Environment-Renewables
EU Commits €10 billion for carbon capture storage
The Environment Committee of the European Parliament voted yesterday in favour of introducing new carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) for large power stations built from 2015 onwards.
US bailout bill heralds eight year tax credit extension for solar energy
It was good news for the solar energy industry as it was given an eight year investment tax credit (ITC) extension in the financial bailout bill passed by US House of Representatives on 3rd October.
Chaos theory - Why a little instability might be no bad thing for the future of the credit market
The recent history of the financial markets has been a story of cheap and widely available credit and advances in risk management techniques that have enabled investors to accurately price - in theory, at least - a book of risks. David Boorer of Northern…
Exclusive Interview: Jerry Del Missier
It's been a month that will go down as a seminal time in the history of the banking industry. Big investment banks have failed. Others have stepped in, sensing an unmissable opportunity to extend their franchise. Barclays Capital is one of them. Its…
Tech Briefs
News
EDF to buy British Energy
French utility EDF has agreed to pay £12 billion for nuclear generator British Energy. EDF has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Centrica that will allow the UK utility to take a 25% stake in British Energy for £3 billion.
India’s NCDEX launches futures contract in thermal coal
India’s National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) today launched a thermal coal futures contract.
Sterling Waterford launches Carbon Credit note in South Africa
Sterling Waterford Securities has listed its second Carbon Credit Note on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The note offers investors exposure to the price of Certified Emission Reductions which are part of the Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism.
CantorCO2e to hold first binding CER auction
Carbon broker CantorCO2e will hold the first binding Certified Emissions Reduction (CER) auction on 2 October.
China displaces UK in top five countries for renewables
China has moved into the top five most attractive countries for renewables investment, knocking the UK to sixth place, according to an Ernst & Young survey. The Energy country attractiveness indices, published by E&Y every quarter, look at a country’s…
Van Eck unveils first Global Hard Assets ETF
Asset manager Van Eck Global, based in New York, has launched its Market Vectors-RVE Hard Asset Producers exchange-traded fund (ETF), the first of its kind, on the American Stock Exchange (Amex).
Powerful ambition
Backed by the financial might of Russia's Renova Group, Avelar Energy is investing in conventional and renewable energy assets across western Europe. Avelar's CEO, Igor Akhmerov, tells Roderick Bruce about his company's strategy
Power struggle
Forward liquidity has been lacking in the UK power market since 2002, and attempts to improve the situation have met with little success. Roderick Bruce considers what the future may hold for UK power trading
A path for renewables
Renewable energy needs to become a bigger part of the US energy mix, but there are still a number of hurdles to clear, explains Richard McMahon of the Edison Electric Institute
Chief risk officer of the year Joachim Oechslin
Life & Pensions Awards 2008
RGGI futures competition hots up
As the fledgling US Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative finds its feet, is there sufficient liquidity for two exchange-traded futures contracts? Katie Holliday finds out. Additional reporting by Roderick Bruce
Green futures
India
Dow Jones and Chicago Climate Exchange launch global emissions index series
Dow Jones and the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) have launched two indexes linked to global emissions, the first in a new series created by the companies. The European Carbon Index will offer exposure to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU…
Arc creates watershed with H2O plan
Arc Capital & Income has unveiled the six-year Arc H2O Plan, its first utility-based investment linked to water. The plan is based on the S&P Global Water index, offering 1.25 times the rise in the index with no cap. Return is calculated according to the…
Romanian wind farm to be largest in Europe
European utility giant CEZ Group has bought two adjacent wind farms in Romania from Eastern European renewables developer Continental Wind Partners (CWP).
Dow Jones Indexes expands into carbon
Index provider Dow Jones Indexes, in partnership with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), has launched two carbon indexes, with a view to further expanding into other gases and regions.
MF Global establishes nuclear trading desk
Broker MF Global has set up its first nuclear fuel trading desk. Based in London, the new desk will provide the primary nuclear fuel market with a forum for the sale and purchase of physical uranium oxides, as well as a suite of uranium price hedging and…