Energy Insiders Podcast: How Industry, AI and Data Centres Are Reshaping Demand
GridBeyond CEO Michael Phelan explains how AI‑driven orchestration of industrial loads and data‑centre consumption, combined with battery storage, can reveal gigawatts of hidden flexibility for Australia’s power grid. The podcast outlines the technical mechanisms that enable real‑time demand shaping and the business models emerging around flexible services. Phelan argues this flexibility is essential for integrating more renewable generation and meeting the nation’s net‑zero targets. Listeners can access the episode on the Renew Economy platform.
Renewables Need Fossil Backup, Not Standalone Power
When you see that a new solar and wind project is said to “power” some large number of homes or factories or data centers—know that the solar and wind are “powering” nothing by themselves, since they are entirely dependent on...
Spend $33B on Flexibility, Not Idle Gas Plant
For $33B he could have solved the entire PJM capacity auction challenge with demand flexibility through 2029, but sure overpay for a gas plant that won’t run more than 20% of the year…
Incat Crowther Designing Fuel-Cell Ferry for New York
Incat Crowther, together with SWITCH Maritime, is advancing a 28‑metre hydrogen fuel‑cell electric ferry for New York waters. The vessel will carry 150 passengers at 25 knots, powered by 720 kg of compressed hydrogen, delivering a full‑day range without shore‑side charging. Backed...
NSW Orders ASL to Launch 2033‑34 Firming Tender
Australia’s NSW directs ASL to deliver firming tender for 2033-34 capacity shortfall #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/quhWxiedz6
Solar and Batteries Keep Texas Lights On During Storms
How solar and batteries help keep lights on during Texas winter storms #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/5axxvNAZbV
Warming Climate Can Increase Avalanche Risk, Studies Show
A new study finds that a warming climate is boosting avalanche risk in California’s Sierra Nevada, despite a decline in overall snowy days. Researchers point to heavier, wetter snow from intense atmospheric rivers as the primary driver of unstable snowpacks....
Land Slope Crucial for Agrivoltaics Feasibility
The impact of land slope on agrivoltaics feasibility #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/1dyekySen9 https://t.co/mWobgzJS84
AI Meets Energy: Threat or Smart Decentralized Grid?
AI + energy: the monster child of Origin and Facebook? Or a smart, decentralised grid? #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/McuXZpgKBG https://t.co/ocHZceR4p4
SB Energy Tapped for Proposed 9.2‑GW Ohio Gas Power Plant in First Tranche of $550B U.S.–Japan Deal: What We Know
The Trump administration announced that SoftBank’s U.S. affiliate SB Energy will develop a proposed 9.2‑GW, $33 billion natural‑gas power complex near Portsmouth, Ohio. The project is the flagship of a $36 billion first tranche of a $550 billion U.S.–Japan strategic investment framework that...
Gas Turbine Shortage Threatens Big Tech’s Grid‑Independent Power Push
With electric grids across the country already under strain, Big Tech is racing to build and deploy power generation capacity that’s independent of the grid. Indeed, the push for behind-the-meter (BTM) generation was a major theme of the PowerGen conference...
China Debunks Trump's Claim with Airborne Wind Turbine
Hilarious — Trump claims China has no wind energy, meanwhile, news just came out China has successful tested a new airborne wind turbine that is essentially held up by a helium blimp. Oh yeah, btw, China is the world’s number...
TIP Solar Raises $179.7 Million in ABS From Residential Solar, PPA Leases
TIP Solar, backed by GoodLeap’s residential solar leases and PPAs, has issued $179.7 million in asset‑backed securities. The ABS are collateralized by 7,812 leases held by Jaguar Solar Owner 2026‑1 and structured into A‑ and B‑tranches with anticipated repayments through March 2033 and...
Winter Storms Expose Solar and Wind’s Reliability Limits
When winter storms arrive, solar and wind frequently generate less than 10% of their supposed "capacity." If we tried to truly rely on solar and wind to the point of shutting down more fossil fuel plants, Americans would have routine blackouts. Do...
How a Sensor Stuck Into the Lab Found Its Way in the Real World
A nano‑electromechanical sensor originally built at TU Vienna has been transformed into a portable field instrument capable of detecting ultrafine airborne particles in real time. Backed by a €2.2 m European Innovation Council transition grant, the technology now powers the EMILIE FTIR...
Ethiopia’s 2024 Petrol Ban Saves $5B, Fuels
Ethiopia didn’t ban petrol cars in 2024 to hug trees: Importing oil was bleeding them dry - costing over $5b/ year in precious foreign exchange From close to zero before the 2024 ban, EV sales now make up over 60% of...
AI + Energy: Monster Child of Origin and Facebook – or a Smart, Decentralised Grid?
Luis Gonzalez, chief data and AI officer at Aboitiz Power, argues that the data industry will become the primary driver of the energy transition by using AI to finance and operate renewable assets. He envisions a future where computation is...
