Thread: Fossil Fuel Alternatives

Analysisa: UK’s solar power surges 42% after sunniest spring on record

The UK’s solar farms and rooftops generated more electricity than ever before in the first five months of 2025, as the country enjoyed its sunniest spring on record.

The figures, revealed in new Carbon Brief analysis, show that the nation’s solar sites have generated a record 7.6 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity during January to May 2025.

This is some 42% higher than the 5.4TWh generated in the same period last year, as well as marking a much larger 260% increase in the past decade.

Solar hit a new half-hourly record of 13.2 gigawatts (GW) on 6 April and, for the first time, accounted for more than 10% of monthly electricity generation in two consecutive months (April and May).

The solar electricity generated in 2025 to date has avoided the need to import gas costing around £600m, which would have released 6m tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) when burned.

However, solar was still only the UK’s sixth-largest source of electricity in 2025 to date, after gas (37TWh), wind (33TWh), imports (18TWh), nuclear (15TWh) and biomass (8.0TWh).

Although this year’s solar high was partly driven by the record sunniest spring, it was also aided by rising capacity, which reached 20.2GW in 2024, up by 2.3GW from 17.9GW a year earlier.

Solar capacity is set to reach at least 45GW by 2030 as part of the government’s ambition to decarbonise the power sector and become a “clean-energy superpower”.

(This article refers to the UK throughout, but the electricity generation data only covers the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is part of the all-Ireland electricity system.)

Solar record

The leap in solar output in 2025 saw generation reaching a record 7.6TWh in the first five months of the year, up 42% year-on-year.

Electricity output from UK solar installations saw particularly big jumps in March – where the 2,320 megawatts (MW) average was up 66% from a year earlier – and in April (3,189MW, up 53%).

There was a more modest 37% year-on-year increase in May 2025 – the country’s second-sunniest May on record – with average output reaching a new monthly high of 3,383MW.

The amount of electricity generated from solar also hit a new high of 2.5TWh in May 2025, beating April 2025’s 2.3TWh into second place. The previous record of 2.1TWh was set in June 2024.

The figure below shows the average monthly output of the UK’s solar capacity, in MW. Output dips in the short, dark days of winter and generally peaks with the longer daylight hours in June.

(The differences between installed electricity generating capacity, actual power output at any given moment and the amount of electricity generated per hour/day/month/year can cause confusion. The UK’s installed solar capacity reached 20GW at the end of last year. This is the maximum amount of power that could theoretically be produced at one time. In practice, the maximum power output recorded to date is 13GW and the average across a full month reached just over 3GW in May, generating 2.5TWh of electricity.)

Energy Community launches cross-border renewable energy acceleration project to advance Ukraine’s green recovery

On 30 May, a high-level meeting marked the official launch of the ‘Cross-border sustainable renewable energy acceleration in Ukraine’ project, a key initiative supporting Ukraine’s green recovery and accelerated integration with the EU.

The aim of the project, led by the Energy Community Secretariat with support from the European Climate Foundation, is to identify the most suitable areas for the development of renewable energy sources — places where infrastructure, environmental conditions and political frameworks enable rapid and sustainable growth. The areas will be identified taking into account the need for cross-border cooperation, bringing together the efforts of neighbouring EU countries and Moldova.

“The Energy Community stands with Ukraine in driving a resilient, EU-aligned energy transition,” said Marie-Therese Richter-Kuhnert, Deputy Director of the Energy Community Secretariat. “By investing in critical infrastructure and launching Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas, we’re unlocking Ukraine’s vast renewable potential and proving that clean energy and nature protection go hand in hand – strengthening security, sustainability, and regional ties.”

The project takes a targeted approach, structured around four key pillars:

• development of robust environmental and renewable energy criteria;
• tailored methodologies and questionnaires for data collection;
• detailed mapping of renewable energy sources (RES) to guide spatial planning;
• strong focus on collaboration with stakeholders to align investment and policy frameworks.

