Netherlands 'taking steps' towards new nuclear plants

Spanish Market: Electricity, Hydrogen
13/06/22

The Dutch government is "taking steps" towards the construction of two new nuclear power plants, according to a national energy system plan outlined last week.

According to the outline published on Friday, a scenario study is being conducted into the relationship between various types of CO2-free capacity and how nuclear energy can be integrated into the Dutch power mix. The study is also looking at the cost efficiency of nuclear energy at the system level and the potential benefits in terms of use of space and infrastructure investments. The outline also says the role that nuclear energy can play in the production of hydrogen will be explored.

The outline states that future domestic capacity will cover "approximately" the Netherlands' direct annual power demand and that given the variable nature of renewable generation, flexibility must increase. The required adjustable generation — which nuclear generation offers, the outline says — would also have to be CO2-free.

The government's coalition agreement at the end of 2021 stated that the country would aim to build two nuclear reactors after 2030 and extend the lifespan of the only active reactor, the 485MW Borssele plant. Nuclear output from Borssele has averaged just over 414MW in 2022, around the same as in 2021,when it averaged 412MW.

Onshore and offshore wind output has risen by an average of 177.29MW and 282.72MW, respectively, on the year in 2022. The government last week announced tenders for six new offshore wind farms totalling 10.7GW to be held in 2025-27, with the view to launching them in 2029-31.

By Helen Senior

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22/05/25

Iraq signs integrated energy deal with China’s Geo-Jade

Dubai, 22 May (Argus) — Iraq's oil ministry has signed an agreement with China's Geo-Jade Petroleum and local firm Basra Crescent to expand the capacity of the 20,000 b/d Tuba oil field and develop a suite of downstream and power assets, in a move that mirrors recent integrated energy deals with international partners. A key component of the South Basrah Integrated Energy Project will be to raise Tuba's production capacity to 100,000 b/d, oil minister Hayan Abdulghani said at the signing ceremony in Baghdad on 21 May. The project will also include processing of up to 50mn ft³/d of associated gas. Downstream components include a 200,000 b/d refinery, a 620,000 t/yr petrochemical plant and a 520,000 t/yr fertilizer facility. A 650MW thermal power plant and a 400MW solar plant will also be part of the project, Abdulghani said. No financial details or project timelines were disclosed. The agreement marks a further step in Geo-Jade's expansion in Iraq, following its successful participation in the country's fifth and sixth licensing rounds. While the company now holds multiple upstream assets in Iraq, it has yet to bring any into production. The deal follows a similar multi-billion dollar agreement signed with TotalEnergies in 2023 , which bundled gas processing, water treatment and solar power with development of the Ratawi field. In February this year, BP signed a major upstream deal with Iraq that also includes power, water and potentially exploration. By Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil to walk tightrope in Cop 30 fossil fuel talks

