Virginia data centers to replace coal where coal once reigned
Entrepreneurs are now looking at the rural area with the ambitious vision to rebuild its economic by converting the old mines into data centers and solar power systems that could help feed the growing power demand of the artificial-intelligence boom. A non-profit group called Energy DELTA Lab (Discovery, Education, Learning & Technology Accelerator), which is aiming to develop energy resources on approximately 65,000 acres in southwest Virginia, is currently working on such a project.
India's Ministry of Finance urges caution in lending for solar modules as a glut is looming, a letter shows.
A letter from the ministry reviewed by revealed that the ministry urged banks to be cautious when financing new manufacturing capacities of solar photovoltaic modules, due to the possibility of oversupply on the local market. Over the last three years, several Indian companies have increased their solar module production capacity with the aim of exporting to the United States. The U.S. has increased its tariffs on Indian components made in China and is more concerned about the quality of these parts. This has led to a drop in exports.
India's Ministry of Finance urges caution in lending for solar modules as a glut is looming, a letter shows.
A letter from the ministry reviewed by revealed that the ministry urged banks to be cautious when financing new manufacturing capacities of solar photovoltaic modules, due to the possibility of oversupply on the local market. Over the last three years, several Indian companies have increased their solar module production capacity with the aim of exporting to the United States. The U.S. has increased its tariffs on Indian components made in China and is more concerned about the quality of these parts. This has led to a drop in exports.
US solar companies ask Congress to act on Trump's solar permit freezing
In a letter sent to Congress leaders on Thursday, dozens of U.S. Solar companies called for federal lawmakers to reverse a Trump Administration policy that had stalled permits. The letter highlights the growing concerns of project developers about President Donald Trump's Interior Department increasing its scrutiny of solar permits at a time when energy demand is on the rise. CONTEXT In a memo from Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary in July, Burgum requested his signature on dozens of types of solar permits.
US solar companies ask Congress to act on Trump's solar permit freezing
In a letter sent to Congress leaders on Thursday, dozens of U.S. Solar companies called for federal lawmakers to reverse a Trump Administration policy that had stalled permits. The letter highlights the growing concerns of project developers about President Donald Trump's Interior Department increasing its scrutiny of solar permits at a time when energy demand is on the rise. CONTEXT In a memo from Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary in July, Burgum requested his signature on dozens of types of solar permits.
Industry head: Colombia will see a jump in renewable energy by 2025, thanks to new players.
Alexandra Hernandez (President of the Colombian Renewable Energy Association, SER Colombia) said that Colombia will end 2025 with 2,685 Megawatts (MW), up 49% compared to 1,800 MW by the end of 2024. This is due to new project commissions as well as some regulatory changes. In the past year, 27 large and medium-sized projects, mainly solar, were completed, as well as three wind projects, and one biomass facility, totaling $2.9 billion in investment.
Minister says 60% of Morocco's water will be supplied by desalination
Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is accelerating investment in renewable energy-powered desalination plants, and plans to increase its supply of drinking water by 60% by 2030. This will be up from 25%. It is vital to maintain a steady supply of water and the status of Morocco as a major producer and exporter fresh produce in an era of climate change. Droughts have dried up many of its water reservoirs, and underground resources are depleted.
Russell: Silver outperforms Gold for the precious metal podium
Silver is often referred to as the bridesmaid of gold on precious metal markets. Its more popular rival seems to overshadow its less talked about counterpart. Silver is outperforming gold quietly in terms of returns for investors. It may also have a better long-term outlook, given the structural deficit in supply and the surge in demand from renewable technologies like solar panels. Since October 2023, spot silver has been on a steady upward trend.
The US SEC settles with the former CFO of smart window maker View
Former chief financial officer, View, settled a lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States. The suit claimed that he had negligently allowed View to understate costs of replacing "smart" windows with defective ones. According to a filing made Wednesday in San Jose federal court, lawyers for Vidul Prakash, and the SEC, reached a principle agreement to end the civil suit, subject to the approval of SEC commissioners. Both sides want to put the case on hold while the approval process is underway.
Russell: COP30 agreement is not important in the battle between renewables and fossil fuels.
