Digitalization and the development of information and communication technologies are transforming energy systems.
Find out more about the impacts of ICTs on the energy transition by reading our latest executive brief: https://goo.gl/MGbGXV
Enerdata keeps you up-to-date on a wide range of energy topics: tax, price, supply, contract, forecast, energy market and policy and much more.
Showing posts with label electricity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electricity. Show all posts
Global electricity consumption expected to increase by 2030 due to digitalization
Digitalization and the development of information and communication technologies are transforming energy systems.
Find out more about the impacts of ICTs on the energy transition by reading our latest executive brief: https://goo.gl/MGbGXV
Germany's solar capacity addition increases by 50% in first half of 2018
According to the German solar power industry group (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft, BSW), 1,340 MWp of new solar capacities were commissioned in Germany in the first half of 2018, which is 50% more than in the first half of 2017 (901 MWp). The domestic solar power output also went up by 8% in the same period as 23.6 TWh were injected into the grid.
The recent data meet BSW’s expectations for the first time in the last years and are more in line with the annual PV expansion target set by the Federal Government. The constant decrease in the solar PV installation costs is the main factors for the boost in PV systems demand. The government is trying to slow down the momentum: a slight regulation of the subsidies will be implemented and the funding rates will be adjusted to avoid overcapacity. In August 2018, the German Federal Network Agency already announced additional cuts for solar PV projects commissioned between 1 August 2018 and 31 October 2018 by 1% per month.
German solar PV subsidies will drop by 1% per month in Q3 2018
The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA) will cut subsidies for solar PV projects commissioned between 1 August 2018 and 31 October 2018 by 1% per month. The BNetzA estimates that the newly solar PV added capacity (2,727 MW) is above the planned capacity expansion path of 2,500 MW. For this purpose, a slight regulation of the subsidies will be implemented and the funding rates will be adjusted to avoid overcapacity.
Germany is shifting from a subsidy-based system to an auction-based one. Since the beginning of 2017, solar and wind power projects over 750 kW have to compete in tenders in order to secure power purchase deals, as feed-in tariff (FiT) contracts are no longer available. However, projects that were approved in 2016 are still eligible.
TEPCO targets 7 GW of renewable energy capacity in Japan and overseas
The Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) plans to develop between 6 GW and 7 GW new renewable energy capacity both in Japan and overseas. The group plans to focus on offshore wind power (2 GW of which to be built in Japan, including floating wind projects, and 2 GW overseas) and on hydropower operations in Japan and South East Asia.
TEPCO aims to gain a competitive advantage and will pursue new renewable energy projects instead of nuclear power. Renewables currently account for only 15% of its power output, which is less than any other Japanese power company. The company is seeking partners and expects to build its first wind park in Japan.
Total acquires two 400 MW CCGT plants from KKR-Energas (France)
The French oil and gas company Total has acquired two gas-fired combined cycle power plants (CCGT) in France from the US-based private equity firm KKR-Energas.
The two plants have a total combined capacity of 825 MW (roughly 400 MW each) and are located in Toul (Meurthe-et-Moselle, France) and in Pont-sur-Sambre (Nord, France). They were previously sold by Verbund (Direct Energie) to KKR-Energas (Direct Energie) in 2014 for a total consideration of approximately €150m. The two assets experienced significant difficulties and their margins were squeezed by low power prices and high gas prices. Verbund considered mothballing the two plants but sold them to KKR-Energas instead.
With this acquisition, Total continues to integrate its activities along the gas and electricity value chain, from production to marketing. Once the acquisition is completed, it will have around 1.6 GW of gas-fired capacity in France and Belgium thanks to its 73% share in Direct Energie.
AEMO expects Australia to phase out coal power in the next 20 years
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has unveiled the new Integrated System Plan for the National Electricity Market, which forecasts the likely changes that will be occurring over the next 20 years across the domestic power market. Despite the anticipated electrification of the transport sector over the next 20 years, electricity grid demand will flatten, due to the growth of solar rooftop PV installations and energy storage coupled with energy efficiency efforts.
