Honeywell's Green Jet Fuel has powered 24 commercial and military biofuel test flights so far, including a transatlantic flight on a Honeywell-operated G 450 business aircraft and a supersonic one on a Navy F/A-18 Hornet.

Rekoske said today's flight was the first commercial U.S. one carrying passengers, whom he says United notified in advance about the unique but approved fuel.
In 2000 the aviation sector was responsible for 2 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions.

Italy funds Mozambique's agricultural activities

The Italian government signed a financing agreement with Mozambique worth 16 million euros to enhance the agricultural projects combating poverty in the provinces of Manica and Sofala, in the centre of the country. 

The two governments approved the first operational plan while attending a meeting of the joint commission in Chimoio, the capital of Manica.  The Programme to support Rural Development (PADR) will be carried out in eight districts of the two provinces and will be managed by the Italian Development Cooperation.  (Dondo, Nhamatanda, Chibabava, and Gorongosa in Sofala, and Gondola, Manica, Barue and Sussundenga in Manica)

Marina Karagianis, the spokesperson for the government of Sofala told the Beira newspaper, “Diario de Mocambique” that the programme was one of the themes discussed at a session of the provincial government that ended last Friday. 

The programme’s general objective will be to improve the income and the socio economic condition of the rural population, focussing on the eight districts and will be operational from 2011 until 2013.

According to the newspaper, 500 euros of the 13 million euros under Mozambican management had been set aside for two new passenger vehicles for each district.  The nine vehicles were handed over in the Sofala province and the governor Carvalho Muária said, “The technical assistance to agricultural operators in the family sector would be increasingly dynamic and the noose would be tightened on wildlife smugglers and illegal loggers.”
The program, which has a lifetime of three years, will further strengthen micro, small and medium sized businesses that operate in the agricultural sector.   The program will increase competitiveness and productivity and contribute to the reduction of poverty in rural areas through the sustainable management and exploitation of natural resources. .

Kuwait sets ambitious $112 billion renewable energy goal

The desert nation Kuwait and OPEC’s fifth-biggest oil producer has set an ambition goal to generate 10 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

Kuwait has currently no solar-power plants and will try and use the oil available for export and hopes to expand its generation capacity to support improved home building, manufacturing and tourism in a $112 billion development program.

Kuwait’s aspiring goal exceeds Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates’ 7 percent goal to meet its clean energy target.

Eyad Ali al-Falah, assistant undersecretary for technical services at the Ministry of Electricity and Water said, “Renewable energy is a new subject for Kuwait, that's why there's a lack of information regarding the suitability of renewables for our weather.”  Al-Falah, who coordinates alternative energy for the ministry was speaking in an interview at its headquarters outside Kuwait City. 

According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy for 2011, Kuwait consumed an average of 413,000 barrels of oil a day, about 16 percent of production, during 2010.   This is a 66 percent increase of usage from 2000 and 14 percent production increase.

“Gulf oil producers need to generate more electricity to meet demand that's growing an average of 10% a year,” according to Jarmo Kotilaine, chief economist at national commercial Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“We definitely see solar potential in Kuwait.  While Kuwait hasn’t kick-started renewable energy projects, there’s a lot of peak demand when solar resources are at their best.  Kuwait could then export more fuel and generate higher revenue instead of pumping it into electricity plants,” said Rajit Nanda, chief financial officer for ACWA Power International, a Saudi Arabiabased company that develops electricity and water projects.

The Gambia identified with "the best forest policy"

The Gambia’s Community Forestry Policy has won silver in the 2011 Future Policy Awards as one of the world’s most inspiring and innovative forest policies. 

The tiny West African country, with the support of the FAO and other development partners, has established the first policy and legislation in Africa to facilitate local populations with secure and permanent forest ownership rights.

With over 350 villages managing 12 percent of the country’s forests and a net increase in forest cover of 8.5 percent over the last two decades, The Gambia has strengthened a strong deforestation trend in Africa.
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO’s Assistant Director-General for Forestry said, “The Gambia's experience has shown that the challenge of sustainable forestry can be attained through the government's willingness to empower rural populations.”  The success of The Gambia’s Community Forest Policy proves that even in the world’s poorest countries, with the right policies and legal framework in place, rural populations can benefit economically.”
The Gambia’s Forest Policy is transferring forest tenure from state ownership to management by local communities enabling them to reduce illegal logging and forest fires, slow desertification and benefit from using the forest products.
“It has won thanks to the ‘collective efforts of all well-meaning Gambians’ said Gambia’s Director of Forestry, Abdoulie Sanneh as he praised Gambian communities for taking ownership of their forest parks.  
He continued saying, “We will keep increasing our efforts to raise The Gambia’s flag high in the international community.
Between 2000 and 2004, FAO has facilitated the introduction of economic incentives in the community forestry concept. In 2009 Gambia joined the National Forest Programme Facility hosted by FAO and received help with expanding community forestry areas and enhancing the capacity of stakeholders to derive economic benefits from community forestry. A recent FAO-supported project provided assistance to the revision and popularization of the forest policy.

Renewable energy spurts growth in job creation

The American job market has left many people feeling uncertain and the recorded job losses along with the dreary economic forecast has pushed the focus on renewable energy.

The 2008 law mandates at least 25 percent of all electricity sold in the state by 2025 come from alternative energy, of which half must come from renewable sources like solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal or biomass. The remaining half can be met through other ways, such as energy-efficiency programs, clean coal technology or fuel cells.

While there was an exodus in manufacturing throughout the last decade, growth in the clean energy economy was significant. Even during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the clean economy grew by 2.5 percent annually since 2003.   As of 2010, there are over 105,000 jobs in the clean economy, with 106 businesses in the wind power supply chain business — meaning they make components that go into wind turbines — and 63 businesses in the solar power industry.

Rocky Mountain Institute said, U.S. solar photovoltaic installation increased 64 percent between 2005 and 2010. The institute estimates that the U.S. already has more than 90,000 direct or indirect jobs in the manufacturing and installation of solar panels, with another 85,000 jobs in wind power.

According to Marjorie Kass, MXenergy managing director of marketing, “The focus on renewable and clean energy and sustainability has led to tremendous growth in these industries over the past several years,  all indications are that growth is expected to continue which will mean the need for trained, experienced personnel."

In Ohio clean energy is growing jobs, and much of that growth is the state’s openness and forward-thinking policies towards renewables.

Airlines and biofuels for the future

In the current year the world’s airlines will burn between 210 million and 220 million tons of fuel and generate 650 million tons of carbon emissions in the process.  With rising fuel prices and pressure to reduce fuel emissions the airline industry have recognised the advantages of using more biofuel.

KLM announced earlier this year that it would begin operating more than 200 flights using biofuel.  July, Lufthansa, Finnair and Thomson Airways also launched their bio-fuelled flights.  And in August, Aearomexico flew what it called the first biofuel-powered transcontinental commercial flight.

Airline and aviation executives gathered in Hong Kong for a conference on aviation and the environment in late September, and the response was overwhelming.  The progress towards biofuels has been remarkable, as pointed out by Tony Tyler, the former chief executive of Cathay Pacific.  He said, “I have been amazed at how quickly we moved forward.  Just a few years ago, the concept of using biofuels to help power aircrafts seemed “very pie-in-the-sky and futuristic.  Now biofuels have become a reality.”

Jimmy Samartzis, managing director for global environmental affairs and sustainability at United commented on the U.S. carriers who have made varying commitments to biofuels and said, “A key pillar of the environmental commitment of the combined company is a commitment to alternative fuels.”

While jet fuel is currently the biggest cost for airlines, some believe that using biofuels will help stabilize fuel prices and supply.

Samartzis said, “We face a lot of volatility with fuel pricing because of crude oil volatility, we look at this as a potential way to manage that to some degree.”  Yet like any new technology, biofuels will initially be expensive, raising questions about whether that cost will be passed to the consumer.

“We don’t expect that we will have to face that challenge," said Samartzis. "As far as we can tell … we can get the cost to be competitive with conventional jet fuel.”

