Under the plan, the Economics Ministry would use its fast-track powers to expedite the approval process for building transmission routes, among other planned measures. To date, one of the main obstacles of upgrading Germany’s network to carry energy generated by solar and wind has been the country’s patchwork approval process.

In the quest for the perfect biofuel, various companies and government agencies are racing to uncover the “magic bullet” that will allow for the production of inexpensive and energy efficient biofuels. Algae, yeasts and bacteria have all been playing their part in transforming various feedstocks and even CO2 into usable biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.

The Japanese government is poised to increase the incentives available to a wide range of clean energy technologies through a revamp of the country's feed-in tariff scheme, which should come into effect from next year. According to Reuters' reports, a government advisory panel today approved a set of proposals that will significantly extend the current solar incentives regime to cover other forms of energy, including wind, small-size hydro, biomass and geothermal energy.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most technologically advanced and oil rich countries in the Middle East; however, oil is not enough to meet the country’s expected energy demand in coming decades. In preparation, the UAE is following suit with neighboring Saudi Arabia and pursuing a nuclear power program of their own, with Australia as yellow cake uranium supplier of choice.

German Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen (C) arrives for a crisis meeting on biofuel Super E10 as German federal government meets with the chiefs of the oil industry for talks on why German motorists are refusing to fill their cars with a new ‘eco-friendly’ petrol, Berlin, Germany.

Brazil, the world's third largest sugar producer, is willing to invest in Pakistan's energy sector. Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan Alfredo Laoni communicated this during his visit to Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), highlighting that Brazil is prepared to aid community traders and industrialists during Pakistan's energy crisis.

Only the very poorest countries would be eligible to receive funds for building new coal-fired power stations under proposed new rules. The World Bank is planning to restrict the money it gives to coal -fired power stations, bowing to pressure from green campaigners to radically revise its funding rules.

Google is helping build a massive undersea power cable along the East Coast that's designed to ferry clean power from offshore wind farms to the country's most populous region. Starting off in southern Virginia and ending in northern New Jersey, the cable would lay on the sea floor some 10 to 20 miles offshore. It could carry up to 6,000 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power nearly 2 million homes.

The UK's growing support for the offshore wind industry stands it in good stead to benefit from a large share of the global market, householders wanting to switch energy might be pleased to learn. Business Green reports that analysis from the Carbon Trust shows wind capacity around the world could grow to 1,150 GW in the next 40 years and the UK's contribution to the sector, through operations and maintenance services, could see it account for around ten per cent of the international market.

Citing the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, environmental activists at a U.N. meeting Sunday urged bolder steps to tap renewable energy so the world doesn’t have to choose between the dangers of nuclear power and the ravages of climate change.

In a move, which is set to face severe opposition from motorists, the EU is planning to ban petrol and diesel powered cars from European cities by 2050. The decision is seen as an attempt by the 27-nation bloc to force people to adopt ‘green’ cars and reduce their dependence on oil. The plan will also help in protecting the environment.

In Paris they met Eric Besson, France's minister of industry and energy, and took part in a round-table discussion with both countries' energy and industrial leaders aimed at exchanging experience and developing partnerships. One result was the creation of a high level group jointly chaired by GDF-Suez CEO Gérard Mestrallet and Guillermo Luksic of the wide-ranging Quiñenco conglomerate.

America is yearning for leadership, and energy policy is another area where it is lacking. Democrats argue we must do more to promote and develop alternative fuels. Republicans counter that there is no alternative to oil and gas in the short term and that we need to increase our domestic output to secure our energy supply.

Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said, “The goal is to reduce the consumption of oil and gas to reduce our energy bill which has risen in recent days and which we do not forecast will drop.” The Deputy Prime Minister also added that the measures are just temporary, though he did not clarify as to till when these will be in effect.

The annual survey of cell manufacturers published in the March 2011 issue of PHOTON International shows that the PV industry increased global cell production to 27.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2010, which is as much as the output of the previous 4 years combined. This incredibly large volume means an increase of 118-percent over the 12.5 GW produced in 2009 - the highest annual growth rate since PHOTON International started tracking cell production in 1999.

Richard MacLellan, Halifax Regional Municipality’s SEMO Manager (Sustainable Environment Management Office) remarked that adopting solar heating technology was a good cost- effective proposition. As the demand for hot water was very high in the building, the opportunity for savings by decreasing the operating costs in the facility was also huge. He mentioned that they would continue their exploration to discover the most promising and innovative renewable technology that could be used in the projects.

Senator Joe Lieberman called for a temporary halt on the building of nuclear plants in the U.S., and many news organizations have reported that it could cause a major setback for U.S. nuclear policy. Last year, the Department of Energy announced $8.3 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of two nuclear plants in Georgia. The plants are part of a major push by President Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu to support nuclear power in the United States.

Australia’s national science agency is collaborating with leading universities on an 8.3-million Australian dollar ($8.17 million) research collaboration to use enzymes to produce biofuels from waste plant feed stocks. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization’s Energy Transformed Cluster on Biofuels seeks viable ways to transform waste plant materials into a sustainable low-emission fuel for cars, trucks and even planes.

IDTechEx recently visited GS Caltex in Seoul, Korea, who have developed a solid state lithium thin film battery. The company is a joint venture between GS, Korea and Chevron, USA, and its core business is oil refinery where they are number two in Korea. The company also works on renewable energy including fuel cells, biofuels, materials for supercapacitors and thin film batteries.

Under the RCUK programme, Nanoscience through Engineering to Application, the EPSRC and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) are investing in four industry-led collaborative research and development projects that will address challenges in building the supply chain and scaling up technologies.

Restoring power and government reconstruction spending are crucial to Japan's economy resuming growth, the IMF said Thursday, after Tokyo put the damage of the March 11 earthquake at $309 billion. International Monetary Fund officials said they expected a short-term slowdown, but growth would "rebound" to pre-quake levels and more.

The first new nuclear reactor ordered in the U.S. in roughly three decades is beginning to take shape near Augusta, Ga. Southern Company and its partners have dug 27.5 meters down to reach bedrock and are now refilling the hole to provide a stable, anchored foundation for what is likely to be the first of a new generation of reactors in the U.S.: two new AP1000 models at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant that stand next to two older pressurized water reactors, which came online in the 1980s—the first of some 14 AP1000s and 20 new reactors in total that may be built in the U.S. in the next 15 years.

"It's great to see the intersection of three things that I love," Snyder told the audience that included hundreds of students. "We're talking about innovation and entrepreneurship, we're talking about clean energy, something that is vitally important for our future. It's about economic growth, and doing it in the most responsible way possible in terms of the legacy we leave and the opportunity it provides us and the third thing is it involves students”

In doing so, it will launch the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), to take decisions on cross border energy supply. ACER will draft framework guidelines for the operation of cross border electricity networks, establishing rules that are consistent with these guidelines, the Commission said. Its role will be to monitor the newly managed internal European electricity market, including retail prices, available network access for electricity produced from renewable sources.

Poland's government approved two bills creating a legal framework for the nuclear power industry and taking another step towards building the country's first nuclear plant, the government said in a statement on Tuesday. The bills, which now will be sent to parliament, create grounds for oversight of the investment process by National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) as well as instruments for state-controlled PGE to choose technology supplier.

American consumers don’t want things forced on them by the government, but they are slowly starting to become aware of energy issues via the rising cost of energy and the geo-political climate, said Crane. “Everyone in this room has a vested interest in electric vehicles becoming successful,” said Crane to the room largely made up by investors, and the future is “all about electric vehicles.”