Major projects and companies

• The entry into operation of the Cambambe heightening, the Soyo and Laúca power stations, with more than 3.5 GW, constitutes a fundamental reinforcement that allows for a more stable energy supply.
• A project is underway to install solar hybrid plants in 7 municipalities which will be an important learning process for future projects in the pipeline. 

• In December 2021, the Northern Territory government granted Aqua Aerem “major project” status in order to expedite its approval process and commence the development of the proposed 10 GW Desert Bloom Hydrogen project in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. The estimated USD15 billion project to be carried out in various stages, seeks to produce renewable hydrogen using water drawn from the air in order to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. The initial production of hydrogen from initial stages is expected to be completed in 2023, with full production to commence by 2027.
• In October 2021, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), a subsidiary of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), announced its partnership with the Queensland government to build the Global Green Energy Manufacturing Centre (GEM Centre) at Aldoga in the Gladstone State Development Area (SDA). The GEM Centre expected to cost more than AUD1 billion to complete will be the world’s largest green-energy infrastructure and equipment-manufacturing facility. FFI gained planning approval to construct the facility in November 2021 and is anticipated to have the first electrolysers produced by 2023 in order to produce 2 GW of electrolyser capacity per annum, with a view of ultimately producing 15 million tons of green hydrogen a year by 2030.
• Vena Energy, one of the largest independent power producers of renewable energy, proposes to develop the Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project located near Wandoan, 400 km north-west of Brisbane in the Darling Downs region. The BESS has the capacity to produce 100 MW and storage 150 MWh of energy, which is equivalent to providing electricity to 57,000 average homes annually.
• In 2018, Energy Estate and MirusWind announced plans to develop the Walcha Energy Project in New South Wales which will combine wind and solar energy generation with pumped hydro storage and other storage options. The Walcha Energy Project will be the biggest single renewable energy project once completed and once connected to the NEM in 2022, will have a generating capacity of up to 4 GW of clean energy.
• Windlab, a global renewable energy development company, together with Eurus Energy, commenced construction of Kennedy Energy Park in late 2017 – the world’s first utility-scale hybrid wind, solar and energy storage project located in Flinders Shire, Queensland. Once fully operational, the facility will feature 43 MW of wind, 15 MW of solar panels and 2 MW/4 MWh of battery storage. These initial power generation facilities are intended to act as a proof of concept with the ultimate plan to construct up to 1,300 MW of renewable power generation, which is equivalent to providing electricity to 800,000 homes.
• Lacour Energy, a renewable energy development company, announced plans to develop Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm located 150 km north west of Rockhampton and 150 km south of Mackay farm in central Queensland. Once constructed, the project would be the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere with a power output of over 800 MW (using up to 195 wind turbines), up to 400 MW of solar power and a battery energy storage. 
• Also in the pipeline is the Sun Cable project in the Northern Territory which will harness and store solar energy in Darwin and transport solar energy to Singapore via a high voltage direct current transmission system. Once the Sun Cable project becomes operational in 2026, it will be the world’s first intercontinental power grid with a generating capacity of 10 GW.

• OMV AG has launched the construction of Austria’s biggest electrolyser at its refinery in Schwechat, which shall reach yearly production of up until 1.500 tons of green hydrogen. The renewable energy for the electrolyser is partly sourced from wind turbines located in Lower Austria on the basis of a long term PPA between W.E.B. and OMV.
• After many years of administrative proceedings, in 2020 APG was finally granted the permission to construct the new 380 kV power line in Salzburg, which is considered to be the “missing link” in Austria’s 380 kV power line ring.
• Major energy and electricity companies contributing: Verbund AG, OMV AG, EVN AG, Wien Energie GmbH, Illwerke VKW.

• The federal government agreement of 30 September 2020 envisages an increase in the development of offshore capacity, so that by 2028 4.4 GW should be installed.  
• Belgium is also reinforcing its interconnection capacity with its neighbours:
  • The Nemo Link interconnector between Belgium and the United Kingdom consist of subsea and underground power cables connected to a converter station and a high-voltage substation in each country, allowing electricity to flow in either direction between the two countries. The Nemo Link interconnector went live at the end of January 2019. 
  • The ALEGrO project consists in the construction of a high voltage direct current link with a bidirectional rated power of approximately 1000 MW capacity, as the first interconnection between Belgium and Germany. This first interconnector between Belgium and Germany was commissioned in November 2020. 
  • The Brabo project has three main goals: (i) allow transborder electricity flows, (ii) enhance the Belgian electricity grid and (iii) allow a better distribution of electricity flows. This project consists of three subprojects. Brabo I has already been commissioned. Brabo II is ongoing and Brabo III is planned to be commissioned by the end of 2024.

The wind farm Lagoa dos Ventos, the largest wind project in South America, with 716 MW of installed capacity, started operating on June 2021. This is the largest wind farm in Enel Green Power’s portfolio in the world. An expansion of this plant is currently under construction, with the additional capacity of 396 MW.  

French company Voltalia has started the operation of a solar plant in the state of Rio Grande do Norte with more than 320 MW in installed capacity. It is part of the Serra Branca complex, the largest solar and wind complex in the world, with 2.4 GW in installed capacity. 