20/05/25

Brazil to walk tightrope in Cop 30 fossil fuel talks

Rio de Janeiro, 20 May (Argus) — Brazil is arguing that its developing country status allows it to consolidate its position as a major crude producer and is likely to lean on developed countries during much-awaited discussions on moving away from fossil fuels at the UN Cop 30 climate conference in November. Attempts to reach an ambitious outcome on mitigation — cutting greenhouse gas emissions — and actions to move away from fossil fuels were quashed at Cop 29 in Baku last year, and all eyes are on Brazil to bridge divides on this issue . Cop 30 president-designate Andre Correa do Lago has failed to address fossil fuels in his two letters outlining priorities for the summit, but members of the Cop 30 team have indicated the issue will be on the agenda. With geopolitical tensions and energy security questions redirecting government priorities away from the energy transition, the outlook is more challenging than when Cop parties agreed the global stocktake (GST) conclusion on fossil fuels and energy in 2023 . But Brazil is well-placed to take the lead. It is a respected player in climate discussions and has one of the cleanest energy mix — 49pc of its energy and 89pc of its electricity comes from renewables. Its own mitigation efforts prioritize slashing deforestation, which accounts for the lion's share of Brazil's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Non-profit World Resources Institute Brazil describes the emissions reduction target in Brazil's nationally determined contribution (NDC) — climate plan — as "reasonable to insufficient" and notes that energy emissions are expected to increase by 20pc in the decade to 2034. Its NDC avoids any concrete steps towards winding down crude. After you The government's view on fossil fuels is that Brazil's developing country status, the oil and gas industry's importance in its economy and comparatively low fossil fuel emissions justify pushing ahead with oil production. Correa do Lago said earlier that Belem was picked as a venue for Cop 30 to show that Brazil is still a developing country, adding that any decision on oil and gas should be taken by Brazil's citizens. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that oil revenue will fund the energy transition. It is a position that has earned Brazil accusations of hypocrisy from environmentalists at home and abroad, but which also places it as a possible model for other hydrocarbon-producer developing countries. Brazil's diplomatic tradition of pragmatically balancing seemingly opposing positions could serve it well here, said Gabriel Brasil, a senior analyst focused on climate at Control Risks, a consultancy. He does not see Brazil's attempt to balance climate leadership with continued oil production as hurting its standing among fellow parties or energy investors. Civil society stakeholders hope pre-Cop meetings will help bring clarity on how Brazil might broach the fossil fuel debate. Indigenous groups, which are set to be given more space at Cop, are demanding an end to fossil fuel extraction in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas offshore basin. Meanwhile, Brazilian state-owned Petrobras moved one step closer to being authorized to begin offshore drilling there . During meetings of the UN climate body — the UNFCCC — in Panama City this week, the Cop 30 presidency will present ideas for the summit "with a focus on the full implementation of the GST". But it has to wait for countries to update their NDCs to gauge what is achievable on mitigation. Only 20 have submitted new NDCs so far, with the deadline pushed back to September. Brazil's own NDC gives some clues. It welcomes the launch "of international work for the definition of schedules for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems" and reiterates that developed countries should take the lead. And a report commissioned by Brazil's oil chamber IBP and civil society organization ICS to be given to negotiators ranks Brazil as a "mover" in the transition away from oil and gas, ahead of "adapters" like India and Nigeria but behind "front-runners" Germany and the US. The research develops the idea of a country-based transition plan, using criteria such as energy security and institutional and social resilience, as well as oil and gas relevance. By Constance Malleret 2023 Brazil emissions sources Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Nuclear issue splits Australia’s opposition coalition

20/05/25

Nuclear issue splits Australia’s opposition coalition

Sydney, 20 May (Argus) — Australia's Liberal-National opposition coalition has split because of a nuclear energy disagreement, leaving the ruling Labor Party in a stronger position to push through its renewable energy agenda and possibly ushering in a period of energy policy stability. The Nationals leader David Littleproud announced the split at a press conference at parliament house on 20 May. He said the parties are no longer aligned on nuclear forming part of the energy grid and its proposed A$20bn ($12.8bn) future fund for regional Australia. The Liberal party did not confirm whether it would support nuclear energy or the future fund, Littleproud added. Australia's opposition coalition — comprising of the right-leaning National and Liberal parties — has separated after an 80-year alliance, further affirming the Labor government's majority after its landslide win on 3 May . Neither the Liberal nor the National party is likely to form government in the future without each other's support, so the split hands more power to the Labor party to pursue its energy transition policies and could allow the Liberal party to move towards the middle of the political spectrum. It could also see the Labor and Liberal parties forming a consensus, after many years of disagreement on energy policy as well as resources and energy tax regimes . The Liberal party needs time to "reinvent" themselves after their massive loss, he added. The party lost 15 seats in the House of Representatives in the last election, while the Nationals lost just one. Littleproud said he will work with the Liberal party leader Sussan Ley to rebuild their relationship and potentially reform a coalition before the next election. "We will be pragmatic and work constructively with Sussan Ley and her team to bring down the Albanese government after next election," he said. By Grace Dudley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Infinium takes FID on 100MW Texas e-fuels plant

