France's offshore Wind sector is battered by government crises
Offshore wind developers, and suppliers of equipment are bracing themselves for a slowdown. A political crisis in France has caused changes to France's energy framework as well as government tenders to be stalled. Data released on Friday showed that business activity in France declined faster than anticipated in October. Emmanuel Macron's six successive prime ministers have been replaced by a divided legislature that has struggled to reach a budget-cutting agreement in the past two years. The PPE3, a bill that details the future energy requirements from 2026, has been long delayed.
ContourGlobal, backed by KKR, targets British renewables
KKR ContourGlobal is planning to enter the renewable energy market in Britain as it pursues a strategy of streamlining that will see other countries removed from its portfolio. ContourGlobal, founded 2005 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2017, was acquired by KKR Fund in 2022. "We are simplifying the company and reducing the footprint of the group from 17 to 10 countries," said Antonello Cammisecra, President and CEO at an event to unveil the new logo for the group. Cammisecra stated that ContourGlobal plans to install renewable energy capacity of several hundred megawatts in Britain by 2030.
Energy Traders Steer Shipping Toward Greener Horizons
The maritime industry is charting a new course toward decarbonization, yet this time round it is not only traditional shipowners at the helm. Major energy and commodity traders, whose shipping operations often carry large carbon footprints, are now investing in cleaner and more efficient shipping. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) calling for a 40% reduction in shipping’s carbon intensity by 2030 from 2008 levels, these players are now deploying new methods to cut emissions at sea. Retrofitting old vessels or even order state-of-the-art tankers with clean fuel capacity…
LAUDES-U.S. cities drive energy transition despite Trump resistance
The U.S. By Carey L. Mayors report that many cities still have a long way to go in improving building efficiency, electrifying cars and neighborhoods, training employees for new energy jobs, and designing for tomorrow. Keith Wilson, the mayor of Oregon's biggest city, said that cities like Portland don't wait for federal permission before taking action on climate change. Portland, Oregon created last year the nation's first zero emission delivery zone. This is where electric vehicles and bicycles are used to supply shops and restaurants. The city aims to become the first U.S. town to eliminate petroleum diesel sales before 2030.
South Africa plans to revive its small-nuclear reactor technology
The electricity and energy Minister said that South Africa expects its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor to be removed from the status of care and maintenance by the first quarter next year, or even sooner. South Africa, once considered a leader in the field of small modular reactors (PBMR), halted research on PBMR in 2010, after spending over 10 billion rand (577 million dollars) and without building a planned demo model. Kgosientsho RAMOKGOPA, the minister of electricity and energy told a press briefing that "we are far advanced (in) our internal processes" to make the case for lifting the care and maintenance to the PBMR.
JERA Nex BP halts US Beacon Wind Project as Costs Soar
JERA Nex BP is a joint venture of Japan's largest power generator JERA with BP. The company plans to stop development of the U.S. Beacon off-shore wind power project in the next few months and layoff its U.S. workers, according to a press release. The decision is the latest blow to the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry, which has already been hurt by rising costs due to supply chain disruptions, inflation, and President Donald Trump's opposition against such projects. JERA Nex BP stated that they did not see a viable way to develop the Beacon Project in the current market and concluded that they could no longer invest in this market.
EBRD may lend up to $1,5 billion for Central Asia Hydro Plant
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) could lend up $1.5 billion for an Central Asian hydropower station, according to its president. He also noted that the demand for renewable energy is increasing despite some resistance to funding green energies. Kambar-Ata 1 is one of Central Asia's largest renewable energy projects, with a combined 1,860 megawatts. Megawatts of power is expected to boost agricultural output in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and provide electricity. The bank, along with the European Union and the European Investment Bank…
Malaysia: Multilateral power deal delayed due to Thai politics; renewal expected next month
Malaysia's Energy Minister said that Thailand has postponed the renewal of a multilateral power trading agreement in Southeast Asia due to changes in local politics. The Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) Project to supply hydropower from Laos via Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia is now expected to be renewed in November, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof told . The Constitutional Court removed Thailand's prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in August. Anutin Charnvirakul was appointed to the position the following month.
Vestas shelves Polish turbine plant amid weak European demand, FT reports
The Financial Times reported that Vestas, a Danish wind turbine manufacturer, has shelved its plans to build its largest factory in Poland due to a lack of demand on its main European market. The report could not be verified immediately. Vestas has not responded to the request for comment. Vestas announced plans to build a second offshore wind farm in Poland last summer. The factory was to produce blades in 2026 and create over 1,000 jobs. The company informed the FT that investment in the facility had been suspended "due to a lower than expected demand for offshore winds in Europe".
