Energy Transition in Motion (Week of June 20, 2025)

Solar steam project developer GlassPoint has entered a partnership with Searles Valley Minerals to replace coal and natural gas boilers with solar steam technology at SVM’s manufacturing facility in Trona, California.

Targeting lower emissions and costs, GlassPoint on June 17 said it will install 750 megawatts (MW) thermal at the facility. The project is expected to cut carbon emissions at the site by up to half a million metric tons of CO₂ per year, the company said in a news release.

Solar steam technology harnesses and concentrates sunlight to heat water and produce steam. GlassPoint’s technology focuses sunlight using mirrors enclosed in greenhouses to heat water and produce steam. The technology has been used in thermal enhanced oil recovery.

“We continue to see strong demand from around the world as industrial corporations seek to enhance their operations while achieving significant cost advantages," said GlassPoint CEO Rod MacGregor. “Industrial process heat is a $444B market and GlassPoint continues to win the confidence of large industrial providers around the world in a range of industries, from metals and mining to building materials and oil and gas.”

GlassPoint said it plans to use its advanced Enclosed Trough technology and its Unify storage system for the project. As explained in a news release, Enclosed Trough uses “reflective mirrors inside greenhouses to focus sunlight onto a pipe carrying liquid salt, capturing energy from the sun for use in boiler operations as well as onsite power,” while the storage system uses ternary liquid salts to store heat.

Here’s a roundup of this week’s renewable energy news.

Biofuels

US Senate Bill Would Shrink Tax Credit for Biofuels Made from Foreign Feedstocks

U.S. Senate Republicans on June 16 proposed a tax bill that would extend a clean fuel tax credit through 2031, but trim 20% of the value of the credit for biofuels made from feedstocks produced outside of the U.S.

The tax credit, established by former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act but not finalized during his tenure, could prove lucrative for oil and biofuel producers who can demonstrate lower carbon intensity of their fuels.

The House tax and spending bill passed in May also extends the tax credit, known as 45Z, through 2031, but bans most foreign feedstocks from being eligible for credits.

Both the House and Senate bills would exclude emissions generated from the expansion of agricultural land due to the growth of feedstocks like corn and soy, called indirect land use change, from the calculation of a biofuel's credit value.

That change would make it easier for corn-based ethanol to qualify for the credits.

But the requirement to calculate those indirect emissions was a key environmental guard rail of the original tax credit, said Sarah Lutz, senior climate campaigner at environmental group Friends of the Earth.

“This reckless proposal means dirtier fuel and higher food prices,” Lutz said.

Both bills also make transportation fuels derived from farm animal manure eligible for the tax credit, a boost to biogas producers who argue that capturing methane from manure and other waste can help cut transportation emissions.

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Geothermal

Ormat Closes $88MM Acquisition of Blue Mountain Geothermal Power Plant

Geothermal energy producer Ormat Technologies on June 18 said it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the Blue Mountain geothermal power plant in an $88 million deal with Cyrq Energy.

Located in Nevada, the 20-MW geothermal plant will increase Ormat’s electricity segment generating portfolio to nearly 1.3 gigawatts (GW).

“This acquisition not only immediately increases our generating capacity but also provides the potential for a significant upside in revenue generation through our planned upgrades and the potential addition of a solar facility,” Ormat Technologies Doron Blachar said in a news release.”

The company said it plans to increase capacity at Blue Mountain by approximately 3.5 MW and add a 13-MW solar facility to support the power plant's auxiliaries, if it secures a permit and approval of a renewed power purchase agreement (PPA). Currently, Blue Mountain delivers power to NV Energy as part of a PPA that is set to expire at the end of 2029, according to the release.

The transaction was funded through bank debt, the company said.

Hydrogen

Cadiz, Hoku Partner to Develop H2, Solar Project in California

Cadiz Inc., a California-based water solutions company, has partnered with U.K.-based Hoku Energy Ltd. to develop a clean energy campus at Cadiz Ranch in California’s Mojave Desert, according to a news release June 20.

