US solar installation forecast slashed due to Trump policies, report says
A report released by a major trade group on Monday warned that the U.S. Solar Industry could install 27% less capacity in 2026- 2030 than it did before President Donald Trump passed his tax law, which rolled back subsidies to such projects. Why is it important? The Solar Energy Industries Association (the industry's leading U.S. trade group) and Wood Mackenzie's energy research firm have forecast that the Trump administration will stifle the development of clean energy sectors, which was at the core of former president Joe Biden’s climate change agenda. KEY QUOTE Abigail Ross Hopper is the president and CEO of this group.
US Opens National Security Investigation into the Import of Wind Turbines
The U.S. Commerce Department said on Thursday it has opened a national security investigation into the import of wind turbines and components.Earlier this week, the department said it was adding wind turbines to a list of products that will face 50% tariffs on the aluminum and steel content. The "Section 232" investigation, which was opened on August 13 but not made public until now, could be used as a basis for even higher tariffs on imported wind turbines.Energy research firm Wood Mackenzie said approximately two-thirds of the value of a typical U.S. wind turbine is imported.U.S.
Asian Spot LNG Prices Fall to Ten-Week Low
Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices slipped for a second consecutive week to a ten-week low, weighed down by tepid demand and increasing supply from new projects.The average LNG price for September delivery into north-east Asia LNG-AS was at $11.90 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), industry sources estimated. This is down from $12.30/mmBtu last week and its lowest since May 16."Prices fell this week in part because of persistent weak Asian demand, with limited additional spot demand in northeast Asia during a heatwave because much of the additional cooling demand is being met by cheaper coal-fired generation…
Trump cuts subsidies for US clean energy, bringing an end to the boom.
Bila Solar, a Singapore-based manufacturer of solar panels, has suspended plans to double the capacity of its new Indianapolis factory. Heliene, a Canadian competitor, is reviewing its plans to build a solar-cell facility in Minnesota. NorSun, a Norwegian manufacturer of solar wafers, is evaluating the feasibility of a planned facility in Tulsa. Two offshore wind farms that are fully permitted in the U.S. Northeast could never be built. The major clean energy investments are now under question, after Republicans agreed to end U.S. subsides for solar and winds power in their budget megabill earlier this month.
Sources say that India's Assam State has halted its green hydrogen policy, a setback for investors.
Government and industry sources confirmed that Assam, a state in northeast India, has put on hold its green hydrogen policy, shocking investors who were already suffering from a reduction of incentives for clean energy project. The largest state in the northeast has tried to attract large investments to a region which has lagged far behind the rest of the country when it comes to renewable energy adoption. It has offered financial incentives and exemptions for electricity. Four sources familiar with the matter said that energy firms such as NTPC Green and Larsen And Toubro in Singapore…
Sources say that India's Assam State has halted its green hydrogen policy, a setback for investors.
Government and industry sources confirmed that Assam, a state in northeast India, has halted its green hydrogen policy, shocking investors who were already suffering from a reduction of incentives for clean energy project. The largest state in the northeast has tried to attract large investments to a region which has lagged far behind the rest of the country when it comes to renewable energy adoption. It has offered financial incentives and exemptions for electricity. Four sources familiar with the matter said that energy firms such as NTPC Green and Larsen And Toubro in Singapore…
NSE is the second exchange to be approved for trading in electricity futures.
India's National Stock Exchange became the second exchange this week to receive regulatory approval for electricity futures contracts. Experts say that this could help struggling utilities improve their financial situation. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India gave a similar approval to the Multi Commodity Exchange of India. A futures contract allows the buyer to purchase power at a set price at a future date. Indian utilities currently rely on power purchase agreements (PPAs), which can last up to 25-years, for their baseload needs.
Wood Mackenzie warns that Australia will not meet its renewable energy target.
Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy, said that Australia will fall well short of its target to generate 82% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, due to state-level rollbacks and grid connection delays, as well as inadequate investment. Australia is one of the most polluting countries in the world per capita because it produces coal-powered electricity. It has plans to close all coal-fired power stations by 2038. The center-left Labor Government, reelected in the first week of this month, said that it would transition to a grid powered by wind and solar with gas, hydropower, and energy storage as backup.
Wood Mackenzie is concerned about the challenges of meeting the gas-powered energy demand in 15 years.
In a report published on Wednesday, Wood Mackenzie, an energy research company, said that the gas turbine market may have difficulty meeting strong demand over the next 15 to 20 years because of manufacturing constraints, increasing costs, and competition from renewables. Wood Mackenzie predicts that new gas-fired power generation projects will add around 890 gigawatts (GW) of capacity globally between 2025-2040. The U.S.A. and China are expected to lead the way with 47% annual additions in the same period. In Asia, high import gas prices can hinder growth.
Upgrades to the EU's power grid are needed at a cost of trillions of dollars in order to avoid blackouts similar to those that occurred in Spain
To cope with the increasing demand for electricity, and the growing green energy production in Europe, and to prevent blackouts, trillions of dollars will be needed to invest. Spain and Portugal experienced their worst power outages in a week. Analysts and industry representatives believe that infrastructure investment will be essential, regardless of the results. Authorities are currently investigating the cause. The blackout served as a warning. The blackout showed the urgent need to upgrade and strengthen Europe's electrical grid. Half of the power lines in the European Union are older than 40 years.
