Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
South Africa will launch a tender for 2,600 MW of wind and solar capacity
15 Feb 2021South Africa plans to issue a request for proposal for 2,600 MW from wind and solar projects as part of Bid Window 5 in the coming weeks. Another bid window is scheduled in August 2021. The country should be announcing soon the successful bids for 2,000 MW of emergency power. According to Eskom, there will be an electricity supply shortfall of between 4,000 and 5,000 MW over the next five years, as old coal-fired power plants reach their end of life.
Read moreHungary selects 36 solar projects (210 MW) in second renewable auction
15 Feb 2021The Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH) has announced the winners of the country’s second METAR technology-neutral renewable power auction launched in July 2020. The MEKH received 257 proposals totalling around 2 TWh/year for 390 GWh/year available. The regulator selected 36 bids totalling 210 MW (343 GWh/year), including 6 large projects between 1 MW and 50 MW (total capacity of 185 MW and expected production of 303 GWh/year) that will receive HUF600m/year (average bid of HUF17.2/kWh, i.e. €4.8c/kWh).
Read moreChina considers 40% of renewables (including hydro) in its 2030 power mix
12 Feb 2021The National Energy Administration (NEA), which regulates the energy sector in China, has proposed to increase the share of renewables in power generation from 28.2% (including hydropower) in 2020 to 40% in 2030. In addition, the share of renewables excluding hydro would be raised from 10.8% in 2020 to 25.9% in 2030. The country currently plans to increase its installed wind and solar capacity to 1,200 GW in 2030. Installed wind and solar capacity are expected to reach 780 GW and 840 GW, respectively, by 2030 under a deep emissions reduction scenario.
Read moreEnergy Prices & Taxes
Malaysia introduces a new cap on gasoline and diesel prices
15 Feb 2021Malaysia has capped the price of RON95 gasoline and Euro 2M diesel at MYR2.05/l (US$51c/l) and MYR2.15/l (US$53c/l) following the rise of global crude oil prices. Under the new pricing mechanism, the authorities will cover the difference between the actual market price and the weekly retail price that is set on a weekly basis through the subsidy allocation.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
BASF cancels plan to build a 850 MW CCGT project with Engie in Belgium
15 Feb 2021BASF has decided to withdraw from its project with Engie Electrabel to build an 850 MW gas-fired power plant near its chemical plants in Antwerp (Belgium), citing uncertainties over the economic context and the capacity payment scheme ("mécanisme de rémunération de capacité", CRM), aimed at granting a sufficient power capacity when nuclear
Read moreUPC/AC’s 400 MW solar project in Australia reaches financial close
15 Feb 2021UPC/AC, a joint venture between UPC Renewables and AC Energy, has reached financial close on the first 400 MW phase of the 720 MW New England solar power plant in New South Wales (Australia) thanks to debt financing from Bank of China, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Westpac. The project will include a 50 MW/50 MWh battery, is expected to start generating electricity by July 2022 and to be fully operational by the end of 2023.
Read moreTwo LNG export projects move forward in the United States
15 Feb 2021Cheniere Energy has filed a request with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place the third train of its 13.5 Mt/year Corpus Christi liquefaction and export terminal project in Texas (United States) into commercial operation. The first 4.5 Mt/year LNG train started production in November 2018, the second train in June 2019, and the third train is expected in the second half of 2021.
Read moreNTPC (India) commissions the 600 MW Kameng hydropower project
15 Feb 2021The Indian state-owned power utility NTPC, through its affiliate North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), has commissioned the fourth 150 MW unit of the 600 MW Kameng hydropower project located in Arunachal Pradesh (north-eastern India). The power project is now fully operational.
Hydropower accounts for 13% of India’s total capacity, with 50 GW (2019). Over 93 GW of new hydropower projects are in various phases of development.
Read moreSweden’s OX2 will buy a 400 MW subsidy-free wind project in Finland
15 Feb 2021The Swedish renewable project developer OX2 has signed an agreement to acquire the 400 MW Lestijärvi subsidy-free wind power project in Finland from the Finnish construction company YIT. The transaction should close before 2022. The company had already secured building permits for the 72 turbine project, a new substation and a 55-km long 400 kV power line to evacuate power generation to the transmission grid.
Read moreCompanies
Shell unveils its net-zero emissions strategy, plans to close 7 refineries
12 Feb 2021Shell has released a new set of targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The group, whose total CO2 emissions peaked in 2018 at 1.7 Gt/year, intends to reduce its net carbon intensity by 6-8% by 2023, 20% by 2030, 45% by 2035 and 100% by 2050, compared to 2016 levels.
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