It was not realistic to expect anything better from the COP30 Climate Summit than a weak statement that omitted all mention of fossil fuels. It was never going to be easy to bring nearly 200 countries together with vastly different perspectives and make a statement of commitment to fight climate change. After the Belem summit, the question that needs to be asked is, does what the final statement says and doesn't state, really matter? Imagine…
India's solar panels exports plunge in September due to US tariffs
Industry officials and analysts reported that India's solar modules exports dropped sharply to their lowest level this year in September after U.S. Trade Measures curbed shipments. This forced manufacturers to redirect supply to the domestic market. India's exports of panels to the United States have risen in recent years as developers seek alternatives to Chinese products due to Washington's restrictions. In the Trump administration, the U.S. imposed a tariff of 50% on Indian goods.
India's solar panels exports plunge in September due to US tariffs
Industry officials and analysts reported that India's solar modules exports dropped sharply to their lowest level this year in September after U.S. Trade Measures curbed shipments. This forced manufacturers to redirect supply to the domestic market. India's exports of panels to the United States have risen in recent years as developers seek alternatives to Chinese products due to Washington's restrictions. In the Trump administration, the U.S. imposed a tariff of 50% on Indian goods.
Russell: COP30 agreement is not important in the battle between renewables and fossil fuels.
It was not realistic to expect anything better from the COP30 Climate Summit than a weak statement that omitted all mention of fossil fuels. It was never going to be easy to bring nearly 200 countries together with vastly different perspectives and make a statement of commitment to fight climate change. After the Belem summit, the question that needs to be asked is, does what the final statement says and doesn't state, really matter? Imagine…
Pakistan claims rooftop solar production will exceed grid demand at some hubs in the next few years
Next year, rooftop solar power generation in Pakistan will surpass the electrical grid's daytime demand for the first-time ever in major industrial areas. This was revealed by a senior government representative. The outlook reflects the record growth in solar panel installations that occurred in the last few years. This boom has resulted in lower emissions, and for some, reduced electricity bills. However it has also caused financial problems for utilities with high debts due to the prolonged decline in grid-based electricty demand.
Pakistan claims rooftop solar production will exceed grid demand at some hubs in the next few years
Next year, rooftop solar power generation in Pakistan will surpass the electrical grid's daytime demand for the first ever time. This will be the case in major industrial areas. The outlook reflects the record growth in solar panel installations that occurred in recent years. This boom has resulted in lower emissions, and for some, reduced electricity bills. However it has also caused financial problems for utilities with high debts due to the prolonged decline in grid-based electricty demand.
Can West Virginia be green when Trump supports coal mining?
He is a member of Economic Development Greater East, an initiative that promotes projects in a region devastated by the decline in coal production. He said he was a fourth-generation coal miner who had moved from one mining job to another in the past. He met EDGE's founder Jason Tart when he returned to Berwind and with their support, he opened a chicken business. Startups and non-profits, like EDGE, have taken on projects aimed at clean energy and land reclamation.
Bousso: TotalEnergies' ROI-TotalEnergies power play shows Big Oil how to make energy transition work
TotalEnergies of France is betting heavily on renewables and power, positioning itself as a leader in the global energy demand wave. It also offers investors an alternative to its rivals who are doubling down on gas and oil. Since 2022, the strategies of European oil companies have been in a constant state of flux. The sanctions and full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine created a shock to the energy system that shifted the focus from long-term energy transformation to near-term security.
HoloSolis raises 255 million dollars to build solar panel factories in France
The French company HoloSolis raised over 220 million Euros ($255 million) to fund the construction of one of Europe's largest solar panel factories. Solar energy will be crucial for European plans to reduce the region's dependence on Russian energy, and to switch to more environmentally-friendly sources of energy. In July, data revealed that the European Union's growth in solar energy is on track to experience its first annual decline in over a decade.
HoloSolis raises 255 million dollars to build solar panel factories in France
The French company HoloSolis raised over 220 million Euros ($255 million) to fund the construction of one of Europe's largest solar panel factories. Solar energy will be crucial for European plans to reduce the region's dependence on Russian energy, and to switch to more environmentally-friendly sources of energy. In July, data revealed that the European Union's growth in solar energy is on track to experience its first annual decline in over a decade.
Bousso: TotalEnergies' ROI-TotalEnergies power play shows Big Oil how to make energy transition work
TotalEnergies of France is betting heavily on renewables and power, positioning itself as a leader in the global energy demand wave. It also offers investors an alternative to its rivals who are doubling down on gas and oil. Since 2022, the strategies of European oil companies have been in a constant state of flux. The sanctions and full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine created an energy shock which prompted governments to focus on the near-term security rather than the long-term transition.
