Community Benefits Aren’t Impossible – They Just Take Work
California is moving toward its 2045 net‑zero goal by advancing offshore wind projects, and a new Statewide Strategy for the Coexistence of California Fishing Communities and Offshore Wind Energy outlines how community benefits funds will mitigate residual impacts on fishermen, tribal groups, and port residents. The strategy, mandated by Senate Bill 286 and the Coastal Commission, was crafted over 22 months by a 30‑member working group of developers, regulators, fishermen and tribal representatives. It establishes three compensation categories—gear loss, direct payments, and resiliency funds—administered by neutral entities. The framework is slated for adoption at the Coastal Commission’s April 16 board meeting.
Lightshift Energy Lands BESS Portfolio for Virginia Electric Co-Ops
Lightshift Energy has secured a portfolio of five 5‑MW battery‑energy‑storage systems for Blue Ridge Power Agency and its member co‑ops in Virginia. The projects, located at three CVEC sites, one CBEC site and the City of Salem, are under construction...
High-Density AI Is Forcing a Power Reckoning at the Rack
Artificial intelligence workloads are pushing data‑center rack power densities toward 300 kW, exposing the inefficiency of traditional AC‑to‑DC conversion at the rack. Converting high‑voltage AC to low‑voltage DC creates measurable losses—about 4 % at 100 kW, translating into extra heat and cooling costs....
Maine’s Plug-In Solar Law Takes Effect in July and some Companies Are Already Selling Products in the State
Maine’s new plug‑in solar law, LD 1730, becomes effective July 15, 2026, allowing residents to install portable solar systems up to 420 W on their own or up to 1,200 W with a certified electrician. The legislation requires UL 3700 certification or...
Heavy Industry Could Cut Energy Use by 45% by 2050
A new report from the Energy Transitions Commission and Mission Possible Partnership finds that heavy‑industry sectors could cut energy use by 25‑45% by 2050 through improved energy productivity. Energy accounts for 30‑50% of costs in these sectors, so efficiency gains...
Centrica Tackles Difficult Terrain to Deliver Sustainable Solar Solution for Derbyshire Manufacturer
Centrica Business Solutions has completed a custom‑engineered solar farm for Derbyshire‑based Carpenter Ltd, installing 1,666 panels on a 14.6% sloped bank that was previously deemed unsuitable. The ground‑mount array will produce about 1,025 MWh of renewable electricity each year, cutting the...
Heat Pumps May Help Boost Residential Solar in France
France unveiled an electrification plan that seeks to install one million heat pumps per year by 2030, backed by €200 million in public funding. Subsidies of €12,000‑€14,000 aim to deliver a three‑year return on investment for units costing €10,000‑€15,000. The rollout...
Prepaid Leases Provide Pathway to Home-Owned Solar Projects
The residential solar market is reverting to third‑party ownership (TPO) after the 25D residential tax credit expired, but prepaid leases are emerging as a bridge to home ownership. Prepaid leases let homeowners pay the lease amount up front and buy...
Autonomous Boat Builder Charts Course to Success
Norsail, a Bristol start‑up, unveiled a 2.4‑metre autonomous boat that runs on a free‑rotating wing sail, solar panels and an electric motor, enabling continuous ocean‑data collection for up to six months. The vessel, funded by a £38,000 (about $48,000) TRIG...
Maine Legislature Passes Nation's First Data Center Moratorium
Maine’s legislature approved LD 307, the nation’s first state‑level moratorium on new data centers consuming 20 megawatts or more, effective until November 1, 2027. The bill creates a Data Center Coordination Council to evaluate grid reliability, environmental impact, and ratepayer protection while...
First Quantum and Hitachi Commission ‘World’s First’ Battery Electric Mining Truck at Kansanshi Mine in Zambia
First Quantum Minerals and Hitachi Construction Machinery commissioned the Hitachi EH4000, the world’s first ultra‑large battery‑electric mining truck, at Zambia’s Kansanshi copper‑gold mine. The truck completed a 4,000‑km trial haul, moving over 30,000 tonnes, proving its operational reliability ahead of...
