Dubai’s Shanghai Electric Constructs MSR Tower Top Receiver in Record Time
Shanghai Electric announced that it has completed the Molten Salt Receiver (MSR) tower top receiver in Dubai’s DEWA IV phase 700 MW Concentrating Solar Power and 250 MW Photovoltaic Hybrid Project. The company constructed the tower in a record 240 days, despite taking extensive precautions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It is currently the world’s largest photothermal and photovoltaic integrated power plant project, covering an area of 44 Sq.Km. The MSR is about 40 meters high and is mounted on top of the heat tower body, which is about 222 meters high. The resulting approx 262-meter tower makes the tallest tower solar power station in the world today. The project uses a one plot for Tower Concentrating Solar Power, three plots for Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power, and rest for Photovoltaic solar power combination with a total power generation reaching 950MW. When completed, it will provide green energy for 320,000 households, reducing carbon emissions by 1.6 million tons per year. The project has played a significant part of Dubai’s 2050 energy strategy. The strategy, which planned to be 7% realized by 2020, is now running ahead of schedule, with 9% of the region’s 11,700MW electricity requirements now powered by solar, and other renewables.
KSrelief Launches Solar Water Pumping Unit in Yemen
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has recently launched a solar water pumping unit in Shabwa Governorate, Yemen. This project was launched in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Director General of the General Authority for Rural Water Supply Projects in Shabwa Governorate Nasser Baoum hailed the KSrelief’s role in supporting the rural water projects, in Shabwa Governorate. Recently, Trina Solar Co., Ltd has announced that it has signed an agreement with the Yemeni photovoltaic firm Al Raebi for Trading Co. to be its authorized distributor in Yemen. The agreement comes as a further commitment of Trina Solar’s expansion plans and towards increasing its footprint in the Middle East & Africa region.
Kuwait Cancels $1.4bln Al Dabdaba Solar Project Due To Covid-19
Kuwait has cancelled plans to set up the Al Dabdaba solar plant, which would have provided 15 % of the oil sector’s needs from renewable sources, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, reported Reuters. After evaluating the project in the context of spreading of coronavirus and its impacts on the global oil and financial markets, the decision was taken. The plant was planned to be constructed at Al-Shagaya renewable energy complex which is nearly 100 miles west of the capital Kuwait City and near to the Saudi border. The lowest bid for the project was KD439 million ($1.4 billion), Kuwait’s Alrai newspaper stated. But the project was repeatedly delayed due to bureaucratic procedures, it added. The project was planned for operational launch in February next year and it was developed by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company. However, the project was repeatedly delayed due to bureaucratic procedures, it added. It would have been one of the largest PV solar facilities generating 2,500GWh of electricity per year.
Asunim Contracted for EPC of 31.5 MW in Antalya
Asunim is a highly active, reliable, and consistent EPC company in the Turkish solar market and has signed the EPC contract for 31.5MW licensed PV system with Artıbir Enerji. The project is estimated to generate up to 46.7G Wh electricity per year and will be one of the biggest PV projects in the country. The licensed system, with a capacity of 31.5 MWp, will be installed in Antalya Province, Turkey. Project planning, engineering steps and system installation are scheduled to be concluded within the next 5 months. Asunim, with international representations in several other markets, is currently one of the leading EPC companies in Turkey and has so far concluded large scale projects of 240MW with a separate and clear structure committed for long-term O&M commitments.
Egypt Banks on Renewable to Meet Expected Surge of Energy Demand: Wärtsilä Energy Business.
To meet its soaring demand for energy, Egypt is turning to renewable sources. To ensure continuous security and stability of energy supply, Egypt has launched an energy diversification strategy, known as the 2035 Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy (ISES), which aims to step up the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country. Egypt aims to produce 20% of its electricity using renewable sources by 2022 and 42% by 2035. For the second target, the goal is for wind to provide 14%, hydropower 2%, and solar 25%. Tapping into renewable energy will benefit Egypt in ways more than one. It will enhance the country’s economic growth and bring revenues in foreign currency. The increased usage of renewable energy is expected to lead to exporting fossil fuels or using them in other areas domestically, such as industrial production. The transition to renewable energy sources is also expected to help local businesses in Egypt, since the cost of electricity is an essential factor for business owners. While solar power and sustainable electricity are not widely available in the country yet, there is merit in Egypt’s plan to tap into renewable energy sources in the long run. More factories will lean towards sustainable renewable energy sources if it is economical, due to the cost of production and increasing price of electricity.
Lebanon Has Potential to Supply 30% of Its Electricity From Renewable Energy by 2030: IRENA
Lebanon report suggests that scaling-up renewable energy adoption can help the country meet growing energy demand, support economic growth, create annual savings of up to USD 249 million and strengthen the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the country moves forward, renewable energy technologies offer the prospect of stable, clean power and heat systems. While energy and electricity demand have weighed heavily on Lebanon’s economy, and fuel imports account for close to a quarter of the national budget deficit, renewable energy technologies offer the prospect of clean, domestically sourced power and heat systems. In recognition of the economic opportunity of renewables. Lebanon has adopted an ambitious target to cover 30% of its energy consumption from renewables by 2030.
Akuo’s Constructive Project Refinancing
Akuo, an independent global renewable energy power producer and developer, announces strong growth in consolidated audited results for FY 2019. In line with its development strategy, Akuo was particularly active in project refinancing in many parts of the world: in France with investment firm TRIG (The Renewables Infrastructure Group) for a portfolio of wind power assets; in the Dominican Republic with a local investment firm, GAM Capital; in Poland with asset management company Mirova; in Mali with investment firm PASH Global; in Bulgaria with a European investment holding company; and in Montenegro with Masdar, a renewable energy specialist owned by the Abu Dhabi government’s strategic investment firm, Mubadala Investment Company.