Together, these pillars will ensure that acceleration areas are not only technically sound but also strategically aligned with Ukraine’s recovery and energy goals, the Energy Community Secretariat said in a press release.

The Energy Community is an international organisation which brings together the European Union and its neighbours to create an integrated pan-European energy market.

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DTEK secures €67m for Ukrainian BESS

DTEK has raised UAH3bn (€67m) from a consortium of Ukrainian banks to build one of the largest energy storage complexes in eastern Europe.

Oschadbank, along with PUMB and Ukrgasbank (UGB), will provide the loan to finance the construction of the battery energy storage system in Ukraine.

The deal is DTEK’s largest domestic loan agreement to finance new energy infrastructure.

DTEK chief executive Maxim Timchenko said: “DTEK’s investments in new energy capacity are not only a response to current challenges but also a contribution to the long-term strategy of ensuring Ukraine’s energy resilience and independence.

“Our goal is not just to restore but to create modern and reliable energy that will become the foundation for the country’s economic development.”

The new BESS complex will be the largest in Ukraine. The loan agreement covers five energy storage installations with a combined capacity of 180MW.

In total, six energy storage installations with a capacity of 200MW are planned for construction in various regions of the country.

The bank lending will finance part of the project costs, with the remainder coming from DTEK’s own funds. The agreement runs until September 25, 2030.

Yuriy Katsion, deputy chairman of Oschadbank’s board responsible for corporate business, said: “The consortium loan agreement concluded under the leadership of Oschadbank provides for project financing.

“It vividly illustrates how in wartime private and state-owned banks are able to unite and change their procedures for the development of the economy and energy security of the state.

“It is not the first consortium organised by Oschad during the war, which allows businesses to implement large investment projects.”

Chairman of PUMB’s board Serhiy Chernenko said: “The stable operation of the energy sector is critically important for Ukraine, especially under constant attacks from the enemy targeting our energy infrastructure.

“At PUMB, we recognise our responsibility as a bank that consistently supports the country, and we are doing everything we can to financially contribute to the development of new energy capacities.

“This is not just about investing in infrastructure — it’s about strengthening the strategic energy independence and security of our state.”

The project will enable simultaneous electricity supply to 600,000 Ukrainian households. Construction of the storage installations is expected to be completed in 2025.

Acting chairman of Ukrgasbank’s board Rodion Morozov said: “Ukraine’s energy independence has always been a priority for us, and we are proud to be part of this landmark DTEK project.”

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Victorian renewable energy project approvals spark anger in Dederang and Colbinabbin

Permits for two renewable energy projects in regional Victoria have been approved despite community opposition.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved Mint Renewables' 400-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) at Dederang in the Kiewa Valley, east of Myrtleford.

The controversial project received strong objections from hundreds of community members with concerns about risks to amenities, the environment, and bushfires.

Dederang resident Sharon McAvoy said she was shocked by the decision.

"My initial reaction is shock, horror — gut-wrenching," Ms McAvoy said.

"I guess deep down probably we expected this to happen, because the state government is not listening at all to small rural communities like Dederang.

"They brush off the over 1,000 objections that people have written in.

"They brush off the petition to parliament of 1,300 signatures.

"What else are you supposed to do to fight a project? We have no voice."

Mint Renewables interim head of Australia Kim van Hattum said the company welcomed the decision.

"There is still a lot of work to do prior to the construction of the project," Ms Hattum said in a statement.

"We remain committed to community engagement and will continue to work hard to reassure the community and the authorities that our project can coexist safely and provide benefits to the local area and Australia more widely."

This is one of two BESS projects proposed for Dederang.

In March the Alpine Shire council passed a motion to submit a letter to the planning minister objecting the projects.

The council was contacted for comment but declined to make a statement on the decision.

Solar farm sparks fury
In Central Victoria the 500MW Cooba Solar Project permit has been approved to go ahead at Colbinabbin.

