Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
The European Council approves GHG emissions cut by at least 55% in 2030
14 Dec 2020The European Council has endorsed a binding EU target of a net reduction of at least 55% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, which would put the regional bloc on track for meeting its Paris Agreement obligations and for climate neutrality by 2050. The 2030 target will be achieved in a way that preserves the EU’s competitiveness and takes account of Member States’ different starting points and specific national circumstances and emission reduction potential.
Read moreThe Brazilian Senate approves new law to liberalise the gas market
14 Dec 2020The Brazilian Senate has approved the new Natural Gas Law, which intends to open the market to the private sector and end the monopoly held by the national oil and gas company Petrobras. Gas distribution and the operation of gas pipelines will switch from a concession regime (concessions granted by the government, with public bidding), to a regime of authorizations granted by the oil and gas regulator ANP, which should reduce administrative procedures to build gas pipelines. In addition, the text prevents vertical integration in the production of natural gas.
Read moreSwitzerland’s updated NDC targets net-zero emissions by 2050
14 Dec 2020Switzerland, which has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), intends to cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 (indicative goal). In addition, the country will increase by 25 percentage points the domestic share of emissions reductions, from 60% to at least 75%, and will compensate imported “grey” emissions through additional reductions abroad.
Read moreBrazil pledges to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060
11 Dec 2020Brazil, which has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. The new target could be brought forward if developed countries transfer US$10bn/year to Brazilian projects starting in 2021, through the mechanisms of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the federal government’s payment for environmental services program, Floresta +. To achieve carbon neutrality, the country has committed to zero illegal deforestation by 2030 and to reforesting 12 million ha.
Read moreSolarpack wins a tender for a 258 MW solar PV project in Ecuador
11 Dec 2020Solarpark has won a long-term concession contract for the construction, operation, maintenance, and reversion to the Ecuadorian State of the 258 MW El Aromo solar PV project located in the province of Manabí (Ecuador). In November 2019, the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources (MERNNR) of Ecuador had prequalified 9 international companies or consortia that were allowed to take part to the public selection process for building, operating and maintaining the 200 MW El Aromo solar PV project and the Villonaco II and III wind power projects (total capacity of 110 MW).
Read moreCompanies
Ørsted, Shell and EDF bid in New Jersey’s 2nd offshore wind auction (US)
14 Dec 2020The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (United States) has received several bids from project developers as part of its second request for proposals under New Jersey’s Offshore Wind Strategic Plan. The state seeks to award between 1,200 MW and 2,400 MW of offshore wind energy projects; the application period started on 10 September 2020 and ended on 10 December 2020.
Read moreForecasts
Australia expected to meet its 2030 climate target
14 Dec 2020According to the government, Australia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are forecast to reach 478 MtCO2eq in 2030, which would be 22% below 2005 levels; under a scenario aligned with the Technology Investment Roadmap, GHG emissions should decrease to 436 Mt CO2-e in 2030, i.e. 29% below 2005 levels. Australia would then meet its target to reduce its GHG emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030 compared to 2005. Australia’s abatement task to meet the 2030 target should range between 56 Mt CO2eq – corresponding to a 26% reduction – and 123 Mt CO2eq, i.e.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
Mahagenco (India) gets clearance for a 24 Mt/year coal mine project
14 Dec 2020Mahagenco, the power utility owned by the Indian state of Maharashtra, has received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for its captive coal mine project in the state of Chhattisgarh (central India). The Gare Palma II project, which will produce 23.6 Mt/year of coal from March 2023, will supply coal to Mahagenco’s 2.4 GW Koradi, 2.9 GW Chandrapur and 1.1 GW Parli power plants.
Read moreSenegal’s Sambangalou hydropower project reaches a new milestone
14 Dec 2020The Gambia River Basin Development Organisation, which involves The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, has awarded a €388m (US$471m) contract to a consortium led by VINCI Construction to build the 128 MW Sambangalou hydropower project located in the south-east of Senegal, close to the Guinean Border. The work will begin in the first half of 2021 and is scheduled to last 48 months, with commissioning expected by mid-2025. The electricity generated by the project will be injected into the grid of the four countries of the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation.
Read moreChina’s CHMC will build a 150 MW dam in Cambodia
14 Dec 2020The Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy has signed implementation agreements for a 150 MW hydropower plant and two 500 kV transmission lines. The Chinese state-owned China National Heavy Machinery Corp (CHMC) will build the 150 MW Stung Tatai Leu dam project on the Tatai River in the Thma Bang district of the Koh Kong province, at a cost of US$389m.
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