As the sun sets on Japan’s solar energy boom, companies and investors are rushing into wood-burning biomass projects to lock in still-high government subsidies. Collected wooden construction wastes are seen at Eco Green Holdings's factory which makes wood chips from construction waste in Tokyo, Japan September 7, 2017. More than 800 projects have already won government approval, offering 12.4 gigawatts (GW) of capacity -- equal to 12 nuclear power stations and nearly double Japan’s 2030 target for biomass in its basic energy policy. The sheer number of projects has raised questions about how they will all find sufficient fuel, mostly shipped in from countries like Canada and Vietnam, while some experts question the environmental credentials of such large-scale plants. The projects approved to date that use general wood fuel would … [Read more...] about Japan fires up biomass energy, but fuel shortage looms
Energy
Vietnam energy prospects 2017 announced
NDO – A report on Vietnam energy prospects has been announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), in collaboration with Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, providing an overview of Vietnam's opportunities and challenges faced in developing sustainable energy. The announcement of Vietnam Energy Outlook Report 2017 was hosted in Hanoi, on September 20, by the two ministries and the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam. The report is part of the outstanding collaborative results between the MOIT and the Danish ministry, within the framework of the lower carbon transition in energy efficiency sector in Vietnam, which is sponsored by the Danish Government. It is expected that the report will be implemented every two years. It is based on updated macroeconomic growth forecasts, primary energy demand growth and electricity demand in Vietnam. The optimal energy planning programme set in the report is based on the Danish Balmorel model, which helps to … [Read more...] about Vietnam energy prospects 2017 announced
Solar power calculators set up to promote renewable energies
EVN and WB will install five solar power calculating stations nationwide. (Photo: EVN) Hanoi (VNA) – The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and the World Bank (WB) will join hands to install five solar power calculating stations nationwide as part of a joint campaign to promote the development of renewable energies in the country. Besides collecting high-quality data on radiation, the stations will improve the accuracy of solar energy estimation. The data will be made public free of charge on the website of Global Solar Atlas (globalsolaratlas.info) and is expected to support investors who are interested in building solar power plants. Vietnam’s average solar power potential is displayed at the Global Solar Atlas which has the capacity to zoom into area in great detail with a spatial resolution of 1 kilometre. The WB’s support in setting up solar energy … [Read more...] about Solar power calculators set up to promote renewable energies
Vietnam imports more and more energy
VietNamNet Bridge - Since 2015, Vietnam has shifted from an energy exporting country to an importing country. It has to import 3 percent of the primary energy needed, but the figure will rise to 24 percent by 2030. Nearly all rivers have been surveyed for hydropower development with 824 projects with the total capacity of 24,778 MW, or 95.3 percent of the potential. Scientists still argue about the role of small-scale hydropower plants in the national economy. The plants are believed to ‘do more harm than good’ with benefits smaller than the environmental consequences. RELATED NEWS Hydropower plants in danger as water capacity reaches high levels Developing small-scale hydropower is a big mistake: experts Thanh Mai … [Read more...] about Vietnam imports more and more energy
Fire ice – China’s new energy ambition
VietNamNet Bridge - Dr. Tran Cong Truc talks about China's new moves and its conspiracy in the East East as well as Vietnam's ability to sue China. relate news China's "pun" trap a ruse to justify expansion in East Sea Q: Why did China deploy the Nanhai 09 oil rig at the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin? Dr. Tran Cong Truc: I think China's anchoring of Nanhai 09 oil rig in the overlapping area at the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, of course, was for the purpose of exploration drilling. Many argue that China's deployment of this oil rig is just a move to achieve political and military purposes, not for economic reasons, because this area has no oil. I disagree entirely. I agree that they do so to realize their "U-shaped line" claims, with the ambition to monopolize the East Sea and to become a maritime power. But if you say that the deployment of the oil rig is not for economic reasons, I disagree. Through their building of oil rigs worth billions of US dollars, their use of escort … [Read more...] about Fire ice – China’s new energy ambition