Acciona Energía Signs Italy Industry Deals
Acciona Energía has entered bilateral agreements totaling 800 GWh of renewable electricity with Italy’s energy‑intensive firms, including steelmaker Acciaierie Venete. The contracts, under the government‑run Energy Release 2.0 scheme, lock in a fixed price of €65 per megawatt‑hour (about $71) for three...
Solar Self-Generation Could Outperform PPAs in Brazil, Delivering up to 32.9% Savings
A new study by the Federal Universities of Ceará and São João del‑Rei shows that large industrial consumers in Brazil’s free‑contracting market can save up to 32.9% by financing, building and operating their own photovoltaic plants instead of signing long‑term power purchase...
Less Gas, More Sun and Wind. Europe Is Handling the New Energy Crisis Better than the Russian Invasion One
Europe has reduced its gas consumption by roughly 20% since 2020, with electricity generation and district heating seeing cuts of up to 30% as renewables replace fossil fuels. The shift is driven by higher wind and solar capacity, especially in...
Molecular Lock Design Pushes Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency Past 26 Percent
Researchers at SUSTech and PolyU introduced a rigid‑backbone molecule that locks the interface of inverted perovskite solar cells, pushing power conversion efficiency to a record 26.54 % and retaining 90 % of output after 1,000 hours of stress testing. The same report highlighted...
The Solar Support Gap: Why Do Pro-Solar Citizens Reject Local Projects?
University of Rhode Island researchers examined why voters who support solar energy opposed a utility‑scale solar project in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. An exit‑poll revealed that 28.9% of pro‑solar respondents voted against the 2019 referendum, creating an individual support gap....
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger Signs Legislation Mandating 20.78GW of Energy Storage
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed HB 895 and SB 448, mandating 20.78 GW of energy‑storage capacity across the Commonwealth. Appalachian Power must deliver 780 MW of short‑duration and 520 MW of long‑duration storage by 2040‑2045, while Dominion Energy is tasked with 16 GW short‑duration and 3.48 GW...
Colombia Approves Guidelines for Integrating Energy Storage Into Electricity System
Colombia issued Decree 0393 to establish public‑policy guidelines for integrating energy‑storage systems (ESS) into both the National Interconnected System and isolated zones. The decree sets deployment criteria, market participation rules, and a remuneration framework, recognizing storage for frequency regulation, voltage...
Sun‑Tracking Solar Panels Boost Yield, Yet Add Cost
Solar panels that automatically track the sun sound like a clear upgrade. More exposure. Higher efficiency. Better output throughout the day. And in many cases, that’s true. Tracking systems can significantly increase energy yield compared to fixed installations, especially in regions with strong, consistent sunlight. But...
Midday Fast Charging Leverages Low Solar Prices, Reducing Cost Exposure
Fastned: "Fast charging peaks at midday, exactly when solar generation pushes electricity prices to their lowest. ⚡️throughput naturally avoids the costly morning & evening peaks, creating a structural hedge: more MWh delivered doesn't mean proportionally higher cost exposure." https://t.co/HO96yJFNhp
PV Module Prices Continue to Rise Unabated
Photovoltaic module prices climbed for the fourth month in a row, rising 5.5% between March and April 2026, with all‑black modules posting the steepest gains. The increase occurs despite falling polysilicon costs and the removal of Chinese export tax credits,...
Regulatory Uncertainty Forces EDP to Pause US Wind Projects
EDP has paused three US wind projects due to limited policy visibility under the Trump administration, underscoring how regulatory uncertainty is weighing on renewable energy investment decisions https://t.co/1ASvMpOcjN
Unlocking Wind Turbine Longevity with Smarter Lubrication
The wind power market is set to reach 3,207 GW of installed capacity by 2035, driving demand for more reliable turbine operation. Effective lubrication is critical, as drivetrain failures can quickly halt production, especially in offshore and remote sites. Mobil introduced...
Revisiting the Photoelectric Conversion Mechanism in Hydrothermally Deposited Sb2(S,Se)3 Solar Cells
Researchers have uncovered a new photoelectric conversion mechanism in hydrothermally deposited Sb2(S,Se)3 solar cells. Annealing drives selenium into the CdS buffer, forming a gradient‑bandgap Cd(S,Se) layer that, together with Sb2(S,Se)3, creates a V‑shaped mixed absorber. This structure separates electron‑hole pairs...
