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 30 GW of enhanced geothermal would curb the need for transmission expansion by 28‑53% and keep solar build‑out at the current 3 GW per year pace. While the technology promises massive savings, upfront drilling costs of $5‑$20 million per well pose a significant financial hurdle. The report urges public‑sector action to de‑risk early development and share subsurface data.
Duke University Plans a Data Center It Says Will Boost ‘Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability’
Duke University announced a $23 million, 1.5‑megawatt data center on 12 acres of its Central Campus, with the option to double capacity to 3 MW. Construction began this week and is slated for completion next year. The university says the facility will...
UNSW Researchers Shed New Light on UV-Induced Degradation in PERC, TOPCon Solar Cells
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have pinpointed how ultraviolet (UV) exposure creates additional interface defects and makes them more recombination‑active in PERC and TOPCon silicon solar cells. Laboratory tests showed severe degradation on both front and rear...
Mnangagwa to Commission 10MW Kwekwe Solar Plant as Zimbabwe Pushes for Energy Independence
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will commission the first 10 MW phase of the New Glovers Solar Project in Kwekwe, a $20 million facility built by the Public Service Pension Fund. The plant features 18,600 panels, 31 inverters and two smart transformers, delivering roughly...
Wave-Measuring Device Deployed at New Marine Energy Test Site in Massachusetts
The Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative (MRECo) has installed a SOFAR Spotter Buoy at the newly opened Cuttyhunk Test Range in Massachusetts. The buoy records real‑time wave height, temperature and environmental conditions, providing data to support ongoing and future ocean‑technology projects....
Miners, Microgrids, EVs and Other Loads: New Inverter Technologies Take Battery Storage to New Markets
Chinese inverter leader Sungrow launched a suite of storage and micro‑grid solutions, including the PowerTitan 3.0 battery with over 600 stacked cells and 92% round‑trip efficiency, and the PowerMatrix platform that slashes capital costs on large‑scale projects. The company’s AC‑block design...
Beyond 7MW? Western Manufacturers' Answer to Chinese Super-Sized Onshore Wind Turbines
Chinese turbine makers are racing ahead with onshore units that exceed 8 MW, highlighted by Envision’s EN‑220/10 MW and CRRC’s ambition to break the 14 MW barrier. Western leaders from Nordex, Vestas, Enercon, Siemens Gamesa and GE Vernova say size alone won’t win market share....
Lenders Boost Financing for German Merchant BESS Projects
Lenders now actively financing merchant BESS projects in Germany #energysky -- via Energy Storage News: https://t.co/0Qt5ASIvOH
KALiNA Power Welcomes New Canadian Regulatory Framework on Carbon Management and Emissions
KALiNA Power’s subsidiary, KALiNA Distributed Power, will benefit from a new Canada‑Alberta regulatory framework that harmonises carbon‑management policies and introduces 75 million tonnes of carbon contracts for difference (CFDs) to support CCS projects between 2030 and 2040. The agreement suspends Alberta’s...
When the Grid and Home Batteries Teach Consumers to Withdraw From the Market
Australian households are increasingly installing solar panels and batteries, not to become micro‑generators but to shield themselves from volatile electricity costs. The current tariff stack makes imported power appear expensive while export values remain low, prompting owners to maximise self‑consumption....
Farmer Seeks Solar: Queensland Developer Says PV Plans Will Help Rejuvenate Barren Land
Future X Energy, a Queensland renewable developer, has proposed the 25 MW Koolkuna solar‑battery project near Lilydale, combining a 90 MWh storage system with solar generation. The farmer who owns the water‑scarce land approached the company to monetize the unused property, and the...
Equis Launches GreenPoint Energy with 2.5GW of BESS and Wind Projects Across Australia’s NEM
Equis has launched GreenPoint Energy, a wholly‑owned subsidiary that unites its Australian renewable‑energy and battery‑storage assets into a 2.5 GW portfolio spanning 12 BESS and wind projects across every NEM‑connected state. The flagship Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, a 600 MW/1.6 GWh Tesla Megapack...
