KONGSBERG Australia Reports LEED Platinum Certification for South Australia Facility
KONGSBERG Australia’s Mawson Lakes facility in South Australia earned LEED v4.1 BD+C New Construction Platinum certification, making it one of the first ten buildings worldwide to achieve this level. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the rating, recognizing top performance in energy efficiency, emissions reduction, water conservation, material use, and occupant wellbeing. The plant is the first in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere to receive LEED Platinum under this category, underscoring KONGSBERG’s commitment to sustainable defence manufacturing.
Cheaper Home Batteries 2.0: How the Rebate Changes Will Affect Prices and Consumer Choices
The Australian federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries rebate is being adjusted from May 1. After 350,000 installations delivering over 6.5 GWh, the new rules lower the Small‑Scale Technology Certificate (STC) factor and tier the discount, giving the full rate only up to...
GBP K.K. to Establish Renewable Energy Manufacturing Hub in Japan
GBP K.K. announced a 50,000 m² domestic manufacturing and product‑development hub in Yamaguchi City, Japan, slated to begin phased operations in May 2026 with full capacity by 2027. The facility will produce solar generation components, battery storage systems, and interconnection hardware, integrating...
Germany’s Energy ‘Own Goal’ a Warning for Australia
Germany’s rapid nuclear phase‑out, completed in 2023, removed roughly 22 GW of capacity that had supplied over 160 TWh of carbon‑free electricity each year. The country has since leaned heavily on solar and wind, but intermittent generation and rising gas imports have...
Study: Fossil Fuel Power Generation Has Peaked in Every OECD Country
A new study finds that every member of the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) has already peaked in electricity generation from oil, gas and coal. Since the 2007 high‑water mark, fossil‑fuel power output across the 38 economies has...
Can the UK's Data Centre Boom Go Green?
The UK’s data‑centre sector is expanding rapidly, with capacity expected to double by 2030, raising concerns about its electricity demand. Analysts argue that the growth can be aligned with the nation’s net‑zero goals if power‑intensive facilities are powered by renewable...
Interior Gives Energy Companies Over 1.8 Billion in Taxpayer Dollars to Cancel Their Offshore Wind Leases in Public Waters
The Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, allocated more than $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to cancel offshore wind leases for TotalEnergies, Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind. The agreements cover leases in North Carolina Long Bay, New York Bight...
Heat Pumps Overtake Gas Boilers, Halving Global Gas Demand
Gas Boilers are the New Typewriter (says IEA data): >US: Heat pumps have now outsold gas boilers for 4 years straight >Germany: Despite a massive disinformation campaign, heat pump sales up 55% in 1st half of the year. And for 1st...
Trump Administration Will Pay to Cancel More Wind Farms
The Trump administration will reimburse energy firms $885 million to cancel two offshore wind leases—one off New York/New Jersey and another off California—after they paid those fees under the Biden administration. In exchange, the companies must invest the money in oil, gas and...
Engie JV Strikes Deal to Abandon US Offshore Wind Leases
The U.S. Department of the Interior reached an agreement with Ocean Winds, the 50‑50 joint venture of Engie and Energias de Portugal, to relinquish two offshore wind lease rights. In exchange, the JV will channel investments into fossil‑fuel projects. The...
Oregon Boosts EV Road Trips with 24 New Fast-Charging Sites
Oregon’s Department of Transportation approved a second round of NEVI funding, allocating $16.7 million to install 24 new fast‑charging stations along Interstate 84 and several US highways. The sites will provide roughly 126 DC fast‑charging ports, each co‑located with rest‑area amenities to...
Trump Administration Pays Wind Developer to Walk Away From California Offshore Lease
The Trump administration agreed to pay $885 million to two developers to abandon offshore wind leases off California, with Golden State Wind receiving $120 million after matching oil‑gas investments and Bluepoint Wind committing $765 million to a new LNG facility. The settlement follows a $1 billion...
