Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Kenya selects KenGen to complete the 465 MW Menengai geothermal project
4 Dec 2020Kenya has dropped independent power producers (IPPs) as partners to develop the second and third phases of the 465 MW Menengai geothermal project, located about 185 km northwest of capital city Nairobi. The first phase of the project (105 MW) was awarded to three IPPs, namely Orpower 22, Quantum Power East Africa, and Sosian Energy, which are each developing 35 MW. Progress has been slow – construction was expected to start in 2018 and is now expected in 2021 – and the projects have been delayed by more than two years to 2027.
Read moreJapan will boost investment in renewables to tackle climate change
3 Dec 2020As part of its growth strategy, Japan will ramp up investment in technologies to tackle climate change, such as renewable energy, hydrogen fuel and carbon recycling. The plan targets 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040. In October 2020, the Japanese government presented a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Read moreCompanies
Fortum (Finland) targets 1.5-2 GW of new wind and solar capacity by 2025
4 Dec 2020The Finish power utility Fortum (51% state-owned) has updated its strategy targeting carbon neutrality by 2050 and plans to add 1-5-2 GW of new onshore wind and solar capacity by 2025, primarily in Europe. Fortum also intends to invest in energy storage and gas-fired power generation. The group’s coal-fired generation capacity will be reduced by more than 50% by the end of 2025, to approximately 5 GW.
Read moreGreece’s PPC plans to add 1.3 GW of renewables capacity by 2023
4 Dec 2020The Greek power utility Public Power Corporation (PPC, 51% state-owned) plans to invest €3.4bn by 2023. The company intends to add 1.3 GW of solar and wind projects to reach 1.5 GW of renewable capacity by 2023. PPC has pledged to shut down its 1.6 GW Agios Dimitrios coal-fired power plant by end-2022.
Read moreEletrobras completes sale of Brazilian wind portfolio to Omega Geração
3 Dec 2020The state-owned power utility Eletrobras has completed the sale of a 583 MW wind portfolio in Rio Grande do Sul to Omega Geração. In August 2020, Eletrobras agreeed to sell its 78% stake in the 402 MW Santa Vitória do Palmar wind plant and its 100% stake in the 181 MW Hermenegildo 1, 2, 3 and Chui 9 wind projects in Brazil to Omega Geração for a total consideration of BRL1.5bn (US$280m).
Read moreEnergy & Climate Markets
India’s PNGRB allows IGX to operate as a gas exchange
4 Dec 2020The Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorised Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) to operate as a gas exchange for a period of 25 years. IGX is a subsidiary of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), which offers trade in five contracts: daily, weekly, weekday, fortnightly and monthly at three physical hubs at Hazira and Dahej in Gujarat and in the KG Basin in Andhra Pradesh. The platform was launched in June 2020.
Read moreForecasts
Iran intends to sell 2.3 mb/d of oil in 2021-2022
4 Dec 2020The Iranian government plans to sell 2.3 mb/d of crude oil and condensate both in domestic and international markets in the upcoming Iranian year (from 21 March 2021 to 21 March 2022). The country forecast to market 645,000 bbl/d of crude oil at an average price of US$40/bbl, generating US$9.5bn in government income over the year. In 2019, Iran produced 3.2 mb/d of crude oil and condensate, including 2.3 mb/d of crude oil. Around 1/2 of Iran’s oil and condensate output was exported.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
EnBW plans to add 300 MW of solar capacity in eastern Germany
4 Dec 2020The German energy group EnBW plans to build two 150 MW solar PV power plants (total capacity of 300 MW) in the Märkisch-Oderland district of Brandenburg, in north-eastern Germany. The projects are expected to be built and commissioned in 2021. They will expand the 187 MW Werneuchen solar PV plant in Brandenburg, that was connected to the grid in November 2020, and which required a €100m investment.
Read moreVale plans a 766 MW solar project in Mato Grosso (Brazil)
4 Dec 2020The Brazilian mining company Vale plans to develop a 766 MW solar PV project in the municipality of Jaíba in Mato Grosso (west-central Brazil), which will comprise 17 sub-parks. The US$500m Sol do Cerrado Solar Project also comprises the implementation of an elevator substation, transmission line and connection bay at the 230 kV Jaíba Substation, with contracts signed for connection to the Brazilian National Interconnected System. Commissioning is scheduled by the fourth quarter of 2022.
Read morePakistan starts loading fuel at the Karachi-2 nuclear power project
4 Dec 2020China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has started loading fuel at the second unit of the Karachi nuclear power plant in Pakistan. Hot functional tests were completed in September 2020 and this new milestone paves the way for commissioning.
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