Cost issues aside, biofuels have the highest energy density of all fuels currently available. Airlines looking  to become more efficient are taking notice. “ We as a company and an industry have made a commitment to achieving certain fuel efficiency improvements and carbon reduction goals long term," Samartzis said. "In order to achieve those on a collective industry basis, alternative fuels are a key component.”

Biomass power plant in Saskatchewan

The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) plans to construct a $150 million biomass power plant in northern Saskatchewan and will sell the “green” power to SaskPower.

The power plant will run on bark, branches, sawdust, wood chips and other leftovers from the NorSask Forest Products mill. It will generate up to 36 megawatts of renewable, low-emissions power (enough to power 30,000 homes).

The generated power will be sold to SaskPower under a 25 year agreement and will create jobs and economic development for the region.  The construction period is expected to create 300 jobs during its two year construction timeline.

More than 30,000 homes across the province will benefit from environmentally friendly power supplied by the plant.

Ben Voss, CEO of MLTC said, “We are delighted.  We are very excited about his.”   He added that it’s the largest project MLTC has ever undertaken. 

25 permanent jobs will be created to operate the new power plant that will be known as the Meadow Lake Bioenergy Centre. A dozen more jobs and millions in indirect benefits for businesses in the area are expected.

The plant is expected to be in service in early 2014.  Rob Norris, minister responsible for SaskPower said the partnership was very promising. 

This is the first project to come through the First Nations Power Authority, a non-profit, membership-based corporation, which was set up last spring to help First Nations develop power projects.

Voss pointed out that MLTC will arrange financing through bank loans and private partnerships as it has done for other projects.

U.S. and Gambia increase trade investment

The Gambia and the U.S. have moved to increase trade and investment, with the official launch of the Gambia AGOA Resource Centre in the small West African nation, PANA.

The first of its kind centre in The Gambia and was launched by the US Embassy in Banjul in collaboration with The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Resource Centre is geared towards increasing trade and investment-related opportunities between the U.S. and eligible countries in Arica  and will contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth and provide technical assistance to businesses in the country and drive overall development in benefitting African nations. 

The AGOA will further screen export ready companies to provide targeted industry-specific and market regulatory information.  The centre will support arrangements for international tradeshows and will enable both local and international investor visits among others. 

The centre will further work with various public and private sector stakeholders to implement strategic policies meant to promote value-chain development in sectors that have the highest potentials for export.

Attending the opening was Abdou Kolley, the minister for Trade, Employment & Regional Integration alongside Ambassador Pamela Ann White and other senior government and private sector officials.

Malaysia seizes renewable energy prospects

Malaysia is set to see a substantial growth in renewable technologies, including biomass, biogas, mini-hydro and solar, as the nation launches a new tariff system. 

The new target will see a 5.5 percent contribution from renewable energy to the country’s generation mix by 2015.  The country’s high level of pollution is the driving factor for support from the nation to install effective renewable energy targets.

The current situation for renewables is barely noticeable and according to government this is set to change drastically.  The 2009 plan added renewable energy sources to the mixture of oil, gas, coal and hydropower, although renewable capacity excluding hydropower was only 53 MW at the end of 2009.  The next plant implemented from 2006-2010 was more able to reduce the dependency on imported petroleum and targets were set for 300 MW of renewable energy in Peninsular Malaysia and 50 MW in Sabah.  The latest plan effective from 2011-2015 focuses more on energy efficiency, the plan will run cohesively with the national biomass initiative and a further governmental commitment to a 40 percent reduction in carbon intensity.

The plan titled the National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan will aim to draw more energy from renewables. The current energy providers are forced to use more coal in order to meet demands as the diminishing natural gas problem persists. 

On 28 April this year, Malaysia’s House of Representatives passed a Renewable Energy Bill (RE Bill) and a Bill for Sustainable Development Authority (SEDA Bill) and a one percent feed-in tariff (FiT).  The FiT program has biomass, biogas, mini-hydropower and solar energy as current eligible resources.
With renewables looking to spur investments, the country is open to foreign investment in renewable energy projects.

Moringa "miracle" tree growing the health of Limpopo

The impact of late rains and large failures in yields has put significant strain on a small village in Limpopo, who started looking elsewhere for food and what they found was purely a miracle.

The impact of late rains and large failures in yields has put significant strain on a small village in Limpopo, who started looking elsewhere for food and what they found was purely a miracle.

The rural village of Tooseng on the eastern border of Limpopo, South Africa has seen little rainfall during the year and this has put significant strain on a community already dependent on grants and welfare.

In recent years the community started planting Moringa and using the dry powder to sprinkle over their food.  The most incredible discovery was the effect Moringa leaves have on HIV patients.  Patients affected with the virus, showed a visible difference in their immune system after receiving Moringa for seven days.

Moringa contains other vitamins and minerals such as calcium equivalent to four glasses of milk, the vitamin C content of seven oranges, the potassium of three bananas, three times the amount of iron in spinach, four times the amount of vitamin A found in a carrot and twice the amount of protein in milk.

Moringa Oleifera has changed the nourishment of the community and what started out as a subsidiary project, the community is now making a profit from selling the Moringa leaves.

The community aims to sell Moringa to the rest of South Africa and support other villages and communities with similar needs.

A cleantech military future

The military has put its stamp of approval on cleantech and is now increasing its efforts to fund and promote the use of clean power, biofuels and energy efficiency products and services. 

The U.S. government is close to becoming cleantech’s number one customer and is paving the way as a major consumer of green technologies.  The U.S.Defence Department has been testing green technologies to increase its efforts to fund and use cleantech.
The department uses 80 percent of the energy consumed by the federal government and recognised the need to change the military to greener and cleaner fuel.  The Navy has joined forces with the Departments of Energy and Agriculture to help fundbiofuel plants that willtransformfeedstocks into fuels that can be combinedwith or replace existing jet and diesel fuels.
The Navy will focus on energy storage by developing energy storage systems that will provide long-lasting power supply. Both the Navy and the Army aim to become more energy efficient and the Army want to use 25 percent renewable energy for electricity supply by 2025.  John McHugh, the Army Secretary recently said in a press conference that the Army wants to see more solar and wind power installed at its bases. McHugh opined that the recent criticism by project developers over the bureaucratic process for selling the Army green technology could be solved by setting up a task force to simplifythe procurement process.
The largest renewable energy buyer in 2006, the Air Force has solid plans in place to increase the use of biofuels that will cut energy use and reliance on fossil fuels.  The defence department has been in lead when it comes to cutting-edge technologies using funding from its DARPA program.  The department requested proposals to build energy storage systems to make the base more self-sufficient with uninterrupted power supply.
The Military has been moving towards cleantech for several years and some of the projects include a $730,441 contract to develop lithium-ion battery systems for tanks and armoured vehicles, algae fuel from Solazyme, and $1.48 million of contracts to design systems that will generate electricity from waste heat.

The Gambia to showcase products at Global Economic Conference

The upcoming Global Youth Economic Opportunities Conference will be the platform for The Gambia to showcase 300 finished products, predominantlyagricultural products.

The Conference will be held in September this year, in Washington DC and 11 members of the Green African-American AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), who are also young business experts from The Gambia will attend.  This was disclosed by Professor Darryl R.O. Prevost, president of the African-America Diaspora Alumni Club in the United States to the Daily Observer.
Professor Prevost, who is also an executive director of CADIA Institutes and Academies, is currently in The Gambia to promote the AGAO through the Green African-American AGOA that is pioneered to support investment in Africa.  The AGOA is a U.S. commerce department that encourages trade and investment in Africa and ensures adherence of the fair trade law agreement by managing the global trade. 
Prevost pointed out that The Gambia has the capabilities to trade widelyin the international markets, and said he was impressed withthe products he has seen.  “By advancing a more robust trade relationship between the American processors and manufacturers of products from Africa, our hope is to drive the cost down on the American consumer side while increasing volume on the supply side,” he said.
Prevost reiterated the AGOA’s commitment to youths and women and he said the AGOA would partner with the University of The Gambia (UTG) toprovide training on food science.  This he said was one of the main areas of AGOA’s mission in Africa.
The Green African Tour will further enable the establishment of direct purchasing and technical agreements and sustenance between African markets and North American investors, retailers and processors by encouraging the trade and the infrastructure of African markets. 
The potential of The Gambia to alleviate poverty lies with its young and dynamic tourism industry, Prevost said.  He pointed out that the country’s tourism, due to the attractive riverbanks and ocean sites could improve the country’s economy. 

