〈全球環保時事〉彙整頁面 - Page 31 of 37

Waste bottle recycling and plastic recycling

Recently, rising prices of plastic raw materials have dragged down the prices of plastic products. However, Taiwan already has technology to recycle empty beverage bottles into recycled plastic raw materials. This process is easy, and the environmentally friendly plastic raw materials are 20-30% cheaper than virgin raw materials, leading to a recent upward trend. Clothes, water pipes, vases, reusable bags—can you tell that all the household items on your table are made from discarded empty beverage cans? The Environmental Protection Administration explains that recycled beverage cans can be processed into three types of recycled plastic raw materials: PET, PP, and PE. They emphasize that the quality of the recycled products is exactly the same as virgin materials. Most importantly, the price of each of the three types of recycled plastic materials is more than NT$10 cheaper than virgin materials. Production is gradually increasing annually. Environmentally friendly and inexpensive recycled plastic materials have recently become another new trend in Taiwan's plastic raw material market, following the rise in virgin plastic raw material prices. –Source: Yahoo News, FTV News

2010-10-12

Commercially available toys exceed toxicity limits; well-known retailers and online purchases listed.

The Consumers' Foundation sampled 28 toys from the market and online, finding that 21% were non-compliant. Two toys had plasticizer levels exceeding the standard by more than 100 times, and one contained excessive lead, which could potentially affect children's intellectual development. Chuang Su-chin, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, stated that businesses have been instructed to remove all non-compliant products from shelves. In May of this year (2010), the Consumers' Foundation and the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection jointly sampled 28 toys from hypermarkets, toy stores, and online shopping platforms, finding 6 (21%) non-compliant toys, all originating from mainland China. Among them, the "Ocean Animal Piggy Bank" from Fubon MOMO Shopping Network and the "Korean Style Barbie Doll" sold at Toys "R" Us in Carrefour Neihu Store had plasticizer levels exceeding the standard by 117 times and 126 times, respectively. Chuang Su-chin stated that the phthalates detected this time are a type of endocrine disruptor, a chemical substance that interferes with the endocrine system of living organisms. They may disrupt the balance and function of a child's natural endocrine system, potentially causing feminization in men and increasing the risk of breast cancer in women. Furthermore, the investigation also found that the "Korean-style Barbie doll," with its excessively high plasticizer content, also failed the heavy metal test, with a lead content of 251 ppm, exceeding the national standard of 90 ppm by 2.8 times, potentially causing damage to children's nervous system. In the physical testing section, four objects were found to be too small, posing a choking hazard if accidentally ingested by children. Additionally, five items failed the "Chinese labeling" inspection, including the absence of the importer's unified identification number, batch number, manufacturer's address, and warning labels.

2010-10-12

GB24613-2009 Mandatory Standard for Coatings for Toys

The National Technical Committee on Standardization of Coatings and Pigments has proposed the mandatory standard GB24613-2009, "Limits of Hazardous Substances in Coatings for Toys," which will take effect on October 1, 2010. This standard applies to all types of toy coatings and specifies the limits of hazardous substances, test methods, packaging labeling, and other requirements. Suppliers of coatings to toy manufacturers must ensure that their products comply with this national standard. Hazardous Substances Limits: Total Lead ≤600mg/kg; Soluble Elements: Antimony (Sb) ≤60mg/kg; Arsenic (As) ≤25mg/kg; Barium (Ba) ≤1000mg/kg; Cadmium (Cd) ≤75mg/kg; Chromium (Cr) ≤60mg/kg; Lead (Pb) ≤90mg/kg; Mercury (Hg) ≤60mg/kg; Selenium (Se) ≤500mg/kg; Phthalate Esters: Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) ≤0.1%; Dibutyl phthalate (DBP); Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP); Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) ≤0.1%; Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP); Dioctyl phthalate (DNOP); Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) ≤720g/L The total content of toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene is ≤30% Benzene

2010-10-12

Green Energy Rise in British Columbia, Canada

With strong support from the Canadian government, several clean energy and biotechnology companies in British Columbia have become global leaders in converting biomass into fuel. The global market for renewable energy derived from agricultural and forestry waste is currently estimated at approximately CAD 200 billion, while the global market for fuel derived from biomass is estimated at CAD 175 billion. In January of this year (2010), the Canadian federal government's Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) program provided CAD 58 million in funding to 16 green energy technology projects, including six British Columbia companies: Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., Automotive Fuel Cell Corp., Ballard Power Systems Inc., Exro Technologies Inc., HTEC Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corp., and Pulse Energy, Inc. These companies primarily research and develop energy for electric vehicles and biomass technologies that add value to Canadian agriculture and forestry. The British Columbia government established the BC Bioenergy program in January 2008.

