Saudi Arabia unveiled the Riyadh Metro, the longest driverless transit system in the world, spanning 176 km (109 miles) with 85 stations across the capital city. The metro, which connects key business, cultural, and residential districts, is set to revolutionize public transportation in Riyadh. Once fully operational, the network will carry up to 3.6 million passengers daily and reduce CO2 emissions by 12.5 million tons annually.

The Riyadh Metro features 69 Alstom Metropolis trains and 47 Innovia Metro trains, all electric and fully automated. Notable stations include the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, which boasts an eye-catching exterior and climate-conscious design to combat Riyadh’s extreme summer heat. The metro's advanced systems ensure smooth, safe operations, including automatic train door openings and real-time passenger information. This massive project is part of Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to modernize its infrastructure and position itself as a futuristic tourist destination.

Photo Credit: newatlas.com

TotalEnergies has expanded its renewable energy portfolio with the acquisition of VSB, a German developer of wind, solar, and battery storage projects, for €1.57 billion. The deal, financed through equity and shareholder loans, strengthens TotalEnergies' position in the European renewable energy market, particularly in Germany and France. VSB currently operates over 475 MW of renewable capacity and has a pipeline of 18 GW in development across wind, solar, and storage projects.

This acquisition complements TotalEnergies' strategy to enhance its integrated electricity value chain and solidifies its place as a leading renewable energy provider in Europe, particularly in offshore wind and battery storage. As part of the transaction, TotalEnergies also signed an agreement with Apollo to sell 50% of its solar and battery storage portfolio in Texas, further optimizing its renewable energy investments.

Hager Group, a leading provider of electrotechnical solutions, has entered a strategic partnership with Metergrid, a Stuttgart-based startup specializing in tenant power projects. Together, they aim to offer efficient, holistic tenant power solutions by combining Hager's expertise in energy distribution, management, charging infrastructure, and building control with Metergrid’s software and hardware solutions for project planning and implementation.

As part of the collaboration, Hager also became a strategic investor in Metergrid, contributing to a seed extension financing round of €3.5 million. The partnership will offer customizable services, allowing investors to manage projects independently with Metergrid’s software or opt for a full-service solution. A key feature is the scalability of the solutions, covering everything from grid connection to billing.

This collaboration promises to enhance the efficiency and profitability of tenant power projects, optimizing project timelines and returns.

Photo Credit: Hager Group

Belectric and Encavis have officially launched a 114-megawatt solar park in Borrentin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The photovoltaic plant, covering an area of about 135 football fields and equipped with 200,000 solar panels, is expected to produce 121 gigawatt-hours of solar power annually. The generated electricity will power a network of electric vehicle charging stations, with a power purchase agreement (PPA) secured with Allego for a 10-year contract.

The project had a fast construction timeline, beginning in January with preparatory work, a groundbreaking in March, and full commissioning by October. With this new plant, Belectric has now built over 1.2 gigawatts of solar power capacity in Germany. Encavis also marks a milestone, increasing its total installed capacity to 700 megawatts in Germany, with plans to expand to over 7 gigawatts across Europe by 2027.

SpaceX reached a major milestone on December 4, 2024, with the successful launch of 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This deployment completes the first direct-to-cell phone constellation, enabling unmodified cellphones to access internet connectivity in remote areas. While the initial bandwidth per beam is limited to ~10Mb, future Starlink constellations are expected to offer greater capabilities. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage also returned to Earth after a flawless landing on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You." With this achievement, SpaceX now has 6,799 operational Starlink satellites, including 330 direct-to-cell capable ones.

Image credit: SpaceX