Chemical company Unigel started on July 26th, 2022, the construction of the first green hydrogen plant in Brazil, which is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of 2023, receiving an initial investment of USD120 million. Other major power companies, such as Enel and CTG, have also announced investments in the development of this power source in Brazil. 

One of the most relevant current discussions in the Brazilian power sector concerns the privatization of Eletrobras, a company created in the 1960s that operates in the power generation and transmission sectors in Brazil and in SPVs for the development of power projects. The largest power company in Latin America, it is responsible for more than a third of the country’s generation capacity and for approximately half of the transmission lines of the basic grid. 

The privatization was achieved in June 2022, through a capitalization process, in which new shares of the company were offered to the private sector, for an approximate amount of BRL 29 billion. The federal government’s equity in Eletrobras was reduced to approximately 35% of the voting shares. With the completion of the privatization process, Eletrobras is expected to renew its investment capacity (which has been insufficient in the last years), contributing to the further development of the power sector in Brazil. One of the examples of such renewed investment capacity is that Eletronorte – a Eletrobras subsidiary – was awarded with Lot 8 of the Transmission Auction No. 1/22. Prior to this auction, Eletrobras was not able to win any transmission auctions for almost a decade. 

Major international companies, among them Engie, Enel, EDP, Statkraft, and Scatec, have renewable projects in Brazil.

• British Columbia is constructing a 1,100 MW hydroelectric facility called Site C. It received approval in 2014 and is anticipated to be operational in 2024. 
• The Muskrat Falls Project in Newfoundland and Labrador is a construction of an 824 MW hydroelectric facility and commenced operations in 2020.  
• The La Romaine Complex Unit 4 project in Quebec is a 1,550 MW hydroelectric facility that aims to be fully operational in 2022.  
• The Canyon Creek Project in Alberta is a 75 MW hydroelectric pumped storage facility that will be completed in 2022. 
• Saamis Solar is a 300 MW solar photovoltaic project in Medicine Hat, Alberta. It is expected to operate in 2022.
• Travers Solar Project will be Canada’s largest solar facility that will begin operating in Q4 2022. It will be located in Alberta and will produce 465 MW of solar energy. 
• Sharp Hills Wind Farm near Sedalia, Alberta is expected to have a capacity of 300 MW. It is expected to commence operations in 2023. 
• Wild Rose Wind Farm Alberta will have an installed capacity of 409 MW and its development is expected to start in 2022. 
• In 2020, RBC signed a contract to procure green energy directly from BluEarth Renewables and Bullfrog Power. Also, Capital Power announced new wind and solar projects to reduce their overall emissions. 
• Amazon invested in its first renewable energy investment in Canada through a solar project in Alberta. It ‎is set to produce 80 MW of renewable energy to the grid and power over 18,000 Canadian homes yearly. ‎This is the largest solar power purchase agreement in Canada and the project is anticipated to be ‎completed by 2023.  ‎

• According to the Project Support Unit (UAP), of the Development Division of Projects of the Ministry of Energy, as June 2022, there are 107 energy projects in the construction phase, including generation plants (91 plants), transmission works (15 projects) and green hydrogen (1 project).  All of them represent an investment of USD 6,853 million.
• In 2021, the Cerro Dominador solar complex, located in Atacama Desert, inaugurated its Solar Power Concentration (CSP) plant, the first in Latin America. The plant generates during the day and night, as it concentrate the solar radiation reflected in a receiver located at the top of a 250 meter tower.
• Currently, there are 6 projects in Chile that have been awarded CORFO funds (first call for application) to develop green hydrogen projects:
  • “HyEx” in northern Chile, that will use solar energy to power 1.6 GW of electrolyzers, that will be used in mining; and
  • the “HIF” project, at the opposite end of Chile, in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region, that will use wind energy to generate green hydrogen-based e-fuels, using a 1.25 MW electrolyzer, and in the commercial phases it will be higher than 1 GW;
  • “Quintero Bay H2 Hub”, an electrolysis plant located in central Chile (GNL Quintero Terminal), which will generate H2 from water and removable electricity, will have a nominal power of 10 MW and considers an initial production of about 500 t/year;
  • ”HyPro Aconcagua”, which is intended to replace a part of the current gray hydrogen production of the Aconcagua oil refinery and is expected to produce 3000 t/year of H2;
  • “Antofagasta Mining Energy Renewable (AMER)” located in the north of the country, which is expected to produce 60,000 tons per year of e-methanol, green hydrogen and CO₂ captured from a fixed source, with 80 MW of electrolyzed power;
  • “H2V CAP” in the Bio Bio Region, that seeks to implement a green hydrogen plant through the installation of electrolyzes for a power of up to 20 MW, for a production of 1,550 tons of green hydrogen per year and reduction of CO₂ emissions by approximately 161,000 tons.  

Production projects in progress 

Hydroelectric power plants

• Singrobo (44 MW), Gribopopoli (112 MW)

Biomass plants 

• Biovea (46 MW) 

Thermal gas power plants 

• Azito IV: (TAG 179 MW and TAV 74 MW), Ciprel 5: TAG (255 MW and TAV 135 MW 

Future generation projects 

Hydroelectric power plants

• Boutoubré (150 MW), Louga 1 (126 MW), Zégbéry (13 MW), Ferké (8 MW), Mankono (8 MW), Louga 2 (120 MW), Tiassalé (27 MW), Man (3 MW), Téhini (4 MW), Aboisso (6 MW) 

Biomass plants

• Ten plants with a total capacity of 265 MW

ČEZ produces about three-quarters of electricity in the Czech Republic. ČEZ supports renewable energy, as it increases the number of produced electricity from renewable sources every year. In 2017 about 2,219 GWH was produced from water, solar and wind power plants. And 572 GWH came from biomass in the same year. Three years later, in 2020, the amount of produced electricity from power plants increased up to 2,518 GWH and 625 GWH from biomass. In 2020 about 3,143 GWH of electricity was produced from renewable sources.