2010-10-12

Waste-to-energy power generation: China's coal capital puts it into trial operation

In Datong City, Shanxi Province, a major coal-producing region in mainland China, waste is being specially treated to replace coal as a new source of electricity for power generation. The estimated annual power generation is approximately 200 million kilowatt-hours, providing enough electricity for the city's more than 300,000 residents for a year. According to Xinhua News Agency, Datong, known as "China's Coal Capital," is one of the largest thermal coal bases in mainland China. However, after years of mining, its coal resources are nearing depletion. Therefore, Shanxi has begun promoting "waste-to-energy" in recent years. Waste-to-energy can save land resources, eliminate land, water, and air pollution caused by landfilling, and achieve harmlessness, waste reduction, and resource recovery, promoting sustainable environmental and economic development. Chinese waste is typically characterized by its high moisture content, low calorific value, large amount of residue, and lack of separation and refining. To address this, China Zhongde Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., responsible for the project, designed incineration power generation equipment suitable for the characteristics of Chinese waste. It is understood that by deepening the furnace, the temperature during waste incineration is kept at no less than 850 degrees Celsius, and the flue gas remains in the high-temperature layer for more than 3 seconds. Through repeated tumbling on the grate, the waste and straw can be fully mixed and burned. Furthermore, activated carbon fiber felt and bag filters can effectively remove dust and residual dioxins from flue gas. According to monitoring by the Monitoring and Analysis Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, the dioxin emissions in Datong City are 0.034 ng, lower than China's environmental standards and better than EU standards. Zhang Jiangong, chairman of Datong Fuqiao Waste Incineration Power Generation Company, said that in addition to generating 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the ash produced from waste incineration can also be used to make approximately...

2010-10-12

Global warming leads to reduced rice production: a warning to poor countries.

A groundbreaking study published on the 9th in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) indicates that even a minimal increase in global temperatures will reduce rice production in Asia. Over the past 25 years, yields in many rice-producing regions of Asia have decreased by 10% to 20%. This trend of declining rice production due to global warming means that more people will fall into poverty and hunger. Researchers from the United States, the Philippines, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) examined the impact of rising daily minimum and maximum temperatures between 1994 and 1999 on the yields of 227 irrigated rice paddies in six major rice-producing countries: China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The results showed that the primary cause of the reduced rice production was the increase in daily minimum temperatures. "When minimum temperatures rise, or when nights get warmer, rice yields will decrease," said Wilshire of the University of California, San Diego, the report's lead author. "To some extent, higher daytime temperatures will increase rice yields, but in the future, yield reductions caused by higher nighttime temperatures may outweigh the gains from higher daytime temperatures because nighttime temperatures rise faster." He pointed out that if daytime temperatures rise too high, they will also begin to affect rice yields. If humans cannot change the way rice is produced or develop heat-resistant rice varieties, then rice yields will decrease over the next decade or so due to rising day and night temperatures: "This situation will worsen as temperatures will rise further by the middle of this century." Rice is an important global grain, with approximately three [units of something unspecified] produced daily.

2010-10-12

40% of ATM and credit card receipts contain toxic bisphenol A (BPA).

–Source: United Daily News A startling survey released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the United States indicates that 40% of thermal receipts, credit card slips, and transaction records received by the public for everyday shopping and ATM withdrawals contain the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which affects the human endocrine system and increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. The EWG collected 36 thermal receipts from restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, and post offices in seven states and the Washington, D.C. area, finding that 40% contained BPA. Scholar Werner also conducted a study on stores in the Boston suburbs, finding that as many as eight out of ten stores' receipts contained BPA. This study was published in the journal *Green Chemistry Review* on the 28th of last month. Werner stated that he knew thermal receipts contained BPA several years ago. To confirm whether this toxic substance was still being used in thermal paper, he and his colleagues conducted research, finding that blank receipts collected contained between three and nineteen milligrams of BPA per 30 centimeters—a very high dose. The EWG research report sparked widespread discussion and debate in the United States. Eppendorf Paper, the largest manufacturer of thermal paper receipts in the US, clarified that it had ceased using bisphenol A (BPA) in 2006.