Maximizing the Efficiency of Clean Steel Production and Achieving Cost Competitiveness
Clean steel production will require gigawatt‑scale clean electricity, prompting a search for energy‑saving solutions. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin‑Madison’s HERD Lab, together with Cleveland‑Cliffs, FuelCell Energy and other partners, have built a solid‑oxide electrolyzer (SOE) system that recycles CO₂‑rich...
State Creates $1.4 Billion Fund to Connect More Wind and Solar Ahead of Coal Power Exit
Western Australia’s Labor government will allocate a $1.4 billion Clean Energy Fund in the 2026‑27 budget to finance transmission upgrades that link new wind and solar projects to the grid. The fund backs the Clean Energy Link (CEL) – East expansion,...
BIG AI Cluster Little Power the 8x NVIDIA GB10 Cluster
In April 2026 the team assembled an eight‑node NVIDIA GB10 (Grace Blackwell) cluster, surpassing NVIDIA’s official support of two‑node DAC and later four‑node topologies. The build leverages a 400 GbE MikroTik CRS804 DDQ switch for RDMA‑enabled ConnectX‑7 networking, a Cisco Catalyst C1300‑12XT‑2X for 10 GbE...
AEMO Looks to EVs, Data Centres and Industry to Help Ease Overload of Rooftop PV in Middle of Day
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has launched a tender for Minimum System Load Type 2 Transitional Services, seeking technologies that can create demand in the middle of the day when rooftop solar generation overwhelms the grid. The program targets electric‑vehicle...
Taipei’s Scooter Market Accelerates Toward Full Electrification in 2026
Gogoro announced 665,000 battery‑swap subscribers as Taipei’s two‑wheel market pushes toward full electric adoption in 2026. Sales data shows electric scooters climbing to about 8% of the 1.4 million‑unit fleet, while legacy manufacturers scramble to adapt.
GenusPlus Wins $200 MW Battery Contract in South Australia, Boosting Renewable Grid
West Australian construction firm GenusPlus has been awarded the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract for the 200 MW, four‑hour Koolunga battery energy storage system in South Australia. The project, developed by Singapore‑based Equis Development, will add firm capacity, create up...
EBRD Mulls Funding 189‑MW Ukrainian Onshore Wind Farm to Boost Post‑War Energy Security
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is evaluating financing options for a 189‑MW onshore wind project in Ukraine. The prospective investment aligns with Kyiv’s push to rebuild its power system and diversify away from fossil fuels after years...
Duke Energy Approved to Continue Operating Robinson Nuclear Plant Through 2050
Duke Energy received regulatory approval to keep its Robinson nuclear power plant operating until 2050, extending the facility’s license by 18 years. The 2,200‑megawatt pressurized‑water reactor in Indiana will continue providing baseload electricity, avoiding the high costs of early decommissioning....
NRC Unveils Part 57: A Streamlined Path for High-Volume Microreactor Licensing
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed Part 57, a new licensing framework that streamlines approval for high‑volume microreactors. The rule could shrink construction‑permit and operating‑license timelines to six months‑one year and generate $3.8‑$11.8 billion in industry savings. It introduces fleet‑licensing, limited...
Water Reimagined: How LEED V5 Elevates Water Performance, Carbon Accountability and Commissioning
U.S. Green Building Council released LEED v5, shifting water from a secondary metric to a core performance driver. The new version mandates comprehensive metering, leak detection, and water‑quality assessment, tying them to carbon accounting and commissioning requirements. It also introduces...
Beatbot Launches Solar-Powered Autonomous Pool Skimmer
Beatbot has launched the iSkim Ultra, a solar‑powered autonomous pool skimmer for residential use. The device runs on a 24‑watt solar panel with a 10,000 mAh battery for night operation and includes a magnetic wireless‑charging dock for low‑light conditions. Equipped with...
