Regions
Enel Green Power connects to the grid its first two solar plants in Malaga
Enel Green Power, through its renewable energy arm Enel Green Power España (EGPE), has completed the construction of the photovoltaic plants of La Vega I and La Vega II, located in the municipality of Teba.
Ellomay Capital Announces the Successful Connection of the Talasol Photovoltaic Plant to the Spanish Electricity Grid
Ellomay Capital Ltd., a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe and Israel, today announced that the photovoltaic plant constructed by Talasol Solar S.L. (“Talasol”) in the municipality of Talaván, Cáceres, Spain, with a peak capacity of 300MW, was connected to the electricity grid and electricity production commenced. In parallel, hot commissioning tests have been initiated by the EPC contractor. The Company indirectly owns 51% of Talasol.
Refinery shutdowns continue, likely more in 2021
As the coronavirus pandemic decimated global demand in 2020, refineries around the world reacted immediately with a variety of methods to survive. Temporary shut ins, cold circulation, conversion to renewable production, and outright refinery closures all became commonplace as responses to the pandemic effect.
Galp expected to shut in its Matosinhos refinery to focus on larger Sines facilities
Galp of Portugal recently announced that it was planning to permanently shut in hydrocarbon production at the smaller of its two refineries operating in Portugal. The company will instead further develop the larger Sines refinery due to the continuing demand destruction from the COVID-19 pandemic.
TAQA Announces Financial Closing for the World’s Largest Solar Power Plant
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) – alongside partners Masdar, EDF Renewables and JinkoPower – announced, today, the successful financial closing of the Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Producer (IPP) project.
West Coast Olefins complex to be built in Prince George after all
West Coast Olefins of Canada recently announced that it will build a $5.6 billion dollar ethylene complex in Prince George, as originally envisioned in 2019. The company had been considering an alternate location near Mcleod Lake, just north of Prince George.
Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC Acquires Solar Project Totaling 80 MWac / 104 MWdc
Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC (“GREC”) announced today that, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, it purchased a 80 MWac /104 MWdc pre-operational solar project from rPlus Energies LLC (“rPlus”). The project, Graphite Solar I LLC, is located in Carbon County, Utah and has a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) in place with the utility PacifiCorp on behalf of Facebook. The contract was developed under Rocky Mountain Power’s Schedule 34 green energy tariff, which allows large customers to purchase renewable energy generated on their behalf. The project supports Facebook’s goal of 100% renewable energy for its operations and is expected to reach commercial operations (“COD”) in Q4 2021.
ExxonMobil looks to invest $240 million in improvements for its Baton Rouge refinery
ExxonMobil recently announced that after two years in the making, the company will invest as much as $240 million dollars in its Baton Rouge complex for modernization opportunities. The company hopes to make the facilities more competitive in a tough current market and even prepare it for expansion down the road.
Start of construction Vopak Solar Park Eemshaven
Vopak Solar Park Eemshaven is starting construction of its solar park located in Eemshaven in the province of Groningen. The new solar park will have a capacity of approximately 25 megawatts, which equates to an average consumption of approximately 8,000 Dutch households. The subsidy and permit processes as well as the financing have been successfully completed.
Masdar and PT PJBI form joint venture to drive development of Indonesia’s first floating solar power plant
Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, and PT PJBI, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s state electricity company PT PLN (Persero), today announced the formation of a joint venture to drive the development of the Cirata Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant – Indonesia’s first floating PV project.
Partners move onshore US
Siemens Gamesa and Orsted have signed an agreement for their first US onshore project together. The 51-turbine, 298MW Haystack project in Wayne county, Nebraska is expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2021. The order also includes a 30-year, full-scope service and maintenance agreem..
Greece extends its import influence
DESFA, the operator of the Greece natural gas transmission system, has been awarded the operation and maintenance services of Kuwait’s newest LNG import terminal. The 11.5m t/y Al Zour LNG import terminal, currently under construction for 2021 will have eight storage tanks with a capacity of 225,00..
Petron Expected to Close Bataan Refinery Next Month
Petron of the Philippines recently announced that it is planning to temporarily shut in its long running 180,000 barrel per day Bataan refinery in January. The company cited weak margins as the primary reason, but did not give a restart date.
Pembina Ceases Plans for Canadian Petrochemical Project
Pembina Pipeline of Canada and Kuwait’s Petrochemical Industries Company through their joint venture, Canada Kuwait Petrochemical Limited Partnership, have announced that their $4.5 billion integrated propane dehydration plant (PDH) and polypropylene upgrading facility in Alberta would be indefinitely suspended until further notice. This follows another recent indefinite deferment for a major project in North America just last month with Formosa’s $9.4 billion Sunshine complex in Louisiana.
