During the period from January 22th to 28th, 2026, the following international news occurred:
1. EnviTec Biogas to enter Lithuania
German biogas developer EnviTec Biogas has announced its entry into the Lithuanian market, continuing the expansion of its European footprint. The company's CEO stated that while domestic policy uncertainties in Germany are impacting investment confidence, biomethane is expected to become a key energy source in the medium term as a readily available substitute for natural gas. EnviTec is expanding its business in growth markets like the Benelux countries, Sweden, and Spain, offering a full value-chain service from biogas production to green fuel supply through its network of LNG refueling stations.
2. PepsiCo selects Engie for 10-year biomethane supply in the UK
Food and beverage giant PepsiCo has signed an agreement with French energy group Engie, under which Engie will build a new anaerobic digestion plant in northern England. Starting in 2027, it will supply PepsiCo UK's supply chain with 60 GWh of biomethane annually for a period of 10 years. This initiative is expected to help PepsiCo reduce over 10,900 tons of carbon emissions annually. It represents the first such biomethane procurement agreement in the UK's food and beverage industry. Engie aims to use this to advance its target of reaching 10 TWh of annual biomethane production capacity in Europe.
3. Perpetual Next to build three US biomethanol plants
Biomass products company Perpetual Next USA plans to build three biomass-to-biomethanol plants in the southeastern United States, with development expected to commence this year. Each plant will process approximately 1 million tons of sustainably sourced biomass feedstock annually, utilizing its 'Biomethanol Blueprint' technology, which combines torrefaction, gasification, and methanol synthesis processes. The aim is to achieve replicable commercial-scale deployment. The company is collaborating with US partners like Fluor to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon fuels in the region.
4. Danaos to invest $50m in Alaska LNG, signs fleet deal
Global major independent container ship owner Danaos Corporation will invest $50 million in the Alaska LNG project through Glenfarne Alaska Partners. Danaos will also serve as the project's preferred supplier, providing at least six liquefied natural gas carriers. The Alaska LNG project, controlled by Glenfarne, is being developed in two phases: Phase 1 involves building a gas pipeline to meet local demand in Alaska, and Phase 2 adds an LNG export terminal. A Final Investment Decision is expected by the end of 2026.
5. LNG project final investments to slow in 2026 after record year
A Wood Mackenzie report predicts that Final Investment Decisions for global liquefied natural gas projects will slow significantly in 2026, with only 4-5 projects expected to be approved, far below the record 9 projects (totaling 72 million tons per annum) approved in 2025. Reasons for the slowdown include a large volume of capacity under construction (approximately 225 million tons per annum) soon to reach the market, price pressures, rising costs, and buyers shifting focus to already sanctioned projects. The pace of demand recovery in Asia will be key to absorbing the new supply. Projects like the US CP2 and Delfin FLNG 1 are expected to advance within the year.
6. Qatari Project secures $990 million financing for desalination and power plant expansion
Qatar's Ras Abufontas Power Company has signed a financing agreement of approximately $990 million with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. This financing is part of a $2.97 billion co-financing package. The funds will be used to build a 2,400 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant and a seawater desalination facility with a daily capacity of around 110 million imperial gallons. Located south of Doha, the project will enter into a 25-year supply agreement with Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation upon completion. Project shareholders include Qatar Electricity and Water Company, Sumitomo Corporation, and others.
7. ACWA Power pursues three major desalination projects in Egypt
Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power is bidding for three major seawater desalination projects to be launched by the Egyptian government. Egypt's Finance Minister stated these projects will follow a Public-Private Partnership model aimed at expanding the country's desalination capacity. ACWA Power is already involved in several renewable energy projects in Egypt, and the government hopes to leverage its expertise in desalination and wind power. Specific project details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
8. New solar desalination design tackles salt buildup barrier
A research team from Australia's Monash University and India's Mumbai Institute of Technology has developed a novel solar-powered seawater desalination device named SunSpring. The device utilizes an ultra-thin floating membrane structure combined with specially designed carbon micro-"flowers" that efficiently absorb sunlight to generate heat, driving seawater evaporation. Its innovative design effectively prevents salt clogging. Under laboratory conditions, it can produce approximately 18 liters of freshwater per square meter per day. The system requires no external electricity, making it suitable for sunny, water-scarce off-grid areas.
