Tepco to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No.6 reactor

: Electricity
26/01/21

Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) plans to reactivate its long-idled 1,356MW No.6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant after 19:00 Japan time (10:00 GMT) on 21 January, after completing an inspection of the reactor's control rods.

The Japanese utility has inspected all of the control rods at the No.6 reactor, after it identified errors in some of the control rod settings on 17 January. The company detected that an alarm designed to ensure safe management of the control rods — which are key to regulating nuclear fission — was not working correctly. The settings ensure safe operation of the reactor.

Tepco completed repairs on 18 January, but it decided to check the operation of all control rods as a safety precaution.

Tepco originally aimed to restart the No.6 reactor on 20 January. But it had to postpone the reactivation because of the technical issue.

By Nanami Oki

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26/10/20

Details drive the future of REC markets

Houston, 20 October (Argus) — Registries that track and issue renewable energy certificates (RECs) are supplying more data to voluntary market participants as buying habits — and scrutiny on those habits — take on new layers of complexity. REC buyers are calling for more data to inform their purchases. The registries aiming to satisfy those requests, such as by adding generation tracking on an hourly basis, have been careful to work within the existing market framework. Providing information like hourly tracking is not "about replacing the existing REC infrastructure" but expanding it, according to Jeff Berman, vice president for registry solutions at Xpansiv, which owns the North American Renewables Registry (NAR). "At the core, the only difference should be at the point of issuance," he said. "Instead of having a month and a year vintage, you have an hour and a day vintage. Ultimately, what you are designing should be no different than what exists on a broad level from what exists today." In some cases, buyers may not be aware of the distinction, unless they take a closer look at the data. "You can have a generator that opts into the [hourly tracking] process, and the certificates won't be issued as a traditional monthly certificate but, for all intents and purposes, will act like one," CleanCounts chief executive Ben Gerber said. The war in the weeds The increased focus on additional data in part stems from standard-setting organizations, such as the GHG Protocol, planning tighter requirements for scope 2 emissions accounting. The GHG Protocol is mulling not only hourly requirements, but also constraints on project location and age. Traditionally, REC accounting has been volumetric. Buyers retire credits on a monthly or annual basis to cover their power use, which means they continue to rely on other forms of generation when renewables are not available, even if on their books they exclusively use zero-emissions electricity. Companies have largely used their own discretion when choosing projects, with some selecting generation in the same region and others prioritizing support in areas with less wind or solar, even if it is across the country. The proposed changes are "rooted in the growing need for more accurate emissions accounting", according to the GHG Protocol, which intends to implement the revisions at the end of 2028. The proposal has sparked backlash from businesses and raised concerns that the new rules could undercut corporate efforts to scrub emissions from the power sector . More sophisticated requirements could increase reporting burdens and costs, discouraging clean energy procurements. Supporters have dismissed the skepticism as an expected reaction to revamping entrenched practices. The shift to full hourly tracking would not be immediate, EnergyTag head of US policy and markets Alex Piper said during a panel at the Renewable Energy Markets 2026 conference in September. "I think hourly matching is often equated to 24/7," Piper said. "24/7 is way down the road, and it is not the same thing as starting an hourly matching journey." A more expansive future The new guidelines are not the lone driver of evolving attitudes in the voluntary markets. Large companies, particularly in the tech sector, have eyed using zero-emissions generation at all hours for several years. But conversations about sustainability have become "more focused on outcomes" as buyers have developed more nuanced understandings of how power systems work, according to Berman. That shift has amplified discourse around dispatchable resources, particularly nuclear. The trend has already resulted in companies like Google reviving shuttered nuclear plants . Echoing that interest, Xpansiv's CBL platform in the past year launched "emissions-free energy certificates" for the PJM and NEPOOL markets to provide a tradeable instrument for nuclear. Registries are still analyzing the demand for more niche inclusions. CleanCounts plans to launch other, more granular offerings in late 2026 or early 2027, including information to denote generators on tribal lands, agrivoltaic projects and hydropower stations certified by Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) for minimizing their environmental impacts. The LIHI tag already appears on certain qualifying projects in the NAR registry. Buyers will likely place importance on new resource traits as the market continues to evolve. NAR has garnered interest from carbon capture and storage facilities, and it is working on time-shifted certificates that would better capture the benefits of energy storage systems. NAR plans to implement the feature "in the near future", Berman said. While companies and accountability watchdogs will ultimately determine demand, the registries that make the markets function will continue to refine their offerings in response. "We'll provide the mechanism to do it and let people decide," Gerber said. "But we do know that the future of these certificates really is based off of the need to have access to more granular information." By Patrick Zemanek Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Energy markets unlikely to normalise in 2027: IEA Birol

