Month: May 2023

               German transmission system operator 50Hertz is working with LichtBlick and Granular Energy on a pilot to enable hourly transparency of the origin of green electricity. As part of the project, several of LichtBlick’s corporate customers can now use a platform set up by Granular Energy to track the hour at which they purchase green electricity from certain renewable generation plants. The certificates generated in this way can be purchased and managed in 50Hertz’s Energy Track and Trace Register. In order for an electricity supply to be declared as green electricity in Germany, it has had to carry a green guarantee of origin (HKN) since 2013. This certifies when and where green electricity was produced and must be purchased from electricity providers in addition to physical electricity. So far, however, it is sufficient that the proof was drawn up in the balance sheet in the year of delivery. There is no need for an hourly comparison between consumption and production. In Germany, the Federal Environment Agency maintains the Register of Guarantees of Origin. “Guarantees of origin are the birth certificate of green electricity,” said Enno Wolf, chief operating officer of LichtBlick.

               “They create transparency and prevent the dual marketing of green electricity,” he added. “So far, however, the evidence usually does not guarantee that the green electricity assigned to a customer was also generated at the time of consumption. “This is where the system can and must be improved. With our project, we are demonstrating that it is possible to compare generation and consumption on an hourly basis.” In order to be able to purchase and manage the hourly certificates, 50Hertz, together with Elia Belgium, the Danish grid operator energinet and the Estonian grid operator Elering, has launched a system called the Energy Track and Trace Register, which has also been joined by the Dutch certification company VertiCer. Many companies will need more transparency about the origin of their electricity in the future for their carbon footprint. With the guarantees of origin on an hourly basis, they can ensure that they not only purchase green electricity on a certain scale throughout the year, but also verifiably at any hour. “Hourly energy tracking is crucial to increase confidence in green electricity products,” said co-founder of Granular Toby Ferenczi. He added: “It also creates a razor-sharp price signal that will accelerate investment in the technologies needed to deliver clean energy around the clock around the world. “This is because it allows companies to set more precise targets for matching production and consumption. This will also create financial incentives for the expansion of flexibilities and storage.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Unplash/Johanna Montoy]

               SSE Renewables has taken a final investment decision to proceed with, and entered into contracts to deliver, its second battery energy storage system (BESS). The 150MW project is located at the site of SSE’s former Ferrybridge coal-fired power station in West Yorkshire, England. The investment is part of SSE’s £25bn Net Zero Acceleration Programme and means construction will now commence later this month at the iconic site.  For decades the Ferrybridge coal-fired power station was a prominent feature of the West Yorkshire landscape, before being decommissioned by SSE in 2016. Now SSE Renewables’ plans to build a new 150MW battery storage project at Ferrybridge will provide flexible generation for Britain’s national grid and a new era for the site.  With a grid connection confirmed for June 2024, the project is expected to be fully operational by late 2024 and is being developed in conjunction with battery technology supplier Sungrow Power Supply and construction partner OCU Services Ltd.

               The news follows last week’s announcement that SSE’s solar and battery team is becoming part of SSE Renewables to progress the development of its near 2GW pipeline of battery and solar projects in the UK and Ireland. This development will also support SSE Renewables with its plans to expand into Europe to pursue new development opportunities. This will be SSE Renewables’ second battery storage project in delivery. The business has a 50MW BESS site already under construction in Salisbury, Wiltshire, due to be completed later this year.   Richard Cave-Bigley, director (solar and battery) at SSE Renewables, said: “Reaching Final Investment Decision for our Ferrybridge battery storage project is another exciting landmark for us. “Located next to the former Ferrybridge coal power station, this important new project demonstrates clearly the transition to net zero while supporting new green jobs. “SSE Renewables has almost 2GW of battery and solar projects currently in development or under construction. “These technologies are key to helping SSE deliver on its £25bn Net Zero Acceleration Programme to provide the green energy we need to decarbonise.   “By building out more battery storage, we can get more renewable power onto the Grid. That’s because batteries store power in times of surplus generation and release it when it’s needed the most – helping us bring flexibility and balance to the Grid.”

