Deals wrap: Qatar's mega LNG carriers order, NSTA's latest licensing round, Egypt secures FRSU amid energy shortages

This week saw a flurry of renewable energy deals being sealed. Australia awarded several offshore wind feasibility licences as it aims to meet Net Zero by 2050 goals. Meanwhile, the UK's Morocco Power Project – set to transmit around 3.6 GW from solar and wind power facilities – got a USD 10.2 million boost from US-based GE Vernova.

Other headline-grabbing deals included QatarEnergy placing the world's largest single shipping order after signing a contract with China State Shipping Corporation to build 18 supersize LNG carriers.

Here's a look at the deals that made the news this week:

NSTA’s latest oil and gas licensing round permits concurrent offshore wind leases

For the first time, the North Sea Transition Authority has also introduced a clause for overlapping permits that allow simultaneous oil and gas exploration alongside offshore wind operations. The UK’s oil and gas regulator has offered 31 licences in its 33rd round, set to add an around 600 million boe by 2060, or 545 million boe by 2050.

Egypt hires FSRU from Norway's Hoegh LNG amid energy shortages 

Hoegh LNG’s Galleon Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) will be deployed in Egypt for around 20 months in a move to boost energy security in the country which is grappling with power and gas shortages. 

Australia awards offshore wind feasibility licenses offshore Victoria 

The first six feasibility licenses for offshore wind projects off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria, were awarded by the Australian government last week. Selected projects include Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 and Star of the South Wind Farm, the latter backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). The High Sea Wind, Gippsland Skies, Blue Mackerel and Kut-Wut Brataualung projects have also been selected. 

Brussels selects seven winning bids under first Hydrogen Bank auction

The European Commission has selected seven winning projects under the first European Hydrogen Bank auction which which will be eligible for EUR 720 million (USD 769 million) in funding in total.The projects were the winners of an oversubscribed auction which attracted 132 bids in total, the EC said. Together, the winning bidders plan to produce 1.58 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen over 10 years.

UK's Morocco power project gets $10m boost

The company behind the UK Power Project – set to transmit around 3.6GW from solar and wind power facilities in Morocco – has taken a further step toward final investment (FID) with a USD 10.2 million boost from US-based GE Vernova.

bp and KOGAS sign long-term LNG SPA

Under the agreement, bp will provide KOGAS with up to 9.8 million t of LNG over 11 years on a delivered ex-ship basis from bp’s diverse portfolio of LNG sources.

Qatar inks world’s largest single shipbuilding order in China

Middle Eastern liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer QatarEnergy has signed a contract with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) for the construction of 18 supersize LNG carriers.