Renewable energy from UK’s largest power station

Drax coal power station – the UK’s largest coal power station is set to become one of the biggest sources of renewable energy.

Drax coal power station generated around 6% of the UK’s total renewable power during the first 6 months of the year.  The coal-fired power station in Yorkshire uses straw and other biomass to produce renewable power.
“Drax power station could be transformed to produce more renewable energy than fossil fuel power, using biomass from straw, waste wood and other sources instead of coal,” says chief executive of Drax, Dorothy Thompson.
Coal-fired power stations could achieve a lower carbon footprint by using biomass, a relatively green fuel.  Miscanthus grass, a source of biomass energy could transform Drax to the top renewable energy source.  
In order to address the threat of power shortages and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the UK government is currently promoting gas as the “greener” alternative to coal.
Thompson explains that it would be uneconomic to burn biomass under current conditions and subsidies from the government are needed to burn biomass in large quantities.  If adequate financial support was provided, the transition to biomass could be a quick process, she said.  "We would see ourselves starting along this path immediately, with delivery within three to four years.  By 2020, we could be delivering renewable energy to more than 2million homes."
Currently, biomass generation is awarded half of a "renewable energy obligation certificate" (ROC) per unit of electricity, compared with two ROCs for each unit of offshore wind. 
According to Chris Huhne, secretary of state and energy and climate change, biomass is one of the cheapest ways of meeting renewable energy targets, but the key issue is setting the level of support.    Huhne said the current review of subsidy levels and government consultation would be completed later in the year.

Mozambican Biofuel exports to German airline Lufthansa

Sun Biofuels Moçambique, a subsidiary of UK-based Sun Biofuels, has exported the first batch of 30 tonnes of biofuel to German airline Lufthansa, from its central province of Manica. 

Sun Biofuels Mozambique director for corporate affairs, Luis Gouveiaadvised that Lufthansais considering using biofuel in its aircraft and is currently performing testing on the biofuel.
Gouveia said, "On a recent visit to our project, the deputy chairman of Lufthansa considered that the oil produced at our unit was of a high quality."
The biofuel was initiallyrefined in Mozambique. The second stage of refiningwas carried out in Helsinki, Finland and turned the biofuelinto kerosene.
Gouveia said they are also targeting the automotive industry and the energy supply industry. The company aim is to reach 11,000 hectares of planted area over the next five years.
Environmental protection is another factor that encouraged the company to invest in biofuel production, because of its contribution for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Gambia eligible for The 2011 Future Policy Award

The 2011 Future Policy Award celebrates the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies worldwide. The Gambia, alongside Bhutan, Nepal, Rwanda, Switzerland and the USA, is in the running for this prestigious award.

The Gambia Community Forest Policy aims to achieve sustainable forest management and poverty alleviation by handing control of forests to the communities that use them. Gambia is leading the trend of reforestation in Western and Central Africa by showing a net increase in forest cover of 8.5% over the last two decades.
The Future Policy Award awards the most exemplary national polices that create better living conditions for current and future generations. The focus for 2011 is forests, and the year has been declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations.
The director of the World Future Council, Alexandra Wandel says, "With the Future Policy Award we want to cast a spotlight on policies that lead by example. The aim of the World Future Council is to raise global awareness of visionary policies and speed up policy action in the interests of present and future generations."
Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Honorary Councillor of the WFC said, "These six shortlisted candidates all demonstrate leadership towards the achievement of the 2020 Biodiversity targets: halving deforestation, restoring forests worldwide and ensuring that all forests are managed sustainably. Through the implementation of these policies, we can achieve the 2050 vision, which is a future of life in harmony with nature."
The Gambia Community Forest Policy includes a far reaching tenure transition of forest land from state ownership to permanent ownership by communities. The policy has also achieved a reduction in illegal logging and the incidence of forest fires in community forest areas as well as contributing to the development of new markets for branch wood and other forest products which benefit women and rural populations economically.

EU approves seven biofuel schemes

The first seven biofuel schemes to be officially certified as sustainable were recently granted approval by the EU. The seven voluntary certification schemes are intended to demonstrate that sustainability of biofuels will contribute toward the EU's renewable energy targets.

Gϋnther Oettinger, the European commissioner, said, "The schemes recognised on the EU level today are a good example of a transparent and reliable system which ensures high standards are met."
The approved schemes include: ISCC, a German government-financed scheme covering all types of biofuels; Bonsucro EU, a roundtable initiative for sugarcane-based biofuels focused on Brazil; RTRS EU RED, a roundtable initiative for soy-based biofuels focused on Argentina and Brazil; RSB EU RED, a roundtable initiative covering all types of biofuels; 2BSvs, a French industry scheme covering all types of biofuels; RSBA, a scheme from biofuel producer Abengoa covering its supply chain; and a scheme from biofuel producer Greenergy covering sugar cane ethanol from Brazil.
The EU has granted approval, despite concerns from some environmental groups over the methods used to ensure the resulting biofuels will cut greenhouse gas emissions.
A number of NGO groups argue that the decision excluded consultation and the NGOs were unable to scrutinise or object to any of the schemes. They further argued that the exclusion violates the Aarhus Convention, which guarantees all EU citizens and environmental organisations the right to participate in green decision-making and the right to information necessary for effective participation.
Earlier in the month, in Florida, the Digest released its annual review of biofuels mandates and targets around the world. The bulk of the mandates come from the EU-27, where the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) specifies 10 per cent renewables content by 2020 across the entire membership, of which seven per cent will come from biofuels, the balance from the electrification of the fleet.

A new government mandate requires two per cent biofuel content for heating oil and diesel sold in Canada

The Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent announced the mandate to be active from this month, to help reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent by 2020.

Kent said, "Our Government will continue to ensure that protecting our environment, while balancing economic growth and prosperity remains our priority". The new mandate envisions the reduction of harmful emissions by the equivalent of removing one million cars from the roads.
But the new mandate goes beyond just the environment. Kent explains that mandating minimum renewable fuel contents would also strengthen the nation's biofuel industry, boosting demand for feed stocks like canola and ensuring a stronger bottom line for farmers.
The new mandate follows the December 2010 regulation requiring all gasoline sold in Canada to have a five per cent average renewable fuel content. According to Kent, these regulations will form an important part of the (federal) government's Renewable Fuels Strategy, and will establish a demand for renewable fuels to help stimulate the Canadian biofuels industry.
As well as Canada, several US states and cities have introduced biofuel requirements for heating oil and diesel to limit the harmful emissions and reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil imports. US President Barack Obama signalled that renewable fuels and sustainable energy policies would play a key role in America's future energy needs.
With the rising oil prices and environmental concerns becoming more of a priority, renewable energy such as biofuels will become critical to support global energy needs.

Simple changes to agricultural practices could cut greenhouse gas emissions and halt the looming climate calamity

The recent United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have increased by over 100 parts per million by volume (ppmv) since pre-industrial times, reaching about 385 ppmv. If we continue burning fossil fuels, climate models calculate that by 2100, global average temperatures near the surface could increase by 5°C compared to pre-industrial times, causing catastrophic effects on planetary processes that will lead to a serious negative impact on our society.

Globally, energy crops are being used to mitigate future CO2 emissions. The concept is relatively simple – as plants grow they draw-down atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis. If they are then used to generate energy, the CO2 released will have previously been taken out of the atmosphere in the recent past (unlike mined fossil fuels) and will not raise atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Crops like Miscanthus Giganteus absorb as much carbon as they release when burnt, so there is no net increase in CO2 into the atmosphere.
Miscanthus Giganteus is a 'sterile hybrid perennial rhizomatous' C4-grass species with a high energy balance associated with a high carbon balance. This means for every one part of man-made carbon inputs needed to grow and harvest it, 53 parts are absorbed by the crop from the environment.
Harvested for co-firing in late winter, the crop is potentially carbon neutral, because only the carbon fixed by photosynthesis in the previous growing season is released when the crop is co-fired with coal, saving an equivalent amount of fossil fuel carbon from coal. Thus a significant quantity of emissions can be prevented by co-firing. In addition to its positive energy balance (particularly when compared with other energy crops such as rapeseed), Miscanthus Giganteus can sequester large amounts of carbon underground for a long period (over 100 years).
Long-term annual cropping reduces soil carbon, and arable soils typically contain less than 2% carbon. Non-cultivation of arable land typically increases soil carbon. Land typically contains 130 to 650 tonnes of carbon per hectare, so the potential for carbon sequestration with Miscanthus Giganteus can be considerable.

