Finnish Brewery and TheStorage Pilot Sand‑Based ‘Hot Battery’ to Slash Coal‑Plant Use
Nokian Panimo, Finland’s second‑largest microbrewery, has teamed with climate‑tech startup TheStorage to launch a three‑year pilot of a sand‑based thermal storage system that generates steam without fossil fuels. The pilot, operational since January, promises up to 70% lower energy costs and a 90% reduction in carbon emissions, positioning sand‑battery technology as a potential tool for repowering coal‑heavy plants.
Energy Crisis Looms by 2028—Innovators Race Against Time
We’re cooked by 2028 unless something changes quickly. Innovators are diving in: -fuel cells -DC power architectures -geothermal in Utah -new jet engines that create power (Boom) -used jet engines pulled from the desert (ProEnergy) -batteries to redefine peak requirements -Natural gas (the great state...
Ensuring Quality and Performance in BESS Purchases
VIDEO – Energy Storage Summit 2026: How can you ensure quality and performance when buying BESS? #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/R67G3Pl562
Muirhead Brings Circularity In-House
Muirhead announced the launch of an in‑house BioPRO foam production facility within the Scottish Leather Group, moving full‑scale manufacturing of its circular foam under one roof. The patented foam incorporates 20% reclaimed protein from Muirhead’s own processes, reducing reliance on...
XCharge NA + JOJO Launch EV Fast Chargers in Illinois – First Sites Live
XCharge North America and JOJO Superfast have begun deploying an EV fast‑charging network across Illinois, launching nine sites with two already operational. Each location will feature four 200 kW C6 Smart DC chargers, primarily installed at Menards home‑improvement stores to capture...
How Electricity Prices Fuel Data Center Opposition
Data center developer Hut 8 faced fierce opposition in Logan County, Illinois, after residents linked a proposed AI‑focused facility to rising electricity costs. Heatmap Pro’s opposition index gave the county a score of 69, placing it just outside the top ten...
Commonwealth Fusion Systems Shifts to Magnet Sales, Securing Near‑Term Revenue
Commonwealth Fusion Systems announced it will begin selling its high‑temperature superconducting magnets to Realta Fusion, the largest such deal for the company. The move leverages CFS’s multi‑year $3 billion fundraising and a near‑complete Sparc demo reactor to generate cash while the...
HMC StratCap’s Monterey Park Data Center Hits Community Wall, Stalling California’s Building Boom
Australian developer HMC StratCap’s $‑tens‑of‑millions Monterey Park data center project ran into a hostile crowd at city hall, underscoring a growing backlash against AI‑driven data facilities in California. The opposition reflects a wider shift as developers and investors look elsewhere...
AI Companies Are Building Huge Natural Gas Plants to Power Data Centers. What Could Go Wrong?
AI‑driven data‑center operators are racing to build massive natural‑gas power plants, with Microsoft targeting 5 GW in West Texas, Google 933 MW in North Texas, and Meta adding 7.46 GW in Louisiana. The projects aim to secure "behind‑the‑meter" electricity to meet soaring AI...
This Spring Has Been a Record Season for Renewables
Spring 2026 has become a record‑breaking season for U.S. renewables, highlighted by Texas ERCOT’s all‑time wind peak of 28.7 GW on March 14 and multiple solar records across major ISOs. The nation added 26.5 GW of utility‑scale solar and 5.7 GW of wind in...
Renewables Groups Believe Minnesota VPP Program ‘Misses the Mark’
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Phase 2 of Xcel Energy’s Capacity*Connect virtual power plant program, targeting 50‑200 MW of battery storage by 2028. The initiative marks the first U.S. utility‑owned VPP, where Xcel retains full capacity ownership rather than relying on...
How the Iran War Could Scramble the Climate Tech Capital Stack
The Iran‑Iran war’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking oil exports, slashing revenues for Gulf sovereign wealth funds and oil‑backed venture arms. Those investors have been a major source of early‑stage climate‑tech capital, funding electric mobility, clean hydrogen,...
Green
For years, green groups have hailed electrification as a core climate solution. And now that we’re suddenly in the middle of historic load growth, they’re largely unprepared to meet the moment with big ideas. “We should all be embarrassed,” says @JaneAFlegal...
How Virginia, Texas, and Other States Are Starting to Regulate Data Centers
State lawmakers in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas and Indiana are moving from ad‑hoc opposition to formal regulation of data centers. Virginia leads with bills on site permitting, water‑use disclosure and a review of its lucrative sales‑tax exemption. Pennsylvania is pushing...
