Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row
Renewables accounted for 54 per cent of electricity production in the month of April, according to data from Spanish grid operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE),. It is the second month in a row that renewable energy a have set a production record in Spain; in March they accounted for 51.8 per cent of the country’s electricity mix. According to the data, hydropower accounted for 25 per cent of the enerhy mix, while wind power contributed 22.1 per cent, solar PV 3.6 per cent and solar thermal 1.3 per cent.
250kW solar PV plant for vaccine manufacturer
Victorian veterinary vaccine manufacturer, MSD Animal Health, is to build 250kW rooftop solar PV system after receiving a $335,600 grant from the Federal Government’s Clean Technology Investment programs. The grant is matched by an equal investment from the company and deliver $44,000 in annual energy cost savings, and reduce the carbon intensity of the facility by 22 per cent, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation, Yvette D’Ath, said.
Last week, Adelaide’s largest ice manufacturer, Adelaide Ice Services, received a $90,000 grant under the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Program to install a 87.5kW solar PV system at its ice manufacturing plant in Regency Park.
South African CPV plant scores listed bond financing
A further sign of the maturing financial markets for large scale solar came this week when Soitec finalised a $100 million financing for a concentrating solar PV (CPV) plant in Touwsrivier, South Africa. Soitec secured a $100 million bond to build the utility-scale 44MW CPV plant – said to be the first publicly listed bond issued for a CPV plant. The bonds were reportedly placed with a diverse pool of South African institutional investors, pension funds and asset managers.
Newcastle coal loader plan shelved
A COAL export terminal worth $5 billion has been put on hold after Hunter Valley coal producers pushed to reduce contract tonnages as market conditions put future mine expansion plans in doubt, The Australian reports. Port Waratah Coal Services, which is backed by a consortium of miners led by Rio Tinto and Xstrata, said yesterday there would not be enough demand to justify proceeding with its planned T4 coal loader development slated for Kooragang Island near Newcastle. The paper said the news provides further evidence of the impact falling commodity prices are having on the nation’s resources sector, and of the weakness in coal prices thanks in large part to a shifting global energy market. D’oh!
