Monday, March 10, 2008

ZAP Launches Sale of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car, Tests Show up to 120 Miles per Gallon

ZAP Launches Sale of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car, Tests Show up to 120 Miles per Gallon

SANTA ROSA, CA - Mar 10, 2008 - Electric car pioneer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) is now offering plug-in hybrid conversion systems for the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid through a collaboration agreement with Hybrids Plus.
Hybrid vehicles retrofitted with systems from Hybrids Plus of Boulder, Colorado can achieve a significantly greater fuel economy. In tests these systems increased hybrid fuel economy up to 120 miles per gallon in the city and up to 90 mpg on the highway. The cost for the conversion ranges from $24,000 to $36,000 depending on the vehicle and size of battery pack.
All gasoline electric hybrids currently produced by major automakers today are essentially gasoline-powered vehicles. They reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency compared to conventional cars, however they are fueled exclusively by gasoline. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) will allow the owner to charge their vehicle from a normal household wall outlet. By integrating a larger battery pack and a plug-in charging system, it becomes a new vehicle drawing energy from two fuel sources.
Hybrids Plus has sold PHEV systems to private individuals, fleets, power companies, and governmental entities. Deliveries can be provided in approximately four weeks from the initial order.
"This is a natural extension of our growth plans," said Hybrids Plus CEO Carl Lawrence. "ZAP has sold more city speed electric vehicles than any other company and has an established, growing dealer network that can provide sales and service for our vehicles."
"This collaboration allows more hybrid owners to have the most efficient vehicles on the road today," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "ZAP dealers are preparing to offer a new level of service in the coming years involving mass-market hybrid and electric cars from Detroit Electric, so experience with plug-in hybrids can accelerate this process."
About ZAP
ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP has a joint venture called Detroit Electric to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group, one of China's leading manufacturers of buses and trucks. Detroit Electric is developing a freeway capable electric vehicle called the ZAP Alias in collaboration with Lotus Engineering. ZAP is also developing a new generation of vehicles using advanced nanotech batteries with Advanced Battery Technologies. The Company recently announced a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Al Yousuf Group to expand its international vehicle distribution. ZAP also makes an innovative, new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops. For product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com <http://www.zapworld.com> .
About Hybrids Plus
Hybrids Plus, Inc., a privately held corporation in Boulder, CO, converts hybrid-electric vehicles into plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEV). The company is also a leader in vehicle to grid (V2G) technology, which allows battery energy stored in a PHEV to be fed into the electrical grid or a stand-alone house. It is deploying the first V2G fleet in the world in collaboration with a major electric power utility. Hybrids Plus is presently the second largest PHEV conversion company in North America, and it has the PHEV conversion technology that is the most seamlessly integrated into the original vehicle. It currently converts the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid, and may soon be offering a Toyota Highlander Hybrid conversion. For more information, visit http://hybrids-plus.com/ <http://hybrids-plus.com/> .
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ZAP is a featured Company on Investorideas.com Green portals, China portal and Tech portal.
For full details, click here: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp <http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp>
Contact:
ZAP
Alex Campbell
707-525-8658
acampbell@zapworld.com <mailto:acampbell@zapworld.com>
Source: ZAP

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Online Greentech Investor Conference Reminder for Green Investors and Public Companies

Online Greentech Investor Conference Reminder for Green Investors and Public Companies

"Insight into Global Green Investing Trends and Opportunities in Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Green Transportation, and Water" is Live Online March 20th

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC---March 6 , 2008 -- www.InvestorIdeas.com and Renewableenergystocks.com, global investor and industry Greentech portals, update the list of presenters for the 2008 Investorideas.com Global Greentech Online Investor Conference, March 20, 2008.

Recently added presenters include Estelle Lloyd, Founder and COO, Venture Business Research and Mark Henwood, Founder, Camino Energy.

Don't Miss Out on This Opportunity - If you are a Green, renewable energy or water company or an investor following the sector. Why? ... Because we have gathered some of the best Industry Experts and Speakers to Present .

The online conference themed: "Insight into Global Green Investing Trends and Opportunities in Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Green Transportation, and Water," proudly features a cross section of the most well-respected industry leaders and participants in the sector.

The online conference, free to investors, will include Audio and Media presentations from industry, government, venture capital, funds, indices and global publicly traded companies. Conference info: http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Portals/Green2.aspx

Public Companies: If you are presenting in any other conferences - there is no conflict since we record over the phone - it actually makes it easy if you already have a presentation ready to read.
Investors register free : http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Register.aspx

Please note conference date has been changed from March 21 to March 20th.

Other well-known industry presenters include: Neil D. Berlant: Fund Manager of the PFW Water Fund; Rafael Coven: Managing Partner, Cleantech Indices(TM); Neal M. Dikeman: Jane Capital Partners LLC; Peter C. Fusaro: Chairman, Global Change Associates; Joshua Levine: Editor, ChangeWave Investing and ChangeWave MicroCap Investor (www.Changewave.com); J. Peter Lynch: Solar Expert; Yeves Perez: CEO & CGO, Eco Investment Club (http://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com); Matthew Sant: Partner, Irell & Manella LLP; Robert Wilder: J.D., Ph.D., WilderHill Clean Energy Index (www.wildershares.com); Jamie Wimberly: CEO of Distributed Energy Financial Group (DEFG, www.defgllc.com); and Brian C. Yerger: Research Analyst, Jesup & Lamont Securities.

Keynote Participating Public Companies: Yahoo! Inc. Interview with Christina Page, Yahoo!'s Director of Climate and Energy Strategy

Akeena Solar, Inc. (NasdaqCM:AKNS ) Barry Cinnamon, CEO, will discuss "The Path of Solar to Grid Parity an End Users Perspective"

The in-depth online conference will be available March 21st, 2008, starting at 9:00 am EDT and archived 3-6 months thereafter. The conference format will consist of an audio presentation (average 15 minutes) with images in a slideshow presentation, in Flash format. The conference is free to online visitors with login registration.

About Our Green Investor Portals: Renewableenergystocks.com

Investorideas.com has four investor and industry research portals within the renewable energy, water, environment and fuel cells sectors, featuring news, articles, leading experts and financial columnists, audio interviews and Podcasts with leaders and innovators in Greentech, investor conferences, Blogs, and a comprehensive global directory of publicly traded stocks.

About InvestorIdeas.com:

InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, the Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

Contact: For companies wanting to participate and more information contact: Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411 Email: Email Contact

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Fact Sheet: Increasing Our Energy Security and Confronting Climate Change Through Investment in Renewable Technologies

Fact Sheet: Increasing Our Energy Security and Confronting Climate Change Through Investment in Renewable Technologies

The United States Is Reducing Dependence on Oil by Diversifying Energy Supply, Increasing Energy Efficiency

WASHINGTON March 5, 2008 Today, President Bush spoke to the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference and discussed the importance of renewable and alternative energy technologies to increasing America's energy security and addressing the long-term challenge of global climate change. The more sources of energy we have, the less influence any one of them, such as oil, has over the United States' security and prosperity. Renewable energies are some of the most promising new sources for energy because they are clean and because their supply can be regenerated. The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference brings together government, civil society, and private sector leaders to address benefits and costs of the global deployment of renewable energy technology.The United States Is Increasing Renewable Fuels And Reducing Its Dependence On Oil Through Improved Energy Efficiency

In December, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, which responded to his "Twenty in Ten" challenge in last year's State of the Union Address to improve vehicle fuel economy and increase alternative fuels.

The Renewable Fuels Mandate will increase the use of renewable fuels by 500 percent – requiring fuel producers to supply at least 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel in the year 2022. The Vehicle Fuel Economy Mandate specifies a national mandatory fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, which will save billions of gallons of fuel and increase efficiency by 40 percent. Additionally, the Act advances the following efficiencies:

The Lighting Efficiency Mandate will phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs by 2014, and improve lighting efficiency by more than 70 percent by 2020. The Appliance Efficiency Mandate sets over 45 new standards for appliances. The Federal Government Operations Mandate will reduce the energy consumption of Federal Government facilities 30 percent by 2015. Additionally, all new Federal buildings will be carbon-neutral by 2030. The President is reducing dependence on oil through the development and use of vehicles that run on different sources of energy. President Bush is:

Calling on every vehicle manufacturer that serves the U.S. market to produce flex-fuel vehicles – cars and trucks that can be powered with either gasoline or biofuels – across their fleet; Providing tax incentives for people to buy fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles that run on both gasoline and electricity; and Investing in plug-in hybrids that can cover up to 40 miles on electricity alone. - Since President Bush took office, the Federal Government has spent more than $12 billion to research, develop, and promote alternative energy sources.

