According to the department, the policy will now cover villa owners and residential buildings, enabling the latter to generate and store electricity from rooftop solar systems and efficiently integrate their usage with the grid.

The latest initiative is part of DoE’s mandate to develop policies and regulatory frameworks that advance the Emirati city’s transition towards a more efficient and sustainable energy system, while promoting the adoption of smart and flexible solutions for energy production and consumption.

“This builds on the success of the policy’s first phase, launched during the World Government Summit in February, which enabled owners of farms, rest houses, and ranches to benefit from solar energy solutions for self-generation and storage of electricity, improving consumption efficiency. The expansion reflects the growing uptake of renewable energy solutions among customers and aligns with national objectives to meet the increasing demand for energy through advanced solutions serving all sectors,” reported Emirates News Agency.

“The new phase focuses on facilitating adoption through a simplified regulatory framework that streamlines installation and grid connection procedures, alongside the standardisation of technical requirements to ensure high levels of safety and operational efficiency. In line with the first phase of the policy, DoE issued a policy on the procurement of efficient consumption appliances, providing a practical framework to support individuals and entities in purchasing and operating the most efficient solutions based on actual performance data and total lifecycle cost, enabling more efficient and sustainable long-term decision-making,” it stated.

“The policy covers key systems that will impact consumption efficiency, including air conditioning and cooling, water heating, lighting, and electrical appliances, as well as pumps, motors, and irrigation systems. It also highlights best operational practices, smart control solutions, and regular maintenance, contributing to reduced energy and water consumption, lower peak loads, and enhanced economic and environmental efficiency,” DoE remarked.

Under the second phase, customers will be enabled to meet a significant share of their daily energy consumption during daytime, allowing them to store electricity through battery storage systems, substantially reducing pressure on the grid and improving electricity load management across Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

“The second phase of the Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy represents a significant step in advancing the policy’s implementation, integrating the residential sector to enhance energy consumption efficiency and support the integration of the power system,” said Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Obaidli, Director-General of Regulatory Affairs at the DoE.

“We are strengthening partnerships in the transition towards clean energy, contributing to a more balanced and sustainable energy mix by empowering a broader segment of society,” he concluded.

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RENEX has been recognised as the “Most Innovative Energy Trading Service Platform – Thailand 2023” by International Finance. The platform allows buyers and sellers to trade solar energy at their desired price and quantity. This is achieved through a two-sided auction scheme, which ensures safety and stability. The system also includes a matching, price bidding, and invoice issuing process which is confirmed by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in Energy Regulatory Commision Sandbox (ERC Sandbox) for accurate electricity volume.

“RENEX Technology has also adopted the ‘BCG Economy Model’ as a backbone design idea for RENEX development; Circular economy by delivering excess energy from over-supplied prosumers to demanded consumers; Green economy by encouraging renewable energy usages in Thailand’s industry towards to national declaration of being a carbon neutrality state within 2050 in COP26,” the venture remarked.

Knowing RENEX in detail

Mr. Charn Kulpatnirum, M.D. of Mekha V Co., Ltd, who oversaw the signing of the joint venture agreement between the Sertis, MEKHA V and WHAFE, stated that the formation of RENEX was aligned with his company’s investment strategy to embark on the energy and other businesses.

PTT’s flagship company Mekha V has expertise in fields like AI, robotics, and digitalisation, whereas WHA Utilities and Power Public Company Limited (WHAUP) and Sertis specialise in managing energy innovation.

The collaboration of these three giants saw the creation of RENEX in March 2023, whose business model was developed further through real-world testing in the ERC Sandbox programme to support the future growth of the energy industry.

“This investment is a significant step in promoting the use of clean energy and driving the country towards achieving carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions. PTT is committed to utilising new technologies and innovations to respond to the country’s new economic development needs and meet the demand from businesses for environmentally friendly energy sources,” Dr. Rattanasombat stated further.

Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwun, CEO of WHA Utilities & Power Public Company Limited, while talking about RENEX, remarked, “As a provider of public utility and energy systems both within and outside of WHA Group’s industrial estates, the company focused on developing solutions for public utility businesses and continuously developing new renewable energy sources. This investment aims to align with WHAUP’s approach of investing in solar energy business in conjunction with developing various technologies to increase the stability and reduce the cost of electricity.”

WHA Utilities is also known for promoting the usage of clean energy among its customers.

Mr. Thuchakorn Vachiramon, CEO of Sertis, revealed that this joint venture with Mekha V and WHAUP was one of the company’s objectives to become “The Trusted AI Engine for the World.”

“This objective is likened to a core driving force to drive the various business groups with artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies to promote and expand business opportunities, especially in the energy industry, which is considered a key industry at the national level, as well as other areas that can enhance the potential of business operations with technology,” the official stated further.