RWE to Provide 65% of Network Rail’s Non-Traction Electricity From Wind Farm
Network Rail has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with German energy firm RWE to source 65% of its non‑traction electricity from the 576 MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm in Wales. The deal will deliver 300 GWh of renewable power annually for...
Kiwa PVEL Updates Module Testing Programme, Aims to Tackle Glass Breakage, Frame Failures and Hail Damage
Kiwa PVEL has revamped its Production Qualification Program to include test‑to‑failure protocols for static mechanical load and hail testing, aiming to identify the maximum stress solar modules can endure. The updated hail test now evaluates five modules per round, focusing on...
Schwab Forecasts $5.8 T Global Grid Upgrade Surge Fueled by AI Power Demand
Charles Schwab’s latest report warns that AI‑driven data centers will push U.S. electricity demand from 147 TWh in 2023 to over 606 TWh by 2030, sparking a projected $5.8 trillion global spend on grid upgrades through 2035. The analysis spotlights a $1 trillion U.S....
Solar Procurement Is Changing as Geopolitics ‘Redefines Risk’
Solar buyers in Europe are shifting procurement focus from pure cost to security, ESG compliance, and cyber‑risk mitigation, as highlighted at the SolarPLUS Europe conference in Milan. Geopolitical tensions—such as the Strait of Hormuz blockade and China’s polysilicon consolidation—are creating...
Bloom Energy's 24% Jump Triggers Clean‑Power ETF Surge After Oracle Fuel‑Cell Deal
Bloom Energy surged about 24% after Oracle signed a 2.8 GW fuel‑cell agreement, sending the SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF up 4.1% and boosting nuclear and smart‑grid ETFs. Solar‑focused funds fell as First Solar missed earnings and a pending polysilicon...
Europe’s Power‑Grid Bottlenecks Threaten Electrification Targets
Europe’s electrification agenda is hitting a wall as grid infrastructure lags behind demand. In the Netherlands, more than 15,000 companies sit on waiting lists for connections, underscoring a continent‑wide bottleneck that could stall policy goals worth trillions of euros.
Nippon Express and Nikon Sign SAF Agreement
Japanese logistics firm Nippon Express and camera maker Nikon have renewed a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) agreement for air cargo shipments, marking the second consecutive year of collaboration. The deal leverages Nippon’s NX‑GREEN SAF program to issue CO₂‑reduction certificates for...
RAW Charging Powers up One of the Largest EV Charging Hubs in the Midlands at Leamington Spa Shopping Park
RAW Charging has activated a 17‑bay electric‑vehicle charging hub at Leamington Spa Shopping Park, featuring six AC fast bays and eleven 150 kW ultra‑rapid DC bays. The site, the largest EV hub in the Midlands, serves a high‑footfall retail and leisure...
Maine Legislature Passes First‑In‑Nation Temporary Ban on New Data Centers
The Maine Legislature approved LD 307, a temporary moratorium on new data centers consuming 20 MW or more of electricity until November 2027, and sent the bill to Governor Janet Mills. Proponents say the pause lets the state study power and water impacts,...
Caterpillar Acquires Monarch Tractor, Adding $251M VC‑Backed AI Platform to Its Portfolio
Caterpillar Inc. announced the acquisition of Monarch Tractor, a California startup that raised roughly $251 million to develop electric and autonomous off‑road vehicles. The deal, disclosed in mid‑April, gives the heavy‑equipment maker access to Monarch’s MK‑V “data platform on wheels” without...
Philippines Registers Solar Module Maker Targeting EU Export Market
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has registered Genuine Renewable Energy and Eco‑Friendly Energy Network Corp. (GREEENC) as an ecozone enterprise to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules for export, primarily to the European Union. GREEENC will invest about PHP 370 million ($6.16 million) in...
Plans Announced for 260MW Data Center in Konin, Poland
Central Energy Group (CGE) announced a €3 billion ($3.5 bn) AI‑focused data centre in Konin, Poland, delivering 260 MW of compute capacity. The project has secured power connections and environmental permits, with construction targeted for 2027 once a strategic investor and building permits...
Modine Launches Data Center Segment, Appoints Art Laszlo to Lead Unit
Modine announced the launch of a dedicated data‑center segment, carving it out from its broader climate‑solutions business. The new unit will be led by Art Laszlo, promoted to president after serving as VP of liquid‑cooled applications since 2022. The move...
