A giant solar thermal park project in Oman took a big step forward with the groundbreaking for construction at the Amal oilfield in the south of the country.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has said it has trained 127 technical staff of electrical and solar PV consultants and contractors. The training covered Dewa’s requirements for installing PV panels on rooftops as part of its Shams Dubai initiative.

Taiwan has unveiled the Eco-Power Station (EPS), a revolutionary, totally off-the-grid system that is entirely self-powered by solar energy. It features a 5 kW thin-film photovoltaic module as well as a 5 kW lithium-ion battery.

Siemens has received its first order for the new 7 MW offshore wind turbine: the company is to supply, install and commission 47 direct drive wind turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 154 m. The wind turbines will be deployed in the Walney Extension East project in the Irish Sea.

Dupont has celebrated the opening of its cellulosic biofuel facility in Nevada, Iowa (USA). The biorefinery is the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, with the capacity to produce 30 million gallons per year of clean fuel that offers a 90 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as compared to gasoline.