“Moreover, the amount of electricity is also verified by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). We hope that this platform will not only benefit users but also be an integral step in supporting policies on clean energy use and achieving the goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero,” the official concluded.

The post RENEX: Unlocking Thailand’s clean energy future appeared first on International Finance.

Around less than 1% of the world’s emissions come from Thailand, and per-person emissions are lower than average, but recent years have seen an increase in air quality-related worries. Thailand’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased by 0.8% yearly from 2011–21, which is greater than the global average of 0.6% but still less than the Asia–Pacific average of 1.8%, according to statistics from the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.

The International Energy Agency predicts that CO2 emissions will reach their peak before 2030. Thailand gains from having a large portion of the service sector, which produces less pollution than industry. Nevertheless, 36% of Thailand’s CO2 emissions were from power generation, followed by industry (30%) and transportation (28%). This highlights Thailand’s need to diversify the energy source of its manufacturing industry by moving away from fossil fuel-based power, as well as expanding the fleet of low carbon transport.

Thailand continues to be heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The country’s energy use was strongly skewed towards oil and natural gas, which together accounted for 77% of all energy consumption in 2021, according to data from the BP assessment. Overall energy consumption includes coal at 17%, which is low compared to the average for Asia-Pacific at 47%, which was mostly driven by high usage in China (55%), India (57%) and Indonesia (39%). Similar to regional peers, renewable energy consumption took up only 6.3% of the total, but between 2011 and 2021, it increased significantly, averaging 18% annually.

A sense of urgency is rising
Thailand does not have a good track record when it comes to committing to sustainability goals and combating climate change. The nation has a history of demonstrating insufficient commitment despite having strong intentions, according to the Climate Efforts Tracker, a research organisation that tracks government efforts to prevent climate change. The Thai government most recently established targets for carbon neutrality by 2050 and a net-zero GHG emission target in 2065 at the Glasgow UN Climate Change Conference in 2021, ranking Thailand among the laggards. It did not sign an agreement to end deforestation by 2030.

However, there are indications that the situation is becoming worse. The rise in gas and oil prices brought on by the conflict in Ukraine and the political unrest in Myanmar—Thailand’s main natural gas supplier—add the need to increase renewable energy in the mix, in addition to the concern for the environment.

A noticeable policy change towards a more ambitious goal and higher priority for the promotion of sustainable practice became apparent in 2022. Thailand’s second updated nationally determined contribution, which included a more aggressive goal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 30–40% from the predicted business-as-usual level by 2030, was revealed in November 2022. The Thailand government also announced a revised version of its Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions Development Strategy, which proposed accelerated efforts to combat greenhouse emissions.

In response to worldwide criticism of Thailand’s lack of action, the BCG model, in place since 2021, attempts to demonstrate a better public commitment to climate change risk and sustainability. During the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in November 2022, it was given a more prominent position as a cornerstone of economic policy. The government’s initiatives actually concentrate on four economic sectors: food and agriculture, health care and wellness, energy, materials, and biochemicals, as well as tourism and the “creative” economy. In order to increase interest in the industries where Thailand currently has an edge, the BCG policy effort blends Thailand’s sustainable drive with an investment promotion policy. The Climate Change Act, which is now in draught form, is another measure that suggests that change-related actions have advanced.

Regulators are also developing finance industry policies to assist sustainable practices. The Securities Exchange Commission and the Bank of Thailand, the country’s central bank, are currently working on the Thailand Taxonomy, a set of standards that will serve as the foundation for a system of sustainable financial services and the development of related products.

Thailand’s solar energy market
The Thai solar energy market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.5%, between 2022 to 2027. The COVID-19 pandemic slightly affected the solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the country during Q1 and Q2 2020, but due to lockdown limitations, supply chain disruptions, decreased solar PV output, and delayed project implementation. The 45 MW floating solar farm’s operation was delayed by the government-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). During the projection period, the solar energy market in Thailand is anticipated to be driven by elements such as significant government support for solar power development in the form of feed-in tariffs, the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP), and falling prices for solar PV systems.

The ground-mounted solar PV category holds the largest proportion of the country’s solar energy market due to the installed capacity of ground-mounted solar PV and the huge number of forthcoming projects in Thailand. The region is anticipated to increase the chances for solar energy firms to develop solar PV facilities over the next few years because it has an aim of decreasing GHG emissions to 20.8% by 2030. Additionally, the area has ambitions to lessen its reliance on foreign fossil fuels like crude oil and use renewable energy sources like solar to cut costs associated with imported oil. The market is also driven by favourable government policies, particularly those developed by the Ministry of Thailand to promote the production of electricity based on renewable resources.

The solar PV segment is predicted to hold the greatest market share during the projection period due to the decreasing cost of solar modules and the ability of these systems to be used for a variety of purposes, including the production of electricity and water heating.

