Power Sector News Roundup for November 21, 2024

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Global: Amazon invests in Greece’s largest wind energy project with three wind farms. China tightens solar PV investment guidelines to address overcapacity. SEC to build publicly owned renewable energy park in Horsham, Australia. Bekevar Wind Farm opens, providing 200 MW of renewable energy in Saskatchewan. Ofgem proposes £5-8 billion fund to accelerate UK energy transmission projects. TVA signs 10-year PPA for 14 GWh carbon-free energy with Smoky Hydro. Octopus Energy and Skyborn prequalified for French…

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SEFE, Eletrobras, and EnerTech partner to supply green hydrogen to Germany

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Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE), Eletrobras, and EnerTech have signed a Joint Study Agreement (JSA) to deliver 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to Germany starting in 2030.  The partnership involves establishing a green hydrogen production facility in Brazil, utilizing electricity sourced from hydropower and other renewable options. SEFE will manage the production and shipment of green ammonia to Germany and oversee the distribution of green hydrogen across its European network.  In a separate development,…

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Voltalia and TAQA Arabia partner for Zafarana wind farm in Egypt

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Voltalia and TAQA Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity to repower the 545 MW Zafarana wind farms, originally commissioned two decades ago. The partnership will also develop a 3 GW hybrid renewable energy solution comprising 1.1 GW of wind power and 2.1 GW of solar power. The first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned in 2028. Technical and environmental studies will assess wind speeds, solar…

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Synera Renewable secures permit for Formosa 4 wind project in Taiwan

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Synera Renewable Energy (SRE) has received an establishment permit from Taiwan’s Energy Administration for its 495MW Formosa 4 Offshore Wind Project, marking a key milestone in Taiwan’s Phase 3 Zonal Development of Offshore Wind. Located off Miaoli County, Formosa 4 is the first project in this auction round to secure a local government letter of consent, a vital step toward the final establishment permit. Once operational, Formosa 4 will power over 500,000 households, making it…

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Fluor JV begins design phase for Cernavoda nuclear expansion in Romania

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Fluor’s joint venture, including AtkinsRéalis, Sargent & Lundy, and Ansaldo Nucleare, has received a limited notice to proceed with the design phase for units 3 and 4 of Romania’s Cernavoda nuclear power plant. This phase includes engineering and construction plans, revised cost estimates, schedules, and nuclear safety assessments, all contributing to a final investment decision. The agreement was signed by EnergoNuclear, a subsidiary of Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica, during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The ceremony was…

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Trump names Chris Wright as energy secretary

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President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Chris Wright, a veteran of the US energy sector and CEO of Liberty Energy, as the next energy secretary. Wright is recognised as a pioneer of the American shale revolution, having played a crucial role in advancing hydraulic fracturing technologies that reshaped the global energy landscape. Wright brings decades of experience to the role. He founded and currently serves as the CEO of Liberty Energy, a Denver-based company specializing in…

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Poseidon to deliver cable services for Greater Changhua wind farms in Taiwan

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Poseidon Cables has secured a contract with NCT Offshore to provide cable pre-rigging and pull-in services for the Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan. Located 35-60km offshore Changhua County, the project will become Taiwan’s largest wind power complex, generating electricity to supply one million households annually. Poseidon Cables’ role involves preparing and pulling in inter-array cables, a critical step toward operationalizing wind farms. This contract underscores Poseidon Cables’ standing as a…

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CBMM launches world’s largest niobium-based anode plant in Brazil

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CBMM has inaugurated a state-of-the-art niobium-based anode production facility in Araxá, Brazil, marking a milestone in advanced battery technology. The plant will produce 2,000 tonnes of Echion Technologies’ XNO active anode material annually, equivalent to one gigawatt-hour of lithium-ion battery cells. This facility is the largest of its kind globally and aims to serve the rapidly growing demand for niobium-enhanced battery materials, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), heavy-duty transport, and energy storage systems. Niobium-based anodes…

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Masdar and SOCAR achieve financial close for 760MW solar projects in Azerbaijan

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Masdar and SOCAR Green have achieved financial close for two solar projects in Azerbaijan: the 445MW Bilasuvar plant and the 315MW Neftchala plant, with a combined capacity of 760MW. The total investment for the projects exceeds $600 million, funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. The financial agreements were signed during the COP29 conference in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Groundbreaking for…

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Field Energy acquires 200MW Hartmoor battery storage project in the UK

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Renewable infrastructure developer Field Energy has acquired the 200MW Hartmoor battery storage project from Clearstone Energy, expanding its 11GW portfolio of battery storage projects across Europe. Located near Hartlepool, County Durham, the Hartmoor facility can store 800MWh of electricity, enough to power 500,000 homes for four hours when fully charged. The Hartmoor project will play a critical role in balancing electricity supply and demand, stabilizing the grid, and supporting the UK’s increasing reliance on renewable…