Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
India plans to allow Coal India units to set prices independently
16 Oct 2020The Indian government plans to allow units of state-owned coal mining company Coal India Ltd (CIL) to independently set coal prices in a bid to foster competition and cut the price of coal in the country. Lowering coal prices would also help cut the price of electricity.
Read moreThe RES surcharge in Germany will decrease by 3.8% in 2020
16 Oct 2020The four German power transmission system operators (TSOs), namely 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW, have published the update for the 2021 German renewable energy surcharge (EEG-Umlage, a levy on end-consumer power prices to support the expansion of renewable energies). The EEG surcharge will be reduced by 3.8% to €6.5c/kWh in 2021 thanks to federal support payments. In 2020, the EEG-Umlage had increased by 5.5% to €6.756c/kWh, from €6.405c/kWh in 2019. The fee will drop to €6c/kWh in 2022.
Read moreThe European Commission unveils a regional strategy for energy efficiency
15 Oct 2020The European Commission has unveiled its Renovation Wave Strategy to improve the energy performance of buildings, which intends to at least double renovation rates in the next decade and to make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. 35 million buildings could be renovated by 2030. The strategy focuses on three areas: decarbonising heating and cooling; tackling energy poverty and worst-performing buildings; and renovating public buildings (schools, hospitals and administrative buildings).
Read moreThe government of Ireland raise carbon tax by by €7.5/tCO2 to €33.5/tCO2
15 Oct 2020The government of Ireland has increased the carbon tax by €7.5/tCO2 to €33.5/tCO2. Consequently, fuel prices are expected to increase by €2.1c/l for gasoline and €2.45c/l for diesel. To help vulnerable households, the fuel allowance will be increased by €3.5 to €24 per week.
Read moreEnergy & Climate Markets
Sinopec discovers 192 bcm of shale gas in the Sichuan basin (China)
16 Oct 2020China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) has added newly proven shale gas geological reserves of 192 bcm at the Fuling gas field in the Sichuan basin (southern China), raising the block’s total estimated geological reserves to 793 bcm. Sinopec’s total proven geological shale gas reserves reaches 941 bcm in China. The group is targeting a shale gas output of 7.5 bcm in Chongqing in 2020 (6.3 bcm produced in 2019) and a total shale gas production of 13 bcm/year by 2025.
Read moreTechnology
EDF intends to unveil its new EPR nuclear reactor by mid-2021
16 Oct 2020EDF intends to release a new, less expensive version of its EPR nuclear reactor by mid-2021, as it would benefit from a reduction in necessary preparatory studies. In addition, EDF pledged to bring in new oversight measures for its major projects, in a bid to prevent costly delays in the construction of nuclear power plants.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
National Grid commissions the 1 GW UK-France power interconnector
16 Oct 2020The British power transmission system operator (TSO) National Grid has commissioned the 1,000 MW Interconnexion France-Angleterre (IFA2) HVDC link project, which entered construction in 2018. The project operates a ± 320 kV DC cable system and includes an offshore section between Portsmouth (Hampshire) in the United Kingdom and Caen (Normandy) in France. The two high-voltage direct current HVDC light converter stations, the submarine and land power cables were designed and manufactured by Prysmian and ABB.
Read moreChina approves a 3 Mt/year coal mine project in Shaanxi province
16 Oct 2020The Chinese State Energy Administration has approved a 3 Mt/year coal mine project in the Shaanxi province. The project Xizhuo coal mine project, located in Heyang County, will require a CNY4bn (US$566m) investment. In 2019, China was the largest coal producer in the world, with an output of 3,691 Mt, followed by India (769 Mt) and the United States (640 Mt).
Read moreGCM, NFC, PowerChina plan 6 GW of coal-fired power projects in Bangladesh
16 Oct 2020London-based GCM Resources has signed a framework agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction (NFC) to develop the Phulbari project in North-West Bangladesh, which comprises 572 Mt of high grid coal resources. In addition, partners plan to develop mine-mouth power plants generating 6 GW.
Read moreMexico awards a 385 MW solar project in Baja California to Next Energy
16 Oct 2020The Inter-institutional Energy Committee of the Baja California government (Mexico) has awarded a 385 MW solar project to the Mexican renewable company Next Energy de México. The power plant, which will sign a power purchase agreement (PPA), is expected to supply power to the Rio Colorado-Tijuana Aqueduct and to the offices of the State Government for the next 30 years.
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