9. Thames Water unveils £5.7 billion tender for White Horse Reservoir
UK water utility Thames Water has issued a tender notice worth £5.7 billion to build the White Horse Reservoir in Oxfordshire with a capacity of 150 billion liters. This project represents the largest investment in water infrastructure in the UK in decades, aiming to provide drought-resilient water supply to the southeast, support new housing, and enhance climate resilience. The reservoir will also be developed as a leisure and tourism destination, creating around 1,800 jobs. The tender is for main contractors, with the final water supply expected to commence from 2040.
10. OceanWell, Eau d’Azur partner to test subsea freshwater technology off French coast
Ocean freshwater company OceanWell has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the French regional water authority Eau d'Azur to test its subsea freshwater extraction technology off the French coast starting in 2026. The system utilizes natural seawater pressure at depths below 400 meters to drive reverse osmosis, with a production capacity of up to 4,000 cubic meters per day, aiming to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. The initial test phase, lasting about 12 months, will include environmental impact assessments, providing a basis for commercial deployment in the Mediterranean between 2028 and 2030. This collaboration aims to provide climate-resilient, sustainable water sources for coastal communities.
11. Hérault Méditerranée renews SUEZ contract for water and wastewater services
The SUEZ Group, in partnership with the Caisse des Dépôts, has renewed a 15-year water and wastewater services contract with the Hérault Méditerranée urban community. Investment priorities include: constructing anaerobic digesters at the Agde wastewater treatment plant to produce 3.6 GWh of biomethane annually; using 600,000 cubic meters of high-standard recycled water per year for irrigation and municipal purposes; and improving water supply efficiency to over 91% through measures like smart meters and pipe network renewal. The contract aims to address water stress and seasonal population fluctuations in this coastal area.
12. Ontario invests $700 million in critical water infrastructure
The government of Ontario, Canada, has announced an additional $700 million investment to support 127 municipalities and First Nations communities in upgrading aging water infrastructure. This funding comes from the $4 billion "Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program," specifically the "Water, Wastewater and Stormwater" stream. It will be used to improve drinking water safety, support housing construction, and enhance resilience to extreme weather. Among the recipients, the District of Muskoka will receive approximately $78.4 million for five projects, including the Orillia Wastewater Pumping Station.
13. Metropolitan breaks ground on $280M project to bring more sources of water to Southern California
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has broken ground on the $280 million Sepulveda Feeder Pump Stations Project. The project involves building two new pump stations to deliver water from the Colorado River and Diamond Valley Lake during severe droughts to parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties that currently rely on sources from Northern California. Scheduled for completion in early 2029, the project will provide an additional 22,000 acre-feet of drought-resilient water annually. This aims to enhance the water supply system's flexibility and avoid a repeat of mandatory water restrictions experienced during the 2020-2022 drought.
14. Jacobs awarded $200M contract to upgrade San José–Santa Clara wastewater facility
Engineering consultancy Jacobs has been awarded a $200 million contract to upgrade the San José--Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility in California, USA. The project will renovate aging digesters to improve anaerobic digestion efficiency and increase biogas production, and construct a new grease receiving station to process high-strength organic waste. This will enhance the plant's energy self-sufficiency and sustainability. The facility treats approximately 110 million gallons of wastewater daily, serving about 1.5 million residents. The project aims to improve the facility's long-term reliability and support regional development.
15. Senate passes bill with $369 million for Great Lakes restoration and Michigan water infrastructure
The US Senate has passed a bipartisan appropriations bill containing federal investments for Michigan's water and infrastructure. The bill allocates $369 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to address ecological threats like invasive species and harmful algal blooms. Concurrently, the bill restores support for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds and provides funding for lead pipe replacement and PFAS chemical contamination cleanup to strengthen the state's water supply infrastructure.
16. Pennsylvania commits record $559.4 million to water infrastructure across 25 counties
The Pennsylvania state government has announced a record-breaking $559.4 million in funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to support 36 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects across 25 counties statewide. This represents the single largest investment round in PENNVEST's history. The funds will be used to replace lead pipes, upgrade treatment plants, address PFAS contamination, and rehabilitate aging facilities, aiming to ensure the right to clean water across the state. Major projects include upgrades to Philadelphia's wastewater treatment plants and lead pipe replacement in Pittsburgh. Funding sources include state voter-approved bonds and the federal infrastructure bill.