TotalEnergies SE has acquired a pipeline of eight solar projects with a capacity of 350 megawatts (MW) and two battery storage projects with a capacity of 85 MW from Low Carbon Investment Management Ltd. With the solar projects at an advanced development stage, the aim is to have them up and running by 2028. They are expected to generate over 350 GWh of electricity annually, which is roughly equivalent to the needs of around 100,000 UK homes, TotalEnergies said in a media release. “The acquisition of these solar and battery projects located in the south of England will complement our integrated electricity portfolio in the UK, which includes 1.1 GW of gross installed offshore wind, 1.3 GW of gross combined cycle gas turbine, and more than 600 MW of solar projects under development”, said Olivier Jouny, SVP for renewables at TotalEnergies. “We are very pleased to have finalized this agreement with TotalEnergies, who are making an impressive commitment to building renewable infrastructure and sees Low Carbon deliver one of the largest ready-to-build portfolios of solar and battery projects in the UK market. Once built, these projects will make a vital contribution to the Government’s Clean Power 2030 ambition and reinforce Low Carbon’s track record for developing renewable assets of the highest quality, while supporting the build-out of the rest of our renewables pipeline as we continue to scale as an independent power producer”, Roy Bedlow, Chief Executive and Founder at Low Carbon, added. TotalEnergies’ UK renewable portfolio has 1.1 GW of installed capacity from the Seagreen offshore wind farm and 4.5 GW in development, including offshore wind and solar projects. Totalenergies also has a 50 percent stake in a 1.3 GW combined cycle gas turbine project in partnership with EPUKI. To contact the author, email [email protected] What do you think?

Sonardyne International Ltd. has won the bid to provide baseline environmental monitoring services for the UK’s first offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) site. The company said in a media release that it has been contracted by the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) of BP plc, Equinor ASA, and TotalEnergies SE.   NEP is the developer of the onshore and offshore infrastructure needed to transport carbon dioxide (CO2) from carbon capture projects across Teesside and the Humber – collectively known as the East Coast Cluster – for storage under the North Sea. Sonardyne said it will implement environmental monitoring through seabed landers at crucial spots above and around the subsurface Endurance site – the saline aquifer situated 145 kilometers (90.1 miles) from the Teesside coast, where captured CO2 will be stored. “NEP is at the forefront of driving the UK’s journey to net zero in securing a permit for carbon capture and storage at the Endurance site. Our collaboration with Sonardyne to monitor the storage site plays a critical role in ensuring carbon is stored safely and securely”, Sarah Buchanan, BP Subsurface Manager, said. Site monitoring will start in the summer of 2026 for two years before CO2 transportation and storage begins. Seabed landers will use the Edge data processing app, power management, and acoustic communications for remote deployment. Each lander will feature the Origin 600 ADCP, Wavefront’s passive sonar array, and various third-party sensors to detect changes in water chemistry, Sonardyne said. Data will be collected wirelessly without retrieving the landers. Monitoring is crucial for ensuring the safe containment of CO2, reassuring stakeholders, and fostering public confidence in CCS initiatives, the company stated. “We are delighted to be working with NEP in delivering cutting-edge marine technology to ensure their safe and successful offshore carbon storage operations”, Stephen Auld, Business Development Manager for Custom

Oil fell on signs Saudi Arabia wants another major production increase, raising expectations that a glut of crude will form this year.  West Texas Intermediate slid 0.9% to settle below $63 a barrel, paring losses of almost 2% after Bloomberg News reported that the de facto OPEC leader is open to additional significant output hikes in a bid for market share. The kingdom wants the group to add at least 411,000 barrels a day in August and potentially September, ideally as quickly as possible to take advantage of peak summer demand, according to people familiar with the matter. The cartel’s intentions have already been well telegraphed, despite the market’s knee-jerk reaction, said Rebecca Babin, a senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Group.  “Still, it shows the course that OPEC is currently on will likely continue,” she added.  The development helped jolt crude out of a listless trade on mixed demand data. US government figures showed the country’s crude stockpiles fell 4.3 million barrels last week, raising expectations of near-term tightness. Meanwhile, gasoline demand declined.  Oil rose at the start of the week after a decision by OPEC+ to raise production in July was in line with expectations. Saudi Arabia led increases in OPEC oil production last month as the group began its series of accelerated supply additions, according to a Bloomberg survey. Nevertheless, the hike fell short of the full amount the kingdom could have added under the agreements.  Saudi Aramco, meanwhile, cut its oil prices to Asia after OPEC+ continued with its outsized output increases for a third month. The decrease is smaller than a 35-cents-a-barrel reduction anticipated in a survey of refiners and traders. Prices are still down about 12% this year on fears around a looming supply glut, while traders continue to monitor US trade tariffs as President Donald Trump said his

