CleanTech Report 2020.09.22

SPI, ESI, and Smart Energy WeekSolar will be 100% virtual in 2020.
Australia announces $18 billion investment in renewable technologies.
Acme plans to sell 4.84 GW of solar projects. Tesla Megapack becomes first big battery in UK market.
Bulgaria to add 2.65 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
Qatar’s first green bonds raises $600 million.

CleanTech Report September 22d 2020

M&A

Petronas Looks To Acquire Minority Stake In Tata Power Renewable Energy

MINT

Malaysia’s state-run oil and gas company, Petroliam Nasional Bhd or Petronas is looking to acquire around 10% stake in Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), said four people aware of the development. This marquee minority stake sale in TPREL is in addition to Petronas’ interest in investing in Tata Power’ renewable energy infrastructure investment trust (InvIT).

Ignitis And Sun Investment Conclude Largest Solar And Development Deal In Central Europe

Baltic Course

Ignitis Group is increasing the portfolio of projects of green generation. Ignitis renewables, subsidiary of Ignitis Group, signed an agreement to acquire a portfolio of solar parks in Poland from the solar developer Sun Investment Group (SIG). The total capacity of these projects will reach up to 170 MW, Ignitis Group`s representative informed BC.

Acme Looks To Sell 4.84 GW Solar Projects

MINT

Acme Solar Holdings Ltd is looking to sell 4.84 gigawatts (GW) of solar projects, three people aware of the development said, in a deal that may rank among the country’s biggest green energy transactions. The first phase of the process may be launched on 21 September, with the non-binding offers to be made by 19 October.

 

NORTH AMERICA

Mirror-like Photovoltaics Get More Electricity Out Of Heat

Techxplore

New heat-harnessing “solar” cells that reflect 99% of the energy they can’t convert to electricity could help bring down the price of storing renewable energy as heat, as well as harvesting waste heat from exhaust pipes and chimneys.

 

US Solar Racking Industry Is Innovating And Consolidating

PV Magazine

With installers and developers needing to squeeze every kilowatt-hour out of every roof and project, racking and trackers are the unsung heroes that secure and tilt panels while maximizing output and protecting wiring and other gear.

 

Solar Power International Trade Show 2020

Alt Energy Mag

The SPI, ESI, and North America Smart Energy Week 2020 will be completely virtual this year. The outdoor portion of SPI, scheduled for October 21-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada has been cancelled to keep the industry safe as COVID-19 cases throughout the country have increased. The Virtual Education Micro-conferences will run from September through October with the virtual trade show taking place October 21-22. By going completely virtual this year, the industry can interact with industry representatives, who may not have been able to travel to the event in the past.

 

LATIN AMERICA

Vestas Enters New Market With An Order In Colombia

Energy Global

Vestas has entered the Colombian wind power market with a 20 MW order for the Guajira I wind park, located at the municipality of Uribia, in La Guajira, Colombia. The contract includes the supply and installation of ten V100-2.0 MW turbines, as well as an Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement for the operation and maintenance of the wind park over the next 12 years.

Sterling And Wilson Bags 107 MW Solar Project In Chile

PV Magazine

The solar plant is the Indian multinational’s fifth win in Latin America. The EPC has a a 93.3 MW project in Argentina and is constructing three other Chilean PV plants with a total generation capacity of 588 MW.

GreenYellow Supplying More Renewable Power To Brazilian Telcos

BN Americas

French energy solutions firm GreenYellow is expanding its renewable energy footprint in the Brazilian telecoms industry. Under a 44mn-real (US$8.38mn) contract, Rio de Janeiro-based telco Oi hired GreenYellow for a project that includes leasing capacity from photovoltaic solar plants. The French firm had already secured a contract with Claro, which was announced in June.

 

EUROPE

Tesla Megapack Becomes First Big Battery To Play In UK’s Balancing Market

Renew Economy

Tesla megapack batteries were used to help balance supply and demand in Britain’s electricity market for the first time last week, following the successful roll-out of a new IT interface. Britain’s Electricity System Operator (ESO) went live with a new application programming interface (API) on Thursday that allows “non-traditional participants” to access the national grid’s balancing mechanism (BM) market.

Sweden, Norway Seal End Of Joint Green Subsidy Scheme In 2035

Reuters

The Norwegian and Swedish energy ministers on Friday signed off on an amendment to their joint green power support scheme, which effectively closes down the system at the end of 2035, 10 years earlier than planned. The amendment formalises an earlier end date from the Swedish side, aligning it with its westerly neighbour. Under the new terms, the system will close to new participants from January 1, 2022.

Bulgaria To Add 2.65 GW Of Renewables Capacity By 2030

Balkan Green Energy News

In its draft Sustainable Energy Development Strategy until 2030 with a 2050 horizon, Bulgaria doesn’t envisage the shutdown of its coal power plants. The government said efforts would be made in green energy, innovation, energy efficiency, nuclear sources and gas to ensure energy security. Within the decarbonization push, Bulgaria revealed a goal of installing 2.65 GW in electricity generation capacity from renewable sources, mostly in photovoltaic plants.

