RIYADH: Countries are moving focus away from Russia’s war with Ukraine and paying close attention to securing their respective economic interests.
Both the US and South Africa are allocating significant amounts to back up their energy transition plans.
On a micro level, instability prevails as Russia’s Gazprom announced that it will halt gas flows into some European countries and the US’ Solar Energy Industries Association confirmed a bulk of solar projects are either being canceled or delayed.
Looking at the bigger picture:
- The US energy department has allocated as much as $504.4 million in debt financing to support the largest hydrogen hub and storage facility to be located in Utah, Bloomberg reported. The hub is designed to convert renewable energy into hydrogen, in a push to bring clean energy into the mainstream.
- South Africa’s energy transition journey is projected to cost over $63.7 billion by 2030, Reuters reported. The country aims to shift focus away from coal and focus more on renewables, battery storage, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen.
Through a micro lens:
- Russian majority state-owned multinational energy corporation Gazprom has informed largest Bulgarian natural gas distribution company Bulgargaz that it will stop gas supply flows as of April 27, Reuters reported, citing Bulgaria’s energy minister. That said, gas firms in the country are scurrying to find alternative supply sources to make up for the deficiency.
- The US-based Solar Energy Industries Association has announced that a total of 318 solar projects are being canceled or delayed as a result of Chinese solar-panel manufacturers avoiding tariffs. Local installations are expected to fall by 46 percent in 2022 and 2023, Bloomberg reported.
