Can You Turn Any House Into a Zero Energy Bills Home? Our Expert Explains What You Can Do
Retrofitting existing homes to achieve zero‑energy‑bills hinges on a fabric‑first approach that first reduces demand, then layers solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps and electric‑vehicle integration. Standards such as EnerPHit guide achievable performance, while newer schemes like Octopus Energy Zero Bills Homes promise a decade of bill‑free living if the full electro‑tech stack is installed. Capital costs remain high, but careful planning and load‑management can make the investment cost‑neutral over time. The article argues that zero bills are realistic, especially when energy use is already low.
Susan Collins and Climate Change: ‘The Silence Is Deafening’
Sen. Susan Collins defended the EPA’s abrupt cancellation of $7 billion in Solar for All grants, which would have helped 20,000 low‑income Maine households, while simultaneously emphasizing the Inflation Reduction Act’s partisan origins. Despite a 31% score from the League of...
Post‑2020 Crises Unlock Cheap Solar and Electric Alternatives
Fossil fuel crises before the 2020s left consumers with three options: 1. Switch fuel if possible 2. Pay more if you can find fuel 3. Cut fuel use Fossil fuel crises after the 2020s give new affordable options: 4. Install cheap solar panels and...
Sponsored: Inside the AI Data Center Boom: Perkins Coie to Host International Data Center Day Webinar Series
Perkins Coie will host a CLE‑accredited International Data Center Day webinar series on March 25, 2026, featuring five sessions that tackle legal and operational risks in AI‑driven data center projects. The agenda covers corruption exposure, supply‑chain resilience, power infrastructure for AI scale,...
Tesla Plans Entry Into India’s Energy Storage Market
Tesla announced it is hiring a business‑development lead to launch utility‑scale energy storage in India, signalling a move beyond its modest electric‑vehicle sales. The company will likely introduce its Megapack and Powerwall systems to tap the rapidly expanding solar‑plus‑storage market....
Open‑access Solar Will Power India's Next C&I Surge
Open access solar set to drive next phase of India’s C&I growth #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/WLQZrEvcCz
Australia’s Energy Market Conventions Are Outdated and Need Reform
Why some of Australia’s energy market conventions should go the way of the dinosaurs #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/vTCaLMcIM7
Wisconsin Data Centers Face Rising Power and Water Use, Details Unclear
A recent report highlights that expanding data centers in Wisconsin are driving higher electricity and water consumption, raising concerns for grid reliability and climate‑tech strategies, though the report did not disclose exact figures.
Japan Sets National Agrivoltaic Benchmarks Amid Site Growth
Japan establishes national benchmarks for agrivoltaics as sites expand #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/QayxhgqWQJ
Wind, Industry, EVs Drive Canada’s Rapid Grid Transformation
Canada’s electricity system is changing fast. Wind becomes the dominant growth source. Industrial demand leads. EVs surge. Data centres reshape the grid. A deep dive into Canada’s Energy Future with CER chief economist Darren Christie 👇 #cdnpoli https://youtu.be/2h7t7dvwyoU
US Gas in Crosshairs Amid Preelection Data Center Uproar
The AI boom is turning data centers into a major source of electricity and natural‑gas demand in the United States. Large‑scale training clusters rely on gas‑fired backup generators, adding significant load to the gas system. However, grassroots opposition to new...
Texas Grid Rethinks Rules as Data Centers Surge
Texas grid operator ERCOT is overhauling its interconnection process to cope with a surge of data‑center, crypto‑mining and other large‑load projects that total over 200 GW of pending requests. The new "Batch Zero" framework groups all projects of 75 MW or larger...
AI Boom Revives Abandoned Biden-Era Battery Factories
Under Biden-era industrial policy, the US was building a domestic battery industry at record pace to supply the growing market for US-built EVs. The GOP axed the policies driving EV demand, making most of those battery plants unnecessary. Now, in...
Multiple Bottlenecks Face New Nuclear Builds
The Nuclear Scaling Initiative released a 73‑page report that maps critical bottlenecks in the U.S. advanced nuclear supply chain, highlighting fuel shortages, downstream manufacturing constraints, and a skilled‑labor gap that together create a market‑paralysis cycle. It recommends coordinated actions by...
Flow Batteries' Role in the AI Boom
US data‑center construction spending surged to $28.3 billion in 2024, tripling over the prior three years and intensifying power‑grid strain. While lithium‑ion batteries dominate current storage, their fire risk fuels community opposition, especially near dense populations. Flow batteries emerge as a...
A New Modular Wall System From CO Adaptive Seeks to Make Passive House Retrofits Faster, Cheaper, and More Accessible
CO Adaptive unveiled “The Block,” a modular wall system built from salvaged lumber to deliver Passive‑House‑level performance. The prefabricated, interior‑mounted panels create an airtight thermal envelope without altering historic façades, cutting retrofit time and expense. A prototype installed on Governors...
Former Newspaper Building in Kansas City Eyed for 20-Story Data Center Development
Revitalization Unlimited, a Miami‑based historic‑preservation fund, plans to replace the 1900‑era Western Newspaper Union building in Kansas City with a 20‑story, 30 MW data center. The 142,085 sq ft tower would feature natural‑gas fuel cells and ground‑floor retail, demolishing the existing 29,990 sq ft structure....
