Amazon's newest renewable energy project in Europe will be the company's first large-scale solar project generating 149 MW near Sevilla. The company's newest renewable energy solar projects in the US will be located in Lee County, Illinois and in Northern Virginia. Together, they total 180 MW and are expected to generate almost 400,000 MWh of renewable energy annually. Once complete, the three new renewable energy solar projects will provide an estimated 329 MW of additional renewable capacity.
To date, Amazon has launched over 70 renewable energy projects providing more than 1,900 MW and over more than 5.3 million MWh of renewable energy annually. These projects include 21 utility-scale wind and solar farms and more than 50 solar rooftops installed on fulfillment centers and sort centers around the globe.
(Source: Amazon, PR, BusinessWire, Dec., 2019)
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The first phase supported the creation of 262 MW of renewable power-generation capacity across the country, attracted four private international investors and supported a grid-strengthening project.
In addition to the EBRD funding, the Framework will be supported by concessional finance from the Green Climate Fund and benefit from a comprehensive technical cooperation programme, which will support competitive tendering for wind projects and the development of a carbon market in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's renewable energy target aims for 3 pct of power generation by 2020 and 50 pct by 2050.
To date, the EBRD has invested over €8.3 billion ($9.1 billion) through 262 projects in the economy of Kazakhstan. Over €2 billion of this funding has supported Green Economy Transition projects. The Bank is the largest international investor in the country's economy outside of the oil and gas sectors and has a wide presence in Kazakhstan. (Source: EBRD, kazinform, 15 Sept., 2019)Contact: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, +44 (0) 207 338 6000, www.ebrd.com
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According to the Minister, the necessary funds would be contributed by the government, public-private partnerships and private financing.
The Minister further announced "The Securities Commission has already done a six-month study on green financing; it had formed the financing task force (for this purpose). It gave a report on 21 action items to facilitate the necessary investment in RE and the government will look at all the action items and implement them accordingly."
The Minister added, the government would continue its current incentives such as the Green Technology Financing Scheme and the Green Investment Tax Allowance to incentivize the growth of RE.
(Source; Malaysain Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, Bernama , The Sun Daily, 3 Sept., 2019) Contact: Malaysain Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, www.mestecc.gov.my
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Illinois has seen rapid growth in wind and solar energy in recent years, driven in part by policy changes from the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act. This policy supported new utility-scale wind and solar developments; enabled homeowners, businesses and public entities to lower their energy bills through on-site solar; and generated thousands of new jobs, according to Path to 100. But, IPA contends, without legislative change, renewable energy development will contract in 2020 and dry up almost completely between 2021 and 2025 due to funding constraints written into current law.
Download the Illinois Long-Term Renewable Resource Procurement Plan Update Stakeholder Workshop -- Overview of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan; RPS Budgets; Utility-Scale Procurements
HERE. (Source: Illinois Power Agency, 20 June, 2019) Contact: Illinois Power Agency, www2.illinois.gov/sites/ipa/Pages/default.aspx
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The project is partially funded by over $241,000 from the state Labor Government's New Energy Jobs Fund and
$58,460 from the Victorian government's Local Government Energy Saver Program -- a $3.4 million fund which supports resource constrained councils across regional Victoria to reduce their energy consumption and operating costs of community facilities.
A further $15,000 grant from the state government supporting Bass Coast Shire Council in their goal to transition the community to zero-net emissions will support the expansion of work begun by the coastal community of Phillip Island, which has committed to to being carbon neutral by 2030. The Victorian Labor government has pledged a 50 pct Renewable Energy Target (VRET) by 2030. (Source: PV Mag., Various Media, 3 May, 2019)
Contact: Wonthaggi Coal Mining Museum, www.parkstay.vic.gov.au/state-coal-mine-wonthaggi
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To that end, Vesta's will train Marand's Australian workers on its turbine production lines in Denmark before the Geelong plant begins production of Vesta's 4.2 MW turbines for the Dundonnell Wind Farm and Berrybank Wind Farm projects in Victoria.
Eighty turbines are planned for Dundonnell and 43 machines for Berrybank. Vestas has committed to local assembly of 100 hubs and 50 drivetrains -- including bedplate, gearbox, driveshaft and generator.
(Source: Vestas, ecogeneration, 14 Feb., 2019) Contact:
Marand Precision Engineering, +61 3 8552 0600, www.marand.com.au; Vestas, Peter Cowling Clive, NZ and Australia Country Head, +45 9730 0000, www.vestas.com
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The plant includes a substation and 41 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines with a total combined capacity of 86.1MW.
The $185 million project, which was financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Proparco and DEG, is in line with Jordan's renewable energy targets and could save more than 160,000 tonnes of CO2 and 380,000 cbm of water per year.
Alcazar Energy will oversee and manage the wind farm operation and maintenance (O&M) through O&M contractors Elecnor/Siemens Gamesa.
(Source: Alcazar Energy, ME Construction News, 26 Nov., 2018) Contact: Alcazar Energy, Daniel Calderon, CEO, +962 6 461 4005, www.alcazarenergy.com; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, +44 (0) 207 338 6000, www.ebrd.com
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The Victorian target
aligns with its federal counterpart, which proposes a nationwide target of 50 pct renewables by 2030, and matches the targets made by the Queensland and Northern Territory Labor governments.