Biofuel developer KiOR raises $150 million in initial share sale

Renewable fuels company KiOR Inc raised $150 million in a U.S. initial public offering of 10 million shares of common stock.

The offering was priced at $15 each, well below the initial expectation of $19 to $21 a piece, according to a recent regulatory finding. KiOR said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it plans to use the proceeds to fund the company's second commercial plant in Newton, Mississippi.
The Texas-based company gave the underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 1.5 million shares to cover any excess demand. While the re-price represents a lowering of KiOR's fundraising ambitions, the firm still raised more money than its original US$100 million target announced in April. KiOR processes wood and non-food agricultural biomass into a renewable crude oil that can be converted using standard refining equipment into substitutes for gasoline and diesel fuel.
The technology combines proprietary catalyst systems with "well-established fluid catalytic cracking, or FCC, processes that have been used in crude oil refineries to produce gasoline for over 60 years," KiOR said in its IPO prospectus.
Gavin Maxwell, executive chairman of bioenergy consultancy Coolfin Partnership in Ireland, said KiOR is a "great company" with strong fundamentals but he would have been "astonished" if it had priced at the top of its range.
Given the long lead time for commercialising biofuel technologies, he said it is essential that policy-makers and capital investors take a long-term approach to the development of the sector.
"The sector needs long-term thinking when it comes to investment and to returns, and there's the need to support good vanguard companies and supply chain technologies, many of which are pre-IPO," Maxwell said.

Donations strengthen agricultural efforts in Gambia

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has since 1994 vowed the attainment of food self-sufficiency in the country through agricultural means. 

His prospect for an intense agriculturally productive country has strengthened with the donations of multi-purpose Dri Prime High Capacity pumping machines, that will allow The Gambia to grow food for its own domestic use and become an export productive country. The pumping machines will also boost economic production around the River Gambia.
The pumping machines will facilitate rice production, even during the dry season, providing vast capacities and benefits to the government's commitment for food security
One of the pumping machines can cover over 25 square miles and is one of the strongest industrial pumps utilised in the world right now. The pump can be programmed to run by itself for months, and can be used for irrigation and mining.
The Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project (GEAPP) also donated seven power tillers, seven bags of fertilisers, seven rice tracers; seven seeders, seven sine hoes, 200 litres of pesticide and four knapsack sprayers. The GEAPP commended the devotion and importance of President Jammeh's commitment to agriculture.
The GEAPP was a complementary project to the recently completed Africa Emergency Locust Project (AELP), a project established in 2005 that was funded by the EU for the total of 5.3 million Euros.
The project was founded to strengthen he country's capacity in controlling and mitigating locust infestations and their effects. The GEAPP aided the second phase of the AELP, to stimulate the production capacities of those affected by the locust invasion in 2005.
The objective of the GEAPP is to enhance the agricultural production and productivity of 20,000 farmers countrywide. The GEAPP has two components. Component A was the provision of agric inputs and equipment that allowed the Gambians to procure and distribute 525 metric tonnes of certified seeds countrywide during the 2010 seasons. Six hundred villages benefitted.
The second component is the rehabilitation of 30 village seed stores countrywide and the strengthening of three seed multiplication centres to ensure year-round production to supply farmers.

Paris: painting the air Green

The Paris air show has gone green, with airlines using a blend of biofuel and conventional jet fuel.

The Gulfstream G450 jet from New Jersey to Paris was the "first-ever transatlantic biofuel flight" in history, while Boeing flew its new 747 freighter from Seattle to Paris on a blend of conventional jet fuel and 15 percent camelina-based biofuel. This was another first for the Atlantic, flying with biofuels, and an active approach to substantially reduce carbon emissions. The show also included a special exhibition area for alternative aviation fuels.
During the week, other airlines also embraced the "green air". Seven other airlines announced their intentions to work with biofuel producer, Solena Fuels, to provide fuel for their flights out of the San Francisco Bay area. Solena's fuel starts with recycled urban and agricultural wastes, and is produced in a multistep process. The facility in Northern California will produce as much as 16 million gallons of jet fuel from this waste per year by 2015, to support airline operations at Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose airports.
Solena's biofuel manufacturing process was approved in 2009 for use as jet fuel by ASTM International, the worldwide consensus standards organization. Airlines need a standard fuel content and quality in order to be considered a reliable fuel source. Standardised fuel properties will ensure the quality of this new fuel and will lead the way for its use as "HEFA" fuels (Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids) derived from biomass products such as camelina, Jatropha, or algae. Conventional jet fuel will be used in conjunction with this new fuel at up to a 50/50 ratio.

Global Bioenergy Partnership releases biomass voluntary policy

The first guidelines for producing biofuel have been introduced and the U.S. and China led 23 nations in agreeing to the policy. 
 
The Global Bioenergy Partnership released a voluntary policy for producing and using biomass and biofuels in ways that do not add to the issues associated with climate change or affect food prices. The partnership was established in 2005 by the Group of Eight nations and five emerging economies and includes 13 international organisations and institutions.
Corrado Clini, Chairman of the partnership and Director General of Italy's Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea pointed out that palm oil climbed to almost a three-year high as consumers and companies increased their use of the product. Clini said, "Biofuels could cover up to 25% of the fuels portfolio in the next 30 years. The environmental certification of biofuels would be a very important driver for promoting biofuels in the market."
On 10 February 2011, palm oil rose to 3,967 ringgit ($1,304) per metric ton on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, the highest since March 2008.

Biomass program funding in line for Ohio

Energy efficiency is high on the agenda in Ohio and federal money will support Trumbull and Ashtabula counties to grow a new energy grass: Miscanthus Giganteus.

 

Funding from the government's Biomass Crop Assistance Program will support the growth of Miscanthus Giganteus, an energy grass that can grow on soil where other crops can't. The nearly US$6 million in funding is expected to create more than a thousand agriculture jobs in the area and support the efforts to produce about three times the energy from Miscanthus Giganteus compared to other sources, such as corn.
Miscanthus Giganteus can be burned to produce heat and steam for power turbines and when combined in a 50%-50% mixture with coal, it can be used in some current coal-burning power plants without modifications.
The key difference between Miscanthus Giganteus and corn is that the former is not a food crop and has no direct competition with food. As a result, market prices for corn directly affect the price of maize, which in turn, affects the ability of many farmers to produce the crop. Miscanthus Giganteus will not be affected by changes in demand and has no direct correlation to the price of food.

Shell embarks on biofuels venture in Brazil

Shell has embarked on a biofuels joint venture with ethanol and sugar producer Cosan, to become a leading producer of ethanol for the retail market.

Cosan aims to produce and sell more than 500 million gallons of low-carbon biofuels annually. Shell released a statement saying, "Low-carbon biofuels will be the most practical and commercially realistic way to take carbon dioxide out of transport fuel in the coming years and will be a vital part of the future energy mix."
Biofuels currently make up about 4% of the transport fuel in Europe and 3% in the U.S., where biofuels use is predicted to increase by about 9% by 2030, according to Shell.
Shell Chief Executive Officer, Peter Voser, said, "We are building a leading position in the most efficient ethanol-producing country in the world."
The company said Brazilian sugar cane has a higher ethanol yield compared to corn or wheat and added that "Production in Brazil takes up less than 1% of the country's land and the government prohibits industries from displacing food crops. This is a turning point in the search for alternative energy sources."

$161 Million towards education in Mozambique

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $71 million to support the Mozambican government's Education Strategic Support Programme (ESSP). 

