Latest news with #WindFarm
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Slew of Irish windfarms put up for sale by Denmark's Orsted
The entire 800MW platform, which also includes windfarms in the UK, Germany and Spain, could fetch as much as €2bn. Orsted's European onshore headquarters are based in Cork city, where it employs about 100 people. The group has invested €800m in Ireland across a portfolio of wind and solar projects. Of the 27 operational onshore windfarms that are up for sale by Orsted, 21 are in Ireland. They include windfarms across the country, stretching from Donegal to Kerry. The company is currently building a 50MW windfarm in Co Tipperary and has six projects in development. The planned sale of Orsted's onshore wind assets was first reported by industry publication PeakLoad. Orsted declined to comment. PeakLoad noted that BNP Paribas is advising on the proposed sale of the assets, dubbed Project Grace. Non-binding offers are slated to be submitted next month. The entire portfolio includes more than 600MW of power from windfarms, with up to 371MW being generated by the operational Irish units. The sale will also include windfarm sites under development. The Danish energy company also has a windfarm in Co Antrim that produces electricity for Amazon under a power-purchase agreement. In Ireland, Orsted also has a 50-50 joint venture with semi-state forestry company Coillte. The Coom Green Energy Park in Co Cork has an installed capacity of 105MW and is expected to be in commercial operation next year. Last December, Orsted and FuturEnergy Ireland – a joint venture between the ESB and Coillte, secured planning permission for the Ballinagree Wind Farm, which will be located between Millstreet and Macroom in Co Cork. With 16 turbines, it is expected to generate up to 112MW of electricity when it becomes operational around 2030. Last summer, Orsted started construction on its first Irish solar farm, an 81MW facility outside Carlow town. Last month it started construction on its second, a 55MW project in Co Cork. The company has a pipeline of 700MW of solar-farm projects in Ireland. Orsted has also partnered with the ESB to jointly develop offshore wind energy projects. Ireland is aiming to generate 80pc of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. Headquartered in Denmark, Orsted employs more than 8,000 people. The company is listed on the Nasdaq in New York, with a market capitalisation of $115bn (€100bn). Last year, Norway's Equinor bought an almost 10pc stake in Orsted, in what was a major move for the two companies. It made Equinor the second-largest shareholder in Orsted after the Danish state, which has a controlling interest in the firm. 'Equinor has a long-term perspective and will be a supportive owner in Orsted,' Equinor chief executive Anders Opedal said at the time. 'This is a counter-cyclical investment in a leading developer, and a premium portfolio of operating offshore wind assets,' he added. 'The exposure to producing assets complements Equinor's operated offshore wind portfolio of large projects under development.'
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Local IPP reaches financial close for SA's largest wind farm
RED Rocket, a leading renewable energy independent power producer, has reached financial close on the first phase of the Overberg Wind Farm, marking a major milestone in South Africa's clean energy transition. Adding to Red Rocket's impressive portfolio of wind farms, Overberg Wind Farm will be the latest in a series of groundbreaking renewable energy projects, reinforcing Red Rocket's position as a leader in the country's renewable energy sector. Overberg Wind Farm will be developed in two phases, with Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group, securing the first 230MW of the total 380MW export capacity. This will deliver an estimated 750GWh of clean energy annually to RBM, significantly reducing its carbon footprint and reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Once fully operational, Overberg Wind Farm will be South Africa's largest privately developed single wind farm, significantly contributing to the country's energy security. The project is expected to cut RBM's annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 30%, equivalent to 0.7 million tonnes of CO2e. Located near Swellendam in the Western Cape, Overberg Wind Farm will operate under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), further demonstrating Red Rocket's commitment to delivering high-impact renewable energy solutions at scale. Matteo Brambilla, CEO of Red Rocket, welcomed the partnership with Rio Tinto, stating: "We are proud to collaborate with Richards Bay Minerals on this landmark project. Overberg Wind Farm is a testament to what is possible when ambitious renewable energy targets meet the expertise and drive to bring them to life.
