Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Germany delays decision on a tender model for offshore wind
3 Nov 2020The German government has postponed a final decision on a tender model for offshore wind. The authorities will carry out further study of a "second bid" component model, corresponding to a dynamic bidding procedure. Zero cent bids may also be possible in the future. Germany intends to auction 31.3 GW of onshore wind capacity between 2021 and 2028, of which 16.7 GW by the end of 2025.
Read moreMoldova pledges to implement EU gas laws by the end of 2021
2 Nov 2020Moldova plans to fully implement most aspects of the EU third energy package obligations from 2021, including unbundling the gas transmission system operator (TSO) Moldovatransgaz from the national gas company Moldovagaz, and revise cross-border tariffs. In addition, the reform program also calls for operator certification by the Energy Community in line with EU standards and for the separation of Moldovagaz’ import and trading operations from final supply to consumers.
Read moreSouth Africa eases rules for private power generation above 1 MW
2 Nov 2020The South African government has authorised the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to grant permission to process licence applications for self-generation power plants of above 1 MW, even if they don’t comply with the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019).
Read moreCompanies
Statkraft (Norway) buys UK renewable developer Solarcentury for €131m
3 Nov 2020The Norwegian state-owned power utility Statkraft has signed an agreement to buy the UK-based solar project developer Solarcentury, for a total consideration for £118m (€131m), from Scottish Equity Partners, VantagePoint Capital Partners, Zouk Capital, and Grupo Ecos. Solarcentury has a solar project pipeline totalling 6 GW in Europe and South America, including high-growth markets such as Chile, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Greece, and Italy. This acquisition is in line with Statkraft’s strategy to develop 8 GW of wind and solar projects by 2025.
Read moreThe Danish government will take over a gas distribution company
3 Nov 2020The Danish Ministry of Finance has entered into an agreement with the electricity and gas transmission system operator (TSO) Energinet to acquire Evida, a gas distribution company that owns 20,000 km of gas pipes and supplies over 400,000 households and businesses. The company is valued at DKK4.2bn (€564m).
Read moreForecasts
The Netherlands expected to miss 2030 GHG emissions reduction target
3 Nov 2020According to the Climate and Energy Outlook 2020, the Netherlands is expected to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 34% compared to their 1990 level by 2030. This is significantly lower than the 49% emission cut target set for 2030, that exceeded the EU mandate (40%). In 2018, GHG emissions were 17% below their 1990 level. The average emission reduction was approximately 3 MtCO₂/year over the 2010–2019 period; to achieve the 49% reduction target by 2030, the Netherlands would have to double the average reduction rate to approximately 6 MtCO₂/year.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
Power China won a contract to build a 800 MW wind project in Ukraine
3 Nov 2020The Ukrainian company WindFarm has signed an Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) contract with the Chinese state-owned construction group Power China to build an 800 MW onshore wind project in the Donetsk region (Ukraine). The project, which could benefit from a green tariff, would require a US$1bn investment and would be one of the largest onshore wind parks in the region.
Read moreGemcorp takes FID on its 3 Mt/year Cabinda refinery project in Angola
3 Nov 2020Gemcorp Capital has taken a final investment decision (FID) on its 60,000 bbl/d (3 Mt/year) Cabinda refinery project in Malembo, in the Cabinda Province of Angola. The British investment firm has completed site preparation and front-end engineering and design (FEED) for the refinery and received a licence in May 2020, investing US$30m in the first phase of the project.
Read moreChina starts building a 400 kb/d refinery project in Shandong
3 Nov 2020The Chinese private aluminium smelter Shandong Nanshan Group has started building the 400,000 bbl/d Yulong refinery project in Yantai, Shandong (east of the country). The project will include a 3 Mt/year ethylene plant and will require a US$20bn investment.
China has a refining capacity of 13.1 mb/d, i.e. 2.5 times as high as in 2000 (5.4 mb/d). There are around 65 refineries with a capacity of over 100 000 bbl/d. The Zhenhai (Sinopec) and Dalian (CNPC) refineries are the biggest, with capacities of more than 400 000 bbl/d.
Read moreIran and Russia will build the 1.4 GW Sirik gas-fired power project (Iran)
3 Nov 2020Iran and Russia have signed a new agreement to build the 1,400 MW Sirik gas-fired power plant in the Sirik County, in the southern Iranian Hormozgan Province. It will consist of four 350 MW units. The feasibility study for the first phase of the project has been completed. In September 2019, Russia awarded a €1.3bn funding to build the project, which will correspond to 85% of the total investment. The remaining financing needs will be covered by Iran.
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