CleanTech Report 2020.01.28

LG&E proposes largest solar field in Kentucky.
UK needs 120,000 green energy jobs to meet targets.
California green-lights plans for green energy boom in Sacramento.
BlackRock Targets Storage With New Multibillion-Dollar Renewables Fund.

CleanTech Report January 28th 2020

AFRICA

UK To Invest Over Us $65.7M Into Renewable Energy Projects In Africa

Construction Review Online

The government of UK is set to invest over US $65.7m into renewable energy projects in Africa, as it works with selected African countries to develop sustainable energy sources. The approved projects include solar farms in Kenya, geothermal power stations in Ethiopia and clean energy storage in sub-Saharan Africa.

AMEA Power Wants To Build A Solar Farm Near Bamako

Africa Intelligence

The Malian government supports the Emirati renewable energy firm in its wish to develop a 50 MW plant, but Energie du Mali’s disastrous finances could throw shade on the plan.

AfDB Hosts Talks With ICRC On Making An Impact Through Collaboration

Modern Diplomacy

The African Development Bank held talks with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice-President Gilles Carbonnier at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan on furthering their shared development goals.

 

ASIA

India Surges Ahead In Global Solar Race

RT

According to analytics company GlobalData, with 49 percent tenders announced and a 75.4 percent share, India was No. 1 among all other countries in the region, followed by the Philippines (with six tenders and a 9.2 percent share) and Pakistan (with five tenders and a 7.7 percent share), according to a Saur Energy International report.

Vietnam Begins 48MW Wind Farm Construction

OE Digital

Climate Fund Managers (CFM), the manager of the Climate Investor One facility (CI1), have announced that construction has begun of its 48MW near-shore wind farm in Tra Vinh province Vietnam.

Orix Corporation To Issue Its First Green Bond In Japan

Saur Energy

The ORIX Corporation (ORIX) has decided to issue its first Green Bond (unsecured straight bonds) in the domestic market of Japan. Green bonds are bonds issued by companies to finance green projects (such as renewable energy, construction and renovation of energy‐saving structures, and projects with environmental improvement effects.

 

AUSTRALIA

More Than 2.6GW To Be Added To Australia’s Grid In 2020

Energy Matters

Despite some positive achievements in the industry, 2019 saw a slow-footed uptake on clean energy transitioning, which bodies blamed on connection delays, transmission issues and the extremely crowded grid. However, we could also say that these same issues are the very reason 2020 will welcome a boom in project commissioning.

South Australia On Track To 100 Pct Renewables

Renew Economy

South Australia’s plans to reach net 100 percent renewables within a decade, and help provide renewable power to NSW to offset the closure of its coal plants have received a major boost after the Australian Energy Regulator green-lighted the business case for a major new transmission line linking the two states.

New Battery Enhances SA Renewable Energy Supply

Infrastructure Magazine

The Lake Bonney Wind Farm and Battery in south-east South Australia is nearing full commercial operation, marking a key milestone for the state’s renewable energy supply. Infigen’s 25MWh/52MWh battery is in the final stages of testing.

 

EUROPE

The Powerful New Architecture Of Clean Energy

ArchDaily

Energy infrastructure has historically been met with a “Not in My Back Yard” response from policymakers and the public alike. Aside from the clear human health implications of coal plants and natural gas stations, the architecture of energy infrastructure has traditionally been driven by raw economy and feasibility, with isolated locations creating little need for architectural beauty.

Spain Installed 6.4GW Of New Wind And Solar Capacity In 2019

Renew Economy

New figures released late last week show that Spain commissioned a total of 6,456MW of new renewable energy generation in 2019, bringing the country’s cumulative total up to 55,247MW, and lifting its total share of electricity generation to more than one third in 2019.

UK Must Create 120,000 Green Energy Jobs By 2030 To Meet Targets

The Guardian

The UK must recruit more than 100,000 people to fill green energy roles within a decade if the government hopes to meet its binding climate targets, National Grid has warned.

 

LATIN AMERICA

Mexico And Chile Witness Green Energy Surge In Year Of Tough Politics

PV-Tech

New figures suggest two of Latin America’s leading energy markets scored significant renewable victories last year, even as the political environment threatened to put brakes on progress. Mexican solar witnessed a stellar year as installed capacity boomed 62% between 2018 (3GW-plus) and 2019 (5GW-plus), according to stats recently released by national industry body Asolmex.

Brazil’s Looming Renewable Auction Sparks Another PV Bidding Avalanche

PV-Tech

The solar industry’s appetite for Brazilian auctions appears to remain undimmed in the new decade, with nearly 30GW in PV bids coming forward for the next renewable tender. Figures released on Tuesday by energy regulator EPE show PV firms have put forward 794 projects, a 28.66GW pipeline all in all.

Clean Energy Boom Imperiled By Argentina’s Free-Market Fizzle

Bloomberg

A renewables pipeline of $4.8 billion is at risk under the country’s new leader. The political shift may bury lofty plans, mirroring other nations.

 

MENA

UAE’s Al Nowais Plans $500M Renewable Energy Fund

Bloomberg

United Arab Emirates businessman Hussain Al Nowais is planning a $500 million fund to spur renewable energy investments across the Middle East and Africa.

Abu Dhabi Fund Extends $105M For 8 IRENA Recommended Renewable Projects

Mercom

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has approved about $105 million (~₹7.42 billion) for the development of eight renewable energy projects under the seventh cycle of its partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Israel Seeks Developers For 300MW Solar Project In Negev Desert

PV-Tech

The Israeli government has launched proceedings to contract what is arguably one of the largest PV projects ever in the country, a venture that may feature a storage element. Earlier this week, the Israeli Ministry of Finance posted documents setting out the rules of a tender that will award a 300MW PV scheme near the city of Dimona, in the Negev Desert.

 

NORTH AMERICA

LG&E Proposes Largest Solar Field In Kentucky

WFPL

Louisville Gas and Electric is seeking approval from state utility regulators to build the largest solar array in Kentucky. If approved, the 100-megawatt plant in Hardin County would be one of at least four utility-scale projects coming online in Kentucky in the next three years.

California Green-Lights Plans For Green Energy Boom In Sacramento

PV-Tech

California’s state planning authorities have waved through a plan by a Sacramento utility to roll out gigawatts’ worth of green energy over the next two decades, including utility-scale storage. Earlier this week, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) said the California Energy Commission has given the all-clear to its plans to install nearly 4GW of renewables and demand-side resources by 2040.

BlackRock Targets Storage With New Multibillion-Dollar Renewables Fund

Green Tech Media

The world’s largest asset manager has a new multibillion-dollar renewable energy fund in the works, and a good chunk of it may go to batteries. Long a major global investor in wind and solar energy, BlackRock has more recently begun buying into energy storage projects.

 
 

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