Texas Takes Over Permitting for Carbon Storage Projects
The Texas Railroad Commission secured EPA approval to issue Class VI carbon‑storage permits, shifting authority from the federal level to the state. This primacy is intended to streamline applications, with a $50,000 filing fee, an annual $50,000 idle‑well charge, and a...
UK’s First Hygdogen Fuel Cell-Powered VMS Deployed by National Highways
Fuel Cell Systems partnered with Swarco UK & Ireland to install the United Kingdom’s first fuel‑cell‑powered variable message sign (VMS) on the National Highways network at the M6 Lancaster Motorway Services. The deployment uses an Efoy Pro 12000 direct methanol...
Duos Deploys Second Edge Data Center in Amarillo, Texas
Duos Edge AI has installed its second containerized edge data center in Amarillo, Texas, on Potter County land adjacent to the region's largest colocation facility. The 300 kW pod is slated to become fully operational in the coming months, expanding the...
Jinko, LONGi, Tongwei and Aiko Secure Solar Module Orders Exceeding 4.6GW in March
Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers JinkoSolar, LONGi Green, Tongwei and Aiko booked more than 4.67 GW of overseas module orders in March. Europe accounted for 51.1 % of the volume, Australia 42.5 %, with the remainder split across Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. JinkoSolar led...
Newave Energia, Gerdau Open 452MW Brazilian Solar PV Project
Renewable developer Newave Energia and steelmaker Gerdau have commissioned the 452 MW Solar de Barro Alto photovoltaic plant in Goiás, Brazil. The project cost R$1.3 billion (US$240 million) and comprises roughly 731,000 solar panels. Gerdau will purchase 40 % of the output to power...
Shipping’s Biofuel Gamble Could Deepen Africa’s Land Squeeze and Food Insecurity (Commentary)
The commentary warns that adopting crop‑based biofuels to decarbonise shipping could exacerbate Africa’s land pressure and food insecurity. Shipping accounts for roughly 300 million tons of fuel annually and 3 % of global emissions, so even modest biofuel uptake would demand large...
EU’s Von Der Leyen Pledges to Revise Carbon Pricing System, Introduce €30 Billion Cleantech Fund
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced imminent revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the creation of a €30 billion "ETS Investment Booster" fund. The short‑term changes will adjust benchmarks for free allowances and strengthen the Market...
Why Data Centers Will Need a ‘Bring Your Own Power’ Strategy
AI‑driven workloads are set to push U.S. data‑center electricity demand up 22% in 2025 and nearly triple by 2030, straining an already stressed grid. Grid operators such as PJM warn that extreme‑weather events could push generation capacity to its limits,...
China’s Investment Shifts Toward Clean Energy, Manufacturing
This story is being replicated in other regions too, e.g., Central Asia, where the China story now includes renewables, manufacturing, and more ... "Where early engagement centered on oil, gas and mining, recent years show a marked shift towards clean...
Swift Solar Buys Meyer Burger Assets, Expands US HJT/Perovskite Production
Swift Solar acquires Meyer Burger assets to scale U.S. HJT and perovskite production #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/ecMERORz5o
V-Green to Build 99 Fast-Charging Stations in Vietnam
V‑Green, a charge‑point operator and VinFast sister company, announced a plan to build 99 fast‑charging stations across Vietnam this year. The stations will be located along national and provincial highways in 34 provinces, each offering up to 100 chargers delivering...
Vikram Solar's PowerHive Introduces VION Lithium Batteries in India
Vikram Solar’s PowerHive unit launches VION lithium batteries in India #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/FNPvbud9UI
Vena Energy Lands AU$200M Revenue Share for 204MW Storage
Vena Energy secures AU$200 million revenue share deal for 204MW battery storage site in Australia #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/ahpMrnPj6C
Six EV Chargers That Offer Free Charging In North Carolina
Waynesville, North Carolina installed six new Level 2 EV chargers at its recreation park, offering free charging to the public. Each unit costs $700, with the town spending roughly $23,000 for installation and recouping $6,900 through a federal tax credit, bringing...
Panel Greenlights Gigawatt Battery After Community Referral
Independent panel approves gigawatt scale battery three months after local opponents force referral #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/0805K7SE5c https://t.co/NmKhZJzXsa
Goldbeck Lands EPC Contract for Europe's Largest PV Plant
Goldbeck secures EPC contract for 722MW PV plant in Poland, Europe’s largest #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/C7RbpIBFGj
Walmart and H&M Are Trying to Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Clothes
Fashion accounts for roughly 4% of global greenhouse emissions, prompting brands to seek low‑carbon alternatives. San Francisco startup Rubi Laboratories uses enzyme‑filled bioreactors to turn captured carbon dioxide into cellulose, a material identical to traditional plant fibers. Walmart, H&M and...
