Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program Surpasses 6.3GWh Installations
Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program has crossed the 250,000‑installation milestone, delivering roughly 6.3 GWh of distributed storage across homes, small businesses and community sites. Launched in July 2025, the scheme offers about a 30 % upfront rebate via the Small‑scale Technology Certificate mechanism. Funding expectations have been revised upward to AU$7.2 billion by 2030 to support an additional 40 GWh capacity. Around half of participants are pairing batteries with new or upgraded solar systems, amplifying the program’s renewable impact.
PODCAST: Ireland's Grid Problem
John Reilly, head of renewables at Bord na Móna, warned that rising dispatch‑down levels are forcing about 30 % curtailment on Irish on‑shore wind sites, weakening the business case for new projects. The de‑commissioning of the 6.5 MW Bellacorick farm clears the...
Understanding U-Value: The Foundation of Energy-Efficient Envelopes
The article explains that a building's envelope acts as a thermal regulator, and its performance hinges on the thermal transmittance, or U‑Value. U‑Value quantifies heat flow per square meter per degree Kelvin, linking directly to insulation quality. The piece outlines...
IRS Adds Backup Reporting for CCS Credits Pending EPA System
IRS and Treasury set backup reporting for CCS tax credits if EPA electronic reporting is not ready by June 2026. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/carbon-capture-tax-credit-guidance-sets.html
Renewables: Our Only Path to Energy Independence
A 93% spike isn’t a ‘trend’ - it’s a stick-up. Gas is a ransom. Carbon is a conflict mineral. Fossil fuels are war. Renewables are the only real declaration of independence. Stop being vassal states. Move decisively to cut the cord....
From Fundamental Understanding to Modification Strategies of Cobalt Molybdates in Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
The review examines cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4) as a non‑noble metal catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), highlighting its abundant resources, bimetallic synergy, and structural flexibility. It contrasts the adsorbate evolution mechanism with the lattice‑oxygen participation mechanism, showing how Mo⁶⁺...
Rising Gas Prices Highlight Need for Renewable Electrification
Gas prices jumped again this morning and are on track to double - a stark reminder of our exposure to fossil fuel volatility. The real solution isn’t more drilling, but moving away from combustion: electrify, use renewable power, and boost energy...
Queensland LNP Adds Four-Hour Bundaberg Big Battery to Proposed Call-In List
Queensland’s planning minister Jarrod Bleijie has issued a call‑in notice for Iberdrola Australia’s up‑to‑500 MW Bundaberg Regional Battery after more than ten community and council requests raised safety, environmental and site‑suitability concerns. The council failed to issue a statutory decision, prompting...
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Does that Use a Lot of Energy? [Update]
A prototype web tool now lets users compare the energy use of everyday products and activities, turning raw watt‑hour data into intuitive visualizations. Recent updates, driven by extensive community feedback, add rough energy‑cost equivalents for several countries, making the information...
New Berkshire Hathaway CEO Ignores Financial Risks of Fossil Fuels in First Letter to Shareholders
Greg Abel, the new CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, used his first shareholder letter to stress rising electricity demand and wildfire threats, while declaring the CEO also serves as chief risk officer. He did not address how Berkshire’s extensive fossil‑fuel holdings,...
World's Largest LNG Plant Offline, Yet Unnoticed
Can you believe that all of the people down there are unaware that the world’s largest LNG plant is offline? https://t.co/nG6uMfgyuH
Windy February Sets New Generation Records, Big Batteries Put the Squeeze on Gas
Australian NEM closed the summer of 2025‑26 with February 2026 wind generation records across all states except Tasmania and Victoria. Queensland posted a record 508,780 MWh, while Western Australia’s Warradarge farm led with a 60.5% capacity factor. Big utility‑scale batteries discharged 245 GWh,...
NABCEP CE 2026 Conference Preview: March 16‑19
Conference preview: NABCEP CE 2026 – March 16-19, 2026 #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/o0JLK9AXQT
Green Fertiliser Startup PlasmaLeap Lands $28 Million Series A
Australian startup PlasmaLeap Technologies has closed a $28 million Series A round, co‑led by the Gates Foundation, Investible and Yara Growth Ventures. The funding will finance the rollout of modular, zero‑emission reactors that synthesize ammonia and nitrate using air, water and renewable...
Flow Power Expands Into Firmed Solar with New PV‑battery Acquisition
Flow Power goes bigger on firmed solar, with purchase of shovel ready PV and battery project #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/Z5wjV3yu1o https://t.co/XMKeTIrfk3
Virya Energy Gets $99M EBRD Funding for Polish Solar Expansion
Virya Energy secures US$99 million EBRD equity to scale Polish solar portfolio #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/j7xHWsrvZt
Australian Renewables Pipeline “Running Laps” Around Net Zero Targets. It’s the Pace that Is Lacking
Australia’s renewable pipeline now totals roughly 670 GW – more than three times the 200 GW extra capacity required for its 2050 net‑zero target – but the speed of project delivery is lagging. The bulk of the pipeline consists of onshore wind,...
