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EnOcean GmbH has announced successful completion of a new round of financing. The company will devote the boost of eight million Euro to leveraging the development of energy-autonomous wireless technology and expanding its international market presence. Two new capital providers - SET Venture Partners and the Kathrein group - join existing investors to finance future growth. EnOcean GmbH dominates the energy-autonomous wireless technology sector. Annual growth in turnover and sales of the developer of patented wireless technology is close to 100 percent. "This new financing backs up our strong growth curve. The extra funds give us ample financial means to intensify our sales activities in Europe, North America and Asia. Plus, we're of course investing in further development of our highly promising platform technology", says EnOcean's CFO Uwe Thumm.

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Hydropower is considered carbon-free electricity, but it often has other adverse environmental impacts on river basins. An exceptionally ambivalent hydroproject was approved by Brazil's environmental department, Ibama. Brazil has approved the construction of a hydroelectric project in the Amazon on the Jari River. The Santo Antonio do Jari hydroelectric project, with a planned capacity of 300 MW, will generate electricity that will not only be used by towns, but also by region's pulp manufacturers. Pulp production is a large driver of deforestation, causing high carbon emissions and other severe environmental damage. ECE Participacoes will develop the project along with Jari Energetica. ECE Participacoes is the primary shareholder in the project, and Jari Energetica is a subsidiary of the Orsa Group, which owns the Jari Celulose pulp plant.

Source: HydroWorld

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A three month consultation on a short list of five possible Severn tidal power schemes has been launched. This consultation will be used to help the government decide whether or not to support tidal power development in the Severn Estuary. The Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study Consultation was launched on 26 January and will close on 23 April.

Phase one of the consultation is canvassing views on:

* a recommended shortlist of schemes
* the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment that is being carried out within the feasibility study
* the issues the feasibility study is considering and how these are being approached

Ten potential development options have been considered so far for generating tidal power in the Severn Estuary. These include barrages, lagoons, a tidal reef and tidal fence. These have now been narrowed down to a proposed shortlist of five, but all ten proposals will be subject to the three-month consultation process. 

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French international oil company Total SA announced that it has acquired a 10 percent stake in Scotrenewables Marine Power Ltd. This is a Scottish company that is developing technology that generates electricity from the water movement caused by ocean tides. Tidal energy is still fledgling, but there are some pilot projects to gain experience and realise cost reductions. "In the long term, marine power could make a significant contribution to electricity generation from renewable sources, particularly in the UK and France", said a spokesman for Total. This acquisition is part of the strategy of a numer of large oil companies to have a portfolio of new energy technologies.

Source: Forbes