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Natron to build $1.4 billion sodium-ion battery gigafactory in North Carolina

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Natron Energy has announced plans to build the first sodium-ion battery gigafactory in North Carolina, marking a $1.4 billion investment. The facility will be located on a 437-acre site at the Kingsboro megasite in Edgecombe County and will span approximately 1.2 million square feet. The gigafactory is set to produce 24 gigawatts (GW) of sodium-ion batteries annually, significantly expanding Natron Energy’s current production capacity by 40 times. The batteries, noted for being the only UL-listed…

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Birriwa Solar Farm secures conditional approval in New South Wales

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The Birriwa Solar Farm in New South Wales has received conditional approval from the state’s Independent Planning Commission. Located about 15km south-east of Dunedoo within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, the project includes a 600MW solar farm and a 600MW/1200 MWh battery energy storage system, along with an on-site accommodation camp. The solar facility is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power over 229,000 homes. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure completed…

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Acwa commissions 700 MW AlRass1 solar PV project in Saudi Arabia

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Acwa Power has commissioned the 700MW AlRass1 solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Saudi Arabia. The project, located in Al Qassim province, has commenced power generation after receiving a commercial operation certificate. Acwa Power holds a 40.1% stake in the AlRass Renewable Energy Company, with Badeel, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, and China’s State Power Investment holding 20% and 39.9% stakes, respectively. The financial impact of the AlRass1 project is expected to be reflected…

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Ukraine enforces power cuts due to generation shortfall amid Russian attacks and heatwave

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Ukraine’s energy ministry and power grid operator Ukrenergo announced power cuts on 19 August due to a power generation shortfall caused by Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure and increased consumption driven by record hot weather. Russian air strikes have caused blackouts in seven regions this year, forcing Kyiv to begin importing electricity from the European Union (EU). The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing heatwaves exceeding 30°C and repairs to key nuclear power…

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UK’s NDA awards £30 million in contracts for nuclear decommissioning research

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The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has awarded contracts worth a total of £30 million ($38.8 million) to initiate research into safer and more cost-effective methods for nuclear decommissioning. These contracts, awarded to more than 60 organizations, including nuclear companies, UK universities, national laboratories, and small and medium-sized enterprises, aim to address the challenges of decommissioning nuclear sites that were not originally designed with this process in mind. The funding will promote academic research in…

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Shanghai Electric completes equipment upgrade at Vietnam’s Ninh Binh power plant

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Shanghai Electric has completed an equipment upgrade at Vietnam’s Ninh Binh power plant, revitalizing the facility after 45 years of operation. The upgrade, which introduced modern technology and advanced equipment, has increased the output of each of the plant’s four steam turbines from 25 MW to 27 MW, adding an estimated 30 years to the plant’s operational lifespan. The Ninh Binh power plant, a key energy generator in northern Vietnam, plays a crucial role in…

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CS Energy acquires $1.3 billion Lotus Creek Wind Farm, Queensland’s first publicly owned wind project

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CS Energy has announced the acquisition of the $1.3 billion (A$1.96 billion), 285 MW Lotus Creek Wind Farm near St Lawrence in Queensland, Australia, from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). This marks a significant milestone in Queensland’s renewable energy sector as the first 100% publicly owned wind farm to enter the construction phase under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. The project has received substantial financial backing, including $624.3 million from the Queensland Government’s Renewable Energy…

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Lightsource bp, Contact Energy secure NZ$267 million financing for 168 MW solar farm in New Zealand

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Lightsource bp and its joint venture partner Contact Energy have secured a NZ$267 million (US$160 million) financing package for the development of the Kōwhai Park solar farm, a 168MWdc project in Christchurch, New Zealand. The green financing loan has been jointly underwritten by Westpac, Mizuho, China Construction Bank, and Intesa Sanpaolo. The Kōwhai Park solar farm, featuring approximately 300,000 solar panels, marks the first phase of Christchurch Airport’s renewable energy precinct. Construction is scheduled to…

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Trinasolar to expand hybrid solar initiatives across Southeast Asia

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Trinasolar has announced plans to expand its hybrid solar initiatives across Southeast Asia following the successful launch of Malaysia’s largest hybrid solar project in Merchang, Terengganu. The 100 MWac project combines 35 MW of floating solar panels with 65 MW of ground-mounted panels, designed to offset 202,024 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The plant utilizes Trinasolar’s Vertex 590-595W bifacial modules, which are renowned for their high efficiency and resilience in coastal environments. These modules capture…

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Uzbekistan plans to export surplus electricity to Europe by 2030

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The Uzbekistan government has announced plans to begin exporting surplus electricity to Europe by 2030, contingent on the successful completion of a trilateral transmission project with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. This project includes the construction of a deep-water transmission cable across the Caspian Sea, enabling electricity transmission through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and across the Black Sea to Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Uzbekistan’s renewable energy capacity is expected to exceed 4 GW by the end of 2024,…