POWER Digest [January 2025]

First Hualong One at Zhangzhou No. 1 Mega-Nuclear Plant Powers Up in China. China Nationwide Nuclear Corp. (CNNC), on Nov. 28, efficiently linked Zhangzhou Nuclear Energy Plant No. 1, a 1.1-GW Hualong One unit, to the nationwide grid. The unit is one in all six Hualong One reactors set to be put in on the 7-GW web site, making the Fujian Province plant the biggest Hualong One base on the planet. The Chinese language authorities issued an operation license for Zhangzhou No. 1 in October 2024, and full commissioning of the unit is anticipated on the finish of 2024. In response to the CNNC, Zhangzhou No. 1’s grid connection marks “main progress within the mass manufacturing of Hualong One,” China’s domestically developed third-generation pressurized water reactor. Up to now, 33 items are in operation or below development in China and overseas. That makes it “the third-generation nuclear energy expertise with the biggest variety of items in operation and below development on the planet, marking that China’s nuclear energy expertise and complete competitiveness have entered the world’s first echelon,” CNNC stated. China is focusing on the development of 200 GW of nuclear capability by 2035. As of December 2024, the nation had put on-line 57 reactors, a mixed 56 GW. An estimated 30 others (32 GW) are below development.

Partnership Fashioned to Advance Offshore Wind within the Caspian Sea. United Arab Emirates–primarily based Masdar; SOCAR Inexperienced, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state oil firm SOCAR; and Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Energy signed a memorandum of understanding at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November to discover the event of three.5 GW of offshore wind tasks within the Caspian Sea, marking Azerbaijan’s first offshore wind farms. The tasks goal to help Azerbaijan’s renewable vitality objectives, together with reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 whereas advancing inexperienced hydrogen and water desalination. Masdar, a worldwide renewable vitality chief since 2006, has developed main photo voltaic tasks in Azerbaijan, together with the 230-MW Garadagh, 315-MW Neftchala, and 445-MW Bilasuvar vegetation, the latter in partnership with SOCAR Inexperienced. SOCAR Inexperienced, established in 2024, focuses on photo voltaic, wind, and inexperienced hydrogen to advance Azerbaijan’s local weather objectives. ACWA Energy, energetic in Azerbaijan since 2019, is constructing the 240-MW Khizi-Absheron wind farm and supporting the nation’s renewable vitality objectives.

Brazil Extends Angra 1 Nuclear Plant’s Operations to 2044. Brazil’s Eletronuclear has secured approval from the Nationwide Nuclear Power Fee (CNEN) to increase the operational lifetime of its Angra 1 nuclear energy plant by 20 years, enabling the reactor to run till 2044. The choice on Nov. 22, 2024, follows a five-year analysis course of, together with security opinions and missions by the Worldwide Atomic Power Company. The 640-MWe Westinghouse reactor, which started business operations in 1985, is receiving BRL 3.2 billion ($550 million) in modernization investments via 2027. Upgrades are already underway. Enhancements embody management system upgrades, stronger bodily safety, and improved radioactive waste protocols. Angra 1’s extension will help Brazil’s push for vitality safety, on condition that the plant generates 4.78 million MWh yearly. Eletronuclear continues implementing emergency response measures, aligning with worldwide security requirements, and making ready for a serious security reassessment in 2033 to make sure long-term reliability and clear vitality manufacturing.

Doosan Enerbility Marks Foray into South Korea’s Pumped-Hydro Storage Market. South Korean expertise large Doosan Enerbility on Dec. 3, 2024, introduced its entry into South Korea’s pumped-hydro storage market, in search of to capitalize on an estimated 5.7 GW of recent orders anticipated below the federal government’s eleventh Primary Plan for Lengthy-Time period Electrical energy Provide and Demand. The primary mission, led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Energy (KHNP), will contain constructing a 500-MW pumped storage plant in Yeongdong, Chungbuk Province, marking KHNP’s return to the expertise after 13 years. Doosan plans to supply elements for this and future tasks in areas like Hongcheon, Pocheon, and Hapcheon, the place demand for vitality storage techniques is forecasted to develop. South Korea’s draft eleventh Primary Plan suggests the nation will want 21.5 GW of long-duration vitality storage techniques by 2038, Doosan stated. Pumped-hydro storage, a mature expertise, is already proving crucial for stabilizing grids because the world expands its renewable vitality, and it affords lengthy lifespans and low operational dangers. Doosan stated its collaboration with Austria’s Andritz since 2019 has positioned the corporate to develop hydropower elements independently.

25 International locations and EU Unite to Finish New Coal at COP29. Twenty-five international locations and the European Union (EU) launched a Name to Motion for No New Coal on Nov. 20 at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The decision displays an intention to place ahead nationwide local weather plans “that mirror no new unabated coal of their vitality techniques and name on others to do the identical.” Preliminary signatories embody Angola, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and the EU. The Name to Motion has been developed in collaboration with the Powering Previous Coal Alliance (PPCA), which seeks the speedy phase-out of unabated coal energy. Twenty-four of the endorsing international locations are members of the PPCA.

Two Geothermal Vegetation Start Producing Energy in Türkiye. Open Mountain Türkiye Geothermal Power Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (OME Turkey), a subsidiary of Kaishan Group, in November began electrical energy manufacturing at its 11-MW OME T-01 Geothermal Energy Plant within the Alasehir district of Manisa, Türkiye. The milestone comes per week after Greeneco Power reported first energy from its 49-MW GPP-7 plant working in Sarayköy district of Denizli. OME Turkey’s mission notably garnered a license issued by the Turkish Power Market Authority in January 2024, marking a condensed improvement timeframe. In response to Kaishan, the mission advantages from Türkiye’s government-backed fastened electrical energy worth subsidy, starting from 9.45 to 11.55 cents per kilowatt hour for 15 years for geothermal tasks commissioned earlier than 2030. Moreover, grid firms are mandated to prioritize buying electrical energy from licensed geothermal vegetation below Türkiye’s inexperienced vitality insurance policies, it stated. Türkiye’s geothermal sector, bolstered by its location on the Alpine-Himalaya belt and ample geothermal sources, is a cornerstone of its renewable vitality technique. Because the fourth-largest geothermal energy producer globally, Türkiye goals to extend its put in geothermal capability from 1.69 GW to 4 GW by 2030. Up to now, the nation at the moment has 67 licensed geothermal vitality tasks.

—Sonal Patel is a POWER senior editor.