The other major Czech producer of electricity (covering mostly the Prague area) is PRE. PRE used to offer a special program called “PREekoproud” which was aimed at the electricity from renewable sources only. However, this program has recently been stopped.

If we consider share of electricity from renewable sources in electricity consumption, there is an improving trend. In 2010, electricity from renewable sources was only 5%, in 2020 it was 10% and it is supposed to be up to 38% in 2050.

• On December 1, 2021, the Thor Offshore Wind Farm project was awarded to RWE. The 800 to 1,000 MW project will have COD no later than 2027.
• The Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm tender has been ongoing but was put on hold in June 2021 as soft clay formations have been found in the upper 20-30 m below the seabed, and further analysis of the preliminary site is deemed necessary.
• Development of an artificial island in the North Sea and surrounding offshore wind farms approximately 80 km off the coast of Thorsminde. The island will comprise electrotechnical facilities for routing electricity from the wind turbines into the electricity grid, and potentially also a harbor and service facilities for the first 3 GW of offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Later, the island and wind farms are intended to be expanded to generate and distribute up to 10 GW of electricity.
• The energy island in the Baltic Sea will be Bornholm, where electrotechnical facilities on the island will serve as a hub for offshore wind farms off the coast, supplying 2 GW of energy.
• The largest European plant for production of green ammonia is currently being planned near the Danish North Sea coast. The project features a production capacity for 600,000 tons of green ammonia made from renewable energy. The plant will allow the use of otherwise idle capacity when the production of renewable energy exceeds demand.
• Key Danish players are Ørsted, Vestas, Siemens Wind Power, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Better Energy, European Energy, BeGreen, GreenGo and Obton. Additionally, a number of international key players are active in Denmark both through project development and investments in Danish projects.
  
  

Offshore wind

Seven offshore wind farms projects are currently under development:

The following calls for tenders are currently ongoing:

The Minister for Energy Transition announced on August 9, 2022 that a call for tender for a new offshore wind farm project with a capacity of up to 1.5 GW will be launched by the end of the year in the “Centre Manche” area.

Other ongoing calls for tenders

The table below sets out the calls for tenders for solar projects launched in 2021 which are scheduled within the next years. 

Major companies

EDF Renouvelables, Engie, Voltalia, Neoen and Compagnie Nationale du Rhône are among the major renewable energy producers in France.

• In line with the Government’s intention to take a more active role in exploration and production activities with the goal of ensuring maximum recovery of Ghana’s oil and gas resources, GNPC Explorco, a subsidiary of GNPC has been set to acquire assets and become an operator. On August 2021, a joint parliamentary committee approved the potential acquisition by GNPC Explorco of a significant stake in the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points and South Deep Water Tano Blocks.
• The Amandi Power Project (200MW Twin City Energy Project) has been completed, achieved commercial operation and dispatching power to the grid.
• The renegotiation and restructuring of the six (6) Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the energy sector is progressing steadily. The refinancing and restructuring of the Cenpower project are expected to be completed by end of year.
• The First Phase of the 912kWp Jubilee Solar PV project has also been completed.
• The Bui Power Authority 50MW Solar Power Plant and the VRA 13MW Kaleo Solar Project have been successfully commissioned and operationalized.
• A total of 2,657 units of solar lanterns have been distributed to rural and peri-urban communities at subsidized price as part of efforts to promote clean lighting sources.
• A Swiss company, NEK in collaboration with an Accra-based Atlantic International Holding Company are developing a 50 MW wind project.
• The Volta River Authority is currently, seeking to develop a 150 MW wind capacity project in the southern part of Ghana by 2020.
• The World Bank has financed a USD220 million Ghana Energy and Development Access Project (GEDAP), which is among the first Bank-financed programs to focus on inclusive access to renewable energy through off-grid solar services and products.
• The government in 2020 inaugurated a 5 MW floating solar photovoltaic system on the reservoir of the Bui Hydroelectric Dam in Ghana. The 5 MW pilot PV array is the first section of a floating PV project with a total capacity of 250 MW, which will be implemented in blocks of 50 MW.
• The government also launched the construction of two photovoltaic solar power plants in the Upper West region of Ghana. This project is entirely financed via a loan from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the two plants will have a capacity of 17 MWp. The project will be split in two; the first being the Kaleo Solar Power Plant (13 MWp) and the Lawra Power Plant (4 MWp).
• The Agence Française de Development, in collaboration with the World Bank and Volta River Authority funded various studies to ascertain the feasibility of the Pwalugu and Juale hydropower sites with 40 MW and
  90 MW capacities respectively.
• The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Project (HSAP) covering six hydropower sites, (Lanka, Ntereso, Koulbi, Daboya, Kalpawn, and Jambito), on the Black and White Volta Rivers with total capacity of
  362 MW was funded by Swiss Government through SECO.
• Under the GEDAP project, the Ministry of Power in partnership with the African Development Bank conducted pre-feasibility assessment on 10 additional small and medium hydropower sites which is capable of generating 248 MW.

