London, U.K. — As The New Economy announces the winners of the Cleantech and New Energy Awards, governments and organisations have made it clear that energy providers’ strategies are still fundamental to the future of business development.

The two-day blackout experienced across two thirds of India in July illustrated that the nation’s power demands rest on a knife edge. In a country whose cities use an estimated 40 percent of electricity on air conditioning to make working life tolerable, intelligent solutions are clearly required to utilise available energy to maximum efficiency. And India is far from the only country in this situation.

With the need for a smarter use of resources to meet ever-growing demands, the Cleantech and New Energy Awards 2012 offer commendation to the companies and projects whose work is pioneering new ways of generating energy and efficiency in energy usage. Their ingenuity in the field offers a brighter prospect for the use.

The award winners represent a large spectrum of intelligent ideas for the creation and saving of energy and resources. From better ways to preserve water to creating power via hydroelectricity, The New Economy has evaluated the projects that will serve and impact on the way of life well into the next century. The winners represent the companies who are delivering progress in this area while considering our relationship with the environment at the same time.

The Clean Tech and New Energy Awards 2012 also celebrate the companies who have pursued new thinking for existing technologies. Focusing on efficiency, these winners have demonstrated their excellence through projects such as achieving greater power generation from wind turbines and developing higher-yielding and less costly solar panels.

The New Economy presents these well-earned accolades and offers its warmest congratulations to all winners and looks forward to a brighter future they offer us.

The full announcement of The Clean Tech and New Energy Awards 2012, along with articles on some of the winning technologies, can be found in the Autumn edition of The New Economy in shops now. To see a full listing of award winners please visit their site.

World News Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, enjoying a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of the most prominent and senior decision-makers around the world, as well as comprehensive airport, hotel and conference site distribution.

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Annapolis, U.S.A. — Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. announced on July 23 the publishing of its patent titled Efficient Energy Conversion Devices & Methods by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The patent covers specific aspects of deploying multiple turbines in a wind tunnel coupled to a novel hydraulic system capable of maintaining high efficiency hydraulic to electric conversion under a wide variance of wind speeds. The ultimate goal is to maximize the capture and utilization of all available wind energy in any given wind tunnel, as well as providing a consistency of power output during any deviations in wind speed. The Company considers this patent to be a “Core Patent” providing a significant barrier to entry for any potential competitor.

Ronald W. Pickett, President, Chief Executive Officer of CWET previously stated, “Our innovative solution of extracting the maximum energy generated by the captured wind, with the least loss of power throughout the transmission cycle from capture to exhaust, produces a much more consistent level of power output while compensating for the normal differentials in atmospheric conditions over any given period, and should coincide with our customers’ requirements. The technological concepts and applications claimed and embodied within this patent provide significant benefits toward enhancing the level of efficient power generation, as well as reducing operational costs.

The annual capacity factor for the downdraft portion of the Energy Tower is predicted at approximately 51%. Prime production periods are daytime and evening during spring, summer and fall, which closely align with electricity demand patterns. However, the External Wind Capture keeps working 24/7, whenever a wind is blowing, including cold winter months and at night.

Its capacity factor is estimated at approximately 75%, which raises the Energy Tower’s overall capacity factor to above 60%. Clean Wind believes that the Downdraft Tower will be capable of recapturing and recycling the vast majority of the water used to create the downdraft. This water may be returned to be reused in the Downdraft Tower or diverted for local potable water.

As currently designed, the Company anticipates that each Downdraft Tower will be capable of generating up to 1,200 megawatts per hour of salable electricity to the grid.  One megawatt equates to 1,000,000 watts or 1,000 kilowatts of electricity. Currently, avoided costs per kilowatt in California are running approximately $0.11 per kilowatt hour.

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New York, U.S.A. — In an effort to reduce vehicle air pollution, Duane Reade, in partnership with Mission Electric, is turning to New Yorkers to determine which of its stores should be served solely by electric trucks. New Yorkers can vote for locations they feel should receive 100% electric delivery via an interactive map (nyc.missionelectric.org) launched by Mission Electric, a non-profit and city government social engagement campaign focused on enhancing electric vehicle transportation.

