The US Department of Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have announced the progress of the department's renewable energy initiative, having successully passed an important environmental review. This means the offshore wind energy leases planned for waters near Maryland, Virgina, New Jersey and Delaware can now move forward.
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change recently announced it has named the South West as the region to host the country's first Marine Energy Park. The South West Marine Energy Park will cover an area from Bristol to Cornwall, and will reach further out to the Isles of Scilly. The initiative will bring together various entities including the national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, University of Plymouth and University of Exeter, but also the industry including the Wave Hub (South West RDA).
The Supreme Council of Energy for Dubai has launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the first utility scale solar project of its kind in UAE, and the region. The project is to be operated and managed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and is to eventually reach 1000 MW of installed capacity.
Enel Green Power (EGP) has been awarded a concession for the construction of a 99 MW wind project in the Antofagasta region, Chile. The concession has been awarded by the Ministry of Energy and National Assets, after a recent tender. The location of the new project is on public land in the Taltal district.
EDP Renováveis' subsidiary in Brazil, EDP Renováveis Brasil, has been awarded four 20-year power purchase agreements at the A-5 auction about a week ago. The PPAs are for a total of 120 MW of electrical power generated at four wind farms, which are to be developed in Rio Grande do Norte, a state in Brazil.
Bahrain is evaluating whether to establish an energy agency with focus on renewable energy and conservation. If the country proceeds with this plan, the new agency would work in close cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), whose initiatives are partly responsible for the path taken by the country.
The Crown Estate has opened Northern Ireland for tidal and offshore wind energy rounds. Developers are invited to bid for development leases for up to 800 MW of capacity in waters of the coast of Northern Ireland, pushing this region's offshore renewable energy industry forward.
Republic of South Africa's Department of Energy has announced a list of preferred bidders for renewable energy development in this country. The list covers developers involved in wind and solar CSP and solar PV development. A total of 1.415 GW of the planned 3.725 GW of RE capacity has been allocated through this tender.
Cape Wind just can't seem to get a move on and enter its final development stages. The project has now been put on hold, as the US Court of Appeals has revoked the previously issued approval by the FAA. The ruling has to do with the no hazard determination put forth by the FAA in its approval, which has been assessed to have failed to consider the dangers and risks of operations and safety of some 400,000 flights that pass over Nantucket Sound annually.
The US Department of Energy announced a USD 60 million investment, as part of its SunShot Initiative, into innovative concentrated solar power technology development. The aim is to reduce the cost of solar energy by 75%, and make it competitive with other sources of energy by the end of this decade.