See introduction of FiT Scheme in Hong Kong.

In the Hungarian Energy Strategy 2030, the Government defines the priorities that will drive and guide the national energy and climate strategy and future actions in the energy industry. These priorities are:

• climate-friendly and flexible power generation;
• improving the energy efficiency of the economy;
• green transport;
• energy-conscious and modern Hungarian homes.;
• energy innovation projects;
• energy and climate-smart society programme.

The Paks II project, which is practically the capacity expansion of the operating Paks nuclear power plant is the largest project in Hungary as of 2022. More than 40% of the electricity production comes from the existing Paks nuclear power plant, however its life expectancy will expire between 2032-37, therefore the new power plant is needed for the continuous supply of electricity. The new Paks II power plant, which consists of two units will have a nominal capacity of 2400 MW and is expected to start its operation in 2027-28. The Government expects Hungary to be independent in electricity supplies after the successful commission of the new NPP units.

MVM, the state-owned electricity company has a solar power capacity of approx. 200 MW, with further renewable power plants under construction. Their PV acquisitions and constructions are continuous, expanding their capacity from year to year.

MVM also owns the two largest hydroelectric power plants with a nominal capacity of 40.5 MW, the plants are located at Tiszalök and Kisköre. This makes MVM the biggest electricity generator, considering the hydroelectric sector.

There are also many small companies, who operate smaller capacities of renewable energy. The renewable energy capacities are taking higher and higher parts of the energy generation every year.

The Hungarian Solar Panel Solar Collector Association (in Hungarian: Magyar Napelem Napkollektor Szövetség) is an institution for the popularisation of solar energy, with the effort of informing the public about technological developments, support schemes and services; lobbying for the promotion of renewable energy; participating in the design of grant and tender schemes, supporting legislation.

• The National Recovery and Resilience Plan provides a package of investments and reforms divided into six missions. The Plan promotes an ambitious agenda of reforms, whose main four concern:
  • public administration
  • justice
  • simplification
  • competitiveness
    
    Each component reflects reforms and investment priorities in a particular sector or area of intervention, or related activities and themes, aimed at addressing specific problems and forming a coherent package of complementary measures.
• Enel is Europe's largest utility, with a market capitalization of EUR103 billion, 67,000 employees and a presence in more than 30 countries. Its division dedicated to renewable generation – Enel Green Power – was founded in 2008; today Enel has a renewable capacity of about 44 GW, which it intends to increase to GW by 2030 through investments of EUR160 billion.

The ten general electricity utilities, plus J-Power and the Japan Atomic Power Company, are the main players in the power generation market. Tokyo Electric Power Company and Chubu Electric Power jointly established JERA to integrate their fuel procurement and thermal generation business. Some registered retailers (including ex-PPS companies) have their own power generation plants and supply their own generated electricity to their customers.

In the offshore wind sector, bidding processes organized by the government to choose operators of the offshore wind projects are currently proceeding in several areas. Mitsubishi Corporation and its alliance won three bids recently (total output amount is 1.7 GW).

• Frontier Energy is currently involved in the development of two 40 MW solar power plants in Uasin Gishu (Selenkei and Cedate Solar PV power projects). The projects reached financial close in 2019 with FMO and EIB as senior lenders.
• Kenya Solar Energy Limited is developing a 40 MW solar power project in Witu, Lamu county.
• Globeleq is developing a 40 MW solar power plant in Malindi County.
• KenGen remains a leader in the energy generation space in Kenya and has various projects currently under development. These include:
  • the development of the 83 MW Olkaria I unit 6  which was commissioned recently adding 86 MW to the grid;
  • the rehabilitation of the 45 MW Olkaria 1 (Units 1, 2 and 3) Geothermal Power Plant to upgrade it to 50.7 MW;
  • development of a 40 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) pilot plant in seven forks area in Embu county;
  • the redevelopment of Gogo Power Plant in Migori County to increase the current installed capacity from 2 MW to 10 MW;
  • raising of the Masinga Dam Spillway by an additional 1.5 meters to increase its storage and power generation capacity; and
  • conducting a feasibility study to determine the potential of wind power in Marsabit.
• Serengeti Energy (formerly known as ResponsAbility Renewable Energy Holding (rAREH)) is developing a 33 MW solar power project in Makindu, Makueni County.
• Alten Energías Renovables is developing a 40 MW solar power project in Kesses, Eldoret County.
• Aperture Green Power Company is developing a 50 MW Wind Power Project in Limuru, Kiambu County.
• Chania Green Generation is also developing a 50 MW Wind Power Project in Kajiado County.