Residents have pushed back on the location of the project, which they say could alter the renowned grape-growing region's microclimate.

Concerns about bushfire risk and associated insurance costs, as well as heat impacts, have also been raised.

The solar farm is expected to be operational from 2027 with the aim of generating enough renewable energy to power 145,000 homes.

A BESS with a capacity up to 300MW is included in the plan.

John Davies has managed his vineyard at Heathcote for more than 25 years and says the decision has left him "stunned and gutted".

He said 271 objections had been made.

"I thought fact-based arguments against the state's planning guidelines would provide a compelling argument why this 500MW solar facility should be rejected," Mr Davies said.

Victorian renewable energy project approvals spark anger in Dederang and Colbinabbin - ABC News

South Dakota, an unexpected leader in renewable energy

When some people picture the future of renewable energy, they imagine solar rooftops in California, wind farms off the coast of New England or electric vehicle charging stations in New York. But the most impressive clean energy producer in the country isn’t on the coast; it’s in the heart of the Great Plains.

Renewables in the heart of America

South Dakota, better known for cattle ranches, cornfields and the granite faces of Mount Rushmore, is now generating a higher percentage of its electricity from renewable sources than any other state in the nation.

According to Environment America’s 2024 State of Renewables Report, South Dakota generated enough renewable energy to cover 92% of all the electricity sold in the state, with wind power being the main source.

This wasn’t the result of climate change policies or a big city initiative. It happened in a rural state, driven by simple geography and practicality.

South Dakota: A natural fit for clean power

South Dakota’s renewable transformation didn’t happen by accident. It’s rooted in the land itself.

Wind power alone generates more than half of South Dakota’s electricity. The state’s flat terrain, steady winds and open landscapes make it one of the most effective regions in the country for reliable and consistent wind. Wind energy helps South Dakota avoid more than 10 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of taking 2.2 million cars off the road.

Since 2019, wind generation in South Dakota has more than quadrupled. Today, South Dakota’s 29 wind projects produce enough electricity to power more than 2 million homes, far more than the roughly 360,000 in the state.

Alongside wind, South Dakota relies on hydroelectric power, mainly major dams on the Missouri River, which accounted for 21% of the state’s power in 2023. However, hydropower comes with trade-offs, for instance, after the Missouri was dammed populations of cottonwood trees along the river plummeted, reducing nesting areas for birds and valuable habitat for countless species.

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Guam Energy Strategies to assist 100% renewable energy goal by 2045

A major initiative aimed at informing Guam’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy future is now officially operating under a new name: Guam Energy Strategies (formerly known as Guam100).

Funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, Guam Energy Strategies is a collaborative partnership between the Guam Power Authority and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in close coordination with the Guam Energy Office and a broad stakeholder advisory group, according to a release.

Like many other U.S. territories and states, Guam has set an ambitious goal for renewable energy.

Guam Energy Strategies will explore approaches to address the technical and economic challenges of achieving Guam’s RPS target: 50% of electricity sales from renewable energy by 2035 and 100% by 2045. The effort will include a detailed technical analysis of options for affordable and viable solutions while emphasizing energy security and availability.

Over the past year, the Guam Energy Strategies Advisory Group—comprising representatives from government agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, the Mayors' Council of Guam, and members of the Legislature and Governor’s Office—has helped lay the groundwork for broader public engagement through closed meetings and technical analysis.

“This is a pivotal moment for Guam Energy Strategies to begin addressing the vision for a sustainable energy future with transparent, actionable strategies,” said GPA Assistant General Manager of Engineering and Technical Services, John J. Cruz, Jr. in a statement. “This effort not only complements GPA’s Clean Energy Master Plan but also widens the stakeholder outreach to provide a broader spectrum of insights.”

GPA’s most recent Integrated Resource Plan, also known as the GPA Clean Energy Master Plan, was published in 2022. Guam Energy Strategies will help inform the next IRP update and will likely introduce new components to reflect emerging needs and findings.

