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Green Globe: Wind slowdown imperils Germany's energy transition

SNL ImageGermany's wind industry is facing a slowdown as public resistance grows.
Source: Associated Press

Germany's clean energy transition, known as the Energiewende, is in jeopardy amid a slowdown in the wind energy sector.

Wind installations fell from 5,000 MW in 2017 to 2,800 MW in 2018 and continued to decline in the first half of 2019, with installations totaling only 290 MW, Deutsche Welle reported.

"The main problem is permissions. It's got much slower, more complex, and there aren't enough civil servants to process the applications," WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson told the newspaper.

More wind projects are facing public resistance, often supported by environmental campaigners. Legal challenges to wind farms usually center on their impact on wildlife. German wind energy industry federation BWE said a total of 1,200 MW of wind capacity is encountering resistance based on alleged threats to endangered birds and bats.

At the same time, the industry is facing cuts to government subsidies. Wind turbines totaling 4,000 MW will drop out of the state subsidy scheme by 2020, according to the report.

Wind power is expected to play a big part in helping the country become carbon-neutral by 2050

"If Germany continues on its present course, its carbon emissions will fall by only 62% by 2050," Yale Environment 360 said, citing think tank German Energy Agency.

Israel has begun operating its largest renewable energy project, the Jewish News Syndicate reported.

The 121-MW Ashalim solar thermal power station was developed by Negev Energy - Ashalim Thermo-Solar Ltd. under a 28-year build, operate and transfer agreement with the Israeli government. Negev Energy is jointly owned by a Shikun & Binui Ltd. subsidiary, the Noy Fund and TSK.

The roughly $1.13 billion power plant uses a molten salt storage system, allowing it to store energy and provide 4.5 hours of additional power each day after sunset and during cloudy periods.

"We're taking the salt and the sun here, and turning it into clean energy and new jobs," Shikun & Binui majority owner Naty Saidoff told JNS. "Isn't turning curses into blessings what the land of Israel is all about?"

The Ashalim plant is intended to supply power to 60,000 households. It will support the country's goal of producing 10% of its power from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Kenya is set to host Africa's first hybrid renewable energy plant through a public-private partnership.

The Kenyan Investment Authority and the Meru County Government signed a 15 billion Kenyan shilling memorandum of understanding with renewable energy developers Windlab and Eurus Energy Holdings Corp. to make the project happen.

The 80-MW Meru Country Energy Park will combine wind, solar and battery storage capacity, according to the Kenyan Investment Authority. It is expected to power over 200,000 households once it is operational. Construction is expected to begin in 2021.

The Kenyan government has set up a $47 million fund in partnership with the World Bank to accelerate the uptake of solar power and clean-cooking solutions. The government also aims to power the country with 100% renewable energy by 2020, according to the World Economic Forum.

Elsewhere

* Permaju Industries Berhad plans to invest between 350 million Malaysian ringgit and 400 million ringgit to develop a solar facility in Malaysia, the New Strait Times reported. The investment will mark the company’s entry in the solar business.

* Utilities Vector Ltd. and Watercare Services Ltd. plan to build the first floating solar array in New Zealand. The project will also be the largest solar project of any type in the country.

* Spain-based Powertis is developing a 765-MW solar portfolio in the states of Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo in Brazil. The portfolio has power purchase agreements that will allow its operation until the end of 2041.

As of Sept. 9, US$1 was equivalent to 103.67 Kenyan shillings and 4.16 Malaysian ringgit.

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