Zawya
07-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Top African Projects Driving the Mining-Energy Nexus
Mining represents one of the most energy-intensive industries globally. As African nations ramp up mineral extraction to drive economic growth, mining projects and stakeholders are increasingly investing in energy infrastructure to sustain operations and meet rising production targets. Amid efforts to improve grid stability, the upcoming African Mining Week conference will highlight the continent's investment opportunities emerging from the mining-energy nexus. Northam Bolsters Power Supply for South African Mines In February 2025, mining firm Northam signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 140 MW of wind power to support its platinum group metals operations in Limpopo. This deal follows an earlier PPA signed in October 2024 for an 80 MW solar power facility to supply the company's Zondereinde mine, aimed at driving South Africa's expansion of its PGMs sector. These agreements are part of Northam's broader strategy to enhance energy security and sustainability while reducing its carbon footprint in alignment with national renewable energy goals. Richards Bay Minerals Expands PPA Portfolio Richards Bay Minerals, a subsidiary of mining multinational Rio Tinto, signed its third PPA with Red Rocket in February 2025, securing 230 MW of electricity from Red Rocket's 380 MW Overberg Wind Farm. This agreement increases the company's total contracted renewable energy supply to 500 MW and supports Rio Tinto's commitment to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. Richards Bay Minerals also taps into energy from the 130 MW Bolobedu solar PV plant and 140 MW Khangela Emoyeni wind farm. Further Investments in Renewables for Mining Other mining companies across Africa are driving large-scale energy projects to secure a stable power supply. In South Africa, Ivanhoe Mines completed a 5 MW solar facility in Q1 2025 to support its Platreef PGM mine, while Impala Platinum signed a five-year PPA with Discovery Green to supply wheeled renewable energy to its Impala Refineries operation. Meanwhile, commodities firm Trafigura is developing a 2 GW initiative to power Angolan mines, and First Quantum is set to commission a 430 MW project in Zambia in 2025. Tronox Holdings plans to roll out 400 MW of energy projects in South Africa by 2027 and Chinese mining company CMOC is preparing a 200 MW energy project in the DRC, set for commissioning by 2028. As these investments unfold, African Mining Week will showcase key milestones in energy security for the sector, highlighting lucrative opportunities within Africa's independent power markets. The event will emphasize the growing demand for stable, sustainable energy solutions as miners continue to invest in energy infrastructure. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Argaam
06-04-2025
- Business
- Argaam
ACWA Power starts commercial ops at Uzbekistan's 2 wind power plants
ACWA Power Co. received notifications, on April 3, from the project companies of both the 500 megawatts (MW) Dzhankeldy Wind Farm and the 500 MW Bash Wind Farm in Uzbekistan, confirming the issuance of commercial operation certificates for their full production capacity, according to a Tadawul statement.
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Offshore wind farm developer asks Labor to delay application on Illawarra project until after election
An offshore windfarm developer has asked the Albanese government to pause its application to progress its project off the Illawarra until after the coming federal election, after the Coalition campaigned against it. BlueFloat Energy was the only applicant asking for a seven-year feasibility licence to further develop its project in the deep waters of the Illawarra offshore wind zone. The company did not say why it had asked for the pause, but the zone is one of at least two of the six declared by the Albanese government that the Coalition has pledged to scrap. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The Coalition has also said that if elected, it would scrap the Southern Ocean offshore zone, where the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, on Friday announced the Spinifex offshore windfarm had been granted a feasibility licence. The Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm in the Hunter zone was also granted one of the licences, which require companies to develop management plans, seek environmental approvals and consult with local community, industry and authorities. On Friday, the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, celebrated BlueFloat's decision in the Illawarra zone, calling it a major win. He said: 'The Nationals were the first political party to have the courage to commit to ruling this project out last year and instead prioritise protecting the natural environment.' BlueFloat's separate Gippsland Dawn offshore wind project was awarded a feasibility licence in June 2024. Bowen on Friday said the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, had created 'sovereign risk' by opposing the offshore projects. He said: '[The Coalition's] commitment to scrapping the Illawarra zone will undermine energy security for the region and create operating risks for major energy users.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Ria Voorhaar, a spokesperson for the Illawarra-based pro-offshore wind group Good for the Gong, said: 'People are sick and tired of the politically divisive approach to the energy transition in this country. 'The majority of Illawarra want climate action and this offshore wind project but the political uncertainty and thus the investment uncertainty created by this pseudo Trump approach of Dutton's makes it harder for businesses to go all in.' The Electrical Trades Union national secretary, Michael Wright, said the Illawarra decision had placed 2,500 direct jobs in doubt. He said: 'The facts are simple, to keep the lights on we need projects like this to create good union jobs that families can depend on. Dutton's campaign of fear and misinformation is now costing jobs in the Illawarra.' Campaigners in Gippsland celebrated the news – also announced on Friday – that the country's most advanced offshore wind project, Star of the South, was in talks with BlueScope steel to potentially use its steel for boat landings and platforms for turbine foundations. Wendy Farmer, of Friends of the Earth in Gippsland, said: 'This shows how building renewables is good for manufacturing jobs in the regions and is building a stronger future for our young people.'
