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Associated Press
19-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Solar Powers a Sustainable Energy Future on Rayonier Land
Originally published on The world's appetite for energy is growing exponentially, with each year's new electricity demands exceeding Japan's entire annual electricity consumption. In the United States alone, electricity demand is projected to rise by as much as 50 percent by the year 2040 due to growth in manufacturing, data centers and mass electrification. Amidst this surge, the need for affordable, clean energy has never been more critical. Solar energy is playing a growing role in shaping conversations about the future of sustainable energy. Why Solar is a Strategic Fit for Rayonier's Land-Based Solutions Approach With more than 2 million acres of sustainably managed U.S. forests and nearly 100 years of land stewardship, Rayonier is uniquely positioned to strengthen the U.S. energy grid through strategic solar development. Driven by our commitment to land-based solutions, we lease high-potential properties for solar energy development and storage. Our expert team collaborates closely with solar developers to optimize these projects, delivering clean energy and strengthening surrounding communities through the creation of local jobs, increased tax revenue and significant economic investment. 'Renewable energy is a good fit for Rayonier,' says Rayonier Vice President of Energy Resources Rob Fancher. 'Our timberlands provide a lot of environmental benefits, and renewable energy does the same thing. They're both very long-term, focused projects. They're both quiet, good neighbors.' Why Solar is Important to the Growing Demand for Renewable Energy On a macro level, solar energy enhances both the United States' energy independence and its pursuit of energy dominance. This reliable source of domestic power reduces the nation's need to depend on volatile global energy markets, bolstering its strategic position and global influence. Increasing U.S. energy independence also provides more price stability for both consumers and businesses. As companies strive to meet sustainability goals and reduce operating costs, locations with robust renewable energy resources are becoming increasingly desirable for new facilities. This trend is particularly evident in the advanced technology industry, including AI. The manufacturing industry is also a key driver of this shift, drawn to renewable energy's cost-effectiveness and lower emissions. What Research Shows About the Role of Solar Countless studies point to clean, renewable energy as the key to meeting energy demand and reducing the impact of CO₂ in the United States: Solar Futures StudyBloomberg's New Energy Outlook 2024International Energy Agency's Net Zero by 2050 report Rayonier's First Solar Project The first solar project on Rayonier land became operational in 2023. Longroad Energy's 150 megawatt Umbriel solar project in Polk County, Texas, delivers enough clean energy to power roughly 30,000 homes, avoiding an estimated 250,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually (the equivalent to taking 55,000 cars off the road). The project also is expected to generate about $13 million in tax revenue for the community. Project Highlights: 'Solar is the fastest-growing source of energy in the U.S.,' says Longroad Energy Vice President of Origination & Development Adam Horwitz, who led the project for Longroad. 'It's an abundant source of energy…and it's economical.' Advancements Driving Solar Forward Thanks to advances in technology in both building and generating solar power, the levelized cost of solar electricity dropped by more than 80 percent since 2008, according to this Berkeley Lab study and Lazard's 2024 Levelized Cost of Energy study. Even without national and global emissions reductions targets and federal tax incentives, market forces alone are projected to propel solar and other clean energy technologies forward. Solar is also established more quickly compared to alternatives, such as gas-powered turbines, which have a 7-8 year waiting list. How the Umbriel Project Came Together Longroad purchased about 1,900 acres of land needed for the Polk County project and leased the remaining 583 acres from Rayonier. The energy developer developed the site, found a long-term energy buyer for the solar project, secured financing, oversaw construction and brought the project into operation. Advantages of working with Rayonier on a Solar Project Working with Rayonier offers advantages to solar developers, including: Our team of experts works with the solar developer to identify ideal locations that meet their needs, buildable land at scale with access to strong power markets and transmission. The team also supports the development process by assisting with site design, layout and identification of sensitive environmental areas. Working with a single, large landowner streamlined the process for the developer, explains Longroad Landman Cody Walker: 'When you deal with multiple landowners in one area, you have different personalities, you have to manage different needs and different histories with properties to manage,' he says. 