The programme will run from 2011 to 2015 and will be in addition to a previous commitment through the World Band administered Education For All – Fast Track Initiative Catalytic Fund (EFA-FTI CF) program, that totalled R90 million.
The money will increase access to education, promote HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, improve the quality of education and support curriculum reform. Olivier Godron, World Bank representative said ""I am pleased that in times of austerity and budget cuts, we are keeping our commitments, thus helping the country fill financing gaps, keep its sectorial priorities afloat, and meet its critical development challenges".
The funds will be managed by the Education Ministry and received praise from the World Bank. The project team leader Sophie Naudeau said "it is gratifying to see that Mozambique is making steady progress toward the achievement of universal primary education by 2015 (Millennium Development Goal number 2). Net enrolment in primary education more than doubled from 45 to 95 per cent between 1998 and 2010, and the completion rate (grade 7) increased from 34 per cent in 2004 to 50.8 per cent in 2010. A major achievement is the increase in the net enrolment rate at 6 - 7 years of age from 19 per cent in 1998 to 70 per cent in 2010".
The World Bank funds have come at a crucial time as the education sector during 2010 faced a 36% cut in bilateral funding and an 8% cut in the education sector donor funding pool.

Japan from nuclear to renewable

The on-going Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan has prompted a turnaround of events as Japan abandons plans to double its nuclear power capacity and move over to renewable energy.

Japan with the world's 3rd largest economy has exchanged plans to construct 14 new nuclear plants with an energy policy to develop wind, solar and biomass energy sources.
The Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan has made the incredible announcement two months after Japan was brought close to a nuclear catastrophe by dual impacts of a n earthquake and tsunami on the Fukushima/Daiichi nuclear plant.
The crisis however is far from over and the latest setback for the authorities came as the fuel rods at Fukushima Reactor 1 had been fully exposed and the melted fuel that has now accumulated at the bottom of the reactor vessel is in danger of leaking through, which could cause the release of radiation. A lesson learned that nuclear plants are vulnerable to unforeseen natural disasters, even in a country as technologically advanced as Japan.
The Japan crises also motivated the German government to change their nuclear plans, by reversing an earlier decision to extend the lifetime of existing reactors. The government ordered nearly half of its existing nuclear reactors to immediately stop operations and end the use of nuclear energy in exchange for renewable energy as quickly as possible.
Both countries has made strong statements against nuclear plants and other countries are sure to be influenced by this decision. Both countries are well positioned to lead the development of cutting edge technologies for harvesting renewable energy potential and to combine them into a robust and reliable energy system for a new era. Japan currently gets 30% of its electricity from nuclear and Germany with the 4th largest economy, get 25%.
The growing evidence that renewable energy will power most of the world by 2050 will have other countries not lag far behind Japan and Germany.

Moringa leading the Biofuels Industry

The biofuels industry has received aggregated attention in recent years and the quest for alternative energy has become the buzz word for environmental activists and world leaders alike.

The global demand for second-generation biofuel has however not been without controversy with the "food vs. fuel" debate causing the industry to seek a more lucrative option. The most recent source is the Moringa Oleifera tree, which has reignited the hope for sustainable biofuel.
The Moringa tree or better known in Africa as the "miracle tree" has surfaced as a source of both biofuel and food. The Moringa tree is considered to be a more sustainable biodiesel feedstock than any other existing feed stocks. Moringa has been heralded as a wonder plant because it has no direct competition with food crops. The Moringa tree is fast becoming the best source of organic products from alternative fuel (biofuel), organic food products (both for human and animal consumption), cosmetics ingredients and is best for malnutrition control.
Most parts of the tree are used and the greatest contribution of Moringa to health is its nutritional value. The rapidly growing and drought resistant tree can be used for fibre, medicine and water purification. Furthermore, Moringa is also identified as a potential solution to Vitamin A deficiency in poverty stricken countries such as Malawi and Rwanda.
With Moringa bridging the gap between food and fuel, it can do well to silence the mouths of critics who are known to debate the negative consequences of the biofuels industry. The tree is very much poised to become the next big thing in the Biofuel market and many finance and investment firms are picking Moringa as an opportunity to provide rewarding returns in the commodities market.

Biofuels role in the state of Iowa

The Iowa State Research Farm boasts two experimental plants, producing oil from biomass such as corn stover, switchgrass, miscanthus, wood chips and algae. Biocrude is produced by one plant through a form of incineration called pyrolysis, which heats biomass to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in an oxygen-free environment and then decomposes the biomass to vaports and aerosols. Rapid cooling then turns the vapors into bio-oil and later fuel.

The second prototype is a gasification plant, a process by which heat of up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit breaks down the biomass to its most basic elements to produce a synthetic gas. A steam process turns the biomass into a synthetic gas. An interesting byproduct is the carbon waste, or "biochar" that drops out of the gasification process.
The $23 million project was introduced by a grand in 2007 from ConocoPhilips and assisted with funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Energy as well as Dupont (owner of Pioneer Hi-Bred) and Danisco.
The facility is one of a kind due to the variety of biomass products. The centre isn't limited to a single biomass, but can take all biomass products for conversion to fuels. With current oil prices nearing $100, prospects for alternative fuel has increased the goals to produce usable biofuel by 2022.
Director Robert Brown of the Iowa State University Bioeconomy Institute says that the public has been given a somewhat misleading picture of biofuels by the explosive growth of traditional ethanol. It grew from less than 1 billion gallons of annual production in the middle of the last decade to almost 14 billion gallons this year, or 10 % of U.S. annual gasoline consumption.

The importance of Biofuels

The political instability has contributed to the rising oil prices globally. Furthermore the majority of the world's oil fields will reach maximum petroleum extraction capacity in 2020. This impending crisis has increased the importance of finding an alternative energy solution. Biofuels, however is nothing new and tracks back to the early 19th century, where the first internal combustion engines were designed to run on alcohol. 

Since the 19th century the search has progressed to find more effective methods of alternative energy. From edible crops such as soya bean, sugar cane and oil palm to the cellulosic biomass of poplar trees and switchgrass, to toxic shrubs like Jatropha.
More recently the second-generation biofuels source Moringa oleifera has silenced most of the biofuels critics. The Moringa tree has no direct competition with food crops as it is an edible source of fuel and can be grown for both food and fuel.
During 2009, biofuels provided 1.8% of the world's transport fuel and investments keep pushing this lucrative industry. New policies are incentives are stimulating this fledgling industry as the search continue to find a much needed alternative to petroleum.

Renewable Energies to double by 2020

The global wind, solar, and biofuels industries are poised to double within the next 10 years. In this year's "Clean Energy Trends report" Clean Edge has included information comparing where the world was ten years ago to where it is now. The combined global market for solar and wind power is $131.6 billion today, but in the year 2000, it was only worth $6.5 billion. This enormous increase shows a positive shift towards clean energy sources which should be seen as a remarkable achievement.

This latest report has some interesting figures. The current global industry projections, for biofuels, put biofuels at twice its current value, $56.4 billion for 2010 and predict it will grow to $112.8 billion by 2020. It surveys the global wind industry at $60.5 billion for 2010, predicted to grow to $122.9 billion by 2020. The global solar industry is placed at $71.2 billion for 2010, predicted to grow to $113.6 billion by 2020.
The last decade, in the U.S., for example, there were less than 10,000 hybrid vehicles on the road in 2000 compared with more than 1.4 million hybrid vehicles in 2010. The percentage of U.S. Venture Capital spent on clean technology in 2000 was 1.2 %, compared to over 23% in 2010.
Clean Edge has been tracking data and releasing reports on these and related industries for a decade, and has made some really good predictions. They have only fallen short because some of the company's prior predictions have been more on the conservative side. It was predicted that major alternative energy industries would grow from $7 billion in 2000 to more than $82 billion by 2010. Therefore, the Market has actually exceeded expectations.
Clean Edge also predicted that wind power would grow to more than $49 billion by 2012, and that's already at $60.5 billion for 2010.
According to the report, there are 5 additional key trends that will significantly affect the alternative energy markets in the coming years. Incandescent phase-out lights the way for low-Cost LEDs, natural gas advances as a powerful partner for wind and solar energy, cleaner aviation fuels are poised for take-off, low-cost green building brings relief and sustainability around the world and innovation provides alternatives to rare earths.

