CleanTech Report 2021.04.22

Amazon signs deal to build 80 MW Alberta solar project.
IKEA sets aside $5 billion for green power projects.
China to renewable power generation to 11% of total electricity use in 2021.
Thailand nears completion of world’s largest floating solar farm.
Amazon becomes Europe’s largest buyer of renewable energy.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners closes €7 billion renewables fund.
Uruguay’s has transitioned to 98% power delivered from renewables.

CleanTech Report April 22d 2021

NORTH AMERICA

Amazon Signs Deal To Build Alberta Solar Project

Calgary Herald

The world’s biggest corporate buyer of green power said the 80 MW project in Newell County — one of nine projects it announced Monday —  will help slash the company’s carbon footprint by delivering over 195,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy to the grid once completed in 2023.

CleanCapital Secures $300 Million Investment And Acquires 63 Megawatts Of Operating Solar Projects

Cision

CleanCapital, a leading clean energy investment platform and one of the largest owner-operators of distributed solar assets in the United States, announced today a corporate investment from Manulife Investment Management to grow its portfolio of clean energy assets.

100 GWh Of Long Duration Energy Storage From MIT

Solar Paces

A very large-scale long duration energy storage (LDES) idea from MIT envisages a 1 kilometer-long, 60 meter-wide lidded central storage container of rocks sunk 20 meters down into the ground – about the size of 10 football fields if they were laid end to end.

 

LATIN AMERICA

Brazilian Renewable Energy Sector Offers Opportunities For Saudis

Arab News

A new report by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) revealed several opportunities for Saudi investors looking to break into the Brazilian market by investing in key sectors.


Anglo American To Run South America Mines 100% On Renewables

Mining

Anglo American has signed a deal to run its Quellaveco copper mine in Peru 100% on renewables, effectively allowing the miner to deliver on its promise of powering all of its Latin American operations by green energy by 2022.


Uruguay’s Remarkable Shift To Renewables Offers A Blueprint For Energy Progress

Earth Island

Until 2007, Uruguay was strapped for energy resources that forced it to rely on importing energy from South American neighbors. That has changed. Today, 98 percent of the country’s power is delivered reliably and affordably from renewable sources.

 

EUROPE

CIP Closes EUR 7 Billion Renewable Energy Investment Fund

Offshore Wind

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) held a final close on its global greenfield renewables energy fund, Copenhagen Infrastructure IV (CI IV), one year after the start of fundraising. The fund was oversubscribed and closed at the hard cap of EUR 7 billion having reached the target fund size of EUR 5.5 billion back in December 2020.


IKEA Owner Sets Aside $5 Billion For Green Power Projects

ZAWYA

Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores, has earmarked 4 billion euros ($4.8 billion) to invest in wind and solar projects, electric vehicle charging points and other green energy projects by 2030.


Amazon Becomes Europe’s Largest Corporate Buyer of Renewable Energy

Business Wire

Amazon today announced nine new utility-scale wind and solar energy projects in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. The company now has 206 renewable energy projects globally, including 71 utility-scale wind and solar projects and 135 solar rooftops on facilities and stores worldwide, which will generate 8.5 GW of electricity production capacity globally.

 

ASIA

Thailand Floats Hydro-Solar Projects For Its Dams As Fossil Fuel Supplement

CNA

Thailand is close to completing one the world’s biggest floating hydro-solar hybrid projects on the surface of a dam, a step toward boosting renewable energy production after years of criticism for reliance on fossil fuels.


China To Bring Solar And Wind Power Generation To 11% Of Total Electricity Use In 2021

Reuters

China will seek to raise its power generation from solar and wind plants to around 11% of the country’s total power consumption in 2021, from 9.7% in 2020, said the National Energy Administration (NEA) in a draft rule on Monday.


Indonesian Coal Miner Adaro Energy Looks To Renewables

NIKKEI

Major Indonesian coal miner Adaro Energy aims to enter the renewable energy sector this year, CEO Garibaldi Thohir said on Monday, calling biomass, hydrogen and solar power the company’s top options.

 

MENA

PPAs Signed For Seven Solar Power Projects In Saudi Arabia

The Asset

Saudi Arabia has announced the signing of power purchase agreements (PPAs) for seven solar photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 2,970MW in the latest batch of projects under its National Renewable Energy Programme.


Morocco To Attract Foreign Renewable Energy Investment

Arab News

More than 260 industrial projects have been supplied with new energy during the last three years in Morocco, Asharq Business reported, citing Energy Minister Aziz Rabbah.


Alfanar Eyes Sale Of Majority Stake In India Assets

MINT

Saudi Arabia’s Alfanar Group is looking to sell a controlling stake in its 600-megawatt (MW) wind power assets portfolio in India for around $300 million, said two people aware of the development, requesting anonymity.

 

AFRICA

ESG Investing In Sub-Saharan Africa Is Tied to Sustainable Development

Fitch Ratings

The approach to ESG investing in sub-Saharan Africa is closely linked to longer-term sustainable development benchmarks, Fitch Ratings says in a new report. This shapes how borrowers in the region frame sustainable investment opportunities and which types of issuers source financing through the international capital markets.


Sasol And Air Liquide Invite Bidders For The Supply Of Renewable Energy

ESI Africa

Sasol has set a greenhouse gas (GHG) target for their South African operations to reduce emissions by at least 10%, off a 2017 baseline, by 2030. The introduction of renewable energy will be a significant contributor to the company’s decarbonisation efforts.


BBE To Acquire Assets Of Solar Energy Provider Solarcentury

Afrik21

BB Energy, a London based oil and gas trader, announces the acquisition of Solarcentury Africa, the subsidiary of solar energy provider Solarcentury. Through this transaction, BBE is targeting the dynamic solar energy market for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in Africa.

 

AUSTRALIA

Australia’s Top Dairy Processor Signs 10-Year Renewable Power Purchasing Deal

PV Magazine

Australia’s largest dairy processor, Saputo Dairy Australia, has signed a 10 year power purchasing agreement with French-owned power company Engie to reduce its emissions through renewably sourced electricity.

 

Solar And Wind Are Leading Fastest Energy Transition The World Has Seen

Renew Economy

In 2020, new solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind capacity comprised 75% of global net new generation capacity according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

 

Total Joins 8GW Australian Green Hydrogen Study

Wind Power

Total Eren has agreed to work with an Australian mining company to explore the potential for a green hydrogen plant in Western Australia powered by 8GW of wind and solar capacity.

Dominate the CleanTech Industry by Creating Incredible Value