• Power stations: can solar power join the big hitters?

Large conventional and nuclear power stations have traditionally been the ‘big hitters’ of electrical power generation, with a few up to 4 GW. Wind, too, is beginning to muscle into the ‘Gigawatt-Plus’ club. George Marsh asks: How soon solar power could join the big hitters.

• Algae – an annoying growth, or green bioenergy gold

For the average citizen, algae is often viewed as a problematic growth within backyard swimming pools and in-home fish tanks. However in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 and a potential biofuel, algae is a hot topic.

• Renewables in Africa (part 2)

The energy scene in Southern Africa is dominated by South Africa. While its coal-based electricity used to be cheap and reliable by world standards, the South African state utility recently ran out of reserve capacity – with blackouts resulting. In the second part of an article for Renewable Energy Focus, Dieter Holm, long-serving member of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), reports on renewed awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energy in South Africa.

• Anaconda rubber tube produces wave energy

A snake-like 200 m rubber tube with a hydraulic turbine driving an electric generator could produce 1 MW of wave energy, according to British Checkmate Seaenergy.

• National Semiconductor and Suntech collaborate on SolarMagic solar PV systems

Californian National Semiconductor and the crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, Suntech Power Holdings, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to evaluate National Semiconductor’s SolarMagic technology for enhancing solar efficiencies.