Weekly Roundup 05/22/26 (AI and Power Bills, SpaceX IPO, Prime Trust Clawbacks, USG Invests in Quantum) (EP.721)
In this episode Matt Walsh and Nick Carter dissect the myth that AI is inflating residential electricity bills, showing data that states with the highest data‑center concentration actually enjoy the lowest power price growth, while higher rates are driven by inflation and renewable‑energy costs in blue states. They then shift to market dynamics, lamenting the lack of public equity exposure to AI giants and critiquing the upcoming SpaceX IPO, noting its massive Bitcoin holdings and speculative valuation. The hosts also review a slate of crypto‑related deals, from Bitcoin Depot’s bankruptcy to multiple multi‑million‑dollar funding rounds, and highlight a new U.S. government program investing roughly $2 billion in equity stakes across nine quantum‑computing firms.
Fusion Energy Poised for Simpler U.S. Review
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is ending the public comment period on a proposed rule that treats fusion energy separately from traditional nuclear fission, with a final regulation slated for this fall. Regulators deem fusion’s risk profile akin to medical...
Sungrow to Supply 7.5GWh of Storage for Masdar’s Abu Dhabi RTC Project
Masdar and Chinese inverter‑manufacturer Sungrow have sealed a deal to equip Masdar's round‑the‑clock renewable project in Abu Dhabi with 7.5 GWh of PowerTitan 3.0 battery storage and 2.6 GW of PV inverters. The development will pair 5.2 GW of solar generation with a total...
Singapore Partners with Nuclear Fusion Firm CFS in Push for Future Clean Energy Industry
Singapore has inked a five‑year partnership between its research agency A*STAR and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) to accelerate commercial fusion development. The collaboration builds on earlier work supplying components for MIT’s SPARC project, a $1 billion demonstration slated for net‑energy gain...
Australia Just Suffered Its Worst Wind and Solar “Drought” In Four Years – but Needed Less Gas Backup
Australia experienced its worst wind and solar drought since 2022, with variable renewable energy (VRE) output falling to 14.7% of demand on May 18. Including hydro and biomass, total renewable generation reached just over 26% of the day’s load. Gas generation...
Solar, Heat Pumps, Electric Cooktops: Another 8,000 Social Housing Homes to Get Energy Upgrades
The Australian federal government is injecting about $79 million USD into Victoria’s public and community housing to upgrade energy systems for over 8,000 households. The funding, part of the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI), adds to a prior $94 million USD...
NSW Launches 2.5 GW Renewable Generation Tender, Its Biggest Ever
New South Wales’ climate change and energy minister Penny Sharpe unveiled a dual tender seeking 2.5 GW of renewable generation and 12 GWh of long‑duration storage – the biggest procurement in the state’s history. The contracts, administered by AusEnergy Service Limited, aim...
Edify Energy Secures $2.4 GWh Solar‑Plus‑Battery Deal for Rio Tinto in Queensland
Australian developer Edify Energy has achieved financial close on two Queensland solar‑plus‑storage projects delivering 720 MWp of solar and 2.4 GWh of battery capacity. A 20‑year hybrid services agreement with Rio Tinto will see the miner purchase 90% of the output for...
Wind and Solar Generate More Power Than Gas Globally in April, Data Shows
In April 2026, wind and solar power produced 22% of the world’s electricity, outpacing gas‑fired generation at 20%, according to Ember data cited by Reuters. The shift reflects tighter gas supplies and soaring prices amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis,...
U.S. Installs Record 10 GWh of Battery Storage in Q2 2026 Amid Energy‑security Push
The United States deployed a historic 10 GWh of utility‑scale battery storage in the second quarter of 2026, a 32% year‑over‑year increase. The surge reflects heightened energy‑security worries, rapid cost declines and a shift toward standalone storage projects.
Energy Insiders Podcast: Will Data Centres Break the Grid?
In the latest Energy Insiders podcast, power analyst Keith Middleton argues that the rapid expansion of data centres will not cripple electricity networks if appropriate regulatory frameworks are applied. He highlights that data‑centre loads can be coordinated with renewable generation,...