Saudi Aramco cut the price of its main oil grade to buyers in Asia after OPEC+ continued with its outsized output increases for a third month. The Saudis led the producer group over the weekend in agreeing to raise production by 411,000 barrels a day in July, a third straight month of outsized hikes. In tandem with US President Donald Trump’s trade war, the supply increases have helped drive benchmark oil prices about 12% lower in London since early April.    State producer Aramco will cut the price for Arab Light crude, its flagship grade, by 20 cents a barrel to $1 a barrel more than the regional benchmark for Asian customers, a price list seen by Bloomberg shows. The decrease is nevertheless smaller than a 35-cents-a-barrel reduction anticipated in a survey of refiners and traders. After surprising markets in April with the announcement of a bigger-than-planned output hike, the Saudis have kept pressing for more oil. The step aims to win back market share and takes away some of the advantage of a handful of OPEC+ members who’ve overproduced. Russia, which at times has exceeded its quota, was among those pushing for a more moderate supply hike in July. Refiners have continued to enjoy healthy margins for products as many countries move into a higher summer demand period. Still, crude stockpiles are starting to increase, indicating supply is outweighing demand, and refinery profits slipped at the end of last month.  WHAT DO YOU THINK? Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Dive Brief: Amazon and Google are trying to remain nimble as their electricity demands increase steeply during a period of political uncertainty and technological evolution for the energy sector, division heads for the hyperscalers said during a Wednesday panel at the American Council on Renewable Energy’s Finance Forum. As Google attempts to meet a goal of operating on 100% carbon-free energy by 2030, the company is making investments in emerging generation sources like geothermal and small modular nuclear reactors in an attempt to accelerate them, said Will Conkling, Google’s head of data center energy, Americas. “But even at Google, we can’t wish things to be true, right? We have to deal with the reality of technology and commercialization curves.” “It’s going to take a mix of everything to really reach the capacity that we need as a nation,” said Jessica Johnson, director of offtake at CleanCapital. “Not just for data centers, but for the entire demand.” Dive Insight: The last five years have been tumultuous for the renewable energy industry, Johnson said, and recently the sector has seen added uncertainty resulting from President Trump’s tariffs as well as a House-passed budget bill that would slash most tax credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act. As a result, she said many energy buyers that don’t have the resources of Amazon or Google have been “shying away” from renewables and wanting to see “what else is out there.” However, Johnson said, fast-deploying generation like solar and storage still has a place when weighed against resources that are slower to bring online, like nuclear. Conkling said he doesn’t see the challenge of responding to demand growth from data centers as one that can be met by a one-size-fits-all solution. He said that when there is growth, “the system has always basically looked at

BlackRock Inc. was removed from Texas’ blacklist of companies that boycott fossil fuels, ending a three-year standoff over the environmental policies of the world’s largest asset manager. The move means pension funds and other state-run investment accounts — which manage more than $300 billion of assets — will be allowed to purchase BlackRock shares, invest in its exchange-traded funds and hire the firm for advice and risk management. Inclusion on the list resulted in some Texas entities pulling billions of dollars of assets from the firm. State Comptroller Glenn Hegar said BlackRock had rolled back many of its green-focused initiatives, including exiting the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative and stepping back from the Climate Action 100+, a group devoted to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.  The move marks a win for BlackRock Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink, who has been courting Texas leaders. Last year, he took the stage with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick at a summit focused on shoring up the state’s energy grid, and just months ago BlackRock sponsored a table at the Black Tie & Boots Gala, a celebration of conservative politics in Texas. The company is also backing a Dallas-based Texas Stock Exchange. “We appreciate the Comptroller’s resolution of this matter,” a spokesperson for the firm said in a statement. “BlackRock is proud to help millions of Texans retire with dignity and, on behalf of clients, invests over $400 billion in corporations, local governments, energy infrastructure and other private assets throughout the state. These investments support the continued growth of the Texas economy.” Hegar touted some of BlackRock’s steps. He said while they are “unrelated” to the listing decision, the actions “show a real commitment to overall policy changes and a desire to act as a trusted partner in the growth of the Texas economy.” The company was a major target for conservative activists for years, with