2010-10-12

Hearings Held on TSCA Reform in the United States

In late July 2010, the U.S. House Committee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection held its first hearing on reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). During the hearings, members of Congress introduced the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010. Bobby L. Rush stated in his presentation that the proposed TSCA reforms did not expect to satisfy everyone, but one thing was very clear: the American public wanted, needed, and demanded more information than ever before about the chemicals in the products they consumed, their food and water, their homes, and their surrounding environment. They also demanded information about the associated uses, hazards, and exposure risks. Industry representatives attending the hearings expressed interest in the TSCA reforms, while NGOs expressed their support. It is understood that the current U.S. law controlling hazardous substances is the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, but its enactment is too old, and both the U.S. government and the public believe that the current TSCA no longer fulfills its purpose. Since 2009, the U.S. government has intended to reform the TSCA. On July 22, 2010, Representatives Rush and Waxman, among others, introduced the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010, amending the TSCA. The main content of the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010 was to establish a risk-based framework to ensure that all chemicals posing a risk of public exposure are safe and strictly regulated. Industry was required to provide information to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

2010-10-12

The EU plans to unify standards for renewable energy subsidies.

To achieve its goal of zero CO2 emissions in the electricity sector as soon as possible, the European Union is developing a plan to unify the subsidy methods for renewable energy across the 27 EU member states. The promotion of renewable energy in Europe mainly follows two approaches: Germany's feed-in price system and the UK's quota system. The former mandates that power companies purchase renewable energy at a fixed price for a certain number of years; the latter mandates that power companies use a certain proportion of renewable energy. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, but from the perspective of the European Commission, only by unifying the subsidy methods across the EU and abandoning nationalism can the goal of zero CO2 emissions in the electricity sector be achieved by 2050. EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said that Europe needs to establish a common electricity market, "meaning that the production and consumption of electricity should become more and more common across different countries." In an interview with the Financial Times Deutschland, he cited examples such as the UK's offshore wind farms storing electricity in Switzerland and Norway, and the fact that electricity produced by North African desert solar power plants for Europe also requires subsidies, at least initially. Eighteen EU member states use the German-style fixed purchase price system, and Oudiner believes this system should be extended to the whole of Europe. However, the level of subsidies involves the distribution of benefits, and setting uniform standards within the EU would inevitably provoke backlash from national governments and businesses. Oudiner assures that the proposed plan "both promotes renewable energy and encourages competition."

2010-10-12

Safety regulations for children's sleeping bags and down comforters

European Commission resolution 2010/376/EU, which came into effect on 26 July 2010, established safety requirements for five categories of common children's bedroom items. Data shows that children aged 0-5 spend at least half their time sleeping each day, making it crucial to ensure that items in this environment do not harm children. The European Commission, pursuant to General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC, established specific regulations requiring EU standardization bodies to develop harmonized standards to reduce risks associated with these five categories of common children's bedroom items. These items are crib mattresses, sleeping bags, crib bumpers, baby hammocks, and baby comforters. Related risks include: • Crib mattresses: Poorly designed mattresses can pose entanglement and suffocation risks. For example, a mattress that is too small, leaving gaps around the edges, can cause a child to become trapped or suffocate. Products that do not meet flammability requirements also pose a risk. • Sleeping bags and crib bumpers: Risks of strangulation, suffocation, and choking due to exposed straps, loops, removable parts, or filling. • Baby hammocks: Due to poor design, especially unstable structure, they can lead to children getting trapped, suffocating, and injured. • Children's down comforters: Risk of suffocation and overheating, especially when safety information is lacking. Down comforters may also cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) due to hyperthermia and suffocation. Specific safety regulations for the above five categories of products are set out in the Annex to European Commission resolution 2010/376/EU. For example, mattresses should not ignite when exposed to flames or sparks, even if...

