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BOEM announces second offshore wind energy sale in the Central Atlantic

Global, News

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has initiated the process for a second regional offshore wind energy sale in the Central Atlantic, called Central Atlantic 2. This initiative invites public input on potential commercial wind energy development off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Building on the groundwork from the inaugural Central Atlantic lease sale on August 14, 2024, the Central Atlantic 2 Call marks a preliminary step…

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BOEM grants Maine the first US floating offshore wind research lease for a 144 MW project

Global, News

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has granted the State of Maine the nation’s first floating offshore wind energy research lease, covering 15.2 square miles located 28 nautical miles offshore on the US Outer Continental Shelf. This lease could enable the deployment of up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines, generating up to 144MW of renewable energy. The research array will facilitate in-depth studies on the viability of floating offshore wind in the…

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OECD electricity production rises 3.7%, driven by solar power surge, renewable growth

Global, News

In May 2024, total net electricity production in the OECD reached 854.4 TWh, marking a 3.7% increase compared to the same month last year, according to the IEA Monthly Electricity Statistics. This growth was primarily driven by a strong increase in renewable energy generation, which rose by 6.6% year-on-year (y-o-y). Solar power saw the most significant growth, surging by 19.7% y-o-y, while wind power also contributed with a 5.8% y-o-y increase. Hydropower generation remained largely…

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BOEM completes environmental assessment for offshore wind development off Oregon coast 

Global, News

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has finalized its environmental assessment (EA) for potential offshore wind energy development off the Oregon coast. The assessment concluded that issuing leases would not significantly impact people or the environment. This marks a significant step under the Biden-Harris administration, which has already approved nine commercial-scale offshore wind projects and conducted four lease auctions, including the first sales off the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The Department…

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RWE secures 4 GW offshore wind sites in North Sea for €250 million

Global, News

RWE has secured two offshore wind sites in the North Sea, with a combined capacity of 4 GW, in the latest auction held by the German Federal Network Agency. The sites, N-9.1 and N-9.2, are located between 110 km and 115 km northwest of Borkum island, near the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone. RWE’s winning bid for these sites amounted to €250 million. Each site is capable of supporting offshore wind farms with a capacity of…

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India amends cross-border electricity trade guidelines, allowing select grid connections

India, News

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has announced amendments to its procedures for cross-border electricity import and export, offering new flexibility for power generators. The key change, detailed in a notification issued on 12 August 2024, modifies Clause 7.3.3 of the 2018 guidelines for cross-border electricity trade. Previously, the guidelines prohibited any electrical connection between the applicant’s electricity system and India’s inter-state or intra-state grids. The recent amendment now permits such connections, provided they receive approval…

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Power Ministry clarifies standards for wind turbine operations at high temperatures

India, News

The Indian Power Ministry has issued new guidelines stating that wind power plants with Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) operating at rated output at 40°C, without any de-rating, will comply with the normal operating range of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard. De-rating refers to operating a turbine at lower power than its maximum capacity. This clarification comes in response to issues raised by the Wind Power Producers Association (WIPPA) regarding difficulties in obtaining approvals for…

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India tightens scrutiny on solar manufacturers with new reporting rules

India, News

The Indian government has mandated domestic solar cell and module manufacturers to upload details of their annual imports, exports, and manufacturing facility locations on two online portals. This move by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) aims to prevent the mislabeling of imported solar cells as domestic products, ensuring compliance with Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) standards. The new rules require manufacturers listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) to report…

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JA Solar initiates patent infringement proceedings in Germany

Global, News

Chinese solar module manufacturer JA Solar has filed patent infringement complaints against an unnamed competitor before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Germany. The complaints, lodged with the Munich and Hamburg Local Divisions of the UPC, concern the competitor’s TOPCon solar modules, alleging infringement of JA Solar’s patents EP 2 787 541 B1 and EP 4 092 759 B1. JA Solar highlighted that TOPCon, or “tunnel oxide passivated contact,” is a standard technology for crystalline…

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Holtec International progresses with UK Generic Design Assessment for SMR-300 reactor

Global, News

US nuclear company Holtec International has passed the first step of the UK’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for its SMR-300 small modular reactor (SMR) design. The GDA is conducted by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to assess the safety, security, and environmental protection aspects of nuclear power plant designs for potential deployment in Britain. Saffron Price-Finnerty, the Environment Agency’s new reactors programme manager, stated that they…