In December, President Bush signed into law new loan guarantee authorities to support alternative energy sources. The new authority would allow additional loan guarantees of up to $38.5 billion, of which $18.5 billion in loan guarantees will support construction of new plants and enable nuclear plant owners to reduce their interest costs. $10 billion of loan guarantees will go towards renewable and/or energy efficient systems and manufacturing, and distributed energy generation, transmission, and distribution. This loan guarantee authority also includes: $6 million for coal-based power generation and industrial gasification activities at retrofitted and new facilities that incorporate carbon capture and sequestration or other beneficial uses of carbon; $2 million for advanced coal gasification; and $2 million for advanced nuclear facilities for the "front-end" of the nuclear fuel cycle.

The United States Is Reducing The Use Of Gasoline In Cars And Trucks And Replacing It With Alternative Fuels

Since 2001, ethanol production has quadrupled from 1.6 billion gallons in 2000 to an estimated 6.4 billion gallons in 2007, with the vast majority coming from corn. In 2005, the United States became the world's leading ethanol producer, and last year, the U.S. accounted for nearly half of worldwide ethanol production.

The Administration is also investing in next generation biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol. This can be made from wood chips, switch grass, and other agriculture products. With the President's 2009 Budget, the Department of Energy has dedicated about $1 billion since 2001 to develop technologies that can make cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive. Since the President took office, the projected cost of cellulosic ethanol has dropped by more than 60 percent.

Last year, the U.S. produced about 450 million gallons of biodiesel – up 80 percent from 2006. Today, there are more that 650 biodiesel fueling stations, and hundreds of fleet operators use biodiesel to fuel their trucks. Every year, more Americans are realizing the benefits of biodiesel, which can produce fuel from soybeans and other vegetable oils, including waste products like recycled cooking grease.

Over the last five years, the U.S. Government has invested about $1.2 billion in hydrogen research and development to help bring hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to market. These vehicles use no gasoline at all, and emit clean, pure water.

The United States Is Reducing Dependence On Oil And Other Fossil Fuels By Replacing Them With Alternative Energy Sources To Power Our Homes And Workplaces

Since 2001, the U.S. has increased wind energy production by more than 300 percent. Last year, more than 20 percent of new electrical generating capacity added in the U.S. came from wind – up from just three percent a few years ago – and the U.S. installed more wind power capacity than any other country in the world.

Between 2000 and 2007, the United States' solar energy capacity doubled – and last year, U.S. solar installations grew by more than 32 percent.

President Bush supports an increase in the use of nuclear power as a clean, efficient energy source to meet America's growing needs for electricity. Nuclear power can generate massive amounts of electricity without causing any air pollution or emitting greenhouse gases, and a growing number of people believe it is an environmentally necessary choice.

- Last year, the Administration invested more than $300 million in nuclear energy technologies.

- The Administration also launched a partnership between industry and the U.S. Government called the Nuclear Power 2010 program. This program has resulted in six applications to build and operate new nuclear plants in the U.S., with another 13 applications expected to be submitted this year.

Investing In Renewable Energy Technologies Is One Of The Best Ways To Address The Long-Term Challenge Of Global Climate Change

The United States is forming international partnerships to pursue clean sources of renewable energy.

- The Administration is leading the way toward an international agreement to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will only be effective if it includes binding commitments by every major economy, developing or developed, and gives none a free ride. The U.S. is promoting consensus toward commitments by every major economy so as to promote post-2012 arrangements that are global and environmentally effective.

- To accelerate this effort, the Administration launched a series of meetings of the world's major economies, which use the most energy and emit the most greenhouse gases. The purpose of these meetings is to support the UN negotiations by recommending a collective long-term goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, commitments to national mid-term goals with plans to back them up, and ways to cooperate on goals and technology in key industrial sectors.

- Internationally, the U.S. launched the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, with 21 partners so far, to pursue technology breakthroughs to support the long-term expansion of clean, safe, proliferation-resistant nuclear power here and around the world – and figure out better ways to deal with the waste.

- President Bush is committing $2 billion over the next three years to create a new international clean energy technology fund to help address the growing problem of accelerating greenhouse gas emissions in major developing countries. Along with contributions from the U.K., Japan, and other countries around the world, this fund will increase and accelerate the deployment of cleaner, more efficient technologies in developing nations like India and China and help leverage substantial private-sector capital by making clean energy projects more financially attractive. The U.S. believes countries seeking access to the fund should be undertaking credible national plans to limit greenhouse gases and have those plans reflected in a post-2012 climate change agreement.

- In 2007, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced that the United States and European Union submitted a proposal – in the WTO – to increase global trade in environmental goods and services. The initiative places priority action on technologies directly linked to addressing climate change and energy security. The U.S. and EU proposed to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to environmental technologies and services through a two tiered approach:

1. A first-ever WTO agreement on worldwide elimination of tariffs on a specific list of climate friendly technologies recently identified by the World Bank.

2. A higher level of commitment on the part of the developed and the most advanced developing countries to eliminate barriers to trade across a broader range of other environmental technologies and an array of environment-friendly services.

- In addition, the U.S. is forming several other international partnerships to pursue clean and renewable energy, such as the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). This partnership includes Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, and India. Since its inception, the APP has endorsed over 25 new renewable energy projects. Additional international partnerships and initiatives include:

Working with Sweden to advance biofuel and clean vehicle technologies Cooperating with Brazil to promote biofuels research, production, and use in the hemisphere and beyond. Cooperating with China to expand biofuel production and improve energy efficiency for vehicles and industry Working via a U.S. company with the United Kingdom's Wave Hub to harness the power of the ocean

Contact:White House Press Office1-202-456-2580

Source: White House Press Office

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

At Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC), Voices Call for Immediate Action by U.S. Leadership to Ensure Americas Global Competi

At Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC), Voices Call for Immediate Action by U.S. Leadership to Ensure Americas Global Competitiveness

WASHINGTON, March 4 ,2008 -- At the worlds top renewable energy conference today in Washington, DC, leaders from the renewable energy sector, including venture capital, banking and industry, called on Congress and the Administration to work together to quickly approve the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Production Tax Credit (PTC) extensions. The leaders called for leveling the playing field for the United States to compete globally in the renewable energy sector, preventing interruption in project development and stemming the loss of manufacturing and high skilled jobs.

The economic plea came at a news conference in the nations capital sponsored by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), TechNet and the National Venture Capital Association. The event was moderated by John Geesman, former California Energy Commissioner and ACORE Co-Chair at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. WIREC is a global ministerial-level conference with international, industry and renewable energy leaders focused on investments for major, rapid scale-up in the global deployment of renewable energy technology.

"We believe we are at the dawn of a green energy revolution potentially as powerful as the Internet revolution," said Dan Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives at Google.org and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "Policy makers can make or break this revolution."

The venture capital community invests 85 percent of our capital in U.S. based companies, said Nancy Floyd Founder and Managing Director, Nth Power. Those same companies are making tough decisions about moving their production overseas because of the lack of certainty in our renewable energy policy. The urgency of this issue is immediate. Nth Power, founded in 1994, is the original VC firm focused on renewable energy and currently has over $400 million of investment capital under management.

In a recent ACORE letter to Congress, over 350 industry leaders emphasized the global competitiveness issue and warned that without the immediate passage of ITC/PTC extensions Congress will jeopardize U.S. job creation and over 42,000 MW of planned renewable energy projects currently in development in 45 states - an amount equivalent to 75 base load electricity generation stations and enough to power 16 million homes.

Renewable energy is a tremendous global market opportunity for U.S. companies, said Kevin Walsh, Managing Director and Leader of Renewable Energy Investing at GE Energy Financial Services. GE invests in projects in the U.S. and globally. We need policy stability to keep current and future projects in the U.S. on-line and on-time. GE Energy Financial Services has invested more than $3 billion in renewable energy.

We are here today to talk about the economics of this issue, said John Cavalier, Vice Chairman, Credit Suisse. There are billions of dollars in capital markets waiting for us to not only get this right, but to get it right, right now. Cavalier heads the energy investment banking unit at Credit Suisse, just recognized this past week as the number one investment bank in renewable energy in the world, as measured by New Energy Finance, with $2.8 billion of transactions.

