German solar PV subsidies will drop by 1% per month in Q3 2018

The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA) will cut subsidies for solar PV projects commissioned between 1 August 2018 and 31 October 2018 by 1% per month. The BNetzA estimates that the newly solar PV added capacity (2,727 MW) is above the planned capacity expansion path of 2,500 MW. For this purpose, a slight regulation of the subsidies will be implemented and the funding rates will be adjusted to avoid overcapacity.

Germany is shifting from a subsidy-based system to an auction-based one. Since the beginning of 2017, solar and wind power projects over 750 kW have to compete in tenders in order to secure power purchase deals, as feed-in tariff (FiT) contracts are no longer available. However, projects that were approved in 2016 are still eligible.

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TEPCO targets 7 GW of renewable energy capacity in Japan and overseas

The Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) plans to develop between 6 GW and 7 GW new renewable energy capacity both in Japan and overseas. The group plans to focus on offshore wind power (2 GW of which to be built in Japan, including floating wind projects, and 2 GW overseas) and on hydropower operations in Japan and South East Asia.

TEPCO aims to gain a competitive advantage and will pursue new renewable energy projects instead of nuclear power. Renewables currently account for only 15% of its power output, which is less than any other Japanese power company. The company is seeking partners and expects to build its first wind park in Japan.

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Belgium establishes a capacity market system to offset nuclear phase-out

The Belgian government has agreed to subsidize new electricity capacity to offset the country's nuclear phase-out in 2025. A capacity remuneration mechanism (CRM) has been approved and is set to replace the strategic reserve program, which was implemented since the winter 2014-2015. A two-tier auction system should be implemented by 2021, to give enough time to project developers to build new gas-fired power plants (based on an average 4-year construction length) before the nuclear phase out of 2025. Both existing and new power plants will be able to participate in the scheme and no technology is excluded except nuclear power. According to the government, foreign capacity may also participate but under well-defined conditions.

The first auction should be organized in 2021. Besides, the government will also organize yearly auctions to adjust fluctuating needs for capacity. This scheme will enable the government to subsidize capacity in a bid to guarantee security of supply. By 2025, the scheme is estimated to cost Belgian consumers an annual €345m. According to a study unveiled by the domestic grid operator Elia, 3.6 GW of new thermal capacity will be needed to offset the closure of the country’s nuclear plants.

More energy news: https://goo.gl/JX6nho

AEMO expects Australia to phase out coal power in the next 20 years

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has unveiled the new Integrated System Plan for the National Electricity Market, which forecasts the likely changes that will be occurring over the next 20 years across the domestic power market. Despite the anticipated electrification of the transport sector over the next 20 years, electricity grid demand will flatten, due to the growth of solar rooftop PV installations and energy storage coupled with energy efficiency efforts.

Existing coal-fired power plants that generate around 70 TWh/year - one third of the NEM's demand - will continue operating until the end of their operational life (by 2040 at the latest) as it would be uneconomical to retire them before the end of their operational lifespan. Replacing them later on with renewables - whose costs are falling -, gas-fired capacity, distributed generation capacity and energy storage systems (including pumped-storage) would be more cost efficient.

The domestic power grid will shift to a more decentralised system model: 28 GW of solar, 10.5 GW of wind, 17 GW of storage and 500 MW of flexible gas-fired generation will be set up along with a significant upgrade of the domestic power transmission system.

More energy news: https://goo.gl/JX6nho
For more detailed analysis and energy data on Australia and over 100 countries worldwide, try our Global Energy Research service: https://goo.gl/ViGPaJ

Enerdata's free online applications: EnerOutlook and Yearbook

EnerOutlook

EnerOutlook fossil fuel prices up to 2040

EnerOutlook is a free online interactive data software which enables you to browse data through intuitive maps and graphs, for a visual analysis of the expected long-term trends in the energy industry.

These can be viewed globally and by world region. The interface provides robust forecasts on energy supply and demand as well as information on fossil fuel prices, renewable energies and CO2 emissions.

This application is an excerpt of the complete EnerFuture global forecast service based on the POLES model.

Global Energy Statistical Yearbook 

Global Energy Statistical Yearbook interactive map

The Global Energy Statistical Yearbook is Enerdata's free online application that displays global energy statistics through an interactive interface with maps and graphs. Browse the latest data (last update: 2018) by region, energy and year; compare and benchmark countries; and download data series to integrate to your model. 

The Yearbook provides statistics on : 

• production, consumption and trade of oil, gas, coal, power and renewables;
• CO2 emissions from fuel combustion;
• covering 60 countries and regions throughout the world;
• including updated data until 2017.