Energy Transition Update

Despite recent political attempts to devalue net-zero objectives, collaborative work amongst governments and big business continues to deliver plans, funding and construction on multiple clean power projects.

ThisWeekinFM Guest Editor, Daniel Lynn, has selected a number of examples that demonstrate a global effort to introduce green energy into national energy mixes and infrastructure.

UK 

UK renewable energy investment company Low Carbon has submitted a bid to construct 180MW of onshore wind capacity in Scotland. The 2 projects will be the 62MW High Brenfield Wind Farm located in Argyll and Bute. The second project will be the 118MW Glen Lednock Wind Farm, in Perth and Kinross. If approved, both projects combined can provide power to 175,000 homes. 

The UK government has announced that £500 million of funding will be provided towards new hydrogen infrastructure projects. This Funding will stimulate regional hydrogen usage in transport as well as storage networks that link hydrogen manufacturers, industrial end-users and power stations.  

Scottish renewable development company BLC Energy has announced that they are planning to construct 2 solar and 2 accompanying battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. Both facilities will produce 100MW and store 100MW of clean power. West Springfield Solar and BESS will be located in Fife, where operations aim to begin during 2027. Cossans Solar and BESS will be situated in Forfar and expects to become commercially active by 2030. Both sites combined can supply green power to 29,000 households. 

Europe 

Israeli renewable energy company Enlight has generated $310 million of financing to expand the 329MW Gecama wind farm into Spain’s largest hybrid energy hub. The site is situated in Castille-la Mancha and will now include solar power producing capabilities. 

Multinational Danish power company Orsted is reported to be willing to offload a collection of onshore wind projects that could attract up to €2 billion. Up to 27 projects could be sold including many operational Irish wind farm projects as well as sites in Spain and Germany.  

Norwegian power providers Statkraft aim to upgrade and expand the Nore hydropower plants based in Norway. €340 million will be used to add more electrical capacity that provides stable local costs.

Asia Pacific 

Japanese law makers have passed a parliamentary motion that will enable the development of floating offshore wind installations in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. 

Spanish renewable developers Fotowatio Renewable Ventures alongside New Zealand energy distributor, Genisis Energy have begun operations at their Lauriston solar plant, located in Lauriston, New Zealand. The 63MW facility will be capable of providing 13,000 homes with clean power. 

Australian renewable energy outfit ACEN Australia has been granted development consent by the New South Wales Independent Panning Commission for their AUS $1.68 billion 943MW Valley of the Winds wind farm.    

North America 

US Wind has received clearance to begin construction on their Maryland offshore wind project. The site will be located off the coasts of Delaware and Maryland and can potentially produce up to 2.2GW of renewable energy, enough to supply 718,000 domiciles. 

Multinational American power company Invenergy and the Alliance de l’energie de L’EST (a coalition of 209 municipalities and territories in eastern Quebec) have accumulated $1.1. billion of financing for a 305MW wind farm. Construction on the Pohénégamook-Picard-Saint-Antonin-Wolastokuk Wind Energy Centre is expected to be complete during 2026. 

American energy supplier Earthrise Energy has successfully gained $630 million of financing to fund the construction of the 270MWac Gibson City solar project, located in Illinois. Construction is hoped to be complete by 2026.