Minister: France will not abandon the climate goals of the World Bank
Eleonore Caoit, France's new development minister, said that France would continue to press the World Bank for its climate finance agenda in spite of the pressure from the Trump administration to abandon it. Caroit, speaking to reporters at the World Bank's and International Monetary Fund's annual meetings in Washington, said that efforts to combat climate change will also be a major focus of France’s presidency of the Group of Seven Industrial Democracies (G7ID) in 2026. Caroit was appointed as junior minister of Francophonie and international partnerships…
Philippines boosts gas-powered and renewable capacity to meet surge in demand
The Philippines' energy secretary stated on Friday that it expects increased gas-fired power generation and renewable energy to help fuel a projected 6,6% growth in demand for power over the next two year, reducing dependence on coal. In an interview conducted on the sidelines the ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting, the country's energy secretary Sharon Garin said that the country would continue to increase gas usage for power generation. It also plans to add additional gas-fired capability to meet the rising demand. The gas supply chain is the main constraint. She added that there are no turbines.
A2A CEO: Milan's data center capacity will increase tenfold within five years
The Chief Executive of A2A, an energy group, said that data centres in the financial capital of Italy, Milan, are expected to increase their capacity by around two gigawatts over the next five-year period, which is a tenfold rise from the current levels. A2A, a utility that will provide the electricity needed, can expect to see a boost in revenues from the rapid expansion of data centers, required to drive artificial Intelligence. Milan's data centres have a capacity of 200 megawatts, but the city's peak demand for electricity is currently 1.5 GW.
Malaysia: Multilateral power deal delayed due to Thai politics; renewal expected next month
Malaysia's Energy Minister said that Thailand has postponed the renewal of a multilateral power trading agreement in Southeast Asia due to changes in local politics. The Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) Project to supply hydropower from Laos via Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia is now expected to be renewed in November, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof told . The Constitutional Court removed Thailand's prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in August. Anutin Charnvirakul was appointed the following month.
Colombia wins offshore wind bid by CIP of Denmark
The head of Colombia's hydrocarbons agency announced on Thursday that a subsidiary from Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, CIP, had bid to develop a wind project for the first round of the South American nation's offshore energy auction. Orlando Velandia of Colombia's National Hydrocarbons Agency, ANH, said that CIP subsidiary CI GMF Cooperatief U.A. ANH did not immediately provide details of the offer. ANH did not immediately disclose details of the offer. Velandia, who spoke at a Cartagena forum, said that…
Senator: US energy prices will spike due to Trump's decision to cut grants
The Trump administration’s plans to cancel nearly eight billion dollars in Energy Department grants is illegal, because contracts were already signed. It will also cause consumer energy costs to skyrocket. The Energy Department cancelled $7.56 billion of funding for clean energy project earlier this month because it did not believe that the projects would provide enough return to taxpayers. Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico stated that these projects would have increased energy and flexibility to the grid. "The administration is limiting the amount of energy we can put onto the grid.
Portugal's proposal on grid returns for EDP still lags behind European peers
Portugal's energy market regulator ERSE announced on Thursday that it would increase the returns on the grid assets of EDP, the country's biggest utility. However, the proposed return is still below what EDP's counterparts in other European countries enjoy. The crippling blackout which hit Spain and Portugal in April has reignited the debate on investments and remuneration of power networks, as well as their integration with renewable energy sources and to meet higher demand for power, such data centers. ERSE suggested that the rate of return on these assets during the regulatory period of 2026-2029 should range between 5.5-8.5%…
Cox, a Spanish company, plans to invest $6.4 billion in Mexico through 2028.
Cox, a Spanish energy company, announced on Thursday that it will invest 5.5 billion euro ($6.4 billion) through 2028 in renewable energy and water. Almost half of the investment will be in Mexico. Moreno stated on Thursday that up to 80% will be funded by debt, and the remainder with equity. Cox will contribute approximately 60% of equity while international investors will provide the remainder in exchange for preferred securities. Investors and analysts were informed that the company's investment plan for 2028 would be supported by some asset sales.
ASEAN adopts action plan for increasing renewable electricity to 45% share by 2030
As part of its efforts to transition to renewable energy, the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN endorsed a plan that will increase the share from renewable electricity to 45% over the next 5 years. Malaysia's Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation announced in a Thursday statement that the plan would increase the share of renewables to 30% of its primary energy supply. On Thursday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states endorsed the 2026-2030 ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation.
Report: Global renewable energy growth is still short of climate targets despite record global growth
Globally, renewable energy capacity reached a record high in 2016, but countries still fell short of the U.N. goal of tripled capacity by 2030. This was revealed by a report released by global renewable groups on Tuesday. At the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, 2023, more than 100 countries agreed to triple their renewable energy capacity in 2030 in order to achieve global climate targets. The report, by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Global Renewables Alliance, as well as the COP30 Brazilian presidency, tracks progress toward meeting the goal and comes before this year's COP U.N. Climate talks in Brazil, next month.
IREDA reports 42% increase in Q2 profits on clean energy loan growth
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency posted on Tuesday a 42% increase in its second-quarter profit, aided by a robust growth of green lending. Profits for the renewable energy financier grew from 3.88 billion to 5.49 billion rupees (about $61.8 million) during the three-month period ended September 30, compared with the previous year's quarter. The interest income grew by 28.7%, to 20.30 billion Rupees. Earnings from the firm come at a time when major players in India are expanding their renewable energy capacities, both to export and because India is targeting 500 gigawatts in non-fossil capacity by 2030.