New Study Maps Hail Damage, Testing, Mitigation for PV
When hail hits PV: New research maps damage, testing, and mitigation #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/pDzrq6rY3M
Battery Rebate Hits 250k Installs—Now the Momentum Stalls
Federal battery rebate hits a quarter-million installs. But is the party over? #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/kt1ijbgQPQ https://t.co/e4bUv8CY20
Ferries Emit ‘More Sulphur Pollution than Cars’ in Several EU Capitals
A Transport & Environment analysis shows ferries emit more sulphur oxides (SOx) than cars in 13 of Europe’s 15 largest port cities, including Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn. The ageing fleet of nearly 2,000 ferries is a hidden source of...
AI Data Centers Fuel Surge in Solar‑Storage M&A
Solar-plus-storage M&A heats up as AI data centers drive demand #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/0SfVszvIE9 https://t.co/gM7W0Ker2W
Chile’s Solar Curtailment Grows Amid Persistent Grid Limits
Solar curtailment rises in Chile as grid constraints persist #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/nmDkWSHq65
Basslink Gets Final Revenue Determination for Operation as a Regulated Service
On 27 February 2026 the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) issued its final revenue determination for Basslink Pty Ltd’s transmission cable for the 2026‑30 control period. The regulator approved a nominal, smoothed revenue of $459.5 million, marginally below Basslink’s revised $461.2 million proposal. Cost allocation...
Boralex Launches Canada’s Largest Operating Battery Storage System
Boralex commissions ‘Canada’s largest operating BESS’ in Ontario #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/KPk7JggYI3
Construction Firm Locked in to Deliver Two Big Solar and Battery Projects in the Sunshine State
Edify Energy announced DT Infrastructure as the preferred EPC contractor for two Queensland renewable projects: the 600 MW Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Gap solar farm with 2,400 MWh storage, and the 300 MW Ganymirra & Majors Creek solar farm with 1,200 MWh storage. Together the sites...
US Residential Solar Shifts to Post‑Incentive Era
US residential solar enters post-incentive era after ITC expiry surge #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/94Jal3gQEI
Align AI Adoption with Climate Goals
AI adoption is rapidly expanding across supply chains, yet sustainability considerations remain marginal. APQC reports that only 30% of AI initiatives factor in environmental impact, despite most firms targeting Net Zero by a median of 2040. Energy consumption is split...
Switch Maritime, Incat Crowther Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Electric Ferry Hits Design Stage
Switch Maritime and Incat Crowther have entered the detailed design phase for New York’s first hydrogen fuel‑cell‑electric ferry. The 28‑meter vessel will carry 150 passengers at 25 knots, powered by 720 kg of compressed hydrogen, offering a full‑day range without shore‑side charging....
Keeping Cool: CHP Systems and Absorption Chillers Are a Winning Combo for Data Center Developers
Data center demand is exploding as AI and cloud workloads grow, putting pressure on power and cooling infrastructure. Microgrids that pair Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems with absorption chillers shift cooling loads from electricity to waste heat, dramatically lowering...
German-Norwegian Partnership Launches Dedicated Offshore Wind Working Group
Norwegian Offshore Wind and the German‑Norwegian Chamber of Commerce have launched a dedicated offshore wind working group to deepen cross‑border collaboration in the North Sea. The initiative follows the Hamburg North Sea Summit where energy ministers pledged 300 GW of offshore...
Engineering Proof of Performance
The piece introduces boundary thermodynamics as a framework for evaluating building performance, arguing that interior conditions must be measured against documented exterior loads. It explains that HVAC components, envelopes, and IAQ systems only prove their effectiveness when load‑relative data—temperature, humidity,...
Sunrun Installation Volumes Fall in Q4 2025 as VPP Capacity Grows
Sunrun reported a year‑over‑year decline in Q4 2025 subscriber additions and installation volumes, with subscriber value metrics falling sharply. Gross subscriber value dropped 2% to $50.2 million and net subscriber value fell 30% to $9.1 million, while storage attachment rose to 71%....
EV Batteries and Solar Panels versus Climate Change
A University of Michigan study published in Nature Climate Change finds that recent advances in EV battery chemistry largely neutralize the extra degradation expected from a 2 °C warmer climate. Batteries built between 2019‑2023 would see average lifetime reductions of only...