Tellurian shelves Permian Global Access Pipeline
Earlier this month, Tellurian Inc. withdrew its application from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the planned 625-mile Permian Global Access Natural Gas Pipeline (PGAP).
Pinnacle Midstream II Plans Gathering, Compression System in Midland Basin
HOUSTON (P&GJ) — Pinnacle Midstream II on Tuesday said it has signed a 15-year gas gathering, processing and purchase agreement with DoublePoint Energy that anchors Pinnacle’s greenfield build of a new natural gas gathering and compression system in the Midland Basin.
Croatia poised to become Europe's next importer
Croatia’s first floating, storage and regasification unit (FSRU) has arrived at the terminal site on Krk Island in the Adriatic Sea. The LNG Croatia FSRU, formerly known as the LNG vessel Golar Viking, was converted in China and delivered in mid-September. It has just arrived from the 6.4m t/y Sagu..
Russia Restarts Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Construction Despite U.S. Sanctions
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has resumed construction of the politically-charged Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, laying pipes after a one-year hiatus prompted by U.S. sanctions, the pipeline operator said on Friday.
Sungrow Supplies Central Europe’s 100 MW PV Plant in Hungary
Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, announced that the Company supplied its medium-voltage inverter solutions to a 100 MW solar park in Kaposvàr, south-west Hungary, which is one of the largest PV projects and biggest investment of this nature in entire Central Europe, committing to support Hungary’s climate policy targets, including energy production in a carbon-neutral way by 2050.
Norwegians sign memorandum for large solar farm to add to Brazil’s capacity
Three Norwegian energy firms Scatec Solar, Equinor, and Hydro Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the 9 December 2020 with the purpose to jointly develop a 480 MW solar power plant. The MoU provides a framework to realise the project on a site already secured in Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil by Scatec and Equinor. The MoU contemplates joint ownership and development of the project by the three parties and offtake of part of the production by Hydro. Subject to final agreement, the companies aim to reach an investment decision in 2021
The Refinery Restructuring Trend Continues Across Europe
Neste of Finland recently announced that it plans to shut in the refining operations at its 58,000 barrel per day Naantali refinery by the end of March 2021. This complex’s closure decision had been accelerated by the substantial decline in oil demand worldwide, in addition to competition from Asia and from environmental rulings.
Methyl Methacrylate Plant proposed in Louisiana for Mitsubishi Chemical
Mitsubishi Chemical of Japan announced very recently that it has acquired 67 acres of land in Geismar, Louisiana near the Mississippi River for a potential Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) plant. The company plans to begin feasibility studies next for this project.
Trans Adriatic Pipeline Explores Feasibility of Blending Hydrogen
Developers of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) have started feasibility studies on blending hydrogen with the natural gas the pipeline will bring in from Azerbaijan, the TAP head said.
France has its sights on offshore
France’s highest court, the Council of State, has rejected an appeal against Iberdrola’s offshore windfarm project in Brittany, in the countries Northwest. Iberdrola is the sole owner of the planned 2.4 billion euro, 62-turbine, 496MW Saint-Brieuc windfarm, which will be located 16km off the French..
Shell Begins Closing in its Convent Refinery in Louisiana
Royal Dutch Shell recently announced that it is indeed shutting down its 240,000 barrel per day Convent refinery in St. James Parish, Louisiana. This process has reportedly already begun and could be completed by mid-December.
Egypt's export capacity rebound
Eni announced an agreement with its partners for the restart of the LNG plant in Damietta, Egypt. The Italian multinational oil and gas company signed a series of agreements with, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), the Egyptian National Gas Holding Compan..
Samson Solar Energy Center is now fully under construction
Chicago based Invenergy is a leading privately held developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions has joined with 8 partners to create the Samson Solar Energy Center which will one of the largest solar power projects in the United States at 1,310 Megawatts (MW) when fully complete in 2023.
China Could Surpass U.S. as Top Refiner Next Year
According to the International Energy Agency, China is expected to overtake the United States as the largest refinery in the world as early as 2021. Asian economies have been rebounding from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, and China is adding capacity as demand is building in that region.
Neste of Finland to Shut in Naantali Refinery Next Year
Neste of Finland recently announced that it was planning to shut down the refinery operations at its Naantali facility by April 2021. This decision was made due to the pandemic driven decline in demand.
Minesto reaches historic milestone – delivers first tidal energy to the Faroese grid
As a part of the ongoing commissioning work of its DG100 tidal kite system Vestmannasund, Faroe Islands, leading marine energy developer Minesto has reached the milestone of delivering electricity to the Faroese grid facilitated by the Power Purchase Agreement with the utility company SEV