'When it's one landowner, one use, you can easily work together to make the project work for both parties.' Taking neighbors' concerns into account Cody worked closely with neighbors to ensure their concerns and expectations were taken into account during the project, as well. Kim Mueck, whose family owns nearby property, says they were at first skeptical about the project. Kim says she expected noise and traffic, but was pleased that wasn't the case after the solar project was built. 'We got Cody's number and, any time we needed anything, the weekends, the holidays, if there was a problem, they were there,' she says. 'It turned out to be a great relationship. The road to get to our own property is way better. They did leave a tree buffer there between our property and the solar farm, so you don't really see it.' 'Once the construction's done and it's here, it's just here,' she says. 'You don't see a lot of people. It's not noisy. There's not a lot of traffic. Like I said, you pass through it to get to our property, but once you're back there, you really don't know it's there.' Optimizing Land for its Greatest Sustainable Purpose The Rayonier team is trained to look carefully at all of our properties, striving to find the best possible purpose for every acre. The majority of Rayonier's land base is best suited for forestry activities, but our business development team is trained to recognize special sites and unique characteristics that are ideal for solar, wind and other critical land-based solutions. Only Select Land is Right for Solar 'As we evaluate the properties that are best for solar, we find that to be a very small percentage of our portfolio overall,' explains Rayonier Business Development Landman Jose Villarreal. Rayonier estimates that only a low, single-digit percentage of its forest land may ultimately become active solar projects. Rayonier's properties that are especially attractive to solar companies have proximity to a population in need of the energy and convenient access to power transmission infrastructure. While the recent ramp up in solar projects across the nation may seem expansive, the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Futures Study states that the most aggressive growth in solar energy development would use, at most, 10.3 million acres of land across the entire U.S. by 2050. That equates to less than 5 percent of land in all U.S. states (except for Rhode Island, which comes in at 6.5 percent). Working with Sustainability-Centric Companies to Deliver Clean Energy Rayonier uses a careful vetting process in determining which companies to work with to deliver clean energy. We choose to work with companies that, like us, put sustainability first; go well beyond the minimum standards to protect the environment; and treat our neighbors and communities with respect. Choosing the Right Partners for the Long Term 'We want to work with solar development companies that share in our core values and our long-term commitments to environmental stewardship,' says Rayonier Energy Resources Manager Zan Frederick. He says his team was pleased with the steps Longroad Energy took to protect the environment around the project site. Designing Solar Projects with a Commitment to Environmental Stewardship While the project site encompassed about 2,500 acres, only 1,300 were developed for solar, allowing Longroad to work around sensitive features, such as streams and wetlands. 'The project from the very beginning was sited and designed to avoid and protect wetlands,' says Longroad Environmental Manager Lindsey Kester. 'We had wetland ecologists survey the project area to identify those boundaries in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, and then our engineers sited and designed the project to avoid those boundaries. It's a thoughtful process and it doesn't just end with a plan. We have a whole team that ensures that that plan is in compliance through construction and operation through the life of the project.' Construction of the solar project included the development of reservoirs, silt fences and other modalities to prevent impacts on wetlands and the surrounding area. The Longroad team also planted seed lots designed to ensure there will be vegetation such as flowering grasses on the ground year-round, stabilizing the soil. 'That vegetation includes native pollinator plant species that help enhance that environment and provide new habitat where wildlife can thrive,' Lindsey says. You can learn more about Longroad's approach to environmental stewardship by visiting their website here. High Standards for the Life of the Project Our solar leases typically span 30 years or more. When the projects come to a close, the developer will remove all materials, enabling us to resume use of the property for whatever its next highest and best use is, such as forestry. By leasing land for solar projects on select sites, Rayonier ensures the land will be held to the same standards we hold all of our properties to: sustainable land management that will benefit our communities and planet for many years to come. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Rayonier
ABC News
04-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Papua New Guinea is abundant in natural energy resources — so why does it struggle with blackouts?
