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The Directorate-General of Energy and Geology (DGEG) of Portugal has awarded 25 solar power projects across 24 lots in a 1.4 solar auction launched in July 2019. The auction attracted 64 participants bidding for over 10,000 MW of new solar capacity. Overall, the auction allocated 1,150 MW of power projects, including 862 MW of projects securing 15-year fixed-price power purchase agreements (PPAs) and 288 MW of project receiving payments at a variable tariff.

The bids were well below the capped price of 45€/MWh (maximum successful bid of €31.16/MWh for a 18 MW project proposed by Aura Power Development) and Akuo Renovaveis was awarded a 150 MW solar project at the record low tariff of €14.76/MWh. For projects under the general remuneration scheme, the payments will range between €5.1/MW and €26.75/MW.

Akuo Energy was the largest winner with 370 MW (three projects of 150 MW, 120 MW and 100 MW), followed by Aura Power Developments (168 MW) and Iberdrola (seven projects totalling 149 MW under the general remuneration scheme).

Engie Brasil Energia plans to restart the sale of its 340 MW Pampa Sul coal-fired power plant in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, which was commissioned in late June 2019. China State Power Investment Corp (SPIC) would be interested in the power plant, which could be sold to the Chinese group for BRL 800m – BRL 1bn (US$200-250m). …

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has started proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against four wind park operators – namely AGL Energy, Neoen, Pacific Hydro and Tilt Renewables – for alleged breaches of the National Electricity Rules (NER) and for contributing to a black-out in South Australia in September 2016. …

Chevron Australia and the Gorgon Joint Venture participants have started to operate their CO2 injection system at the Gorgon LNG plant on Barrow Island off Western Australia. The CCS equipment is expected to inject between 3.4 and 4 MtCO2/year and to cut Gorgon LNG’s CO2 emissions by about 40%, corresponding to more than 100 MtCO2 over the entire life of the injection project. …

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) have approved a US$252m funding for a new 250 MW wind project developed in the Gulf of Suez (Egypt) by Lekela Egypt Wind Power.

The 407 MW Horns Rev 3 offshore wind park off the Danish west coast will be inaugurated at the end of August 2019. The first of 49 wind turbines was connected to the Danish grid and started generating power in January 2019. When fully operational later in 2019, the project will generate around 1.7/TWh/year, raising Danish wind power generation by 12%. …