CleanTech Report December 24th 2019 |
AFRICALeverage The Sun Energy To Address Energy Poverty In AfricaAn Oxfam survey reports that energy poverty presents a serious challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, despite longstanding efforts to address it. That that in 2014, 633 million people lacked access to electricity and 792 million people relied on traditional biomass as their primary energy source for cooking. This results to drudgery, poisoning, fires, burns, limited economic opportunity, and premature death due to respiratory diseases. Kwara Partners Energy Company To Generate 5,000MW And 10,000 JobsKwara State government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a renewable energy company, Libra Capital Limited, to create 10,000 jobs and generate 5,000 megawatts power through renewable power plants and operations of standard agro-industrial parks in the state. One Of Malawi’s First Solar Energy Project Reaches Financial CloseOne of Malawi’s first solar projects has reached financial close after attracting investment volume totaling $67 million USD. Initial site works have begun in Nkhotakota, and construction of the first phase is targeted for completion by March 2020. Once complete, the project will add 46 MW of clean energy to the local power supply. |
ASIAADB To Roll Out $1 Billion For Clean Energy Investments In The Pacific RegionThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to roll out nearly $1 billion of energy investments across the region during the 2019-2021 period. As the energy demand in the Asia and Pacific region grows, ADB is trying to improve the regional energy systems in the Pacific. The bank is seeking to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy; maximize access to energy for all, and promote energy sector reform, capacity building, and effective governance. GE Toasts 1.2GW Turbine Joy In ChinaGE Renewable Energy has secured 1,215MW in turbine orders or commitments in the onshore wind sector in China for 2019. The company said the deals include an order for 33 2.7-132 turbines for HECIC’s 100MW Balagedai 2 project in Inner Mongolia, scheduled for completion in 2020. AC Energy And UPC Asia Pacific’s Joint VentureHerbert Smith Freehills advised AC Energy on its joint venture with UPC Asia Pacific for the development, construction and operations of solar projects in the Asia-Pacific region. The joint venture, UPC-AC Energy Solar, is aiming to build a portfolio of over 1GW of solar generation projects over the next few years, with an initial focus on India, South Korea and Taiwan. UPC Asia Pacific is one of the largest independent renewable energy companies in the Asia-Pacific region, with assets comprising over 6GW in operation, under construction and in development. |
AUSTRALIASouth Australia’s Clean-Energy Shift Brings Lowest Power Prices On National GridThe shift to more than 50% clean energy in South Australia led to the lowest average wholesale power prices in the national electricity grid over the past two months, an audit has found. Govt Underwriting New QLD Power Station To Keep Prices DownThe Morrison government will underwrite a new power station servicing Queensland and New South Wales under a plan set to be unveiled on Monday. The gas-fired plant at Gatton in South East Queensland is the first of a new generation series aimed at putting downward pressure on power prices. Spanish Firm To Put $500M Into Australian Wind And Solar FarmSpanish energy giant Iberdrola says it has decided to invest $500m in a wind and solar farm in South Australia as the first of a series of renewable power projects it hopes to develop in Australia. Iberdrola’s head of renewables, Xabier Viteri, said that in the new year the company would also probably increase its target for renewable energy from the “ambitious” target of 10GW by 2022. |
EUROPEEurope’s Move To Cleaner Energy Hits Refineries HardEurope’s push toward cleaner energy and declining oil demand are threatening its refineries, some of which have been struggling to find buyers for years. Hungarian State Company Buys Mátra Power PlantThe state will purchase the Mátra Power Plant from Orbán-ally billionaire Lőrinc Mészáros’ Opus Global Nyrt, Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM) leader László Palkovics announced at a press conference on Friday. According to the plans, Hungary’s only coal-fired electricity producer will no longer use lignite from 2029. Statkraft Deepens Solar Push With Spanish PPAsDeepening its expansion into non-hydro renewables in Europe, Norway’s Statkraft has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy electricity from five solar farms with a combined capacity of 252MW from Spain’s Solaria. |
LATIN AMERICAMexico’s Renewable Power Suppliers Face Risks Under Grid ProposalMexico’s Federal Electricity Commission is proposing to cancel some contracts and eliminate discounts on transmission costs for power generators to use its network, dealing the latest blow to Mexico’s budding private renewable energy market. Energía Del Pacífico Closes Financing On Largest Ever Foreign Direct Investment In El SalvadorMajor liquefied natural gas (LNG)-to-power infrastructure project will meet 30% of El Salvador’s energy demand. Significant improvement to El Salvador’s environment through new clean energy generation and reduced reliance on heavy fuel oil. Reliable energy generation will drive economic growth, spur new opportunities for the Salvadoran people and contribute to the stability of the region Latam Renewable Energy Investment Hits Record HighThe renewable energy market in Latin America is witnessing an unprecedented surge of greenfield foreign investment, spearheaded by Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Latin America saw record levels of foreign direct investment in renewable energy, with 97 projects valued at $17.8bn, in the first 10 months of 2019. |
MENASolariz Egypt Completes 100MW Solar Power Plants Year-EndSolariz Egypt plans to complete a number of solar power plants at the end of the year, at capacities totaling 100 megawatts, co-founder and managing director said on Sunday. Solariz is a leading solar energy company in Egypt that offers a variety of solar energy solutions and financing that work for home owners and businesses. The plants are with an investment cost approaching 1.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($93.5 million), Yaseen Abdel-Ghaffar told Amwal Al Ghad. Startups In Mena Raised $517M In Jan-Sep 2019Over the first 9 months of 2019, the startups operating in the Middle East and North Africa region raised $517 million, 30% more than the amount in the same period in 2018, Magnitt announced in a recent report. According to the document, the resources were mobilized through 354 operations and Egypt accounted for 27% of them. The top 5 also includes the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, respectively. Renewables To Deliver $1 Billion Savings For OmanCost savings estimated at around RO 400 million will accrue to the Sultanate as a result of the governments decision to gradually supplant gas-based electricity generation with renewables over the initial phases of this energy transition, according to an official of the Ministry of Oil and Gas. |
NORTH AMERICACommunity Microgrids In The Spotlight In 2019This is the moment for microgrids. As the decade comes to a close, record wildfires in California and other disasters across the country, combined with the new normal of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), have catapulted microgrids into the spotlight. This is the moment the Clean Coalition has evolved for as the organization continues its groundbreaking work on Community Microgrids — a new way of designing and operating the electric grid. Apple, Google And Amazon Are Cooperating To Make Your Home Gadgets Talk To Each OtherAmazon, Google, Apple and the Zigbee Alliance on Wednesday announced a rare partnership that’s focused on making smart homes easier for everyone. Amazon, Google and Apple are all competing for people to buy products that work with their in home-systems and are still trying to build a solution that’s simple for everyone to use. But the competition itself has created a really confusing landscape for consumers and manufacturers of smart home products. First US Long-Duration Liquid Air Storage Project Planned In VermontThe proposed project will be at least 50 MW, Highview Power Storage — the developer of the emerging technology — and Encore Renewable Energy announced on Wednesday. It will be capable of providing more than eight hours of storage, helping to integrate renewables into the grid and ensuring reliability during storms and other conditions. |
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