Advanced Inverters Unlock Battery Storage for New Markets
Miners, microgrids, EVs and other loads: New inverter technologies take battery storage to new markets #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/qK6q1e80ar https://t.co/I5d5seHqDz
Omnia Secures $2 Billion Wind Power Deal for Brazil’s Largest Data Centre
Omnia, Brazil’s leading hyperscale data‑centre platform, has signed a 20‑year, $2 billion wind‑energy supply agreement with Casa dos Ventos. The deal will power a planned $39 billion data‑centre complex at the Pecém port, underscoring a major corporate push toward renewable power in...
Floating Offshore Solar Could Power All Italy
Offshore floating PV could technically meet Italy’s electricity demand #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/6wXP2doXZM
Solar And Battery Project Begins On Stewart Island To Cut Diesel Use And Power Costs
Construction has begun on a solar‑plus‑battery project on Stewart Island/Rakiura, funded by a NZ$15.35 million loan (≈ $9.2 million USD) from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. The system will pair a solar farm with battery storage, network upgrades and smart meters, aiming to cut...
New Passivation Strategy Boosts Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cell Performance
Researchers at NIMTE and partner universities introduced a peak‑selective passivation technique that deposits a thin aluminum‑oxide layer on the pyramid peaks of silicon substrates using polystyrene nanospheres. The approach lifted perovskite/silicon tandem cell efficiency to 33.33%, with a certified value...
France’s Solar Surge Sends Electricity Prices Negative Across Europe
France’s grid operator RTE reported solar generation topping 20 GW on Thursday, creating a massive power surplus that drove electricity prices into negative territory. The excess, combined with 40 GW of nuclear output, forced exports of over 15 GW to Germany, Italy and...
75-MW Jumper Creek Solar Site Now Online in Florida
Duke Energy Florida has brought the 74.9‑MW Jumper Creek Solar Complex online in Sumter County, marking the latest addition to its expanding solar portfolio. The utility estimates the project will save its two million customers roughly $250 million over the plant’s service...
Regulatory Delays Stall Solar‑plus‑storage Interconnections Nationwide
Most states face regulatory logjams on solar-plus-storage as interconnection procedures lag #energysky -- via pv magazine usa: https://t.co/vFnIlysTi2
Designing Data Centers with Social Responsibility
How to Build a Socially Responsible Data Center #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/snUdiqASek https://t.co/rT72H5H2OF
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Remains Eager to Invest in Italian Offshore Wind
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is pressing the Italian government to schedule offshore wind auctions that were promised by 2028, after a 2024 law created incentives for developers. Italy still relies on natural gas for nearly half of its electricity, driving...
Most States Face Regulatory Logjams on Solar-Plus-Storage as Interconnection Procedures Lag
The Freeing the Grid report shows that most U.S. states lag behind modern interconnection procedures for solar‑plus‑storage, with only New Mexico earning an A grade. Eight states receive B grades, while 16 earn C, 14 D, and 13 receive F...
More Nuclear-Powered District Heating Planned in Finland
Finnish energy firm Steady Energy signed a letter of intent with Alva‑yhtiöt to evaluate small‑scale nuclear reactors for district heating in Jyväskylä. The study will examine the feasibility of deploying two to six LDR‑50 units, each delivering 100‑300 MW of heat,...
Bloom Energy Rises 12% After Partnering with European AI Infrastructure Upstart in $2.6 Billion Deal
Bloom Energy announced a partnership with European AI‑cloud provider Nebius, under a ten‑year agreement that could generate up to $2.6 billion in service fees. Nebius will install Bloom’s fuel‑cell systems in its U.S. data centers, delivering 250 MW of guaranteed power and...
Another Route To Rooftop Solar: The Ann Arbor Solution
Small‑scale solar now contributes about 58 GW to the U.S. grid, but the 2024 repeal of the federal Investment Tax Credit has slowed residential adoption, prompting a 25 % drop in SunRun subscriptions and a 23 % decline in Enphase sales. In response,...
