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The European Union and the Republic of Iraq have today signed in Baghdad, Iraq, a Memorandum of Understanding on a "Strategic Energy Partnership" which provides a political framework for reinforcing energy relations between Iraq and the EU. It also outlines priorities for future cooperation, taking into account the possible role of Iraq as a natural gas supplier for the Southern Corridor and that Iraq has the world's third largest proven petroleum reserves; Iraq could become an energy bridge between the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the EU. The Memorandum outlines the following areas of cooperation: development of an energy policy for the Iraqi people, energy security of supplies between Iraq and the EU, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. The Memorandum was signed by the Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs and by the Iraqi Minister for Oil Hussain Al-Shahristani. Baroness Ashton, The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, will subsequently co-sign the MoU together with the Council Presidency.

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Get ready to spend three exciting days full of activities, workshops, networking events, meetings with over 3000 participants in Brussels. A series of key events will be staged in Brussels, including:

23 March 2010
Morning: high-level intelligent energy policy conference
Where: Charlemagne building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels
Evening: presentation of the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards
Where: Theatre du Vaudeville, Galerie de la Reine, 1000 Brussels

24 March 2010
Thematic workshops focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy: the ideal platform for making new contacts and exchanging views with experts.
Where: Charlemagne building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels

25 March 2010
EU funding and networking seminars
Where: Centre Albert Borschette, Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Brussels

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Mr Günther Oettinger (Germany) and Ms Connie Hedegaard (Denmark) will face a European Parliament hearing on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 January, as the final phase in their bids to become the European Energy and Climate Action Commissioners respectively. A strong performance this week could signal their future positions as the new heavy-weights shaping the European agenda for the building of a new, modern power system capable of meeting the energy and climate challenges of the 21st century. "Commissioners Piebalgs (Energy) and Dimas (Environment) have paved the way with crucial pieces of legislation, such as the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive and directives on reducing CO2. On that solid foundation, a New Energy Policy for Europe must be formulated and wind energy, as the most affordable zero-carbon technology, must be an essential component of it", said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). "The European wind power industry's message for the new Commission and the new Parliament is that wind power can contribute significantly to all of the EU's energy policy objectives - increased competitiveness, energy security and fighting climate change," Kjaer added.

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In order to foster investment and job creation in clean energy manufacturing, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included a tax credit for investments in manufacturing facilities for clean energy technologies. The Section 48C program will provide a 30 percent tax credit for investments in 183 manufacturing facilities for clean energy products across 43 states. This tax credit program will help build a robust high technology, US manufacturing capacity to supply clean energy projects with US made parts and equipment. These manufacturing facilities should also support significant growth in US exports of US manufactured clean energy products. The $2.3 billion in tax credits is being allocated on a competitive basis. Projects are assessed based on the following criteria,: commercial viability, domestic job creation, technological innovation, speed to project completion, and potential for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Energy also considered additional factors including diversity of geography, technology and project size, and regional economic development. The program is currently capped at $2.3 billion in tax credits and was oversubscribed by a ratio of more than 3 to 1, reflecting a deep pipeline of high quality clean energy manufacturing opportunities in the U.S. These tax credits for clean energy manufacturing will help rebuild domestic manufacturing and bring private capital off the sidelines.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

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The Energy industry has become a key talking point globally. Renewable energy solutions are no longer optional but a necessity which must be embraced by all governments. Driven by China's determination to reduce their dependence on coal energy and to look ahead to a more sustainable future, the recent NGU APAC summit (hosted by GDS International) took place this week chaired by Colin Tam - CEO of AEI Asia Ltd who spoke out on the emerging government policy and environmental protection requirements in countries such as China and India. Renewable energy solutions have attracted $37.3 billion of investment into the Asia and Pacific region in the last 12 months, surpassing even the Americas. So visionaries such as William Tianming Li, VP - Asia Power, Chang Yeol Lee, Head of Distribution- KEPCO, Myung-Key Lee, Manager General, - Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, Ario Senoaji, VP Alternative/Renewable Energy - PLN and Ashok Sethy, VP - TaTa Power, agreed to attend this week in Sentosa to discuss unified measures to ensure renewable energy solutions for the region.