• Mauritius has encouraged the financing and development of PV power plant projects through both international competitive bidding and joint ventures between the local private sector and international companies.
  • For example, the Medine Group in partnership with Akuo Group, set up a solar farm in Henrietta that has been operational since February 2019 with a production capacity of 17.5 MW. There have also been several initiatives led by the Central Electricity Board (CEB), the public utility company, such as the installation of PV rooftop systems on 10,000 low-income households.
  • Helios Beau Champ is a project of the Alteo Group and consists of 38,016 photovoltaic panels laid out over 14 hectares of land. It can generate up to 16 GWh of electricity per year, all of which is sold back to the Mauritian grid.
  • Terragen which is part of the Terra group also has an agenda to favour renewable energies as an alternative to coal. The measures to be implemented include:
    • Increase the yield of sugar cane straw to produce more electricity from it;
    • Set up a solar power plant, to reduce the consumption of coal;
    • Introduce eucalyptus-type biomass fuels – cultivation has already started with Terragri – or even, recycled wood.

The major projects are as follows: 

• CTRG (Central Termica de Ressano Garcia), a gas-fired power plant with 175 MW capacity, operating since 2016;
• CTT (Central termica de Temane), a gas-fired power plant scheduled to commence construction in 2021, with 450MW combined with the construction of 563km of 400kV transmission lines along with three new substations
  • In Temane, Province of Inhambane and the transmission line over three provinces, namely Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo 
  • The construction works were scheduled to start in late 2021 
• Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Power Plant with 1.500 MW capacity
  • In Cahora Bassa District, Province of Tete
  • Funding is scheduled for 2024 with the project to commence shortly thereafter
• Metoro Solar Power Plant with 30 MW capacity
  • In Ancuabe District, province of Cabo Delgado
  • Operations are scheduled to commence in January 2022 
• Namaacha Wind Power Plant with 120 MW capacity
  • In Namaacha District, Province of Maputo
  • Currently under feasibility studies 
• Tsatse Hydroelectric Power Plant with 50 MW capacity
  • In Tsatse, Province of Tete
  • Currently under feasibility studies
• Boroma Hydroelectric Power Plant with 180 MW capacity
  • In Boroma, Province of Tete
  • Currently under feasibility studies 
• Lupata Hydroelectric Power Plant with 600 MW capacity
  • In Lupata, Province of Manica
  • Currently under feasibility studies
• Some of the companies involved are as follows: Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited; EleQtra, Limited; Scatec Solar; KLP Norfund Investments; Neon Energy Group; Ncondezi Energy, among others.

The Dutch government regularly provides updates about ongoing major projects on the www.rvo.nl website.

We have highlighted some major renewable energy projects below:

Green hydrogen

The Netherlands – and Europe as a whole – faces the task of more than halving carbon emissions by 2030 in order to become climate-neutral by 2050. The transition to clean energy occupies a key position in this pursuit, especially for the industry. Green hydrogen is a key pillar in the energy transition to a more sustainable energy system. 

Project NortH₂

• NortH₂ was launched in 2020 in order to investigate the feasibility of large-scale production of green hydrogen in the Northern Netherlands in concert with all other stakeholders. The ultimate aim of the project is to use self-generated offshore wind energy to produce green hydrogen, as well as storing and delivering hydrogen to industry and heavy mobility clients in the Netherlands and beyond. This scope makes NortH₂ one of the most ambitious hydrogen projects in Europe.

Project Uniper – Rotterdam

• Energy company Uniper and the Port of Rotterdam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the production of green hydrogen at the Uniper Maasvlakte site. The 100 MW electrolysis plant is planned to be connected to the planned hydrogen-based infrastructure HyTransport.RTM. The infrastructure is supposed to provide the Port of Rotterdam of CO₂ neutral hydrogen-based energy. 

Offshore 

The Dutch section of the North Sea has the potential to play a significant role in hitting the targets of the Climate Agreement and the transition to energy from renewable sources, not least with offshore wind energy. 

Project IJmuiden Ver

• In the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone, 3 sites have been designated: Alpha (formerly I-II), Beta (formerly III-IV) and Gamma (formerly V-VI). The Dutch Government will start 2 tender procedures for the permits to develop projects in this wind farm zone: Sites Alpha and Beta in 2023 and Site Gamma in 2025.
• The IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone (IJVWFZ) is located 33.4 nautical miles (62 km) off the west coast of the Netherlands in the Dutch North Sea. The total surface area of the sites within the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone (including the maintenance and safety zones) is approximately 650 km². Approximately 6 GW of new offshore wind capacity will be installed in IJVWFZ, with the power generated supplied to the Dutch electricity grid. 

TenneT

• TenneT, the National Grid operator, is responsible for the building and operation of the offshore grid, connecting the offshore wind farms with the onshore grid.
• TenneT will install 3 platforms with 3 grid connections in the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone.
• TenneT's platforms all have a 2GW direct current (DC) connection to an onshore substation. With DC, the voltage on the grid remains constant. With alternating current, the voltage shifts between positive voltage and negative voltage 50 times per second. These are the first offshore wind farms in the Netherlands to be connected with a DC connection. 

CO₂-storage

The Climate Agenda is aiming for a CO₂ reduction of 80-95% in 2050. This can be achieved by capturing CO₂ at the source and transporting it to storage locations located deep underground, also called Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). 

Project Porthos

• The parties behind Porthos are developing the project to transport CO₂ from industry in the Port of Rotterdam and store this in empty gas fields under the North Sea.
• The CO₂ that will be transported and stored by Porthos, will be captured by various companies. The companies will supply their CO2 to a collective pipeline that runs through the Rotterdam port area. The CO₂ will then be pressurised in a compressor station. The CO₂ will be transported through an offshore pipeline to a platform in the North Sea, approximately 20 km off the coast. From this platform, the CO₂ will be pumped in an empty gas field. The empty gas fields are situated in a sealed reservoir of porous sandstone, more than 3 km beneath the North Sea.
• Porthos will store around 37 Mton CO₂, approximately 2.5 Mton CO₂ per year for 15 years.

