Europe Greening EU power supply: hit “panic button” now, not in 2049, says MEP The European green energy community came together last Wednesday for the launch of a new report commissioned by the Smart Energy for Europe Platform set to be the new ‘study of studies’ on greening Europe’s power supply. According to Sir Graham Watson MEP, the study shows there is an urgent need to ramp up renewables now, while a delay could be detrimental to global development. | Investments in small-scale renewables surge Asset finance of wind farms and solar parks was up strongly and small-scale PV installations ran at record levels in the second quarter of 2012, says Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The clean energy sector showed resilience in the face of global economic ills and policy uncertainty, with new investment totalling $59.6 billion. This was up 24% on Q1, but still 18% below the near-record quarterly figure of $72.5 billion in Q2 last year. | Solar power project M&A enjoyed a record year in 2011 Investors bought a record 3.9 GW of solar photovoltaic projects in 2011, worth an estimated $10.8 billion (€8.7 billion), a phenomenal 122 percent higher, in terms of GW capacity, over the previous year, according to new research published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. | Panorama Africa Africans slow in opening up to renewables, but capable of creating a “Green Africa” Ireland Irish must push further toward a low-carbon economy Alex Koberle Giving consumers the chance to put their money where their mouth is Wind Europe 50% rise in offshore wind capacity in EU over last year United Kingdom New revolutionary wind turbine intended to inspire students PV China Chinese raise PV target for 2015 to 21 GW, sparking boom Morocco, aspiring to big things in renewables, to host PV conference Geothermal Japan Post-nuclear Fukushima going geothermal Agenda Bioenergy Finance Forum Advanced Project Management for Energy Industry PV Manufacturing Summit India |