Upgrades to the EU's power grid are needed at a cost of trillions of dollars in order to avoid blackouts similar to those that occurred in Spain
To cope with the increasing demand for electricity, and the growing green energy production in Europe, and to prevent blackouts, trillions of dollars will be needed to invest. Spain and Portugal experienced their worst power outages in a week. Analysts and industry representatives believe that infrastructure investment will be essential, regardless of the results. Authorities are currently investigating the cause. The blackout served as a warning. The blackout showed the urgent need to upgrade and strengthen Europe's electrical grid. Half of the power lines in the European Union are older than 40 years.
Wood Mackenzie reduces 5-year US Wind Energy Outlook by 40% due to Trump policies
On Tuesday, a prominent energy research company slashed their five-year forecast for new U.S. Wind Energy Projects by 40%, citing Trump Administration policies and concerns over the economy. Wood Mackenzie predicts that the United States will install 45.1 gigawatts (both onshore and off-shore) of wind power through 2029. The firm had initially forecast 75.8 GW of installations over this period. The Energy Information Administration announced last month that the U.S. electricity consumption will reach record levels in 2025 and beyond.
Aurora increases its European battery capacity 2050 forecasts by 30%
Aurora Energy Research increased its forecast of 2050 battery storage in Europe by nearly 30%, to 128 gigawatts. It highlighted Italy as the most appealing market for investors. The demand for battery storage is driven by the desire to counter the intermittent nature that wind and solar have taken on, which now makes up about a third or more of Europe's total energy mix. As countries strive to reduce emissions and achieve climate targets, the share of renewable energy is expected to increase. Aurora's fourth…
Senate confirms Chris Wright, a fracking executive, as Trump's Energy Secretary
The U.S. Senate confirmed Chris Wright as President Donald Trump's Energy Secretary on Monday. Wright is a fracking executive. Seven Democrats and an Independent who caucuses alongside Democrats crossed the aisle. Wright, 60 years old, has been the CEO of Liberty Energy, since 2011. He announced that he would step down as soon as the confirmation was received. In a Liberty Energy report published last year, he wrote that he believed climate change caused by humans is real but its dangers are "distant" and "uncertain." He also stated that government policies to combat climate change are doomed to failure.
Qcells claims that a new technology could reduce the space required for solar panels
Hanwha Corp.'s Qcells announced on Wednesday that it had made a significant breakthrough in a new solar technology. This has the potential of reducing the space needed by panels to generate electricity from the sun's light. The solar industry is facing a number of pressing challenges, including the need for more space. In some areas of the United States, large-scale projects that occupy vast tracts of land are being met with opposition. Qcells announced that it had achieved a record in the world for the efficiency and cost of large-area silicon cells with perovskite as the top layer.
Rystad reports that oil majors have over 40 biofuel projects planned by 2030.
Rystad, a consultancy, said that major oil and gas companies are investing more in biofuels, betting on sustainable aircraft fuel (SAF). By 2030, 43 projects should be completed, the report stated. Energy research firm says that industry giants like ExxonMobil and Shell could increase production by 286,000 barrels a day. SAF is produced by using wastes and residues like organic crops or used cooking oils. It emits the exact same amount of CO2 as kerosene. It is considered to be less polluting because it is made from plants or leftovers, rather than new oil that releases more greenhouse gases.
Brazil's mega dams were supposed to lead the way for a greener future. Climate change came next
The drought has exacerbated the problem of underperformance. When he first came to power in the early 2000s, Brazil's President Luiz inacio Lula da silva bet his green future on "run-of river" megadams - whose turbines move by natural river flow rather than cascading water from towering dams. Santo Antonio Jirau and Belo Monte have been built in the Amazonian rainforest despite the strong opposition of environmental groups. They are now among the five most powerful dams within the country. Belo Monte was built in 2016 and has the fourth largest capacity in the entire world.
Orsted and Iberdrola among the winners in record British renewable energy auction
Orsted and Iberdrola are among the winners in a British renewable energy auction that supported a record-breaking number of projects. The government announced this on Tuesday. The Labour government that came to power in July plans to decarbonise electricity by 2030. This will require an increase in renewable energy capacity, such as solar and wind. Ed Miliband, Energy Secretary, said in a press release that "today we achieved a record round of enough renewable energy for 11 million households. The auction will support projects that can generate almost 10 gigawatts, the majority of which are offshore wind and solar.
Making Waves @ OSU: Energy Secretary, Senators, Governor tour Oregon State Wave Lab
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Oregon U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown visited the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at Oregon State University on Tuesday afternoon, with Granholm touting wave energy as “the elixir that we need” to address climate change by ending the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.The visit was organized by OSU and the Pacific Marine Energy Center, a consortium of universities including Oregon State that is focused on advancing marine renewable energy.“We’ve all been in the ocean…
Brazil's fossil drive undermines Lula’s green ambitions
Brazil's government has invested heavily in fossil-fuels and plans to make the country the fourth largest oil producer by 2030. This month, President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law regulating the green hydrogen industry in the country. He will be hosting the United Nations COP30 Climate Summit next year. Which country can compete against us in energy transition? He asked this question at the signing ceremony. Lula said that he wants to make Brazil a global supplier of low-carbon fuels and the "Saudi Arabia" of renewable energy within 10 years.