Scoop: This GOP Lawmaker Is Aiming to Stop an Arizona Wind Farm
Republican Rep. Eli Crane is lobbying the FAA, Fish and Wildlife Service, and FCC to halt the Lava Run wind farm in Arizona’s White Mountains, arguing federal permits could block the project. In Oregon, Amazon agreed to a $20 million settlement...
A New Tool to Help Solve State Permitting Problems
RMI has launched the State Permitting Power Tool, an interactive web‑based decision tree that distills roughly 100 permitting reforms into a searchable matrix. The platform guides users through four challenge categories—complexity, delays, political hurdles, and financial burdens—to surface the most...
Republicans Cling to Fossil Preference Despite Renewable Surge
Propaganda has brainwashed some of the public to think fossils are good and wind/solar are bad, but fortunately, reality and physics win, as new wind and solar are dominating in the U.S. and worldwide. "A year into the second Trump administration,...
U.S. Farms Double Biogas Capture in 5 Years, New Report Finds
U.S. farms operating biogas capture systems have more than doubled over the past five years, reaching over 630 installations according to the American Biogas Council. Dairy farms dominate the sector, accounting for nearly 80% of the projects, while California alone...
First Dannevirke Solar Farm Under Construction, with Plans for Another in 2027
Construction has begun on Dannevirke's first solar farm, a 23‑megawatt (MW) facility expected to supply electricity for roughly 5,000 homes. The project, developed by Bright Fern Energy and built with materials from GameChange Solar, is 58% owned by an Australian...
EV Charging – The Importance of Affordable, Convenient Access
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled its Flash Charging technology paired with the second‑generation Blade Battery, claiming a 60 % charge in five minutes. While the breakthrough highlights EV maturity, the article argues that ultra‑fast charging is not the primary solution for everyday...
UW CoMotion Labs Launches Second Climate‑Tech Incubator Cohort of Eight Startups
The University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs has opened its second Climate Tech Incubator, enrolling eight early‑stage startups in a six‑month program at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub. The cohort will showcase progress at a demo day in September, signaling a...
Ohio Solar Project Built with Modules Manufactured in State
Geronimo Power has placed its 117‑MW Dodson Creek Solar Project in Highland County, Ohio into commercial operation. The utility‑scale farm uses First Solar’s Series 7 modules that are manufactured in‑state, expanding Geronimo’s Ohio portfolio to 675 MW and delivering roughly $240 million in...
SolarEdge Expands U.S. Manufacturing to Capture Growing Solar B2B Demand
SolarEdge Technologies announced a major expansion of its U.S. manufacturing footprint, adding residential inverter lines in Texas, commercial inverter and optimizer lines in Florida, and battery production in Utah. The move ends production in China, Mexico and Hungary and follows...
Data Center Ban on the Ohio Ballot? Petitioners Get Approval to Start Gathering Signatures
Ohio Ballot Board certified a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit construction of new data centers exceeding a 25‑megawatt peak load, effectively blocking most modern facilities. The amendment now moves to a signature‑gathering phase, requiring more than 413,000 valid signatures...
Factor This Finance and Project Development Roundup: AES, Dimension, Georgia Power, Zelestra
The data‑center and AI boom is hitting a bottleneck as critical electrical equipment shortages threaten half of U.S. projects slated for 2024. Meanwhile, AES’s Maximo robotics unit installed over 100 MW of utility‑scale solar at the Bellefield site, marking a shift...
Vote Solar Testimony Urges North Carolina to Adopt Distributed Storage over Gas
Vote Solar and the Southern Environmental Law Center submitted expert testimony to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, urging the state to prioritize distributed battery storage over new natural‑gas plants in Duke Energy’s resource plan. Their filing highlights that Duke’s modeling...
Everged Replaces Outdated EV Chargers at No Up-Front Cost
Everged has introduced a Zero Cost Swap Program that lets EV‑charging site owners replace outdated or non‑functional chargers with new Level 2 or DC fast chargers at no upfront expense. The company covers removal, installation, activation, 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and offers...
Study Overlooks Construction Heat, Skews Data Centre Impact
Looking at a viral academic study that claims to analyse local area heating effects of data centre construction on green-field sites, that does not control for the heating effects of *any* construction on green-field sites.