Edify Energy to Proceed with 2,400MWh Solar-Plus-Storage Sites in Australia
Edify Energy announced financial close on two Queensland solar‑plus‑storage sites, Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap, delivering 720 MWp of solar and a combined 600 MW/2,400 MWh battery capacity. The projects are backed by a 20‑year hybrid services agreement with Rio Tinto, which will purchase...
EU Nations Push $190 B AI Data‑Centre Boom Amid Growing Water and Energy Opposition
EU governments are fast‑tracking AI data‑centre projects worth an estimated €176 bn ($190 bn) through 2031, offering tax breaks, streamlined permits and cheap land. The push collides with rising public concern over water consumption and electricity demand, echoing U.S. community protests and...
Armada Secures $230 Million Series B to Build Arizona Modular Data‑Center Factory
Armada announced a $230 million Series B round that values the San Francisco‑based modular data‑center builder at $2 billion. The funding, led by Johnson Controls, will finance a 400,000‑square‑foot factory in Arizona to mass‑produce its megawatt‑scale Leviathan units, targeting AI workloads in defense, energy...
PJM Granted Emergency Authority to Curtail Data Center Loads Amid Heat Wave
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order on May 18 allowing PJM Interconnection to curtail power to data centers and other large loads with backup generation during extreme heat. The move, aimed at preventing rolling blackouts as more...
Senate Bill Forces AI Data Centers to Foot Grid Upgrade Costs
Sen. Adam Schiff introduced the Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026, requiring AI‑driven data centers with peak demand over 50 MW to pay the full cost of grid upgrades. The legislation aims to protect residential electricity rates while forcing...
BloombergNEF Predicts Solar Will Eclipse Coal and Gas by 2032
BloombergNEF’s New Energy Outlook 2026 says solar will become the top global electricity generator by 2032, surpassing coal (19.8%) and natural gas (19.2%). The forecast rests on falling solar costs, massive overcapacity and a 17‑fold surge in battery storage needed...
In a First, Wind and Solar Generated More Power than Gas Globally in April 2026
Ember’s analysis shows that in April 2026 wind and solar generated 22 % of global electricity, delivering 531 TWh and surpassing natural‑gas’s 20 % share at 477 TWh. This marks the first full month renewables outpaced gas worldwide. The achievement follows a 13 % year‑over‑year...
Siemens’ Microgrid Sets New Standard For Resilient, Sustainable Power
Siemens launched a 1.25‑megawatt on‑site microgrid at its Wendell, North Carolina plant, pairing a solar carport with a 3.9‑megawatt‑hour battery. The system delivers carbon‑neutral operations and cuts grid consumption by 2.5 MWh each year. Integrated with Siemens’ Desigo building management and...
Exclusive: Western States Form New Bipartisan Geothermal Consortium
Western governors and nonprofits have launched the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium, a bipartisan effort spanning Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The group will coordinate permitting, financing and offtake agreements to accelerate next‑generation geothermal projects, leveraging public capital to attract...
Enbridge to Build 365 MW Solar‑Plus‑Storage Project for Meta in Wyoming
Enbridge announced a 365 MW solar‑plus‑storage project near Cheyenne, Wyoming, to supply power to Meta’s growing data centre footprint. The deal adds to a 1.6 GW energy‑offtake partnership across North America and underscores Meta’s shift toward renewable procurement for its AI‑driven infrastructure.
NASA Targets 2030 Moon Nuclear Reactor to Power Lunar Base
NASA announced a plan to design, build, launch and land a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, a move intended to sustain a permanent lunar outpost. Experts warn the schedule is aggressive, while rivals China and Russia are targeting...
China Reports Major Breakthrough in Space Solar Power Technology
China’s Zhuri project achieved a landmark test, wirelessly transmitting 1,180 watts over 100 metres and powering a moving drone at 143 watts, demonstrating one‑to‑many microwave energy delivery. The system reached 20.8% DC‑to‑DC efficiency and 88% beam‑collection, positioning China for a...
