Tag Archives: fuel
Home sales in Canada up 0.8% in first weeks of 2016
National home sales in Canada rose by 0.8% from January to February while average prices were up by 16.4% year on year, the latest index shows. But prices fell in some regions, most notably British Columbia and Ontario with a fall of 1.4%, according to the data from the Canadian Real Estate Association also shows. The number of newly listed homes edged up by 0.5% from January to February and the CREA report says that the Canadian housing market has tightened but remains balanced overall. The monthly increase lifted national sales activity to the highest level since June 2007 but a greater number of local housing markets posted a monthly decline in sales activity than posted a monthly increase. However, the latter accounted for a larger share of national transactions. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Okanagan Region and Fraser Valley made the largest contribution to the monthly increase in national sales activity, offsetting monthly sales declines in Edmonton, Greater Moncton and Montreal. ‘Two of Canada’s hottest housing markets look set to stay that way heading into the spring home buying season. Meanwhile, other major urban markets elsewhere in Canada are well balanced or have ample supply,’ said CREA president Pauline Aunger. Actual, not seasonally adjusted, sales activity rose 18.7% year on year in February, some 12.7% above the 10 year average for the month. Activity increased above year ago levels in about three quarters of all local markets. BC’s Lower Mainland, the GTA and Montreal contributed most to the year on year increase in national activity. Gregory Klump, CREA chief economist pointed out that the number of single family home sales above one million dollars is rising in Greater Vancouver and the GTA. ‘Tightened mortgage regulations apply to homes selling above $500,000 and below a million dollars. The tighter regulations combined with a short supply of single family homes will restrain transactions below one million dollars,’ he explained. ‘If recent trends continue, home sales above one million dollars will account for a greater share of activity and will further fuel year on year average price increases in these markets. Meanwhile, price growth will remain more modest in other housing markets that don’t have an ongoing or developing supply shortage like the kind we’re seeing in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia or around the GTA,’ Klump added. The number of newly listed homes edged up 0.5% in February 2016 compared to January. The rise in new listings in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, York and Mississauga Regions of the GTA and Hamilton-Burlington helped to push the national figure higher. Monthly increases in new listings in these housing markets were offset by monthly declines in Central Toronto, Calgary and Montreal. The national sales to new listings ratio rose to 59.5% in February 2016 versus 59.3% the previous month. This marks the ratio’s highest reading since November 2009. A sales to new listings ratio between 40% and 60% is generally consistent with balanced housing market… Continue reading
AREVA Awarded a Contract For The Construction Of A Biomass Power Plant In The Philippines
PARIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 16, 2013– Regulatory News: AREVA (Paris:AREVA) and its partner Engcon Energy Philippines have been awarded a contract by the Green Innovations For Tomorrow Corporation, an independent power producer, for the construction of a biomass power plant in the Philippines, located 200 kilometers north of Manila. Using rice husk, the plant will have an installed capacity of 12 MW and will be able to supply electricity to around 10,000 households per year. AREVA and its partner will be responsible for the engineering, the design and the installation of the biomass power plant. They will also provide the main equipment and will perform testing before the commissioning. This power plant, scheduled for completion by mid-2015, is the first AREVA biomass project in the Philippines. The group has already delivered two similar units in Thailand where another two plants are currently under construction. Louis-François Durret, CEO of AREVA Renewables, said: “This new success will strengthen our position in Southeast Asian, a booming market where AREVA intends to become a reference biomass power plant provider.” AREVA is the leading manufacturer of biomass power plants in the world having delivered 100 power plants for the largest installed base generating of more than 2,500 MW. MORE ABOUT AREVA AREVA supplies advanced technology solutions for power generation with less carbon. Its expertise and unwavering insistence on safety, security, transparency and ethics are setting the standard, and its responsible development is anchored in a process of continuous improvement. Ranked first in the global nuclear power industry, AREVA’s unique integrated offering to utilities covers every stage of the fuel cycle, nuclear reactor design and construction, and operating services. The group is actively developing its activities in renewable energies — wind, bioenergy, solar and energy storage — to become a European leader in this sector. With these two major offers, AREVA’s 46,000 employees are helping to supply ever safer, cleaner and more economical energy to the greatest number of people. Tour AREVA — 1 Place Jean Millier — 92400 COURBEVOIE — France — Tel : +33 (0)1 34 96 00 00 — Fax : +33 (0)1 34 96 00 01 CONTACT: AREVA Press Office Julien Duperray Katherine Berezowskyj Aurélie Grange Jérôme Rosso Alexandre Thébault T: +33 (0)1 34 96 12 15 press@areva.com or Investors Relations Marie de Scorbiac, T: +33 (0)1 34 96 05 97 marie.descorbiac@areva.com Philippine du Repaire, T: +33 (0)1 34 96 11 51 philippine.durepaire@areva.com SOURCE: AREVA Continue reading
BlueFire Renewables Adds Pellet Production To Miss. Facility
By BlueFire Renewables Inc. | October 03, 2013 BlueFire Renewables Inc., a company focused on changing the world’s transportation fuel paradigm, has integrated a synergistic wood pellet production plant to its facility in Fulton, Miss. The reconfigured design will be a 9 million gallon per year ethanol plant integrated with a 400,000 ton per year wood pellet plant. The pellets will be sold under long term contracts into the European mandated renewable energy market. “This restructure provides a more robust economic model for the Fulton facility with a significant increase in projected revenues. It has become apparent in our attempts to obtain financing for the project that the right synergies and revenue model would be needed to build this first of a kind facility,” said Arnold Klann, president and CEO of BlueFire. “The optimum use of biomass in the integrated facility strikes a much better balance of revenue with costs and a better utilization of resources. The more profitable use of capital and the enhanced security of projected revenue streams more closely match what the banks have been requiring in the very conservative and restricted credit markets.” Traditionally wood pellets are used for electricity generation and can be sold under long-term, fixed-price contracts to credit worthy utilities thereby adding financial stability to the project. Blended with lignin from BlueFire’s process, the wood pellets create a market advantage under the international mandates for renewable energy, especially for power in the European Union. BlueFire has previously announced start of construction and has completed the preliminary site work for the ethanol facility. The engineering and other development activities needed are already under way to add the pellet plant. Synergistic partners will be announced once the definitive agreements are signed. Continue reading
