Author: Anela Dokso

IRENA and Climate Investment Platform partners are working closely to advance renewables deployment efforts in developing countries. Access to renewable energy finance remains a key challenge for developing nations. While many countries across Africa, Asia and Small Island Developing States remain highly disadvantaged by a lack of adequate energy infrastructure, they are presented with an opportunity to realize profound and lasting socioeconomic benefits from the transition to renewables. The relative speed of progress in developing countries towards a low-carbon energy system has been modest, however – compromising the achievement of sustainable development and the realization of key economic objectives, such…

GroenLeven, a Dutch subsidiary of BayWa r.e., has signed a contract with Alliander for a green hydrogen project named Sinnewetterstof. The Sinnewetterstof will source the electricity from the adjacent solar park and convert it into green hydrogen as a storable form of energy by electrolysis of water. The project is an important step for the future, as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported green hydrogen could contribute to reducing global CO2 emissions by at least 70% by 2050. The installation is expected to be commissioned by mid-2021.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published ‘Basic Safety Training Requirements for Personnel Employed in the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector’. It provides standard basic safety training requirements for inclusion at contract awards stage covering those employed on-board vessels during the construction and maintenance support phases of offshore renewable energy projects. The new guidance document incorporates an invaluable matrix to aid clarity for the sector. The ‘Basic Safety Training Matrix’ defines the minimum level of health and safety training, and medical fitness needed to work on, and from, vessels engaged on an offshore renewable energy project. It was designed by…

Borrego Solar has expanded with eight new projects in municipalities across Maine. The planned projects will consist of a total of 55 megawatts (MW) of solar installations located in Manchester, Orland, Randolph, Strong, Turner, Windham, Blue Hill and Millinocket. The Borrego portfolio represents the largest award from Portland-based Competitive Energy Services’ (CES) Distributed Generation Consortium initiative. CES issued a request for proposal (RFP) in September 2019, where it organized 25 energy users across Maine, including LL Bean, City of Portland, University of Maine, Colby College, Nestle Waters North America and Pratt & Whitney to purchase clean power from these projects.…

Storz Power has created a strategic alliance with Lumin, to enhance its AI+Smart Access by providing grid-responsive load shedding technology, automating off-grid back up operation. The Storz Power AI+ Smart Access powered by Lumin offers several innovations to the market including; wireless detection of a power outage and real time responsive load control based on the battery state of charge. Both of these important developments are currently only available to the AI+ Smart Access platform. “We want to better forecast energy provision based on available energy and upcoming energy production. By layering our AI+ software on Lumin’s control platform, we…

The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) has acquired a 100% interest in Haut Vannier, with the rights to construct a 43MW wind farm located in Haute-Marne, approximately 65km northeast of the city of Dijon in France. The project has been developed by Envision and Velocita, who will continue to carry out the construction, and will consist of 17 Envision 2.5MW E-131 turbines. Construction is underway and the wind farm is expected to start operations in Q1 2022. RES will provide asset owner engineer services during the construction period. The project will benefit from an attractive 20-year subsidy in the form of…

Eco Wave Power has entered into a strategic collaboration with Painhas for the technical support for the licensing of its’ Portugal project. Painhas will take an integral part in the technical support needed for the official licensing procedures for the Eco Wave Power planned 20MW wave energy project in Portugal, as part of the company’s newly signed Concession Agreement with the Port Authority of Leixões, APDL. Once licensing is obtained, the parties will work towards a continued collaboration for the execution of the project. “The company has a mission of taking an active part in the implementation of innovative renewable…

A new £3.5m offshore innovation programme has launched, primarily targeting supply chain companies located in the North of Tyne area with opportunities to fund and support technology innovation in the offshore wind and subsea sectors. The Technology, Innovation and Green Growth for Offshore Renewables (TIGGOR) programme is being funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) as part of its wider Energy, Green Growth and Climate Change commitments. NTCA has partnered with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, who will deliver the programme on their behalf. ORE Catapult will, in turn, partner with the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP)…

Kongsberg Maritime (KM) has signed a new contract with the maritime services and solutions provider MacGregor to deliver a Pile Gripper Guidance System (PGGS) for the OHT Alfa Lift. Scheduled for delivery in 2021, Alfa Lift will be the world’s largest custom-built offshore wind foundation installation vessel, equipped with a 3,000t main crane. The ship’s 10,000+ m2 ‘smart’ deck will carry up to 14 XL monopiles per voyage and will also be fully submersible to a depth of 14.66 meters. Under the terms of the contract, MacGregor will deliver a motion-compensated pile gripper frame, while KONGSBERG’s PGGS will integrate the…

Capital Power Corporation has executed a 20-year power purchase agreements with Duke Energy Carolinas for three solar development projects located in North Carolina totaling 160 megawatts (MW). The solar projects consist of Hornet Solar (75 MW), Hunter’s Cove Solar (50 MW), and Bear Branch Solar (35 MW). ž Construction of the solar projects is expected to begin in late 2021 or early 2022 with commercial operations expected in the fourth quarter of 2022. “We are delighted to provide additional renewable energy to the people of North Carolina. With the Whitla Wind 2&3 and Strathmore Solar projects in advanced development in…