Author: Arnes Biogradlija

Scotland’s 32 local authorities are facing a planning logjam which will jeopardize the country’s climate targets, new research by industry body Scottish Renewables reveals. It has found the number of planners employed by councils in Scotland has fallen by 20% since 2011 – but the number of applications they will have to grant must increase if Scotland is to stay on track to net-zero emissions by 2045. The UK must quadruple the amount of renewable electricity deployed by 2050 in order to meet its climate change targets. Scotland’s planning system determines how renewable energy technology can be built, so is…

Sonnedix has entered into a partnership with a fund managed by Amundi, Amundi Energies Vertes (AEV), a renewable infrastructure investment vehicle, to invest in the European solar PV market. This partnership relies on two main pillars: an initial investment of €50 million in the European solar PV market; and a commitment to invest a similar amount in projects developed or acquired by Sonnedix through a dedicated platform. The initial transaction, expected to close before the end of 2020, consists of a mix of operating assets across several European countries and will give AEV further access to new growth investments within this region…

Seacat Services has ordered two further Chartwell 24 vessels to complement its growing fleet. These latest vessels, designed by Chartwell Marine, will be the first equipped with a new foil optimization and stability system (FOSS) designed by BAR Technologies. This system will enhance vessel stability, improving comfort for offshore wind technicians, and create substantial operational efficiency gains. This deal closely follows Seacat’s double order for the new BARTech 30 vessel in September, with the build contract for all four boats awarded to Diverse Marine. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for the spring of 2022 and 2023. For Seacat Services,…

RWE has signed an agreement with Greencoat to sell a 49 % stake in the UK offshore wind farm Humber Gateway for a total cash consideration payable at completion being GBP 648 million. The disposal is part of RWE’s capital rotation program and the proceeds will be used to finance further growth in the renewable energy business. Greencoat is a UK-based investment manager whose funds invest in operating UK wind farms and other renewable projects. The transaction with Greencoat demonstrates the attractiveness of the United Kingdom for investment in wind power. The market provides great potential for growth with significant…

India has added 438 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in Q3 2020, a 114% increase compared to 205 MW installed in Q2 2020. Solar installations were down by 80% year-over-year (YoY) compared to 2,177 MW added in Q3 2019. Solar installations in the first nine months (9M) of 2020 totaled 1.73 gigawatts (GW), a 68% decline compared to 5.48 GW added in the same period of 2019, Mercom Communications India research showed. Large-scale installations totaled 283 MW compared to 120 MW in the previous quarter. Year-over-year, large-scale installation levels decreased by 85% compared to 1,932 MW installed in Q3 2019.…

AqualisBraemar has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in LOC Group. AqualisBraemar offers consultancy services to the offshore energy industries, including renewables and oil and gas, plus shipping and insurance industries. LOC operates in the shipping, oil and gas, and renewables sectors, providing loss prevention and loss management services, as well as marine and engineering consultancy services. The acquisition of LOC Group will help the company in creating a leading global independent offshore energy and marine consultancy. “Our strategy is clear; we want to grow through continued expansion in the rapidly growing offshore renewables industry,…

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has unveiled an end-to-end hydrogen refuelling solution supporting ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-powered test flight programme in Cranfield. The hydrogen refuelling solution, delivered by EMEC in conjunction with subcontractor Fuel Cell Systems Limited (FCSL), is a mobile solution consisting of a re-deployable modular electrolyser, trailer mounted air compressor and a first of its kind ADR-certified 350 bar refuelling truck. Delivery of the refuelling solution is a key milestone in the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Innovate UK funded HyFlyer project. The three part refuelling system uses the electrolyser for on-site generation of hydrogen gas which is compressed…

Invenergy is developing a 1,310-megawatt solar energy generation facility that will be the largest in the United States after completion. The Samson Solar Energy Center, currently under construction in northeast Texas, will help the sustainability goals of five major consumer brands and provide electricity to three Texas municipalities. “Invenergy continues to lead the energy transition, and this record-setting project demonstrates our expertise at a new scale. The Samson Solar Energy Center is the latest example of what can be achieved when companies and utilities seek an innovative partner to meet their sustainability goals and invest in a clean energy future.”Ted…

Lithuanian Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas and Flemish Energy Minister Zuhal Demir have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stating their joint commitment to improve cooperation in the field of renewable energy. The goal is to explore and make concrete joint investments in renewable energy projects and more precisely, to work together to establish a joint offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea. The MOU is building the ground for long-term collaboration between Flanders and Lithuania in the field of renewable energy. “Lithuania as a leader in the region in terms of renewable energy development successfully continues cooperation with other EU countries.…

Starting in 2024, Deutsche Bahn will be powered by electricity from the Amrumbank West offshore wind farm of RWE Renewables. The related Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed by Deutsche Bahn and RWE Supply & Trading, RWE’s trading subsidiary. The PPA will begin in 2024 and will continue until 2039. Deutsche Bahn is also Germany’s largest consumer of green energy. By 2038, all the electricity delivered to Deutsche Bahn trains will come from 100 percent renewables; the rate is currently 61 percent. Green energy from RWE will make a crucial contribution to this. Since 2014, the company has delivered approximately 880…