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The government of Malaysia is currently seeking to increase the country’s renewable power generation target to 20% by 2025. The new target would be supported by the Malaysia Energy Supply Industry 2.0 (MESI 2.0) plan, to be launched before the end of September 2019. To meet the target up to MYR33bn (US$7.8bn) in investment would be required.

The country has recently concluded a 500 MW bidding round (LSS3) for renewable power additions that witnessed 365 MW in solar bids below the gas-fired power generation price of MYR23.22c/kWh (US$5.5c/kWh) (the lowest bid was at MYR17.77c/kWh (US$4.2c/kWh)).

The country’s previous renewable target was set by the 11th Malaysian Plan (2016-2020). Under this plan, Malaysia aimed to increase its renewable capacity to 2 080 MW in 2020 (large hydro excluded). Targets accounted for 4 000 MW of renewables in 2030 (17% of total capacity) and 21 400 MW in 2050 (73% of total capacity).

Unconventional oil & gas shale producer Concho Resources has announced it will sell its assets in New Mexico Shelf for the consideration of US$925m to an affiliate of Spur Energy Partners (US). Assets encompass areas with approximately 25 kboe/d. The transaction is subject to customary terms and conditions and is expected to close in November 2019. …

Equinor has begun production at the Snefrid Nord gas field in the Norwegian Sea (Norway), with 4.4 bcm in recoverable resources.

The European Energy Exchange (EEX), a subsidiary of Deutsche Boerse (Germany), has annouced it will incorporate its subsidiary Powernext (France) as of January 2020. The move will enable EEX members to trade natural gas, power and emission allowances in one single market. The integration will also render natural gas markets accessible to global customers of the EEX Group.

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average construction costs of solar PV power plants in the US continue to decrease while costs for wind and gas-fired project increased slightly in 2017. The average construction cost of a solar PV power plant reached US$2,343/kW (-37% since 2013), while the cost of wind projects reached US$1,647/kW (-13% since 2013) and co…

A new study published by the Swiss government considers it is realistic for Switzerland to generate 37,400 GWh from hydro by 2035, up from the theoretical hydropower generation of 35,990 GWh on 1 January 2019. However, to meet the target defined by the Energy Act, an average net development of 85 GWh/year is required in the coming years (it has been 87 GWh/year since 2011). …

The 325 km subsea high-voltage interconnection line known as the "COBRA cable" will be available at the power market this week (September 7th).

The Japanese power utility Kyushu Electric Power Company has submitted its nuclear plan to the Saga Prefecture and Genkai Town, for the decommissioning of Unit 2 of the 2.2 GW Genkai nuclear power plant (Japan).