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Fibre2Fashion
04-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
France's TotalEnergies acquires 50% stake in AES Dominicana Renewables
TotalEnergies announces the closing of its acquisition of a 50% stake in the solar, wind and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) portfolio of AES Dominicana Renewables Energy. This deal follows TotalEnergies' 2024 acquisition of a 30% share in AES solar and battery assets currently under construction in Puerto Rico. The combined portfolio now exceeds 1.5 GW of renewable energy and BESS capacity across the Caribbean. These transactions advance TotalEnergies' multi-energy strategy in a region where it is a key player in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain. TotalEnergies has acquired a 50 per cent stake in AES Dominicana's solar, wind, and BESS portfolio, expanding its Caribbean renewables presence to over 1.5 GW. This follows a 2024 deal for a 30 per cent share in Puerto Rico's AES assets. The move supports its multi-energy strategy and boosts renewables in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Dominican Republic: TotalEnergies acquires 50% of AES renewables portfolio AES' renewables portfolio includes over 1 GW of contracted wind, solar, and BESS projects, of which 410 MW is already operational or under construction, supplying electricity under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The portfolio also includes over 500 MW of solar and wind capacity in development, alongside BESS projects, which will be integrated into solar plants to mitigate intermittency and enhance grid stability. This acquisition will allow TotalEnergies to expand its renewables business in the Dominican Republic, where the Company already has a partially solarized network of 184 service stations, natural gas distribution and a 103 MW solar plant under construction. Puerto Rico: TotalEnergies already holds 30% of a portfolio of AES renewables The AES' renewables portfolio includes 485 MW of contracted solar and BESS projects, comprising 200 MW of solar and 285 MW/1,140 MWh of BESS projects currently under construction. After acquiring 30% of these assets in 2024, TotalEnergies is pursuing deployment of its multi-energy strategy on the island, where it is already active in the fuel, lubricants, and aviation sectors, and operates a network of 200 service stations between Puerto Rico and the island of St Thomas. "We are pleased to expand our multi-energy strategy through this partnership with AES, focusing on renewables and battery storage in a region where TotalEnergies is already a leading supplier of LNG, notably for power generation. Since 2018, we have been supplying LNG to AES's subsidiaries in Panama and the Dominican Republic", said Stéphane Michel, President of Gas, Renewables & Power at TotalEnergies . These new transactions will contribute to our targets of 35 GW of gross renewable capacity by 2025 and over 100 TWh of electricity production by 2030. "We are excited to join forces with TotalEnergies as we diversify the island's energy mix. The proceeds from this transaction will be reinvested in AES Dominicana, to grow our renewables footprint, said Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, AES Executive Vice President & President, Energy Infrastructure and Leader of International Markets . Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. ALCHEMPro News Desk (RM)
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tiny airport is world's smallest with 400m runway but dubbed most beautiful
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport in the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world at just 400 metres, but it is a point of fascination Airports are often associated with vast, busy terminals, soaring control towers, and endless stretches of concrete runway. But not every flying experience begins in a sprawling metropolis. In fact, some of the most special journeys start at the world 's tiniest airstrips—like the one perched on the edge of the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport holds the title of the world's smallest commercial airport, and with good reason. Its runway measures just 400 metres, flanked on either side by steep cliffs and the open sea. By comparison, major international airports typically have runways that exceed 3,000 metres. Heathrow's two runways, for instance, stretch 3,902 metres and 3,658 metres - almost ten times the length of Saba's. This dramatically short runway determines what kind of aircraft can operate there. While Heathrow and other large hubs accommodate everything from wide-body jets to massive cargo planes, Juancho E. Yrausquin is strictly limited to small, propeller-driven aircraft. One of the most common is the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, which carries just 18 to 20 passengers. Landing here isn't just a test of engineering - it's also bound by strict regulations. Only propeller aircraft operated by regional airlines are permitted to land, and even then, only under special waivers issued by the Netherlands Antilles' Civil Aviation Authority. The unique conditions and inherent risk have made it a point of fascination for aviation enthusiasts worldwide. The airport's story began on February 9, 1959, when the first aircraft landed at Flat Point, a privately owned stretch of land on the island. The historic flight, piloted by Remy de Haenen, was a landmark moment for the residents of Saba, nearly all of whom gathered to witness the occasion. However, the initial excitement was short-lived. Following the inaugural flight, de Haenen was banned from flying to and from the island, and no other aircraft landed there until proper infrastructure was developed. By 1962, the lack of a functioning airport had become a significant issue for the island. In response, the Dutch government allocated 600,000 guilders - equivalent to over €300,000 today - to build a proper airstrip. The airport officially reopened in 1963, ushering in a new era of accessibility for Saba. Tragedy struck in 1998 when Hurricane Georges swept through the region, damaging the terminal with winds reaching up to 155 miles per hour. In the aftermath, the Dutch government funded a new terminal, which opened in 2002. The airport was then named in honour of Remy de Haenen, the pioneer who made that first historic flight. A propeller from his original aircraft still sits on display at the airport today, a tribute to the man who made the impossible landing possible. Though tiny in size, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is a giant in character, offering not just a gateway to Saba's rugged beauty, but also a testament to the extraordinary places aviation can reach.