The POWER Interview: Solving the Problem of Fuel for Nuclear Reactors
Molten Salt Solutions, a New Mexico startup led by Dr. John Elling, is developing a continuous solvent‑exchange process to produce isotopically enriched lithium‑6 at industrial scale. The technology promises 100‑fold cost and capital efficiency improvements over legacy methods, and the...
Solesca Launches ‘Engineering Mode’ on Solar Design Platform
Solesca has introduced Engineering Mode, a new workflow that lets commercial solar teams generate a full, stamp‑ready interconnection plan in minutes instead of weeks. The feature consolidates design, bill of materials, single‑line diagram and DXF exports within the platform, eliminating...
AI Surge Gives Carbon Capture a New Push
Deep‑pocketed tech firms are funding carbon‑capture projects at natural‑gas power plants that supply data centers, leveraging the AI boom to offset high costs. At least five U.S. projects are under review, aiming to scrub CO₂ from electricity used for AI...
Storage Market Booming: Germany’s Largest Battery Storage System with 740 MWh Is Being Built in Förderstedt
Eco Stor is building Germany’s largest battery storage facility, Eco Power Three, in Förderstedt. The 740 MWh system will deliver 300 MW of power and could supply roughly 500,000 households for two hours. Construction began in summer 2025 with phased commissioning expected by late...
Bifunctional Molecular Bridge with Tunable Dielectric Constant for Air‐Processed Perovskite Solar Cells
Researchers introduced bifunctional molecular bridges—ethanolamine sulfate (EAS) and ethanolamine phosphate (EAP)—to simultaneously passivate defects and provide dielectric screening at the SnO2/perovskite interface of air‑processed perovskite solar cells. The dual‑function strategy regulates crystallization, reduces residual stress, and improves carrier dynamics, delivering...
A Bifunctional Ferroelectric Catalyst Enabling Simultaneous Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation and Two‐Electron Oxygen Reduction
Researchers have created a bifunctional ferroelectric catalyst, Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BSTO), that can be applied to both the photoanode and cathode of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. When coated on α‑Fe2O3, TiO2 or BiVO4 photoanodes, BSTO’s ferroelectric polarization adjusts band bending, markedly improving...
Defect‐Rich RuCu Multilayered Nanosheets for Effective Alkaline Hydrogen Electrocatalysis
Researchers have created defect‑rich RuCu multilayered nanosheets (RuCu MNSs) that serve as highly active, durable catalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and hydrogen evolution (HER). The RuCu MNSs/C catalyst delivers a mass activity of 4.91 A mg⁻¹ at 50 mV vs RHE, far...
Data Centers Could Help Local Communities
Engineering research published on April 27, 2026 argues that data centers need not be energy burdens. When built with careful design, they can feed surplus electricity back into local grids and capture waste heat for reuse. The study highlights that such practices...
Rethinking Utility Incentives and Business Models in the Age of Distributed Energy
The piece argues that traditional utility incentives—rewarding capital‑intensive infrastructure—are misaligned with soaring electricity demand driven by electrification, AI data centers, and the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs). This misalignment forces ratepayers, especially low‑income households, into higher bills while utilities...
Noon Energy Lands up to 1 GW Ultra‑long‑duration Storage Deal with Meta Platforms
Noon Energy announced a contract with Meta Platforms to reserve up to 1 GW of ultra‑long‑duration energy storage, delivering 100 GWh of capacity. The agreement, one of the largest of its kind, signals growing corporate appetite for resilient, carbon‑free power solutions.
China Unveils All‑Iron Flow Battery Promising Cheaper Renewable Storage
Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Metal Research announced an all‑iron flow battery that could dramatically lower the cost of large‑scale renewable energy storage. The breakthrough, published in Advanced Energy Materials, hinges on a stable electrolyte that...
Apple Suppliers Boost Green Energy but Stagnate on Emissions Cuts
Apple’s 2026 Environmental Progress Report shows its suppliers added 20 GW of renewable energy and saved 17 billion gallons of water in 2025, cutting gross manufacturing emissions by more than half to 8.15 million metric tons CO₂e. The company’s Zero Waste Program diverted...
