Building out green grids to save Africa, and the world
Green grids and international renewable energy are the only way to save Africa โ and the world โ with the alternative being a โclimate abyssโ.
Green grids and international renewable energy are the only way to save Africa โ and the world โ with the alternative being a โclimate abyssโ.
As Scotland and the UK look to source ever-greater amounts of energy from renewables like solar and wind, equal efforts must be made across the countryโs grid infrastructure to ensure that energy can be moved to where itโs needed most โ or, increasingly, stored for later if it canโt.
Politicians and campaigners have criticised the governmentโs Energy Security Strategy for apparently overlooking energy efficiency and demand reduction measures in favour of large-scale nuclear and fossil fuel projects.
The Suriname-Guyana basin continues to be a focal point for hydrocarbon exploration and development, as evidenced by CGX Energyโs recent discovery at the Corentyne block, in line with Surinameโs Block 58. Indeed as frontier E&P remains at a comparatively low ebb, this represents one of few global hotspots, with an estimated 16bn barrels of recoverable resources discovered to date.
Masdar did not win a piece of the ScotWind action this week, but the company is keenly interested in further offshore wind opportunities in the UK.
To make real progress in bringing power to those without in sub-Saharan Africa, interested parties will have to provide much more cash.
Shell (LSE:RDSA) said today that it will acquire Powershop Australia, an online energy retailer serving more than 185,000 customers, as it positions itself for the energy transition in Australia.
Indonesia has approved the subsea route for what could be the worldโs first intercontinental power grid, connecting Australia to Singapore, with 24/7 renewable power. The official nod means Sun Cableโs ambitious project, that proposes the worldโs largest solar farm, the worldโs biggest battery, and the world's longest undersea cable, has moved a step closer to reality.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed up to provide $530 million to construct a transmission line in Angola.
Egypt and Israel are working on plans to expand the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) into energy security, electricity infrastructure and emissions controls.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the topic of domestic energy reform to Davos, although domestic criticism persists.