Thailand has begun commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). State-owned oil and gas company PTT started producing SAF in January 2024. The fuel is made from waste oil and biomass. PTT’s subsidiary, PTT Global Chemical (PTT GC), will initially supply domestic airlines and has signed an agreement with Thai Airways. PTT GC plans to produce 6 million liters of SAF in the first year. This amount can fuel around 2,000 flights for midsize aircraft traveling 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers per trip. The company plans to increase production in the future. It is considering using cassava and sugar as raw…
Author: Lakshita Kapoor
From May to December 2024, the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) approved 149 energy projects by issuing Certificates of Energy Projects of National Significance (CEPNS). These projects are expected to add a total of 19 gigawatts (GW) to the country’s power supply. Of this total, 17.6 GW will come from 91 renewable energy projects, while 1.5 GW will be generated from four conventional power plants. The DOE also granted certificates to 29 transmission projects, 24 microgrid system projects, and one energy exploration project. These projects are scheduled to be completed within the next two to five years, aiming to strengthen…
The Ministry of Finance and Planning of Maldives has announced a tender for a new solar power project with a capacity between 100 megawatts (MW) and 150 MW. The project will be located in the Greater Malé region and will include a battery energy storage system to support stable power distribution. This solar power project will be developed under a design, build, finance, own, operate, and transfer (DBFOOT) model. This approach means that the selected developer will be responsible for every stage of the project, from design and construction to financing and operation. After an agreed period, the project will…
Malaysia has launched a rooftop solar leasing scheme to promote renewable energy and reduce electricity costs, especially for B40 and M40 households. The initiative allows homeowners to lease their rooftops for solar power generation. Third parties will aggregate multiple rooftops to supply green electricity to local consumers. Gading Kencana Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Muhamad Guntor Mansor Tobeng welcomed the scheme, noting strong interest from the public. He suggested expanding the scheme to include religious and community buildings like mosques, temples, and churches, which have large rooftops suitable for solar energy generation. The scheme is part of the Community Renewable…
The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to cooperate on renewable energy research and technology development. KIER stated that the collaboration will target carbon-neutral technologies, focusing on areas such as solar power, hydrogen energy, and energy storage. Both institutions will explore joint research opportunities, conduct regular workshops, and promote knowledge exchange between experts. This agreement builds on previous partnerships between KIER and NREL, established in 2000 and renewed in 2015. The new MoU supports South Korea’s efforts to expand international research cooperation, as…
The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to release the terms of reference (TOR) for the fourth round of the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) within this month. The TOR will outline the procedures for the auction, covering technical, financial, and commercial requirements for participating companies. This round of the GEAP will include Integrated Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems (IRESS) for the first time. The IRESS component will focus on solar power plants that are integrated with battery energy storage systems. The DOE plans to conduct a dialogue session to gather feedback on the draft TOR from stakeholders…
Potentia Energy, formed through a partnership between Italy’s Enel Green Power and Japan’s Inpex Corporation, is set to acquire majority ownership in renewable energy projects totaling 1 gigawatt (GW) across Australia. The projects are being purchased from CVC DIF, the infrastructure division of private equity firm CVC, along with Australian pension fund Cbus Super. The deal’s value is estimated at around A$1 billion, pending approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board. The acquisition includes 700 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar energy assets, along with 430 MW of battery energy storage projects in the late stages of development. These storage…
As of June 2024, Singapore has deployed 1.35 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar energy, moving closer to its 2025 target of 1.5 GWp. This figure was shared by Baey Yam Keng, senior parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, during an oral reply to a Parliamentary Question regarding Singapore’s progress under the Green Plan 2030. The current solar deployment meets about 2% of Singapore’s annual electricity demand. Baey also addressed questions related to waste management, specifically the goal to reduce waste sent to landfills per capita per day by 20% by 2026. While both domestic waste generated per…
Tesla will supply large-scale battery storage systems to a power storage facility planned by Orix in Japan. Orix, a financial services group, is developing the plant in Maibara, located in Shiga Prefecture. Tesla will provide its Megapack batteries with a total storage capacity of 548 megawatt-hours. The facility is scheduled to begin operations as early as 2027. These batteries will store excess electricity when supply exceeds demand and release it when needed to balance the power grid. This system is expected to support renewable energy integration by managing fluctuations in electricity generation. Japan is expanding its renewable energy projects to…
J-POWER’s J-Wind Co., Ltd. and KDDI Corporation have signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for an onshore wind farm. The agreement covers the Minami Osumi Wind Farm in Minami Osumi Town, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. J-POWER announced that J-Wind will upgrade the existing wind farm and build a new 19,500-kilowatt wind facility, called the New Minami Osumi Wind Farm. Under the agreement, the environmental value generated from power production will be supplied to KDDI for 20 years once commercial operations begin. Japan is working on several renewable energy projects to expand its energy mix. A floating offshore wind power project…