Based on the campaign results, the two leading stores will be going electric, with five more pre-selected stores to follow in later months. Participants in the campaign will be entered in a contest to win Duane Reade ”green” gift baskets and gift cards. Combined, more than 30 stores have been identified as electric truck ready in the 4 boroughs boroughs of Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

To reduce the impact of air pollution originating from vehicle deliveries, Duane Reade has purchased 14 new Smith Electric trucks that will replace almost 25% of the company’s truck fleet. The partnership with Mission Electric will reduce Duane Reade’s total green house gas impact by about 20 percent. That is the equivalent of removing over 1,000 vehicles’ tailpipe emissions from New York’s streets. Because the new trucks do not require combustion, their operation is almost silent, reducing noise levels from overnight deliveries.

“Partnering with Mission Electric is an important component of our effort to be green,” said Michael Fowles, Fleet Manager of Duane Reade. “This exciting project is an excellent way for us to get our stores and our customers involved in the process of a cleaner future. It fosters true engagement around common urban challenges of air pollution, noise, and congestion. Through this program we can more easily work together to continue to make NYC such a wonderful place to live and visit.”

“New Yorkers live in the fast lane, and this partnership will help them also take the green lane,” said David Bragdon, Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. “The City’s own municipal fleet is the second-largest public sector fleet in the nation, after the Federal Government’s, but it is important for the private sector to do its part too. Duane Reade’s investment in electric vehicles will help meet our ambitious PlaNYC goal of reducing NYC’s green house gas emissions. We’re pleased to work with all the partners in the Mission Electric campaign to drive forward to a greener, cleaner city.”

“Electric transportation isn’t the future it’s the present, and we want to ensure that everyone has a say on how this new technology unfolds,” said Christina Ficicchia, Executive Director of NYC and Lower Hudson Valley Clean Cities Coalition. “NYCLHVCC is excited to be Mission Electric’s founding partner and we hope that more businesses follow the example set by Duane Reade and the City of New York to get cleaner vehicles on the streets. We encourage New Yorkers to log on, vote and steer the way towards an electric future.”

About Duane Reade

Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in New York City. In keeping with the company’s brand vision of New York Living Made Easy, Duane Reade provides New Yorkers with prescriptions, health products and services, beauty products and services, food and convenience items for daily life in the City…everything for “How I Feel”, “How I Look”, and “What I Need Now.” The company operates 250+ stores throughout the metropolitan New York region. Duane Reade is part of the Walgreens family of companies, the nation’s largest drugstore chain with more than 7,800 stores in all 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

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Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.A. – SC Johnson continues to build its legacy as an environmental champion with the announcement that it will build two wind turbines at its largest global manufacturing plant, Waxdale, located in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin. The company received clearance to begin construction on the turbines, which will put wind power behind trusted brands such as Windex, Glade, Pledge, Raid and Scrubbing Bubbles. The turbines are expected to be operational by the end of 2012.

“This initiative is a visible symbol of our long legacy to do what’s right for the environment,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “The wind turbines allow us to expand our use of green energy in manufacturing our products. When completed, the addition of these wind turbines will enable us generate on average 100 percent of our electrical energy on-site at Waxdale, with approximately 60 percent of it coming from renewable sources.”

Waxdale, the size of 36 football fields, is SC Johnson’s largest global manufacturing facility. The wind turbines will generate approximately eight million KWH of electricity per year, the equivalent of powering more than 700 homes annually, and reduce carbon emissions associated with powering Waxdale by six thousand metric tons annually. The turbines are expected to be approximately 415 feet high.

The wind turbines are the latest in a series of renewable energy production investments at Waxdale. In addition to the practical energy and sustainability benefits, the investment in the company’s Waxdale facility continues SC Johnson’s commitment to manufacturing in the Racine community.

Wind Turbines – The Facts, Benefits

The company expects the wind turbines will produce approximately 15 percent of the electrical energy used at Waxdale. The remaining approximately 85 percent of Waxdale’s electrical energy requirements can be produced by two co-generation units installed during the last decade that produce electrical energy and steam. Approximately 27 million KWH per year or 45 percent will be renewable energy from landfill gases used by co-generation unit one; on average, the remaining 23 million KWH or 40 percent will be from methane/clean energy used by co-generation unit two. The electricity generated will be the energy equivalent of more than 600,000 gallons of gasoline every year, equal to an average amount of gas used by more than 1,100 cars annually. This effort will reduce annual carbon emissions associated with powering the Waxdale plant by six thousand metric tons.

Reducing Resource Use

Sustainability has been a focus for SC Johnson for decades. In late 2011, the company was recognized with a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their commitment and contribution to the advancement of the nation’s voluntary green power market.Three SWIFT mini-wind turbines at its Racine, Wisconsin. Corporate Headquarters that were installed as a pilot program in 2010, with the goal of reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions while raising awareness that renewable energy can be used in urban settings. In their first year of operation, the mini-turbines have reduced GHGs by 580 pounds.