(Source: Various Media, ReNew Economy, 8 Nov., 2018)
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Although the Paris agreement has been ratified by 179 countries including the US, China and other major emitters, US president Trump has stated that the US intends to leave the agreement, but legally they cannot formally withdraw until November 2020. Despite Trump's efforts, with clean technology costs falling and concerted action from US states, polluting coal plants are continuing to close and renewable energy and gas are expected to dominate the future of the US power system.
Both China and India have committed to emissions targets under the Paris agreement. China has committed to lower the carbon intensity of its economy by 60 to 65 pct below 2005 levels by 2030. India committed to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 33-35 pct below 2005 level over the same period.
The Guardian notes the world is currently not on track to achieve the objectives of the Paris agreement. And, although progress has been made more will need to be done by all countries to limit global warming to well below 2 degree C. (Source: Guardian, Aug., 2018)
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Germany reportedly blocked a previous effort to set an even higher renewables target of 35 pct called for by the European Parliament and member states including Spain and Italy, saying it is unrealistic. The country, which still relies on coal to generate much of its electricity, announced last week that it would not meet its 2020 emissions target due to economic and population growth.
In addition to the newly agreed targets, the EU set a wider goal of bringing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 pct below levels in 1990. Member state governments will now devise their own plans to meet these goals, in line with the Paris Agreement.
Green Group MEPs and environmental campaigners, however, said the new targets are not sufficient to meet goals set by the Paris Agreement, particularly limiting warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
The final deal allows the EU to revisit climate goals in 2023 and increase the agreed targets if so desired.
(Source: EU, European Scientist, 23 June, 2018)
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APICORP notes that MENA's major energy-importing companies are working to improve renewable energy legislation and infrastructure, while most exporting countries have "done little to incorporate renewables."
According to APICORP large oil and gas reserves and cheap extraction costs mean that hydrocarbons continue to meet rising demand in countries like Kuwait and Algeria. Legislative factors such as "policy uncertainty" and the lack of an efficient and supportive regulatory framework, are also contributing factors to the slow uptake of renewable energy. Even so, the UAE and Dubai are "on track” with their renewable energy targets and the introduction of competitive bidding, feed in tariffs (FiTs), tax exemptions, and power-purchase agreements (PPAs) to encourage renewable energy projects.
The MENA countries typically include: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. Ethiopia and Sudan are sometimes included.
(Source: APICORP, Construction Week, 20 May, 2018)
Contact: Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation, www.apicorp-arabia.com
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The project supports the Kingdom of Jordan's commitment to meeting its Vision 2025 renewable energy targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix to 11 pct and drive domestic energy production to 39 pct.
(Source: GE Renewable Energy, SmarterAnalyst, 9 April, 2018)
Contact: Mass Energy Group Holding, www.massgroupholding.com; GE Renewable Energy, Vikas Anand, General Manager Onshore Wind Business, www.ge-energy.com
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The project, which will incorporate Siemens Gamesa Rwind turbines and Tesla batteries for an expected annual power output 740 GWh, will sell power to an area greenhouse operation and to the grid under a Support Agreement with the State Government of Victoria.
The project supports the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) under which the state aims to reach a 40 pct renewables share by 2025. (Source: Neoen, Renewables Now, Others, 22 Mar., 2018)
Contact: Neoen S.A.S., +33 805 160 022, www.neoen.com/en; Hornesdale Power Reserve, www. hornsdalepowerreserve.com.au
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The Industry Committee also favoured a 10 pct blending mandate for advanced biofuels fuels and renewable electricity and widening the definition of advanced biofuels to anything that is not produced from food or feed crops. Under such a definition, unsustainable feedstocks, including co-products of the palm oil industry would qualify as advanced biofuels. In principle, the raw materials for advanced biofuels should be limited to waste and residues, which comply with the waste hierarchy, cascading use and strong sustainability criteria.
The Industry Committee also supports a 12 pct target for renewable energy in transport by 2030. The current 2020 target for renewables in transport is set at 10 pct. The share of biofuels in transport was 4,2 pct in 2015. (Source: OXFAM, EU, WebWire, Various Media, 28 Nov., 2017)
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Target's initiative is focused on: increasing adoption of renewable energy operations wide; driving energy and water efficiency; investing in innovations supporting the transition to a lower-carbon transportation system;
considering climate impacts in raw materials sourcing, particularly the impacts of land use change, and designing plans to mitigate those impacts; and
supporting communities most heavily impacted by climate change and building their resilience to climate change impacts like extreme weather events
(Source: Target, CleanTechnica, Others, 19 Oct., 2017)
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The California Senate also passed a bill that would speed up the Golden State's 50 pct by 2030 renewable portfolio standard by four years and set the stage for a 100 pct renewable energy target by 2045.
The Senate also passed SB 71 requiring rooftop solar installations on most new buildings in the state. (Source: SF Gate, Others, June, 2017)
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