Credits: renew.biz [Image: Ads-Tec]

               Engie Green has inaugurated a solar farm in France’s Haut-Rhin region. The 22MW Volgelsheim photovoltaic park was co-developed by Saem Vialis and Engie Green, which secured the project in the 2019 call for tenders for the “energy transition of the territory of Fessenheim” by the Ministry of Ecological Transition. The solar farm required an investment of €15m and has been built on a former military ground, owned by the Municipality of Volgelsheim. The plot dedicated to the project is 22.3 hectares, including 19.7 hectares for the solar power plant itself.

               The vegetation under and around the panels is preserved and maintenance will be provided by sheep grazing. Other measures conducive to the development of biodiversity include the creation of habitats favourable to lizards, the installation of two kestrel nesting boxes, the adjustment of fences to favour the passage of small fauna and the planting of hedges with landscape and environmental functions. Vialis and Engie Green will also commission a second solar power plant by 2024, which will recover degraded site used for waste storage in the past. The Ligelios solar power plant, located on the western outskirts of the city of Colmar, will have an installed power of 11.5MW.

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Engie/Vialis]

               TagEnergy’s 50MW Chapel Farm energy storage system near Luton, England, is now operational. The £30m development is a joint venture between TagEnergy and Yorkshire- headquartered Harmony Energy. After TagEnergy acquired a 60% stake in the project in November 2021, the project was supported by a £12.5m funding package from Santander UK. Construction commenced following financial close in March 2022. Now live, Chapel Farm is using a system of Tesla Megapack lithium-ion batteries, together with Tesla’s Autobidder AI software for real-time trading and control.

               RES is overseeing operations as asset manager. Chapel Farm is the second TagEnergy renewable energy project to go online from its growing portfolio of close to 4GW across the UK, Spain, Portugal, France and Australia. Its first UK facility to go live, the 20MW Hawkers Hill Energy Park near Shaftesbury in Dorset, England, began operating in September 2022, following TagEnergy’s UK market entry in 2021. TagEnergy CEO Franck Woitiez said: “We are proud to work alongside our valued partner Harmony Energy and leverage our battery storage expertise to bring this important project to fruition quickly as we continue to drive momentum towards net-zero carbon emissions. “Importantly, with more than double the operational capacity of our first live facility, Chapel Farm will provide a significant clean energy boost to the national grid and help grow renewables’ share of it.” Peter Kavanagh, Harmony Energy’s CEO and Co-Founder, said: “The completion and energisation of the Chapel Farm scheme is another significant milestone for us especially as it is the first JV project we have delivered with TagEnergy which has been a great partner.” Energy Storage capacity from TagEnergy’s first two live projects, together with its other sites under construction, will bolster the UK grid by more than 350MW over the next two years alone.

Credits: renews.biz [Image: TagEnergy]

               Akuo and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure have closed the financing and started the construction of a portfolio, composed of nine photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 80MW in Chile. Located in the Regions of Maule (VII), Ñuble (XVI), Araucanía (IX) and Biobío (VIII), the projects are all situated in the south of Santiago de Chile. The portfolio benefits from the country’s PMGD (Pequeños Medios de Generación Distribuida) regime. Akuo and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure are the equity sponsors whereby the debt financing is provided by DNB. Maire Group will perform the engineering, procurement and construction activities on the plants.

               The Italian engineering company also acted as co-developer of the initiatives, through its Integrated E&C Solutions business unit. Martin Bocage, Akuo Country Manager for Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, said: “Akuo is a committed stakeholder to Chile’s energy transition and we stick to our words. “Construction is ongoing and we will soon inject electricity for the benefit of the citizens. “Chile’s renewable energy strategy encourages us to continue growing and investing on this country.” Antonio Merino, VP South America at Atlantica, added: “This investment increases Atlantica’s presence in Chile as we continue executing on our growth plan in renewables. “The portfolio is fully aligned with our long-term strategy and GHG emissions reduction targets. “Chile is one our core geographies in South America and we plan to continue devoting time and efforts to close new investments and contribute to the transition of the country towards a clean energy mix.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Akuo]

