Global Biodiesel Market to reach $64-bn by 2017

Leading global management consulting and market research company, Lucintel, has analysed the global biodiesel market and presented its findings in a report – “Growth Opportunities in the Global Biodiesel Market 2012–2017: Trends, Forecasts, and Market Share Analysis”. According to the document, the biodiesel market, which initially was driven by the European Union, has now spread to other regions of the world. The Rest of the World (ROW) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) are expected to experience tremendous growth in biodiesel supply and demand by 2017, driven primarily by public policy support. The use of biodiesel in the transportation sector will gain traction where nontoxic properties, biodegradability, lower emissions, and other performance benefits are critical. Ethanol is projected to occupy major percentage of the total biofuel production while biodiesel is expected to more than double in demand from 2011 levels.

 

APAC is expected to enjoy the highest growth rate in biodiesel production, while EU is expected to have the highest revenue value in the annual biodiesel market in 2017. The global biodiesel market is expected to continue its growth momentum, reaching approximately $64 billion by 2017 with a CAGR of 19 per cent over the next five years.

France reduces Solar FiT Rates

Solar industry in France continues to see a drop in the photovoltaic feed-in tariffs (FITs). The country’s regulator, CRE (Commission de Regulation de l’Energie) has announced that the tariffs for new installations connected in the first quarter 2012 will decrease by 4-10 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. The new remuneration will depend on the type of installation, up to 100 kW in size. Overall, more than ten different tariffs have been introduced. According to the industry organisation Enerplan, during 2011, the industry lost “half of the 25,000 jobs that had been created until then.”

Tunisia prepares to Energise Europe

Deserts of Southern Tunisia are preparing to witness a solar revolution as a group of renewable energy entrepreneurs, NUR Energie Ltd, and their Tunisian joint venture partner, Top Oilfield Services, get ready to develop the most ambitious solar power project in the country. After securing the endorsement of the Desertec Foundation, NUR Energie has launched the TuNur project to export up to 2,000 MW of solar energy from Tunisia to Italy via a high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable and into the Italian electricity grid. When completed, TuNur is set to be the world’s largest solar energy project. In order to not add to the desertification process, TuNur will make use of very little water and will recycle in a closed system the steam produced by the process of the array of mirrors reflecting sunlight to a tower storage unit, thereby turning the Sahara desert into a resource.

(picture from: http://www.nurenergie.com/ )

Siemens enters African Energy Market

Germany-based Siemens has received its first wind turbine orders in Africa after it bagged an order to deliver 44 wind turbines with a total capacity of 100 MW to the Haouma and Foum El Oued wind power plants in Morocco. Both plants are expected to come online by 2013. Commenting on the development, Felix Ferlemann, CEO of Siemens’ wind power division said, “These orders mark the entry of Siemens Wind Power in the African wind market and clearly show that our internationalisation strategy is successful.” In December 2011, Siemens had announced plans to dramatically ramp up its African operations by investing $260 million to boost local manufacturing and to increase the presence of its sales teams in the continent.

Morocco launches 850-MW Wind Tender

Morocco’s State-run power company, Office National de l’Electricite (ONE), has invited expressions of interest from companies for five wind energy projects with a total wind power generation capacity of 850 MW. Upon passing the preliminary phase, companies would be invited to bid in an international tender to be launched in the second quarter of 2012. Besides the five projects, the tender also includes a separate project of 200 MW capacity for procurement and maintenance purposes. The wind projects will be realised under a public-private partnership with ONE, the Energy Investment Company and King Hassan Fund, all owned by the State. Morocco aims to increase its wind farm capacity from the current 280 MW to 2,000 MW by 2020 at a total cost of $3.6 billion.