Global energy company TotalEnergies has launched its largest solar photovoltaic power plant in France, with a capacity of 55MW.

The solar farm, located northeast of Gien (Loiret), comprises 126,000 photovoltaic panels spread over 75 hectares.

The plant will produce approximately 64GWh per year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 38,000 people and keep more than 550,000 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere during its lifetime.

This photovoltaic project is designed to support the development of renewable energies in France and includes:

A participative financing model: To involve site neighbours, the plant was built with participative financing amounting to €2,200,200 ($2,500,00) to which 212 residents of the Loiret and surrounding departments largely contributed.

A plan to protect biodiversity: The Company has put in place the measures required to preserve biodiversity, including the creation of bat shelters and the construction of a pond to promote amphibian reproduction.

TotalEnergies teams will operate and maintain the plant locally throughout its 30-year operating lifespan.

“This commissioning contributes to France’s energy transition and is a further step towards our goal of reaching 4GW of renewable generation capacity by 2025. It reinforces our commitment to be a major player in renewable energy in France,” said Thierry Muller, CEO of TotalEnergies Renewables France.

A scheme by Greece to expand the production of electricity from renewable energy and combined heat and power (CHP) will be supported by €2.27 billion ($2.58 billion) in funding from the European Commission.

The scheme will enable Greece to expand its capacity from onshore wind, photovoltaic, wind, and solar with storage, biogas, biomass, landfill gas, hydroelectric power, concentrated solar power, and geothermal power plants.

The projects are designed to ensure energy security that decarbonisation goals are met, economic growth, and climate mitigation.

The scheme will support the bloc in achieving its target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% and ensure 40% of energy is sourced from renewable sources by 2030, as set by the Fit for 55 package.

In addition to ensuring grid stability, the renewables projects will enable the provision of affordable electricity to consumers.

According to the European Commission, the funding “guarantees renewable energy producers long-term price stability, helping them to make the necessary investments while limiting the cost for the State.”

The development comes as European countries struggle with an increase in energy prices due to the fluctuating nature of renewables and an inadequate supply of natural gas.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This Greek scheme will provide important support to a wide range of technologies generating electricity from renewable energy sources, in line with EU rules.

“It will support the objectives of the Green Deal, contributing to substantial reductions in greenhouse emissions. The selection of the beneficiaries through a competitive bidding process for the main supported technologies will ensure the best value for taxpayers’ money and will minimise possible distortions of competition.”

The projects Greece will implement will help contribute to the new European objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The scheme is expected to add 4.2GW of renewable energy capacity to Greece’s energy mix and is open for applicants until 2025, whilst aid will be paid out for a maximum of 20 years.

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply Mexico’s state-owned electricity utility, Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), with two large multi-fuel power plants with a combined output of 600MW.

The projects will be delivered by Wärtsilä on a full EPC basis and jointly represent the largest generating capacity EPC contract ever awarded to the company.

The projects comprise a 400MW facility, the Mexicali Oriente power plant located in Mexico’s Baja California state, and the Parque Industrial plant, a 200MW generating unit located in Sonora, Mexico.

The Mexicali Oriente plant will operate with 24 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines, while the Parque Industrial plant will feature 22 Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines.

The engines will operate primarily on gas with the capability to use liquid fuel as a back-up if required.

“Wärtsilä’s experience with EPC deliveries, its ability to deliver on a fast-track basis, and the efficiency of the company’s engine technology were key considerations in the contract award,” commented Risto Paldanius, Vice President, Americas, Wärtsilä Energy. “The power plants will serve the local needs today, and they will adapt to future needs.”

During the summer months, the plants will operate continuously in order to meet the high electricity demand in the region, when temperatures can reach +50 °C. For the remainder of the year, they will be used to provide grid balancing service.

The power plants are to be completed in phases during 2022 and 2023.

The holiday season is in full swing and tree farmers across the country are preparing for the Christmas crowds.

At Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Waynesville, North Carolina, customers can cut down their own Christmas tree. Darren Nicholson, who works at the farm, said he is grateful to see people “coming out in record numbers to get the perfect Christmas tree.”

Across the country, wholesale tree grower The Jonsteen Company packages live tree saplings and seed growing kits.

The California-based company specializes in Giant Sequoias and Coast Redwoods but offers a variety of different trees, including evergreens, giving customers a chance to plant their own Christmas tree and watch it grow over the years.

The Jonsteen Company said they have expanded their workforce from 35 to 50 to keep up with holiday demand.

One Jonsteen customer, Martin Harmon, and his family, who live south of Atlanta, planted their Christmas tree years ago and now it’s a full-grown evergreen.

The Fowler family from Lexington, Kentucky, planted their Jonsteen tree in their front yard and have already decorated it with lights.

Other small businesses all over the country are gearing up for the holiday rush, like Authenticity50. The California-based bedding and home goods company was co-founded by husband and wife Jimmy and Steph McDonald.

Last year, they started using their materials to sew masks in the middle of the pandemic.

All of their products are 100% American made. The McDonalds said the cotton is from California, the yarn is spun in Georgia, the sheets they sell are cut and sewn in South Carolina, their button are from Connecticut and their packaging is made in Illinois.

The McDonalds said the advantage of having their products made in the U.S. is that they are fully stocked during ongoing supply chain shortages.

“We haven’t had to deal with container ships stuck at port,” said Jimmy McDonald.

“Buying local helps us sustain our small business and 1,000 local jobs from coast to coast,” added Steph McDonald.