Interest in the construction of large wind farms is growing from year to year in Armenia. This business also attracts the emirates company “Access Infra Central Asia Limited”, which installed an 80-meter tower to measure wind flows in Gegharkunik region. It will be put into operation in the next few days, and in April it is planned to install another tower, but on other location. On March 30 last year an agreement was signed between the Emirates company and the Republic of Armenia on leasing land plots in different regions of the country with total area of 1,250 hectares for the construction of wind farms with total capacity of 150 MW. Another company which is interested in building of wind farms in Armenia is the Spanish Acciona Energia Global S.L. In March last year the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia signed with this company a memorandum of understanding on construction of wind farms with total capacity of 100-150 MW. The company already began work on assessing the potential of winds and installed two monitoring stations with height of 80 meters each and one “Sodar” system. The first, not only in Armenia but also in all Caucasus, wind farm with total capacity of 2.6 MW was putted into operation on Pushkin Mounting Pass in December 2005. On this site, it is planned to build wind power stations with a total capacity up to 50 MW. In 2003, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States compiled a map of wind energy potential of the Republic of Armenia, according to which the economically justified wind energy potential is estimated at 450 MW with electricity production totaling 1.26 billion kWh/annum. The program also identified the main promising regions where it is advisable to install wind turbines. According to some other estimates, theoretically the capacity of wind power farms in Armenia can be up to 5000 MW. In order to build wind farms, another company, Zod Wind, completed monitoring on the territory of the Sotk Pass. The company intends to build the wind farm “Zod” with a capacity of 20 MW. In turn, the Armenian-Italian company Ar Energy completed monitoring on the territory of the Karakhach Pass in the Shirak region and received a license to build the wind farm Karachach-1 with capacity of up to 20 MW. In the future Ar Energy plans to increase total capacity up to 140 MW. As well as within the framework of the European Union's TACIS program “Supporting Armenia's Energy Policy” monitoring was launched at the Semenovka Pass of lake Sevan region on the basis of which a preliminary feasibility study was prepared for the construction of a wind farm with a total capacity of 35MW.

For several years now, tech companies have been at work to develop clear solar panels that can double as windows, but the Current Window provides a gorgeous stained glass twist on that idea. Created by Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel, the window generates an electrical current by harvesting the energy created when sunlight hits a colored pigment-much like photosynthesis in a plant-and sends that power to a USB port in the window ledge. According to van Aubel, "The glass pieces are made of 'Dye Sensitised Solar Cells', which use the properties of colour to create an electrical current-just like photosynthesis in plants. Similarly to the various shades of green chlorophyll absorbing light, the coloured window panes harness energy." That energy can then be used to power small appliances; a USB port in the window ledge can charge a standard smart phone in about seven hours. But that's just with one relatively small window-the designer hopes that if replicated on a larger scale, say over the vast colorful facades of churches, or in schools, the Current Window could provide clean energy in a uniquely beautiful form on a much larger scale.

How cool would it be to tell people you live inside of a wind turbine? Designed for the port city of Rotterdam, the Dutch "Windwheel" is a concept for a sustainable landmark that would be able to house 72 apartments within a circular steel and glass frame, while also serving as a silent, motionless wind turbine. In addition to harvesting energy from the wind, the structure would be equipped with facilities to capture rainwater, recycle tap water and also produce biogas from the residents' organic waste. The "Windwheel" is composed of two rings built on an underground foundation and surrounded by wetlands so as to give the structure the appearance of floating. The outer ring houses 40 rotating cabins to provide visitors with impressive views of Rotterdam-much as the London Eye does in the UK. The inner ring houses 72 apartments, 160 hotel rooms, and commercial outlets and is topped off with a restaurant. Perhaps the most striking detail of the 174 meter tall "Windwheel", other than its appearance, is the turbine that fills the inner ring of the building. The electrostatic wind energy converter (EWICON) is a technology that was developed at TU Delft and converts wind energy with a framework of steel tubes into electricity without moving mechanical parts. This means no noise and much easier maintenance. Within the interior of the massive ringed structure would be a set of steel tubes ringed with electrodes, sort of like a tennis racket. Sprayers would then emit charged water particles, and electricity would be generated when the wind pushes these particles past the electrodes. According to architect Duzan Doepel of Doepel Strijkers, the firm designing the project, the idea is to create an icon like the London Eye that will both attract tourists and showcase cutting-edge technology. He expects they may be able to finish the structure within five to six years, and estimates suggest it may attract up to 1.5 million visitors a year. The proposed "Windwheel" is also equipped with solar PVs and a climactic facade to make the best use of natural resources. The building's water usage is also carefully managed, with rainwater captured atop the structure, and tap water fed into the wetlands that surround the "Windwheel". Furthermore, biogas is also produced from the residents' waste.

The geographically small Israel is making a big statement about the importance of solar energy in the sun-blessed Middle Eastern nation. Recently legislators and environmentalists gathered at the Knesset, Israel's national assembly in Jerusalem, to inaugurate the largest solar field of any parliament in the world (Germany's Bundestag parliament building comes in second followed by Austria's parliament). Nearly 1,500 solar panels placed on the Knesset roof and surrounding buildings nearly 5000 square meters will provide 10 percent of the assembly's electricity with an installed capacity of 450 kW. "What is happening before our very eyes is indeed exciting, a true revolution. It is not just the solar panels; it is the message, the idea, the new path. This is not merely a revolution in energy-saving; it is also a turning point with regards to the environmental awareness revolution that we have been promoting over the past two years," Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said at the dedication ceremony. The solar panels are part of the Green Knesset Project launched in January 2014 that aims to make Israel's parliament building a model of sustainability. Other energy efficiency initiatives include changing overhead lighting to LED, recycling, composting, upgrading the water and air-conditioning systems, installing electric vehicle charging stations and eliminating plastic bottles from committee meetings. Taken together, the sustainability measures are expected to reduce the Knesset's electricity bills by one-third by the end of 2015. This project is the first part of its Green Knesset Project, consisting of 13 advanced projects for saving energy and water. In total, the Knesset has invested US$ 1.8 million in the project. All of the projects that were approved are economically viable, and the project should pay for itself within five years.

While Germany has spent the last few years stealing the headlines for its remarkable advances in renewable energy infrastructure, neighboring France has, up until now, remained relatively silent on the matter of green energy. But this week Paris-based company Neoen broke ground on a 300 MW, US$ 450 million photovoltaic grid-connected installation at Cestas, which will provide power to nearby Bordeaux from October 2015-and the facility will be the largest photovoltaic power plant in Europe. Solar capacity in France has grown exceptionally slowly; according to Reuters it had "5,095 MW of photovoltaic capacity in June, which accounted for only 1 percent of its energy consumption in the first half of the year," in stark contrast with Germany's 37,000 MW. But Neoen suggests that prudence in the early years may be key to France's success. While Spain, for instance, has experienced a solar "bubble," France does not have comparable struggling or failed projects, and as such it was easier for Neoen to secure financing for this large-scale installation. And the costs for the output when it goes online look remarkably promising-it will provide electricity for US$ 131.46/MWh over 20 years. Speaking to Reuters, Neoen Chief Executive Xavier Barbaro explained that the Cestas installation will provide solar power "below the price of new nuclear electricity in Britain. So the parity between nuclear energy which is costing more and solar which continues to drop is happening now, in 2014... Four or five years ago, nobody thought that would be possible before 2020".