The company also installed three SWIFT turbines at their Lowell, Ark. sales office in May 2012. Once fully operational, they will be connected to the site’s electrical distribution system and will be capable of generating as much as 3,600 kWh of electricity annually – the equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions reduction from 278 gallons of gasoline consumed. The 2009 construction of a 262-foot-tall wind turbine tower helps power SC Johnson’s European manufacturing facility in Mijdrecht, Netherlands. It produces approximately five to six million kWh of electricity a year – eliminating 3,500-4,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

An innovative burner/boiler system that since 2007 has enabled the company’s Medan, Indonesia, factory to run on palm shells, the remaining waste of the palm oil industry. Rather than being burned as a waste product, the shells are used as a fuel source, transferring them to the value chain with minimal environmental impact and reducing the company’s diesel fuel usage by 80 percent.

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With India’s highest solar radiation in western Rajasthan, half of India’s solar capacity in 2022 could come from this state, says Satya Kumar, managing director of Shri Shakti Alternative Energy.

The high radiation in combination with a large amount of sunny days in Rajasthan makes it by far the most popular location for projects under the National Solar Mission. The average tariff of all project bids under the second round of the National Solar Mission was as low as Rs.8.78/Kwh.

“The natural reaction of some investors to this outcome was that it’s too low. But if you analyse the conditions in Rajasthan, it will become clear that this tariff is viable,” says Kumar, who researched a case for a 10MW plant in Rajasthan. Shri Shakti Alernative Energy Ltd is developing the infrastructure for a 100MW private solar park being developed under an MoU with Government of Rajasthan.

“In western Rajasthan, a Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF) of 21 percent can be achieved,” Kumar further explains. “In Germany, the world solar capital, this is typically 13 percent. This means that a 1MW solar plant in western Rajasthan can produce 1.85 million units per year, compared to around 1.6 million units elsewhere in India.”

“The conditions in Rajasthan are so favourable, that it will be amongst the most logical places in the world to implement solar power,” says Edwin Koot, CEO of Solarplaza, a Netherlands based information platform for international solar energy stakeholders.

Solarplaza is organizing the conference The Solar Future: India II on 29 February in Jaipur. “It’s only a matter of time for solar power to take off on a large scale in Rajasthan,” says Koot, explaining the choice of location.

Besides attention for the benefits of Rajasthan and other local developments, the conference will host internationally renowned speakers with an eye for global trends and inspirational future visions. This in combination with an informal networking atmosphere gives the event a unique character.

Speakers include Ravindra Raina, President of India operations, Astonfield; Ravi Khanna, CEO of Solar Power Business of Aditya Birla Group; Jigar Shah – CEO, Carbon War Room; Vishal Shah – Managing Director & Senior Analyst Alternative Energy Deutsche Bank; Ashok Bhalotra, Ambassador, KuiperCompagnons; Madan Mohan Vijayvergia – Director (Technical), Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation.

http://www.thesolarfuture.in

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Xi Jinping, Vice President of China, started his trip to the United Stated recently at the invitation of Joe Biden, Vice President of the US. This visit is expected to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries and boost confidence. On Feb 17th in Los Angeles, China and the US signed a number of economic and trade contracts at the China-US Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.

This is the second large-scale economic and trade pact between the two countries, the first of which saw $45 billion worth of contracts agreed to when President Hu Jintao visited the US last year. Among these contracts, some are of the traditional mode of purchase and import, including Sanhe Hope-full Grain & Oil Group, which purchased $1 billion in soy beans from an American company and Yingli Energy, which purchased $1.634 billion in silicon material.

There are also some contracts for a new mode of cooperation, such as ENN’s investment to build a clean energy ecological center in Nevada. As well, there is Jiaxing Stone Wheel and Zhejiang Hengzheng Valve’s joint-purchase of American tire making enterprises. This kind of cooperation embodies a diverse investment mode and displays a new trend of Sino-US economic and trade cooperation based on the foundation of frequent mutual visits between the two countries.

According to the “Letter of Intent for Cooperation of the Clean Energy Ecological Center Project” between ENN and Nevada’s Clark County government, ENN will invest $5 billion in Nevada to build a clean energy ecological center, which includes a solar energy photovoltaic generation base, a solar module manufacturing base and a future energy eco-town.

