European Business Briefs: solar power, water services and carbon offsets

In this week’s European Business Briefs, 50 new solar projects in Germany, a new water services contract in Malaysia, German carbon offsets for flights, and a €100 million loan for wastewater treatment in Belgium.


Car manufacturer Volkswagen and oil company BP have announced a new solar roof project in Germany. The two companies will promote the use of photovoltaic technology by equipping both new and existing VW car dealerships with solar roofs. The aim is to realise the first 50 projects by the end of next year.

French water company Vivendi Environment has won a contract to provide water treatment and supply services to Malaysia’s biggest company, the oil group Petronas. The 20-year contract does not involve any investment on the part of Vivendi Water, but will involve the operation of a potable water production plant with a capacity of 250,000 cubic metres per day and a distribution network serving customers such as BP Chemicals, Mitsui and Union Carbide, which work with Petronas in the petrochemical complex.

German company 500PPM has launched its new website that allows the general public to offset harmful carbon dioxide emissions resulting from their air travel. Users are able to calculate and then neutralise these emissions online by purchasing verified emission offsets from emission reducing projects in South Africa, Brazil, India and Jamaica.

And finally, the European Investment Bank has announced a €100 million loan to water company Aquafin for the construction of sewage and wastewater treatment facilities in Flanders, Belgium. The loan agreement is to support Aquafin’s major investment programme of nearly €2.7 billion to improve the environment in the Flanders region, in line with national and European environment objectives.

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