Terra-Gen Completes 3rd Phase of Southern California Utility Solar Project
Terra‑Gen has placed its 125‑MW Lockhart III solar farm in San Bernardino County into commercial operation, delivering enough electricity to serve roughly 62,500 homes and businesses each year. The project taps an existing interconnection line to Southern California Edison’s Kramer Junction Substation,...
ConnectDER Meter Collar Compatible with EcoFlow Home Backup Storage
ConnectDER has integrated its IslandDER Meter Socket Adapter with EcoFlow’s OCEAN Pro home backup battery, enabling direct connection behind a home’s utility meter. The solution is rolling out in major solar markets such as California, Arizona, Illinois, Florida and Texas. By...
ACEN, Norwegian Firm Eye Floating Solar Parks
Ayala‑led ACEN Corp. and Norway’s Ocean Sun have signed a non‑binding MoU to roll out large‑scale floating solar farms on freshwater reservoirs across Asia. Ocean Sun will supply its patented floating‑panel technology while ACEN‑Silverwolf, a joint venture with Silverwolf Capital,...
Environmental Impact of AI Data Center(re) Boom: A Roadmap (1 of 3)
Cornell researchers quantified the U.S. AI data‑center environmental impact, projecting 24‑44 million metric tons of CO₂ and 731‑1,125 million cubic meters of water use annually by 2030. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, equates the emissions to adding 5‑10 million cars and the...
Trina Launches Third Generation of Elementa BESS, Now Reaching 6.25 MWh
Trina Storage has introduced Elementa 3, the third generation of its utility‑scale battery energy storage system, featuring a 6.25 MWh single‑container capacity. The new platform delivers a 12.3% boost in module energy density and a 24.7% increase in site‑level energy density, which...
5-MW Solar Project on Closed Minnesota Landfill Now Complete
Cedar Creek Energy, Connexus Energy and Kearsarge Energy have launched Minnesota’s first solar farm on a closed landfill. The 5‑MW, single‑axis tracking array in Ramsey sits on MPCA‑managed land, part of a state program overseeing more than 100 legacy sites....
Seanergy 2026: Developers Target Local Suppliers
Developers of the 270 MW Pennavel floating offshore wind project in South Brittany have secured contracts with local suppliers for more than half of the development and construction work. EDF Power Solutions reported using 15 French firms for inspection and services...
Funding for California’s Signature Virtual Power Plant Remains Uncertain
California’s flagship Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) virtual power plant faces an uncertain future after Governor Gavin Newsom’s biennial budget revision eliminated funding for 2027. The administration proposes moving current DSGS participants to the Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP), a...
A Demand-Driven Energy Transition
Clean energy now often costs less than new fossil generation, yet U.S. grids face a backlog of over a terawatt of renewable projects awaiting interconnection. Accelerating electricity demand—driven by AI data centers, electric transport, and industrial electrification—has outpaced infrastructure capacity,...
Investors Back US Renewable Energy Projects But Want Market Uncertainties Fixed
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) projects $120 billion in U.S. renewable‑energy investment for 2026, potentially adding a record 62 GW of new capacity. Solar and battery storage are expected to attract the bulk of capital, with $53 billion and $22 billion respectively,...
PV Electricity for E-Mobility: Tion Renewables to Supply Solar Power for German IONITY Fast-Charging Network
Tion Renewables and IONITY have signed a long‑term power purchase agreement under which Tion will supply solar electricity to IONITY’s German fast‑charging sites starting in 2027. The deal supports Tion’s target of 3 GW installed solar capacity by 2030 and gives...
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[Episode #276] – Electricity Reform in South Africa
In this episode, Chris Nelder explores South Africa’s sweeping electricity reforms, focusing on the creation of the South Africa Wholesale Electricity Market (SOWEM) and the unbundling of Eskom into separate generation, transmission, and distribution units. He interviews economist Dr. Kenneth...
