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 champion power conversion efficiency of 25.22% for n‑i‑p devices fabricated in ambient air. The devices also demonstrate exceptional durability, retaining 95% of their initial efficiency after more than 4,300 hours of storage and after 1,000 hours of maximum power point tracking at 40 °C and 40‑50% relative humidity.
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...
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,...
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,...
Data Center Demand Drives 66% Surge in Natural Gas Power Plant Costs
Tech giants Microsoft and Meta are increasingly building on‑site natural‑gas power plants to power data centers, but BloombergNEF shows construction costs have surged 66% to $2,157 per kilowatt since 2023. Build times have also lengthened by 23%, stretching projects into...
GE Vernova Blade Break Halts Wind Farm Using Biggest Onshore Turbines
A blade on one of GE Vernova's 6.1 MW, 158‑meter onshore turbines snapped at the Drumlins Park wind farm in County Monaghan, Ireland, forcing the 49 MW site to shut down as a precaution. The incident, captured on drone footage, caused no injuries...
Invisible Infrastructure: Inside a Dallas Community-Driven GIS Substation
Denton Municipal Electric completed the Hickory GIS substation, doubling capacity while cloaking the facility in a 22‑foot screen wall that matches historic downtown. The project used BIM to coordinate underground utilities and addressed challenging soil and water conditions. Community workshops...
Powerbank on Wheels: Bidirectional Charging Demonstrated in Electric Trucks
Project partners in the German SPIRIT‑E research initiative publicly demonstrated bidirectional charging on a MAN eTGX electric truck, delivering up to 325 kW back to the grid. The 480 kWh truck also powered a second eTGX via a bidirectional station, showcasing vehicle‑to‑vehicle...
CATL to Supply Chinese Steelmaker with Batteries and Charging Stations for Electric Mining Trucks and Machinery
Chinese battery leader CAT CATL signed a multi‑year deal with steelmaker Jianlong to equip its mining trucks, heavy trucks, ships and construction equipment with lithium‑ion batteries and integrated charging‑and‑swapping stations. The partnership targets deployment of over 3,000 electric heavy trucks within...
AI-Enabled Smart Grid to Accelerate Power Sector’s Shift to Clean Energy
GlobalData’s new Smart Grid report highlights an AI‑driven transformation of power networks, with utilities leveraging real‑time analytics to fine‑tune load balancing and boost reliability. AI models from firms like Solcast and RisingStack now‑cast solar output, while National Grid uses sensor...
Georgia Power Files RFP for up to 6,000MW of New Dispatchable Energy Resources
Georgia Power has filed a request with the Georgia Public Service Commission to launch an all‑source RFP for 2,000‑6,000 MW of new dispatchable capacity, targeting needs through 2033. The solicitation will cover thermal generation, standalone energy‑storage systems and battery‑storage‑plus‑renewables configurations, with...
Huaneng Energizes 5.4 GW Hydro-Solar Complex in Southwest China
China's state‑owned Huaneng Group has commissioned the 5.43 GW Xiaowan Hydropower‑Solar Hybrid Project in Yunnan, merging 4.2 GW of hydropower with 1.23 GW of solar. The complex uses a new hydro‑solar intelligent coordination system that aggregates electricity from 16 photovoltaic farms through a...
Ireland Solar Exceeds 1GW Peak Output
Ireland’s grid‑scale solar generation broke the 1 GW barrier, peaking at 1,133 MW on 27 April 2026. The milestone follows a rapid climb from 750 MW in March 2025, reflecting a surge in new solar farms. Solar’s share of electricity demand rose to 3.1% in 2025,...
Renewables Overtake Coal
Renewables now account for nearly 34% of global electricity generation, overtaking coal as the largest single source in 2025. Solar power drove 75% of the net increase, adding 636 TWh, while wind also expanded. Coal’s share slipped to 33% after peaking...
Data Center Power Demand in Taiwan Set to Surge Eightfold by 2030 - Report
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs forecasts that data‑center power demand will surge eightfold, reaching roughly 1 GW by 2030, driven largely by AI workloads. Overall electricity consumption is expected to rise 13% from 2023 levels, with AI data centers alone projected...
Distributed Energy Infrastructure Installs Community Solar Projects Through Heavy Snowfall
Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) has reached mechanical completion on two community‑solar farms near Lysander, New York—a 2.9‑MW West Genesee project and a 5‑MW Cold Springs project developed for Generate Capital. Construction proceeded through a record winter with over 100 inches of...
GB Clean Power Hinges on Fixing Grid Connections
Britain’s clean‑energy rollout is being hampered by chronic grid‑connection failures, with developers receiving empty offers that lack dates, conditions, or technical details. Delays now stretch 15 to 26 months and cost overruns have surged up to 200%, eroding investor confidence....
