South Korea

Christy Clark, the premier of British Columbia, has joined the ranks of public officials the world over, which have clouded the definition of "clean energy" by using the term to seve their own interests.

The U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) bank has given XCoal Energy & Resources, a coal-exporting firm, a $90 million loan guarantee.  The decision has drawn the ire of environmentalists across the country.

DuPont, the leading U.S. chemical maker, and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., a top Chinese PV panel manufacturer, reached a $100 million deal this week with the goal of boosting supplies of solar-energy materials and promoting broader adoption of solar energy worldwide.

The latest report from the Worldwatch Institute indicates global natural gas consumption is regaining momentum, with much of it being driven by increasing demand in Asia and the United States. 

General Motors Co. (GM) has announced it will produce an all-electric version of its Chevrolet Spark minicar.   Powered by an advanced nanophosphate A123 Systems lithium-ion battery pack, the Spark EV is designed for urban markets and is expected to compete with Nissan’s LEAF.  

Mozambique, the southeast African nation once plagued by nearly three decades of civil war, plans to push for the development of renewable energy to provide more of its population with electrical service, according to a new government strategy announced this week (currently, 95% of Mozambicans live without electricity).

Here are the Top 10 Renewable Energy News Stories You May Have Missed this Week:

India will soon be home to Asia's first tidal power project.  The government has approved a 50-megawatt commercial tidal power plant in the Gulf of Kutch. 

South Korea, the world's second-largest buyer of liquefied-natural-gas after Japan and fifth leading oil importer, plans to increase investment in renewable resources by 24% this year, to 1 trillion won (US$890 million) from 808.4 billion won last year, according to an e-mailed statement issued by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (this past October, the South Korean government said it would inject some $35 billion into the public and private sectors by 2015 to boost renewables).

After what appears to be considerable outcry from industry, initial plans by Japan to implement a comprehensive carbon emissions trading scheme by 2013 have been put on hold -- at least until 2014.