The Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind project in France has delivered its first power to the national electricity grid. Located 17 kilometers off the Mediterranean coast, the pilot project features three Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines on tensioned line floats designed by IFP Energies Nouvelles and SBM Offshore.

The first turbine was installed in September 2023, with the final unit towed offshore in October 2024. Wind turbine components were manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s factory in Le Havre, while the floating foundations were built by Eiffage Métal in Fos-sur-Mer, with assembly done in partnership with Smulders of Belgium.

Cable installation, burial, and turbine connection to the Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône station were completed by Asso.subsea in April 2024. This project showcases France’s strides in innovative renewable energy, combining advanced technology and international collaboration to harness offshore wind power.

Bright Renewables, a global leader in biogas upgrading systems, and BerQ RNG have announced a partnership to develop four renewable natural gas (RNG) projects across the United States. Bright Renewables, headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, has already sold 35 biogas upgrading units in the U.S. and plans significant expansion in the coming years.

The Vancouver office plays a key role in supporting Bright’s local installations and ensuring service excellence, according to Graham Hartlett, Chief Sales Officer at HoSt Bio-Energy Systems NA. The company’s standardized approach allows for efficient and cost-effective system deployment, even in the face of complex project requirements.

Bright Renewables continues to invest heavily in research and development, enhancing its biogas technologies to meet growing demand for RNG solutions. This partnership is expected to further bolster the development of sustainable energy projects in the U.S., aligning with broader renewable energy goals.

Photo Credit: biogascommunity.com

SpaceX’s sixth Starship test flight launched from its Texas facility, achieving a near-Earth orbit and splashing down in the Indian Ocean—its first daylight landing. The 397-foot-tall rocket, powered by 33 Raptor engines generating 16.7 million pounds of thrust, reached space and tested critical systems, including engine reignition and heat shield performance. The Super Heavy booster, designed for reuse, failed to meet criteria for a tower catch and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico four minutes after launch.

Starship is central to NASA’s Artemis program, with SpaceX contracted to use it as a crewed lunar lander. Each flight brings SpaceX closer to revolutionizing space travel, enabling reusable missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Photo Screenshot: SpaceX

French company Geocean, contracted by Norway’s ECOnnect Energy, is managing subsea installations for Germany's Wilhelmshaven 2 LNG terminal, a project by Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) aimed at strengthening Europe’s energy security.

Geocean is installing six 1,600-meter thermo composite pipes (TCP) flowlines, two pipeline end manifolds (PLEMs), and an 1,800-meter fiber optic cable. Using its Fast-Flex barge, a modified installation vessel, the company is efficiently laying a 1.7-kilometer gas pipeline 14 meters underwater to link the FSRU Excelsior, owned by Excelerate Energy, to Germany’s grid.

The terminal uses ECOnnect’s IQuay solution, a jettyless system streamlining LNG imports, eliminating traditional infrastructure requirements for faster operations. Geocean began work on September 9, loading TCP reels on September 13, with pre-trenching operations underway.

Wilhelmshaven 2 is set to start operations in late 2024, joining three other DET LNG terminals along Germany’s North Sea coast. This initiative follows the commissioning of Germany’s first floating LNG terminal in December 2022, marking progress in energy innovation and security.

Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has unveiled plans for a major investment fund worth between £5 billion and £8 billion ($10.16 billion). This initiative is designed to accelerate the country’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions by enabling energy transmission owners to fast-track critical infrastructure projects.

The fund will provide financial allowances for the advance procurement of essential equipment, such as switchgear, cables, and steel, which are vital for the development of green energy projects. By securing these materials earlier, the initiative aims to reduce project delays, lower costs, and enhance the efficiency of delivery.

This strategic move underscores the UK’s commitment to fostering sustainable energy solutions, as consultations on the proposal begin.