From Yonki hydropower plant in the Eastern Highlands to Warangoi in the Niugini Islands, Papua New Guinea is a nation abundant in natural energy resources — yet it consistently grapples with an unreliable electricity supply. For its citizens, power outages are not an occasional inconvenience but a persistent reality, impacting everything from daily routines to critical public services. This chronic instability, driven by a complex interplay of historical underinvestment, geographical challenges, and structural issues within the state-owned enterprise PNG Power, presents a significant hurdle to the nation's development and the well-being of its people. The immediate and most visible consequence of these blackouts is the disruption to everyday life. Imagine a student's lesson interrupted mid-PowerPoint, a family's evening plunged into darkness, or a small business that has to dump its perishable goods. These are not isolated incidents. Joy Asuire, lecturer from the University of Goroka, says the blackouts are a disruption. ( Image: The University of Goroka ) Joy Asuire, a lecturer from the University of Goroka, recounted the many instances she has had to manage her work with power blackouts. "It's a distraction to the education of our citizens, especially the young population, the students, because of what it causes… when you are in the middle of your lesson doing a PowerPoint presentation, the power goes off." In some remote areas, the situation is far more severe, with communities and schools receiving power only twice a week, as observed by lecturers in New Ireland. It's not just an inconvenience. The implications for critical sectors are dire. At Port Moresby General Hospital, oncology nurse Peter Fore highlights the life-and-death stakes involved. "Some of the patients, we do run their chemo using the infusion pumps. So when there is a blackout, it makes it very difficult for us. When there is power it makes everything possible." Surgical procedures are also frequently affected, and vital medical equipment, including refrigerators for drug storage, are vulnerable to damage from inconsistent power. Mr Fore expressed the frustration and added burden on medical staff, who often work uncompensated extra hours due to delays caused by outages. The immediate and most visible consequence of Papua New Guinea's blackouts is the disruption to everyday life. ( Supplied ) The state of PNG Power The entity primarily responsible for Papua New Guinea's electricity grid is PNG Power, a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). Like other SOEs such as PNG Water and Air Niugini, PNG Power is intended to provide essential services, but its performance has consistently fallen short, leading to widespread public dissatisfaction. Manu Rawali, Coordinator for the University of Papua New Guinea's Center of Renewable Energy, noted that the electricity supply had "gotten worse" over the years, with smaller towns experiencing outages for days or even weeks. "The electric supply has gotten worse. And as you head out towards the smaller towns, the smaller grids. Oh, man, those guys, it's almost half a day," he said. "They don't have electricity at times. They have, no electricity for up to, you know, weeks without electricity." For provinces like Manus, New Ireland, and West Sepik, people have come to expect outages for most of the day. This decline is particularly striking given that in the early 1980s, PNG's grid relied on over 70 per cent renewables, a figure that has since reversed, with the current energy mix being roughly 50 per cent thermal (diesel and gas) and 50 per cent renewables, even with the introduction of new hydro plants like Edevu. Mr Rawali attributed this shift away from renewables to increasing demand not being met by new renewable energy investments. The "quick fix" of diesel became the default, leading to a reliance that has proven difficult to break. This is further compounded by the state of the existing infrastructure. Describing many power stations as "practically black", Mr Rawali painted a grim picture of neglect: oil spills, fuel leaks, and "cannibalised generators" used for parts. This dilapidated infrastructure means that even when power is generated, the ageing network struggles to deliver it reliably. Adding to the complexity is PNG's unique geography. With 80 per cent of its population living off-grid, primarily in sparsely scattered communities across rugged terrain and islands, the conventional method of extending the national grid is deemed "impossible" by Mr Rawali. This stark reality means that significant portions of the population remain unconnected, highlighting a profound disparity in access to basic services. The government's budgetary allocations further underscore this imbalance; while almost a billion Kina was allocated to PNG Power (serving the 20 per cent on-grid population) for 2024-2028, only 15 million Kina was budgeted for off-grid initiatives. But even businesses and residents who live along the grid do not have ready access to power. The instability within PNG Power as a corporate entity also plays a role. With a reported 14 or 15 CEOs over its history, the lack of consistent leadership has led to frequent shifts in organisational direction. Mr Rawali suggested that decisions within the sector have often been influenced by "non-technical people" rather than being purely business or engineering-driven. This