Global Climate News

Switzerland-based Primeo Energie is installing a 65-megawatt-hour battery storage system in Kappel, Switzerland. This large-scale battery, built by INTILION, will help stabilize the power grid by storing excess renewable energy and releasing it when needed, improving grid reliability and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 4000 tons annually in the first years. The project is supported by the German government's Renewable-Energy-Solutions program.

US-based Portland General Electric (PGE) received approval from the Oregon Public Utility Commission for a rate increase ranging from 5.5% to 7.7%, effective January 1, 2025. The increase will fund investments in battery storage, transmission infrastructure, and grid modernization to improve reliability and integrate renewable energy sources. PGE also proposed measures to allocate costs fairly for new industrial customers.

The UK Treasury has appointed Geoffrey Spence for a 12-month term starting January 2025 to provide external expertise on project finance. Spence, former Global Head of Infrastructure at HSBC and Lloyds Bank, brings extensive experience in financing major projects in utilities, energy and infrastructure sectors. The appointment aims to support the government's economic growth objectives through infrastructure and energy sector development.

The UK government has launched a comprehensive review of energy regulator Ofgem to strengthen consumer protections and improve customer service in the energy market. The review aims to enhance Ofgem's powers to protect consumers, support clean energy transition, and improve infrastructure investment, including measures for quicker complaint resolution and automatic compensation for consumers.

A consortium including AtkinsRéalis, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Ansaldo Nucleare, and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) was awarded a $2.85 billion contract by Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica S.A. (SNN) to extend the life of a CANDU reactor in Romania. AtkinsRéalis' portion is valued at $937 million. The project will extend the reactor's operational life by 30 years, avoiding 5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually and supporting Romania's decarbonization goals.

Bangladesh has received $1.16 billion in financing from the World Bank for inclusive and climate-resilient development. The funding supports policy reforms to improve public planning and financing for green and climate-resilient interventions, reduce air pollution, and enhance sustainable water and sanitation services. Projects include a $500 million green and climate-resilient development credit, a $379 million health program, and a $280 million water supply improvement project in Chattogram.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved Commonwealth Edison's (ComEd) refiled multi-year grid plan (2024-2027), including $3.3 billion in investments to strengthen power grid reliability and support the state's clean energy goals as required by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The decision reduced ComEd's rate increase request by 11 percent, resulting in an overall increase of $606 million over four years.

US-based DC Grid has launched off-grid DC-based energy solutions to address the increasing power demands of AI-driven data centers and EV charging hubs. The company's modular systems bypass utility upgrades, enabling faster deployment (3 months for EV hubs, 12-18 months for data centers) and reducing energy losses by up to 20% in conversions and 33% in transmission/distribution. DC Grid offers various energy sourcing options, including solar+storage, RNG, and biogas, and currently has memoranda of understanding for six sites across the US.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sent a team to Ukraine to assess nuclear safety impacts at seven electrical substations critical for nuclear power plants following recent infrastructure attacks. The assessment covers substations supporting Khmelnytskyy, Rivne, South Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya NPPs and the Chornobyl site. The mission aims to evaluate grid stability issues affecting nuclear safety, with several plants operating at reduced capacity due to infrastructure damage.