Coal, an untapped commodity in Mozambique's Tete city

Mozambique's Tete City, with its untapped coal reserves estimated at 23 billion tonnes has a logistical nightmare in moving its precious commodity. Moving it out and getting the coal to port is a headache with trucks queuing to cross the bridge that spans the Zambezi river in this northern city of Mozambique.

 
Countries like China, Brazil, India and Australia have invested in Mozambique. China invested over five years and last August signed a five-year deal. Investments include Brazilian mining giant Vale, and Australia's Riversdale, with 24 percent owned by India's Tata that have invested 1.5 billion dollars. Coal wealth is not a new discovery but being one of the poorest countries in the world, Mozambique is recovering after nearly two decades of civil war and has opened its territory to nations and companies seeking mineral resources.
This city located in a remote corner of the country was taken by surprise and thousands of Mozambicans flocked there in the past five years. Due to the rapid and sudden development the population has grown significantly. Deputy-mayor Arnaldo Morais Charimba said: "Because it was so quick, Tete was not ready". Around the city, roads and railways are being reconstructed and the existing 720-metre bridge was meant to reopen last December but unfortunately it did not open on the proposed date. The Sena railway line was partly reopened last year and later this year the train is expected to carry six million tonnes of coal from Vale and Riversdale to Beira. When production starts in six months delays at Beira may stall exports while mines are ready. Countries are exploring other ways to get their cargo out of the country with production expected to triple in a few years.
No reconstruction work has started on the old terminal, while another terminal is planned for later and so an atmosphere of development is not necessarily being felt. "If the port is not ready, there is no other way to get the cargo" says Fanoe.

Ways of choosing conservatory and double glazing in Newport.

A conservatory can seem to be very expensive to purchase but its great importance is that you can get a bigger space at your place. Their popularity is increasing as only a small number of people can afford to shift to other places but require additional space in their homes.In order to make sure that you got the best conservatory Newport, you should make sure that the conservatory is an ordinary extension to your home or property but not something that doesn’t correctly match to its surroundings. In such a case the supplier is supposed to advise you on the best preference for your house but should not just vend you the most costly.

In order to obtain quality Newport conservatory all the way through United Kingdom, then the best company to trust is Inspire Windows. Before setting up the conservatory, the first step should be to consider the purpose of the conservatory. If for instance it is a dining area, then close propinquity to the kitchen would be the most perfect. For one to ensure that the Newport conservatories are used frequently, he/she should ensure that they are positioned close to rooms normally used frequently.

Having decided what the upvc doors cardiff would be used for then you can decide on the size you would wish to have them in. This style is in most cases dictated by the property you have. For instance, it would be a benefit to have a conservatory close to older properties that have low roof pitches and also you should consider that Victorian properties are usually ideal for large conservatories such as dining areas. Having decided on the style to use, the other thing to consider is the type of materials to use to make the conservatory. White upvc is usually the most in style and cost effective decision though you’ll have to match that to your property.


There are however, two main schemes that are used in order to regulate Newport double glazing installations. These are the Certass and the Fens a. They oblige very strict rules to their members which in most cases adhere to the regulation standards for building and proffer aftercare to its customers. It is therefore important to think about the quality of the product that you are about to purchase and judge whether it conforms to the acceptable standards.

Leading double glazing cardiff, UK. Finest quality bespoke conservatories, sash windows cardiff,cardiff conservatories. Get a Quote now!  For more information please visit http://www.inspirewindows.co.uk/

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• Alternative Investments Profitable for yo

•  Alternative investment Biofuels

Considerations in choosing Newport conservatories and double gazing companies

There are a few questions and answers that a person should have before choosing a Newport conservatory or even the best double glazing Newport companies. These include; considering the grade of the glass that you are provided with. Currently, windows are rated according to their energy competence ranging from A to G. Although the most preferred domestic property of the glass is the rate of ‘C’ or above. The other consideration to make should be finding out whether the frames of the windows act in accordance with all the given building regulations. In order for the frames to do so then they must be sufficiently reinforce, be able to offer ventilation and most importantly operate as fire exits.

The discoloring aspect of the frames should also be taken into consideration. This is because the frames discolor only if they are made of low quality plastic material. It is thus important to note that a high-quality plastic material should be able to last for over 20 years with no discolor issues. It is also advisable to make sure that the frames are welded rather than being mechanically fixed since the mechanically fixed windows tend to weaken of the attached frame.

For good double glazing Newport products the locks should be a least amount of a two point locking system so as to make sure that all your home belongings are safe and sound. This is such that they comply with the British Standard 3621 which is usually a key prerequisite of all the home insurance providers.

You should also note that internally beaded windows are always more secure compared to the externally beaded once which can easily be broken into by intruders from the outside. The inspire windows ensures that you get the best double glazing products with a ten year guarantee on the frames. This would really save you from spending a lot of cash and help you to shun from any problems that maybe encountered in the future.

For the upvc doors cardiff you should always consider the size that you would wish to have them in. This would be dictated by the size of your belongings. For instance, it would be a benefit to have a conservatory close to older properties that have low roof pitches and also consider that Victorian properties are usually ideal for large conservatories such as dining areas.

Leading double glazing cardiff, UK. Finest quality bespoke conservatories, sash windows cardiff,cardiff conservatories. Get a Quote now!  For more information please visit http://www.inspirewindows.co.uk/

Different Style of Conservatories

Nowadays, conservatories have become famous to families who wish to add extra space in their homes. Because of this, businessmen have taken the opportunity to launch several new and unique designs for the public to choose from. It is very important that when you are choosing a design for a conservatory in your home, take into consideration the style of your home and the purpose of the conservatory you want to install.

The most popular style is the Victorian conservatory. This type of conservatory is very flexible in nature that it can be placed in different kinds of properties. It is perfect on almost every kind of property available. Its roof is designed to give you an airy feeling. Its front windows are angled to create a bay window effect.

There is also the Edwardian conservatory. It is also known as the Georgian conservatory. This type of conservatory is somehow similar to Victorian conservatories. The only different is that these conservatories do not have the bay window in front. Edwardian conservatories are also popular because the design aims to maximize every possible space available on the property, making the conservatories big and spacious.

The cheapest styles of conservatories are the Mediterranean conservatories or the Lean to conservatories. This is the easiest and simplest styles of conservatories to build. They are designed with a shallow sloping roof. These conservatories would be perfect for bungalows style houses. They are very versatile that they can be placed in almost any shape of property.

Then, there are also the L shaped, B shaped, P shaped, and T shaped conservatories. These conservatories are mostly big. The letters are the actual floor shape of the conservatories. With such huge conservatories, it is not a problem to divide them into areas.

One of the key features of conservatories is the windows. The windows are considered very important in designing conservatories. The windows have their own purposes in conservatories. They let natural light in the property, they help keep the heat within the property, and they prevent strangers towards inside the property. During the earlier times, windows were for its natural function only. But over the years, they had become a social status, the larger the windows the wealthier you are.

No matter what design you choose, what's important is that you build the conservatory that would suit your taste and would serve its purpose in your home.

Leading double glazing cardiff, UK. Finest quality bespoke conservatories, sash windows cardiff,replacement windows cardiff. Get a Quote now!  For more information please visit http://www.inspirewindows.co.uk/

Biofuels: the only replacement for fossil fuels for different modes of transport

Alternative fuels have the potential to gradually replace fossil energy sources and make transport sustainable by 2050" (The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels).

Biofuels are the only alternative available between now and 2050 for all modes of motor transport. Electricity, hydrogen and the transition to cleaner fossil fuels will not be enough to meet the demands of the entire transport sector. Alternative fuels have the potential to gradually replace fossil energy sources and make transport sustainable by 2050 (The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels).
Different modes of transport require different options of alternative fuels and it has been revealed that biofuels are the only option for all forms of transport by land, water and air. Biofuels, with its higher energy density are touted as being more suitable to longer-distance operations. According to The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels, "Biofuels could technically substitute oil in all transport modes, with existing power train technologies and existing re-fuelling infrastructures".
Important factors determining the economics of the different options are the compatibility of new fuels with current technologies and infrastructure, or the need for disruptive system changes. The sustainability of biofuels is paramount and must be guaranteed moving forward.
The production of first and second generation biofuels from both traditional crops and lignocellulosic crops requires efficient land use, and compliance with strict sustainability criteria is important.
The EC's Vice-President, Siim Kallas has said: "If we are to achieve a truly sustainable transport, then we will have to consider alternative fuels. For this we need to take into account the needs of all transport modes."