About ACORE:

ACORE, a 501(c)(3) membership nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to bringing renewable energy into the mainstream of the U.S. economy and lifestyle through information and communications programs. ACORE provides a common platform for the wide range of interests in the renewable energy community including renewable energy industries, associations, utilities, end users, professional service firms, financial institutions and government agencies. ACORE serves as a forum through which these parties work together on common interests. Membership information is available at: http://www.acore.org/.

About TechNet:

TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of CEOs that promotes the growth of technology industries and the economy by building long-term relationships between technology leaders and policymakers and by advocating a targeted policy agenda. TechNet's members represent more than one million employees in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, e-commerce and finance. TechNet has offices in Washington, DC, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Seattle, Boston, Austin, and Orange County (California). Web address: http://www.technet.org.

About NVCA:

The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) represents more than 470 venture capital firms in the United States. Founded in 1973, the NVCA's mission is to foster a greater understanding of the importance of venture capital to the U.S. economy, and support entrepreneurial activity and innovation. According to a 2007 Global Insight study, venture-backed companies accounted for 10.4 million jobs and $2.3 trillion in revenue in the United States in 2006. The NVCA represents the public policy interests of the venture capital community, strives to maintain high professional standards, provides reliable industry data, sponsors professional development, and facilitates interaction among its members. For more information about the NVCA, please visit http://www.nvca.org.

SOURCE American Council on Renewable Energy; TechNet; National Venture Capital Association

Monday, March 03, 2008

Investorideas.com March 20th Online Greentech Investor Conference Presenters Added :

Investorideas.com March 20th Online Greentech Investor Conference Presenters Added :
Estelle Lloyd ,Founder and COO, Venture Business Research and
Mark Henwood, Founder of Camino Energy


"Insight into Global Green Investing Trends and Opportunities in Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Green Transportation, and Water" is Live Online March 20th


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC---March 3 , 2008 -- www.InvestorIdeas.com and Renewableenergystocks.com, global investor and industry Greentech portals, update the list of presenters for the 2008 Investorideas.com Global Greentech Online Investor Conference, March 20, 2008. Recently added presenters include Estelle Lloyd, Founder and COO, Venture Business Research and Mark Henwood, Founder, Camino Energy.

The online conference themed: "Insight into Global Green Investing Trends and Opportunities in Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Green Transportation, and Water," proudly features a cross section of the most well-respected industry leaders and participants in the sector.

The online conference, free to investors, will include Audio and Media presentations from industry, government, venture capital, funds, indices and global publicly traded companies. Conference info: http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Portals/Green2.aspx
Please note conference date has been changed from March 21 to March 20th.

Estelle Lloyd ,Founder and COO, Venture Business Research
Estelle Lloyd is the founder and COO of Venture Business Research a leading global source of research and deal intelligence on venture capital and private equity funds and their investments, M&A and the public capital markets. Their customer product and service span four major areas of innovation: Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy, Security (Homeland & IT) and Defense, Healthcare Innovations, Health, Wellness and Better Nutrition.

Mark Henwood, Founder, Camino Energy
Mark Henwood founded and directs Camino Energy. Previously, Mark grew Henwood Energy Services, Inc. into one of the premier providers of software, information, and consulting services to the global power industry. After selling the company to form Global Energy Decisions, Mark started Camino because of his long term interest in sustainable energy and the need for information to help guide investment in this vital and growing sector. In addition to his activities at Camino, Mark is the CEO of Henwood Associates (a Sustainable Energy Business), serves on the boards of PowerLytix, LLC and PLEXOS Solutions LLC., and manages a diversified portfolio of equities and fixed income. He is also active in promoting sustainable energy businesses in Sacramento, CA through his involvement with CleanStart where he is Vice Chairman and with start-ups as a venture partner at Velocity Ventures LLC.

Camino Energy provides comprehensive global tracking and accurate segmentation of publicly-traded sustainable energy businesses. Our PurePlaytm Indices allow focused investment in companies pursuing specific business activities. Current coverage includes Solar, Renewable Electricity, Biofuels, and Fuel Cells.

Other well-known industry presenters include: Neil D. Berlant: Fund Manager of the PFW Water Fund; Rafael Coven: Managing Partner, Cleantech Indices(TM); Neal M. Dikeman: Jane Capital Partners LLC; Peter C. Fusaro: Chairman, Global Change Associates; Joshua Levine: Editor, ChangeWave Investing and ChangeWave MicroCap Investor (www.Changewave.com); J. Peter Lynch: Solar Expert; Yeves Perez: CEO & CGO, Eco Investment Club (http://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com); Matthew Sant: Partner, Irell & Manella LLP; Robert Wilder: J.D., Ph.D., WilderHill Clean Energy Index (www.wildershares.com); Jamie Wimberly: CEO of Distributed Energy Financial Group (DEFG, www.defgllc.com); and Brian C. Yerger: Research Analyst, Jesup & Lamont Securities.

Keynote Participating Public Companies:

Yahoo! Inc.
Interview with Christina Page, Yahoo!'s Director of Climate and Energy
Strategy

Akeena Solar, Inc. (NasdaqCM:AKNS - News)
Barry Cinnamon, CEO, will discuss "The Path of Solar to Grid Parity an End
Users Perspective"

Additional Presenters; Featured Companies:

Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (OTC BB:CSKH.OB - News) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Clear Skies Group, Inc., provides full-service renewable energy solutions to commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients across the country. CSG was incorporated in 2003 and launched formal operations in 2005. During that time period, CSG developed its proprietary systems, obtained licenses and certifications, and acquired technologies that could maximize the impact of its construction expertise on the renewable energy sector. CSG has become one of the premier solar electric installation companies in the country. www.ClearSkiesGroup.com

XsunX, Inc. (OTC BB:XSNX.OB - News), based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., is developing amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell manufacturing processes to produce TFPV solar modules. To deliver its products the Company has begun to build a multi-megawatt TFPV solar module production facility in the United States to meet the growing demand for solar cell products used in large scale commercial projects, utility power fields, and other on-grid applications. Employing a phased roll out of production capacity, it plans to grow manufacturing capacities to over 100 megawatts by 2010. www.XsunX.com


ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB - News) has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP has a joint venture to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group, one of China's leading manufacturers of buses and trucks. ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. www.ZapWorld.com

The in-depth online conference will be available March 21st, 2008, starting at 9:00 am EDT and archived 3-6 months thereafter. The conference format will consist of an audio presentation (average 15 minutes) with images in a slideshow presentation, in Flash format. The conference is free to online visitors with login registration.

About Our Green Investor Portals: Renewableenergystocks.com

Investorideas.com has four investor and industry research portals within the renewable energy, water, environment and fuel cells sectors, featuring news, articles, leading experts and financial columnists, audio interviews and Podcasts with leaders and innovators in Greentech, investor conferences, Blogs, and a comprehensive global directory of publicly traded stocks.

About InvestorIdeas.com:

InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, the Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure: Presenting public companies, other than featured companies which compensate Investorideas.com on a monthly basis, pay a one time fee of $1000 to present. For disclosure and disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp



Contact:
For companies wanting to participate and more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant
800.665.0411
Email: Email Contact

Source: Investorideas.com; Renewableenergystocks.com; XsunX; ZAP; Clear Skies Solar, Inc.; Akeena Solar, Inc.

Friday, February 29, 2008

GE Supplying Wind Turbines to Renewable Energy Systems for Projects to Be Developed in 2009 and 2010

GE Supplying Wind Turbines to Renewable Energy Systems for Projects to Be Developed in 2009 and 2010


SCHENECTADY, N.Y.-- February 28,2008 --Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Americas Inc. of Austin, Texas, one of the leading wind developers in North America, has signed agreements exceeding $700 million to receive GE Energy 1.5-megawatt wind turbines for projects in 2009 and 2010. GE Energy will supply RES with nearly 500 megawatts of new wind energy capacity, and will provide commissioning and operations services as well as maintenance support. “Throughout the United States we continue to witness strong interest in the production of cleaner, wind-generated electricity,” said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. “We are pleased that RES has selected our well-proven, 1.5-megawatt technology to help the company reach its build-out goals for the years ahead.”

RES Americas is part of U.K.-based Renewable Energy Systems, one of the world’s leading renewable energy developers and a leader in the global wind industry for two decades. Since 1997, RES Americas has been a leader in the U.S. wind industry, either developing or constructing more than 12 percent of the country’s installed wind energy capacity.

“We look forward to building our equipment supply relationship with GE, and view it as critical to achieving our goals for expanded ownership of wind projects in the US,” said Craig Mataczynski, President of RES Americas.