Kuwait's latest tender invites bids on a new 0.5-GW Solar Project
Kuwait invited pre-qualified consortiums to submit bids for a new solar power project of 0.5 gigawatts, which aims to expand clean energy generation in the Gulf State. Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects announced in its official gazette on Sunday that the second tender of the year will cover the Al Dibdibah Power & Al Shagaya Renewable Energy Phase III - a Zone 2 Solar Power PV Independent Power Project. KAPP said that the company will provide power to the Ministry of Electricity through a 30-year agreement for purchase of electricity.
China's power generation in October was the highest ever for a month.
Data from the Statistics Bureau showed that China's electricity generation in October was at its highest level in almost three decades. The power generation in October was 800.2 billion Kilowatt-hours, up 7.9% on a year ago and the highest since 1998. The increase in electricity demand resulted in a 7.3% rise in the thermal power production, or fossil fuelled power, at 513.8 billions kWh. This was the highest output of thermal power for October since the 1990s. China's thermal energy output is mainly coal, with a little natural gas.
Made in Nigeria: Africa's drive to become a solar superpower
In pink overalls they pack the tested products to be shipped from the Salpha Energy solar assembly plant near Calabar, West Africa. It's not happening at home anymore. Salpha Energy, which began in 2017, has produced solar power systems for over two million Nigerian households and businesses. It aims to produce up to 300,000. Salpha Energy is part and parcel of the green leadership that Africans attending the U.N. COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil want to promote and showcase. Carlos Lopes is the special envoy of the COP30 Presidency for Africa.
At COP30, California Governor Newsom blasts Trump for 'dumb' US climate policy
California Governor Gavin Newsom told an audience at the COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil that California would continue to prioritize the use of green technology while criticizing U.S. president Donald Trump's decision to reverse federal government policy on climate change. He lamented, at a meeting with Germany's Vice Minister for Climate and other state officials, that the Trump administration was censuring the clean energy market to China. Newsom, in his first of many scheduled appearances in Brazil's Amazonian city of Belem at the U.N.
Newsom assures California's climate'reliable partners' at the COP30 summit in Brazil
California Governor Gavin Newsom arrived in Belem, an Amazonian city, with a message to the COP30 Summit: despite Washington's abandonment the state will remain a "reliable" partner on climate policy and eco-technology. Newsom, a strident opponent of U.S. president Donald Trump, has been hinting at a presidential run in 2028 for months. He is scheduled to meet officials from some 195 countries that are attending the U.N. Climate Negotiations this year.
Tata Power to build India's largest wafer and ingot manufacturing plant
Tata Power, India's largest solar ingots and wafers manufacturer, plans to build a 10 gigawatt manufacturing facility. This is according to the chief executive Praveer sinha. Tata Power would be present in the entire manufacturing chain of solar cells with the facility that makes the wafers and ingots, the foundational materials for solar cells. Tata Power already has 4.9GW of integrated module and cell-making capacity. As the U.S. tariffs for Indian products increased, solar module exports became less attractive.
Qcells furloughs 1000 workers in US solar factories because of stalled shipments
Qcells, a U.S. subsidiary of Hanwha of Korea, has announced that it will lay off 1,000 workers from its Georgia plants because U.S. Customs officials are routinely delaying shipments of parts it needs. The company announced the news months after it said that some of its shipments had been held at U.S. port under a law which will be in effect by 2021 and ban imports from China’s Xinjiang due to concerns over forced labor. Qcells is investing $2.5 billion in a complete U.S. supply chain for solar panels to compete with China.
Emmvee Photovoltaic, a company that is preparing to IPO, bets $625.75 millions on India's solar boom.
Emmvee Photovoltaic Power, an Indian solar panel manufacturer that is preparing to launch its initial public offering, plans to invest around 55 billion rupees (625.75 million dollars) to expand their manufacturing capacity. They are betting on the robust demand in India, according to a top executive. The company plans to increase its capacity to 16.3 GW in the first half 2028. It currently has 7.8 gigawatts. Emmvee also plans to increase its cell production from 2.94 GW to 8.94 Gw by the first half 2028.
Maguire: Clean energy push in Australia reaches pivotal milestone for energy transition
Last month, Australian utilities produced more electricity using clean energy sources than fossil fuels. This was a first for one of the top coal and natural gas exporters in the world. Data from the energy think tank Ember show that in October, utility-supplied electricity from clean sources reached 9.88 terawatts hours (TWh), which was higher than the 9.82 TWh produced by fossil fuels. The breakthrough in the energy mix is a result of…