Norfolk Southern Announces Extended Partnership With Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
Norfolk Southern has renewed its partnership with Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, committing $250,000 per year for the next two years. The funding will continue to power ATDC’s Sustainability Tech vertical, which now supports 29 active startups across renewable...
EnergyBin Report: Most Solar Panels on Secondary Market Are for Residential Market
EnergyBin and Buckstop’s fifth PV Module Price Index shows the secondary solar market is dominated by 400‑525 W crystalline‑silicon panels, 98% of which target residential installations. From 2020‑2025, more than 8.7 million modules were listed for resale, with 98% being new, all‑black,...
The Electric Vehicle Tariff Boomerang
The Canada‑China trade deal announced in January reduces the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1 % for an initial 49,000‑unit quota, expanding to 70,000 over five years. The move stems from Trump‑era pressure on Canada, prompting a diversification toward Beijing....
Scottish Government Offers £17m to Help Job Transition
The Scottish government has launched a £17 million tranche of its Just Transition Fund to accelerate green jobs, innovation and supply‑chain diversification in the North East and Moray. For the first time, community organisations and social enterprises are guaranteed a portion...
MAGA Embraces Solar Amid Rising Bills and AI Competition
MAGA is learning to love solar -- as the right's anti-solar crusade is making utility bills higher, giving China an advantage in the AI race, and fueling U.S. dependence on imported energy. Key MAGA voices urged a pivot. It is...
THE BIG PICTURE (Infographic): Blackouts in 2025
The International Energy Agency’s Electricity reports from 2024‑2026 document a rapid shift in power‑outage drivers, with 2025 seeing a mix of extreme‑weather damage, protection failures, and emerging grid‑stability risks tied to high renewable penetration. In the United States, winter storms,...
Scotland Becomes First UK Country to Legalise Water Cremations
Scotland has become the first part of the United Kingdom to legalise hydrolysis, also known as water cremation or aquamation. The process uses a pressurised alkaline solution to break down a body in three to four hours, leaving only bone...
SolidSail Mast Factory Starts Production of CFRP Masts for Wind Propulsion
SolidSail Mast Factory (SMAF) in Lanester, France, launched full‑scale production of carbon‑fiber‑reinforced polymer (CFRP) masts on 12 February 2026. The plant, a joint venture between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and five regional composite specialists, will fabricate masts up to 70 metres long, supporting sails...
EU Leaders Told to Stop Fiddling with Energy Markets
Eurelectric’s presidency wrote to EU heads urging them to stop reopening the marginal pricing debate, warning that regulatory churn could jeopardise the massive investment needed for a decarbonised power system. The warning follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s indication that...
Powered Remotely: Microgrids Connect Rural Communities with Sustainable Energy Security
Microgrids are emerging as a practical solution for rural and remote communities seeking reliable, clean electricity. By coupling solar, wind and battery storage with intelligent control systems, these localized grids can operate independently or in tandem with the main network....
Energinet Pauses Connections Amid Soaring Demand
Energinet, Denmark’s transmission system operator, has imposed a three‑month moratorium on new grid‑connection agreements as electricity demand surged to roughly 60 GW, far exceeding the nation’s 7 GW peak consumption. The surge is driven by data‑center expansions, battery storage projects, and Power‑to‑X...
Price Spike Is Extortion; Only 100% Renewables Ensure Independence
A 50% price spike isn’t a 'market trend' - it’s a mugging. Gas and oil imports are a ransom. 100% Renewables are the only true declaration of independence. Stop paying the extortionists. Cut the cord.
Data Center Outages Threaten Power Grid, Prompting Drastic Action
Dark side of the #datacenter craze: unplugging. Abt 40, using enough power for 1M homes, simultaneously went offline last year, forcing the #VA operator into drastic action. 2d such incident. #realestate #tech #AI #warehouses #industrial https://t.co/zdjJyMPnlt via @WSJ
CHN Energy Switches on 2 GW Solar Plant at Coal-Mining Subsidence Area
China Energy Investment Corp. (CHN Energy) has commissioned the 2 GW Phase II of its Lingwu photovoltaic project, bringing the site’s total capacity to 4 GW and completing half of the planned 6 GW mining‑subsidence solar cluster in Ningxia. The base will deliver roughly...
How Data Centers Rewrite the Playbook for Building Protection
Data center construction is shifting toward vertical, multi‑story facilities, driving stricter fire‑protection, corrosion control, and flooring requirements. Builders are increasingly using modular, factory‑applied protective coatings to ensure consistent performance and accelerate schedules, especially in rural sites with harsh environmental exposure....
New Report Outlines Key Considerations for a Just Transition for Mining and Steel
ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) released a landmark report on how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can drive a just transition in the mining and steel sectors. The study outlines nine guiding principles and five concrete recommendations...