The latest agreement with RES reinforces GE’s leadership role in the rapidly growing wind industry. Since 2004, GE has achieved a 500 percent increase in wind turbine production, and its wind business revenues exceeded $4.5 billion in 2007. According to the American Wind Energy Association, over the past two years, GE has supplied wind turbines representing nearly half of the new wind capacity across the United States.

GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is among the most widely used machines in the global wind industry, with more than 8,000 installed around the world.

GE’s wind turbine technology is a key element of ecomagination, the GE corporate-wide initiative to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

With wind turbine design, manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the United States, GE Energy is among the leading providers of wind energy products and support services ranging from commercial wind turbines and grid integration products to project development assistance and operation and maintenance. The company's knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 8,400 wind turbines with a total rated output of more than 11,300 megawatts.

About RES Americas:

Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES-Americas) has been active in the US market since 1997 and has had a role in developing or constructing more than 12% of the operating wind projects in the United States and greater than 20% of the installed wind capacity in the state of Texas. RES-Americas corporate office is located in Austin, Texas, with regional offices located in Portland, OR, Minneapolis, MN, and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. RES-Americas continue to seek new locations for wind projects as well as opportunities to participate in other forms of renewable energy. For more information, please visit www.res-americas.com.



Contact:GE EnergyKristin Schwarz+1 518 385 7343kristin.schwarz@ge.comorMasto Public RelationsKen Darling or Howard Masto+1 518 786 6488kenneth.darling@ge.comhoward.masto@ge.comorRenewable Energy SystemsMeredith Ingram+1 512-338-8560meredith.ingram@res-americas.com-Source: GE Energy

Monday, February 25, 2008

Masdar Headquarters to Be Located in World's First 'Positive Energy' Mixed-Use Building

Masdar Headquarters to Be Located in World's First 'Positive Energy' Mixed-Use Building

Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture win global competition to design Masdar's headquarters in first zero-carbon, zero-waste city

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 22 2008 -- Masdar announced today that it has chosen Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) to design its headquarters in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City, the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste city fully powered by renewable energy. The headquarters will be the world's first large-scale, mixed-use "positive energy" building, producing more energy than it consumes. In addition to being the location of Masdar Headquarters, the building will accommodate private residences and 'early bird' businesses starting up in the city. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, said AS+GG is internationally recognized for high-performance, energy-efficient and sustainable architecture. "We know Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture share our vision for Masdar's headquarters. This building is at the heart of Masdar City, and its net positive energy design and new innovations will reflect our mission of developing sustainable future energy solutions."

AS+GG teamed with Chicago-based MEP engineers Environmental Systems Design and structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti on the design, which includes numerous systems that will generate a surplus of the building's energy, eliminate carbon emissions and reduce liquid and solid waste. The complex will utilize sustainable materials and feature integrated wind turbines, outdoor air quality monitors and one of the world's largest building-integrated solar energy arrays. Compared with typical mixed-use buildings of the same size, the Headquarters will consume 70 percent less water.

"In line with the Abu Dhabi 2030 Development Plan, Masdar is choosing to emphasize sustainability over height. We hope and expect this will set a new direction for worldwide competition in sustainable design," Dr. Al Jaber continued.

In addition to being the first mixed-use net positive energy building in the world, AS+GG's Masdar Headquarters will:

-- Be the lowest energy consumer per square meter for a modern class A office building in an extremely hot and humid climate -- Feature one of the world's largest building-integrated photovoltaic arrays -- Employ the largest solar thermal driven cooling and dehumidification system -- Be the first building in history to generate power for its own assembly, through development of its solar roof pier before the underlying complex

"We're thrilled to be working on a project of this importance and magnitude. Masdar Headquarters is one of the most significant developments of our time," said Adrian Smith, partner, AS+GG. "As a positive energy complex, the project will have a far-reaching influence on the buildings of tomorrow."

"Masdar Headquarters will set a new paradigm for the way buildings are designed, constructed and inhabited," said Gordon Gill, partner, AS+GG. "The project represents the perfect integration of architecture and engineering, resulting in a dynamic, inviting building that outperforms any other structure of its type in the world."

Construction of Masdar City commenced with a formal ground-breaking ceremony on February 9, 2008. The City will be constructed over seven phases and is due to be completed by 2016. Masdar's headquarters is part of phase one and will be completed by the end of 2010.

The design competition for Masdar's headquarters was managed by the Louis Berger Group and began with a field of 159 participants, which was narrowed down to 15 architecture and design firms. The criteria for selection of the 15 included building functionality, water and wastewater efficiency, indoor environmental quality, zero carbon emission, carbon footprint reduction and firm experience. Four global leaders in sustainable architecture and design were then chosen to submit final proposals.

A global jury of seven world renowned design and urban planning experts chose AS+GG's design from the finalists. The jury consisted of:

-- A. Hashim Sarkis -- Aga Khan Professor of Landscape, Architecture and Urbanism in Muslim Societies in the Department of Urban Planning & Design at Harvard's Graduate School of Design (Cambridge, MA) -- Dennis A. Andrejko -- Associate Professor at the University of Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning (Buffalo, NY) -- Greg Mella, AIA, LEED AP -- Principal at SmithGroup (Washington, D.C.) -- Jean-Marie Charpentier -- Architect for Maison Mozart (Paris) -- Dr. Hans-Rudolf Schalcher -- Professor at the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction (Zurich), where he is also the Head of Technical Competence Center and Member of the Management Board; Chair of the Planning and Management in Construction for the Institute for Construction Engineering and Management at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich) -- John Quale -- Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia's School of Architecture (Charlottesville, VA) -- Volker Hartkopf -- Professor of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics, The Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace; Director at CBPD (Pittsburgh, PA)

About Masdar

Masdar is Abu Dhabi's multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in the development and commercialization of advanced and innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as green design. By applying scale and leveraging Abu Dhabi's low-cost, tax-free manufacturing base, businesses will enjoy significant competitive advantages, allowing them to compete internationally and provide significant diversification to the Abu Dhabi economy.

To learn more about Masdar, please visit www.masdaruae.com.

About Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

AS+GG is focused on the design of high-performance architecture on an international scale and is dedicated to the creation of new paradigms for sustainable development. The office utilizes a holistic, integrated design approach emphasizing a symbiotic relationship with the natural environment -- or 'global environmental contextualism.' The approach reduces negative environmental impact and, in some cases, virtually eliminates it. Sites of current projects include Chicago, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Mumbai, Vancouver, Belgrade, London and China.

To learn more about AS+GG, please visit www.smithgill.com

CONTACT: Masdar: Michael Iacovella, +1 212 704 8254, michael.iacovella@edelman.com AS+GG: Carrie Neill, +1 312 676 3004, carrieneill@smithgill.com For b-roll, renderings, fly-through animation or stills: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/masdar



Source: Masdar

Brazil’s Untapped Potential to Employ Renewable Energy Such as Biomass, Solar, Hydro and Wind for Electricity Generation is Tremendous

Brazil’s Untapped Potential to Employ Renewable Energy Such as Biomass, Solar, Hydro and Wind for Electricity Generation is Tremendous


DUBLIN, Ireland--February 25th, 2008 -Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83940) has announced the addition of "Analyzing Renewable Energy in Brazil" to their offering.

Brazil’s energy industry is at a crossroads. After a decade of reforms and privatizations, Brazil is reevaluating its plans to meet growing energy needs following a crippling power shortage that rocked the nation in 2001 and a change of government on January 1, 2003.

The country’s energy policies of the last decade have been highly successful. Brazil has transformed itself from a major oil importer whose rising imports from the Middle East were leaving the country with crippling deficits to an expected net exporter of crude oil before the end of this decade. But the country’s energy use is expected to continue to climb in the coming years, and without further restructuring of its energy sector, Brazil may have difficulty ensuring that sufficient investment can be made to continue to meet the rising need for fuel and electricity. In particular, Brazil needs to address the future status of state oil giant Petróleo Brasilero S.A. (Petrobras), whose pervasive energy sector monopoly is hindering the development of competitive markets and discouraging needed private investment.

Approximately twenty million Brazilians living in remote communities do not have access to reliable electrical power. While the majority of these underserved reside in Brazil’s Northeast, the remainder dwell all over the country -- even in the well-developed states of the South and Southeast regions.

Recent economic analyses indicate that these indigenous energy sources can provide cost-effective and environmentally-sound alternatives to fossil fuel-based generation. With a potential $25 billion renewable energy market, business opportunities are limitless. However, government resources alone cannot meet the demand for off-grid energy, and those resources that are currently available support highly-subsidized programs.

