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 the national lab system. It will let data centers, utilities, and technology firms experiment with flexible load‑management strategies to bolster grid reliability. Early participants include Schneider Electric, Compass Datacenters, and Verrus, while AI‑driven platforms like Emerald AI’s Conductor are poised to showcase real‑time demand response.
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...
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...
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...
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...
‘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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
DRIFT's Energy-Harvesting Vessel Concept Earns AIP
DRIFT Energy received an Approval in Principle from classification society RINA for its pioneering energy‑harvesting vessel, which aims to generate and store clean power while sailing. The design integrates hull‑mounted hydro‑kinetic turbines with onboard electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, turning...
COP31 President Urges World to 'Electrify Processes Throughout Our Lives'
Turkish Minister Murat Kurum, the COP31 President‑designate, called for an accelerated global push to electrify industrial processes, transport and heating to curb fossil‑fuel demand. He signaled that concrete measures to boost electrification could become a top agenda item at the...
OCI, CPS Break Ground on 480-MWh Alamo City BESS Project
OCI Energy and CPS Energy broke ground on the Alamo City Battery Energy Storage System in Bexar County, Texas. The 120‑MW, 480‑MWh facility is slated for commercial operation in 2027. OCI will develop, finance and retain ownership while CPS Energy...