BP Solar
BP is vying for a slice of the Australian government’s Solar Flagship funding to develop a solar energy project in Moree, NSW.

BP’s proposed $600 million, 150 MW PV project, is proposed near the country town of Moree, 640km northwest of Sydney. SunTech/Infigen are also proposing a smaller 60MW solar project in Moree as part their four site Solar Flagship proposal.

IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates $5.7 trillion will be invested in electricity generation from renewables such as wind and solar power during the next 25 years, according to their World Energy Outlook, published yesterday.

Global subsidies for renewable energy totaled $57 billion in 2009. The agency estimated that last year $37 billion of support was given to electricity from renewable power, and $20 billion to biofuels. Government support for the industry can be justified “by the long term economic, energy security and environmental benefits they can bring,” the agency said.

Transfield Services
Transfield Services had recently made improvements to increase the efficiency of the poor performing turbines at Starfish Hill wind farm, but that was not enough to stop a turbine fire two weeks ago. The details of the fire are yet to be released.