We present a focus on the Renewable Energy Industry in Brazil in its report - Analyzing Renewable Energy in Brazil. The report is a complete analysis of the various sectors of renewable energy in Brazil. Starting with an analysis of the overall business environment in Brazil, the report analyzes the following renewable commodities: small hydro power, biomass, solar, and wind energy. Brazil’s environment for the development of renewable energy is also discussed in details in the report. Regulatory frameworks, government incentives, government programs promoting the use of renewable energy, etc., are all described in the report.

A comprehensive overview of the Brazilian electric power industry is included to indicate the rising demand for energy in the country and how Brazil is planning to meet these requirements. A brief profile of the global energy industry and a profile of the Brazilian energy industry are also included to further enhance the reader’s understanding of the renewable energy market in Brazil.

Major industry players such as Electrobras, Petrobras, Copersucar, etc., are also profiled in the Aruvian’s Analyzing Renewable Energy in Brazil.

Key Topics

- Executive Summary

- A Look at the Global Energy Industry

- Introduction to the Business Environment in Brazil

- Overview of the Brazilian Energy Industry

- Analyzing the Brazilian Electric Power Industry

- Brazil’s Environment for the Development of Renewable Energy

- Analyzing Small Hydro Power (SHP) in Brazil

- Analyzing the Biomass Industry in Brazil

- Analyzing Solar Energy in Brazil

- Analyzing Wind Energy in Brazil

- Leading Industry Contributors

- Appendix

- Glossary of Terms

Companies mentioned:

- Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG)

- Copersucar

- CPFL - Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz

- Furnas Centrais Eletricas S.A

- Petrobras

- Shell Brasil S.A.

- Ultrapar Participações

- Electrobras

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83940

Contacts Research and MarketsLaura Wood, Senior ManagerFax: +353 1 4100 980press@researchandmarkets.com

Saturday, February 16, 2008

"Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at Work ".

United Nations General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim convened on 11 and 12 February 2008, at UN Headquarters in New York, a thematic debate entitled "Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at Work ".

Two interactive panel discussions took place on 11 February in the Trusteeship Council Chamber:
Rising to the Challenge: Parnerships on Climate Change
Responding to a Multifaceted Challence: The UN at Work
On 12 and 13 February 2008 there was a discussion open to all in which Member States made statements.
Carbon NeutralThe thematic debate on climate change is carbon neutral. Over the two day period, the carbon dioxide emissions of the United Nations Headquarters conference venue and the emissions from air travel to bring panelists, special guests, heads of state and government, ministers, and representatives of specially invited NGOs to the debate, have been off-set. This was achieved by investing in a biomass fuel project in Andhra Pradesh, India. The project reduces carbon emissions by displacing fossil-based power generation with renewable energy from agricultural waste that would otherwise rot or burn producing carbon dioxide or methane emissions. In addition to providing power stability to the electric grid and help reduce the ever-increasing demand and supply gap of electricity in the region, this high quality renewable energy project provides significant local social, economic and environmental benefits. Further details on carbon offsetting methodology and the carbon offset project can be found on the information note.


speeches of note-
Keynote address by Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Solar Stocks; Solar Stocks Light Up Thanks to First Solar Earnings

Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Solar Stocks; Solar Stocks Light Up Thanks to First Solar Earnings

Investors Get Encouraging Signs for Solar Technology


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC--Feb 14, 2008 -- www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com,
a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close-up on solar stocks. First Solar was the bright star of the sector, leading solar stocks on a rally reminding investors of the performance and gains of 2007.

Renewable Energy Stocks solar expert, J Peter Lynch, commented, "First Solar's Q4 07 announcement today dramatically exceeded the street's general consensus resulting in an 20% gain in the stock which was oversold technically in the short term."

Mr. Lynch went on to say, "More importantly their announcement of full scale production and the resultant drop in cost per watt showed investors encouraging signs of PV technology reaching grid parity in the not too distant future and opening up an even more promising future for solar companies worldwide."

Sector Close-Up as of Trading February 13, 2008:

First Solar, Inc.(Market, News) beat the street and rewarded investors with a $52.90 (30.13%) gain with earnings of $62.9 million, 77 cents per share, compared with $8 million, or 12 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. The rally continued in after market trading with additional gains. Revenues for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007 were $504.0 million, up from $135.0 million in fiscal year 2006.

According to the company's press release, quoting Michael J. Ahearn, Chief Executive Officer of First Solar, "During the fourth quarter of 2007 we benefited from the full capacity and economies of scale of our Frankfurt/Oder plant. This combined with continued throughput and conversion efficiency gains afforded us strong operating leverage and decreased our manufacturing cost per watt by 12% year over year to $1.12 per watt in the fourth quarter of 2007, further solidifying our cost leadership position in the industry."

Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (OTC BB:CSKH.OB ) had a daily gain of 5.71%. According to Ezra Green, “FSLR earnings are further proof that the Solar sector is viable AND here to stay. We at CSKH are committed to the growth of solar energy by introducing new technologies and innovative methods of integrating solar technology into every sector of the commercial & industrial arena, we applaud their success."

Akeena Solar Inc. (Market, News ) closed up 5.56%.
Evergreen Solar Inc (Market, News) shares were up 1.23 (12.17%) and another 2.20% in after market trading.
LDK Solar ADR (Market, News) had gains of $2.12 (6.32%).
Canadian Solar Inc. (Market, News) radiated, up $2.60 (12.87%).
China Sunergy Company Ltd. (Market, News) was another bright star up 6.87%.
SunPower Corporation (Market, News ) followed the pack with an $8.82 (12.37%) gain.
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (Market, News) rallied up 16.6 %.

"The solar industry is well on its way towards attaining a significant presence within the broader electric power industry, and as evidenced by the rise in reported revenues by solar manufacturers, is poised for continued strong growth over the foreseeable future," stated Tom Djokovich, CEO of XsunX, Inc.(OTCBB:XSNX). "Grid parity, supported by a global drive to reduce green house gases, government incentives, and aggressive corporate cost-cutting plans, should be attained within five years and drive further impressive solar growth. In my opinion the sky's the limit for solar's future. We're very excited about leveraging our experience with amorphous thin-films to build and operate a module manufacturing facility and begin delivering much needed product into this market in early 2009," concluded Djokovich.

For investors following solar stocks, the RenewableEnergyStocks.com website provides a comprehensive list of photovoltaic and solar stocks to research.

Investorideas.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.com will be hosting an online investor conference, March 21, 2008, giving investors free online access to industry and investing perspective in the greentech sector.

Solar companies Akeena Solar(NASDAQ:AKNS), Clear Skies Group Inc (OTCBB: CSKH) and XsunX:(OTCBB: XSNX) will present in the company of some of the leading experts in the industry. Conference Info: http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Portals/Green2.aspx

Featured Showcase Solar Company: Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (OTC BB:CSKH.OB ) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Clear Skies Group, Inc., provides full-service renewable energy solutions to commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients across the country. CSG was incorporated in 2003 and launched formal operations in 2005. During that time period, CSG developed its proprietary systems, obtained licenses and certifications, and acquired technologies that could maximize the impact of its construction expertise on the renewable energy sector. CSG has become one of the premier solar electric installation companies in the country. More info can be found on the Investorideas.com Company Showcase, or the company website at www.clearskiesgroup.com.


Featured Showcase Solar Company XsunX: (OTCBB: XSNX) Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., XsunX is developing amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell manufacturing processes to produce TFPV solar modules. To deliver its products the Company has begun to build a multi- megawatt TFPV solar module production facility in the United States to meet the growing demand for solar cell products used in large scale commercial projects, utility power fields, and other on-grid applications. Employing a phased roll out of production capacity, it plans to grow manufacturing capacities to over 100 megawatts by 2010. More info on XsunX, Inc. can be found on our media profile at: http://www.investorideas.com/co/xsnx/default.asp or http://www.xsunx.com/


About Our Green Investor Portals:
www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com® is one of several green investor portals within Investorideas.com and provides investors with stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews, investor conferences, Blogs, and a directory of stocks within the renewable energy, clean tech and fuel cell sectors.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. XsunX and Clear Skies Holdings compensate the website $5000 per month.
www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com,
Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com, XsunX, Clear Skies Holdings, Inc

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Abu Dhabi's Masdar Initiative Breaks Ground on Carbon-Neutral City

Abu Dhabi's Masdar Initiative Breaks Ground on Carbon-Neutral City of the FutureTotal project development budget is $22 billion for the world's first zero- carbon, zero-waste city

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 9 2008 - Abu Dhabi today broke ground on Masdar City, the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car- free city. The global milestone event was marked by the laying of a virtual cornerstone by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and a visually stunning production depicting life in the city.