indicates a systemic issue where expertise may be overlooked in favour of external pressures, hindering effective long-term planning and implementation. Future outlook for Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea's Minister for Energy, Thomas Opa, acknowledged the challenges, describing the blackouts as "terrible". "We receive a lot of complaints, but basically it's not a problem of generation. It is a problem of constant supply." Mr Opa said the problem was often not a lack of generation capacity but rather issues with the reliable supply of diesel fuel and, critically, ageing infrastructure. He stressed the government's ambitious "National Energy Rollout Plan", aiming to provide 70 per cent of Papua New Guineans with access to power by 2030. While many might be sceptical of this target, he maintained the government's vision and purpose. Papua New Guinea's Minister for Energy, Thomas Opa. ( Image: National Energy Authority (NEA) ) A key strategy under this plan is to demystify the myth that only PNG Power can provide power. This involves a deregulation of the energy sector, allowing private companies, districts, and associations to apply for licenses to generate, transmit, retail, and distribute power. Mr Opa suggested that this approach will facilitate the deployment of diverse solutions, including mini-hydro and solar, particularly for rural areas where PNG Power does not operate. Solar, in particular, is highly recommended due to its ease of deployment and cost-effectiveness. This move towards decentralised, renewable energy solutions resonates with experts like Mr Rawali, who believes PNG is uniquely suited for solar and hydropower. "Almost every location in PNG is good for solar. It could be easily integrated into the grid. That could be done in any location," he said. "Solar is easily accessible in many or almost all locations in Papua New Guinea. It's just a matter of having the funding, having the land and just working to integrate it." Papua New Guinea is a country at a crossroads. Rich in resources, yet plagued by a lack of consistent power. ( Supplied ) However, Mr Rawali's hope is tempered by a deep-seated scepticism, born from decades of unfulfilled promises and reform papers that have yielded little tangible change. "No amount of money poured in, no amount of overseas expertise poured in is going to resolve PNG power issues… I think we need it needs a structural change for the for us to see some light." As Papua New Guinea continues to navigate this complex energy crisis, the impact on its foundational pillars, such as education, remains profound. Papua New Guinea is a country at a crossroads. Rich in resources, yet plagued by a lack of consistent power, it faces a stark choice. The government's vision for deregulation and renewable energy offers a glimmer of hope, but the success of these initiatives will depend on overcoming entrenched structural issues, ensuring sustained investment, and fostering genuine collaboration to deliver reliable power that is not just an amenity, but a necessity for stability, security, and survival.
Times of Oman
08-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
OQEP announces net profit exceeding OMR74.9 million
Muscat: OQ Exploration and Production Company (OQEP) announced net profit exceeding OMR74.9 million ($194.7 million) during the first quarter of 2025. EBITDA reached OMR152.7 million ($397.1 million). The company's financials indicate that OQEP achieved revenue during the first quarter of 2025 that reached OMR205.5 million ($534.4 million). Meanwhile, cash flow from operations excluding working capital reached OMR141.8 million ($368.8 million). Return on capital employed reached 22.2%. OQEP also maintained a strong cash balance of OMR118.8 million ($309.0 million) with a low leverage ratio at 0.4x EBITDA. Production remained stable at 221.2 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day compared to 224.4 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day during the corresponding period of 2024. This production is at an average realised price for oil of $75.3 per barrel compared to $79.7 per barrel during the corresponding period of the previous year. Average realised price for gas stood at $3.21 million per million standard cubic feet compared to $3.36 per million standard cubic feet during the corresponding period of last year. Eng. Ahmed Said Al Azkawi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OQEP, commented: 'OQEP has made a robust start to the year as we continue to execute our strategy. We made good progress during the period with the Government and our IOC partners to develop the future potential of Oman's energy resources. He added, 'The recently signed Block 54 EPSA with the Government of Oman represented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Genel for Block 54 marks a first investment for Genel in Oman and the opportunity to assess an under-explored block. We are also busy working with our partner, Scotiabank, to market some promising opportunities on behalf of the Government for Blocks 18, 36, 43A and 66. 'At Block 60, we achieved 86% progression with our Bisat C Expansion project. The project is expected to be commissioned in Q3 2025 and will provide an additional oil processing capacity of 37,000 barrels of oil per day. 'Our first quarter 2025 base dividend of OMR57.7 million ($150 million) will be paid in May 2025.'