Nebius Inks $2.6B Fuel‑cell Pact for 250 MW
RBC out commenting on the $BE $NBIS $2.6B deal in a 6k filing, reits $335 PT Nebius disclosed in its 6K this morning that it had entered into a Master Fuel Cell Capacity Agreement with Bloom. Under the agreement, Nebius...
Florida DOT Leases Stormwater Ponds for Floating Solar
Florida DOT leases potentially all its stormwater ponds for floating solar development #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/Y5ii1gDZ2j
Fixed-Charge Hikes Undermine the Economics of Rooftop Solar and Storage, Elevate Consumer Costs
State utility regulators in 27 states are imposing high fixed monthly charges or minimum bills on residential electricity accounts, while simultaneously lowering per‑kilowatt‑hour rates. This rate redesign erodes the financial returns for rooftop solar owners and those pairing solar with...
5-MW Solar Farm Completed on Minnesota Landfill
5-MW solar project on closed Minnesota landfill now complete #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/HfQEswUXaa
Europe’s Solar Capture Drops as Negative Price Hours Rise
Solar capture factors fall across europe as negative price hours surge in key markets #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/OPv3NjKpsD
The Role of Interfacial Energetics and Defects on The Efficiency of Tin Perovskite Solar Cells
Researchers performed layer‑resolved spectroscopy on FASnI3 tin perovskite solar cells, directly mapping band structure and interfacial losses. They found that the Bathocuproine (BCP) buffer layer forms a hybrid energy level with silver, raising open‑circuit voltage. Time‑resolved surface photovoltage revealed ultrafast...
California Senate Passes Plug-In Solar Bill
The California Senate approved SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, by a 35‑1 vote, permitting portable solar generators up to 1,200 watts to plug into a standard 120‑volt outlet. The legislation defines “portable solar generation devices” and exempts...
IREC Study Grades Each State’s Interconnection Practices
IREC’s latest “Freeing the Grid” study grades each state’s interconnection policies for distributed energy resources. New Mexico earned the only A, while nine states achieved B or higher and eight improved since 2023. Over 80% of states remain at C...
Infrared Laser Enables Damage‑Free Backsheet Removal
Continuous-wave infrared laser technology enables damage-free backsheet removal in end-of-life solar modules #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/w2ZgkV11bv
U.S. PV Manufacturing Capex Could Reach $7 Billion in 2027 in Breakout Year for Domestic Supply-Chain
U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing capital expenditure is projected to reach $7 billion in 2027, a 150% year‑on‑year jump. Crystalline‑silicon (c‑Si) will dominate the spend, accounting for more than 90% of the total, while thin‑film investments shrink to about 10%. The surge is...
China Conducts First Experiments for Space-Based Solar Power Plants
China’s Sun Chasing project has demonstrated its first space‑based solar power experiments, achieving wireless power transmission over 100 meters with 20.8% DC‑to‑DC efficiency and delivering up to 1,180 watts to a stationary receiver. The team also powered a moving drone at 30 km/h,...
Seanergy 2026: French Tidal Tender to Launch This Year
France will launch a public consultation by the end of 2026 for a 250 MW tidal energy tender, part of the PPE 3 multi‑year plan. The tender’s strike price is set at €160 per megawatt‑hour (about $174/MWh), higher than offshore wind but...
PJM Accelerates Backstop Auction Amid Uncertainty over Data Center Cost Allocation
PJM Interconnection announced it will move its one‑time backstop reliability auction forward to September, accelerating the timeline originally set for March. The auction, intended to address a surge in data‑center load, now targets roughly 9 MW of capacity, a sharp cut...
Hydrostor Pitches 500‑MW Underground Pumped‑hydro Storage in Ontario’s Grid Choke Point
Hydrostor has submitted a proposal for the Quinte Energy Storage Centre, a 500‑MW, 4‑GWh underground pumped‑hydro facility in eastern Ontario, targeting the IESO’s long‑lead‑time procurement. The plan draws scrutiny from local conservation authorities over groundwater impacts and agricultural land use.