Power Sector News Roundup for December 3, 2024

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Global Siemens and Tietoevry partner for power utilities’ digital transformation SAS and SES sign Taiwan’s first joint CPPA for offshore wind energy Pilbara Minerals and POSCO open Korea’s first lithium hydroxide plant Indonesia explores nuclear power technology, renewable energy expansion MHI secures MOX fuel order for Ikata nuclear plant Tasmania’s first utility-scale solar farm secures offtake with Hydro Tasmania Renewable Power Capital secures refinancing for Klevberget wind farm in Sweden NSCH partners with ENGIE for…

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GE Vernova to modernize hydropower units at Saluda Hydro in South Carolina

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GE Vernova has secured an order from Dominion Energy South Carolina to modernize two hydropower units at the Saluda Hydro power plant, located on the Saluda River near Columbia, South Carolina.  The project will enhance the plant’s performance, reliability, and operational flexibility, continuing its legacy as a sustainable energy source since its commissioning in 1930. The modernization includes the installation of GE Vernova’s aerating turbine technology, which improves water quality by increasing dissolved oxygen levels…

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Envision Energy partners with Samruk Energy to localize wind turbine production in Kazakhstan

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Global green technology leader Envision Energy has partnered with Samruk Energy and Kazakhstan Utility Systems to support Kazakhstan’s renewable energy transition by establishing local manufacturing facilities for wind turbines and energy storage systems.  The initiative will focus on producing smart wind turbines and energy storage systems locally, reducing transportation costs, minimizing environmental impact, and fostering energy independence.  Kazakhstan Utility Systems CEO Sabyrgali Idrisov highlighted the partnership’s role in advancing renewable energy development and localizing high-tech…

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NSCH partners with ENGIE for 100% renewable energy agreement

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North Shore Community Health (NSCH), based in Massachusetts, has signed a two-year renewable energy agreement with ENGIE Resources, a subsidiary of ENGIE North America.  The agreement ensures NSCH will receive renewable energy credits (RECs) to match 100% of the forecasted energy consumption across its three locations in Salem, Peabody, and Gloucester. NSCH, a federally qualified health center serving 14,000 patients annually, provides primary care, dental, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services.  The green-e-certified RECs…

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Renewable Power Capital secures refinancing for Klevberget wind farm in Sweden

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Renewable Power Capital (RPC) has closed a €115 million long-term refinancing package for its 146 MW Klevberget onshore wind farm in Västernorrland, Sweden.  The refinancing, facilitated by the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and Danske Bank, replaces a short-term construction bridge loan, establishing a stable capital structure for RPC’s projects. The Klevberget wind farm, consisting of 24 turbines, began operations in December 2023 and marked RPC’s entry into the Swedish market when acquired from OX2 in…

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Tasmania’s first utility-scale solar farm secures offtake with Hydro Tasmania

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Tasmania’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project, the 288 MW Northern Midlands solar farm, has signed an offtake agreement with state-owned utility Hydro Tasmania, committing to purchase 100% of the energy generated by the A$500 million (US$325 million) project near Launceston.  The farm, developed by TasRex in partnership with investment manager Birdwood Energy, is expected to be operational by 2027. Spanning 600 hectares and equipped with 670,000 solar PV modules, the solar farm will diversify…

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MHI secures MOX fuel order for Ikata nuclear plant

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has received an order from Shikoku Electric Power to supply 24 MOX (mixed oxide fuel) assemblies for Unit 3 of the Ikata nuclear power station in Japan.  The assemblies will be fabricated by Orano at its MELOX plant in France, marking a continuation of MHI’s track record of delivering 57 MOX fuel assemblies to Japanese utilities. The use of MOX fuel enables Shikoku to reprocess spent plutonium, aligning with its plu-thermal…

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Indonesia explores nuclear power technology, renewable energy expansion

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Indonesia is in talks with the US and Russia to acquire nuclear power technology, targeting the operation of nuclear power plants by 2036, as reported by Reuters. Vivi Yulaswati, deputy minister at the Ministry of National Development Planning, revealed that the country is evaluating both small modular reactors and conventional nuclear technology to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.  However, Indonesia’s seismic activity poses significant challenges for adopting nuclear energy. Approval from the president and international…

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Pilbara Minerals and POSCO open Korea’s first lithium hydroxide plant

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Australian mining company Pilbara Minerals and its joint venture (JV) partner POSCO Holdings have announced the completion of Train 2 at their Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate Chemical Facility in Gwangyang, South Korea.  The facility is Korea’s first lithium hydroxide plant, with an annual production capacity of up to 43,000 tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide—sufficient to power batteries for approximately one million electric vehicles. The JV, POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution (PPLS), established in 2021, is majority-owned by…

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SAS and SES sign Taiwan’s first joint CPPA for offshore wind energy

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Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) and its subsidiary, Sustainable Energy Solution (SES), have signed a corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP) Fengmiao I offshore wind farm, marking Taiwan’s first joint procurement of offshore wind energy by a parent company and its subsidiary. Fengmiao I, located 35 km offshore from Taichung City, will feature 33 advanced wind turbines and is considered a benchmark in Taiwan’s offshore wind development.  The project, part of Taiwan’s…