Singapore’s SP to launch 240MW solar project in China

: Electricity, Emissions
24/09/06

Singapore's state-owned utility SP plans to start up a 240MW peak (MWp) agrivoltaic project in Guangdong province's Huizhou city, which will be fully operational by the end of this year.

MWp refers to the maximum power output potential a solar farm has when reaching ideal conditions. SP expects the project to generate 7.5bn kWh of green electricity over the next 25 years, reduce coal use by 920,000t and avoid 4.46mn t/yr of carbon emissions.

The project's solar installation capacity is 240MW, and marks SP's largest solar investment in China, the company said on 5 September. SP has secured 1.45GW of solar projects in China to date, spanning 18 provinces and municipalities.

SP in May also partnered with China environmental technology solutions provider Qingdao Daneng Environmental Protection Equipment to invest and build a 90MW aquavoltaic farm in Qingdao city. This will power a green hydrogen facility in Qingdao, likely referring to Chinese refiner Sinopec's 4,500 t/yr facility.

The solar project has an investment value of over 76mn Singapore dollars ($58.5mn) and is on track to connect to the grid by the end of the year. SP expects it to produce 162mn kWh/yr of green electricity and reduce carbon emissions by 160,000 t/yr. The operational model will incorporate renewable energy generation, grid integration, demand-side management, and energy storage.

SP's first investment in solar assets was in June 2023, for 78MWp of agrivoltaics assets across four agricultural sites in the Dabu county of Meizhou city in Guangdong province. The project will generate 91.3GWh/yr of clean electricity, and reduce coal usage by almost 30,000t, which amounts to cutting more than 91,000 t/yr of carbon emissions. The operational date of this project was not disclosed.

SP in May entered a strategic alliance with Shanghai-based CMB Financial Leasing to obtain financing services, which is expected to reach up to 8bn yuan ($1.13bn) over the next three years, to support the firm's deployment of renewable energy solutions in China. The projects will span utility-scale solar farms, distributed solar photovoltaic, energy storage, and district cooling and heating.

By Joey Chan

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25/05/20

GFG puts Australian Mn plant on care and maintenance

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EU, UK to ‘work towards’ linking carbon markets

25/05/19

EU, UK to ‘work towards’ linking carbon markets

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Australian carbon lobby urges government program reform

25/05/19

Australian carbon lobby urges government program reform

Sydney, 19 May (Argus) — Australia's lobby group Carbon Market Institute (CMI) urged the federal government to reform its Climate Active voluntary program, after utility Energy Australia admitted to flaws in its carbon offsetting strategy in a key legal case. The CMI said the Australian government must push reforms to the Climate Active program, and that carbon credits should not substitute decarbonisation efforts. Most of the voluntary demand for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) comes from the federal government-backed Climate Active , which awards certification to businesses that measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality. "Offsets do not prevent or undo the harms caused by burning fossil fuels for a customer's energy use," Energy Australia said on 19 May. The utility admitted that carbon offsetting is not the best way to help customers reduce their emissions, as a legal action launched by advocacy organisation Parents for Climate in the Federal Court of Australia in 2023 reached its conclusion. The two parties have settled, with the utility saying it has now shifted its focus to direct emissions reductions. Energy Australia in 2016 launched the ‘Go Neutral' carbon offset product, which is certified by Climate Active and provided residential customers with a way to offset emissions generated by their electricity or gas consumption. But the utility admitted their electricity or gas use was still sourced predominantly from fossil fuels. It withdrew the ‘Go Neutral' product from the market in July last year and is phasing it out for existing customers during 2025. The government has been delaying key decisions on the future of the Climate Active voluntary program , including whether to change the existing list of eligible international units or setting a minimum percentage use of ACCUs. There are currently 528 active certified brands under the Climate Active program, down from almost 590 in the end of 2024. The number of brands that stopped using the certification increased to 240, from around 180 over that same period. By susannah Cornford Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US House panel votes down Republican megabill

25/05/16

US House panel votes down Republican megabill

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UK offshore wind sector needs stability: Industry

25/05/16

UK offshore wind sector needs stability: Industry

London, 16 May (Argus) — The UK's offshore wind sector requires urgent government action to restore investor confidence and meet 2030 decarbonisation goals, industry leaders warned at the All-Energy conference in Glasgow on 14 May. Speaking at the panel Offshore Wind 2024: A Year in Turmoil, experts called for policy stability, streamlined consenting and stronger supply chains to unlock the sector's potential. Chair of industry body Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Jonathan Cole criticised the government's proposed locational marginal pricing reforms, arguing they introduce complexity and deter long-term investment. "We're not building coffee shops and bookstores, we're building infrastructure that will sit in one location for generations," he said. Cole warned that a 1pc rise in capital costs could erase £20bn in projected benefits, urging policymakers to prioritise stability over "speculative" market changes. ScottishPower Renewables' chief executive, Charlie Jordan, echoed the need for clarity, highlighting the £75bn investment in UK grid upgrades, particularly in Scotland, as critical for jobs and future-proofing the energy system. He said the ongoing review of electricity market arrangements (Rema) risks undermining grid investment and called for practical measures like general taxation to protect consumers from rising transmission costs. Both panellists stressed the need to accelerate consenting processes to maintain project timelines. They also emphasised strengthening the UK's offshore wind supply chain to compete with nations like South Korea and France. "Without swift action on ports, manufacturing and grid connections, we'll lose opportunities," Jordan said, pointing to Scotland's ScotWind seabed leasing programme and Celtic Sea offshore wind projects. Scotland has 3GW of offshore wind capacity across seven wind farms, including the 1.1GW Seagreen and 30MW Hywind Scotland. Projects under construction, such as the 450MW Neart na Gaoithe and 882MW Moray West, bring the nation's pipeline to 10.2GW expected by 2030, aligning with the Scottish government's 11GW target. The ScotWind seabed leasing round saw 25GW of leasing options agreements awarded in January 2022, with projects like the 2.1GW Berwick Bank, 1.1GW Inch Cape and 560MW Green Volt in planning. But recent setbacks have raised concerns about deliverability. The cancellation of Danish utility Orsted's 2.4GW Hornsea 4 project in May, despite a 15-year contracts for difference (CfD) at £83/MWh, underscores the sector's challenges. Orsted cited rising costs and "execution risks" from installing 180 turbines, highlighting economic unviability under current conditions. Transparency in energy pricing was deemed essential for public support. Jordan said prohibitive costs, driven by taxes and seabed leasing fees, make UK industrial users 70pc less competitive than their European counterparts. Cole added that clear communication is vital as discussions about market reforms and potential EU alignment intensify. With the upcoming seventh round of the CfD scheme and ongoing government consultations, the panel urged decisive action to stabilise the sector. "This is the time for long-term vision, not academic experiments," Cole said. By Timothy Santonastaso Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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