Author: Chitrika Grover

India and Bangladesh agreed to continue to expand their power and energy collaboration and together develop intra-regional electricity trade, including competitively-priced power generated from clean energy projects in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, through the Indian electricity grid. The agreements encompassing connectivity, commerce, and the power sector were signed during the visit of Sheikh Hasina to India.An announcement was made about the commencement of the export of 40 MW of power from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, held a bilateral meeting in which she articulated their shared vision for…

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The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’s Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority (EREA) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) hosted a technical workshop this month focused on integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) into Vietnam’s power grid. During the workshop, a report titled “Enhancing Vietnam’s Grid Stability with BESS,” co-authored by the Institute of Energy (IE) and GEAPP, was launched.Scaling battery energy storage systems is critical in ensuring a steady supply of renewable energy for the communities that need it most. The BESS Consortium―launched by GEAPP in 2023 and of which Vietnam is a member―is on…

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The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) released a tender for grid-connected 800 MW solar power projects in the countrty. The power generated from the plants will be sold to NEA for 25 years through a tariff-based competitive bidding process, with the successful bidder responsible for supplying the power via a power purchase agreement.The tender document sets out the sites and substations at which the projects can be developed and connected. The maximum total capacity available under the tender isolars 800 MW. Proposed project sizes shall be a minimum of 1 MW for connection to a DCS substation and 10 MW for…

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Pumped-storage hydropower, or simply pumped hydro, is set to play an increasing role in Southeast Asia’s energy transition. This mature technology for large-scale energy storage can bolster grid reliability as fossil fuel generators are phased out in favor of renewable sources. Pumped hydro capacity in Southeast Asia is projected to surge from 2.3 gigawatts (GW) today to 18 GW by 2033, representing a nearly eightfold increase in less than a decade, and attracting an estimated total investment of between US$12 billion and US$70 billion.With 64% of the region’s power generation coming from fossil fuels, reliable and green energy storage solutions…

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Canadian Solar Inc. received its first portfolio of Japan’s feed-in premium (FIP) PV projects that began commercial operation on June 1, 2024.The projects that have reached commercial operation include a 1.2 MWp project in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and a 1.9 MWp project in Daisen Town, Tottori Prefecture. Both projects are powered by CS7N-660W bifacial modules. Initially awarded a feed-in tariff (FIT) through auctions held in 2020, the Company decided to switch the projects from FIT to FIP in response to the rising demand for renewable energy. FIP-awarded projects will generate additional revenue through Non-Fossil Certificates (NFCs).By entering into a…

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $50 million commitment to Actis Asia Climate Transition Fund, an infrastructure fund managed by Actis, a global sustainable infrastructure investor, to help accelerate the clean energy transition and address development challenges arising from climate change impacts in Asia and the Pacific.The fund will invest in renewable energy, energy solutions, and sustainable transportation companies. Investment size will typically range from $50 million–$200 million per company.”Several Asian economies are vulnerable to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity losses,” said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. “ADB’s investment in the fund…

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Singapore is set to welcome its largest floating solar farm, which will begin construction at Kranji Reservoir in 2025.The solar farm, also technically known as the Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) System, will commence operation in 2027 or 2028, aiming to accelerate the country’s efforts in generating more renewable energy.It is expected to be able to produce 141 megawatt-peak (MWp) of clean energy, or 112.5MWp when converted to AC, which is the voltage used by the electricity grid and most of Singapore’s electrical appliances.The FPV is expected to contribute to 7.1% of Singapore’s target of 2GWp of solar power generation by 2030,…

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President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated the Cabaruan Solar Powered Pump Irrigation project, one of the first large solar-powered irrigation systems in the country. This project is located in Barangay Cabaruan, Quirino, Isabela.The pumping station, which costs P65.77 million, is equipped with two units of solar-power-driven submersible pumps composed of 1,056 solar panels, which can generate some 739,200 watts of electricity. Two units of submersible pumps with an output discharge capacity of 12,800 gallons per minute were also provided, allowing the irrigation of some 350 hectares of agricultural land. The president said the project aims to lower…

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her country’s eagerness to import hydroelectricity from Bhutan through India when Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay met her in New Delhi. Bangladesh Prime Minister and her Bhutanese counterpart were in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a media briefing after the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said that import of hydroelectricity from Bhutan will require a tripartite agreement involving India and we have already brought the matter to India’s attention. Hasan said Bhutan is eagerly waiting to export hydroelectricity to Bangladesh. He also said…

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Logistics services provider Mober has secured an investment of up to $6 million, or around P350 million, from the South East Asia Clean Energy Facility II (SEACEF II) to boost its electric vehicle (EV) operations in the Philippines.The funding, through both equity and convertible notes, will bolster Mober’s fleet of electric vehicles and help the company establish a new 3,000-square-meter charging facility by early 2025.SEACEF II is managed by Clime Capital, a Singapore-based fund manager focused on accelerating the low-carbon transition.’Having Clime Capital as an investor adds significant credibility to Mober and solidifies our commitment to sustainability. This partnership not…

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