Meta Signs Deal to Power Data Centers at Night with Solar Energy From Space
Meta announced a partnership with Virginia‑based satellite startup Overview Energy to tap space‑based solar power for its AI‑driven data centers in the United States. The deal gives Meta early access to up to 1 GW of capacity, with an orbital demonstration...
Irish Ambition and Delivery on Renewables at WindEurope
Ireland’s delegation, led by Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Timmy Dooley, used the WindEurope conference in Madrid to showcase the country’s renewable ambitions ahead of its EU Presidency. The event, which attracted over 16,000 attendees, featured an Offshore Wind Ministerial Session...
NextEra Contracted 4 GW of New Generation Projects in Q1
NextEra Energy Resources announced a record 4 GW of new generation contracts in Q1 2026, comprising 2.2 GW of solar, 1.3 GW of battery storage and 0.5 GW of wind. The utility aims to expand its portfolio to 41.5 GW of solar and 43 GW of...
Trina Solar Claims World’s Highest Efficiency for Silicon Solar Cells with 28.0%-efficient Device
Trina Solar announced that its TOPCon‑compatible hybrid back‑contact (THBC) silicon cell achieved a certified 28.0% power conversion efficiency, the highest ever for a large‑area 210R crystalline silicon device. The result, validated by Germany’s ISFH, combines TOPCon passivation, HJT‑style surface treatment...
Geotechnical Investigations to Soon Start at Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm Site
Fugro will launch a geotechnical survey campaign at the Caledonia offshore wind farm in early May, following a February geophysical study. The work, using vessels RS Alegranza and Fugro Synergy, will run through mid‑August and include cone penetration tests, seismic...
PJM Market Monitor Opposes 1.3-GW Gas Plant Deal Between Hull Street, Rockland Capital
The PJM market monitor, Monitoring Analytics, has asked FERC to reject Hull Street Energy’s proposed purchase of two peaking power plants totaling 1,267 MW from Rockland Capital. The deal could allow Hull Street to divert the Lee County, Illinois and Tait,...
DHL Deploys Second Solar-Powered Parcel Transport Ship in Berlin
DHL has launched a second, larger solar‑powered parcel ship on Berlin’s Spree River, expanding its eco‑logistics pilot that began in 2022. The new vessel, 19.5 m long, can carry up to 1,500 parcels and travels between Köpenick and the Osthafen near...
Coca-Cola Canada Expands Volvo VNR Electric Fleet Across Quebec and Vancouver
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited is expanding its zero‑emission fleet with three new Volvo VNR Electric trucks in Quebec City and four additional units slated for Vancouver this spring. The rollout brings the company’s nationwide electric fleet close to 40 vehicles,...
How Workforce Training Is Shaping the Future of Offshore Renewables
The Global Wind Organization (GWO) has standardized safety training for offshore wind workers, creating a unified curriculum that includes fire awareness, sea survival, and working at heights. Its digital registry, WINDA, stores certifications globally, allowing instant verification of credentials. Hands‑on...
Tackling Grid Challenges with AECC: The TS Next-Generation Advanced Conductor
TS Conductor unveiled its next‑generation Aluminum Encapsulated Carbon Core (AECC) conductor, a composite solution that lets utilities replace aging lines without modifying existing structures. The AECC design promises five core grid attributes—reliability, resiliency, affordability, rapid deployment, and safety—addressing the shortcomings...
Applications for Home Energy Upgrades up 96% in 2026
Ireland’s National Residential Retrofit Plan, backed by a record €640 million (≈$698 million) budget, is driving a surge in home‑energy upgrades. In Q1 2026, applications for individual upgrades jumped 186% year‑on‑year, and total applications rose 96%, with SEAI processing 29,000 requests. The...
Vietnam: Transerco Deploys 120 Electric Buses in Hanoi
Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco) deployed 120 electric buses across seven routes in April, expanding its low‑floor fleet. The buses, identified as VinFast’s EB 8 and Green Bus 8, are 8‑metre models with a 290‑km range per charge. Priced at roughly $146,000 each,...
Premier Energies Unveils 600-630 W All-Black TOPCon Solar Modules
Premier Energies has launched the NeoBlack Series, an all‑black, glass‑glass solar module line for residential and premium commercial rooftops in India. The modules deliver 600‑630 W power with efficiencies ranging from 22.21 % to a peak 23.32 % and feature TOPCon n‑type cells,...
TransiT Simulates Zero Carbon Transport Scenarios for the M1
TransiT, the UK’s national research hub for transport decarbonisation, is using digital‑twin technology to simulate zero‑carbon freight along the M1 corridor. Led by Heriot‑Watt’s Alex Foote and partnered with Cranfield University, the project leverages data from DHL’s fleet of roughly...