Serenity Power Announces $1 Million Pre-Seed Investment
Serenity Power, a Canadian cleantech startup developing solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), closed a CAD 1.16 million (~US$0.86 million) pre‑seed round led by Avatar Ventures. The oversubscribed raise builds on earlier CAD 900 k (~US$0.66 million) of non‑dilutive grants and will fund the first commercial prototype,...
Data Center Debate Engages Broad Spectrum of Voters
A lot of rich liberal NIMBYs are mobilized on the data center stuff, but as Molly points out in her great thread, they're certainly not the only ones. People from all walks of life are seem to care about it...
Data Centres Surge, Raising Grid Demand for Top Retailer
Data centres drive significant boost in grid demand for Australia’s biggest energy retailer #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/KGhi2anIgs
Meta AI Space Power and the Race to Beam Solar Energy From Orbit
Meta has signed a contract with Overview Energy to reserve up to 1 GW of space‑solar capacity, targeting a 2028 orbital demonstration and commercial delivery by 2030. The system would collect sunlight in geosynchronous orbit, convert it to low‑intensity near‑infrared light,...
Community Solar Goes Live Amid Heavy Snowfall
Distributed Energy Infrastructure installs community solar projects through heavy snowfall #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/3I4Ew9uL0Q
Expand Grid Capacity and Optimize Existing Infrastructure
There's no real debate— we need to build more grid infrastructure AND use the existing grid better. On the latest @Poli_Climate: the technologies & policies needed to get more out of the power grid we already have w/ @IanMagruder @utilizegrid...
European Power Costs Climb Even As Gas Prices Drop
European electricity prices increase despite falling gas prices #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/yh6Ywee30g https://t.co/ktltUXCLZn
Independent Study Confirms Corporate Clean Electricity Procurement Findings
This is a great paper from @EPRINews researchers that independently replicates all of the core findings of our earlier ZERO Lab modeling on the impact of various corporate clean electricity procurement strategies. You can find that work summarized here https://t.co/FzZuZFrbpi...
Batteries Shift From Footnote to Core Market Role
From footnote to feature: How batteries are evolving on the national electricity market #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/6ngnxj9ZYp https://t.co/CMxwNMOkDD
Snowy 2.0 Faces Cost Surge, No Turning Back
Too big to fail? Snowy 2.0 critics predict fresh cost blowouts, while others say it’s far too late to turn back #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/XLDVpvJkuS https://t.co/ZzOBNIGemm
Global 100% Renewable Roadmaps Cut Costs and Save Lives
Infographic map linking roadmaps for transitioning 150 countries to 100% WindWaterSolar for all energy purposes while reducing annual energy costs, social costs, energy use, and mortalities and morbidities. https://t.co/8j5oVvZeUu Here's the paper: https://t.co/yt6XQ531Fu
Oracle, BorderPlex Deploy Bloom Fuel Cells for 2.45 GW AI Microgrid
Oracle and BorderPlex tap Bloom Energy (BE) fuel cells to power 2.45 GW AI data center microgrid in New Mexico $BE $ORCL
Permitting Reform: The Last Barrier to U
Permitting reform - from local to state to federal, and inclusive of transmission - continues to be the key bottleneck on clean energy in the US. Let clean energy build and it will win.
California Energy Commission Debates Solar Project Threatening Bighorn Sheep
This morning I'm at a meeting of the California Energy Commission in Sacramento. They'll vote on Soda Mountain, a controversial solar project on the border of Mojave National Preserve that critics say would harm bighorn sheep. I wrote about it...
Each Critical Mineral Deal Bolsters Energy Supply Security
Securing Energy Supply Chains: One Critical Mineral Deal at a Time? #energysky -- via RMI https://t.co/To7GYkU0nB