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India’s coal output crosses 1 billion tonnes

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India produced and dispatched over 1 billion metric tonnes of coal in FY2023–24. This marks a 70% rise since 2014, driven by structural reforms including commercial coal mining, first launched in 2020. Nearly 150 mines have been auctioned so far, with the 12th round underway. States have received nearly Rs 2.5 trillion in premiums and royalties. The sector has moved from inefficiency to transparency, with private players now active under a structured regime. Environmental measures…

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Terna and IPTO agree to develop second Italy–Greece power link

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Terna, Italy’s national grid operator, and IPTO (Independent Power Transmission Operator), the Greek transmission system operator, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a new high-voltage electricity interconnection named GRITA 2. The agreement, set for three years, outlines a joint governance framework for planning and coordination. It also sets the stage for future agreements related to cable and converter station procurement. The GRITA 2 project will be a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link…

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KEGOC secures KZT141 billion funding for West Kazakhstan project

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Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) has signed loan agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan for a total of KZT141 billion. Of this, up to KZT32 billion is from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan. The funds will support the West Kazakhstan Electricity Interconnection Project, which includes constructing the 604.3 km, 500 kV Karabatan–Ulke transmission line along the Atyrau-Aktobe motorway, expanding the 500 kV Ulke substation,…

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DVC awards EPC contract for Koderma TPS Phase II to BHEL

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Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has awarded Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the 2×800 MW Koderma Thermal Power Station (TPS) Phase II in Jharkhand.  The project will add 1,600 MW to DVC’s generation capacity, addressing growing regional energy demands and promoting socio-economic development. The Koderma TPS Phase II project aligns with DVC’s mission to provide reliable and sustainable power while bolstering the region’s energy infrastructure. The partnership with…

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Vietnam proposes amendments to electricity law

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Vietnam‘s Ministry of Industry and Trade has drafted a new electricity law to establish a legal framework supporting the development of a modern, interconnected, and efficient power market while prioritizing national energy security. The proposed amendments aim to address gaps in power development regulations, improve coordination among ministries, and overcome challenges in bringing electricity investments to remote areas. A key focus of the draft law is on refining electricity pricing policies. The goal is to…

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Westinghouse extends AP1000 reactors contract in Bulgaria

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Westinghouse Electric has extended its front-end engineering and design contract with Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild for the construction of two AP1000 reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP).   The partnership, which began in June 2023, focuses on evaluating Kozloduy’s infrastructure for deploying the AP1000 reactors. Following this phase, the project will move to engineering services, including design, licensing, training, project management, and site planning in preparation for construction. In early 2024, Westinghouse delivered the first…

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Wärtsilä to deliver 150 MW BESS for Amp Energy in Australia

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Wärtsilä has secured a contract to provide a 150 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) with a 300 MWh capacity for Amp Energy in South Australia. The Bungama BESS project, currently in its initial phase, aims to strengthen energy security and reliability as the state increasingly relies on renewable energy. The system will utilize Wärtsilä’s advanced Quantum High Energy storage technology, designed to offer crucial grid services such as frequency control ancillary services, fast frequency…

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IEA’s Fatih Birol: Fossil fuel demand to peak as world enters “age of electricity”

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Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated that with fossil fuel demand expected to peak within the next five years, the world is approaching a new “age of electricity.” In a recent press release, the Turkish economist highlighted that the surplus in oil and gas supplies could drive significant investments in green energy. Birol noted that in the latter half of this decade, the global energy landscape could shift substantially, with…

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Global energy system faces rising risks amid geopolitical strains: IEA

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The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlighted the vulnerabilities in the global energy system, exacerbated by regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions, in its World Energy Outlook 2024. The IEA underscored the need for stronger policies and investments to hasten the energy transition. Despite these challenges, the agency expects a relatively abundant supply of various fuels and technologies in the coming years, including oil, LNG, solar PV, and batteries. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol noted that an…

AI’s Rising Energy Demand is Reshaping the Future of Data Centers and Power Supply

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At Climate Week in New York, discussions are centered on the rising energy demand driven by artificial intelligence. Last week, it was revealed that Microsoft would use electricity from the resurrected Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power its data centers. In a recent report, Bloomberg highlighted that OpenAI had approached the Biden administration regarding plans for large-scale data centers, each capable of consuming energy equivalent to that of a whole city. This trend is…