This investment of capital plus technologies will not only provide green energy to local residents, but also provide them with more than 4,000 jobs. At the China-US Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum on Feb 17th, Wang Yusuo, ENN’s Chairman of the board, made a speech on behalf of Chinese private-owned enterprises and expressed his confidence and good wishes for the investment and cooperation in new industries.

Meanwhile, he said that ENN would carry forward its spirit of innovation and begin a second start-up with the support of the Chinese and American governments. Experts said the investment and cooperation pattern of “capital plus technologies” will hopefully boost cooperation between China and the US, which confirms Vice President Xi Jinping’s prediction and opinion that “Sino-US cooperation has undergone a fundamental change in pattern.”

For a long time, “Investing and making profits” has been the main method of American enterprises in their global development. The status quo of “trade surplus in China and profit in the US” has lasted for decades.

Regarding this economic and trade mode, Xi Jinping pointed out when Biden visited China in August 2011, “With the further development of China’s reforms and opening to the outside world and modernization, the traditional Sino-US cooperation pattern that the US provides capital and technologies while China provides labor, resources and markets, has undergone a fundamental change.”

As to the reasons for this change, experts believe it has a lot to do with the fast improvement of Chinese enterprises’ “new power in technological innovations.” In some fields Chinese technology is now a leader. ENN’s clean energy investment project in Nevada is a typical case.

This is not the first time that ENN has participated in project cooperation in the clean energy field in the US. Starting in 2009, ENN group began cooperation in the photovoltaic field with Duke Energy, one of American’s biggest energy companies. Analysts consider ENN’s “capital plus technologies” project at the clean energy eco center in Nevada a ground-breaking event which will be a milestone in starting a new pattern in the China-US economic and trade dynamic.

Behind this new pattern is the rise of China’s comprehensive strength and technological innovation and America’s confidence and open mind towards its cooperation with China. During his visit to China last year, Biden expressed that the US is willing to step up cooperation with China on market access and mutual investment and welcomes and encourages direct investment in the US from Chinese businesses and entities.

Apparently, both the US and China have realized that with the acceleration of globalization, competition and cooperation has become an inevitable trend. To pursue cooperation in competition and form new cooperative patterns is the key to a win-win result, and will be the catalyst for developing future economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

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The UN has released a report detailing methods to use green energy sources to help kick start economies in developing nations.

The report claims investing as little as two percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could change economies’ carbon bases from high to low.

The report singled out India, wherein the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has generated an estimated three billion days’ worth of employment while still concentrating on water conservation and land development.

The report also stated despite finding evidence of long term benefits, there would be short-term jobs losses for economies who decided to switch to more green areas.

Job areas such as fishing and other areas directly affecting the environment would be the hardest hit in the proposed changeover.

There are supporters of the UN’s findings, particularly in organizations with an established environmental focus.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International Director General Jim Leape showed support for the bill.

“UNEP’s report demonstrates that a clean and green development path can produce growth and employment while cutting costs and reducing the risks associated with business as usual,” Mr. Leape said.

“Conventional economic thinking, GDP measures of growth and conventional corporate accounting will take us crashing headlong into the Earth’s limits.”

The report was released as part of the UN Millennium Development goals. The goals focus on poverty, international standards of living and energy concerns.

Pavan Sukhdev head of the UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative stressed the importance of government in changing the current focus of economies from carbon based to green.

“A Green Economy is not about stifling growth and prosperity, it is about reconnecting with what is real wealth; re-investing in rather than just mining natural capital; and, favouring the many over the few. It is also about a global economy that recognizes the intergenerational responsibility of nations to hand over a healthy, functioning and productive planet to the young people of today and those yet to be born.”

There were ten key sectors identified as having the greatest role in establishing a greener economy.

Agriculture:

• Investment of up to $300 billion until 2050 for feeding a global population, soil fertility management and finding more sustainable water sources

Buildings:

• This sector was singled out as the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the report. The report focused on creating and growing technologies with renewable energy supplies.

Fisheries:

• The report stated there is currently overfishing, with populations unable to breed to keep up with current fishing levels. There was a focus on cutting down on current commercial fishing, with rises again in 2050 as fish levels rise again.

Forestry:

• Reducing deforestation, which the report found is close to 20% of current greenhouse gas emissions.

Transport:

• The report stressed the importance of public transport, predicting further investment in this industry would also create job opportunities.

Other Sectors:

• Waste Management
• Water
• Industry
• Tourism
• Energy supply

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