2010-10-12

Australian Toy Safety Policy Update

On June 30, 2010, the Australian Competition and Consumer Goods Commission (ACCC) published a notice entitled "Supplier Bulletin – Lead and Certain Elements in Children's Toys and Finger Paints." In the notice, based on statutory standards effective January 1, 2010, the ACCC outlined acceptable levels of lead and certain elements in children's toys and finger paints, and recognized EN 71-3, ISO 8124.3, or AS/NZS ISO 8124.3 and EN 71-7 as acceptable standards for compliance testing. The notice highlighted the hazards of lead and other elements in children's toys and finger paints, and outlined the responsibilities of suppliers in accordance with the aforementioned statutory standards. Furthermore, the notice defined the terms "children's toys" and "finger paints" as follows, and clarified the applicable age range for children's toys with limits on lead and certain element migration: – Children's toys refer to brand-new products intended for play by children under 6 years of age. – Finger paints refer to colored pastes or gels that children apply to surfaces with their fingers and hands. The table below lists the acceptable maximum leaching levels of lead and other elements in children's toys and finger paints: Element | Product (mg/kg) | Antimony | Arsenic | Barium | Cadmium | Chromium | Lead | Mercury | Selenium | Toy Content | 60 | 25 | 1000 | 75 | 60 | 90 | 60 | 500 | Nail Polish Content | 10 | 10 | 350 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 50 | From 20

2010-10-12

Morris Chang: Semiconductor equipment should have an environmentally friendly design.

Morris Chang, Chairman of TSMC, strongly recommends that the World Semiconductor Society (WSC) and the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) collaborate, hoping that next-generation semiconductor equipment can be environmentally designed from the outset, achieving the global semiconductor industry's common goal of energy conservation and carbon reduction. TSMC will send executives to Japan next week to discuss the establishment of this mechanism with WSC, hoping to establish a dialogue mechanism between WSC and SEMI. The Taiwan Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Exhibition (SEMICON Taiwan 2010) will open tomorrow (8th). This year, a special green manufacturing zone has been set up to address green environmental issues. Hsu Fang-ming, Deputy Director of the Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection Department of TSMC, conveyed Morris Chang's ideas on promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction in the global semiconductor industry at a pre-exhibition press conference yesterday (6th). Hsu Fang-ming said that when Morris Chang attended the WSC Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Report Conference held in South Korea in May this year as CEO of TSMC, he pointed out that in the past ten years, WSC has not clearly regulated the voluntary energy conservation and carbon reduction of global semiconductor companies, but it is gratifying that Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers have self-disciplined and followed WSC's energy conservation and carbon reduction goals. Morris Chang optimistically predicted at the time that Taiwanese wafer foundries would be able to meet the WSC's energy conservation and carbon reduction targets set for 2001-2010. — Source: Economic Daily News

2010-10-12

The draft regulations on battery capacity labeling are currently under review.

The European Council recently adopted a draft regulation from the European Commission on battery capacity labeling, covering portable (rechargeable), automotive, and accumulator batteries. The draft regulation will have a significant impact on battery, accumulator, and battery-powered product manufacturers in Hong Kong and mainland China, who will need time to adjust their processes to comply with the new capacity labeling requirements. If approved by the European Parliament, portable, automotive, and accumulator batteries will be required to be labeled clearly indicating their capacity level. The labels must indicate the battery and accumulator capacity according to international electrotechnical standards. The draft regulation also specifies the size and location of the labels. Portable, automotive, and accumulator batteries placed on the market 18 months after the regulation is published in the Official Journal of the European Union will be subject to the regulations. Manufacturers have an 18-month grace period to adjust their production processes accordingly to meet the requirements. The draft regulation stipulates that portable and accumulator batteries already installed in electrical appliances before being provided to end users, and which will not be removed, are exempt. The draft regulations state that the purpose of establishing capacity labels is to provide end users with useful, easily understandable, and comparable information to help them make informed choices when purchasing automotive and accumulator batteries. Therefore, the draft includes several provisions: • Determining the capacity levels of portable batteries, automotive batteries, and accumulator batteries according to international electrical engineering standards. • The unit of measurement for the capacity of the aforementioned batteries and accumulator batteries is "ampere-hour" (Ah) or "milliampere-hour" (mAh). • Specifying the information included in the label and the label design. Portable Batteries and Accumulator Batteries