• Hydropower generation has remained relatively steady since 1993. The only major hydropower project since then was the completion of the second Manapouri tailrace tunnel in 2002, increasing the station from 585MW to 750MW. Further expansion of hydropower generation is constrained because of community concerns over environmental impacts and loss of amenity values, as well as competing demands for water resources.
• Hydrogen energy has been an area of focus in recent years. In 2019, the Government released the H2 Taranaki Roadmap, which outlines how Taranaki can leveraged its existing skills and infrastructure to become a leader in the hydrogen energy space. In 2020, Taranaki-based company, Hiringa Energy, and King Country-based company, Waitomo Group, announced plans to develop New Zealand's first nationwide hydrogen refuelling station. The Government has committed $19.9 million in principle from the Provincial Growth Fund to the project.
• Contact Energy has begun early work on developing a new 150MW geothermal power station on the Tauhara geothermal field in Taupō. Contact Energy is expected to invest $600 million into the project. 
• Future electricity generation investment is likely to be in a mix of generating plants, predominantly wind, solar and geothermal, with gas-fuelled plants for peaking and dry-year support. The 2010 streamlining of resource management legislation is intended to assist the development of new generation plant.
• In addition to the 19 wind farms that are either operating or under construction, there are about 10 projects that have been ‘consented’. However, not all projects with ‘consent’ will be built. Many are currently on hold as developers wait for demand to increase enough to make the wind farm commercially viable.

• In 2019, PowerGen commissioned the first mini grid under the Nigeria Electrification project in the Rokota community. The 64kW solar hybrid mini-grid and 60kWh of battery storage has a 10km distribution network and is capable of supplying electricity to local businesses and over 400 households.
• The Federal Government on 3 December 2019, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), commissioned a 234kW solar hybrid mini grid power plant in Shimankar community, Shendam local government area, Plateau State. The installed mini grid is expected to provide reliable electricity to 1,972 households, 273 commercial users, 5 productive users and 19 public users in the community and to further improve the socio-economic life of the community. 
• The Federal Government through the REA also commissioned a 98.8kW solar hybrid mini grid power plant at Kare-Dadin Kowa, Kebbi State, under its Rural Electrification Fund (REF). This is part of the Federal Government’s initiative to promote off-grid electrification and stimulate innovative approaches to rural electrification.
• In the same vein, the Federal Government through the REA, also commissioned a 100kW solar hybrid mini grid power plant in Akpabom Community, Onna Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The project was constructed and operated by GVE (Nigeria’s leading mini-grid developer) and jointly financed by the Rural Electrification Fund, impact investor All On, and the Akwa Ibom State government.   

A few examples of ongoing major projects:

• Longship/Northern Lights (Government’s carbon capture/storage)
• Empire Wind, Hywind Tampen (Equinor, offshore) 

Some major Norwegian players/companies contributing in general to the renewable future in Norway:

• Equinor
• FERD
• Vårgrønn
• Hafslund E-CO
• Nysnø Climate Investments
• Aker Group (Carbon/Hydrogen/Offshore, Bio etc)

• On October 26, 2012, the Central Solar “Repartición 20T" was inaugurated in the district of La Joya, province of Arequipa, the first photovoltaic plant in Peru with an investment of USD73 million and an approximate power of 20 MW.
• Enel Green Power Perú S.A. has been operating a big 126MW wind power station on the Wayra I in Ica. Contact Energy is expected to invest USD165 million into the project. In Addition, Enel Green Power Perú S.A. has been operating solar plant 144MW solar farm in Moquegua.
• Until July 2020, there are a total of 30 RER power plants under construction (between hydroelectric and wind), however, most of these are paralyzed due to controversies currently submitted to arbitration.
• In 2022, MINEM approved renewable energy projects for nine photovoltaic and four wind power plants, as well as other electrical works (transmission lines, substations and rural electrical systems) with an investment of approximately USD3.85 billion.

Key players

• Energa Capital Group
• Enea S.A.
• Tauron Polska Energia S.A.
• PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.
• innogy Polska S.A. (since the end of 2021 – E.ON Polska S.A.).
• PKN Orlen
• Polenergia
• EDP Renewables Polska
• OX2
• Mashav Energia
• Respect Energy
• Tauron Ekoenergia
• PGE Energia Odnawialna 

Solar energy

Large-scale solar investments are becoming more and more popular in Poland. Many of these projects are still in the development phase, such as Zwartowo PV farm located near the coastline and is to have an installed capacity of 204 MW (first phase of the investment) that will be extended to 390 MW in the second phase of investment. It’s the largest PV project in this part of Europe (as large as 300 ha) and by 2050 will limit CO₂ emissions by 5 million tons. The project is developed by the Polish company Respect Energy S.A. in partnership with the German corporation Goldbeck Solar.

Some Projects have already been developed. In autumn 2021, the news broke that photovoltaic power plant located in Brudzew has commenced operations and started production of electricity. As of this moment, PV Brudzew is the largest photovoltaic power plant in Poland, with an installed capacity of 70 MW. PV Brudzew was constructed by ESOLEO and PAK Serwis for the commercial group ZE PAK.

