Top 10: Energy Infrastructure Projects
The global energy transition has spurred several ambitious infrastructure projects worldwide. Saudi Arabia's NEOM project – a $500 billion sustainable city powered by renewable energy sources – is being developed by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.
The $20 billion Asian Renewable Energy Hub in Australia, led by consortiums such as InterContinental Energy and CWP Global, aims to produce green hydrogen for export.
In Africa, the $25bn Desert to Power initiative, backed by the African Development Bank, intends to provide electricity to 250 million people through solar installations across the Sahel region.
The Bay of Bengal offshore wind project in India, a collaboration between state-owned NTPC Limited and private energy companies, plans to establish a 4GW capacity wind farm.
China's Ultra High Voltage transmission lines, spanning thousands of kilometres, are constructed by State Grid Corporation to transport electricity from remote renewable sources to urban centres.
These projects exemplify the global push towards clean energy infrastructure to meet rising demands while combating climate change.
10. Madhya Pradesh Floating Solar Array
Who built it: Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation
Location: Madhya Pradesh, India
The world’s largest floating solar plant, the project on the backwaters of Omkareshwar Dam was hit by a storm ahead of its opening this month but is still anticipated to be an era-defining installation. It boasts unique technology much like those seen in hydroelectric power plants which enables the generation of electricity from water.
The US$410m array has floaters positioned on the water's surface which are connected to solar panels. Said floaters are connected to safeguard from potential harm from fluctuations in water flow or level. As it stands, the first phase generates 600MW, with potential for the project to be further expanded.
9. Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project
Who built it: ACWA Power
Location: South Africa
Copy (max 80 words): A first of its kind on the African continent, the Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project in Postmasburg is said to be the largest renewable energy project in South Africa. It is powering more than 200,000 homes and has secured employment for 4,000 people. Since its inception it has not released any carbon emissions as its unique solar and storage technology does not require any natural gas backup. Thanks to its energy storage capabilities, 480,000GWh of electricity is produced annually, more than twice as much net annual output than an equivalent sized PV solar project.
8. Baihetan Hydropower Station
Who built it: China Three Gorges (CTG)
Location: Sichuan Province, China
Formally completed in December 2022 when the final hydro-generating unit was connected to the grid and began producing power, the Baihetan Dam generates power through 16 turbines, each with a generating capacity of 1GW, taking the generating capacity to 16,000MW.
Although surveying of the dam site was completed 30 years prior, the hydropower station started partial electricity generation in 2021. Now fully operational, the hydropower station generates 60.24 TWh of electricity and offsets more than 51m tons of carbon emissions. It’s also a record-breaker, with the US$34bn station hosting the largest underground caverns, anti-seismic parameters and spillway caverns.
7. Bay of Bengal Offshore Wind Project
Who built it: NTPC Ltd
Location: India
India's pursuit of renewable energy has given rise to the ambitious Bay of Bengal Offshore Wind Project, a joint venture between state-owned NTPC and private energy companies. This pioneering initiative aims to establish a vast offshore wind farm with an initial capacity of 4GW in the waters off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
The project's scope involves the installation of hundreds of wind turbines across an expansive area. Upon completion, it is expected to generate substantial quantities of clean electricity.
NTPC is India's largest power generation company and has spearheaded the project's development, leveraging its expertise in power plant operations. The involvement of private sector partners provides access to specialised offshore wind technology and project financing.
6.Hot Heart
Who built it: Schneider Electric, Ramboll, Danfoss Leanheat
Location: Finland
Created by Italy-based design firm Carlo Ratti Association, Hot Heart consists of ten cylindrical basins that form a floating, archipelago-like structure situated off the coast of the metropolis.
Looking like something out of a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster, its basins act as giant thermal batteries, and use an AI-fuelled system to synchronise energy production and consumption. Its 10 cylindrical basins each measure 225 metres in diameter and collectively hold up to 10m cubic metres of water. Its dual function of providing thermal energy storage is balanced with its role as a hub for recreational activities. Hot Heart won the Helsinki Energy Challenge, which aims to decarbonise the heating system of the Finnish capital by 2030. It is an international collaboration borne from the expertise of energy experts including Schneider Electric, Ramboll and Danfoss Leanheat.
5.Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Plant
Who built it: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co, Masdar, TAQA, EDF, JinkoPower
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Copy (max 80 words): One of the largest single-site solar plants in the world, the 2GW Al Dhafra Solar project was announced by the Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority in 2020. The landmark project in the Abu Dhabi desert spans 20 sq km and is spearheaded by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company and was developed in collaboration with global partners, including Masdar and EDF Renewables to advance the UAE's renewable energy goals and diversify its energy mix away from fossil fuels, something the country has built its wealth on. The plant powers around 160,000 homes and reduces carbon emissions by more than 2.4m tons each year.
4. Energy Island
Who built it: DEME, Jan De Nul
Location: Denmark Energy Island is two large-scale offshore wind farms planned by the government of Denmark, and slated for completion by 2030. These man-made patches of land are expected to generate enough wind power for the country’s entire grid, plus that of other parts of Europe.
The purpose-built site is the largest construction project in Denmark’s history, and will increase the country's total offshore wind energy capacity four-fold, and up to seven-fold when all phases are completed.
"This is gigantic and the next big step for the Danish wind turbine industry,” said Professor Jacob Ostergaard of the Technical University of Denmark.
3. Asian Renewable Energy Hub
Who built it: InterContinental Energy and CWP Global
The Asian Renewable Energy Hub is a monumental project spearheaded by consortiums including InterContinental Energy and CWP Global, is poised to reshape Australia's energy landscape. With an estimated investment of AU$20bn, the initiative aims to harness Western Australia's abundant wind and solar resources to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for export.
Spanning an expansive area in the Pilbara region, the project envisions the installation of a staggering 26GW of combined wind and solar capacity, making it one of the largest renewable energy undertakings globally.
2. Andes Renovables
Who built it: Sacyr Industrial & Elecnor
Location: Chile
Comprising ten projects — seven wind and three solar — as well as an investment of US$1.8bn, Andes Renovables is one of the largest renewable energy initiatives in Latin America. It is expected to supply 1.3GW of clean power, the equivalent needed to power 20% of Chile’s homes. Chile’s National Energy Commission awarded Mainstream Renewable Power a 20-year index-linked, US dollar-denominated contract, to supply 3,366GW/h of firm power starting from 2021.
“We aim to be a relevant player in Latin America's energy transition through the development, construction and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects, which include wind and solar technology, and the development of green hydrogen as well,” said Mainstream’s General Manager of LATAM Manuel Tagle.
1. Desert to Power Initiative
Who built it: Numerous (funded by African Development Bank)
Location: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal
The Desert to Power Initiative aims to unlock the solar energy potential of the Sahel region. The goal is to provide electricity to 250 million people across 11 countries.
The project's first phase involves the construction of solar power plants with a combined capacity of 10GW, harnessing the abundant sunlight in countries like Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger.
In addition to the power plants, the initiative encompasses the development of transmission lines and energy storage facilities to ensure reliable and efficient distribution of the generated electricity. The African Development Bank has secured funding from various international organisations and private investors to finance the multi-billion-dollar endeavour.
As the Sahel region grapples with energy poverty and the impacts of climate change, Desert to Power is a transformative step towards sustainable development, will promote economic growth and improve living standards for millions of people.
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