Virginia, Texas Lead New Data Center Regulation Wave
How Virginia, Texas, and Other States Are Starting to Regulate Data Centers #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/o1X9pP2Zc8 https://t.co/um8OSslPeJ
Wind Builds Clean Energy Potential Across Asia’s Economic Landscape
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reports that Asia’s offshore wind sector is accelerating toward parity with Europe by 2030. Japan commissioned its largest offshore wind farm, Hibikinada, in March 2026 and deepened industry coordination through a new MOU with...
Brazil's PV Module Imports Drop 24% to 17.9 GWBrazil
Brazil PV module imports fall 24% to 17.9 GW in 2025 #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/lMs2zSGSOi
Inland Rail Introduces Solar-Powered Level Crossings in Australia
Inland Rail deploys solar-powered level crossings in Australia #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/58zXmONJL6
California Approves First SB 1440 Biomethane Project at Wastewater Facility
Anaergia’s SoCal Biomethane facility at Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority received conditional approval from the California Public Utilities Commission for a long‑term renewable natural gas (RNG) procurement agreement, marking the first SB 1440‑qualified RNG delivery in the state. The plant co‑digests...
Heat Dome Powers Southern Solar, Polar Vortex Dampens North
Heat dome and high pressure boost southern U.S. solar as polar vortex clouds the north #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/2D55vE1P9x https://t.co/A2KbZ8ssOk
Marine Energy Offers Clean, Predictable, High‑Density Power
What are the selling points of marine energy? #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/iIuIp33Mzx
Heat Dome and High Pressure Boost Southern U.S. Solar as Polar Vortex Clouds the North
Solcast’s March 2026 analysis shows a stark solar divide across North America. Southern regions—including northeastern Mexico, southeastern Texas and much of California—recorded 20‑25% above‑average irradiance, driven by persistent high‑pressure systems and a southwestern heat dome. In contrast, Canada, the Great...
Electrification Alone Won’t Shield From Gas Price Shocks
Electrification may not be enough to protect against gas-driven price shocks #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/x9CZpvmkMz
Iran War May Accelerate Europe's Renewable Energy Push
Iran war could spur Europe to double down on renewables — again #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/EWPPy2Tijh
Renewables Critics Say Minnesota VPP Falls Short
Renewables groups believe Minnesota VPP program ‘misses the mark’ #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/L7c5uzFsXr
Maine Becomes First State to Ban Data Centers
Maine Set to be the First State to Ban Data Centers #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/JhoOfihGEy https://t.co/sWiYhWVE1G
Reno Commission Greenlights 200MW Trego Grid Battery Project
Reno planning commission approves permit for 200MW Trego Grid BESS project #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/veYJPQYc2X
FlexGen Expands Portfolio by Acquiring Clean Energy Services
FlexGen moves to expand offerings with acquisition of Clean Energy Services #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/gH2wMVbd2S
Electrospray Cooling Boosts Solar Panel Efficiency, Saves Water
Electrospray cooling can boost PV panel performance with minimal water use #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/tFbOoSFCLn
Nation's Largest Urban Battery Deploys Near San Francisco
Nation's largest urban battery to take center stage near San Francisco #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/fv1RqbWPt2
China's Energy Storage Boom: Watch Inventory Data
China's energy storage market is booming. One Chinese analyst thinks you should look at the inventory data . Read more and sign up to my newsletter here: https://t.co/ck3zk49kBX https://t.co/sA0TPeUWMc
FAA Issues Certification Conditions for ZeroAvia’s Hydrogen‑Electric Powertrain
ZeroAvia has this week celebrated a “major step” towards certification of its ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain, after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration published special conditions to certify the system’s electric engine component. https://t.co/rtB9kLHKnG #GreenWing
China Solar Cell Prices Drop Third Week Amid Cost Easing
China solar cell prices fall for third consecutive week as upstream costs ease #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/Oawb2A3W9W
Maine Joins Two States with Plug‑in Solar Law
Maine becomes third state to pass plug-in solar legislation #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/ZUmpYRpuPN
Louisiana Aims for 12 GW Utility‑scale Solar by 2035
Louisiana projected to add 12 GW of utility-scale solar by 2035 #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/iJc4Dml2fD
US Solar Prices Rise Amid Trade Risks, FEOC Rules
U.S. solar module prices face upward pressure as trade risks and FEOC rules dominate Q1 2026 #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/oHCu7Y0TZp https://t.co/iQ0cvynnK7