Author: Arnes Biogradlija

VSB has started construction on a 40MW wind farm in Finland which will consist of 7 Nordex N163/5.X wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of 5.7 MW. The wind farm is expected to be operational by summer 2022. The project is situated on the west coast of Finland near Kalajoki, in the Northern Ostrobothnia area. The Nordex N163/5.X turbines are to be built some 7 kilometers from the coastline of the Gulf of Bothnia. VSB plans to complete the wind farm and associated substation by the summer of 2022. “Finland aims to be climate neutral by 2035. An ambitious…

The European Union wants to establish itself as the world leader in hydrogen technologies and will focus on ramping up electrolyser capacities in the next four years. According to the European Commission’s hydrogen strategy, the bloc aims to create a multi billion euro market by 2050 that will support up to 1 million jobs and will help to reach greenhouse gas reduction targets in sectors that are otherwise hard to decarbonise. German heavy industry welcomed the EU’s approach, but environmentalists and the renewable industry criticised that the strategy included hydrogen made on the basis of fossil fuels. German politicians and…

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has closed a non-recourse long-term project financing credit facility for the Monegros portfolio investment of 12 onshore wind farms with a total installed capacity of 487 MW in Aragon, Spain. Six leading Spanish and European banks, including ABN AMRO, Bankia, Bankinter, BBVA, Sabadell and Unicredit, have pledged approximately €380 million of non-recourse long-term debt funding available for drawdown upon the wind farms starting commercial operations. Only the capital given by CI-III will continue to be used to fund construction. The financing was independently approved as a Green Loan under the 2018 Green Loan Principles. “The closing…

LOC has won a contract with Cong ty Phan Dau Tu Dien Gio Hoa Binh1, part of Phuong Anh Group, to support the development of the Hoa Binh 1 offshore wind farm in Vietnam. LOC will provide Marine Warranty Services and consulting services. It will also give guidance and recommendations to contractors on how best to meet project requirements and improve the quality of operations, including better risk management, through active risk assessment. The Hoa Binh 1 offshore wind farm development will consist of 13 turbines, creating up to 50MW of capacity. Installation of the 13 turbines is tide dependent,…

The UK Government has released ‘A Plan for Jobs 2020’ paper outlining the next steps for the UK as we recover from the coronavirus pandemic, including a £2 billion fund to support homeowners and landlords in making their homes more energy-efficient. “We welcome the measures announced today by the Chancellor to improve the energy performance of our buildings which will support the adoption of low-carbon heating technology. “This investment follows the principles that are integral to a green economic recovery and is a welcome step towards reviving our economy which also helps to accelerate our progress towards net-zero. “Ending the…

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) will strengthen relations to place the energy transformation powered by renewables at the heart of Latin America and the Caribbean economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak. Speeding up sustainable energy production could provide a long-term strategy for the Latin American region to tackle social disparities, access to electricity and energy security. Renewables will also fuel the growth of renewable energy usage in the industrial, agricultural, manufacturing and transportation sectors, thus reducing the region’s carbon emissions by 21 percent by 2030 compared to today’s rates, leading to global decarbonization…

Iberdrola has signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) to promote green recovery through the development of new capacity for renewable energy in Spain. The EIB and ICO will provide the Spanish energy business with €600 million and €200 million respectively to fund the construction of over 20 projects with a total capacity greater than 2.000 MW. Such new facilities would provide renewable, affordable energy equal to the average annual energy use of almost 1 million households. The contributions made under this agreement would have a significant effect on economic and job…

Ørsted and Taiwan-based TSMC have signed a corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA). TSMC will take over the full production from the 920MW Ørsted Greater Changhua 2b & 4 offshore wind farm, making it the largest renewable energy contract of its kind. Once Greater Changhua 2b & 4 reaches commercial operations in 2025/2026, the 20-year fixed-price contract period begins, subject to grid availability and the final investment decision by Ørsted. “TSMC is happy for this opportunity to collaborate with Ørsted and not only expand the adoption of renewable energy, but also to work towards Taiwan’s energy transition to build world-class industrial…

Vestas has received a 166 MW order for two projects awarded at the Polish wind-solar-energy auction in December 2019. With this order, Vestas has supported its customers to succeed in competitive auctions and win more than 1 GW of onshore wind energy projects in Poland since the country introduced its auction scheme in 2018. Vestas has installed more than 2.1 GW, accounting for a 36 percent market share. Debnica Kazubska and the Bialy Bor wind projects will comprise six and 42 V126-3.45 MW turbines respectively. Providing an exceptional fit for the sites’ low wind conditions, the customized solutions with 117m…

There are over 350 GWO Certified Training Centres in 43 countries around the world and up to 83% told a recent survey that they will have reopened their doors by the end of May. The companies, who deliver standardised safety and technical training to GWO standards are proceeding with extreme caution and have made careful adaptations to minimise the risk of exposure for their course participants, instructors, and staff. The GWO market survey found that globally, training providers expected to deliver 59% of the number of courses in May 2020 when compared to the same period of last year. This…