This Long Beach Startup Says It Has a Patch for California's Power Problems
Long Beach‑based Critical Loop secured $26 million in new funding, bringing its total to $49 million, to accelerate deployment of battery‑and‑grid‑management systems that deliver power in days rather than years. The startup’s controller instantly switches between the public grid, on‑site batteries, solar...
Listing the Risks Behind (Unpredicted) Solar Oversupply and the Resulting Extreme Low Prices
Solar capacity in the EU is growing at roughly 60 GW per year, creating frequent midday oversupply that can push electricity prices into negative territory. When actual generation exceeds day‑ahead forecasts by several gigawatts, markets have seen four‑digit negative prices, as...
AI Robot Accelerates Solar Panel Installation Safely
#AI-Powered #Robot Revolutionizes Solar Panel Installation with Speed, Precision, and Safety via @ZappyZappy7 #AI #Robotics #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/d9jZS1jtju
Iran War Sparks 'Fundamental Energy Transition' In Seoul Toward Renewables: Energy Minister
South Korea’s energy minister says the Iran war is accelerating the country’s shift from oil to renewables. Seoul has pledged 100 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, up from the current 37 GW and a 9% share of electricity in 2025. The...
Change of Mayor Prompts Appeal Against Data Center Planned in Provence, France
Telehouse’s plan to build a 50 MW data center at the Sybilles business park near Marseille faces a fresh appeal after the long‑time mayor of Les Pennes‑Mirabeau stepped down. The new municipal officials, backed by local residents and neighborhood associations, argue the...
Plaid Cymru Says Renewables Plan Would Benefit Welsh Communities
Plaid Cymru unveiled a "renewable revolution" manifesto promising a National Energy Strategy, a Renewable Energy Sector Deal and a state‑owned energy company to boost community ownership of wind, tidal and other green assets. The plan aims to accelerate Wales toward...
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) Eyes Fuel Cell Systems for AI and Cloud Build Out
Oracle announced an expanded partnership with Bloom Energy, securing up to 2.8 GW of fuel‑cell systems, with an initial 1.2 GW already being deployed in U.S. data centers. The on‑site power solution is aimed at supporting the company’s rapid AI and cloud‑infrastructure...
France Launches Tenders for 12,000 MW of Renewable Energy – 10,000 MW Offshore Wind Power
The French government announced a new tender program targeting roughly 12 GW of renewable generation, with about 10 GW earmarked for offshore wind projects. Additional capacity includes 1.2 GW of solar and 0.8 GW of onshore wind, complementing France’s existing hydro and nuclear mix....
EU Climate Chief Calls for Renewables Surge
EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra warned that soaring energy prices and a €22 bn (≈$24 bn) rise in fossil‑fuel import costs demand a rapid shift to renewables, electrification and nuclear power. He told the Financial Times that Europe’s debt‑laden governments lack a financial...
RWE and Network Rail Ink Five-Year Offshore Wind Farm Deal
RWE and Network Rail have signed a five‑year power purchase agreement under which the German energy group will deliver roughly 300 GWh of offshore wind electricity each year. The clean power will cover about 65 % of Network Rail’s non‑traction electricity needs...
Gammon Construction Team Uses Low-Carbon Concrete in Hong Kong
Gammon Construction and Hongkong Land have deployed CarbonCure’s CO₂ mineralisation system in the Landmark retail renovation, creating low‑carbon concrete that incorporates about 40% ground‑granulated blast‑furnace slag. The mix reduces cement use by up to 7% and cuts concrete‑related carbon emissions...
District Energy and Data Centers: A Strategic Partnership for the Future
Data center expansion is hitting power, water and community limits, while a shift to liquid cooling concentrates waste heat at 50‑80 °C. District energy systems can capture that heat, delivering chilled or hot water through underground networks and eliminating on‑site chillers....
Hexicon Reports Challenging Year for Floating Wind
Hexicon said 2025 was a tough year for floating offshore wind, with soaring capital costs and tighter auction dynamics pressuring margins. Despite the headwinds, the company doubled its revenue to €1.78 million (≈ $1.9 million) and expanded its development pipeline to 10,850 MW across...