CleanTech Report 2020.01.21

Even under Trump, US renewable investments hit record.
Google pledges further action on climate change.
Pepsico goes to 100% renewables in US.

CleanTech Report January 21th 2020

AFRICA

South Sudan’s PPP Grid Expansion Offers Nigeria New Cues

The Guardian

While Nigeria continues to contend with regular grid collapse as a result of the parlous power infrastructure, and inability to attract new investments in the energy segment, small neighbouring countries are reviewing their policies to ramp up funds and expand their power grid capacity.

South Africa Will Embrace Private Power Generation

ABC

South Africa will embrace efforts by businesses to generate their own electricity, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday, reacting to growing frustration at red tape throttling private power generation.

Solar-Powered Water Pumps For Kariba Villagers in Zimbabwe

All Afrika

The projects are expected to be implemented from this month with funding from Save the Children Trust through its Greater Resistance for Optimal Women’s Nutrition (GROWN) project.

ASIA

South Korean Power Company Eyes $650M Renewable Energy Project In Indonesia

The Jakarta Post

A South Korean power producer is looking to finance a hydropower plant project in Central Java that would be the coal buyer’s first renewable energy deal with Indonesia.

Indian Tech Firm Shares The Steps It’s Taking To Lower Carbon Emissions

CNBC

Sandeep Chandna from Tech Mahindra says the company has taken several measures to become more energy efficient, including switching to LED lights and putting up solar panels.

Adani And Azure To Build 12,000 MW Solar Plants

Financial Express

The Centre is in the final stages of awarding 12,000 megawatt (mw) of solar power generation contracts to the winners of the maiden manufacturing-link solar scheme, a senior government official said. Adani Green Energy will be awarded contracts to build 8,000 mw of solar generation capacity.

AUSTRALIA

Australia To Add 3.6GW Of New Solar And Wind To Grid In 2020

Renew Economy

The sting of the newly confirmed dive in large-scale renewable energy investment that hit Australia in 2019 could be soothed somewhat with a record number of new solar and wind farms forecast to be completed in 2020.

Spending On Large-scale Renewable Energy In Australia Plunges

The Sydney Morning Herald

Investment in large-scale clean energy projects plunged 56 percent in Australia last year, dropping to its lowest level since 2016 amid renewed uncertainty over the industry’s future. Data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) says spending on new utility scale renewable energy assets totaled $US3.2 billion ($4.6 billion) in 2019. When spending on other renewables, such as rooftop solar, was included, the drop was 40 per cent, the consultancy said.

South Australia Big Batteries Earn $1 Million Over Two Days

Renew Economy

Grid-scale batteries in South Australia earned almost $1 million from the energy market over two days from 19-20 December 2019 (see Figure 1) as the nation sweat through an extreme heatwave.

EUROPE

Public Inquiry Into £625 Million Green Energy Plan At Loch Ness

The Herald

A controversial £625 million green energy system on the banks of Loch Ness is go to a public local inquiry. Hamilton-based ILI Group wants to construct its Pumped Storage Hydro development “Red John” with the potential to provide hundreds of jobs, as well as 400 megawatts (MW) of clean energy production. It would run between Loch Duntelchaig and Loch Ness and involves a massive “headpond” containing more than 1,000 million gallons of water.

Israeli Startup Helps EU Power Up With Renewable Energy

Science Business

One of the problems is that many EU countries today produce far more clean energy than traditional energy grids can handle, resulting in a power loss of approximately 10% in transit, according to a report by the Council of European Energy Regulators. What’s more, the surges of excess power generated by solar, wind and other renewable sources can overwhelm and even shut down the broader electrical system. 

Iberdrola Selects DNV GL To Monitor Europe’s Largest Solar Plant

Smart Energy

The 500MW plant is the largest solar project under construction in Europe, according to a statement. The project is located in Usagre, Badajoz and is expected to supply clean energy to 250,000 people and prevent the emission of 215,000 tons of CO2 per year.

LATIN AMERICA

Sonnedix Lines Up Finance To Continue PV Spree In Post-hurricane Puerto Rico

PV Tech

Sonnedix has secured bank funding for PV projects in Puerto Rico, in a deal set to boost the renewable fleet of a territory forced to rebuild its energy system after a major hurricane in 2017. Florida bank City National Bank acted as the lender of a US$15 million non-recourse financing facility for Sonnedix, while DLA Piper was legal adviser for the transaction.

Brazil’s Northeast Hits 1,232 MW Solar Peak On Thursday

Renewables Now

Solar farms in the Brazilian Northeast reached peak generation of 1,232 MW this past Thursday, at 1239 local time, a new record for the region, the National Electric System Operator (ONS) announced.

Canada Solar Firm In $250M Bid To Grab Slice Of Brazil Renewables Boom

Power Engineering

Canada’s Solar Provider Group is to enter the Brazilian renewables market with an aggressive ambition to invest up to $250m over the next five years. The solar market in Brazil is growing exponentially, with 3.3 GW deployed last year alone. It has seen 44 percent growth since 2018 and forecasts estimate capacity will hit 126 GW by 2040.

MENA

Total To Develop Qatar’s First Large-Scale Solar Plant

Eurasia Review

Total said Monday it has entered into agreements for the development of the Al Kharsaah Solar PV IPP Project, a 800 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar plant that will be located 80 kilometers west of Doha, Qatar. The project was awarded to a consortium of Total (49%) and Marubeni (51%) as the result of the country’s first solar tender.

Mubadala-Backed Alcazar Weighs Sale Of Egypt And Jordan Assets

Gulf Business

Alcazar Energy Ltd., backed by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment, is preparing the sale of some of their solar and wind assets in Egypt and Jordan, people with knowledge of the matter said. The renewable energy developer is in talks with banks on the sale, which may fetch at least $500m, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

Saudi Arabia Joins Club Of Middle East’s ‘Green Energy’ Leaders

Arab News

Saudi Arabia has become one of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s leaders in the race to use renewable energy, according to a new study. The Solar Outlook Report 2020 was launched at the Solar Forum of the World Future Energy Summit, a highlight of this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (Jan. 11-18).

NORTH AMERICA

Even Under Trump, U.S. Renewable Investment Hit A Record In 2019

Bloomberg

The U.S. renewable energy industry doesn’t seem to take much notice of President Donald Trump’s views on green energy and climate change as investments surged to a record last year.

Google Pledges Further Action On Climate Change 

The Telegraph

Google has pledged to take further action on climate change, saying its current practice of offsetting emissions from its power-hungry data centres is insufficient to address the issue.

Pepsico Moves To 100% Renewable Electricity In U.S.

Market Watch

PepsiCo Inc. will use 100% renewable electricity for its U.S. operations starting this year as part of its goal to slash 20% of its greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030. A mix of on-site renewable electricity, virtual power-purchase agreements and renewable-energy certificates will enable the company to meet its goal, PepsiCo said Wednesday. As a result, it will eliminate an estimated half million metric tons of emissions a year.

 

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