Guam Energy Strategies takes a holistic, data-driven approach that includes:

● Integrated modeling of power generation including renewable energy scenarios.
● Impact analysis and affordability assessment.
● Technical, policy, and economic evaluation.
● Broad-based stakeholder engagement and community education.

“Guam Energy Strategies represents a unified effort to identify technically sound and secure solutions that are locally appropriate and economically viable,” said Guam Energy Office Director Rebecca Respicio in a statement. “This is about more than just research, it’s about ensuring the right people are aligned, engaged, and ready to act.”

The initiative takes a comprehensive view that considers future load growth, energy availability, and affordability while identifying strategies to increase renewable integration and enhance grid reliability.

Working alongside GPA, GEO, and the Advisory Group, NREL provides objective, rigorous analysis and modeling to help guide informed decision-making as Guam moves toward its renewable energy goals.

Despite uncertainty around federal funding priorities under the new presidential administration, project leaders reaffirmed their commitment to transparency and continued progress.

“We are thankful for the continued support of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and NREL,” Respicio added. “Together, we are laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more resilient Guam consistent with GPA’s mandate for reliable, resilient, and affordable electric power service.”

NREL’s work includes evaluating a full spectrum of energy solutions, from investments in new generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure to strategies that improve load management. The team also shares tools, data, and success stories to promote viable, replicable energy practices that help states, cities, and territories achieve their energy goals.

Malta to boost renewable energy to 25% by 2030

Malta is on track to increase its share of renewable energy to nearly 25% by 2030, according to a new progress report from the Climate Action Authority on its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). This marks a significant rise from just 3.76% in 2013 and 15.08% in 2023. The shift is part of broader efforts to decarbonise Maltàs economy and curb climate change.

The Authority forecasts that emissions from power generation will drop by 77% compared to 2005, largely thanks to a second electricity interconnector and new large-scale battery storage systems.

In the waste sector, emissions are expected to fall by 59% by 2030, relative to 2021. This will be achieved through expanded sorting facilities, organic waste treatment, landfill gas capture, and energy-from-waste solutions.

However, transport remains the biggest emitter. While the NECP includes efforts to promote electric vehicles and mobility reforms, the Authority admitted more impactful measures are needed. Recent building regulations aim to increase energy efficiency and promote rooftop photovoltaics. Taller buildings must now include renewable systems, and incentives will encourage sustainable home purchases.

Permitting processes for renewables will be streamlined, and the commercial sector is urged to adopt greener practices. Long-term decarbonisation will also benefit from offshore wind projects planned beyond 2030.

A national climate adaptation plan, currently in development, will guide Maltàs response to climate risks. It will be shaped by a Vulnerability Risk Assessment and public consultation. The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and fair climate action in line with EU goals.

Malta to boost renewable energy to 25% by 2030

CSU partners with Pivot Energy on offsite solar array to increase use of renewable energy

Colorado State University is taking another step toward its goal of using 100% renewable sources for its electricity by 2030 through a partnership with Pivot Energy to provide additional solar energy to its Foothills Campus.

The 20-year agreement will utilize offsite net metering, transmitting power from a new 5.75-megawatt solar array in Weld County to Xcel Energy to earn credits during times of excess production that the university can exchange at other times for electricity that exceeds the solar array’s production, said Matt Brenn, Pivot Energy’s director of community solar subscriptions.

The project is cost neutral to CSU, said Stacey Baumgarn, the university’s campus energy coordinator. CSU will continue to pay Xcel Energy market rates for its electrical use, Brenn said.

Pivot will “finance, own and operate the solar project itself; so, it’s our solar asset,” Brenn said. “And then we’re sort of selling the electricity to CSU through a separate arrangement.”

