Power Sector News Roundup for January 21, 2025

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Global: AFRY secures FEED contract for 1GW Liivi Bay offshore wind farm SEFE and Höegh Evi to develop clean hydrogen supply chains in Europe JA Solar secures deal for Africa’s largest PV-storage project Taiwan cuts Taipower subsidy, raising electricity cost concerns Trump halts new offshore wind leases, calls wind farms ‘big, ugly windmills’ Trump declares ‘national energy emergency,’ reverses policies to ‘drill, baby, drill!’ Indonesia to increase power capacity by 71 GW by 2034 Convergent…

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Vena Energy and LINE Yahoo sign VPPA for solar project in Japan

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Vena Energy and LINE Yahoo Corporation (LYC) have signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for the 72 MW Maniwa Solar Project, which will be built on a repurposed golf course in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture.  The project is expected to be operational by 2026. The clean energy generated will be traded on the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) via Digital Grid Corporation, enabling LYC to power part of its operations with clean energy.  The…

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PG&E secures $15bn loan guarantee for Project Polaris

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Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has secured a record $15 billion loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy (DOE).  The loan guarantee, the largest in the history of the DOE’s Loan Programs Office, will enable PG&E to expand hydropower generation, battery storage, upgrade transmission capacity with reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies, and establish virtual power plants across Northern and Central California. These investments aim to meet growing power demand, increase electric reliability, and reduce costs…

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TVA leads $800m SMR initiative to expedite Clinch River nuclear project

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The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will lead an $800 million application to the US Department of Energy’s Generation III+ small modular reactor (SMR) program.  The initiative, supported by Bechtel, BWX Technologies, and Duke Energy, aims to accelerate the construction of an SMR at TVA’s Clinch River project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. If successful, the funding will reduce the project’s timeline by two years, with a target for commercial operation by 2033. TVA plans to use…

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UKAEA invests £200m in fusion energy through LIBRTI programme

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Photo: The LIBRTI facility: illustration with labels. Credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has announced a £200 million ($244 million) investment in the Lithium Breeding Tritium Innovation (LIBRTI) programme, a key part of the broader Fusion Futures project. The programme aims to advance fusion fuel development and strengthen industry capacity through global collaboration. One of its main goals is to demonstrate controlled tritium breeding, a critical process for future…

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UEM Lestra secures agreements for 1GW hybrid solar project in Malaysia

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UEM Lestra, a subsidiary of the UEM Group, has finalized agreements with off-takers for its 1GW hybrid solar power plant project under Malaysia’s Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS).  The project, located in Segamat, Johor, is part of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). The initial phase of the 1700-acre project will involve an investment of RM2.5 billion ($556.3 million) and a solar capacity of 750 megawatts peak, supported by a battery energy storage system…

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Scatec enters 15-year CfD agreement for 190MW solar portfolio in Romania

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Scatec has signed a 15-year contract-for-difference (CfD) agreement with Romanian electricity market operator Opcom to secure pricing for almost 70% of its 190MW solar portfolio in Romania.  The remaining electricity will be sold on the Romanian wholesale market. The CfD agreements were awarded during Romania’s inaugural CfD auction, financed by the EU Modernisation Fund. This initiative supports EU member states in achieving energy objectives. In this first round, 1.5GW of solar and wind capacity were…

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Convergent Energy secures loan for solar and BESS projects in Puerto Rico

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Convergent Energy and Power has secured a $584.5 million loan from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop solar and battery storage systems in Puerto Rico.  The funding is part of the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program, under the Inflation Reduction Act, which supports projects that repurpose or replace energy infrastructure to reduce emissions and improve environmental outcomes. Convergent will install a 100MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a 55MW/55MWh battery storage system in Coamo,…

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Indonesia to increase power capacity by 71 GW by 2034

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Indonesia aims to boost its power capacity by 71 GW by 2034, with a significant emphasis on private sector investment.  The government, in collaboration with PT PLN (Persero), will prioritize the development of transmission lines to support renewable energy generation, according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. The strategy is part of PLN’s 2025-2034 power supply plan, which includes 48,000km of circuit transmission lines, supporting 60% of new power plants to be developed by private entities,…

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Trump declares ‘national energy emergency,’ reverses policies to ‘drill, baby, drill!’

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President Donald Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord for the second time, citing it as a “one-sided rip-off.” The move, made after his swearing-in, also included a “national energy emergency” declaration aimed at expanding drilling in the world’s top oil and gas producer. Trump vowed to scrap vehicle emissions standards and halt offshore wind farms, which he has frequently criticized. Trump directed federal agencies to reject international climate finance commitments…