Project Finance International has published its yearly Global Energy Report, 44 pages of analysis on the issues and trends impacting the project finance market. The report includes in-depth analysis of the ground-breaking Inflation Reduction Act in the US and its impact on green project finance. There is detailed intel on the exciting new hydrogen market, plus case studies on recent project financings in the LNG, wind and offshore wind sectors. Renewable developers are profiled and there is anal

With the recent expansion of renewable energy tax credits in the US, developers and bankers are not waiting for regulators to deliver final guidance to get down to business. Contractual tools for risk mitigation, such as tax credit insurance, are playing an important role in filling the liquidity gap as the fledgling market takes off. Joti Mangat reports.

The US government recently introduced multiple incentives for the hydrogen industry in an effort to reduce the substantial carbon emissions associated with existing hydrogen production facilities and to encourage the production of hydrogen in new areas, By Hilary Lefko and Viktoria Vozarova, Norton Rose Fulbright.

The incentive-laden Inflation Reduction Act could go a long way in propelling the US towards a net-zero future. Aneesh Prabhu, senior director and sector lead, North American Infrastructure, S&P Global Ratings, examines the tailwinds for the power sector and diverging approaches with Europe's decarbonisation plans.

Energy storage has become a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure and the general electric power markets in recent years. Energy storage is seen as the answer to the problems associated with intermittent energy production by renewable sources and grid reliability issues. By Jane Kang, partner, Morgan Lewis.

The year started with nearly US$15bn in LNG financing completed. One more is getting innovative in order to reach the finish line. By Alison Healey.

In less than a decade, the US has transitioned from being an importer of liquefied natural gas to one of the largest exporters, now in the company of Qatar, Russia, and Australia. By Terry Pratt, Fitch Ratings

The Golden Plains Wind Farm in Victoria, Australia, is one of Australia’s largest permitted wind farms, sponsored by clean energy investor TagEnergy and project-financed on a fully merchant basis by a group of commercial lenders, including the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. Technologically advanced and financially innovative, the landmark clean energy project is already playing an important role in the journey to decarbonising Australia’s energy sector, as part of the country's ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. By Joe Harber, head of wind investment, CEFC.

The Australian National Electricity Market is undergoing a rapid transformation as it transitions to net-zero. While it is clear we are heading towards an overwhelming renewable energy-based market, the generation technology mix is more difficult to predict. However, it is likely that offshore wind could play a significant role in Australia. By Dan Brown, co-head of international projects group and projects and real estate partner, Jeff Lynn, projects and real estate partner, and David Wadham, projects and real estate partner, Ashurst.

The Monsoon Power Project has shown that it is possible to structure a bankable cross-border wind financing of significant scale and complexity. By Daniel Wiedmer, Robert Lockhart, Claire Alembik, Tristan Knowles and Nicholas Moller at the Asian Development Bank, and James Murray, Rosaline Yusman and Andrew Gibb at Milbank LLP.

Taiwan was among the first countries in Asia to dump nuclear energy and focus on renewable energy. It is now leading the region in developing offshore wind energy projects and growing pains are part of this. By Minerva Lau

India pledged at the COP26 conference in Glasgow to becoming net-zero by 2070 and achieving 45% lower emissions intensity of GDP by 2030 than 2005 levels. By Arun Kumar Saluru, vice-president, project advisory and structured finance, SBI Capital Markets, Mumbai

Arup believes that the establishment of a strong hydrogen economy is a very real opportunity and within reaching distance, but how far away is the finishing line? By Nick Herbert.

Is nuclear energy safe, or unsafe? Too expensive to deploy, or too cheap to meter? Putting populations at risk, or saving Planet A? There is space for even another elephant in the nuclear room, in the era of reverse globalisation: is nuclear energy a useful geo-political lever for hegemons, or a shield in times of energy warfare for the meek? In this article, project developer/nuclear adviser and ex-banker David Stearns sheds light on the uncanny staying power of nuclear energy. But staying power is not sustainability, so it is necessary to review the legacy business model to assess who actually benefits from nuclear energy. A realignment of costs, risks and benefits is needed to ensure the industry’s as-yet untested financial sustainability.

Launched less than a year ago, Prague-based Rezolv Energy is set to become a key renewables player in South-Eastern Europe, with a 2GW pipeline in the market for project financing. By Cristiana Sandeva.

Renewable energy projects in carbon-intensive economies present opportunities for developers and generators. CWP Europe sees its potential lying in developing wind and solar projects across South-east Europe. By Nick Herbert.

There is a now blueprint for financing utility-scale projects in South Africa for various offtake structures, and lenders and investors are allocating large amounts of capital to fund these projects – bringing much needed energy online. And it is just the icing on the top that these are carbon-neutral generation technologies. By Wickaum Smith, Green Giraffe.