Stewart Glass to Expand Ohio Solar Glass Facility
Stewart Glass is adding a second production line, dubbed “Line 2,” to its Ohio solar‑glass plant. The new line will churn out 250 tonnes of front and back glass per day, featuring 2.0–3.2 mm ultra‑clear sheets with a dual‑layer anti‑reflective coating. Completion is...
Report Examines Offshore Energy Co-Location Potential
Project Anemone’s new report, commissioned by The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, evaluates how offshore wind, carbon capture and storage (CCUS) and oil‑and‑gas projects could share Scotland’s congested seas. It presents ten practical solutions to boost clarity and coordination...
CIP Launches €1.5 Billion Bioenergy Fund
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has launched Advanced Bioenergy Fund II, targeting €1.5 billion to scale biomethane production across Europe. The fund opens with a €200 million (≈$232 million) anchor commitment from the European Investment Fund, part of the EU’s InvestEU and REPowerEU programmes....
US DOE Launches Data Center Grid Integration Test-Bed at National Laboratory of the Rockies
The U.S. Department of Energy unveiled Agora, a large‑load grid‑integration test bed at the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Colorado. Funded by DOE’s Office of Electricity and industry partners, Agora is the only dedicated facility of its kind across...
Lithuania Is Green Energy Champ
Lithuania has emerged as Europe’s renewable‑energy showcase, slashing reliance on Russian fossil fuels and overhauling its power system in just four years. Faster permitting, stronger investment and reduced regulatory barriers helped the country quadruple its solar and wind output. In...
BSR Submits Brailsford Solar Park Plans
British Solar Renewables (BSR) has lodged detailed plans with Derbyshire Dales District Council for the Brailsford Solar Park, a ground‑mounted facility on land off Main Road, Brailsford. The park is designed to generate enough renewable electricity to power 16,060 homes...
SNS2026: Crown Estate Urges Suppliers to Beat Grant Deadline
The Crown Estate is urging offshore‑wind suppliers to apply for the third round of its £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator fund, which offers match‑funding of £250,000 to £2 million for early‑stage development. Applications close on 3 July, with webinars running until 29 June to...
UN Chief Says Africa Could Meet 10× Its Power Needs with Renewables by 2040
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres told global leaders in May 2026 that Africa’s renewable resources could produce ten times the continent’s current electricity demand by 2040. The remark underscores a massive investment gap – less than 3% of worldwide clean‑energy capital...
Sunzaun Installs 1st Vertical Solar Fence in US Urban Neighborhood
Sunzaun installed the United States' first vertical bifacial solar fence at Bodhi Hot Yoga & Fitness in San Rafael, California. The 16‑panel system, mounted 8‑9 ft tall along the parking lot perimeter, aims to offset the studio’s $2,000‑plus monthly electric bill....
NextEra Energy to Join the Offshore Wind Club, But Does It Matter?
NextEra Energy announced a merger with Dominion Energy, creating a utility valued at over $200 billion—larger than any U.S. energy firm except ExxonMobil and Chevron. The deal gives NextEra control of Dominion’s 2,640‑MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which has been...
Grenergy to Deploy 1.5GWh of CATL Batteries at Oviedo and Escuderos
Grenergy has signed a deal with CATL to supply 1.5 GWh of lithium‑iron‑phosphate TENER S batteries for its Oviedo and Escuderos storage projects in Spain. Oviedo will receive 108 batteries delivering 700 MWh, while Escuderos will host 144 units for 800 MWh alongside a...
1.8GW Danish Offshore Tender Attracts Bidders
Bids have been received for Denmark’s two offshore wind projects covering at least 1.8 GW in the North Sea and Hesselø areas. The Danish Energy Agency set net‑payment ceilings of DKK 15.7 bn ($2.2 bn) for Nordsøen Midt and DKK 21.9 bn ($3.1 bn) for Hesselø. The farms...
Renewables Overtake Gas in Global Power Generation for the First Time
For the first time, wind and solar power accounted for 22% of global electricity generation in April, edging out gas at 20%, according to Ember. Global renewable output rose 13% year‑over‑year, led by China (14% increase), the EU (13%) and...