Existing coal-fired power plants that generate around 70 TWh/year - one third of the NEM's demand - will continue operating until the end of their operational life (by 2040 at the latest) as it would be uneconomical to retire them before the end of their operational lifespan. Replacing them later on with renewables - whose costs are falling -, gas-fired capacity, distributed generation capacity and energy storage systems (including pumped-storage) would be more cost efficient.
The domestic power grid will shift to a more decentralised system model: 28 GW of solar, 10.5 GW of wind, 17 GW of storage and 500 MW of flexible gas-fired generation will be set up along with a significant upgrade of the domestic power transmission system.
More energy news: https://goo.gl/JX6nho
For more detailed analysis and energy data on Australia and over 100 countries worldwide, try our Global Energy Research service: https://goo.gl/ViGPaJ
For more detailed analysis and energy data on Australia and over 100 countries worldwide, try our Global Energy Research service: https://goo.gl/ViGPaJ
Israel passes law to break-up monopoly of state-run power utility IEC
The Israeli cabinet has passed a law approved by the government in June 2018 which opens the domestic power sector to competition for private electricity producers and breaks up the monopoly held by the state-run power utility Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). This is the final chapter of a reform which began in May 2018, when IEC, the government and the main trade union Histadrut agreed to launch the process.
IEC has been managing the domestic power supply chain for decades but has agreed to sell five of its power plants over the next five years and will set up a new subsidiary for the development of two new power stations projects, which are yet to be built. IEC's system management and planning unit will be sold to another government-owned company, but the state power utility will retain its power distribution monopoly. However supply will be gradually opened to competition.
In recent years, the Israeli power generation market has been opened to competition and independent power producers (IPPs), such as Edeltech, IC Power or Dalia Power Energies, operate more than 3 GW, i.e. more than 20% of the total installed capacity.
More energy news: https://goo.gl/JX6nho
Enerdata's free online applications: EnerOutlook and Yearbook
EnerOutlook
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| EnerOutlook fossil fuel prices up to 2040 |
EnerOutlook is a free online interactive data software which enables you to browse data through intuitive maps and graphs, for a visual analysis of the expected long-term trends in the energy industry.
These can be viewed globally and by world region. The interface provides robust forecasts on energy supply and demand as well as information on fossil fuel prices, renewable energies and CO2 emissions.
This application is an excerpt of the complete EnerFuture global forecast service based on the POLES model.
This application is an excerpt of the complete EnerFuture global forecast service based on the POLES model.
Global Energy Statistical Yearbook
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| Global Energy Statistical Yearbook interactive map |
The Global Energy Statistical Yearbook is Enerdata's free online application that displays global energy statistics through an interactive interface with maps and graphs. Browse the latest data (last update: 2018) by region, energy and year; compare and benchmark countries; and download data series to integrate to your model.
The Yearbook provides statistics on :
- production, consumption and trade of oil, gas, coal, power and renewables;
- CO2 emissions from fuel combustion;
- covering 60 countries and regions throughout the world;
- including updated data until 2017.
Global Energy Trends, 2018 edition. A step backward for the energy transition?
Every year, Enerdata leverages its globally recognized expertise and databases to produce its Global Energy Trends, an independent study of the past year’s energy market trends and resulting environmental impacts.
This analysis of G20 data, which accounts for 80% of the global energy demand, highlights key evolution of 2017 global markets.
2017 was defined by strengthened global economic growth (+3.7%), as well as by a rebound in CO2 emissions (+2%) and energy consumption (+2.1%, twice as much as in 2016).
For more exclusive insight and detailed analysis by energy and country, you can download the publication on Enerdata's website.
The Future lies in Smart Grids but...
An analysis of the Challenges ahead for Smart Grids
Smart grids are seen by many as an effective solution to address some of the toughest challenges the electricity industry has faced so far; the integration of renewables on a very large scale, the promised rise in number of electric vehicles, the necessity of energy efficiency, the improved security of supply or the arrival of the ‘prosumer’. Equipment manufacturers and IT solution providers are eagerly awaiting the hundreds of billions of euros to be invested over the next decades.