2010-10-12

Burger King Stops Buying Indonesian Palm Oil

Fast-food giant Burger King has decided to stop purchasing palm oil from Indonesia's Sinar Mas Group, which is accused of destroying rainforests, a move that won praise from environmentalists on April 4. The American hamburger chain announced on April 2 that it was terminating its contract with Sinar Mas because the group's farming practices did not adhere to sustainability principles. Burger King cited an independent audit report stating that Sinar Mas violated several regulations, including planting in peat bogs and secondary forests, "actions that are inconsistent with our company's commitment to corporate responsibility." Burger King did not specify alternative sources for the palm oil used for frying. Sinar Mas expressed regret over the decision but said it would work to persuade Burger King to adhere to sustainable operating principles. Greenpeace welcomed Burger King's decision, accusing Sinar Mas of clearing forests containing orangutans and other endangered species. Unilever, Nestlé, and Kraft Foods recently terminated their deals with Sinar Mas. — Source: Taiwan Environmental Information Center

2010-10-12

The rise of eco-conscious consumerism in the United States is driving green business opportunities.

Environmental consumerism is on the rise in the United States, with Americans willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly products for their own benefit. In the latest issue of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's *Trade Quarterly*, Assistant Chief Economist Poon Wing-choi analyzed this trend, suggesting that Hong Kong manufacturers pay attention to key trends in the US market and focus on developing product categories where demand for environmentally friendly alternatives is increasing. Recent large-scale surveys show a shift in American consumer attitudes. Ogilvy & Mather's "Post-Recession Consumer Survey 2010" revealed that American consumers have developed a new set of values and shopping priorities. Among the surveyed American consumers, approximately 69% said the economic recession prompted them to reflect on their views and values; 78% said the recession led them to improve their consumption habits; and 73% indicated they preferred to own fewer but higher-quality items. A survey released in March by another research institution, Mintel, showed that 35% of American respondents were willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products. The survey found that this trend was particularly evident in the food, beverage, and personal care product sectors, where consumers were willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly products. Cotton Incorporated's 2010 Consumer Environmental Survey also reflects the growing popularity of environmentally conscious consumerism in the United States. The survey shows that for many consumers, the driving force of saving money has a similar impact to that of environmental consciousness. For example,

2010-10-12

An official from the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission stated that China's carbon trading is still in the pilot stage.

"Carbon trading is very important, but China is still in the experimental stage overall," said Dr. Liu Qiang, deputy director of the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) Management Center at the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), at a lecture on "Energy Conservation and Low Carbon" held at the UK Pavilion of the World Expo on the 23rd. Dr. Liu stated that currently, apart from the relatively well-developed CDM market, China is still in the experimental stage of carbon trading, hoping to find carbon trading models beneficial to China's development and emission reduction through pilot demonstrations. A positive yet cautious attitude should be adopted towards carbon trading. In early August, the NDRC announced five provinces and eight cities as pilot low-carbon provinces and cities. Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai have also established exchanges to pilot energy conservation and emission reduction trading. In Dr. Liu's view, while the proposal of China's domestic carbon intensity target provides a good policy signal and platform for carbon trading, many issues still need to be discussed before carbon trading can be truly realized. These issues involve mechanisms, institutions, participation models, allocation, benchmarks, and other aspects, which need to be addressed through pilot projects. Furthermore, Liu Qiang pointed out that China's carbon intensity target is a voluntary target, unrelated to international commitments, and does not require international MRV (Measurable, Reportable, and Verifiable). In this context, it is even more necessary to consider the future relationship between the domestic and international carbon markets, and the roles played by different institutions within them, which also needs to be addressed through pilot programs. In Europe, carbon trading has already achieved some development, and its experience can be applied to China's energy conservation and emission reduction efforts.

2010-10-12

Disappearing Asian glaciers worry about impact on harvests.