19/05/25

Infinium takes FID on 100MW Texas e-fuels plant

London, 19 May (Argus) — US project developer Infinium has taken a final investment decision (FID) on an e-fuels production plant in Texas, and has selected compatriot Electric Hydrogen to provide 100MW of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser capacity. Construction of Project Roadrunner, at Pecos, west Texas is underway, with commercial production due to start in 2027, Infinium said. The facility will make 23,000 t/yr of synthetic aviation fuels (e-SAF) and other e-fuels, specifically e-diesel for trucking and maritime industries and e-naphtha. This will make it the largest e-fuels facility in the world, Infinium said. Supply will be sold domestically and exported to international markets, it said. Infinium last year struck a 10-year offtake deal with UK-based International Airlines Group (IAG) for delivery of 75,000t of e-SAF to any of the group's airlines: Aer Lingus, BA, Iberia, Level and Vueling. The UK will introduce mandatory e-SAF quotas for the aviation sector from 2028, with the EU to follow suit in 2030. The 7,500 t/yr deal with IAG would cover roughly one-third of Project Roadrunner's expected output. Infinium also has a supply agreement with American Airlines, the developer said. Project Roadrunner will be fed with 150MW of wind power generation capacity from a subsidiary of Florida-headquartered NextEra Energy Resources, via a long-term power purchase agreement. Infinium said Electric Hydrogen's integrated 100MW PEM plant "will not only produce hydrogen for the e-SAF facility but will also have capacity to support future hydrogen offtake opportunities." Canadian asset management Brookfield in 2024 agreed to invest $200mn in Infinium, and specifically Project Roadrunner, in the short term, with potential further investments of $850mn for future projects. Project Roadrunner previously received conditional funding commitment of $75mn from the Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Catalyst. Infinium has not specified whether it intends to avail itself of the 45V hydrogen production tax credits, which could yield up to $3/kg of hydrogen. Start of construction would leave this possibility open even if a bill proposed by Republicans in the US House of Representatives goes through. The proposed bill foresees that tax credits would only be available for projects that start construction before the start of 2026. By Alexandra Luca Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU, UK to ‘work towards’ linking carbon markets

19/05/25

EU, UK to ‘work towards’ linking carbon markets

London, 19 May (Argus) — The EU and UK agreed to work towards linking their respective emissions trading systems (ETS), as part of their common understanding agreement concluded at a summit in London today. "The European Commission and the United Kingdom share the view that a functioning link between carbon markets would address many of the issues raised in respect of trade and a level playing field," the agreement states. A linking agreement should exempt both jurisdictions from their respective carbon border adjustment mechanisms, according to the common understanding, and the linked systems should cover power and industrial heat generation, and domestic and international maritime and aviation emissions. The statement specifically states that any link "should not constrain the European Union and the United Kingdom from pursuing higher environmental ambition". It also underlines that the UK ETS's supply cap and its emissions reduction pathway are "guided by" the country's Climate Change Act and nationally determined contributions to the Paris climate agreement, and that these should be "at least as ambitious" as the EU's. The UK has legally binding targets to cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 68pc by 2030 and 81pc by 2035, both compared with 1990 levels. The EU aims to cut its net GHG emissions by 55pc by 2030, and is yet to set a 2035 target. Both jurisdictions are targeting net zero emissions by 2050, while they share the "same interests" in addressing climate change, commission president Ursula von der Leyen said today. Linking the systems would "save British businesses £800mn in EU carbon taxes", UK prime minister Keir Starmer said today, without specifying a timeframe for the savings. A study commissioned by a range of utilities and published last week found that linking the two systems would save up to €1.2bn on lower hedging costs resulting from improved market liquidity and lower bid-offer spreads. Today's agreement provides no timeline for linking the systems. The process to negotiate and link the Swiss ETS to the EU's scheme took almost 10 years. Alongside plans to work towards linking the EU and UK ETS, the jurisdictions also alluded in the agreement to continuing "technical regulatory exchanges" on energy technologies including hydrogen, carbon capture and storage and biomethane. And they will "explore in detail the necessary parameters" for the UK's potential participation in the EU's internal power market. By Victoria Hatherick and Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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