In conjunction with the groundbreaking, Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber announced a total development budget for the city of $22 billion. Of that investment total, Masdar ("the source" in Arabic) will contribute $4 billion to develop the city's infrastructure. The remaining $18 billion will come through direct investments and the creation of various financial instruments to raise needed capital. An essential driver for the development of the city is carbon finance. Carbon emissions reduced by Masdar City will be monetized under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism.

In addition to full-time residents, Masdar City will seek to attract and encourage collaboration between experts in sustainable transportation; waste management; water and wastewater conservation; green construction, buildings and industrial materials; recycling; biodiversity; climate change, renewable energy and green financial institutions. Masdar will maximize the benefits of sustainable technologies, such as photovoltaic cells and concentrated solar power, through an integrated planning and design approach.

By implementing these technologies, Masdar City will save the equivalent of more than US $2 billion in oil over the next 25 years, based on today's energy prices. The city will also create more than 70,000 jobs and will add more than two percent to Abu Dhabi's annual GDP.

"We are creating a city where residents and commuters will live the highest quality of life with the lowest environmental footprint," said Dr. Al Jaber. "Masdar City will become the world's hub for future energy. By taking sustainable development and living to a new level, it will lead the world in understanding how all future cities should be built."

In addition, the city will achieve unprecedented levels of demand reduction. Highlights include:

-- Seventy-five percent reduction in installed power capacity; Masdar City will require approximately 200 MW of installed clean power versus more than 800 MW of installed capacity to power a similar city based on conventional design

-- Water needs cut by more than half; Masdar City will require around 8,000 m3 per day of desalinated water versus more than 20,000 m3 per day for traditional cities

-- Landfill area severely diminished; a city of this size would have required millions of square meters of landfill area; Masdar City will need virtually no landfill area.

The first step in the city's seven-phase plan is the development of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), the world's first graduate university dedicated to renewable energy. Developed in collaboration with MIT and scheduled to open in 2009, MIST will maintain a body of students and professors focused on developing the next generation of solutions to the world's growing dependence on fossil fuels.

The six-square kilometre district is designed by renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners and set to be completed in 2016 in conjunction with Abu Dhabi's 2030 Development Plan. It will eventually grow to 1,500 businesses and 50,000 residents and will be home to international business and top minds in the field of sustainable and alternative energy. Of this, 30 percent will be zoned for housing; 24 percent for the business and research district; 13 percent for commercial purposes, including light manufacturing; 6 percent for the MIST; 19 percent for service and transportation; and 8 percent for civic and cultural pursuits.

Masdar City is one of the flagship projects of the One Planet Living(TM) programme -- a global initiative launched by WWF (also known as the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Wildlife Fund). One Planet Living(TM) aims to prove that it is possible to live within ecological limits and still improve the quality of people's lives. One Planet Living(TM) communities, such as Masdar, aim to put the principles of sustainability into practice, and Masdar City exceeds these principles.

Masdar City will be the home of the Masdar Initiative, (www.masdaruae.com) Abu Dhabi's multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as sustainable design. In January 2008, Abu Dhabi announced it will invest $15 billion in Masdar, the largest single government investment of its kind.

The groundbreaking ceremony's electricity needs and carbon emissions were entirely offset by solar power reserves produced by Masdar's photovoltaic testing facilities. Since it began producing power for the national grid in December 2007, the facility has generated more than 5,500 kilowatt hours of electricity and saved more than four tons of CO2.

Website: http://www.masdaruae.com/

First Solar Numbers Show Analysts were correct - Long Term Outlook for Solar and Renewable Stocks Remains Bullish

Based on FSLR earning numbers today - repeat of analyst comments on solar stocks :


Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close- Up on Solar Stocks; Solar Investors See Gains from Sector Leaders

Long Term Outlook for Solar and Renewable Stocks Remains Bullish


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC – January 25, 2008 www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close- up on solar stocks. With the recent sell- off in the markets in general, solar stocks also took a major hit, loosing significant gains made in 2007. Yesterday’s trading in solar leaders gave investors renewed optimism and faith in the long term prospects for the sector.
Most renewable energy analysts think the long term outlook is bullish and investors should look at this as a selective buying opportunity.
To quote our on- site solar expert, J Peter Lynch: “This in no way alters my bullish view of our bright solar future and solar stocks in general. I just think we are in a period of transition where there will still be plenty of money to be made, but investors will just have to be more savvy and selective in their investments.“

Another analyst, Pavel Molchanov, from Raymond James, noted earlier this week ,” While we clearly do not rule out the possibility of further volatility, we would encourage investors to think long-term, ride out the current storm, and use this as an opportunity to accumulate shares."

Sector Close- Up as of Trading January 24, 2008

Akeena Solar Inc. (Market, News ) closed at $8.13, up $1.08 on the day and showed further gains in after market trading.
Evergreen Solar Inc (Market, News) shares were up only $ 0.19 on the day but showed a 5.2% gain in after market trading.
First Solar, Inc. (Market, News), gave investors a $6.72 upside during market hours, followed by another 2.65% gain after hours.
LDK Solar ADR (Market, News) was up 2.64 (7.55%) as of the market close.
Canadian Solar Inc. (Market, News) posted gains of $1.64, up 9.36%.
SunPower Corporation (Market, News ) broke the daily trend with the stock down $5.04 (6.79%) during market trading, but showing gains after hours. The stock was under pressure on the news of a first-quarter adjusted profit outlook.

For investors following solar stocks, the RenewableEnergyStocks.com website provides a comprehensive list of photovoltaic and solar stocks to research.

Investorideas.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.com will be hosting an online investor conference, March 21, 2008, giving investors free online access to industry and investing perspective in the greentech sector. Solar companies Akeena Solar, Clear Skies Group Inc (OTCBB: CSKH) and XsunX: (OTCBB: XSNX) will present in the company of some of the leading experts in the industry. Conference Info: http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Portals/Green2.aspx
Featured Showcase Solar Company: Clear Skies Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CSKH) through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Clear Skies Group, Inc. (“CSG”) provides full service renewable energy solutions to commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients across the United States. CSG’s combination of proprietary technology and high-tech solutions with construction expertise has enabled CSG to become one of the nation’s premier solar electric installation companies. More info can be found on the Investorideas.com Company Showcase, or the company website at www.clearskiesgroup.com.
Featured Showcase Solar Company XsunX: (OTCBB: XSNX) Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., XsunX is developing amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell manufacturing processes to produce TFPV solar modules. To deliver its products the Company has begun to build a multi- megawatt TFPV solar module production facility in the United States to meet the growing demand for solar cell products used in large scale commercial projects, utility power fields, and other on-grid applications. Employing a phased roll out of production capacity, it plans to grow manufacturing capacities to over 100 megawatts by 2010. More info on XsunX, Inc. can be found on our media profile at: http://www.investorideas.com/co/xsnx/default.asp or http://www.xsunx.com/

About Our Green Investor Portals:
www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com® is one of several green investor portals within Investorideas.com and provides investors with stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews, investor conferences, Blogs, and a directory of stocks within the renewable energy, clean tech and fuel cell sectors.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. * XsunX and Clear Skies Holdings compensate the website $5000 per month.
www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com,
Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com, XsunX, Clear Skies Holdings, Inc

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Online Greentech Investor Conference Presenters Include: Mary D. Nichols: Chairman, California Air Resources Board; Neil D. Berlant

Online Greentech Investor Conference Presenters Include: Mary D. Nichols: Chairman, California Air Resources Board; Neil D. Berlant: Fund Manager of the PFW Water Fund; Robert Wilder: WilderHill Clean Energy Index and Well-Known Leaders in Finance and Industry


Keynotes Akeena Solar, Inc. and Yahoo!'s Director of Climate and Energy Strategy Present With Public Companies and Industry Leaders to Provide Insight Into Global Green Trends


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC---Feb 12, 2008 -- www.InvestorIdeas.com and Renewableenergystocks.com, global investor and industry Greentech portals, update the list of presenters for the 2008 Investorideas.com Global Greentech Online Investor Conference, March 21, 2008. The online conference themed: "Insight into Global Green Investing Trends and Opportunities in Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Green Transportation, and Water," proudly features some of the most well-respected industry leaders and investment minds in the sector today.