In this article, we advocate that smart grid technologies have the potential to transform the electricity markets given they are for the most part readily available, but, the correct regulatory framework first needs to be put in place. Failure to recognise the need for a regulatory overhaul can only hamper and delay the deployment of smart grids and their expected benefits.
From vertical integration to network unbundling
The present European electricity system is the result of a process that started shortly after World War II. National or regional vertically integrated monopolies rapidly became the dominant business model in the electricity industry. This model proved highly efficient in developing the numerous European electricity networks in times of vigorous growth.
To this day, the European electricity system has been characterised by a high degree of centralisation with mostly unidirectional electricity flows. In the current configuration, large-scale power plants generate electricity that is transported over long distances through a high voltage grid and distributed locally to end-customers through medium and low voltage distribution grids.
Following the market liberalisation experience initiated in the UK and the US in the 80’s and 90’s, continental European electricity markets have been progressively liberalised. The European Commission itself has pushed the European electricity supply industry towards unbundling through a series of Directives, the last of which - the so-called “third energy package” - came into effect in March 2011. As a result, European electricity systems now comprise a mix of regulated and competitive elements. Power generation, wholesale supply and retail supply have become competitive segments of the value chain while transmission and distribution have remained regulated businesses because of their natural monopoly characteristics.
The primary objective of market liberalisation was to lower costs for users. Accordingly, the first regulatory phase that followed unbundling was geared towards a cost-efficient management of existing grids through the minimisation of operational expenditure (OPEX) and the rationalisation of investments. This economic objective was to be achieved without endangering the quality of power and the security of supply.
For regulators, the main challenge is how to introduce new objectives such as the integration of renewables on a large scale, the enabling of demand side response (DSR) and energy efficiency.
Read the entire article: http://goo.gl/BUftu
Smart grids are seen by many as an effective solution to address some of the toughest challenges the electricity industry has faced so far; the integration of renewables on a very large scale, the promised rise in number of electric vehicles, the necessity of energy efficiency, the improved security of supply or the arrival of the ‘prosumer’. Equipment manufacturers and IT solution providers are eagerly awaiting the hundreds of billions of euros to be invested over the next decades.
In this article, we advocate that smart grid technologies have the potential to transform the electricity markets given they are for the most part readily available, but, the correct regulatory framework first needs to be put in place. Failure to recognise the need for a regulatory overhaul can only hamper and delay the deployment of smart grids and their expected benefits.
From vertical integration to network unbundling
The present European electricity system is the result of a process that started shortly after World War II. National or regional vertically integrated monopolies rapidly became the dominant business model in the electricity industry. This model proved highly efficient in developing the numerous European electricity networks in times of vigorous growth.
To this day, the European electricity system has been characterised by a high degree of centralisation with mostly unidirectional electricity flows. In the current configuration, large-scale power plants generate electricity that is transported over long distances through a high voltage grid and distributed locally to end-customers through medium and low voltage distribution grids.
Following the market liberalisation experience initiated in the UK and the US in the 80’s and 90’s, continental European electricity markets have been progressively liberalised. The European Commission itself has pushed the European electricity supply industry towards unbundling through a series of Directives, the last of which - the so-called “third energy package” - came into effect in March 2011. As a result, European electricity systems now comprise a mix of regulated and competitive elements. Power generation, wholesale supply and retail supply have become competitive segments of the value chain while transmission and distribution have remained regulated businesses because of their natural monopoly characteristics.
Evolution of network regulation objectives Source: Enerdata |
The primary objective of market liberalisation was to lower costs for users. Accordingly, the first regulatory phase that followed unbundling was geared towards a cost-efficient management of existing grids through the minimisation of operational expenditure (OPEX) and the rationalisation of investments. This economic objective was to be achieved without endangering the quality of power and the security of supply.
For regulators, the main challenge is how to introduce new objectives such as the integration of renewables on a large scale, the enabling of demand side response (DSR) and energy efficiency.
Read the entire article: http://goo.gl/BUftu
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