Biofuel for a Greener Qantas

National airline Qantas Ltd has started plans to build a biofuel plant in Sydney with the assistance of US bioenergy company Solena.

 
The airline plans to use the plant to burn rubbish in an effort to power the airline's fleet with greener fuel, reported The Australian.
A Quantas spokesperson told the paper, the airline expects to produce a business case for the plant, which would enable the company to power its fleet with greener fuel, by the end of the year.
The Australian reported the plant is one of the two biofuel projects Qantas is evaluating for the purpose to cut carbon emissions and meet the airline industry guidelines to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent a year to 2020. The second project involves the using of crops to make biofuel in a sustainable industry for the airline.
Olivia Wirth, the spokesperson for Qantas said, "While we are still in the early stages of the project, the possibilities are exciting."
It is reported that Qantas has a long-standing interest in biofuels and is a member of the global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group. Wirth further said, "Qantas is closely involved with other industry stakeholders in a "road map" study into sustainable aviation fuel development in Australia.

Alternative investment Biofuels

Mankind is damaging the energy sources in the planet in numerous ways over the centuries. We are consuming energy at a rate more than the rate at which we are finding new reserves. The amount of natural oil is running out. As a result, alternative sources of energy like biofuel, green oil and biodiesel are much required for the sake of humanity and the planet. So, alternative investments are becoming very much popular as ethical investments are more profitable.
 
Millettia and Jatropha are two main biofuels. These are two hardly plants. The need less water and can even grow in desolate lands. Crushing the seeds of these plans oil can be produced. Biofuels investments are great alternative investments as biofuels can produce oil. Biofuels are also harmless to the environment of the planet. The waste materials we get after producing oil can be also used for the purpose of farming.

Biofuels need comparatively less time than the fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are harmful to the environment because of their emissions which causes pollution. Fossil fuels are not renewable sources of energy but biofuels are. The biofuel plants need 3-4 years to grow and produce enough amounts of oil and after the start of producing they can serve approximately 20 years. From the waste produce rubber, fertilizer rich in nitrogen and medicines can be produced. As biofuels are friendly to environment and a great source of energy, biofuels investments are rapidly increasing by the investors of big companies.

Wind power is another great source of energy. As the popularity of wind power as an alternative energy source is increasing, many people are placing their part of stock market in these alternative investments to get more profit.

Pure play exchange traded funds are now more interested to invest their money in alternative investments. ETFs are much like the mutual funds. They provide a direct opportunity to invest you whenever you are ready to invest. You can sell or buy investments in your trading days. To invest in the field of wind power they uses ticker symbol like WND. Many traditional companies are now taking part in the investment of alternative sources. You can know about their investing plans by contacting the department of investor relations. If you just see the annual reports of various companies, you will come to know about the biggest companies using their money in alternative investments. You can buy a part of these companies and achieve more profit. As, windmills are the main source of producing wind power, investing on the companies of windmill manufacturers will be a smart move.

There are many mutual funds who have policies on ethical investments concerning about the future of human being and the planet. You can also join them by checking their annual report. Green energy funds also invest in various sources of renewable alternative energy like geothermal, solar panels, wind etc. Check their annual report and choose your way of alternative investments.  

Insight Group Specialises In Overseas Property Investment, green investment , Moringa Oleifera And alternative investment . For more information please visit http://www.insightgroupplc.com/

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Alternative investment For Your Money

Alternative Investments Profitable for you

Alternative Investments Profitable for you

The rate at which we are consuming conventional oil is much more than the rate of finding new assets. We are now at depletion stage and basic oil is running out. So, ethical investments are now very profitable and as a result, business of alternative sources of energy like Biofuel, Green oil and Biodiesel are becoming bigger and bigger rapidly.
 
Biofuels is the best alternative of conventional oil. These fuels are much better than the fossil fuels. These fuels are less harmful. Millettia biofuels and Jatropha are two  biofuels. These two fuels are robust plants. These plants need very little care and water and grow in insensitive desolate condition.

Biofuel investments are better for humanity and the planet for various reasons. They do not need so much time to make like fossil fuels. Emissions of fossil fuels are harmful to the environment as they produce pollution. Biofuels are renewable energy source. They can produce energy continuously unlike fossil fuels. Millettia plant and Jatropha take 3 to 4 to produce enough amounts of green oil seeds. But, once they start producing that amount they can serve more than 20 years.  No machine is needed to harvest these plants. From the waste turn out, rubber, medicines and fertilizer can be made which are rich in nitrogen.

As fossil fuels are high in prices and threatening to the environment, we need to find better alternative investments. The economy of world should invest for the sake of this planet.

Wind power investment is a good alternative investment. You should place a part of your stock market assortment in alternative investments by selecting wind power investment. Exchange traded funds is a better way to directly invest in wind power. These funds give sellers and buyers a new edge in unstable markets.

Investors can get the best profit through these funds.  Now most of the traditional companies are investing in alternative investments like wind power and all other forms of energy. If you want to invest, you can contact the department of investor relations of those companies. It will be better for you to collect all the information about the companies which have commitments to wind power investment.

Another smart and clever move will be the alternative investments  in the industrial windmills manufacturing company. If you can keep your eyes on the financial publications, you can easily find those companies.

There are many mutual funds who are very much concerned about ethical investments. Checking the annual reports of those funds will be a great task. If you check the annual report of green energy funds you will also come to know about the percentage of the invested fund in alternative energy sources.

Insight Group Specialises In Overseas Property Investment, green investment, Moringa Oleifera And ethical investments. For more information please visit http://www.insightgroupplc.com/

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Few of the best ethical investment tips

Alternative investment For Your Money

Alternative investment For Your Money

There are numerous ways of investing your money, but the most common where most people like to invest are bonds, foreign exchange and shares. But these investments also considered as risky investments. You can make it less risky by checking out the past detail (portfolio) of such investment.And such details can be gathered through alternative ways. While the investment, which is made into assets that don't fall into the category of three main asset types (cash, bonds and stock) are called alternative investment.

Alternative investment: Types:

Mostly alternative investments required high minimum capital, and in addition you can say in such alternative avenues are less synchronized. Some most common alternative investments are described in
few details as follows.

Futures: Such contracts are made for some future dates, for some sale purchase purpose of a commodity on a predetermined price by both the parties. This type of contract can be used for foreign exchange currency or maybe for the commodities such as (oil or agro products). But remember one thing perishable products are not included in Forex. You can also invest in NASDAQ futures and S&P.

Options: This type of contract is the same as futures, but the difference is the holder is under no obligation to sell or buy the underlying asset in such contract. So that the holder can let the contract expire as well.

ETFs: Exchange trade funds (ETFs) are the commodities and metallic money such as the gold and silver or oil etc. These ETFs can be traded in stock exchange at equal the net asset value (NAV).

Real estate: Such investment includes the buying and selling of immovable property such as land buildings etc. And also the rental income and investment yields are also a part of such investment.

Art: after the financial crises in 2008 in the stock markets the Art became famous as an investment.Thai's why in now says it is also considered as an alternative investment.

Gold: it is the defensive investment which becomes so much popular in the period of prolonged economic and political upheavals.

Wine investment: If you invest in a fine wine, then you can surely get a healthy return from it. Although wine is not considered good from 2007-2008, but in nowadays it is an alternative investment.

Benefits of alternative investments:

• Less risky

• Gives you good profit generating opportunities

• Diversify an investor's profit

Limitations of alternative investment:


• As compare to cash, bonds and stocks these investments has less liquidity.

• These investments have more fee structure as compare to the stock and bonds.

• Specific expertise required in such investments, so that their fee is also an issue.

