Renewables
Solid capacity growth in China’s solar sector
Data recently released by the Chinese government indicates a rise in solar capacity in 2020 over the same period in 2019. According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), China added a further 18.5 gigawatts (GW) in the first three quarters of 2020, compared to just 16GW in 2019. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak during the early parts of the year, utility-scale projects installed made up 54 percent or just over 10GW and small-scale, on-site or off-grid solar capacity made up 46 percent or just over 8.5GW during the period January to September 2020.
World-leading $240 million hydrogen project launched, supported by $37 million upgrade to Pt Bonython jetty
South Australia’s intention to create a green hydrogen export industry has taken a big step forward, with the launch today of a world-leading $240 million hydrogen project. This project would be the largest green ammonia plant in the world, being sixty times larger than Australia’s largest electrolyser at Tonsley in Adelaide.
Tough decisions loom for Australian refiners
Operating refineries in Australia have been operating at loss level measures due to the impact felt nationally from the pandemic driven destruction demand, even as the country comes out of lockdown and government assistance begins to form. The GEI Data Warehouse is tracking four refineries in the country that are having to make hard choices on whether they keep operating, convert to terminal operations, or possibly shut in altogether.
Dominion Energy Proposes Largest Slate of New Solar Facilities for Virginia Customers
Dominion Energy Virginia proposed its largest slate yet of new solar projects as the company moves forward to provide customers with more clean energy. The nine solar facilities would bring nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy to customers, enough to power around 125,000 homes at peak output. The proposal comes just months after enactment of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and builds on what is already the third-largest solar portfolio among utility holding companies in the United States.
Transition to a clean European hydrogen economy starts in Den Helder
Building a blue hydrogen plant in the dutch northern coastal Den Helder region, could lead to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions and make a European hydrogen network possible. The H2Gateway consortium has presented an exploratory analysis of the possibilities for the production of blue hydrogen in Den Helder in order to achieve a Dutch and European CO2free hydrogen economy.
The Netherlands: Hydrogen Land
Groningen, 30 October 2020 – Today, businesses and government bodies in the Northern Netherlands will present their investment plan for hydrogen in their region to various Dutch MPs. The plan includes investments totalling up to 9 billion euros and could secure some 66,000 existing jobs in areas like gas infrastructure and mobility and help create between 25,000 (in 2030) and 41,000 (in 2050) new jobs in areas like maintenance and operations.
NIPSCO Announces New Indiana-Based Solar Projects to Power 270,000 Homes by 2023
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), today announced that it will bring an additional 900 megawatts (MW) to Indiana with the Dunns Bridge I, Dunns Bridge II and Cavalry Solar Energy Centers as part of the company’s long-term generation strategy. NIPSCO has finalized three build transfer agreements with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the sun and a leader in energy storage. The solar projects are expected to begin construction in 2022 and expected to be operational in 2022 and 2023.
Hydrogen prospectus reveals future of South Australia renewables
The South Australia state government will today launch its hydrogen prospectus, detailing three hydrogen hubs to position the region at the forefront of global clean hydrogen production and exportation.
EGP expands wind portfolio
Enel Green Power (EGP) recently commissioned the final wind turbine at its 148MW Nxuba wind farm in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The 200 million euro, 47-turbine farm was one of the five projects awarded to EGP in the fourth round of the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in 2015.
Solar power in charge across South Australia
In October, the Australian state of South Australia reported that for one hour on the eleventh of the month, 100 percent of its electricity was generated by solar power. South Australia being the largest jurisdiction in the world to do so. The power generated came from 77 percent rooftop systems and the remaining 23 percent from the states utility-scale solar projects.
Renewable refinery conversions increase across Europe
The energy transition continues across the globe as Preem AB of Sweden recently announced that it is indeed proceeding with its newly announced plan to convert the long-running Lysekil refinery into what is designed to become the largest renewable fuel facility in Scandinavia.
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage: The technology helping us to bridge energy use from hydrocarbons to renewables
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is a technology designed to capture almost 90% of CO2 left by the generation of electricity or the separation of hydrogen from hydrocarbons. While this technology is nothing new, the interest surrounding CCUS has gained momentum in recent months as hydrogen production has become a hot button topic around the globe. Why is CCUS of interest in the hydrogen community?
"Yes, Joe Biden really does want to end America’s oil and gas industry," says Gulf Energy Information CEO
The Biden energy plan has dire consequences for the oil and gas industry and the American economy.
Repsol announces plans to build the first advanced biofuels plant in Spain
Repsol of Spain recently announced its intention to construct an advanced biofuels plant at the company’s existing Cartagena facility site to supply transportation fuels with a reduction in emissions.