The Data Center Panic Is Dumb
Opposition to AI data centers in the United States has surged, with local moratoriums climbing from eight in May 2025 to 78 a year later. Critics spread exaggerated claims that new facilities will raise state temperatures by 20‑28 °F, drain water supplies...
TCL SunPower Launches New Shingled TOPCon Module Series
TCL SunPower, the PV arm of China’s TCL Zhonghuan, unveiled a shingled TOPCon module series that combines multi‑cut cell technology with a gap‑free design. The residential T5 Pro S line delivers 450‑475 W at up to 23.8% efficiency, while the utility‑scale...
Grenergy Secures Solar-Plus-Storage PPA in the US
Spanish IPP Grenergy has signed a 20‑year hybrid power purchase agreement with Georgia Power to deliver the Beaver Creek project’s 229 MW of solar PV and 183 MWh of battery storage. The project, slated for commercial operation in Q3 2028 with off‑take beginning...
Big Tech Still Loves Wind and Solar – but It's Getting Complicated
Big tech’s AI‑driven data centre expansion is testing its renewable‑energy ambitions. While hyperscalers still dominate corporate clean‑power purchases—accounting for 49% of global PPAs in 2025—they are increasingly adding firm‑capacity sources such as natural gas and nuclear to meet hourly demand....
Solar PV Helped Europe Avoid €10 Billion in Gas Imports Since Iran War Started
Europe’s solar photovoltaic fleet has averted roughly €10 billion (about $11 billion) in gas imports since the Iran‑related conflict began in March. In March alone, solar‑generated power saved €110 million ($128 million) per day, totaling €3.76 billion ($4.1 billion) for the month. The avoided cost could...
Utah Residents Challenge $100 B AI Data Center Over 16 Billion‑Gallon Water Demand
Residents and environmental groups in Box Elder County, Utah, rallied against the Stratos Project after county commissioners approved the $100 billion, 9‑gigawatt AI hyperscale data center on May 4, 2026. Opponents warn the campus could consume 4.24‑16.6 billion gallons of water per year,...
RWE Starts Building Serra Giannina Wind Farm in Potenza Under Italy’s FER-X Auction Programme
RWE has broken ground on the 42 MW Serra Giannina on‑shore wind farm in Basilicata, Italy, deploying six 7 MW turbines – among the most powerful in the country. The project, valued at roughly $55‑$77 million, secured a contract‑for‑difference under the FER‑X auction,...
UK Accelerates Offshore Expansion – RWE and SSE Receive Construction Approval for 1 GW North Falls Offshore Wind Farm
RWE and SSE have secured final development consent from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to build the North Falls offshore wind farm. The project will host up to 57 turbines and two offshore substations, targeting roughly...
Managing Watts with Bits for Ireland’s Solar Decade
Ireland’s solar capacity surpassed 2 GW in November 2025, marking a milestone toward its national goal of 8 GW by 2030. Huawei Ireland, a leading supplier of inverter and grid‑management solutions, says the technology to bridge the gap already exists, but adoption speed...
Sunnova’s Former CEO Is Bullish on Rooftop Solar Repair
Former Sunnova CEO John Berger has launched Otovo, a subscription‑based rooftop‑solar repair service, and reached 30,000 customers within three months. Two‑thirds of those users pay recurring fees of $9‑$49 per month for round‑the‑clock maintenance of solar, battery and generator systems....
‘We Hear You’: Industry Input Noted as Germany Plans Summer Reform of Offshore Wind Act
Germany’s economics and energy ministry announced a summer 2026 overhaul of the Offshore Wind Act (WindSeeG). The reform will incorporate industry feedback and benchmark foreign regulatory models as the country faces pressure to retender offshore sites. Officials highlighted the need...
In-State Geothermal Could Save California $44B Annually: CATF
A Clean Air Task Force report estimates that deploying next‑generation geothermal systems in California could slash annual electricity supply costs by up to $44 billion—about a 52% reduction—by 2045, the state’s deadline for 100% carbon‑free retail sales. The analysis shows that...