 

ASIA

Shanghai-based Renewable Energy Company Eyes To Expand Its Business In Azerbaijan

Today

China’s Universal Energy company is planning to expand its business in Azerbaijan to further support the transition of energy structure, the company official told Trend. Currently Universal Energy has six new energy projects in Kazakhstan including three photovoltaic (PV) power projects in operation and three wind power plants which are under construction.

First Solar Japan And Toshiba Start Construction Of Two Mega Solar Projects In Tochigi Prefecture

Webwire

First Solar Japan and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (hereinafter “Toshiba ESS”) has signed a contract to construct two mega solar projects, Yatsubo Solar Power Plant and Ikeda Solar Power Plant in Tochigi Prefecture, Nasu area, Eastern Japan.

Solar Start-up Xurya Becomes First Recipient Of Southeast Asian Green Fund

The Jakarta Post

Jakarta-based solar start-up Xurya has received an undisclosed investment sum from the multimillion-dollar South East Asia Clean Energy Facility (SEACEF), becoming the fund’s first recipient since its launch in June. Xurya said on Monday that the funds would be used to continue developing 80 megawatt peak (MWp) rooftop photovoltaic (PV) projects for businesses and industries in Indonesia.

 

MENA

Qatar Cultivates First Green Bonds As QNB Raises $600 Million

ZAWYA

Qatar saw its first green bond issue on Tuesday when Qatar National Bank (QNB) sold $600 million of the notes, making it only the second commercial bank in the Gulf to venture into the green market.

Egypt, Japan Probe Cooperation In Energy Domain

Egypt Today

Electricity Minister Mohammed Shaker on Monday discussed with Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Masaki Noke means of boosting cooperation in energy and electricity domains. The meeting reflects the distinguished relations between Egypt and Japan as well as the effective partnership of the Japanese side in Egypt’s electricity projects throughout the past decades, the minister said.

Yellow Door Energy Launches Massive Solar Carport And Rooftop Solar Plant For Al Nabooda Automobiles

ZAWYA

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Yellow Door Energy, a UAE-based sustainable energy provider for businesses, has successfully commissioned a 3.1 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar carport and rooftop solar plant for Al Nabooda Automobiles L.L.C. Located in Dubai Industrial City, the solar carport and rooftop solar plant are expected to generate 4,620 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy in the first year of operation, equivalent to reducing 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

 

AFRICA

Renewable Energy Remains Elusive For Many Citizens In Uganda

All Africa

Solar energy can be used for cooking, heating as well as power, which can reduce the dependency on firewood, charcoal, candles, and kerosene lanterns that are majorly used in rural areas. However, despite its potential and all its wonderful benefits, its use is still limited! One of the major constraints is the initial cost of installation besides lack of knowledge about its benefits and where to access the genuine products.

Rwanda’s Affordable Energy Ambitions Get $150 Million Boost

All Africa

Rwanda’s quest to avail affordable energy to the population got a boost this week following the approval by the World Bank Group of $150m (approximately Rwf142bn) to finance energy access for households, enterprises and public institutions in Rwanda. Half of the allocated funds will be disbursed in form of grant while the other half will be given on credit, according to a statement.

Powering The Sahel With Renewable Electricity

The Africa Reform

Across the West Africa sub-region, roughly half the population lacks access to electricity and, including the Sahel, only 3% of households  use standalone solar power. For example, Niger is one of the world’s sunniest countries, but less than one-fifth of its population  has access to electricity.

 

 

AUSTRALIA

Scott Morrison Announces $18 Billion For Technology That Will Support 130,000 Jobs Over The Next 10 Years

Daily Mail

The federal government will on Tuesday outline plans to spend $18 billion on new energy technology to help stop climate change and support 130,000 jobs over the next ten years. Energy Minister Angus Taylor will reveal the government’s first Low Emissions Technology Statement, detailing a bold plan to get emissions down and slow global warming without damaging the economy.

McCain Foods Unveils Australia’s Largest “Behind-the-Meter” Renewable Energy System

3BL Media

McCain Foods Australia has announced it has commenced construction on a renewable energy system that will reduce emissions from its Ballarat food processing facility by more than 27,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The project, which will house Australia’s largest “behind-the-meter” renewable energy system, will subsidise McCain’s energy consumption in Ballarat by 39 per cent.

Australia To Spend $1.4 Billion On Nascent Renewable Energy Projects

Reuters

Australia will invest A$1.9 billion ($1.39 billion) over the next 10 years in nascent renewable energy technology, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday, as Canberra accelerates spending in a bid to revive its ailing economy.  Australia slipped into its first recession in nearly three decades, while effective unemployment is expected to top 13%.

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