As part of a memorandum of understanding, Hoku has a three-year exclusion option to develop a project that could include green hydrogen production facilities, renewable and low carbon power generation, battery storage facilities and integrated digital infrastructure such as data centers, the release states. The project would be on more than 10,000 acres at Cadiz Ranch.

“This agreement with Hoku Energy is the capstone of our long-term land use strategy,” said Susan Kennedy, chair of Cadiz Inc. “Hoku Energy’s vision aligns with our mission to support sustainable, scaled development of critical energy and water infrastructure in California and the Southwest.”

The company added that the agreement with Hoku does not restrict existing and planned commercial development at Cadiz. Additional developments at the site include agricultural operations, the Mojave Groundwater Bank and a green hydrogen production facility in partnership with RIC Energy.

About 400 acres have also been set aside for more commercial development that could include a data center. If a data center is developed, Hoku will have a right of first refusal to supply power to that facility, according to the news release.

“Together, the RIC and Hoku projects are expected to position Cadiz Ranch as one of the largest clean energy campuses and green hydrogen production hubs in North America.” Cadiz said.

Plan to Convert Frac Water into Hydrogen Could Bring $5MM/Year

A group of collaborators are working to convert frac wastewater into clean hydrogen in an initiative that could lead to hydrogen sales of up to $5 million annually, according to a June 18 press release.

HNO International has tapped Q3 Power and Enapter to join its efforts into creating a clean hydrogen product from produced water. An unnamed oil and gas operator will supply the contaminated frac water.

Q3 will vaporize and condense the wastewater using its proprietary thermal technology to create distilled water. Enapter will convert the distilled water into green hydrogen using electricity with its AEM modular electrolyzers. HNO will manage the hydrogen production process’ logistics and the delivery of the product.

Plans for the initial site include a production capacity of up to 1,500 kg of hydrogen per day.

The solution creates an opportunity to dispose of frac water in an environmentally friendly way.

Traditionally, produced water is disposed of through deep injection wells. But related seismicity and groundwater pollution issues are causing operators to look for other solutions.

"From pollution to power—that’s the story we're telling," said Don Owens, chairman and CEO of HNO International. "We're taking water that traditionally can't be reused, recycled or safely disposed of, and turning it into hydrogen, a clean, zero-emission fuel. It's the kind of environmental turnaround the world needs more of."

Nucera to Acquire Technology Assets from Green Hydrogen Systems

Electrolyzer manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Nucera plans to expand its technology portfolio with the acquisition of assets from Green Hydrogen Systems, which is filing for bankruptcy.

Denmark-based Green Hydrogen Systems on June 19 said it planned to file for bankruptcy in Probate Court in Kolding as soon as possible after failing to reach a solution within the framework of the restructuring process. The company agreed to a conditional partial business transfer agreement with Thyssenkrupp Nucera if approved by the court following the bankruptcy decree and secured creditors, according to a news release.

Green Hydrogen System’s high-pressure electrolysis technology reduces or eliminates the need for external compression, making it suitable for applications such as pipeline injection and mobility infrastructure, according to Thyssenkrupp Nucera. The company said the technology will accelerate its R&D into next-generation alkaline water electrolysis.

“With this acquisition, we are reinforcing our commitment to driving the green energy transition and deepening our technology leadership in hydrogen,” said Thyssenkrupp Nucera CEO Werner Ponikwar. “The high-pressure electrolysis technology developed by Green Hydrogen Systems operates with high efficiency at up to 35 bar—a key advantage for industrial applications where hydrogen is typically required in compressed form.”

The asset deal includes intellectual property as well as a test facility with a full-size prototype in Skive, Denmark, Thyssenkrupp Nucera said in a separate news release. “The purchase price will be settled entirely from available liquid funds; the specific amount has been kept confidential by mutual agreement,” the company said.

The transaction is expected to close in late summer 2025.