               Cero Generation with UK development partner Enso Energy has completed the energisation of the first solar farm to connect directly to the UK transmission network.  This follows installation of new switchgear at the 50MW Larks Green solar farm site by Cero and Enso in collaboration with National Grid, and the running of a high voltage cable between the substation and solar farm, which has enabled connection to National Grid’s Iron Acton substation near Bristol. The solar plant comprises 152,400 solar modules installed in a 200-acre plot. The project will be co-located with a 49.5MW / 99MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), which is expected to reach financial close shortly. By storing energy during peak power generation and exporting it back onto the grid when demand is high, the BESS will balance the intermittent energy production, maximise the site’s efficiency and allow a greater output of clean energy. Until now, all of the UK’s solar farms have connected to the country’s distribution networks – the lower voltage regional grids that carry power from the high voltage transmission network to homes and businesses.

               Connecting solar power directly to National Grid’s transmission network allows clean energy to be transported over greater distances and opening a gateway for larger projects to connect to the grid. The announcement marks progress towards meeting Britain’s commitment to a fully decarbonised power system by 2035. The government’s recent Powering up Britain report reaffirmed its ambition for a five-fold increase in deployment of solar generation by 2035, with up to 70GW installed. The design and layout for the co-located solar farm and BESS will produce a net biodiversity gain. This will be achieved through the provision of a range of resources for local wildlife, including additional woodland planting, that will provide shelter and food for a range of protected species. Chief executive of Cero Generation Marta Martinez Queimadelos: “The Larks Green project is not only a significant milestone for Cero and an opportunity to initiate our BESS pipeline, but it represents a significant contribution to the UK’s goals to reach net-zero.” Co-founder and director of Enso Energy Ian Harding added: “The connection of this solar farm at Larks Green is the culmination of a lot of hard work by all the Enso, Cero and National Grid teams involved.  “Completion of this project is a major milestone for renewable energy in the UK and provides further evidence that co-located solar and battery storage projects connecting directly to the transmission network will play an important role in the delivery of the UK’s net zero plans.” Cero has 38 other standalone or co-located BESS projects in its UK pipeline within its partnership with Enso. The joint venture’s existing pipeline extends to 5GW, and a further 5GW of early-stage opportunities.

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Enso]

               ERG has acquired a 100% stake in Garnacha Solar, the owner of a 149MWp solar project located in Castilla and Leon, Spain. The farm is currently in an advanced phase of construction and is expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2023. The Garnacha solar power farm, equipped with latest-generation bifacial panels and tracker system, will have a load factor of around 22% and an estimated total annual production of around 280GWh. 70% of the electricity generated by the plant will benefit from a 12-year pay-as-produced power purchase agreement (PPA) with a leading corporate counterpart. 

               The value of the transaction in terms of enterprise value is €170m, with an equity value of €80.5m euros. The transaction is expected to close by the third quarter of 2023. Paolo Merli, ERG CEO, commented: “The acquisition of the Garnacha solar power plant, the largest in terms of capacity in the group’s renewable portfolio, consolidate our presence in Spain where we will reach 266MWp of installed capacity by the end of the year, with over 1 GW of under development solar pipeline. “Through this transaction, ERG achieves an important positioning in the country, with possible future industrial synergies, as part of the geographical and technological diversification process envisaged in the 2022-2026 Business Plan.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Ib Vogt]

               Solar Energy UK has welcomed the Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee’s demand for shorter waiting times to connect solar and battery projects to the grid. The committee laid out recommendations on how the UK government can achieve its ambition to install 70GW of solar generating capacity by 2035, calling for better collaboration to address grid constraints and access to capital for households. Committee chair Philip Dunne warned that if action were not taken “with some urgency, there is likely to be a very considerable shortfall” on the government’s target. “There is potential for solar energy to have a bright future in the UK, but a dark cloud of delays for the industry hinders the ability to meet its full potential,” he added.

