In Brief

Solar progression
First Solar, Inc. has announced that its high-performance thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules will power two utility-scale photovoltaic solar power plants in the Netherlands, developed by Denmark’s Obton. Obton has already broken ground on the first project, a 13.92-megawatt (MWDC) facility, while a second, 4.4MWDC project is expected to come online in mid-2018. Both projects are located in Stadskanaal and have secured licenses under the country’s SDE+ renewable energy programme. “Our projects demonstrate that solar PV can effectively compete against any other renewable energy technology when powered by bankable module technology,” said Anders Marcus, CEO of Obton.

Symbolic start-up
On 27 October, KN (AB Klaipedos Nafta) marked the symbolic opening of its small-scale onshore liquefiednatural gas (LNG) reloading station; however, the trial operations and commissioning works will continue until the end of 2017. The LNG reloading station is intended to supply LNG for customers in the Baltic Sea region as well as promote the use of clean fuel for maritime operations and heavy vehicles, ensuring access to LNG for remote consumers.

Contracts worth $48m
KCA Deutag’s land drilling operation has been awarded new contracts for five rigs with a combined contract value of $48 million. The first of those rigs, the T-72 has been awarded a nine-month contract in Pakistan for one firm well, with an additional one well extension option. Commenting on these contract awards, Simon Drew President of Land said: “These contract wins, which come in a tough environment in the wider oil industry, are very important to the Land Business Unit and KCA Deutag as a whole.”