Week of November 9, 2026

LONDON — RWE and investment firm KKR announced a total investment of 12 billion pounds sterling (about $16.1 billion) to give the green light to the Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind farms, the UK government said in a news release.

The government said the investment is believed to be the biggest of its kind in UK history. The wind farms are set to be operational by 2030, with offshore construction set to begin in early 2027, according to the release.

The financing includes 1 billion pounds sterling (about $1.34 billion) from the National Wealth Fund, its largest in offshore wind to date, the release said. The government said the projects will support more than 2,400 jobs during construction and operation and could supply the equivalent of around three million UK homes.

Members of the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee on Tuesday adopted their position on the European Competitiveness Fund for 2028-2034, by 61 votes to 13 with 12 abstentions, proposing a budget of 264.35 billion euros (about $296 billion) in current prices.

The committee also proposes a new flexibility reserve of 10.11 billion euros (about $11.3 billion), a dedicated section for energy infrastructure and a maximum guarantee of 150 billion euros (about $168 billion) for the fund's InvestEU instrument. The European Commission proposed 70 billion euros (about $78.4 billion) for that guarantee.

MEPs also voted 56 to 26, with four abstentions, to open negotiations with EU governments. The position and the negotiating mandate are expected to be announced for approval at the Nov. 23-26 plenary sessions.

ARERA said in resolution 415/2026/S/com, dated Nov. 10, 2026, that it closed its penalty proceeding against Enel Energia S.p.A. and imposed administrative fines for violations concerning pre-contractual information to end customers.

According to the resolution, the proceeding concerned violations related to the commercial code and to information, and it was closed following a hearing on Oct. 20. The resolution is listed under the retail market and economic conditions of supply.

The published listing does not state the amount of the fines.

The European Parliament's Energy and Transport committees adopted on Tuesday a draft position on the 2028-2034 Connecting Europe Facility, proposing a budget of 91.28 billion euros (about $102 billion) in current prices, against the 81.42 billion euros (about $91.2 billion) the Commission proposed.

The text passed with 101 votes in favor, one against and 17 abstentions. It splits funding among transport (37.96 billion euros (about $42.5 billion)), military mobility (19.78 billion euros (about $22.2 billion)) and energy (33.53 billion euros (about $37.6 billion)).

The committees also endorsed a mandate for negotiations with the Council by 85 votes to 24, with nine abstentions. The full House is expected to approve the mandate in a future plenary session.

BRASILIA, Nov. 10 — Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) published Ordinance No. 946, signed Nov. 6, opening a public consultation on a proposed new operating manual for the Luz para Todos program to improve its implementation rules.

The proposal updates procedures after a May 8, 2026 decree that expanded service priorities, MME said. The manual details technical and financial criteria, procedures and the roles of the agents carrying out the program.

Consultation documents will be available on the MME portal and the Brasil Participativo platform. Contributions can be sent through both for 30 days from the ordinance's publication, MME said.

JAKARTA, Nov. 10 — Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry announced four oil and gas working areas covering more than 33,000 square kilometers as "Available" areas open to investors, according to a ministry press release.

The areas are Cerera, Areca-Bruni, South Tanimbar and Namori, designated under Ministerial Decree No. 133.K/MG.04/DJM/2026 dated Nov. 9, 2026, on the results of the Phase I 2026 regular auction. Companies may take part through a Direct Offer, with or without a Joint Study, and may choose cost recovery or gross split contracts.

Interested companies can submit proposals to the Directorate General of Oil and Gas within six months of the offer results being set, the release said. Director General Laode Sulaeman said a Direct Offer auction without a Joint Study runs for 30 calendar days.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 9 — The board of Brazil's ANP decided on Nov. 9 to suspend temporarily, for 15 days, the regulatory action on the third phase of the 2026–2030 natural gas transport tariff review, which covers opening a public consultation and hearing on methodology, Maximum Permitted Revenue and tariffs.

ANP also suspended analysis of carriers' appeals, except steps needed to preserve legal deadlines and keep transport services running. The agency cited a Ministry of Mines and Energy letter on interest by Petrobras and Nova Transportadora do Sudeste S.A. (NTS) in discussing consensual tariff solutions for NTS's gas transport system.

ANP asked Petrobras and the carriers involved to submit the terms of their negotiations within 15 days.

BRASILIA, Nov. 9 — Brazil's federal government extended to Nov. 19, 2031 the term of the legislation establishing Gás do Povo, a free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) program, through Provisional Measure No. 1,400, published in the Diário Oficial da União on Nov. 9.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy said the program, created in 2025 with the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, benefits about 15 million families, or around 45 million people. It provides free refills of 13-kilogram cylinders to families that meet its criteria.

The measure is already in force. The government's target is about 65 million cylinder refills a year, the ministry said.

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 9 — Governor Kathy Hochul announced that eight New York hospitals will receive a combined nearly $28 million for six energy efficiency and electrification projects under the Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The projects are expected to cut the hospitals' combined annual energy use by more than 213,000 MMBtus and save more than 11,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, according to the announcement. Six of the eight hospitals are in disadvantaged communities.

The awards are funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Clean Energy Fund, the announcement said.

LONDON — Glass drinks containers sold directly from producers to pubs, restaurants and other licensed hospitality venues will no longer be liable for Extended Producer Responsibility fees from April 2027, the British government said.

The government said the change would cut double charging, saving businesses up to 6p per beer bottle and 10p per wine bottle, or up to 870 pounds sterling (about $1,170) a year for a pub selling 10,000 beer bottles and 3,700 wine bottles.

Businesses will also be consulted on packaging waste fees, which the government said could help reduce fees for the most recyclable packaging by up to 40% per year.

LONDON — The British government launched a consultation on proposals that would require commodities linked to deforestation, such as soy, palm oil, cattle, cocoa, timber, coffee and rubber, to assess their supply chains and ensure they are not driving illegal deforestation overseas.

The consultation includes proposals for mandatory due diligence obligations under existing powers and measures to strengthen the UK Timber Regulation, the government said. It seeks views from businesses, environmental organizations and international stakeholders.

In Northern Ireland, the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products will begin applying in phases from Dec. 30, 2026, the government said.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a federal court order that halted border barrier and road construction across the Big Bend region of Texas, the Center for Biological Diversity said.

The ruling lets the Trump administration resume construction in Big Bend National Park and along more than 500 miles of the Rio Grande, the group said. It suspends the injunction, issued Oct. 2 by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone, while the lawsuit proceeds, and is not a final ruling on the legality of the waiver of environmental laws.