Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
The French government plans to increase state support for RES by 25% in 2021 21 Sep 2020The French government plans to increase state support for renewable energies by 25% (€1.3bn) in the draft budget bill for 2021 to over €6bn. In addition, new measures would be introduce to accelerate the development of renewable projects: introduction of a new tariff window for solar PV installations on rooftops up to 500 kW (instead of the current 100 kW) without the need for a call for tenders, administrative simplification for ofshore wind power projects and for community-led projects, support for innovation and extra-budgetary support for biogas.
Read moreCompanies
Neoenergia (Iberdrola) acquires a 400 MW wind portfolio in Brazil
21 Sep 2020Neoenergia, the Brazilian subsidiary of the Spanish energy group Iberdrola, has signed an agreement with PEC Energia to buy a portfolio of wind projects totalling 400 MW of potential capacity for a consideration of €13m (US$15m). The projects are located in Serra da Gameleira, in the state of Bahia.
Read moreIsrael’s OPC Energy enters the US power market by acquiring CPV
21 Sep 2020The Israeli power producer OPC Energy has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to acquire the US power utility CPV (Competitive Power Ventures) for a total consideration of US$700-800m. CPV has a total capacity of 14.8 GW, including 4,850 MW of wind power capacity. In addition, CPV has more than 6,200 MW of projects in the pipeline, of which 2,245 MW of renewable projects, with over 1,100 MW of which are in advanced stages of development. CPV is also developing 4 gas-fired power projects at various phases of development, with a total capacity of 3,955 MW.
Read moreSpain’s Iberdrola enters the Japanese offshore wind market
18 Sep 2020The Spanish energy group Iberdrola has entered into an agreement with Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) to enter the Japanese offshore wind market by acquiring the Japanese renewable project developer Acacia Renewables. The Japanese company currently has two offshore wind projects under development, with a combined capacity of 1.2 GW and that could be operational by 2028.
Read moreCzech power utility ČEZ will sell two CHP plants in Poland
18 Sep 2020The Czech power utility ČEZ has started to divest assets in Poland, launching the sale of five companies including two combined heat and power plants (CHPs) in Poland, namely ČEZ Skawina and ČEZ Chorzow. ČEZ Skawina (installed capacity 330 MWe / 588 MWth) is the second largest provider of heat to Krakow (approximately 25% share of the heat market) and Skawina.
Read moreForecasts
China’s gas consumption expected to increase by 4.2% in 2020
21 Sep 2020According to the Chinese National Energy Administration (NEA), China’s natural gas consumption could increase by 4.2% in 2020 to 320 bcm. This would be its slowest pace in five years, after an 19% growth in 2018 and an 8.6% growth in 2019, since the coronavirus pandemic severely affected economic activity and energy demand. Consumption from city gas sector supported gas demand (+10% in the first half of 2020 compared with the same period of 2019) and industrial consumption is recovering after price cuts.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
Amprion and Elia complete the 1 GW Germany-Belgium power interconnector
21 Sep 2020The German power transmission system operator (TSO) Amprion and its Belgian counterpart Elia have completed the construction of the first power interconnectot between Belgium and Germany, the 1,000 MW Aachen Liège Electricity Grid Overlay (ALEGrO) interconnection project between Oberzier (Germany) and Lixhe (Belgium). The €500m project includes around 100 km of 320 kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) extruded underground cables. Commissioning is scheduled in November 2020 and the allocation of long-term capacities will be possible from early 2021.
Read moreCameroon plans a new 810 MW hydropower project on the Sanaga River
21 Sep 2020The government of Cameroon is planning to build an 810 MW hydropower project on the Sanaga River in partnership with US company Hydromine. The Grand Eweng project would require an US$3bn investment, and should be commissioned in 2028. The project’s capacity could be increased to 1 GW in a second phase. Most of its power generation would be sold to the aluminium sector, and the remainder would be exported to Chad.
Read more300 MW Cauchari solar project (Argentina) enters commercial operations
21 Sep 2020The 300 MW Cauchari solar project in Argentina has started supplying power to the national grid. The plant comprises three 100 MW phases and is operated by local state-owned power company Jujuy Energía y Minería Sociedad del Estado (JEMSE), which signed a 20 year power purchase agreement with CAMMESA (Argentine Wholesale Electricity Market Clearing Company). The project is expected to have an operational life of 35 years and to sell its power generation at a price of US$60/MWh (award in Round 1.0 of the RenovAr Programme).
Read moreGE will supply turbines for the 500 MW Kundah hydro project (India)
21 Sep 2020Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has selected GE Renewable Energy to supply four fixed speed pumped storage turbines rated 125 MW each for the new Kundah hydropower plant in Tamil Nadu (southern India). This new power plant will be operated by the state government utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO). The plant should be operational by September 2023.
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