DOE announced on July 22 the creation of the Fuels from Sunlight Energy Innovation Hub to develop revolutionary methods of generating fuels directly from sunlight. The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), led by the California Institute of Technology in partnership with the DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, will operate the initiative.

FOCOCEV Joint Stock Company in Quang Nam (Que Cuong Commune, Que Son District,) is an enterprise producing tapioca from fresh cassava. Since the typical characteristic of cassava starch factories is manual processing, wasted raw materials brought serious environmental consequences.

A firm processing catfish for exports, Dai Thanh Ltd. Co. (Song Thuan, Chau Thanh, Tien Giang) has invested in a solar water boiler system, saving a large amount of energy. They are also the first in Tien Giang to make use of solar energy in hot water provision.

Success greets the research team of National Research Council’s National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta. The plastic solar cells have now an operating life of 8 months instead of mere hours. And they are low-cost, environmentally efficient, unsealed plastic dollar cells – a green energy source.

That is precise data calculated on actual energy consumption for lighting of Vietnam announced by Dr. Vu Minh Mao, Chairman of Vietnam lighting association at the seminar "Effective Lighting and Energy Conservation "held in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.

Hanoi International Marine Trade Center Building – Ocean Park (located at number 1 Dao Duy Anh Street, Dong Da District, Ha Noi) was built in 2001 and put into operation in early 2004. With a total floor area of 34,640 sqm, having 21 stories including a commercial center and office blocks, the building consumes a huge amount of energy annually.

According to a new study, the Caribbean islands represent one of the perfect location for the development of renewable energy. Qualibou believes that by drilling in the right places, they can build a geothermal plant capable to produce about 150 megawatts of geothermal power.

Honolulu-based Natural Power Concepts has recently designed a mobile, retractable-blade wind turbine that is capable to generate both solar and wind energy. Being equipped with solar panels, this turbine becomes one of the newest inventions in the alternative energy field.

In order to help India’s rural masses who lack electricity, Vodafone Essar Ltd. recently developed a solar-powered mobile phone. According to officials, there are almost 20 million new mobile subscribers each month in India. The problem is that many of them live in rural areas, where the energy supply can be patchy at best.

On July 26th, under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, the Steering Committee of the National Target Program on Energy efficiency and conservation had a meeting to evaluate the performance of Phase I of the Program (2006-2010) and to propose upcoming contents for phase II (2011-2015).

With active involvement of many ministries, industries, localities, businesses during the period 2006 – 2010, the National Target Program on economical and efficient use of energy has achieved very commendable first results, saving a total of 3.2% of the national energy consumption amount (the target was to save from 3% to 5%). There are, however, many difficulties ahead to attain the target of saving from 5% to 8% in the next period 2011 – 2015.

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena were selected to lead the ambitious research project, the energy department announced Thursday. Its aim is to master the basic science involved, and develop applications that can be scaled up for commercial use.

In the early July, in Ha Long city, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (VNEEP) cooperated with Quang Ninh People’s Committee to organize “Effective energy saving lighting models in Northern provinces” media event. The event will contribute to propagate policies and develop public highly efficient lighting models as part of VNEEP.

The Sheraton Hotel won a First Energy Efficient Building Prize in 2009, which recognizes the hotel that was rebuilt to be energy efficient, green and environmentally friendly. The Sheraton Hotel was one of three buildings in Hanoi that took part in the contest and won a prize. Sheraton Hanoi has also led in applying the ISO 14.001 international environmental protection system.

The use of conventional energy such as fuel-wood and charcoal in rural and mountainous areas in our country has reduced the forest area and increased the amount of CO2 emission. Meanwhile, modern energies like electricity, gasoline, petroleum are becoming more and more costly, unaffordable for people in remote areas. A positive solution is to use biogas – an in-place and cheap energy source for farmers.

The United Arab Emirates is a world leader in oil exports, but if Sultan Al Jaber has his way, the Middle East nation one day will become the global leader in alternative energy. "The United Arab Emirates has the third-largest oil reserves in the world. But that does not mean oil and gas will be there forever," said Mr. Al Jaber, an anternationally recognized alternative energy expert.

In 1995, Ha Long Brick factory stopped operating because the circular kiln technology was obsolescent. The company switched to operate Tieu Giao Brick factory with tunnel furnace technology granted by Bulgaria. With two tunnel furnaces using dust coal, work conditions and product quality were improved but still at a low level. The company decided to dismantle Ha Long Brick Factory to try the new technology: dry crushing – plastic extruding – quick drying to produce high quality tile.

With the theme: “Energy and climate change”, at the AMEM 28, representatives of 10 ASEAN countries, Deputy secretary of ASEAN and 8 partner countries including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US acknowledged the results of 2009-2010 activities.

With the theme “Energy and Climate Change”, the 28th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM 28) has reflected the determination and spirit of ASEAN members in 2010 and years to come.

In the afternoon of 21st July, Senior Officials Meeting on Energy of ASEAN + 3 passed the draft agenda and the content of cooperation of AMEM +3 in preparation for the official opening of the 28th ASEAN Meeting of Energy Ministers, on 22nd July.