A study by a US research institution and nearly 40 scientists from various countries has found that glaciers in Asia are not only retreating due to global warming, but their premature melting may also lead to more droughts and affect local crop yields. This report, compiled by the US Geological Survey in conjunction with 39 scientists worldwide, indicates that glaciers in Asia, including China, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bhutan, and Kazakhstan, have experienced significant declines. Specifically, glaciers in Bhutan have shrunk by 8.1% in the past 30 years, the Chhota Shigri Glacier in the Indian Himalayas has shrunk by 12% in the past 13 years, and the Gangoteli Glacier has shrunk by 12% in the past 16 years. A report from the U.S. Geological Survey also indicates that China has the second largest glacier area in Asia, totaling approximately 59,424.96 square kilometers. American scientist Ferrinio stated, "The glaciers in the Himalayas are of greatest concern because they affect the lives of tens of millions of people and supply water to rivers in northern India." Scientists believe that glacial melting has a significant impact on agricultural activities during Asia's dry season. However, due to climate warming, glacial melting is occurring earlier, and when combined with spring or summer rainfall, it can easily cause floods, especially in areas near glaciers where flash floods are most vulnerable. The study also points out that glacial melting is related to the frequency of floods and droughts in Asia, and even to rising global sea levels.

2010-10-12

International efforts are paying off; the ozone layer is no longer thinning.

September 16th is the United Nations International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. A new UN report indicates that, thanks to international efforts, the ozone layer protecting the Earth has stopped depleting and is no longer thinning, which also helps mitigate the greenhouse effect. This statement was made by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in their joint report, "Scientific Assessment of Ozone Layer Depletion 2010." The UN notes that the report, compiled by over 300 scientists, represents the latest data on the ozone layer's condition over the past four years. The report states that signatories to the Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, signed in 1987, have fulfilled their commitments to gradually phase out the production and use of ozone-depleting chemicals, leading to an improvement in the ozone layer's depletion situation. The report points out that while global ozone depletion has ceased over the past decade, it has not rebounded. Except for the polar regions, the ozone layer in other areas is expected to recover to pre-1980 levels by the middle of this century, but recovery over Antarctica will take much longer. The report states that many ozone-depleting substances are also potent greenhouse gases, and the effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol will help mitigate climate change. In 2010, the reduction in ozone-depleting substances through the Montreal Protocol, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, was approximately ten gigatons per year, less than the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

2010-10-12

Renault announces it will abandon the production of hybrid vehicles.

Although Toyota still exhibited its Prius hybrid at the 2010 Paris Autumn Motor Show, Renault announced on September 3 that it would abandon the manufacture of hybrid vehicles. Because hybrid systems are suitable for rugged mountainous terrain or cargo transport, they are only popular in the United States. Furthermore, because they are not environmentally friendly, Renault decided to shift its efforts to the electric vehicle market. Renault Vice President Patrick Pélata stated, "Considering price factors, the average selling price of a new car in Germany is currently €20,000. Although hybrid vehicles can save 10% to 15% on fuel, they are only transitional equipment. Currently, due to government environmental protection plans, only electric vehicles can achieve a reduction of nearly half in CO2 emissions. It is estimated that the number of electric vehicles will triple to 2 billion by 2025, while hybrid vehicles will not be able to meet the government's target." Renault currently considers Japan's Mitsubishi its biggest competitor and aspires to surpass Mitsubishi to become the world's leading electric vehicle brand, planning to produce 150,000 to 200,000 electric vehicles in 2012. Renault's manufacturing plant is located in Bursa, Turkey's largest city. Vice President Patrick Pélata pointed out, "Starting in 2011, we will ship several thousand electric vehicles, and then plan to produce 30,000 electric vehicles. Other electric vehicle models will be manufactured in Maubünchen, northern France."

2010-10-12

Finland and Sweden jointly build wind power plant

Finland's Fortum Energy and Sweden's Skelleftea Kraft Energy will jointly build a wind farm in Blaken, northern Sweden, with a total investment of €400 million. Fortum will contribute 40% of the capital. Construction is scheduled to begin next year and be completed in 2015, at which time it will be one of the leading wind farms in Europe. The Blaken region has strong winds, making it ideal for wind farm construction, although wind strength weakens during the harsh winter. The Blaken wind farm will have 100 wind turbines and is estimated to generate 600-720 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 150,000 households. – Source: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Residency Agency, Finnish Communications

2010-10-12