China's $250B Marshall Plan to Accelerate Global Electrification
Michael Cembalest from @JPMorganAM talks on Open Circuit about his Eye on the Market report. One topic we discuss is a $250B Marshall Plan from China that will accelerate electrification efforts around the world. https://t.co/bYsQ3TDtQa
FERC Rejects RWE Complaint over PJM Interconnection Practices
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dismissed RWE Clean Energy's complaint that PJM Interconnection violated cost‑allocation rules after the project’s upgrade estimate ballooned from $1.25 million to nearly $72 million, prompting the developer to withdraw a 125‑MW solar‑battery project. At the same...
Engineered Bioprocess Converts CO2 Into Amino Acids at 97 Percent Efficiency
Georgia Tech researchers have unveiled a cell‑free biocatalytic platform that converts carbon dioxide into the amino acids serine and glycine with a 97% yield, the highest efficiency reported for any synthetic‑biology system. By introducing heat‑tolerant enzymes from Moorella thermoacetica and...
Why Technical Due Diligence Is Becoming the Backbone of Europe’s Solar-Storage Boom
Europe’s hybrid solar‑plus‑storage projects are scaling rapidly, turning isolated PV and battery assets into integrated systems that deliver firm capacity and grid services. The added electrical, mechanical and digital interdependencies raise failure risks, making superficial technical due diligence a liability....
Danantara Secures US$1.4 Billion to Build PV Module Assembly Plant in Indonesia
Indonesia’s sovereign investment agency Danantara has secured US$1.4 billion to build a domestic PV‑module assembly plant, slated for completion by the end of 2026. The funding underpins the government’s goal of adding 50 GW of renewable capacity by 2035 and ultimately 100 GW...
Non-Fossil-Fuel-Based Power Generation Capacity to Hit 786 GW or 70% Mark by FY'36: Government Report
India’s National Generation Adequacy Plan projects non‑fossil‑fuel‑based capacity to reach 786 GW – about 70 % of the total 1,121 GW target – by fiscal year 2035‑36. The current non‑fossil portfolio stands at 275 GW, representing 52.5 % of the 524 GW installed today. The plan...
Global Solar PV Installations Reached 647GW in 2025
Global solar PV installations hit a record 647 GW in 2025, an 11 % increase over 2024, according to Ember. China contributed 378 GW, more than half of the world’s additions, with a May surge of 111 GW driven by pricing reforms. Combined solar...
ABP Backs RWE Vanguard From Lowestoft Port
Associated British Ports (ABP), RWE and Clarksons Port Services have formalised a partnership to use Lowestoft's Eastern Energy Facility as the construction hub for the 3.1 GW Vanguard West and East offshore wind farms. ABP has committed £35 million to upgrade the...
Statkraft Wins Consent for Welsh Solar Project
Statkraft has secured planning consent for the 30 MW Alleston Solar Farm in Wales, a project that will generate enough electricity for up to 14,000 homes. The consent, granted by Welsh Government planning inspectors, follows extensive community consultation and incorporates biodiversity...
Clean Winter Air Drives Major Irradiance Surplus Across China and Taiwan in February
February delivered a stark East‑Asia solar divide: southern China and Taiwan recorded record‑high irradiance, driven by exceptionally clean air and persistent clear skies, while maritime Southeast Asia suffered 10‑20% below‑average irradiance due to heavy rainfall and enhanced tropical convection. In...
The Return of America's Coal Power Kicks Off in Alaska
The United States is advancing its first new coal‑fired power plant since 2013 with the 1.25‑gigawatt Terra Energy Center in Alaska. A $1 billion boiler contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries and a $500 million equity pledge from Korean firm KOREIT fund the...
Greece Receives 12.2 GW of Merchant Battery Applications for 4.7 GW Program
Investors have lodged applications for 12.15 GW of utility‑scale merchant battery storage in Greece, far surpassing the 4.7 GW capacity earmarked in the country's new program. The applications split into roughly 10 GW for the transmission grid and 2.15 GW for distribution networks. The...
Uber Commits up to $1.25 B to Fund 10,000 Rivian Robotaxis, Option for 40,000 More
Uber announced a multi‑year investment of up to $1.25 billion in Rivian, securing 10,000 fully autonomous R2 SUVs for robotaxi service with an option for 40,000 more by 2030. The deal, slated to launch in Miami and San Francisco in 2028,...
Why Prologis Is Leaning Into On-Site Solar — and Branching Out
Prologis, the global logistics REIT, has expanded its on‑site solar program to generate over 1 GW of electricity across its warehouse, logistics and data‑center rooftops, covering roughly 6% of its 1.3 billion square feet of roof space in 18 of its 20...
How a Power Line From Canada Could Be a New York Lifeline
A 339‑mile transmission line is set to bring Canadian hydropower to New York City for the first time, linking upstate New York’s power grid with renewable electricity from Quebec. The project, slated for completion in the mid‑2020s, will add roughly...
EIB Commits €1 B to Power Africa’s Renewable Future
Great to see the @EIB pledge €1 billion for renewable energy in #Africa. This is a strong boost for the continent’s energy and development goals, and for #Mission300’s aim of #PoweringAfrica by electrifying 300 million people by 2030. https://t.co/K48tZWNraO