LanzaJet Lands $135M Financing Round
LanzaJet announced a $135 million equity financing round, valuing the company at $650 million pre‑money. The round is co‑led by International Airlines Group (IAG) and Shell, with existing investors such as Groupe ADP, LanzaTech and Mitsui also participating. Proceeds will fund the expansion...
Data Centers and Your Power Bill
Tech firms are pouring billions into energy‑intensive data centers as U.S. electricity demand climbs, prompting political scrutiny over rising utility bills. The White House has suggested that these companies finance new power‑plant capacity, while Senators Hawley and Blumenthal introduced legislation...
CAISO Hits >100% Renewable, Gas Share Drops Sharply
27th of 49 days in 2026 with >100% WindWaterSolar on the @CaliforniaISO grid. Gas own 54% in vs 2024 and 56% vs 2023 Batteries up 54% vs 2024 and 301% vs 2023 PV up 38% vs 2024 and 56% vs 2023 PV+Batteries displacing gas Imports...
Long-Awaited Reports Outline Problems with Palisades Infrastructure
Los Angeles hired AECOM for three $5 million reports that map a $1 billion, 2024‑2033 recovery strategy for Pacific Palisades after the deadly 2025 fire. The studies expose pervasive fire‑code violations, narrow streets and evacuation bottlenecks, and call for aggressive brush‑clearance, water‑system...
Solar and Wind Aren't Cost‑competitive; They Add to Power Costs
We often hear the claim that intermittent solar and wind are cost-competitive with reliable sources of electricity. This is an accounting fraud. The cost of solar and wind is paid on top of the cost of an on-demand power source, not instead...
When Air Gaps Are Not Enough—Managing File and Media Risk in Nuclear Facilities
Urenco, a global uranium enrichment firm, faced fragmented, manual controls for removable media and file transfers across its air‑gapped nuclear facilities. To achieve consistent security, it deployed OPSWAT’s MetaDefender platform, routing all devices through centralized, zero‑trust inspection checkpoints. The solution...
Detroit Diesel Unveils Gen 6 Engines for 2027 Compliance
Detroit Diesel unveiled its sixth‑generation DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines, slated for release in early 2027, to satisfy the EPA’s 2027 heavy‑duty NOx rule that trims tailpipe NOx by more than 80 % and particulate matter by 50 %. The Gen 6 platform...
Energy Ministers Fail to Agree on Climate Goals as US Drives Wedge
Energy ministers at the International Energy Agency meeting failed to produce a joint climate‑change communiqué, as U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright aggressively challenged the agency’s net‑zero agenda. European ministers, led by the UK, France and Spain, reaffirmed the importance of...
How Texas Turned a Grid Failure Into a Public Bailout
The episode examines Texas’s 2021 Winter Storm Uri, which knocked out half of ERCOT’s capacity and caused massive blackouts. While the market design intended to let extreme events impose financial penalties on generators that failed to hedge, regulators intervened—forcing a...
SolarPower Europe’s New Hybrid Solar + BESS Due Diligence Reports Seek to Ensure ‘Long-Term Technical Excellence’
SolarPower Europe unveiled two technical due‑diligence reports aimed at utility‑scale hybrid solar‑PV and battery energy storage projects. The “Technical Due Diligence Best Practice Guidelines” and the third‑edition EPC Best‑Practice Guidelines provide a lifecycle framework covering planning, construction, operation and decommissioning,...
Luminus Leverages APC Partnership to Enhance Energy-Efficient LED Lighting Solutions
Luminus Devices and APC Electronics have formed an exclusive partnership that couples Luminus’s high‑brightness LED modules with APC‑E’s silicon‑carbide (SiC) power semiconductors. The integration promises up to 15% efficiency improvement in high‑power luminaires and a 50% reduction in power‑supply size...
Sudamala Resorts Elevates Sustainable Tourism with Solar Power Integration & Coral Reef Restoration Programs
Sudamala Resorts has installed a 300 kW solar system at its Seraya location, now covering 80‑85 % of the resort’s electricity needs. The array, featuring 480 panels and a 770 kWh battery, generates roughly 410,000 kWh of clean energy annually, cutting diesel use and...
FlexGen Announces HybridOS Energy Management System
FlexGen Power Systems unveiled HybridOS version 13, a hardware‑agnostic energy management system that unifies battery storage and solar assets under a single interface. The upgrade adds real‑time and historical data APIs, a fleet‑view mobile app, predictive diagnostics, and enhanced battery‑management functions...
Solar Power Unreliable Even in Sun‑Rich Regions
No matter how sunny a region it is deployed in, solar is not a reliable source of power. Even in sun-drenched Arizona, a series of three low-pressure systems wiped out most of the state's solar energy for 6 days in January...