Insight Group Specialises In Overseas Property Investment, invest in commodities, Moringa Oleifera And biofuel investment. For more information please visit- http://www.insightgroupplc.com/

Few of the best ethical investment tips

There are different types of investments; you can use your money for both, only for you or for the whole
planet (earth) too. But it is reality that without any planning you cannot succeed.

body:

There are different types of investments; you can use your money for both, only for you or for the whole
planet (earth) too. But it is reality that without any planning you cannot succeed.

Consider what you mean by ethical:

There are so many different types of ethical funds, according to their criteria, which you can choose.
And also there are screen-out businesses, which involved in tobacco, alcohol, pornography, animal
testing and nuclear energy. Before choosing am investment fund which match your profile, you should
have to sensible answer some tricky questions given below.

Now ask these questions from yourself, don't you like animal testing for medical purposes, or against
it only for cosmetics? Or if you're an environmentalist, do you consider the nuclear energy as a devil's
work, or it is practical type of solution for global warming?

Find an ethical IFA:

You should have to get the advice, or more than that, when you don't feel comfortable while choosing
your investment funds. And your ethical profile should have to be checked carefully, by the advisor,
before recommending you any fund. But most IFA's won't go in so details.

Choose your manager carefully:

While investing, remember one thing some fund managers only dip into ethical investing and the others
fully dedicated. So all investors should have to ask themselves, whether the manager's criterion is rigid,
or the funds have any specialist team or just a manager is there. And the important thing us they have
a position on any new challenge like bio-fuels. Knowledgeable managers are recommended to look for
new investment opportunities in the areas such as climate change, waste and water and also in organic
food as well.

Be prepared for smaller returns:

Remember that Ethical funds are one of the great hurdles when competing against those funds which
are free to invest in any company.

And most of the ethical managers try to avoid from oil, mining and commodities which have been
hottest sectors, recently.

But remember performance does meter:

You are going to invest for the sake of making a bright future so try to strike a balance between your
principle amount and the amount of profit. Don't only examine where you are investing your funds, but
also check how it has performed.

Try to get long-term details of your chosen fund not only for the last three or more years when the
growth rate was so healthy for you.

Resource: Insight Group Specialises In Overseas Property Investment, invest in commodities, Moringa Oleifera And alternative investments. For more information please visit http://www.insightgroupplc.com/

Ethical investment –way to the future

In latest years, we are encouraged for taking on additional combined responsibility while coming to environment. Mankind has been damaging the planet over the centuries in number of ways; therefore, it has become essentially significant that we must look to fix the damage already done by us.

It has become an ordinary practice to reprocess much of our industrial and household waste feasible, and each month quiet a number of people have been joining this increasingly, and it is a much-required, revolution. The Renewable energy sources, like solar, wave and wind, are severe fossil fuels alternatives nowadays, as well.

The increase in making use of biofuel has been possibly not much well-known; however, thanks to various rigorous research plus development, it would play a main role in the fight beside environmental damage. It is likely to be an important energy resource in the future years, and would become somewhat we all are conscious of in the extreme near future.

Essentially, biofuels have been obtained from renewable resources, which would comprise plant, as well as, animal by-products. They are becoming much famous - and essential due to increase in the oil prices, as well as, the necessity to discover an option for diesel and petrol. They may fall in two major categories.

The foremost, bioethanol, it has been mainly developed from starch crops and sugar. It is the alcohol, and could be used for propelling vehicles. Though, it is presently utilized mostly as the additive for gasoline. It aids in lowering of dangerous emissions, plus is becoming extensively used in the much developed countries.

Perhaps, Biodiesel is much familiar, and would be even much more in the upcoming years. It gets manufactured from recycled grease, animal fats, plus vegetable oils. Though, similar to bioethanol, it could be used for powering vehicles, at present it is added in diesel for making it kind to the environment.

Both of the biofuels inventments are developed as an end result of important investment, and would become a reliable option to the additional damaging fuel resources we at present use.

Most of the countries have been recognizing the requirement to implement the employing of the biofuels, and various have targets for aiming, it has been hoped, would lead to decrease in making use of fossil fuels in upcoming years.

USA gives tax exemptions to companies developing biofuel technology. American ethanol fuels have been achieved from corn.

In the latest times, governments are developing main environmental program to reflect the growing awareness for protecting our planet. Developing utilizable biofuels is the major initiative for making the world greener.

Insight Group Specialises In Overseas Property Investment, invest in commodities, Moringa Oleifera And alternative investments. For more information please visit http://www.insightgroupplc.com/

What is the effect of ethical investments on global level

As criticism in certain quarters is regarded, both inside Norway and without, like negative hype, it in fact gives an outstanding instance of how the ethical investments pose an optimistic impact on corporate standards development and business practices all around the world.

Global investments of Norway have been managed through state owned Norges Bank of Investment Management that manages the finance of above $450 billion, and much of it has been invested as per the ethical principles of investment and is based upon ethical investment criterion.

Norway, at present, has above $16m invested in the Sinar Mas; it’s a Malaysian company that comprises biofuels in its produce range.Though, Sinar Mas has been blamed for destroying the rainforest plus orang-utan habitats as its campaign part to free up the land for the manufacturing of palm oil that is a major key component of the biofuels.

 Sinar Mas is already declared for clearing the land for the plantation; ahead of it, has permits and prepared conservation assessments.

As the Norwegian government has been treating hypocrisy accusations as harmful publicity, there has also been an optimistic side of the story.

The Greenpeace pressure also shows how ethical investment companies and governments are struggling for ensuring that they cash profits only such companies that reveals elevated standards of the environmental commitment plus the corporate governance.

They too reveal how they could regulate their moral portfolios for avoiding such industries and companies with skeletons at their ethical cabinet.

The circumstances in Indonesia also demonstrate how the growth on the worldwide stage, while emerging as an optimistic environmental development, could be filled with the ethical problems and the concerns if you dig little deeply.

The government of Indonesia is promoting the palm oil plantations creation in Papua for bringing growth to the area.

They also claim that rising palm oil production makes a highly ethical and solid contribution to slow switch away of fossil fuels.

Though, in Papua there is extensive bullying plus coercion of localized communities, to compel them for allowing their land getting used in such a way.

In single case, one 4-year-old was compelled for signing the documents to give control of the land own by his family for last decade to the plantation company.

On a much optimistic note, Norway in recent times scrapped the investments in the Samling Global, it’s a Malaysian timber company charged of illegitimate logging, as well as, environmental damage.

Insight Group Specialises In Overseas Property Investment, invest in commodities, Moringa Oleifera And alternative investments. For more information please visit http://www.insightgroupplc.com/

Overseas bio fuel investment and its good returns

There are many areas where it is possible to have an investment in order to get a good return. Bio fuel is an emerging field in which investments could generate huge profits in a short interval of time. The benefits of investments in bio fuels could increase further if the investment is made overseas. It is also a form of overseas property investment.

The foreign countries are willing to have investors from other countries in order to promote bio fuel in their country. There are many benefits of bio fuels and it is a good substitute of fossil fuels. With the help of bio fuels the condition of environment is not affected and there are no harmful effects of bio fuels on the atmosphere.

With the help of  biofuel investments it is possible to have a source of energy, which is abundant in quantity and also good in quality. There are many rich people all over the world who are able to make huge investments in any business. They are also able to make the investments in the bio fuel industry in order to promote this phase of business. With the help of investments in bio fuel industry it is possible to increase bio fuel and use it as a good substitute of fossil fuels.

There are certain limits to start from in order to make an investment in the bio fuels. With the help of this investment the investors enjoys many benefits including the relaxation in taxation and other facilities from the governments of the countries in which investments are made.

Researchers are trying all over the world in order to find the ways of production of fuels which are good for the environment. Bio fuels are a type of fuels which are good for the environment.

These are able to meet all the requirements of energy with no harmful effects on the environment. Investors prefer to have an overseas investment plan in order to make their investments in the bio fuels as the foreign countries offer many attractions to the foreign investors in order to make them able to choose those countries for investments.

Many countries are trying to increase the production of bio fuels on their own by increasing the production of such crops which are able to be used for the production of such fuels.

It is a good step forward as with the help of this the condition of environment could be improved. Any investment from overseas is welcome in any country and there are many benefits for the investors as well. It is the best among all the ethical investments.

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