Key Power Sector News Roundup for September 30, 2024

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Contract Awards Bajel Projects entered the data centre sector, winning a contract for a GIS substation in Navi Mumbai.  Power Mech secured a Rs 2.27 billion O&M contract for Akrimota Thermal Power Station in Gujarat.  Marsons Ltd won a Rs 6.75 billion contract for a 150 MW solar project in Rajasthan.  L&T Digital Energy Solutions received mandates for Energy Management Systems in South India and expanded its grid modernization projects in the US. SJVN to…

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First Solar opens $1.1bn thin-film solar manufacturing facility in Alabama

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First Solar has inaugurated its $1.1 billion fully vertically integrated thin-film solar manufacturing facility in Lawrence County, Alabama. The facility adds 3.5 GW of solar manufacturing capacity to the US, contributing to First Solar’s goal of boosting domestic production and reducing reliance on foreign-made panels. The factory, which will create over 800 jobs, is set to manufacture Series 7 modules using locally sourced steel and operates a fully integrated solar value chain under one roof,…

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Australia provisionally approves Spinifex offshore wind project in Victoria

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Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has granted provisional approval for a feasibility licence for the 1.2 GW Spinifex offshore wind project, located in the Southern Ocean near Victoria’s coast. The project, led by Alinta Energy and Parkwind (a subsidiary of JERA Nex), has now entered the next phase of the feasibility licensing process. This phase will include extensive consultations with stakeholders, including First Nations groups, and comprehensive environmental studies to evaluate…

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SSEN Transmission and NGET begin construction of EGL2 subsea link

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SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) have officially commenced construction on the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), a £4.3 billion subsea high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project connecting Scotland and England. The 2GW subsea cable will run 436 km beneath the sea from Peterhead, Scotland, to Fraisthorpe Sands on the East Yorkshire coast, and extend 68 km underground to a new HVDC converter station at Drax, Yorkshire. The project, which aims to…

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Laos signs concession agreement with CGN for 1,000 MW solar farm

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The Laos government has signed a concession agreement with CGN Laos Taven Power Sole Company Limited, a subsidiary of China’s state-owned CGN Energy International Holdings, for the construction of Phase I of a 1,000 MW solar farm in Xay and Namor districts, Oudomxay province. Situated near the Laos-China border, this project supports Laos’ target to increase renewable energy consumption to 30% by 2025 and is part of the Northern Clean Energy Connection initiative. The solar…

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EU changes hydrogen project auction rules to limit Chinese presence

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The European Union has announced changes to its rules governing hydrogen grant auctions to limit dependence on China for renewable energy components. This move comes as part of the EU’s broader efforts to prevent over-reliance on Beijing, which dominates sectors such as solar power and electric vehicles. The EU Hydrogen Bank’s next renewable hydrogen auction, set for December 3, will offer up to EUR 1.2 billion (USD 1.34 billion) in grants, but new rules will…

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Russia seeks to counter West’s climate agenda with gas, nuclear power

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Russia plans to present its own climate-related proposals, differing from Western approaches, ahead of the COP29 U.N. climate summit in Azerbaijan this November, according to Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin. Amid strained relations with the West, Russia is crafting a new energy strategy through to 2050, focusing on measures that do not hinder its development potential. Sorokin highlighted energy efficiency as a key method for reducing emissions, noting that Russia’s energy-saving potential is 20-30%. He…

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Germany could save millions in fuel costs with more energy storage: Ember

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According to a report by energy think tank Ember, Germany could have avoided nearly €2.5 million in natural gas imports in June 2024 alone if it had 2GW more battery storage – a 20% increase from current levels. The additional battery capacity would have allowed for shifting midday solar power to the evening, displacing 36 GWh of fossil fuel power. Energy storage technologies are critical for capturing electricity generated from intermittent sources like solar and…

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Uganda commissions 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Project

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On Thursday, 27 September, Uganda commissioned the Karuma Hydropower Project (KHP), a 600 MW hydropower plant on the River Nile. The $1.7 billion facility, constructed by China’s Sinohydro Corporation, is Uganda’s largest power generation project to date. China financed the entire project, with Exim Bank providing a $1.4 billion loan and the Chinese government covering the remaining costs. The Karuma plant will boost Uganda’s total generation capacity to over 2GW. Along with the hydropower plant,…

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Fossil fuel dominance in electricity to end by 2030, renewables to take lead: RBI

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projects that fossil fuels’ dominance in electricity generation will end by the end of this decade, with renewable energy expected to account for over 50% of global electricity generation. In its latest report, the central bank highlights an accelerated shift toward clean energy, driven by unprecedented capital investment and the rapid deployment of clean technologies. The RBI report emphasizes that cleaner power generation could enable substantial emissions cuts, buying…