CSU currently produces about 50% of the electricity it uses through renewable sources, primarily through 43 solar arrays on its campuses capable of generating 11.2 megawatts at peak capacity, according to a sustainability page on the university’s website. The largest of those is a 30-acre solar plant at Christman Field on the Foothills Campus that was completed in 2010 with a maximum capacity of 5.3 megawatts.

Pivot will build a new solar array on 28 acres of leased land near Kersey with nearly 10,000 panels capable of producing 580 watts apiece to deliver up to 5.75 megawatts of electricity at a time, Brenn said. The solar panels will be produced by Silfab Solar at a manufacturing site in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Annual production will be equivalent to powering 12,000 homes annually while eliminating 7,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing 1,700 gas-powered cars from the road, according to a story in Source, an online publication of CSU’s marketing and communications team.

Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025 to early 2026, with completion expected by late 2026, Brenn said.

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DolWin Epsilon HVDC offshore platform installed boosting Germany’s renewable grid capacity.


TenneT’s DolWin epsilon HVDC platform has been installed in the German North Sea, marking a major milestone in Europe’s offshore wind infrastructure. The platform, capable of converting 900 MW of electricity, will connect Ørsted’s Borkum Riffgrund 3 wind farm and bring Germany closer to its 10 GW offshore wind grid target.

The DolWin epsilon high-voltage direct current (HVDC) offshore wind converter platform has been successfully installed in the German North Sea, advancing TenneT’s ambitious offshore grid expansion project.

The platform forms a critical part of the DolWin cluster and follows the recent installation of the BorWin epsilon platform, both of which are slated for commissioning in 2025.

Constructed by Seatrium, the DolWin epsilon platform’s final technical equipment—including the HVDC converter and transformers—was installed by Aibel and Hitachi Energy ahead of its operational launch.

Designed with a 30-year lifespan, the platform has a conversion capacity of approximately 900 megawatts, enough to power over 1.1 million households.

Together with BorWin epsilon, these platforms will push TenneT Germany’s offshore grid capacity close to the 10-gigawatt milestone, underscoring a significant step towards securing Europe’s renewable energy future.

The platform will be connected to Ørsted’s Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm, which will feature 83 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, each rated at 11 MW, totaling 913 MW of generating capacity.

The successful installation of the DolWin epsilon platform marks a key milestone in Europe’s renewable energy transition, enhancing the infrastructure needed to meet ambitious climate goals and deliver clean power to millions of households.

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Offshore renewables bill comes into force in Newfoundland and Labrador

The federal government of Canada, in partnership with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today the coming into force of legislation that paves the way for developing offshore renewable energy in the country’s easternmost province.

In addition to introducing the framework to develop the sector, the bill includes amendments to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act (Atlantic Accord Act) that expand the mandate of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to include the regulation of offshore renewable energy projects, while also giving the entity a new name – the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator (C-NLOER).

“The implementation of this legislation marks a pivotal step forward in unlocking the immense offshore wind potential off Newfoundland and Labrador’s coast. It provides the regulatory clarity and collaboration needed to advance clean energy development, attract international investment and create sustainable jobs. With decades of expertise in ocean industries and a growing marine renewable energy supply chain, Atlantic Canada is well positioned to lead the way in building a thriving offshore wind sector that benefits local communities and contributes to Canada’s emissions targets,” commented Elisa Obermann, executive director of Marine Renewables Canada.

Natural Resources Canada said that the federal government intends to work together with the provincial governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia to unlock the potential of offshore renewables.

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Romania makes a record investment in renewable energy production

Romania is providing around 325 million lei in support from the Modernisation Fund to 47 public institutions for the construction of solar parks to promote self-sufficiency in energy production. Through these projects, a total capacity of 47.43 megawatts (MW) will be installed in schools, hospitals, city halls and other public institutions.

“With over 1,000 contracts signed, the Modernisation Fund is becoming the most powerful investment instrument for the future of our communities,” said Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy. “Each contract means more than a signature – it means a commitment to an energy-independent, clean and modern Romania. We are talking about schools that become more sustainable, hospitals that reduce energy costs, town halls that become models of efficiency and public services that work better for every Romanian.”