EDF Renewables North America and Geenex Solar Transact on a 4.5 gigawatt (GWac) Solar Development Portfolio
EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Geenex Solar, LLC (Geenex), announced the close of an agreement of up to 4.5 gigawatt (GWac) pipeline of solar development assets throughout PJM. The pipeline acquisition brings to EDF Renewables the regional development expertise of Geenex, a leader of utility-scale solar development, while EDFR contributes with its financial and late-stage development expertise from a long-term owner and operator perspective. The transaction will accelerate EDFR growth in the PJM wholesale electricity market to meet the growing demands of corporate and utility customers seeking cost-effective renewable energy sources. The portfolio of project assets in the transaction exceed 20 solar projects in various stages of development. The first projects expect commercial operation in 2023 with other projects to follow.
TechnipFMC invests in McPhy and signed a MoU to accelerate green hydrogen
TechnipFMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with McPhy, a leading manufacturer and supplier of carbon-free hydrogen production and distribution equipment, pursuant to which the two companies will jointly work on technology development and project implementation. TechnipFMC is also making an equity investment in McPhy.
Marathon begins permit approval process for Martinez renewable diesel conversion
Marathon Petroleum recently announced that it has begun the permit application process for the conversion of its idle Martinez refinery into a renewable diesel facility.
Siemens to build large CO2-free hydrogen production plant in southern Germany
Siemens Smart Infrastructure and WUN H2 GmbH signed a contract to build one of the largest hydrogen production plants in Germany. It will be built in Wunsiedel in the north of Bavaria. With a power intake of six megawatts in the initial development phase, the plant will run solely on renewable energy and will be CO2-free.
Japan’s offshore ambitions
Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG), a global investor and developer of green infrastructure assets, recently announced that it has formed a joint venture with Iberdrola, a global energy leader and the world’s largest wind producer.
REG announces major renewable diesel expansion in Louisiana
Governor John Bel Edwards and president and CEO Cynthia “CJ” Warner of Renewable Energy Group (REG) announced a minimum $825 million capital investment by REG to expand its renewable diesel refinery in Geismar, Louisiana.
Can ammonia be a future energy storage solution?
Ammonia is well known as a fertilizer. However, it is also a potential carbon-free fuel and an excellent solution for storage of renewable electricity, especially if the syngas needed for producing the ammonia is made by electrolysis
Norway kicks off construction of world’s largest floating offshore wind farm
"Hywind Tampen is a new chapter in Norway’s narrative as an energy nation. With support from the Norwegian authorities, we're not only building Norway’s first offshore wind project; we're refining floating offshore wind technology along with the Norwegian supplier industry," says Equinor president and CEO Eldar Sætre.
Shell stock hits 25-year low following rollout of green initiatives
Along with its European peers, Shell is embarking on a transformation to become a cleaner, greener company with much fewer assets in oil by the middle of the century. While many investors have welcomed the new direction, others question a pivot into less-profitable renewables
Exxon Mobil’s investment plan adds millions of tons of carbon output, documents reveal
Planning documents show for the first time that Exxon has carefully assessed the direct emissions it expects from the seven-year investment plan adopted in 2018 by CEO Darren Woods.
Boris Johnson’s UK wind energy plans need subsea ingenuity to succeed
Boris Johnson’s plan to quadruple the size of the UK offshore wind industry will require $58 billion of investment and careful management of what’s a tricky building process in some of the world’s roughest waters.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park Phase 5
On 4 October 2020, the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), multilateral development financial institution, signed an agreement with Shuaa Energy 3 P.S.C sponsored by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (“DEWA”), ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation, to provide US$70.5 million in financing for the fifth phase of development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Haldor Topsoe joins ambitious sustainable fuel project in Denmark
The project aims to develop a ground-breaking hydrogen and sustainable fuel facility based on electrolysis in the Greater Copenhagen Area. The project is expected to be executed by 2030 in three stages, achieving the capacity of 10 megawatts (MW) in 2023, 250 MW in 2027, and 1,3 GW in 2030 respectively.
Evonik and Siemens Energy commission pilot plant for sustainable chemicals
Evonik and Siemens Energy today commissioned a pilot plant sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) that uses carbon dioxide and water to produce chemicals. The necessary energy is supplied by electricity from renewable sources. The pilot plant is located in Marl, in the northern Ruhr area, and its innovative technology of artificial photosynthesis should contribute to the success of the energy revolution. It is an essential part of the Rheticus I and II research projects, which are sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with a total of 6.3 million euros.
Pandemic's reset pushes energy firms toward renewables, hydrogen
The economic trauma caused by the coronavirus pandemic has pushed energy companies to step-up investment in renewables, hydrogen and other low carbon alternatives, but fossil fuels will be their dominant business for the foreseeable future, industry executives said.
More hydrogen, less meat: EU’s new climate plan targets every aspect of modern life
The European Union’s executive will unveil an ambitious emissions-cut plan this week that’ll leave no sector of the economy untouched, forcing wholesale lifestyle changes and stricter standards for industries.