Oxford PV Says Tandem Solar Could Add up to 5 Km to Daily EV Range
Oxford PV has joined Nissan’s SUITE consortium to advance perovskite‑silicon tandem solar cells for vehicle‑integrated photovoltaics. The tandem technology promises 20‑30% more power per unit area, adding roughly 3‑5 km of daily range and pushing total solar‑derived range to 15‑20...
Meta Secures Overview Energy Space Solar Power Capacity
Meta has signed an agreement to secure up to 1 GW of power from Overview Energy’s planned solar‑beaming satellite system. The move follows Meta’s earlier deals for 6.6 GW of nuclear capacity and reflects growing pressure on terrestrial grids from AI‑driven data‑center...
Norway Can Teach the UK About Energy Security – but the Lesson Is Not More North Sea Drilling
Norway’s aggressive electrification strategy shows the UK how to boost energy security without expanding North Sea drilling. A recent Middle‑East supply shock exposed Britain’s reliance on imported oil and gas, while domestic production offers only limited price relief. Norway meets...
UK Startup Showcases All-in-One Water Cylinder Heat Pump Prototype
British startup Nusku unveiled a prototype that packs an air‑source heat pump, a 180‑litre hot‑water cylinder and a smart controller into a single outdoor unit. The integrated design eliminates the need for indoor cylinders and reduces installation time to one...
EirGrid Announces Procurement Package for Irish Offshore Wind
EirGrid announced a procurement package valued at over €100 million (approximately $110 million) for the Powering Up Offshore – South Coast Tonn Nua Substation project. The package includes design, fabrication, installation and commissioning of offshore substations and related high‑voltage equipment. It is...
Minister Opens BnM Derrinlough Wind Farm
Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment officially opened BnM’s 126 MW Derrinlough Wind Farm in Offaly. The project, a €150 million ($164 million) investment, features 21 V150‑6.0 MW turbines and is underpinned by a corporate power purchase agreement with Amazon. A €12 million...
Are Geopolitical Uncertainty and Rising Costs Slowing the 'Race to Retrofit' Commercial Buildings?
The latest analysis shows the UK’s commercial real‑estate sector saw fewer A, A+ and B Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in 2025 than in the two preceding years, indicating a slowdown in building retrofits. Property owners cite rising material and labour...
Pace Plans 100MW "Texas First" Data Center in Glasscock County
Austin‑based developer Pace announced the Lone Star Project, a 100 MW data center in Glasscock County that will initially run on behind‑the‑meter natural‑gas power. The campus is engineered for AI workloads and is designed to expand up to 1 GW as demand...
Toyota Tsusho’s AEOLUS Begins Operation of Solar Plants in Tunisia
Toyota Tsusho’s AEOLUS has begun commercial operation of two 50 MW solar power plants in Tunisia’s Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur governorates, delivering a combined 100 MW capacity. The projects, developed at a cost of about $92 million, are financed by the EBRD and...
Chinese Scientists Build Silver-Free Heterojunction Solar Cell with 25.2% Efficiency
Chinese researchers at Nankai University introduced an argon‑hydrogen plasma interface engineering technique that dramatically improves indium tin oxide (ITO) layers used in heterojunction (HJT) solar cells. The treatment enhances adhesion, lowers contact resistance, and enables uniform copper electroplating, replacing costly...
Amazon Partners with Veolia to Deploy Water-Reuse Technology at Data Centers in Mississippi
Amazon has teamed with French utility Veolia to install water‑reuse systems at its Mississippi data centers, targeting reclaimed wastewater for cooling. Veolia will provide autonomous, containerized treatment units that convert effluent into high‑purity cooling water, with the first site expected...
Powering AI, Strengthening the Grid: Innovation in Space Solar Energy and Long-Duration Storage
Meta announced two strategic partnerships to secure clean power for its AI and data‑center operations. With Overview Energy, Meta will reserve up to 1 GW of space‑solar capacity that beams constant sunlight from geosynchronous orbit to ground‑based solar farms, enabling 24/7...
How the Conflict in Iran Is an Accidental ‘Green Swan’
The Iran‑Hormuz conflict has sharply disrupted global oil flows, sending Brent crude above $100 a barrel and slashing tanker traffic by roughly 87 percent within weeks. The chokepoint moves about 20 million barrels daily—about 20% of world oil consumption—exposing the strategic...
US Renewable Capacity Set for 80GW Rise
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects utility‑scale solar, wind and battery storage to add over 80 GW of capacity by February 2027, lifting renewables’ share of total utility‑scale capacity from 33.4% to 36.6%. Solar will contribute roughly 42.6 GW, wind 14.5 GW—including 4.2 GW offshore),...
DuPont Artistri Operations in Iowa Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Electricity
DuPont announced that its Artistri Digital Printing Solutions plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, now runs on 100 percent renewable electricity through Renewable Energy Certificates. The shift delivers a 61 percent cut in Scope 2 greenhouse‑gas emissions, advancing DuPont’s pledge to net‑zero carbon by...