The installed solar PV capacity in Thailand increased from 1,420 MW in 2015 to around 2,983 MW in 2020, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), registering a growth of almost 11% over the course of the year. Large-scale solar PV installation deployments in India, notably for utility projects, are to blame for the growth. The Indian government intends to boost installed solar PV capacity as well.

Meanwhile, a 12 MW solar rooftop PV project was launched by BCPG Public Company Limited (BCPG) in 2020 and is situated on the roof of Chiang Mai University in Thailand. In December 2021, Dezhou Dingzhuang floating solar photovoltaic park’s second phase (120 MW) was connected by Huaneng Power International Inc. The plant has a 320 MW installed capacity overall, and the project can produce about 550 million kWh of power annually.

New opportunities in renewable energy sectors
The pathway to carbon neutrality and net zero will be challenging and will require a strong political will to see it through. According to a report by Economist Intelligence, Thailand should create an energy transition plan for the transport and energy sectors in particular. The country’s power sector, which accounts for the majority of its emissions, has to shift away from natural gas (coal’s role has already diminished over time) and towards renewables, particularly solar and wind in the long term. The transformation requires new infrastructure, including grid management, energy storage, and efficiency enhancement. If fossil fuels are used for direct consumption, Thailand’s heavy industries and manufacturing sectors that are export-oriented will also need to increase their energy efficiency.

Thailand will need to increase the effectiveness of its public transport system and encourage electrification through infrastructure, such as charging stations, as well as financial incentives for consumers. Thailand will eventually need to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector through compensatory measures including carbon sinks (like reforestation) and carbon capture and storage. In the near to medium term, Economist Intelligence anticipates additional opportunities to focus on renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), which are now drawing a lot of investment and garnering more government support.

The post Is Thailand environmentally sustainable? appeared first on International Finance.

The UK government reduced the VAT on solar power from 5% to nil this spring and made solar panel installations more promising. On eBay, searches for solar panels and batteries touched 54% and 134% in June, compared to the same period in 2021. Consumers are also eyeing smart meters to regulate their energy use.

The recent surge is among many booms and busts in the industry, which people call the “solar coaster” because of its unpredictability. Much of this volatility is reactionary to the government’s “feed-in-tariffs” policy, which incentivized households by paying them for solar energy generation.

According to data from consumer credit reporting company Experian, about 1.9 million households’ plans to install solar panels or similar renewables this year.

Springett added that the heavy energy bill due to the Ukrainian war and supply chain disruptions would reduce the time to recoup an installed system’s cost, from 10+ years to around seven. Panels can last 40 years and usually have a 25-year warranty. They cost about £5000-£15000 to install and may take up to three months to connect to the grid.

The solar panel demand rise has also shed light on sourcing issues. The supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic have increased freight rates and led to a scarcity in inverters, which convert DC from panels to AC used in homes.

Conservative MP Nus Ghani, in a debate at the British Parliament last week, pointed out that most panel production happened in Xinjiang. The Chinese province meets 45% of the world’s polysilicon demand – a key component for panel production.

Britain is trying to minimize its overdependence on Chinese panels and triple its solar power capacity by 2030.

The post Solar Power: A beacon of hope amidst rising energy costs in UK appeared first on International Finance.

This decision has been taken to tap into the global demand even when the company is grappling to run the projects in South Africa, which is its biggest market.

The company is ready to generate around 1,118 megawatts of power in places like the Ivory Coast, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the French territory of New Caledonia. All these projects will commence this year.

Other than this the three projects which the company was about to start in South Africa have been stalled for now. The company’s plan to start a 1,220MV the project in South Africa is stuck in legal battles because of environmental issues.

Karpowership also won bids outside South Africa in April last year where it is expected to start work soon. The company, which is a unit of Karadeniz Holding AS, already works on gas-fired power ships in countries ranging from Cuba to Ghana as well as Indonesia.

The company also comes with the capacity to generate renewable energy. The company is also planning to come in solar-power projects at Cape Town in South Africa, awarded by the government through various tenders.

South Africa mostly depends on coal for its electricity requirement, where more than 80% of electricity is generated from coal. It is also the world’s 3rd biggest producer of climate-damaging emissions.

The post Karpowership all set to expand globally as South Africa plans stall appeared first on International Finance.

Wind energy will account for 6.5 percent, while waste-to-energy (WTE) projects will account for a 2.5 percent contribution. The recent developments are also one of the cornerstones of the National Energy Strategy 2040 of the Sultanate of Oman.

Solar capacity in the energy mix is forecasted to increase from 500 MW in 2022 to 2,000 MW by 2025. Similarly, wind energy will contribute to about 350 MW by 2025, with a further 100 MW coming from a stalled Waste to Energy project planned at Barka in South Al Batinah Governorate.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Manah Solar 1 & II power projects will have their commercial launch by the fourth quarter of 2024. It was announced by the Oman 2040 Vision Implementation Follow-up Unit announced in a post jointly with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP). The projects will offer an aggregate electricity generation capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW).

