Wind energy business & policy in your region

News and in-depth analysis of wind power, wind farms and wind industry companies and policy around the world.

North America

US 16GW offshore super-grid plans submitted

By Ros Davidson, 22 November 2019

Grid developer Anbaric has filed an application with US regulators for a 16GW grid off the north-eastern coast to connect the region's planned offshore wind projects.

US policy failures prompt continued need for PTC

By Ros Davidson, 21 November 2019

A powerful committee in the US Congress has proposed extensions to the US's key support mechanism for wind for a further five years, potentially providing some breathing space for an overstretched supply chain. But its course to becoming law will be a difficult path to navigate.

US projects concede spacing to fisheries demands -- updated

By Ros Davidson, 20 November 2019

Developers of offshore wind projects off the northeast US coast have agreed to space their turbines in line with some of the demands of the local fishing industry. It should not affect the timeline of the 800MW Vineyard 1 site in Massachusetts.

New Jersey doubles offshore goal

By Ros Davidson, 20 November 2019

New Jersey is doubling its goal for offshore wind power to 7.5GW by 2035, up from 3.5GW by 2030.

South America

Mainstream finances 571MW wind and solar PV in Chile

By Craig Richard, 5 November 2019

Mainstream Renewable Power has reached financial close on the 571MW first phase of a 1.3GW wind and solar PV cluster in Chile, three years after it secured the necessary power deals at auction.

Engie secures loan for 360MW Brazilian complex

By Craig Richard, 28 October 2019

Brazil's national development bank (BNDES) has approved BRL 1.26 billion ($370 million) in financing for Engie's 360MW Umburanas wind power complex -- the bank's first large-scale loan for the technology under climate change-denying president Jair Bolsonaro.

Colombia awards 1.3GW in rescheduled tender

By Craig Richard, 23 October 2019

Colombia's ministry of mines and energy (MME) has awarded power contracts for 1.3GW of wind and solar PV projects with a weighted average price of COP 95,600/MWh ($28.09/MWh) in its rescheduled renewables tender.

GE wins debut Brazilian Cypress order

By Craig Richard, 9 October 2019

GE Renewable Energy has received the first order for its Cypress turbines in Brazil, winning a deal to supply EDF Renewables with 25 5.3MW units.

Middle East & Africa

Africa set for nine-fold wind capacity increase

By Craig Richard, 8 November 2019

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects Africa's wind power fleet to increase nine-fold between the end of 2018 and 2040, but the continent's small power markets and underdeveloped grids pose challenges to managing variability as renewables' penetration increases.

Wind set for bulk of new South African capacity to 2030

By Craig Richard, 18 October 2019

South Africa's government expects 14.4GW of new wind power capacity to be installed between 2022 and 2030 under its final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) -- more than any other energy source in this period.

Africa's first wind-solar-storage hybrid project unveiled

By Craig Richard, 2 September 2019

Developers Windlab and Eurus Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kenyan authorities for what could be Africa's first hybrid renewable energy plant.

France looks to wind for island energy autonomy

By Jan Dodd, 2 September 2019

After a period of zero growth, wind deployment is beginning to take off again in France's overseas territories, but will need to speed up further to achieve the government's 2030 target.

Europe

Equinor and ESB target Irish offshore

By Craig Richard, 22 November 2019

Irish utility ESB and Norwegian firm Equinor plan to jointly develop offshore wind sites and enter them into the country's renewable energy auctions from the mid-2020s.

Total to supply storage system to subsidy-free Finnish site

By Craig Richard, 20 November 2019

A subsidiary of French energy giant Total, Saft Batteries, will provide a storage system to a subsidy-free Finnish wind farm. The 6MW/6.6MWh battery will be Scandinavia's largest.

German climate policy has "lost direction"

By Sara Knight, 19 November 2019

Germany's new climate protection law, passed by parliament on 15 November, has crushed the sector's hopes that would help pull wind energy out of its current dramatic collapse as more details emerged. Renewables and energy associations have appealed to the government to reconsider its approach.

MHI Vestas due to supply first floating 10MW turbines

By Craig Richard, 18 November 2019

MHI Vestas is in line to supply its 10MW turbine for a floating offshore wind project for the first time, having been named as preferred supplier for the Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) wind farm off the south coast of France.