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Natural Hydrogen: A Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Alternative for a Net-Zero Carbon Future

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Most hydrogen used today is produced from fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, through processes like steam methane reforming. These processes are carbon-intensive and release large quantities of CO2, making them unsuitable for a net-zero future. Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, and blue hydrogen, produced with carbon capture and storage (CCS), are considered clean alternatives. However, these methods are costly, and green hydrogen faces challenges due to the intermittency of renewable energy…

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Three companies partner for 3 MW green hydrogen plant in Finland

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Finnish energy company Helen Oy has teamed up with MAN Energy Solutions and H-TEC SYSTEMS to build a 3 MW green hydrogen production plant near Helsinki’s district heating network and Vuosaari Harbour. The plant will produce up to 1,350kg of green hydrogen daily, using renewable energy from Helen’s portfolio. MAN Energy Solutions will handle engineering, procurement, and construction, while H-TEC SYSTEMS will provide three proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers. Green hydrogen, created by splitting water…

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Brazil’s Piaui State authorizes 300 MW wind farm by Ventos de São Zacarias

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The government of Piaui has authorized the operation of a 300MW wind farm owned by renewable energy company Ventos de São Zacarias (VSZ), set to begin operations in the next 30–90 days. The project is expected to generate 3,000 jobs in Piaui and the operating licence, valid until 2028, may be renewed. Nordex is supplying AW-125/3000 turbines, while Elecnor Brasil constructed the farm. VSZ is installing 80 turbines in Simões, aiming for a total capacity…

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Hecate Energy picks Bechtel for 360 MW Sunfish Solar 2 project in Michigan

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Hecate Energy has selected Bechtel to design and construct the Sunfish Solar 2 project, the first in its 1-GW solar expansion in Calhoun County, Michigan. The 360 MW facility will feature 620,000 bifacial solar panels over 1,300 acres, designed to boost energy efficiency by absorbing sunlight from both sides. Slated to begin construction in late 2024 and operational by 2026, Sunfish Solar 2 will supply electricity to 183,500 homes and offset 1.5 million tons of…

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JERA explores investment in Vietnam’s natural gas-fired power plant amid LNG transition

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Japan’s utility giant JERA is considering investing in a natural gas-fired power plant in Vietnam, as part of the region’s shift from coal to liquefied natural gas (LNG). With Vietnam’s power sector rapidly evolving, gas-fired plants are expected to make up 24.8% of the country’s installed capacity by 2030, totalling 37.33 GW, with LNG playing a major role. JERA’s investment decisions align with energy transition policies across Asia and the decline of local natural gas…

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VPI to invest in 500 MW battery storage projects across Germany

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Energy company VPI plans to invest up to €450 million in battery storage projects in Germany, aiming to develop 500 MW of capacity over the next three to five years. This investment aligns with Germany’s goal of generating 80% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Battery storage is essential to balance the electricity grid as renewables, which accounted for 40% of Germany’s power generation in 2023, continue to grow. VPI plans to build ten…

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SSEN Transmission wins contracts for Orkney-Caithness subsea link construction

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SSEN Transmission has finalized contracts for the £900 million Orkney-Caithness 220kV subsea link, to improve renewable energy connectivity in Scotland. Construction is set to begin in September 2024, enabling up to 220 MW of renewable electricity to be integrated into the national grid. The project involves a new high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) subsea cable connecting Orkney to the mainland, a new substation at Finstown, and 14 km of underground cabling to Warebeth, with a 53…

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Aker Solutions wins contract for underwater substations for Med Wind in Italy

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Aker Solutions has secured a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract to design underwater substations for Renexia’s 2.8 GW Med Wind floating wind project off the coast of Trapani, Sicily. This marks the first large-scale floating offshore wind farm in the Mediterranean. The project will involve designing eight modules, positioned at seabed depths between 520m and 660m in the Strait of Sicily. These modules will serve as connection points for the floating turbines, transmitting energy…

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Scatec signs PPA for 1 GW solar and 100 MW battery storage project in Egypt

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Norwegian energy company Scatec has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for a 1 GW solar and 100 MW/200 MWh battery storage project in Egypt. The 25-year, USD-denominated agreement marks Egypt’s first hybrid solar and battery energy storage system. Scatec will manage the engineering, procurement, and construction, along with asset management, operations, and maintenance services. The company aims to secure concessional financing and expects construction to begin in the…

Key Power Sector News Roundup for September 19, 2024

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Union Cabinet Approves Rs 91.97 Billion Bio-RIDE SchemeIndia’s Union Cabinet has greenlit the Bio-RIDE initiative to drive biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation with a budget of Rs 91.97 billion. The scheme aims to boost India’s bioeconomy, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, and clean energy sectors. Inox Wind Secures 550 MW Wind ProjectInox Wind has won a 550 MW wind project from IGREL Renewables, expanding its order book to over 3.5 GW. The project will be developed across…