SolarEdge in England, fish farming, the pros and cons of desalination, and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment.
This past week BrightSource Energy joined the competition for contracts in Greece which must comply with EU guidelines for renewable energy usage. Some army bases and municipalities in Israel are set to install solar units and trees in Israel, Europe and North America are in danger of extinction. For these stories and more, see this week’s headlines below.
Solar
BrightSource Joins Last Minute Renewables Rush in Greece to Head Off EU Fines
“As an EU member, Greece has come up against its deadline to start to comply with the EU directive to get 20-30% renewable energy on the grid by 2020, so under the direction of glamorous physicist Tina Birbili, the new and savvy Minister of Environment, Energy & Climate Change, the coal-dependent nation is now actively seeking renewable energy…”
Enlight Signs Deals To Install Solar Units On IDF Bases and Municipal Rooftops
“Though it might be frigid in many parts of the world, it has been a sunny January for Israel-based Enlight Renewable Energy Solutions. So far this month, the photovoltaic (PV) solar power integrator has announced deals to install 13-16 small PV units for two different localities, as well as 45 PV solar installations for IDF bases. Investors in Enlight, a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, also have good cause to feel warm and fuzzy: The stock has delivered a handsome return of 154% over the past year…”
Newer Findings in the Efficiency of Thin Film Solar Cells Exposed
“Governments and researchers engaged in the development of solar technology are spending billions of dollars every year in developing an efficient technology to harvest solar energy and convert it into electric power cost-effectively…”
Engensa install UK’s first SolarEdge system
“Engensa recently installed the UK’s first micro-converter, a new technology that enables millions of otherwise unsuitable roofs to be used for solar PV by eliminating many of the problems associated with shading. The inverter was manufactured by SolarEdge, an Israeli-based leader in PV power optimization…”
Fishing
Israelis develop environmentally friendly fish farming
“Let’s assume that you live in the Jerusalem hills or in arid Las Vegas and you want to found a business to grow sea fish for food. Once upon a time, you would have had to migrate to the coast or lakeshore. Now it is possible to raise fish in the middle of the desert, even without a well for water, just plastic pools little different from what children play in, in backyards…”
Water
Israel sends wrong message about desalination
“SDL Desalination Ltd, a company owned by IDE Technologies and Hong Kong’s Hutchison Water, announced earlier this week that it has begun construction on the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination plant. The plant, slated to be ready by 2013, is the final one of three that are intended to meet 44% of Israel’s water needs in 2013…”
General
Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Conference to Highlight Technological Innovation for Alternative Energy
“The Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Initiative today announced the agenda for its 4th International Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition taking place on February 22-24, 2011 in Eilat, Israel. This year’s event will present technological innovation, business opportunities, policies and implementations for renewable energy with a special focus on the programs for eliminating dependency on fossil fuels and promoting wider usage of alternative energy sources…”
Trees in danger of extinction
“Can you imagine Canada without the Maple Tree? Can you imagine America without the Pine Tree? Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel say such thinking is not so off-the-wall…”
Butterflies to Bat Yam
“Nature lovers spearhead efforts to transform Bat Yam into a butterfly paradise, attracting new species to the city’s streets…”
Missed last week’s headlines edition? Catch up on Israel’s Local Energy Center, highways that generate electricity, water monitoring, and more.
Author: Lisa Damast
Lisa Damast is an online marketing consultant by day and blogger of Israel technology by night. Her blog, Israel Innovation 2.0, provides news and analysis of Israeli technology companies in the enterprise software, Web 2.0 and cleantech sectors. Lisa is also a co-organizer of the Jerusalem Business Networking Forum (JBNF). JBNF helps facilitate online and offline networking among business professionals in Jerusalem, including in the cleantech industry. Lisa made aliyah in August 2007 after receiving a degree in Communication Studies from Boston University in May 2007. Lisa can be reached at lisa (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