The online conference, free to investors, will include Audio and Media presentations from industry, government, venture capital, funds, indices and global publicly traded companies. Conference info: http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Portals/Green2.aspx

Long-time environmentalist Mary D. Nichols, Chairman, California Air Resources Board, will be one of the presenting speakers. Mary D. Nichols, JD, was appointed Chair of the California Air Resources Board in July 2007, a post she held previously under Gov. Edmund H. Brown, Jr. from 1979 to 1983. At CARB she is responsible for implementing California's landmark greenhouse gas emissions legislation as well as setting air pollution standards for motor vehicles and fuels.

Other well-known industry presenters include: Neil D. Berlant: Fund Manager of the PFW Water Fund; Rafael Coven: Managing Partner, Cleantech Indices(TM); Neal M. Dikeman: Jane Capital Partners LLC; Peter C. Fusaro: Chairman, Global Change Associates; Joshua Levine: Editor, ChangeWave Investing and ChangeWave MicroCap Investor (www.Changewave.com); J. Peter Lynch: Solar Expert; Yeves Perez: CEO & CGO, Eco Investment Club (http://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com); Matthew Sant: Partner, Irell & Manella LLP; Robert Wilder: J.D., Ph.D., WilderHill Clean Energy Index (www.wildershares.com); Jamie Wimberly: CEO of Distributed Energy Financial Group (DEFG, www.defgllc.com); and Brian C. Yerger: Research Analyst, Jesup & Lamont Securities.

Keynote Participating Public Companies:

Yahoo! Inc.
Interview with Christina Page, Yahoo!'s Director of Climate and Energy
Strategy

Akeena Solar, Inc. (NasdaqCM:AKNS - News)
Barry Cinnamon, CEO, will discuss "The Path of Solar to Grid Parity an End
Users Perspective"

Additional Presenters; Featured Companies:

Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (OTC BB:CSKH.OB - News) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Clear Skies Group, Inc., provides full-service renewable energy solutions to commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients across the country. CSG was incorporated in 2003 and launched formal operations in 2005. During that time period, CSG developed its proprietary systems, obtained licenses and certifications, and acquired technologies that could maximize the impact of its construction expertise on the renewable energy sector. CSG has become one of the premier solar electric installation companies in the country. www.ClearSkiesGroup.com

XsunX, Inc. (OTC BB:XSNX.OB - News), based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., is developing amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell manufacturing processes to produce TFPV solar modules. To deliver its products the Company has begun to build a multi-megawatt TFPV solar module production facility in the United States to meet the growing demand for solar cell products used in large scale commercial projects, utility power fields, and other on-grid applications. Employing a phased roll out of production capacity, it plans to grow manufacturing capacities to over 100 megawatts by 2010. www.XsunX.com


ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB - News) has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP has a joint venture to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group, one of China's leading manufacturers of buses and trucks. ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. www.ZapWorld.com

The in-depth online conference will be available March 21st, 2008, starting at 9:00 am EDT and archived 3-6 months thereafter. The conference format will consist of an audio presentation (average 15 minutes) with images in a slideshow presentation, in Flash format. The conference is free to online visitors with login registration.

About Our Green Investor Portals: Renewableenergystocks.com

Investorideas.com has four investor and industry research portals within the renewable energy, water, environment and fuel cells sectors, featuring news, articles, leading experts and financial columnists, audio interviews and Podcasts with leaders and innovators in Greentech, investor conferences, blogs, and a comprehensive global directory of publicly traded stocks.

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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Electric Car News Hi- Lites

Here is a run of recent news on electric cars - showing how the global market is becoming more and more receptive and how more players are entering the marketplace
Soon drivers will run out of old excuses to not go green ...

Electric car news ...
Scooter-maker Piaggio set to begin electric car sales in one monthHa'aretz - Tel Aviv,IsraelBy Daniel Schmil, TheMarker Scooter maker Piaggio will be the first company to market an electric car in Israel. Sales are set to begin in about a month
Electric car sparks lesson on skills, efficiencyBusiness Gazette - Gaithersburg,MD,USA‘‘I would love to drive an electric car, that’s for sure. ... It’s 100 percent efficient.” Students also learned about the different kinds of batteries

Meet the 156mph electric carAutocar - Teddington,England,UKIt's being developed by the Joint Venture group – a company set up for the Alias project by American electric car maker, ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP ) , and China Youngman Automotive

Helping the World's Oceans Begins at Home With Solar EnergyFOXBusiness - USAHe has made a personal commitment to use solar electricity to lower his carbon footprint not only for his studio but also his car, a Zenn electric car

Plans for $30K electric sports car unveiled (5 February 2008)Environmental Data Interactive - UKAn electric car manufacturer has announced plans for a new car that will be able to top 100miles per hour and do 0 to 60 in just 5.7 seconds

ZAP Sells 614 Electric Cars Following Largest Dealer SeminarAuto Spectator - USAOB) added six new electric car dealers at its first dealer sales and service training of 2008 yesterday, collecting signed purchase orders totaling 614

Three-wheeled ZAP Alias can beat a Porsche
By Gary Cleland
A new three-wheeled car with a top speed of 156mph will revolutionise driving when it is launched next year, its makers claim.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Global Climate Change Response Can Spur $7 Trillion in Clean Energy Investment by 2030: CERA Analysis

Global Climate Change Response Can Spur $7 Trillion in Clean Energy Investment by 2030: CERA Analysis

In "Launch Pad" Scenario, Renewable Power & Biofuels Could Supply 16% of Global Electric & Transportation Fuel Needs by 2030

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--February 5, 2008 Increasing public concerns about climate change -- and its potential economic and political security consequences -- are driving public policy and private investment to bring clean energy technologies from the fringes of the global energy industry to the center of activities as quickly as possible, a new analysis by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) has concluded. The result of this rising public and private momentum is an increase in worldwide clean energy investment that could surpass US$7 trillion by 2030 in cumulative real 2007 dollars, according to the CERA report Crossing the Divide: The Future of Clean Energy.

“We are seeing a major shift in public opinion, reinforced by the expectation that carbon policies could fundamentally change the competitive landscape of the global energy business,” said Daniel Yergin, CERA Chairman and IHS Executive Vice President. “This is providing a vital impetus that is moving clean technology across the great divide of cost, proven results, scale and maturity that has separated it from markets served by mainstream technologies and processes.”

Key Insights

“The rapidly advancing new paradigms of climate change, energy security, and policy implementation and cooperation among the United States, the European Union, China and others will produce a broad range of opportunities, risks and pitfalls as the modern energy industry increasingly moves to adopt clean technologies that will be part of the alternative, low-carbon pathway to the energy future,” said Robert LaCount, head of CERA’s Climate Change and Clean Energy Group.

“All participants in the global energy business, from traditional incumbents such as electrical power companies and major oil and gas companies to new entrants such as venture capital firms,” he added, “will play a role in shaping this alternative energy future. CERA’s Crossing the Divide analysis offers a number of key insights about potentially significant clean energy opportunities for almost every energy sector participant:

There is already a “bubbling” of clean energy clusters – Some places are becoming concentrations of political, technical, institutional and financial clean energy specialization and experience. Examples include Brazil in biofuels, Germany in photovoltaic (PV) technology, Spain in wind technologies. Renewable power technologies are poised for substantial growth – Wind will make the largest gains, followed by solar power and biomass — despite near-term bottlenecks in wind turbine manufacturing, supply shortages in silicon, and competitive pressures from escalating component costs. Government policy remains a key driver for clean energy advancement – Putting a price on CO2 emissions, setting mandates, and providing subsidies all work to kick-start clean energy technologies by overcoming the economic advantage of conventional technologies. The challenge in the years ahead is to provide subsidies in a way that ensures that these technologies get off the drawing board and are able to wean themselves from support – allowing for a phase-out rather than an increase in subsidies – as they become commercially viable on their own. Conventional emission-free technologies – Nuclear and hydroelectric generation will account for most of the clean energy impact for the next decade, and almost half the gross clean power additions by 2030. Disruptive technology potential – Clean energy technology could have disruptive rather than incremental impact. Modular and distributed PV could disrupt traditional central-station models of electricity production and distribution. Breakthroughs in cellulosic ethanol can disrupt the traditional vehicle fuel system if scale, logistics, and costs prove manageable. Conventional biofuel feedstocks, such as grains and oilseeds, may also produce serious unintended consequences such as disruption in global agricultural prices as well as land and water use patterns, as well as a policy backlash. Asia demand and manufacturing – Rapid economic growth may push Asian energy needs from 30 percent of current global demand to 40 percent by 2030; combined with its manufacturing cost-competitiveness, this could make Asia a nexus for clean energy technology research, development and equipment production. Clean Technology Drivers

