Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Solar and wind accounted for 20% of Jordan’s power mix in 2020
22 Jan 2021Jordan intends to increase the share of renewables in its power mix to 30% in 2030, to become more self-sufficient. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, solar and wind already accounted for 20% of total power generation in 2020. The country also aims to strengthen its electricity interconnections with neighbouring countries, upgrading its interconnection with Egypt, and connecting its power grid to those of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq.
Read moreThe United States will reintegrate the Paris agreement on climate change
22 Jan 2021The new US president has recommitted the United States to the Paris climate agreement. The process to re-enter the international agreement will take a month. The Paris agreement was signed by nearly 200 countries in December 2015, in an attempt to cut global GHG emissions and to keep global temperature increases "well below" 2°C. The United States, which committed in November 2014 to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, formally ratified the agreement in September 2016.
Read moreA US court vacates the ACE rule on coal-fired power plants’ emissions
21 Jan 2021The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has vacated the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, issued in 2019, which gave States more time and authority to decide how to implement the best new technology to reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Read moreEnergy & Climate Markets
China added 120 GW of new wind and solar capacity in 2020
22 Jan 2021According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), China added nearly 72 GW of wind power capacity and 48 GW of solar capacity in 2020. The growth in wind capacity additions accelerated in 2020 – from 26 GW added in 2019 – and exceeded 2019 global wind capacity additions by 12 GW. Part of this increase was linked to an earlier announcement of China ending subsidies for new onshore wind projects as of 2021.
Read moreEndesa will stop its 1.4 GW As Pontes coal-fired power plant (Spain)
22 Jan 2021Endesa (70% owned by Enel) has decided to decommission its 1.4 GW As Pontes coal-fired power plant in Galicia (northern Spain). The company tried to use sludge and biomass mixed with coal to fuel the plant. However, Endesa ruled out this alternative for environmental, technical and economic reasons. The group now plans to develop up to 1,050 MW of new wind capacity in Galicia by 2026.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
India approves the 850 MW Ratle hydropower project on the Chenab River
22 Jan 2021The Indian Union Cabinet has approved the 850 MW Ratle hydropower project located on the Chenab River, in the Kishtwar district (Jammu & Kashmir). The country allocated INR52.8bn (over US$720m) to fund the project, which is developed by a 51-49 joint venture between state-run NHPC and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).
Read moreDenmark and Germany sign deal to connect 2 GW of offshore wind
22 Jan 2021The German power transmission system operator 50Hertz and its Danish counterpart Energinet have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to pursue collaboration in the "Bornholm Energy Island" project to connect Denmark and Germany to an offshore hub with around 2,000 MW of wind power capacity that is planned on the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm (Denmark). By 2030, offshore wind parks surrounding Bornholm would feed their power generation through submarine cables into a power interconnector on the island, which would supply electricity to both Denmark and Germany.
Read moreIran opens a 20.4 bcm/year associated petroleum gas processing plant
22 Jan 2021Iran has commissioned the new US$3.4bn Persian Gulf Bidboland gas processing plant in the province of Khuzestan, which aims to collect associated petroleum gas in the provinces of Khuzestan, Bushehr, Kohgilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad. The project has a processing capacity of more than 56 mcm/d (20.4 bcm/year) of associated petroleum gas, including 13.5 Mt/year of sour gas, 2.25 million Mt/year of sweet gas and 10.4 Mt/year of methane that will be injected into the national gas network. Construction started in 2015.
Read moreCompanies
Naturgy acquires a US solar and energy storage company
21 Jan 2021Naturgy has acquired Hamel Renewables, a US solar and energy storage company with a portfolio of 8 GW of solar projects and 4.6 GW of energy storage projects in 9 US states, of which 25 projects totalling 3.2 GW of solar and 2 GW of storage could be operational before 2026. The Spanish energy group plans to invest up to US$1.8bn over the next five years to reach an operational capacity of 1.85 GW of solar energy in 2025. It may also develop the remaining pipeline adding up to 8 GW of solar energy projects until 2030.
Read moreForestalia sells 2 GW of solar PV projects in Spain to Bruc Energy
21 Jan 2021Bruc Energy, owned by Ontario Pension Trust (OPT) and a Spanish business man, has entered into an agreement with Forestalia to acquire 2 GW of solar PV projects in Spain. The power plants, which already have access to the transmission grid and are in administrative processing, are located in the provinces of Zaragoza and Terue in Aragón (northern Span). Forestalia will transfer them to Bruce Energy once they reach the "ready to build" status.
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