With these signings, the balance of the call for financing renewable energy through Key Program 1 reaches 1,010 contracts, with a total value of 2.7 billion lei (551 million euros), and total financing from the Modernisation Fund of 2.4 billion lei (485 million euros). The total installed capacity thus exceeds 390 MW.

In many cases, the installed capacities cover up to 70 per cent of the energy needs of public institutions.

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Neoen marks 10 years of Cestas solar

Neoen is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Cestas solar park near Bordeaux, still France’s most powerful solar facility with a capacity of 300MWp.

Commissioned in 2015, the park comprises almost one million photovoltaic panels and produces an average of 345GWh of electricity per year, enough to supply around 240,000 people excluding heating.

Built in under 12 months by a Franco-German consortium led by Eiffage, Schneider Electric and Krinner, the project was constructed on former forestland damaged by Storm Klaus and remains one of the largest solar parks in Europe.

Guillaume Decaen, Neoen’s director in France, said: “For the past ten years, Cestas has demonstrated that large-scale solar can be seamlessly integrated into its environment while meeting the challenges of the energy transition.”

In 2022, Neoen partnered with France’s transmission system operator RTE to launch a pilot scheme allowing Cestas to support grid voltage regulation even at night by enabling partial access to its inverters.

This makes Cestas the only solar plant in France contributing to grid stability during non-generating hours, with positive results reported for high-voltage grid operations in the Bordeaux region.

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Ocean Winds toasts assembly of first EFGL turbine


Ocean Winds has toasted the successful assembly of the first turbine at its Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) floating offshore wind project at Port-La Nouvelle.

The turbine assembly marks a major milestone for the EFGL project, which Ocean Winds is developing in partnership with Banque des Territoires.

The 10MW Vestas turbine – the most powerful ever installed in France – has been mounted on its floating foundation at the dedicated offshore wind terminal developed by the Occitanie Region at Port-La Nouvelle.

In the weeks ahead, the other two turbines will be progressively completed, before being towed 16km off the coast of Leucate and Barcarès for installation at sea.

Marc Hirt, country manager for Ocean Winds in France, said: “The assembly of EFGL’s first turbine reflects the ambition driving offshore wind development in France.

“This milestone – achieved in close collaboration with our partners and local teams – is a strong signal of our commitment to accelerating floating wind in the Mediterranean.

“It also follows another proud moment for Ocean Winds end of last year with the award, alongside Banque des Territoires, of our 250MW floating offshore wind EFLO project, in this very region.”

EFGL project director Jérémy de Barbarin added: “Bringing together such a complex assembly operation within a port environment, on floating foundations, is a technical and logistical success for all those involved.

“It’s a milestone for the EFGL project and for the Occitanie Region, which is confirming its role as a forerunner in renewable marine energy.”

The EFGL pilot farm is jointly owned by Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires. Beyond its demonstration role, EFGL will deliver technical, operational and environmental insights to inform the next generation of floating offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean, including the EFLO (Eoliennes Flottantes d’Occitanie) 250MW floating offshore wind project, currently in its early stage of development.

This achievement follows the recent installation of the first turbine at Ocean Winds’ EMYN offshore wind farm less than a month ago on France’s Atlantic coast.

France is a strategic market for Ocean Winds, with four offshore wind farms, including EMYN, currently in construction or development. These projects represent a total capacity of 1.3GW – enough to supply over 2 million French households with clean, renewable electricity each year.

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Sierra Leone Debuts First Renewable-Powered 5G Network

In a country where broadband access barely scratches 21%, Sierra Leone is now breaking the norm, and doing it sustainably. The nation is gearing up to launch its first 5G network, but instead of relying on diesel-guzzling infrastructure, the towers will be powered by renewable energy. That’s right, they claim solar panels, battery storage, and just a hint of backup generation will keep the signal strong and green.