Across the entire range of potential scenarios, Crossing the Divide identified the primary drivers that affect the pace of clean energy technological development and its commercial success:

Oil & natural gas prices – Directly affect the economics of clean energy technologies, energy security concerns, biofuels development, renewable power and conventional clean energy. Government policy – Central to development of all clean energy technologies, with sustained government support ensuring ongoing research, seed money and confidence for investors; the sustainability of support policies shapes the timing and ultimate success of new technologies, particularly to the degree to which it encourages private investment. Pace of technology innovation – Movement of technologies from the fringe to the center of the energy business is heavily dependent on policy support and private investment, which, in turn, is strongly affected by fossil fuel price cycles, carbon pricing, and expectations. Economic growth – Affects energy demand and carbon emissions as well as the political and financial support for research and development of new clean energy technologies. The Big Three: “The Big Three” in terms of energy consumption – the United States, the European Union and China – will have a major impact on development of “clean energy,” along with certain other countries, particularly Japan and Brazil. Scenarios Findings

CERA’s analysis used a scenarios framework to assess the winners and losers among various clean energy technologies and help define key risks and opportunities as companies seek to place their technology bets. The analysis addressed new and conventional energy technologies that can provide energy with a minimal carbon footprint and facilitate greater energy security. These technologies include biofuels, renewable power technologies, carbon capture and storage, nuclear and hydropower. While CERA’s scenarios provide widely different outcomes, advances occur in at least some clean energy technologies across all three scenarios.

In the Launch Pad scenario, strong energy prices, growing public pressure to control CO2 emissions, and a stable investment environment coalesce to drive the development and adoption of a wide range of clean energy technologies. Renewable power capacity grows from three to 16 percent of global capacity and biofuels grow from less than two percent to 16 percent of the total road transportation fuels market.

In contrast to Launch Pad’s broad-based advancement of clean energy, the Global Fissures scenario highlights how weaker global economic growth coupled with increasing global tensions and political insecurity could lead to an uneven outlook for clean energy technologies. In the Global Fissures scenario, renewable power capacity grows to seven percent of the global power mix, but nuclear power experiences little growth and carbon capture and storage technology fails to develop commercially by 2030.

The Asian Phoenix scenario describes a world where the global balance of geopolitical and economic power shifts to Asia, expanding Asia’s role as both consumer and exporter of clean energy technologies. Although concerns over climate change influence political agendas, a global patchwork of uncoordinated policies result in inconsistent government support programs leading to periods of fits and starts for private investment flows, and limiting technological and commercial breakthroughs. Renewable power grows to 10 percent of global capacity and biofuels capture seven percent of the market for road transportation fuels.

"Crossing the Divide and the CERA scenarios highlight that the future of clean energy can take several paths," said Lawrence Makovich, CERA vice president and senior advisor. "This demonstrates how important not only technology, but also well-crafted energy policy are to shaping the energy future."

The Crossing the Divide analysis combined the collective input of study participants with CERA’s broad research capabilities and deep expertise in a range of energy segments and geographic regions to help gauge the expectations for clean energy and align them with reality. Highlights of each technology include the following:

Biofuels. Development of biofuels is rapidly growing around the world, driven by rising global oil prices and transportation demand. Support for biofuels is also driven by interest in promoting domestic agricultural sectors. Based on the state of current technologies, however, biofuels promise to displace a relatively small fraction of petroleum, owing to twin constraints: competition for land with food crops and relatively high production costs. More petroleum could be displaced if next generation technology is developed that converts more plentiful nonfood biomass into fuel and expands the useable crop base, but significant cost and technology hurdles must first be overcome. Biotechnology may surprise and shine a light on the appropriate solutions. Wind. Given its relatively low cost compared with other renewable power alternatives, wind is the leading renewable technology in power generation worldwide in terms of installed capacity. As favorable onshore resources are harnessed, the key to maintaining wind capacity growth will be movement to low-speed onshore sites and offshore wind development. The majority of all new wind capacity (approximately 80 percent) is expected to come online in Asia and Europe, with almost all of the remainder in North America. Biomass. Europe continues to lead the way in biomass power growth for electric generation through its bioenergy policy initiatives. Cost-effective, dedicated biomass crops would create a breakthrough for this technology. Geothermal power. Current trends indicate that new geothermal power projects should increase installed capacity by 50 percent or more in the next five years as the number of countries with geothermal power operations roughly doubles to over 40. Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), commonly known as “hot rocks,” may hold the greatest potential for expanding the role of geothermal energy. EGS takes advantage of the heat locked in impermeable rock layers deep below the earth’s surface through artificially created geothermal reservoirs. Although EGS technology shows great promise, it is still in a formative stage of development and must overcome a number of challenges before becoming a viable energy source. Solar PV. Solar enjoys fast growth globally, with installations increasing from just over three GW in 1996 to 6.5 GW in 2006. Solar PV is primarily a decentralized source of power generation that produces electricity directly from sunlight without moving parts or the need for significant balance-of-plant equipment. It is versatile in terms of applications, ranging from integration in lighting products and building materials to modular power installations that provide power to the grid. Its versatility and falling manufacturing costs make solar PV attractive to the investment community looking for clean energy technologies with near-term market potential. Still, solar PV–generated electricity costs significantly more than conventional power generation and requires subsidies to compensate. Concentrating solar power (CSP). CSP is a large-scale, centralized power production technology that concentrates sunlight to generate heat that is used to produce steam-generated electricity. Although solar PV is more widely known, CSP technologies are actually much less expensive and more appropriately sized for utility-scale generation. However, they still require subsidies in order to compete in the marketplace. Emerging CSP technologies can be equipped with thermal storage systems that reduce the impact of solar energy’s intermittence. Ocean. The enormous energy potential of ocean resources is unlikely to provide a significant contribution to world electricity supplies for the next few decades owing to the early-stage nature of the technology. Successful demonstration projects, cost reductions and policy development on standards for resource use will be required to advance the growth of ocean energy. However, successful projects could have an impact on a local level, and within the next half century a tidal power plant with a capacity as big as or bigger than the Hoover Dam or the Yangtze River Dam is possible. Carbon capture and storage (CCS). Carbon capture and storage is a combination of technologies that holds promise of bringing fossil fuel combustion into the clean energy portfolio. If done on a large enough scale, capturing and effectively storing CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere could fundamentally alter the carbon footprint of conventional fossil fuels. Even in the best case, CCS is at least two decades away from large scale deployment. Carbon capture technology is likely to advance well ahead of storage technology. Technical hurdles to carbon capture will be addressed in technology trials over the next decade while the associated political, regulatory and legal issues are worked out. Nuclear. Nuclear power is an important part of the world’s current electricity mix, providing 15 percent of global power generation. Future prospects for new nuclear construction, buoyed by growing concerns over climate change and energy security, could support new nuclear build of up to 700 GW of installed capacity by 2030. However, many challenges lie ahead with regard to policy, capital costs, waste management — and public opinion. There is always the risk of a major safety incident or a successful terrorist attack which could seriously impede the progress of nuclear power. Hydropower. Many developing economies and power systems are following the path set by the developed economies and maximizing their domestic hydroelectric potential to support economic development. Like nuclear, hydropower currently provides a significant portion of global power generation (16 percent) and is also poised for growth over the next few decades. Particularly in developing economies in Asia and Latin America, up to 600 GW of new capacity could be added through 2030. Hydropower engenders controversy, however, based on the social displacement and environmental impacts associated with large-scale dams and reservoirs. About CERA (www.cera.com)

Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), an IHS company (NYSE:IHS - News), is a leading advisor to energy companies, consumers, financial institutions, technology providers, and governments. CERA (www.cera.com) delivers strategic knowledge and independent analysis on energy markets, geopolitics, industry trends, and strategy. CERA is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has offices in Beijing, Calgary, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

About IHS (www.ihs.com)

IHS (NYSE: IHS - News) is a leading global source of critical information and insight for customers in a broad range of industries. Our customer product and service solutions span four major areas of information: energy, product lifecycle management, environmental and security. By focusing on our customers first, we deliver data and expertise that enable innovative and successful decision-making. Customers range from governments and multinational companies to smaller companies and technical professionals in more than 180 countries. IHS has been in business since 1959 and employs more than 3,000 people in 35 locations around the world.

© 2008, IHS is a registered trademark of IHS Inc. CERA is a registered trademark of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Inc. Copyright ©2008 IHS Inc. All rights reserved.


Contact:CERABethany Genier, +1-617-866-5142bgenier@cera.com