Google signs agreement with Engie for renewable power in Germany

1 september | renewables

Google has signed an agreement with French energy company Engie for 140MW of renewable power in Germany.


The deal will help Google to achieve its 2030 carbon-free energy target, announced last year, which will cover its data centres and cloud platforms, as well as its offices across the world.


Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Engie will supply renewable power from solar and wind power plants to Google, which will ensure the firm’s German operations will be around 80% carbon-free by next year.


Additionally, Engie will offer a full range of energy management services, including residual supply, balancing pool management and grid management, and more.

31 august | deals

Statkraft and Aquila Capital sign power purchase agreements in Finland


Norwegian state-owned company Statkraft has signed power purchase agreements with German real asset investment management company Aquila Capital in Finland.


The clean energy will be supplied from the Mastokangas (68.4MW) and Korkeakangas (43.2MW) wind farms.


It is said to be the first transaction for Statkraft with Aquila Capital in Finland. The two wind facilities are currently under construction and expected to be completed later this year and early next year.


Upon completion, they will have a total installed capacity of 111.6MW and produce more than 350GWh of wind energy annually.

31 august | projects

BOEM to review proposed offshore wind project in New York


The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is set to begin an environmental review for a proposed 880MW commercial-scale wind project offshore from New York.


BOEM issued a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project’s construction and operations plan (COP).


The COP was submitted by Sunrise Wind, a joint venture between Orsted North America and Eversource Investment.


The NOI will open a 30-day public consultation period, during which BOEM will aim to determine the scope of the key resources and issues, environmental impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures to be analysed in the EIS.

30 august | projects

Masdar inaugurates 100MW solar power project in Uzbekistan


Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar has inaugurated the 100MW Nur Navoi Solar project in Uzbekistan.


The solar photovoltaic (PV) plant is the first utility-scale project in the country and has the capacity to power 31,000 households, as well as offsetting nearly 150,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, once it becomes fully operational.


The inaugural ceremony was attended by Republic of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, along with other high-level officials from the Government of Uzbekistan and senior executives from Masdar.


In November 2019, Masdar signed an agreement to build a 100MW solar project in Navoi region of Uzbekistan. Under the agreement, Masdar agreed to design, finance, build, and also operate the PV power station for a 25-year period.

30 august | financing

European Commission approves $6.7bn scheme to support electricity production


The European Commission has approved a $6.7bn (€5.7bn) French aid scheme to support renewable power generation from small solar installations located on buildings.


Approved under EU state aid rules, the scheme will help France to add approximately 3,700MW of additional capacity in the solar renewable energy segment.


Additionally, the move will help France to achieve its 2030 target of producing 33% of its energy needs from renewable sources.


It will also support the European objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, without unduly distorting competition. The aid was approved after assessing the European Commission’s 2014 guidelines on state aid for environmental protection and energy.

30 august | nuclear

Nawah Energy starts unit II of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in UAE


Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (ENEC) maintenance subsidiary Nawah Energy Company has started unit II of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).


Located in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate, unit II has come online one year after the start-up of unit I, and within five months of commercial operations of unit I.


Nawah, a joint venture company of ENEC and the Korea Electric Power Corporation, has safely completed comprehensive testing programme, prior to the start-up of the second nuclear energy reactor of the Barakah Plant.


With the starting of unit II, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has now become the first multi-unit plant in the region providing emissions-free electricity.

In brief

Berenberg to fund Elgin Energy solar projects in UK and Ireland


German private bank Berenberg has signed an agreement with solar and storage developer Elgin Energy to fund the late-stage development of Elgin Energy’s 1.36GWp solar project pipeline in the UK and Ireland.

Vistra completes construction on phase II battery storage system in US


US-based energy company Vistra has expanded its battery energy storage system with the completion of phase II of Moss Landing energy storage facility construction in California.

BOEM concludes environmental review for South Fork Wind Farm


The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed its environmental review of the proposed South Fork Wind Farm offshore from New York and Rhode Island.

PSEG to sell fossil generating portfolio to ArcLight subsidiaries


US-based energy company Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has signed an agreement to sell PSEG Fossil, its 6,750MW fossil power generating portfolio.

EDF and Nissan partner for vehicle-to-grid EV charging


French utility company EDF has announced that it will partner with Japanese automaker Nissan to launch a new commercial vehicle-to-grid charging service for EV fleet operators in the UK.

24 august | deal

ReNew Power concludes $8bn merger with RMG II


Indian renewable energy company ReNew Power has completed its previously announced merger with RMG Acquisition Corporation II (RMG II), a special purpose acquisition company.


The merger was announced in February in a deal with an enterprise value of $8bn.


RMG II’s board of directors and shareholders recently approved the combination, which resulted in $610m in cash proceeds for ReNew Power.


These cash proceeds include funds from RMG II’s former trust account and from a private placement in public equity.

18 august | generation

Eskom plans to reduce its coal power generation over next decade


South African electricity utility Eskom reportedly plans to reduce its coal-fired power capacity by 8,000MW to 12,000MW by closing power plants over the next ten years.


Reuters reported that the plant closures would lead to a 30% reduction in the company’s capacity.


In a tweet, Eskom said that it plans to shut its Komati power station in Mpumalanga by next October.


The company resumed operations at the plant in 2000 to address the country’s chronic electricity shortage.

In brief

Berenberg to fund Elgin Energy solar projects in UK and Ireland


German private bank Berenberg has signed an agreement with solar and storage developer Elgin Energy to fund the late-stage development of Elgin Energy’s 1.36GWp solar project pipeline in the UK and Ireland.

Vistra completes construction on Phase II battery storage system in US


US-based energy company Vistra has expanded its battery energy storage system with the completion of Phase II of Moss Landing energy storage facility construction in California.

BOEM concludes environmental review for South Fork Wind Farm


The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed its environmental review of the proposed South Fork Wind Farm offshore from New York and Rhode Island.

PSEG to sell fossil generating portfolio to ArcLight subsidiaries


US-based energy company Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has signed an agreement to sell PSEG Fossil, its 6,750MW fossil power generating portfolio.

EDF and Nissan partner for vehicle-to-grid EV charging


French utility company EDF has announced that it will partner with Japanese automaker Nissan to launch a new commercial vehicle-to-grid charging service for EV fleet operators in the UK.