26/10/20

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26/10/20

Energy markets unlikely to normalise in 2027: IEA Birol

London, 20 October (Argus) — IEA executive director Fatih Birol said today that he does not see "any credible pathway" for a normalisation of energy markets next year and that the crisis in the Middle East could escalate further. "I'm very worried that there will be some overlapping crisis in [the] Middle East… there may be some other crisis and it may further escalate the situation which will have serious implications for the energy markets", he told the Financial Times Energy Transition Summit in London. IEA member countries agreed in March to release 400mn bl of oil from emergency reserves. This was a "cushion", Birol said today. The IEA said earlier this month that around 330mn bl had been released so far. "If there is a need, I am sure our governments will not hesitate to look at the option of releasing further stocks", he said. The IEA said earlier this month that 20mn bl of diesel would be included in a G7-led oil stocks release. "I think we are trying to front-load those diesel deliveries", Birol said today, although he added that the timing is dependent on governments. He expressed concern about winter, when diesel demand typically rises — mostly because of heating fuel needs in the northern hemisphere. Birol noted that, while many expected crude oil prices to have risen further, "we don't use crude oil, we use products". It is "myopic" to assess the gravity of the situation on crude prices alone, when oil products prices have increased faster, he added. Energy security and climate change objectives are "closely aligned" at present, but "climate change is sliding down the international policy agenda", despite an increase in extreme weather events, Birol said today. He expects to see interest in climate change issues "rebound" next year, he added — partly owed to renewables which are cheap and quick to build out. Birol said he expected broad agreement from countries on electrification at the UN Cop 31 climate summit next month. The Turkish Cop 31 presidency has set a goal dubbed 35x35 , to lift electricity's share of final energy demand worldwide to 35pc by 2035. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Italy reaches deal with EU on gas cap for power output

26/10/19

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26/10/19

Italy reaches deal with EU on gas cap for power output

London, 19 October (Argus) — Italy has reached a preliminary agreement with the European Commission that allows it to set a temporary cap on the price of natural gas used for power generation, as part of moves to lower energy costs for businesses and consumers. Under the agreement, Italy will use a mechanism similar to the one implemented by Spain and Portugal in 2022, known as the "Iberian exception", to cap wholesale prices at around €60/MWh for at least one year. Rome will then compensate gas-fired plant operators for the difference between the market price and the cap, passing on the extra costs to consumers through additional charges on energy bills. The PSV gas contract for November was last assessed by Argus at €88.40/MWh "We managed to clinch a good agreement with the EU… which will set a cap on the price of gas at €60/MWh, which means electricity will cost us less," foreign minister Antonio Tajani said over the weekend. And in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Messaggero this weekend, energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said the cap, "around €60/MWh", would cut energy bills by 10pc. He said the commission had undertaken to expedite the process, adding that "the new mechanism could start in January". The measure was originally contained in a government decree approved earlier this year that had sought to subsidise gas-fired generators for costs relating to Europe's Emissions Trading System (ETS) scheme, but this was not compliant with EU regulations. An EU spokesman said the measure would be temporary, aimed at minimising market distortions and preserving long-term incentives in renewable energy. "It will compensate exclusively the rise in gas costs and will not cover ETS costs," the spokesman said. Italy, which generates around 40pc of its power from gas-fired plants, has spearheaded attempts by a group of EU member states to convince Brussels to reform the ETS scheme to protect industry. The measure will now be rewritten by officials before being submitted to the EU antitrust, while Italian energy regulator Arera will rule on who will pay the costs in bills. The final reworked draft will have to be approved by the Italian government. On a separate issue, Pichetto said the government was also considering another energy release to help energy-intensive companies. By Stephen Jewkes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Joint presidencies a first for Cop 31