The project, a collaboration between local telco, Zoodlabs and African renewable energy provider, CrossBoundary Energy, was unveiled at the Digital Government Summit in Freetown. It’s a bold move that merges two urgent priorities: bridging the digital divide and reducing carbon emissions.

CrossBoundary is financing the first five 5G towers, which are already being installed in the capital. For a nation where internet speed has long lagged and connectivity is patchy, this could be a digital game-changer. 5G promises not just faster downloads but smarter cities, remote healthcare, and real-time IoT solutions, benefits currently out of reach for most Sierra Leoneans.

Sierra Leone Debuts First Renewable-Powered 5G Network

TIM now produces more than 60% of its energy from renewable energy plants

A leader in distributed energy generation, TIM ended the first quarter further consolidating its leadership among operators. The company already produces 65% of the energy it consumes in 130 solar, hydroelectric and biogas plants leased from partners, present in 23 states and the Federal District. The initiative contributes to the future of the planet by saving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in addition to being sustainable for the business, reinforcing the company's ESG agenda and promoting efficiency.

The project began in 2017 with five plants located in Minas Gerais, which supplied around 1,200 TIM antennas. Today, the total plant supplies more than 20,000 stations, producing approximately 427 Gigawatt-hours per year, the equivalent of the consumption of 237,000 low-income homes or more than 700,000 inhabitants in a city.

"We have made significant progress, more than doubling the number of plants we had in 2022. This journey reiterates our commitment to best environmental practices and is sustainable in every sense. We have achieved significant efficiency – we estimate savings of R$40 million in 2024 alone – while reaffirming our position of, for example, contributing to reducing climate impacts. It is essential that companies the size of TIM lead this movement, encouraging other organizations and fostering the production of clean energy in the Brazilian electricity sector, generating a virtuous circle for society as a whole," says Bruno Gentil, VP of Corporate Resources at TIM.

Since 2021, TIM has been operating with 100% renewable energy, complementing the production from the plants with acquisitions on the free market and the purchase of renewable energy certificates, known as I-RECs. For the coming years, the goal is to further increase the number of leased plants and reduce the need for consumption of non-renewable sources and these certificates. The operator will also focus on innovation, intensifying – for example – the use of artificial intelligence in processes such as identifying inconsistencies in energy consumption and costs.

TIM also has the Energy Club, a program that offers employees savings on their electricity bills in exchange for "clean" energy consumption. Around 1,500 employees of the company already use the benefit and ensure savings of up to 20% on their bills, as Gentil explains: "the energy generated in partner plants is passed on to the concessionaires, who offset the credits in the consumer units of the registered employees. We are going to expand the program even further in-house and we are already reaching the end consumer as well, through partnerships."

TIM now produces more than 60% of its energy from renewable energy plants - BNamericas

Bank unveils green loans plan to unlock trillions for climate finance

An innovative plan to use public money to back renewable energy loans in the developing world could liberate cash from the private sector for urgently needed climate finance.

Avinash Persaud, a special adviser on climate change to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), who developed the proposals, believes the plan could drive tens of billions of new investment in the fledgling green economy in poorer countries within a few years, and could provide the bulk of the $1.3tn in annual climate finance promised to the developing world by 2035.

“This could be an engine for green growth, and produce the trillions needed for climate finance in the future,” he told the Guardian. “It could be a transformation.”

His ideas will be set out in detail at a UN meeting in Germany this week, kicking off negotiations for the Cop30 climate summit that will take place in Brazil this November against a worrying global background for the discussions.

Having missed a deadline in February, the world’s largest economies still need to submit plans for their greenhouse gas emissionsbefore the Brazil summit, but so far only a few have done do so.

But research seen by the Guardian, carried out by the campaign group Oil Change International, shows that many developed countries are still planning to expand their extraction of oil and gas, despite promising at Cop28 in 2023 to “transition away from fossil fuels”.

