Energías Alternativas al petróleo
Biofuel de las algas cooperacion UAE-Filipinas:
Dubai-based alternative energy firm SS Lootah Group has signed an agreement with a Philippines-based producer to extract biofuels from algae and start production in the emirate within the next 18 months.
Lootah Biofuels, a subsidiary of SS Lootah Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AlgaOil to set up a biodiesel production facility in Dubai and the joint venture aims to start extracting biofuel from specially constructed algae ponds within 18 months.
“This project aims at developing alternate ways of extracting new raw material for Biofuels. We believe that algae can be a good replacement for vegetable oil based biofuel."
AlgaOil, which currently has facilities in the Philippines, is currently performing field trials for the development of the algae and the construction of open ponds for the large-scale algae production.
“Based on the success of the initial start-up, the algae oil mass production will start in Dubai after six to 18 months,” the firms said in a statement.
The main advantage of algae is its higher production value compared its rivals. Corn produces 0.9 barrels of oil per hectare, soy beans roughly 2.5 barrels per hectare and palm oil roughly 32 barrel per hectare per year. By comparison, algae results in a yearly production of 100 barrels per hectare per year
First Solar has been awarded a contract to construct a 13 MW solar PV plant for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the first phase of Dubai’s planned Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park.
“The PV plant installation is a key step in the implementation of the energy diversification strategy adopted by the Supreme Council of Energy, in which solar energy is set to become part of Dubai’s energy portfolio. The strategy is based on Dubai’s growing energy requirements and aims to maintain security of supply in the Emirate of Dubai”
The UAE and Canada have signed a nuclear cooperation agreement (NCA) in Ottawa, Canada; a deal that will allow for much closer cooperation between the two countries as the UAE pushes ahead with its nuclear development in Abu Dhabi.
German giant wins $109m UAE power deal: Siemens picked to build new substation in Abu Dhabi to help meet rising electricity demand
El desierto podria ser el nuevo petroleo?
The DESERTEC concept was originated with Dr Gerhard Knies, a German particle physicist and founder of the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC)
DESERTEC is a global renewable energy solution based on harnessing sustainable power from the sites where renewable sources of energy are at their most abundant. The sun-rich deserts of the world play a special role.
The scientific studies done by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) between 2004-2007 demonstrated that the desert sun could meet rising power demand in the MENA region, whilst also helping to power Europe, reduce carbon emissions across the EU-MENA region and power desalination plants to provide freshwater to the MENA region.
Dii GmbH published a further study called Desert Power 2050 in June 2012.[8] It found that the MENA region would be able to meet its needs for power with renewable energy, while exporting its excess power to create an export industry with an annual volume of more than €60 billion. Meanwhile, by importing desert power, Europe could save around €30/MWh.
China parece interesada!
China’s State Grid Corp (SGCC) is reportedly interested in joining the Desertec initiative which aims to supply Europe with electricity from renewable sources in North Africa.
SGCC was established in 2002, and claims to be the world’s biggest utility company. Its service area covers 88% of China’s territory and the firm has over 1.5m employees.
Desertec has been in the news a good deal in recent weeks, with news of an MoU signed with Morocco’s Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency followed by reports that Siemens was planning to leave the initiative. Siemens has recently announced that it is selling its solar business, and is consequently expected to leave the Desertec group of companies.
Work on biggest offshore wind farm completed: Masdar project set for full operations in Spring 2013
• Work starts on Masdar’s Mauritanian solar plant
• Masdar Power to help complete London Array by 2013
• Masdar signs deals for London Array
TAQA begins solar cooling pilot: Project with Chromasun will test MCT panels at TRANSCO building
• TAQA takes share of India hydro project
• TAQA takes 50% stake in US wind power scheme
• TAQA signs major Turkish power agreement
The transition to renewables has already begun. There are thousands of megawatts of wind, photovoltaic and concentrating solar power capacity already delivering power in the Middle East, in North Africa, and in Europe.
For reasons like climate protection, energy independence, or the plummeting price of power from some renewable technologies, more and more countries are turning to a clean energy future.
In the MENA region, Morocco has plans to install 2GW of wind and 2 GW of solar by 2020. The first part of the 500 MW Ouarzazate solar complex is already on its way. Solar plants are cropping up in Jordan. Saudi Arabia is targeting 41GW of solar by 2032 including 25 GW of concentrating solar power.
In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi has announced hundreds of megawatts of solar projects and set a 7% renewable energy target for 2020. By 2030, Algeria plans to install 22GW of renewable power generating capacity, of which 12GW is intended to meet the domestic demand and 10GW destined for export.
Wind farms are already operating and many more are being constructed across North Africa. In Tunisia, the first project endorsed by the DESERTEC Foundation, a 2GW CSP plant called TuNur, is moving forward and the Tunisian government is now considering a draft law to allow foreign companies to produce power for export in the country for the first time.
Despite ongoing economic difficulties in Europe there are bright spots here too.
Interconnectors under the North Sea are operational between the UK and both France and the Netherlands.Denmark has announced a plan to completely kick the fossil fuel habit with a 100% renewable energy supply by 2050. The IEA has praised the plan as clear, pragmatic, and flexible. Renewables provide an ever higher proportion of energy demand in Germany. The indications are clear. We can do this!
However, the whole region needs to move much more quickly and intelligently. The IEA warned last year that taking the wrong decisions on our energy supply in the next five years would lock-in carbon emissions, leaving us unable to prevent dangerous climate change.
We simply cannot afford to let this happen. The EU can help this process by establishing the right frameworks. An international agreement that establishes a stable regulatory framework for a truly regional energy market would unleash hundreds of billions in investment in the coming decades.
This would enable North African countries to meet growing domestic energy demand with clean power and help Europe meet its targets for renewables and emission reductions more affordably.
UAE’s Dana Gas 2012 net profit rises 20%
Dana’s 2012 net profit rose to US$165m from the US$138m it posted in 2011