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MHI Vestas wins Japanese offshore deal
JAPAN
MHI Vestas has won the contract to supply its V174-9.5MW turbines to Japan’s 220MW Hibikinada offshore wind farm, which is being built by J-Power and local utility Kyuden Mirai.
The venture is Japan’s first commercial-scale wind farm of this size and construction is set to begin in 2022. The project will also be the first in Asia to use MHI Vestas’ V174-9.5MW model.
“It is a great honour for MHI Vestas Offshore Wind to be confirmed as preferred wind turbine supplier for the Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm off the south-west coast of Japan,” said MHI Ves- tas’ CEO, Philippe Kavafyan.
“Relying on our strong parent company, MHI, we will bring our flagship V174-9.5MW technology and recognised offshore wind expe- rience to serve Japan’s ambitious renewable energydevelopmentplans.”
The project is one of the first to take advan- tage of Japan’s new regulations, making it easier to develop offshore wind farms.
The Japanese government has recently clari- fied and simplified its regulations on developing offshore wind plans, while offshore wind now forms a much more important part of its Basic
Energy Plan. Earlier in 2019, Parliament passed a new law to promote offshore wind, offering 30-year concessions and a system of competitive tendering.
The Hibikinada project is being developed by Hibiki Wind Energy, with Kyuden Mirai Energy holding 30%, J-Power 40% and Kyuden, Hoku- taku Renewable Energy Service and Saibu Gas each taking 10%.
As well as MHI Vestas, other original equip- ment manufacturers (OEMs) are also interested in Japan’s offshore potential. Siemens Gamesa is to supply SG 8.0-167 DD turbines for the 455MW Northern Akita project, set to open in 2024.
Japan’s Cosmo Eco Power, which runs 266MW of onshore wind capacity, wants to build a1-GWwindfarm,whileEquinorhasplansto build up to 750MW of offshore capacity.
Japan could have up to 4GW of offshore wind capacity in 2028, according to research from Wood Mackenzie, compared with 640MW in 2018. Wind current accounts for less 1% of Japan’s power generation, compared with 10% in Europe.
India’s Avaada Energy receives $15mn of DFI equity funding
INDIA
INDIA’S Avaada Energy has received $15mn in equity funding from French development finance institution (DFI) Proparco to help build 5GW of solar capacity.
“Avaada Energy has received $15mn in equity investments from Proparco, a French develop- ment finance institution, for part-financing its renewable energy portfolio of the targeted 5GW capacity,” the company said in a statement.
Avaada Energy is one of India’s main develop- ers of solar PV and currently operates 700MW, with a portfolio under construction of 1.3GW. It is backed by India’s Mittal Group.
The funding from Proparco and its DFI part- ners will support Avaada at a key moment in the development of its solar platform. The company began operations in 2017.
Avaada said that the deal recognised its capa- bility to execute renewable projects and attract quality global investors. It aims to continue to seek investment from quality long-term inves- tors to grow its portfolio, which will help the country’s fight against climate change, the com- pany said.
At the start of November, Avaada won 300MW of solar capacity at a tariff of INR2.71 ($0.038) per kwh at the Solar Energy Corpora- tion of India’s (SECI) seventh solar auction of the year.
Renew Power, UPC Renewables and Tata Power Renewable Energy also won 300MW at the auction at the same tariff.
The investment follows a INR10bn ($140mn) investment in April 2019 from the Asian Devel- opment Bank (ADB), Germany’s DEG, Dutch finance development company FMO and the Mittal Group.
Proparco is supporting the Indian govern- ment’s efforts to build 100GW of installed solar capacity by 2022.
“Avaada is committed to providing sustain- able environment for future generation. We are targeting an extensive portfolio of 5GW [of] solar energy projects across Asia and Africa. Recently we have received investments from ADB, DEG and FMO,” Vineet Mittal, chairman of Avaada Group, said.
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