Colombia announces 19 measures to unblock renewable energy projects
Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has presented a package of inter-institutional actions to expedite environmental licensing, prior consultation, and connection of renewable energy projects, with the goal of incorporating more capacity into the national electricity system.
TotalEnergies, RGE to develop solar-plus-storage in Indonesia
TotalEnergies and RGE have signed a co-investment agreement to develop and operate a solar-plus-storage project in Indonesia. The utility-scale plant will be built and managed by Singa Renewables, their equally owned joint venture.
Behind-the-meter storage-as-a-service gaining ground in US market
With zero upfront investment, US companies can optimize energy costs, improve uptime and access new revenue streams under the battery energy storage system-as-a-service (BESSaaS) model.
Work starts on 5 MW of solar in Madagascar
Construction has begun on a 5 MW solar plant with 3.2 MWh of battery storage off Madagascar’s northwestern coast. The project aims to cut local electricity costs and support round-the-clock power supply.
Supercharging pumped-hydro stations with floating PV
Scientists have simulated the addition of floating solar panels to Switzerland’s Etzelwerk, an open-loop pumped-storage hydropower plant. Using 10% of the upper reservoir for the solar panels, the research team was able to add about 20% of the energy output.
The Hydrogen Stream: ZeroAvia to build UK hub for HTPEM fuel cells
ZeroAvia says it will build a hydrogen-electric powertrain factory in Scotland to produce high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell systems, while Thyssenkrupp Nucera and Fraunhofer IKTS have opened the first solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) pilot plant in Germany to scale green hydrogen stack production.
Batteries set new output record in California
Amid industry turmoil, California has been setting new benchmarks for the volume of instantaneous electricity injected into the grid by the state’s battery and solar sites.
Kenya opens solar-plus-storage tender
Kenya Electricity Generating Co. (KenGen) is searching for up to seven companies to assist with a 42.5 MW solar project with 3 MW/4.5 MWh of accompanying battery energy storage. The deadline for applications is July 29.
India awards 420 MW in renewables render with storage
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has awarded 420 MW of renewable-plus-storage capacity in its 1.2 GW round-the-clock (RTC) power tender. The winning developers will set up renewable energy projects backed with energy storage systems to supply RTC power.
Water isn’t always the best answer to BESS fires
Fire protection engineers urge a defensive approach to battery fires, focusing on preventing thermal runaway from spreading rather than putting flames out directly.