The analysis found that the US, Canada, Norway and Australia were responsible for 70% of projected new oil and gas expansion in 2025-35.

Romain Ioualalen, the global policy lead at Oil Change International, said: “It is sickening that countries with the highest incomes and outsized historical responsibility for causing the climate crisis are planning massive oil and gas expansion with no regard for the lives and livelihoods at stake.”

At the two-week meeting in Bonn, which ends on 26 June, the vital issue of finance for developing countries – which they need in order to cut their emissions and cope with the impacts of extreme weather – will also come to the fore.

The proposals by Persaud and others to buy up loans to renewable energy projects in the developing world could allow billions of dollars of private sector cash to flood the sector, in a big boost to global climate finance.

The plan, which is being pioneered by the IADB, would involve getting taxpayer-funded development banks to buy existing loans to green projects in poor countries, which would free up investment from private sector lenders.

Such loans are relatively low risk because they are already performing – but because they are in developing countries, with credit ratings lower than those of rich states – mainstream private sector investors such as pension funds are often forbidden from touching them because of their strict rules on credit worthiness.

But if those loans are backed instead by development banks, which can provide guarantees against default, and which themselves have impeccable credit ratings, the “repackaged” loan finance can meet private sector criteria.

“The lightbulb moment was realising there was $50bn in performing green loans in Latin America,” said Persaud, a former adviser to Barbados’s prime minister, Mia Mottley, who has championed climate finance. “Why not buy that to enable new projects to be created?”

Key to the concept is that when the loans are bought up by the development banks, which pay a small premium to the current private sector creditors that own the loans, the originators of the renewable energy projects must agree to use the finance they gain access to in new projects.

This creates a “virtuous circle”, by which when the loans are bought up, developers – who already have expertise in setting up successful renewable energy schemes – seek new opportunities, which leads to further investment.

IADB is working on launching the programme now, and is expected to send a request for proposals within the next few months, before Cop30. The initial portfolio of loans is likely to be about $500m to £1bn.

Several private and public sector experts said Persaud’s ideas could have a big impact.

Mattia Romani, a senior partner at Systemiq, a consultancy that is working with Cop30 on climate finance, said: “It is a very powerful initiative, both pragmatic and innovative. Given the constraints we will inevitably face in the coming years, securitisation is one of the few realistic tools to reach [the sums needed].

“This initiative is designed to unlock institutional capital by leveraging the balance sheets of domestic commercial banks – securitising their loans so that they can meet the fiduciary needs of institutional investors, and turning them into engines for transition finance. What’s new is the direct engagement with local banks – we are starting with a pilot in Latin America.”

First turbines power up at Wambo Wind Farm

Renewable energy from Wambo Wind Farm is now flowing into Queensland’s electricity grid for the first time, marking a major milestone for the Western Downs project.

The first blades started turning at Diamondy this week after Wambo Wind Farm principal contractor, Vestas, kicked off the process of energisation and commissioning of the first group of six wind turbines.

While commissioning and testing process of the first turbines will take several months, the first commissioning stage will see around 36MW of electricity flowing into the grid upon completion.

Over the coming months Vestas will ramp up its commissioning activities with 42 turbines eventually producing 252MW from stage 1 of the project, which is expected to enter commercial operations late this year.

Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said, “The Western Downs is one of the most significant renewable energy hubs in Queensland, and Wambo is a powerful part of that story.

“It’s been over two years since construction started to get to this point and to see the first blades of the first turbines now spinning and producing renewable energy for the first time is an incredible moment.

“Stanwell is delivering the project in partnership with Cubico. Under the joint venture, Stanwell will own half of the energy produced and purchase the rest of the power from Cubico under a 15-year agreement.

“Once stages 1 & 2 are complete, Wambo Wind Farm will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 312,000 homes, supporting our industrial and commercial customers and feeding energy into the National Electricity Market.”

https://esdnews.com.au/first-turbine...mbo-wind-farm/