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The European Council has failed to reach a landmark agreement on carbon neutrality by 2050, after the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and Poland refused to set a specific date for net zero carbon emissions. The four countries are all dependent on thermal power generation (60% of the power mix for the Czech Republic in 2018, 89% for Poland, 94% for Estonia and 47% for Hungary, where nuclear accounts for another 49%). Committing to phase out thermal power generation by 2050 would represent a major shift in their energy mix and significant investments. Poland rejected any carbon neutrality plan by 2050 before a «thorough analysis» of the costs. Instead of an agreement, a footnote in the final European summit statement specifies that «For a large majority of Member States, climate neutrality must be achieved by 2050». Negotiations could resume in October 2019.

Earlier in June 2019, the European Commission unveiled the results of an assessment of member states’ plans to implement the EU’s Energy Union objective and energy efficiency contributions and highlighted the need for a collective step up of ambition. It announced that plans would fall short both in terms of renewables: the gap could be as big as 1.6 percentage points for renewable energies and as much as 6.2 percentage points for energy efficiency (if considering primary energy consumption) or 6 percentage points (if considering final energy consumption). 

Edison has agreed to acquire renewable assets from its parent company EDF to become a major renewable player in Italy. The Italian company will buy 265 MW of wind assets and 77 MW of solar assets for €173m, that will add to its existing wind capacity (710 MW held through a joint venture with F2i). Edison aims to generate 40% of its power from renewables by 2030.

Mexican oil company Pemex, which plans to invest around MXN 250-260bn/year (US$13.2-13.7bn/year) in exploration and production over the next few years, has decided not to invest in deepwater fields and to focus in turn on onshore and shallow water projects around the southern Gulf of Mexico, off the states of Veracruz, Campeche and Tabasco.

According to the British power transmission network operator National Grid, CO2-free power generation (from nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, and storage) accounted for 47.9% of the power mix in the United Kingdom over the January-May 2019 period, exceeding thermal power generation (from coal and gas) with 46.6%.

According to the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, the Nigerian power sector would require more than US$100bn of investments over the next 20 years to improve power supply and ensure 24 hours per day of electricity supply. More than US$10bn would be necessary in the next five years to reach «reasonable» standards in quality of supply and service. …

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has selected Ocean Wind as the preferred bidder for the first offshore wind project in New Jersey (United States). Ocean Wind is a project company led by Ørsted with support Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), which has an option to become an equity investor in the project.

Hong Kong LNG terminal, the joint venture of the Hongkong Electric (HK Electric) and Castle Peak Power Company (CAPCO), has signed two agreements related to the development of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Hong-Kong. A first agreement was signed with Mitsui O.S.K.

The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of Pakistan has appointed Mott MacDonald as lead consultant for the Tarbela 5th Extension hydropower project in northern Pakistan. The project aims to add a 1,410 MW power plant at the existing 4,888 MW Tarbela hydropower complex and to build a new 500 kV line, along with a 20-40 MW floating solar power project..