Additionally, it needs to be highlighted that solar energy has undergone a rapid development in recent years. According to data from PSE, the installed capacity of PV installations in Poland has increased rapidly since September 2021 from 6.3 GW up to 9.4 in March 2022. 

On-shore wind

The first place in the ranking of wind farms in Poland by capacity is taken by the Potęgowo Wind Farm. It has 81 turbines with capacities: 2.5 MW and 2.75 MW. It was fully commissioned in December 2020.

The second largest wind farm in Poland is located in Margonin in the Wielkopolskie Voivodship. It has been in operation since 2009. It has 60 windmills with a total capacity of 120 MW.

OX2 is implementing the construction of the Grajewo wind farm. The wind farm will consist of a total of 12 turbines (40 MW) with an estimated annual energy production of 130.6 GWh. The entire project should be finalized and commissioned by the end of 2022. Another important project on the map of Polish renewable sources is the Sulmierzyce wind farm. The farm will consist of a total of seven turbines (23.1 MW) and will have an estimated annual energy production of 67.6 GW. 

Offshore wind and others

February 18, 2021, marked the entry of the legal act regulating offshore wind farms in Poland. As a first step, public aid is granted via a decision of the President of Energy Regulatory Office. Such decisions were issued for these projects:

• EW Baltica 2 (1498 MW)
• EW Baltica 3 (1045 MW)
• Baltic Trade and Invest (350 MW)
• OWF Baltic II (720 MW)
• OWF Baltic III (720 MW)
• Baltic Power (1197 MW) 
• BC-Wind Polska (369 MW)

This means that Polenergia and Equinor, PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Ørsted, RWE Renewables, PKN Orlen and Northland Power and Ocean Winds will receive support.

On 13 August, the Act of 7 July 2022 amending the Act on maritime safety and the Act on maritime areas of the Republic of Poland and maritime administration will come into force, which introduces three types of certificates confirming compliance with the requirements set out in the Act on promoting electricity generation in offshore wind farms:

1. the certificate of design conformity, confirming the compatibility of the construction project with technical standards
2. the certificate of exploitation, confirming the compatibility of the construction process with the construction design and the certificate of design conformity
3. the certificate of operational safety, confirming the completeness and correctness of the documentation in terms of proper maintenance and servicing of the offshore wind farm or its part or set of equipment.

In the following years support will be granted in an auction system similar to the one described above.

• The Portuguese Government has announced public tenders for lithium prospection and research rights with respect to 6 areas will proceed in 2022, following the completion of viability assessments.
• The first hydrogen cluster in Portugal starts 2023. The GreenH2Atlantic project is the result of a consortium of 13 entities and has a funding of €30 million.
• EDP Renováveis (EDPR) sold a wind portfolio of 221 megawatts (MW), located in Portugal, to Onex Renewables, in a deal valued at €534 million. EDP Renewables is a global leader in the renewable energy sector and the world’s fourth-largest wind energy producer.
• Electrica dos Açores plans to invest €181 million in renewable energy by 2026.
• Investment of two billion in wind farm off Viana do Castelo: A German group wants to install 25 to 53 wind turbines offshore to produce energy in 2028.
• Public tender for the conversion of the Pego power station, in Abrantes.
• KEME Energy, a Portuguese company that implements renewable energy self-consumption projects, will invest 5.2 million in installing a green hydrogen production plant in Sines (Setúbal).
• Iberdrola has started the construction of four solar farms in Portugal totalling 86MW.

The last couple of years was marked by an ever-increasing interest for investments in renewable capacities in Romania, mainly focusing on solar and wind parks.

The most recent statistical data from the transport and system operator indicated that, at the level of May 2020, there was a total of approx. 4,900 MW in wind capacities for which grid connection agreements were concluded, of which approx. 3,015 MW were installed in capacities that were already commissioned at the time (with the rest representing capacities under development).

For solar capacities, the figures (also at the level of May 2020) were of 2,347 MW in capacities that had grid connection agreements, of which 1,376 MW in capacities which were commissioned.

More recently, we note that there is an additional ~ 900 MW of  wind projects and 300 MW of solar projects that received grid connection approvals from the transport and system operator, with many other smaller projects that received such approvals from local distribution system operators.

Biggest players

Romania’s energy market is currently dominated by the two major state-owned energy producers, namely Hidroelectrica (i.e. hydro power) and Nuclearelectrica (i.e. nuclear power), but production from other renewable sources, such as wind and solar is envisaged to match and possibly exceed nuclear and hydro production in the next decade, if Romania is to meet its strategic goals outlined in the Integrated National Plan in the field of Energy and Climate Change 2021-2030.

