News | Headlines OECD electricity production rises 6.6%
Worldwide Energy statistics The latest International Energy Agency ‘Monthly Electricity Statistics’ report, which includes January 2022 data, shows that for total OECD membership: ● In January 2022, total net electricity production in the OECD was 1005.3 TWh, up by 6.6% compared to December 2021 and up by 3.7% compared to January 2021.
● Conventional thermal production was 556.0 TWh in January 2022, higher by 10.0% on a month-over-month basis and by 3.1% on a year-on-year basis. This monthly increase was driven by both coal and gas power, which were respectively up by 16.8% and
6.2% compared to December 2021. The share of combustible fuels in the electricity mix was 55.3%, almost 2 percentage points higher compared to December 2021.
● Total renewable electricity production was 308.6 TWh in January 2022, up by 2.8% compared to December 2021 and up by 6.6% compared to January 2021.
● Solar power registered the highest increase in percentage terms on a monthly basis (+20.6% m-o-m), while wind and hydropower remained stable (+1.6% and 1.7% m-o-m respectively). The share of renewables in the electricity mix was 30.7%, down by approximately 1 percentage point
compared to the previous month. A standout figure showed in Germany, where electricity production from nuclear power plants was 2.9 TWh in January 2022, down by 48.2% compared to December 2021 and down by 51.0% compared to January 2021. This decrease was a direct consequence of the shutdown of three nuclear plants during the month, as part of the country’s strategy to phase-out nuclear power by the end of 2022. The IEA’s ‘Monthly Electricity Statistics’ report is based on electricity production and trade data for all OECD Member countries and electricity production data for a selection of other economies.
US renewables generation has overtaken nuclear
USA Nuclear power The US Energy Information Administration reports that power sector generation from renewable sources totalled 795 million MWh in the USA during 2021, overtaking nuclear generation, which totalled 778 million MWh. The US electric power sector does not include some electricity generators in the industrial, commercial, or residential sectors, such as small-scale solar or wind or some combined-heat-and-power systems. Renewable generation includes electricity generated from wind, hydropower, solar, biomass, and geothermal sources. Natural gas remained the most prevalent source of energy for electricity generation, accounting for 1474 million MWh in 2021. Although several US coal-fired power plants retired in 2021, coal-fired generation increased for the first time since 2014 and was the source of more electricity than either renewables or nuclear power. Total electricity generation increased slightly in 2021, but it remained less than its record-high year of 2018.
The increase in renewable generation during 2021 came mainly from more wind (total c 375 MWh) and solar generation (c 112 MWh) as a result of more wind turbines and utility-scale solar power plants coming online. Wind generation increased by 12%, while utility-scale solar generation increased by 28%. The hydroelectric component decreased to its lowest level since 2015, 260 MWh, mainly because of dry conditions in the western United States. Biomass and geothermal electricity generation remained relatively unchanged in 2021. Nuclear generation has remained relatively steady in the United States during the past decade because uprates at existing facilities have offset the retirement of several reactors. Only one reactor, New York’s Indian Point Unit 3, was retired in 2021. Despite a slight increase in the capacity factor of the US nuclear fleet in 2021, nuclear generation fell to its lowest level since 2012.
Siemens to sell south European renewables assets
Europe Mergers & acquisitions Siemens Gamesa has entered into an agreement with SSE to sell renewables development assets in southern Europe for a total cash consideration of €580 million.
This sale includes a pipeline of onshore wind projects with a total capacity of 3.9 GW in various stages of development in Spain, France, Italy and Greece, with the possibility to develop up to 1GW of co-located photovoltaic projects. A team of around 40 personnel from Siemens Gamesa, with strong sector experience in those countries, will be integrated in SSE as part of the agreement. As part of the transaction, SSE Renewables will have the opportunity to partner with Siemens Gamesa on the provision of turbines and associated long-term maintenance services for a portion of wind farms installed and operated by SSE in the next few years coming from this sale. “We are delighted to boost the delivery of SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme by expanding our existing renewables business into southern Europe through this acquisition. Mainland Europe is an exciting growth market for onshore wind, with clear carbon reduction targets and supportive policies, whilst the expert management team will complement our sector-leading capabilities perfectly. The project portfolio brings some excellent assets and will provide a real springboard for our expansion plans in Europe across wind, solar, batteries and hydrogen,” commented Stephen Wheeler, MD of SSE Renewables.
Above: US electric power sector generation 2010-2021
The closing of this transaction is expected to take place during Siemens Gamesa’s fiscal year 2022. Closing is subject to the customary regulatory approvals of the competent authorities.
10 | May 2022 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
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