In a statement, the Oman 2040 Vision Implementation Follow-up Unit said, “In line with the Sultanate’s direction towards using renewable energy to meet the increasing demand for electricity, the Manah 1 & 2 Solar IPP Project will have a production capacity of 1,000 MW for both plants, with an investment value of RO 300 million.”

The post Solar to account for 21% of Oman’s energy needs by 2030 appeared first on International Finance.

Amazon signed a 10-year corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) with Mitsubishi for the output from 22MW of solar PV plants. Japan-based solar energy firm West Holdings will build 450 power stations in the Tokyo Metropolitan area and Tohoku region.

Amazon is aiming to source 100 percent of its energy demands for its corporate activities from renewable sources by 2025. Amazon’s cloud unit AWS is using corporate PPAs across the globe to procure clean energy.

Mitsubishi said that two of its subsidiaries will be involved with the projects. While Mitsubishi Corporation Energy Solutions will assist with constructing and offering tech support to the solar facilities, ElectroRoute will forecast solar output and hedge imbalances in power generation.

Recently, it was also reported that German developer Wpd will invest and co-develop the Saikai Enoshima offshore wind project off the coast of Japan. The project aims to construct and operate offshore wind farms with a maximum output capacity of close to 300 MW in the offshore Enoshima, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture.

Wpd has joined hands with Japan Renewable Energy Corporation (JRE) in this regard. Japan has outlined up to 45 GW offshore wind ambition by 2040 and plans to execute offshore wind auctions every year.

The post Amazon signs its first renewable energy deal in Japan appeared first on International Finance.

Voltalia chief executive Sebastien Clerc said, “Our Serra Branca cluster continues to expand with the full commissioning of VSM3 and VSM4. It thus achieves an operating capacity of 1084MW, of which 273 are sold to third parties, to which are added 301MW under construction entirely sold to third parties.”

He also added that an additional 301 MW capacity is currently under construction and is already sold to third parties.

The VSM 3 output will be sold to a distribution company through a 20-year fixed priced inflation-indexed contract and Brazilian power utility Companhia Paranaense de Energia (BVMF: CPLE6) also known as Copel will acquire VSM 4 by November 30, 2021.

Spread across nearly 40,000 hectares of land, the VSM 4 wind farm will use 17 wind turbines supplied by the Nordex group. The energy generated by the new wind farm powers multiple companies that fall under the long-term power purchase agreement. It has also been reported that from the beginning of 2023, 7MW of clean energy will go to local power distribution companies under a 20-year contract and 52MW will go to a private off-taker, starting from 2022.

The post Voltalia commissions 211MW wind farms in Brazil appeared first on International Finance.

The power minister also pointed out that a 7,000 sq. km area has been allocated to power the renewable energy projects in Egypt. It aims to produce electricity of 90,000 megawatts (MW). Keeping in tune with the goal set by MERE to produce 42 percent energy for the country from renewable sources by 2035, the project is expected to raise the total to 20 percent, which is a year ahead of its schedule.

Additionally, Egypt also hosts the Benban solar plant, which is regarded as the largest solar plant in the world that has a capacity of 1,465 MW. Mohamed Shaker added that since the beginning of the reform, the amount of investment in the electricity sector is estimated at $32 million. Additionally, he also estimated that the total investment in the development of electrical distribution companies is around EGP36 billion and the Decent Life initiative is set to provide funds between EGP60 and EGP70 billion.

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The announcement was made in a published Government Gazette notice signed by H.E. Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. The REDZs are critical for the expansion of South Africa’s energy mix and will increase renewable energy developments country-wide.

In October, two new utility-scale solar power plants started operations in South Africa. The two new plants, Aggeneys Solar and Konkoonsies II Solar, will add a collective 132MW to South Africa’s generation capacity.

Robert Skjodt, chief executive at BioTherm Energy told the media, “This is a significant milestone, that sees the first two of our four South African renewable energy power plants feeding the grid. There is no doubt that renewable energy offers vast opportunities and should play a pivotal role in the country’s economic recovery strategy. It will not only improve the security of supply but also deliver the many economic and social co-benefits associated with South Africa’s renewable energy programme.”

Non-hydro renewable energy such as solar is expected to remain below 10 percent in Africa by 2030. It is reported that total electricity generation is likely to double over the next decade. However, fossil fuel will continue its dominance in the energy sector.

According to a study conducted by the University of Oxford, found that two-thirds of electricity generated across the continent will come from fossil fuels. That said, an additional 18 percent will be generated from hydropower, which has its own set of challenges.

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