ProEnergy and OpenSolar Launch Distributor Inventory Platform
ProEnergy Supply, OpenSolar partner on distributor inventory platform #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/nIVR6ZGZhz
Energy Storage Group Emtel Energy USA Rebrands as Syntropic Power
Energy storage specialist Emtel Energy USA has rebranded as Syntropic Power and introduced three stationary‑storage product lines—GridSurge, GridSpan and Tenet. The systems employ sodium‑ion batteries that have passed UL 9540A fire‑safety testing and are undergoing third‑party validation at Rochester Institute of...
State Launches $50M CopperString Community Benefits Fund
Transmission “legacy:” State launches $50m CopperString community benefits fund #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/weTwWmtyUm https://t.co/D29AYgcZJx
Assessing the Future Viability of Virtual Power Plants
Will Virtual Power Plants Ever Really Be a Thing? #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/dcAFkIKHrx https://t.co/KJjvjkI94m
Sweden Faces Slump in Wind Investment
Sweden’s wind sector recorded zero turbine orders in Q4 2025, marking the lowest investment pace in modern times. Green Power Sweden warns that the slowdown threatens the country’s self‑sufficiency, energy security, and ability to meet climate targets. The association attributes the...
PV Yield Measurements Achieve 0.15% Uncertainty
Fraunhofer ISE, PTB report just 0.15% uncertainty in PV module yield measurements #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/ciKzGySvHh https://t.co/EC74qdInx6
Base Power Enters Regulated Utility Energy Storage Market
Base Power takes first step into distributed energy storage market for regulated utilities #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/a4LRie1NmE
EVE Energy Drives Technological Leap in Large-Scale Storage: EVE Energy Launches World’s First Storage System with 628Ah Large Battery Cells...
Chinese battery maker EVE Energy commissioned the world’s first storage system built around its new 628 Ah ultra‑large lithium‑iron‑phosphate cells. The 200 MW, 400 MWh facility, comprising 80 five‑megawatt DC modules, demonstrates the technology at grid scale and marks a shift from research...
AEMC May Be Right on Fixed Network Costs
Could the AEMC be “kinda right” about fixed network costs? Late submission lobs curveball into debate #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/M5UcGqLiiu https://t.co/EAQf6ckk0b
Europe's Energy Storage GWh Investments Surge This Week
Gigawatt-hours of investments, tolls, optimisation and platform financing across Europe this week #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/ypYzZ8xa8y
Orsted’s Hornsea Chief Describes 'Juggling Act' After Monopile Deal Collapse
Orsted’s Hornsea 3 chief announced the collapse of a major monopile contract, forcing the 2.9 GW offshore wind project to pause its foundation procurement. The decision highlights the difficulty of securing large‑scale steel structures for the UK’s expanding offshore wind fleet....
A Decade of Solar Growth Celebrated by SEIA President
Solar Energy Industries Association president reflects on decade of progress #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/tbHnPi0r3A https://t.co/0nNhikDzH0
SALD Unveils Large‑Area Sheet‑to‑Sheet Perovskite Tool
SALD launches large area sheet-to-sheet tool for perovskite solar pilot lines #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/1T4zFQX3n4 https://t.co/XXG8fpaR0N
Without Transparent Energy Planning, the Lights Could Go Out
Open Energy Transition (OET) advocates replacing black‑box energy‑system models with open, transparent tools such as PyPSA‑Eur. A recent German study, conducted with Form Energy, used granular multi‑year climate data to assess multi‑day storage (MDS) needs for a near‑100 % clean grid...
Duke Energy Thermostat Control Works for Me
I let Duke Energy control my thermostat. I don’t regret it. #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/LfzMpD9SLF
Solar Plus Storage: A Viable Global Power Solution
"Solar and batteries can power the world" Tom Brown is mostly on BlueSky these days but this is a great blogpost so I'm sharing it here too. https://t.co/KU6aqsHfEZ https://t.co/1pVWCGUOKs
Building Resilient Electricity Systems for Future Threats
Impactful discussion with 🇳🇱 @MinisterKGG, 🇬🇧 @Ed_Miliband, 🇦🇺 Stephen Jones, 🇪🇸 Sara Aagesen Muñoz & other leading figures on what is needed to ensure electricity systems can cope with the growing range of threats they are facing, both old and...
Silicon Valley's Private Shadow Grid Faces Skepticism
Silicon Valley’s energy appetite is so insatiable that it is now trying to build a colossal shadow power grid for itself nationwide. But will it work? Said @JigarShahDC : “This whole thing feels like a fairy tale concocted on...
Leaders Chart Immediate and Future Solutions for Ukraine's Energy Security
Important discussions with 🇳🇱 @MinisterKGG, 🇺🇦 @Denys_Shmyhal, 🇱🇹 Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, 🇵🇱 @motykamilosz & others on Ukraine’s energy security Ukraine’s energy system is facing major challenges, but steps can be taken now to meet urgent power needs while preparing for the future...