               Solar Energy UK warned that waiting times for large solar projects’ connection to the electricity grid, both on roofs and ground, can often stretch well into the 2030s. According to the committee, this is due to historical underinvestment, the way connection applications are managed, “unresponsive” distribution network operators and “a regulatory failure with Ofgem failing to prioritise net zero”. MPs are seeking urgent short-term solutions to these problems. Their demands include a new mission statement for Ofgem requiring grid operators to speed up investment. Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett stated: “It is grossly unacceptable that solar projects with planning consent and with finance ready to go can told to wait more than a decade simply to connect to the grid. The situation is causing billions of pounds of economic damage to the UK.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Pixabay]

               Italian developer GreenGo has 1630MW of renewables capacity in development, spanning seven different Italian regions, from Sicily to Veneto. Southern Italy is the leading territory for the company’s activities, with Sicily in the lead, followed by Puglia and Calabria. The most recent development projects in the first four months are in central and northern Italy and comprise 12 projects, totalling 127MW. Out of the 1.6GW, 1GW of capacity is underdoing permitting and authorisation.

               “Compared to the 1000MW with ongoing permitting, there are 12 projects that have positively passed the EIA for a total of 423MW and, of these, 162 have already been dismissed with the concluding Sole Authorization or PAUR permit,” said Fabio Amico, Director of Development and Engineering at GreenGo. He added: “More than half of the MW of this first milestone comes from the agri-photovoltaic sector (57%). “The advanced pipeline also underscores our multi-tech approach. We have submitted projects for wind (27%), storage (12%) and ground-mounted photovoltaic (4%) plants.” Giuseppe Mastropieri, CEO of GreenGo, added: “The success rate of GreenGo’s projects, in terms of actual installable power, is 91%, calculated on the 474MW that passed the Environmental Impact Assessment, a rate that makes GreenGo one of the most reliable developers in the renewables sector.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: GreenGo]

               True Green Capital Management LLC (TGC), has acquired a majority stake in CleanChoice Energy. The acquisition will fuel CleanChoice’s growth as the first 100% independent green gen-tailer in the US, operating at both ends of the value chain by owning solar generation assets and selling renewable energy to customers in multiple competitive markets across the country. TGC will maintain the CleanChoice brand and team and invest an additional $100m of capital into developing, acquiring, owning, and operating CleanChoice solar projects. CleanChoice currently has a development portfolio of over 300MW in various stages of development and is pursuing acquisition and co-development opportunities across its territories of focus. The deal will expand TGC’s footprint to include solar power generation in 16 US states, including Pennsylvania and Ohio, along with approximately 215,000 residential customers. The initial focus will be in the ISO-NE, NYISO, and PJM markets. “We are excited to welcome CleanChoice into our portfolio,” said managing partner and co-founder of TGC Panos Ninios. “We continue to believe that the combination of green customers with solar power development and asset ownership will be paramount in the clean energy transition regime we operate in.

               “In CleanChoice, we have found a best-in-class management team with a unique multi-year track record in combining solar power development with a proprietary customer acquisition and management platform.” The acquisition of CleanChoice underscores TGC’s commitment to quickly, reliably, and cost efficiently expand renewable energy generation and demonstrates the attractiveness of a largely untapped opportunity to pair owned renewable generation with retail supply. The combination will enhance CleanChoice’s retail business by securing long term access to power, capacity, and RECs and reducing exposure to wholesale commodity markets, setting up operational savings and differentiated renewable products. “This is a significant milestone for CleanChoice, and it was important for us to find a mission aligned buyer who shares our commitment to empowering customers and building a greener future,” said chief executive of CleanChoice Tom Matzzie. “We have found that in TGC, and we look forward to rapidly expanding our farm-to-table clean energy offerings and, with their support, making clean energy more accessible to more people.” “We are thrilled to partner with CleanChoice on their journey to becoming a fully integrated green utility,” added partner and co-founder of TGC Bo Wiegand.  “We see this as a natural extension of our firm’s community solar strategy – providing more customers with access to locally-generated renewable energy, while also enabling high quality retail offtake for our project assets.” CleanChoice’s next five years will be focused on developing, constructing, and operating its project portfolio and providing more consumers with easy, convenient, 100% pollution free energy. The transaction is expected to close in the next 60 to 90 days.  CIBC Capital Markets served as exclusive financial advisor for TGC and DLA Piper served as legal counsel in connection with the transaction. Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP served as legal counsel to CleanChoice.  

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Dulas]