pwr_january-2025 - 12

GLOBAL MONITOR
green hydrogen production is one of rapid
growth, technological innovation, and increasing
global significance in the fight
against climate change.
-Tomoyuki Ishikawa is senior manager
of Business Development, Green
Solution Project, at Asahi Kasei.
POWER Digest
First Hualong One at Zhangzhou No.
1 Mega-Nuclear Plant Powers Up in
China. China National Nuclear Corp.
(CNNC), on Nov. 28, successfully connected
Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant
No. 1, a 1.1-GW Hualong One unit, to the
national grid. The unit is one of six Hualong
One reactors set to be installed at
the 7-GW site, making the Fujian Province
plant the largest Hualong One base
in the world. The Chinese government issued
an operation license for Zhangzhou
No. 1 in October 2024, and full commissioning
of the unit is expected at the end
of 2024. According to the CNNC, Zhangzhou
No. 1's grid connection marks
" major progress in the mass production
of Hualong One, " China's domestically
developed third-generation pressurized
water reactor. So far, 33 units are in operation
or under construction in China and
abroad. That makes it " the third-generation
nuclear power technology with the
largest number of units in operation and
under construction in the world, marking
that China's nuclear power technology
and comprehensive competitiveness
have entered the world's first echelon, "
CNNC said. China is targeting the construction
of 200 GW of nuclear capacity
by 2035. As of December 2024, the
country had put online 57 reactors, a
combined 56 GW. An estimated 30 others
(32 GW) are under construction.
Partnership Formed to Advance Offshore
Wind in the Caspian Sea. United
Arab Emirates-based Masdar; SOCAR
Green, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan's state
oil company SOCAR; and Saudi Arabiabased
ACWA Power signed a memorandum
of understanding at COP29 in
Baku, Azerbaijan, in November to explore
the development of 3.5 GW of offshore
wind projects in the Caspian Sea, marking
Azerbaijan's first offshore wind farms. The
projects aim to support Azerbaijan's renewable
energy goals, including achieving
net-zero emissions by 2050 while advancing
green hydrogen and water desalination.
Masdar, a global renewable energy
leader since 2006, has developed major
solar projects in Azerbaijan, including the
230-MW Garadagh, 315-MW Neftchala,
and 445-MW Bilasuvar plants, the latter in
12
partnership with SOCAR Green. SOCAR
Green, established in 2024, focuses on
solar, wind, and green hydrogen to advance
Azerbaijan's climate goals. ACWA
Power, active in Azerbaijan since 2019,
is building the 240-MW Khizi-Absheron
wind farm and supporting the country's
renewable energy goals.
Brazil Extends Angra 1 Nuclear
Plant's Operations to 2044. Brazil's
Eletronuclear has secured approval from
the National Nuclear Energy Commission
(CNEN) to extend the operational
life of its Angra 1 nuclear power plant by
20 years, enabling the reactor to run until
2044. The decision on Nov. 22, 2024,
follows a five-year evaluation process,
including safety reviews and missions
by the International Atomic Energy
Agency. The 640-MWe Westinghouse
reactor, which began commercial operations
in 1985, is receiving BRL 3.2 billion
($550 million) in modernization investments
through 2027. Upgrades are already
underway. Enhancements include
control system upgrades, stronger physical
protection, and improved radioactive
waste protocols. Angra 1's extension
will support Brazil's push for energy
security, given that the plant generates
4.78 million MWh annually. Eletronuclear
continues implementing emergency
response measures, aligning with international
safety standards, and preparing
for a major safety reassessment in 2033
to ensure long-term reliability and clean
energy production.
Doosan Enerbility Marks Foray into
South Korea's Pumped-Hydro Storage
Market. South Korean technology giant
Doosan Enerbility on Dec. 3, 2024,
announced its entry into South Korea's
pumped-hydro storage market, seeking
to capitalize on an estimated 5.7 GW of
new orders anticipated under the government's
11th Basic Plan for Long-Term
Electricity Supply and Demand. The first
project, led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear
Power (KHNP), will involve building a 500MW
pumped storage plant in Yeongdong,
Chungbuk Province, marking KHNP's
return to the technology after 13 years.
Doosan plans to provide components for
this and future projects in regions like Hongcheon,
Pocheon, and Hapcheon, where
demand for energy storage systems is
forecasted to grow. South Korea's draft
11th Basic Plan suggests the country will
need 21.5 GW of long-duration energy
storage systems by 2038, Doosan said.
Pumped-hydro storage, a mature technology,
is already proving critical for stabilizing
grids as the world expands its renewable
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energy, and it offers long lifespans and low
operational risks. Doosan said its collaboration
with Austria's Andritz since 2019 has
positioned the company to develop hydropower
components independently.
25 Countries and EU Unite to End New
Coal at COP29. Twenty-five countries and
the European Union (EU) launched a Call
to Action for No New Coal on Nov. 20 at
COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The call reflects
an intention to put forward national
climate plans " that reflect no new unabated
coal in their energy systems and call
on others to do the same. " Initial signatories
include 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
Call to Action has been developed in collaboration
with the Powering Past Coal
Alliance (PPCA), which seeks the rapid
phase-out of unabated coal power. Twenty-four
of the endorsing countries are
members of the PPCA.
Two Geothermal Plants Begin
Producing Power in Türkiye. Open
Mountain Türkiye Geothermal Energy
Production Co. Ltd. (OME Turkey), a
subsidiary of Kaishan Group, in November
started electricity production at its 11MW
OME T-01 Geothermal Power Plant
in the Alasehir district of Manisa, Türkiye.
The milestone comes a week after
Greeneco Energy reported first power
from its 49-MW GPP-7 plant operating in
Sarayköy district of Denizli. OME Turkey's
project notably garnered a license issued
by the Turkish Energy Market Authority
in January 2024, marking a condensed development
timeframe. According to Kaishan,
the project benefits from Türkiye's
government-backed fixed electricity price
subsidy, ranging from 9.45 to 11.55 cents
per kilowatt hour for 15 years for geothermal
projects commissioned before 2030.
Additionally, grid companies are mandated
to prioritize purchasing electricity
from licensed geothermal plants under
Türkiye's green energy policies, it said.
Türkiye's geothermal sector, bolstered by
its location on the Alpine-Himalaya belt
and abundant geothermal resources, is
a cornerstone of its renewable energy
strategy. As the fourth-largest geothermal
power producer globally, Türkiye aims to
increase its installed geothermal capacity
from 1.69 GW to 4 GW by 2030. So far,
the country currently has 67 licensed geothermal
energy projects. ■
-Sonal Patel is a POWER senior editor.
POWER | January 2025
http://www.powermag.com
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