Global Round Up, 3rd August,2018

1. Hanergy and Bollore Group to Jointly Develop Solar EVs

Hanergy’s subsidiary, Donghan New Energy Automotive Technology, inked a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Bluecar, a subsidiary of France’s Bollore Group for developing EVs.

Under the strategic agreement, the two parties will discuss the possibilities of collaboration in design, manufacturing, and production the solar EVs. The two companies plan to enter into four special agreements to deepen their cooperation.

2. Siemens and Drax Power Enter £40 Million Contract for Upgradation of Biomass Turbines

Drax Power and Siemens have signed a £40 million ($52.47 million) contract for the upgrade of turbines on three of Drax Power’s biomass units over the next three years. The upgrades will deliver efficiencies, as well as maintenance savings, which will cut the cost of biomass electricity production at the plant in North Yorkshire.

The work will start in 2019 and take three years to complete. One biomass unit will be upgraded each year as part of this planned overhaul. The efficiencies will be gained by fitting new, high tech pipework and valves, with new high-efficiency blading and long-life seals within the turbines on biomass units 1, 2, and 3.

3. EDF Renewables, PGGM Sign Deal Involving 332MW Portfolio of Solar & Wind Energy

EDF Renewables North America has signed off on two Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSA) that will see PGGM Infrastructure Fund acquire a 50% ownership interest in both Glacier’s Edge Wind and Valentine Solar.

In total, the combined generation capacity of these two projects is 332MW. Valentine Solar has a generation capacity of 132MW and is located in Kern County, California. This latest deal follows an earlier agreement between EDF and PGGM revolving around three projects for 588MW. EDF Renewables will remain a 50% co-owner and provide management as well as operations and maintenance services.

4. FPL Presses Ahead with 300MW of Florida Projects

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has broken ground on four PV plants totalling nearly 300MW. The 74.5MW sites are located in St. Lucie, Miami-Dade, Volusia and Columbia counties. The four projects will be operational in early 2019 at a time when some US developers are being forced to delay or renegotiate the terms of contracts as a result of Trump’s solar tariffs.

5. Renewables Covered 31 per cent of French Electricity Consumption in the Latest Quarter

Renewable energy sources covered 31 percent of French electricity consumption in the second quarter, its highest level since the 1960s, electricity grid operator RTE said on Monday.

RTE, a unit of state utility EDF, said the increase in renewables consumption was due to a sharp rise in French hydropower generation which covered around 20 percent of consumption during the period. The use of wind, solar and biomass power generation, which had never been above 10 percent, also rose during the period, RTE said, adding that lower demand during the quarter compared with autumn and winter, contributed to the rise in renewables consumption.

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