Major projects happening in Senegal:

• Taïba Ndiaye project (wind)
• Senergy 2 (Solar)
• Senergy Photovoltaic

Major companies contributing to Senegal’s renewable future:

• PETN Company (Taïba Ndiaye project)
• SENERGY 2 Company (solar project)
• SENERGY PV Company (Photovoltaic)

• A large number of offshore wind projects are currently in the permitting phase and are expected to benefit in particular the southern parts of Sweden, which has a higher electricity price than the northern parts of the country. 
• Large scale onshore wind projects are expected to continue to be a major part of investments in renewable projects in Sweden. 
• The northern part of Sweden is currently experiencing a boom in investments in battery storage (for instance various data centres and Northvolt producing batteries for electric cars) and the availability of renewable energy is a main prerequisite for all of these investments.  
• The energy sector is looking intensively to invest in hydrogen production.
• Companies developing methods to produce climate neutral steel (green steel) with hydrogen have started to establish themselves in the Swedish market and large investments have been made for development. Vattenfall, which is a state owned company that produces electricity, is cooperating with two major steelmakers in Sweden to develop a method to use hydrogen to make green steel. In 2020, a pilot plant was established in Luleå and a new pilot plant is currently being built, where Vattenfall and its partners have an aim to produce one million tonnes of fossil-free steel per year by 2026.

• 600 MW Karuma hydropower dam: When commissioned over the course of 2022, the 600 MW Karuma hydropower dam will be Uganda’s largest dam. The project is developed by GOU, with the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited as the implementing agency. The engineering, procurement and construction contractor is China’s Sinohydro Corporation. The project is financed through a government concessional loan facility from China’s Exim Bank.
• 250 MW Bujagali II hydropower dam: Uganda’s second largest generation facility, which was commissioned in July 2012. The project is owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and Norway’s SN Power AS (through special-purpose vehicles). The project was financed through a syndicated loan from a cluster of development financial institutions and commercial banks led by the International Finance Corporation and the African Development Bank.
• 183 MW Isimba hydropower dam: The 183 MW Isimba hydropower dam was commissioned in March 2019. The project is developed by GOU, with the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited as the implementing agency. The engineering, procurement and construction contractor was China International Water and Electric Corporation. The project is financed through a government concessional loan facility from China’s Exim Bank.
• 200 MW Kira and 180 MW Nalubaale hydropower dam: The Kira-Nalubaale dam (previously named the Owen Falls dam) was constructed between 1947 and 1954 when Uganda was still a British Protectorate. It is currently owned by GOU, through the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited. Eskom Uganda Limited (a subsidiary of Eskom Holdings South Africa) holds a 20-year concession to operate, manage and maintain the dam.
• Independent solar power projects: ERA has licensed 60 MW of on-grid solar generation capacity. 40 MW has so far been commissioned.

Key players

The UK renewables sector is currently home to major global players as well as an emerging cleantech industry fuelled by smaller start-up companies who are looking to slow climate change with innovative renewable energy technology. 

The companies holding the largest market share in renewable electricity generation in the UK include Orsted Power (UK) Ltd, Scottish Power UK plc, SSE plc and RWE AG. 

 Iberdrola has identified the UK market as a key target for its renewable generation capacity growth. In October 2021, they announced that it would invest £10 billion in the UK by 2025, with the aim of doubling its renewable generation capacity to be at the forefront of decarbonisation in the country. 

Major projects

The UK has some of the most ideal conditions in Europe for the production of wind power due to its high average wind speeds. Accordingly, offshore and onshore wind farms are the largest source of renewable energy in the UK. 

The world's largest offshore wind farm, Orsted's Hornsea Two project, sits 55 miles off the coast of Yorkshire and spans an area of approximately 462 square kilometres. The windfarm has 165 turbines and a total capacity of 1.3GW, enough power to supply 1.4 million homes. However, with even larger projects under construction nearby in the North Sea, its title as world’s largest offshore wind farm is not expected to last long – as construction recently began on the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm which is due to be completed in 2026.  

The Drax Power Station harnesses energy from biomass and is located in the UK’s formerly largest coal-fired power station. Four of the six boilers have been converted to transfer biomass into a renewable source of energy, with the remaining two coal units decommissioned in March 2021. Drax Power Station has a capacity of 2.6GW for biomass and the plant is in the process of piloting a carbon capture and storage scheme in its pursuit to becoming a negative-emissions power plant. 

Regarding solar, in early 2022 Elgin Energy, a leading international independent solar and storage developer, sold a 519MW portfolio of solar PV projects and 70MW of co-located energy storage capacity to ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global utility Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest energy companies. 

The portfolio sale marks the UK’s largest solar PV transaction to date, consisting of 12 projects at the pre-construction stage located across England, Wales and Scotland, with a combined capacity of 519MW. The portfolio also includes a co-located 70MW battery solution that is at an advanced stage of development. It is anticipated that the projects will be operational between 2023-2025. The portfolio will be the largest to be delivered in the UK’s post-subsidy market, demonstrating the key role that solar PV combined with storage will play in the UK’s future generation mix, providing flexible and competitive renewable energy. 

At 72MW, Shotwick Solar Farm is currently the largest solar park in the UK. 

The Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project is a trailblazing hydrogen storage project alongside Whitelee Windfarm, near Glasgow, which in part will develop the UK’s largest electrolyser to convert water into hydrogen gas. The project has received £9.4 million in funding from the UK Government and when finished, can store and provide enough zero-carbon fuel for 225 buses travelling to Glasgow from Edinburgh and back each day.

The Blue Eden Project (which features renewable energy projects, a data centre and eco-homes) is a privately-funded project being built off the coast of Swansea. The scheme is part of Swansea Council’s ambition to become a net zero city by 2050. This £1.7 billion project is part of a £4.3 billion total investment that is to be injected into the region to revamp their energy strategy and move away from fossil fuels entirely.