26/10/16

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26/10/16

Joint presidencies a first for Cop 31

Mitigation, adaptation and climate finance may be areas the two presidents push for agreement on, writes Georgia Gratton London, 16 October (Argus) — Turkey will host the UN Cop 31 climate summit in November, but Australia will hold the role of presidency for the negotiations. This dual presidency setup is a first for Cop conferences and it is not yet clear how it will affect the outcome. The Cop host rotates among five UN regional groups and is selected by the other countries in that group. Turkey and Australia were both determined to host this year's talks. The countries reached a compromise that will see Turkey host Cop 31 in Antalya, with Australian energy minister Chris Bowen overseeing the formal negotiations between nearly 200 country delegations. The Turkish presidency has outlined its key concerns, including a 35x35 goal — to increase the share of electricity in final worldwide energy demand to 35pc by 2035. Part of the Australian presidency's priority list will be ensuring that Pacific islands — low-lying and intensely vulnerable to climate change — have a voice at the summit. Bowen and Murat Kurum — Turkey's environment minister and Cop 31 president — will "take forward a presidency-led decision… which captures the global moment and calls for action", Bowen said earlier this month. This could be a reference to a cover decision, which offers an opportunity for countries to set out wider, overarching goals, not always connected to specific agenda items, and which often work to a longer timeframe a decade or more ahead. "We don't want to negotiate a lengthy political statement, but a focused and concrete response to the challenges and opportunities of our time," Bowen said. The decision "could recognise" the inevitable overshoot of the Paris Agreement goal to limit the global rise in temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, Bowen said. He also floated the inclusion of "high-impact solutions for mitigation and adaptation" — cutting emissions and adjusting to climate change — and reaffirming existing climate finance pledges. These are areas in which it has been difficult to form consensus at recent Cops. Background politics As always, geopolitics will loom over this year's Cop, and wider Cop goals must compete with countries' individual priorities. Many will push for faster decarbonisation for energy security, cost and emissions reduction reasons. But other countries will use the same reasons to warn against a hastened transition. Turkey and Australia are dependent on fossil fuels, although both were represented at the International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in April. Turkey's energy supply was mostly met by fossil fuels in 2025, at 81.6pc, data from energy watchdog the IEA show. But solar, wind, hydropower and other renewables made up 46.5pc of the country's domestic energy production last year, according to the IEA, lending some weight to the presidency's 35x35 electrification goal. Australia is the world's second-largest coal exporter but the country's highest court this month upheld a ruling that blocked a coal mine expansion and could be leveraged to restrict further coal mine approvals. Australia typically aligns with other developed countries at Cop summits, but Turkey is rare in that it is not part of a negotiating bloc. This "could work in its favour", climate think-tank E3G senior researcher Oyku Senlen tells Argus. "By virtue of its geopolitical position, Turkey is accustomed to flexible diplomacy. It has experience in gauging the expectations of different actors and finding common ground," Senlen says. Turkey will oversee the world leaders' summit, while Australia is likely to chair plenaries charting the progress of negotiations. The countries have supported one another's agendas and Bowen affirmed at a pre-Cop event that the countries are united. "We are working hand in glove, for the parties together, for a very strong outcome," he said. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Solar, Bess tax breaks clear Mexico's lower house

26/10/14

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26/10/14

Solar, Bess tax breaks clear Mexico's lower house

Mexico City, 14 October (Argus) — Legislation to accelerate recovery of start-up capital for solar power and battery energy storage passed Mexico's lower house on Wednesday, clearing a final article-by-article review in a 322-115 floor vote. The clean energy incentives — structured as accelerated depreciation rules under the federal income tax law (Lisr) — advance as a core element of the 2027 revenue package. The initiative now heads to the senate for ratification, which is expected to conclude well before the chamber's 31 October legal deadline to pass the revenue side of next year's budget. If approved, the new rules will take effect on 1 January 2027. The tax reform proposal specifically aims to modify the federal income tax law, as part of an overhaul to Mexico's simplified tax framework (Resico). It establishes that eligible companies may double their annual tax depreciation rate on physical equipment and infrastructure to 40pc from 20pc. The provision could cut capex recovery times in half, typically to 2.5 years from 5 years, for small- and mid-sized solar and backup energy developers. However, industry analysts point out a significant trade-off that limits the reform's broader impact. As the incentive is strictly tethered to the Resico framework, it is bound by the regime's updated annual gross revenue cap of Ps50mn ($2.6mn). Renewable energy advocates argue the cap is too low and sets up a mixed outcome for the industry . While it stimulates small-scale distributed generation and commercial rooftop installations, utility-scale developers are largely excluded from the tax break. Under the new Lisr, amortization is now limited to 50pc of taxable profit for these companies, a limit analysts argue creates a baseline annual tax cash drain regardless of cumulative development capex. Furthermore, companies exceeding the revenue cap will now be restricted from fully utilizing the standalone 100pc immediate renewable asset deduction established under article 34 of the income tax statute. Financing costs for capital-intensive generation networks also face adjustment, as the legislation lowers the threshold for net-interest deductions on corporate project debt to 20pc from 30pc of adjusted taxable income. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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