It’s official. China is the world’s largest consumer of energy. This happened a lot sooner — at least five years — than projected thanks to the disproportionate impact of the Great Recession on the U.S. relative to China. More significantly, this is an inexorable phenomenon as the IEA announcement notes: Since 2000, China’s energy demand […]
If China is the “green giant,” how far behind can India be?
If China is the “green giant,” how far behind can India be? A recent story documents how companies are trying to develop technologies, plants, and businesses that convert rice husk into power, recycle electronic waste, commission green data centers, consolidate wind and solar power, and mass produce electric cars. Unlike China where its government is […]
Renewables M&A gets down to earth
KPMG has published an interesting survey of mergers and acquisitions in the renewable energy industry. Major conclusions include: Deal volume has, of course, fallen from nearly $26 billion in 2007 to a little over $18 billion in 2008 … … With the billion-dollar transactions of 2008 being replaced by smaller-sized deals in the $300-500 million […]
Will renewable energy benefit from R&D investments?
In a presentation, Rice University’s Baker Institute scholars have looked at patenting activity over the past few decades, government funding in R&D, and potential impacts on renewable energy. Their conclusion is surprising: Lower government funding in renewable energy reflects R&D’s declining productivity (based on patents) rather than lack of support. While more details are necessary […]