Solar

DNV Lands Gig for AMEA Power’s Solar, Storage Project in Egypt

DNV on June 20 said it was selected as owner’s engineer for the 1-GW Abydos for Renewable Energy solar and energy storage project being developed by AMEA Power in Egypt.

The assurance provider’s duties as owner’s engineer include supporting the Abydos 2 project from feasibility and design review through to construction supervision and commissioning oversight. Abydos is considered a flagship project for AMEA Power.

Located in Benban, Egypt, the project is expected to supply about 3,100 GW hours of clean energy to more than 500,000 Egyptian homes, DNV said in a news release. It includes a 600-megawatt hour battery energy storage system.

“Projects of this scale demand both technical rigor and regional insight,” said Santiago Blanco, executive vice president and regional director for the Middle East at DNV. “Our role is to safeguard performance and reliability from day one, helping AMEA Power deliver an asset that is robust, future-ready, and aligned with Egypt’s long-term energy goals.” 

The project’s desert location is expected to present challenges such as addressing extreme temperatures and dust accumulation as well as complex grid integration requirements, according to the release.

Egypt, Norway’s Scatec Sign Financial Closure Deal for 1-GW Solar Plant

Egypt signed a financial closure deal on June 15 with Norwegian renewable energy developer Scatec for a 1-GW solar plant, which will allow the project to move into its construction phase, the Egyptian cabinet said.

The project will involve a $600 million investment, a cabinet statement said.

The government also signed a power purchase agreement for a 900-MW wind project being developed in the Gulf of Suez with Scatec. Investment in the project is estimated at $1 billion.

Egypt is aiming for renewable energy to provide 42% of its electricity generation mix by 2030. However, the country has in recent years relied heavily on natural gas, with solar, wind and hydropower making up only 11.5% of its electricity generation.

RELATED

EDPR Starts Operations at Bar Harbor Solar Project in Maine

RWE Constructing Nearly 4 GW of Solar, BESS Projects in US

Solar Developer Emeren Group Agrees to Go-Private Merger

Wind

TotalEnergies Wins Offshore Wind Concession in North Sea

TotalEnergies on June 17 said it was awarded the N-9.4 offshore concession by Germany’s Federal Network Agency.

Spanning approximately 141 sq km in the North Sea, the concession could enable development of 1 GW of offshore wind capacity, the company said in a news release. The TotalEnergies win, as a shareholder of North Sea OFW One GmbH, grants the company with offshore wind development rights for 25 years with an option to extend to 35 years.

“As part of this award, Offshore Wind One GmbH will pay €18 million [US$24.25 million] to the German federal government in 2026, which will be allocated to marine conservation and the promotion of environmentally friendly fishing practices,” TotalEnergies said. “In addition, an annual contribution of €8.1 million [US$10.9 million] will be paid for 20 years to the electricity transmission system operator responsible for connecting the project, starting from the commissioning of the site.”

Britain Awards Floating Offshore Wind Leases to Equinor, Gwynt Glas

Equinor and Gwynt Glas have won seabed leases to build floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea off the coast of Wales and Southwest England, the Crown Estate said June 19.

The Crown Estate, which acts as manager of the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said Equinor and Gwynt Glas had won leases giving them the rights each to build 1.5-GW projects. Gwynt Glas is a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and Irish energy company ESB.

Britain, which is aiming to largely decarbonize its electricity sector by 2030 to cut its reliance on fossil fuels, is seeking to increase offshore wind capacity to 43 GW to 50 GW by the end of the decade, from around 16 GW.

“Floating offshore wind will be transformative for economic growth in Wales and the South West, unlocking thousands of jobs in places like Port Talbot and Bristol, bolstering our energy security and delivering industrial renewal,” Britain’s Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said.

The companies will pay 350 pounds (US$468.55) per megawatt per year for the leases for a ten-year option period, meaning both groups will pay 525,000 pounds (~US$707,185) per year for the sites, excluding VAT.

Hart Energy Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.