CleanTech Report 2020.11.03

Dominion announces 500 MW of solar project proposals in Virginia.
Renewables dominate as demand shows strong recovery across Europe.
DEWA to invest AED 86 billion in the energy sector over the next 5 years.
Australia hits 50% renewables, despite shut down of seven solar farms.
Denmark's European Energy to build Nordics' biggest solar farm.
Battery storage market to hit $19.74 billion by 2027.
Israel approves 30% renewables goal for 2030.

CleanTech Report November 3d 2020

M&A

Nextera Energy Announces Agreements To Sell Interests In A Long-Term Contracted Renewables Portfolio

Cision

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC has entered into agreements to sell a 90% interest in a 1,000 megawatt (MW) portfolio of long-term contracted renewables assets (the portfolio) and a 100% interest in a 100-MW solar-plus-storage project for approximately $1.3 billion in total proceeds, including tax equity, and subject to working capital and other adjustments. The portfolio is being acquired by NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) and a consortium of private infrastructure investors led by KKR (the investors) in two separate transactions.

Norwegian Utility Statkraft Makes $151 Million Swoop On Solarcentury

Reuters

Norwegian utility Statkraft has agreed to buy British solar power developer Solarcentury in a deal worth 117.7 million pounds ($151.34 million) that would boost its renewable energy output. Statkraft is taking full control of Solarcentury, allowing its investors to cash out.

Greencoat Capital Hits 1GW As It Snaps Up Solar Portfolio From Allianz Global Investors

Business Green

Purchase of three operational solar plants brings total value of solar assets in asset manager’s Greencoat Solar II fund to £2bn. Asset manager Greencoat Capital has celebrated a number of clean energy investment milestones following the purchase of three operational solar plants from Allianz Global Investors.

 

NORTH AMERICA

Battery Energy Storage Market To Hit $19.74 Billion By 2027

Benzinga

The global battery energy storage market size is projected to reach USD 19.74 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 20.4% during the forecast period. Improving access to electricity across the globe will be a prominent trend shaping the growth trajectory of this market, postulates Fortune Business Insights in its report, titled “Battery Energy Storage Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis.

 

Dominion Announces 500 MW Of Solar Project Proposals In Virginia

PV Magazine

As part of the company’s recent Integrated Resource Plan — which looks to add 16 GW of solar by 2035, Dominion has submitted to state regulators a nine-project proposal that will bring nearly 500 MW of solar to the state.

 

U.S. Pitches Cheaper Solar Tech To India Amid High Dependence On China

Reuters

The United States wants India to explore manufacturing a cheaper alternative to silicon solar cells, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said on Wednesday, amid high dependence on Chinese technology. Brouillette, who was addressing a virtual press conference at the conclusion of the India energy forum at the IHS CERA Week, said India was “perfectly positioned as a potential manufacturer” of perovskite cells, on which the U.S. was conducting research at its national laboratory in Colorado.

 

LATIN AMERICA

Central America Joins The Ibero-American Renewable Energy Network

BN Americas

In December 2019, within the framework of COP 25, the Ibero-American Renewable Energy Network – RedREN was formed, which seeks to promote renewable energies in this territory, establishing key collaboration guidelines in terms of Promotion and development of a national regulation in each country; Exchange of experiences and knowledge; and Development of consultancies and studies related to improving the technical and competitive conditions of renewable energies.

Atlas Renewable Energy Receives $67 Million Financing For Solar Project

Renewable Energy Magazine

Atlas Renewable Energy, a renewable energy company in Latin America, has obtained a $67 million loan from IDB Invest, member of IDB Group, and from DNB Bank ASA (Norway) to finance the construction of Jacaranda, a 187MWp solar project being developed in Brazil, marking the first time that a Brazilian solar project has been fully financed in US dollars.

Highview Power In Chile, Latin America JV For ‘Giga-Scale’ Liquid Air Energy Storage Projects

Energy Storage

A deal covering co-development of projects in Chile and the wider Latin America region has been signed by Highview Power, provider and integrator of zero emissions liquid air energy storage (LAES) suitable for large-scale, long duration applications.

 

EUROPE

Downing To Raise £200 Million For Renewable Energy Fund

CITYAM

Downing Renewables and Infrastructure Trust (DORE) will today announce a £200m capital raise in order to invest in a range of renewable energy assets. The fund will put money into a variety of clean energy sources, including hydro, solar, wind and geothermal power.

Denmark’s European Energy To Build Nordics’ Biggest Solar Farm

Reuters

Danish renewables firm European Energy will build a 300 megawatt (MW) solar power farm in southern Denmark, the biggest installation of its kind in northern Europe, it said late on Wednesday. The solar farm will be built near planned data centres as well as a major regional transformer station in the municipality of Aabenraa in Southern Jutland, it said in a statement.

Renewables Dominate As Demand Shows Strong Recovery Across Europe

PEI

Across Europe, renewable power was the largest source of electricity generation for the sixth quarter in a row, as the easing of lockdown restrictions sparked an upturn in demand. Those were the standout statistics in the latest quarterly report on the European power generation market from energy data analyst EnAppSys.

