In Germany, Verbio said that its biodiesel production has fallen from 93,907 in the first quarter of 2009 to 78,866 tonnes in Q1 2009 , compared to a production capacity of 112,000 tonnes per quarter. The company said that high feedstock prices and falling prices for fossil diesel have combined with rising German taxes on biodiesel to nearly kill off demand for biodiesel in Germany. Rapeseed oil prices have increased by 100 euros per tonne this year. Germany recently announced that biodiesel blends would be limited by mandate to 5.25 percent of total diesel sales, instead of the 6.25 percent announced in the past as a 2009 target.
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Verbio biodiesel production falls 18 percent; company says German demand has collapsed on high feedstock costs, low diesel prices and higher taxes
In France, a report by REN21 concluded that, for the first time, more renewable energy capacity was added in a calendar year than conventional energy . The group reported that global power capacity from renewable energy rose 16 percent in 2008, and said that 73 countries have set renewable energy targets, an increase of 10 percent over the end of 2007.
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Renewable energy adds more global capacity than conventional energy in 2008; 73 countries now have RE targets
The Energy Information Administration is projecting that global oil demand will shrink 1.8 million barrels per day in 2009 . The forecasted decline has been increased from 1.4 million barrels, as projected in April. The EIA is projecting crude oil prices at $52 per barrel in 2009, rising to $58 per barrel in 2010, down $5 per barrel from the projection released in April.
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EIA projects global oil demand will shrink 1.8 million barrels of oil in 2009; oil prices projected at $52 for’09, rising to $58 in ‘10