 

ASIA

Malaysian Solar Energy Company Aims To Power Asia Into A Cleaner Future

Asia Tatler

In Malaysia, one company pushing for the widespread use of solar energy is Plus Solar Systems, which was established by its CEO and 2020 Gen.T honouree Ko Chuan Zhen, alongside two of his schoolmates, Ryan Oh Zhi Kang and Poh Tyng Huei, in 2012. The company started out as a green energy consulting firm under the name Leaf Energy before it rebranded to Plus Solar in 2013 and widened its range of services to include engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning work. 

KKR Launches Renewable Energy Platform Virescent Infrastructure In India

Business Wire

Global investment firm KKR today announced the launch of Virescent Infrastructure, a newly created platform to acquire renewable energy assets in India. Headquartered in Mumbai, Virescent aims to expand its diversified portfolio of operational renewable energy assets, facilitated by investments predominantly made through KKR’s infrastructure fund. Virescent looks to identify investment opportunities that have stable cash flows stemming from long-term contracts with state and central government counterparties across India.

Toshiba Aims To Launch Virtual Power Plants Across Japan In 2022

NIKKEI

Toshiba will, as early as 2022, enter the virtual power plant business — a means of managing renewable energy facilities and operating them like a single large power plant. The move comes as Japan plans to shift from its current above-market feed-In tariff aimed at encouraging green power to one that more closely reflects market prices.

 

MENA

DEWA Invests AED 86 Billion In Energy Sector Over The Next 5 Years

Arabian Post

The Global Renewables Outlook: Energy Transformation 2050 report issued by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in April 2020 indicated that the transition to renewables, efficiency and electrification could drive overall socio-economic development, supported by comprehensive policies to cut carbon emissions. The use of Hydrogen and synthetic fuels, direct electrification, advanced biofuels and carbon management will be crucial ways to cut CO2 emissions beyond 2050, along with innovative business models, structural changes and behavioural adaptation.

Israel Approves 30% Renewables Goal For 2030

Green Prophet

The Israeli cabinet has approved the proposal to increase Israel’s 2030 renewable energy target from 17% to 30%. Currently, Israel is steering towards ten percent renewable energy of its total energy consumption, to be achieved by continuously increasing small roof installations and new installations through tenders.

Al Masaood Power Introduces Smart Microgrid Solutions During First Ever Virtual Edition Of WETEX

ZAWYA

Al Masaood Power Division, the official distributor of MTU a Rolls-Royce Power Solutions Company in the UAE and Bahrain, one of the leading suppliers of decentralized energy systems, throws the spotlight on smart microgrid solutions during their participation at the first ever 3D Virtual edition of the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), the ideal gateway of solar business in the region, on October 26 -28, 2020.

 

AFRICA

South Africa Solar Thermal Project Breaks Continental Generation Record

Renew Economy

The 50MW Bokpoort concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in South Africa has set a new African benchmark for renewable energy, becoming the first renewable project on the African continent to complete a full week of continuous, round the clock operation.

Auxano Sign $1.5 Million Investment Deal For Solar Panel Assembly Plant Expansion

Real News

THE Shell-funded impact investment company, All On, has announced a $1.5 million investment in Auxano Solar Nigeria Limited to scale its operations over the next five years. “This investment would guarantee the expansion of Auxano’s solar panel assembly capacity by over 50 percent and is a great win for local content,” said All On Programmes and Investments Manager, Afolabi Akinrogunde.

Norwegian Renewable Company Plots Expansion In Africa

ICLG

The acquisition of SN Power has given Scatec Solar a Ugandan hydroelectric operation and plans for further development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec Solar has bought hydroelectric power developer SN Power from Norway’s development finance institution (DFI) Norfund for USD 1.2 million.

 

 

AUSTRALIA

Australia Hits 50% Renewables Again, Despite Shut Down Of Seven Solar Farms

Renew Economy

Australia’s main grid, the National Electricity Market, reached a share of 50 per cent renewables again on Tuesday, despite the temporary shut down of seven solar farms in NSW and one of the state’s biggest wind farms to allow for maintenance on a major transmission link.

South Australia Signs Supply Deal For Playford Big Battery And Cultana Solar Farm

Renew Economy

The South Australia state government has signed a new 10-year supply deal for its electricity needs that will pave the way for the construction of the Playford big battery near Port Augusta and the state’s biggest solar farm at Cultana near Whyalla. The 10-year contract – which was put out for tender again after the failure of the Aurora solar thermal project to obtain finance – has been awarded to the Ross Garnaut-led Zen Energy, which in turn will tap into the big solar and battery projects that will be delivered by its former shareholder, Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance.

Renewables Overtake Coal And Gas For First Time In Western Australia

Renew Economy

The combined output of wind and solar and other renewable energy sources have overtaken the principal fossil fuel sources of coal and gas generation in Western Australia for the first time in the month of October. According to data provided by OpenNem.org.au, wind and solar provided nearly 550GWh of output into W.A.’s South West Interconnected System – the state’s main grid – in the month of October. That beat the coal output for the first time (452GWh), and the addition of a small amount of biomass, also beat gas for the first time (553MWh).

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