Intelligent Solar Siting Neutralizes Local Opposition at Near-Zero Cost
A new geospatial optimization model shows that utility‑scale solar can avoid critical habitats with only a 0.17% increase in total system costs. Using New York as a test case, the study compared least‑cost, agricultural‑preservation, and biodiversity‑first siting strategies. Prioritizing biodiversity pushes development onto less productive lands, while least‑cost approaches concentrate on pastures, threatening grassland bird habitats. The framework offers developers a low‑cost tool to pre‑empt local opposition and streamline permitting.
Why Wales Could Be the Next Energy Powerhouse
Oil and gas price spikes triggered by U.S.–Iran tensions have highlighted global energy vulnerability, but Wales is already ahead, generating 54 % of its electricity from renewables in 2024. The Welsh government has set a new target of 70 % renewable electricity...
Malaysian Utility TNB Connects 100MW/400MWh Grid-Forming Battery Storage Project to Grid
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) commissioned the 100 MW/400 MWh Santong battery energy storage system, the first grid‑forming BESS connected to Peninsular Malaysia’s 132/33 kV network. The project, unveiled on 18 May, aims to boost grid stability on the East Coast and facilitate larger‑scale solar...
Australia: CSIRO Advances Smarter Design, Operation of Large-Scale Solar Farms
CSIRO scientists are rolling out a suite of tools to make Australia’s expanding large‑scale solar farms more efficient, farm‑friendly and grid‑ready. Spatial‑modelling software evaluates 1,568 land‑use scenarios, showing that siting panels on low‑productivity grazing land can slash agricultural profit losses...
ClearVue Clears Key Hurdle for Global Solar Tech Rollout
ClearVue Technologies secured TÜV SÜD certification for its thermal‑management junction box under IEC 62790, a key safety and performance standard for solar façade components. The box, rated at 1,000 volts, 30 amps and IP68 waterproof, is designed to control heat and extend module life...
Singapore and Japan Launch Floating Wind Pact as Recharge Summit Kicks Off
Singapore and Japan unveiled a bilateral pact to develop floating offshore wind projects at the inaugural Recharge Wind Power Summit. The agreement aims to combine Japan's advanced turbine technology with Singapore’s strategic location and financing expertise. Both governments highlighted the...
Yarra Energy Foundation Brings Community Battery Paired with EV Chargers Online in Australia
Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) has launched a front‑of‑meter community battery paired with two wheelchair‑accessible EV charging bays at Collingwood Leisure Centre in Melbourne, funded by a AU $750,000 (≈US $536,000) state grant. The 60 kW dual charger can deliver roughly 150 km of range...
Bangchak Launches Thailand’s First Commercial SAF Production
Bangchak Group has launched Thailand’s first commercial Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production line, a 100% HEFA‑SPK stand‑alone unit at its Phra Khanong refinery. The plant converts used cooking oil into SAF and renewable diesel, completing a full feedstock‑to‑fuel ecosystem. The...
ADB, Singapore Renew Partnership to Accelerate Cross-Border Clean Energy in Southeast Asia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) have renewed a three‑year memorandum of understanding to accelerate cross‑border renewable energy and grid‑interconnector projects across ASEAN. The partnership will focus on overcoming barriers such as project bankability, risk...
Cloud Has a Climate Cost. Here's Our Plan to Reduce Ours.
Upsun disclosed its 2025 carbon footprint—2.57 kt CO₂e total, or 11 t per employee—highlighting that cloud services account for roughly half of emissions (about 1,200 t CO₂e, 62% of the footprint). The company measured its impact using the GHG Protocol with Greenly and performed a...
Cuba Begins Installing Turbines at Herradura 1, Its Largest Wind Farm
Cuba has begun erecting turbines at Herradura 1, the island’s largest wind farm, marking the first physical step after a decade of delays. The project will initially install 22 Goldwind GW77/1500 turbines, delivering roughly 34 MW of capacity, with a full 34‑turbine,...
NextEra CEO Positive About Dominion Offshore Wind Project
NextEra Energy’s chief executive John Ketchum told investors that the company feels confident about Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project, even though NextEra has previously criticized the technology. The comment came during a call about NextEra’s $66.8 billion bid to acquire Dominion,...
How Solar PV Yield Risk Shapes Project Design, Investment, and Bankability
Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects hinge on expected annual energy yield, but the inherent uncertainty around that figure influences every stakeholder. Engineers must balance design trade‑offs, investors assess P50 versus P90 yields to gauge downside risk, and lenders rely on conservative...
Activists Challenge 160MW Cape Town Data Centre Project
Equinix has applied to build two data centres in Cape Town with a combined power demand of up to 160 MW. The Housing Assembly and UK non‑profit Foxglove lodged a formal objection, demanding full disclosure of water use, emissions, diesel backup...
Delta Electronics’ On-Site Microgrid to Provide Valuable Solar + Storage Insights
Delta Electronics has completed a 425 kW solar‑plus‑storage microgrid at its Detroit plant, connecting to DTE Energy via a 13.2‑kV medium‑voltage link. The system combines solar panels, a 2.8 MWh battery, EV chargers and a 3‑MW power‑conditioning unit, all managed by Delta’s...
From Backup to Prime Power: How AI Data Centers Are Bypassing the Grid
AI‑driven data centers are increasingly bypassing traditional grids, opting for onsite power generation to meet relentless compute demand. Analysts project more than 35 GW of self‑generated capacity by 2030, with 27% of facilities expected to run primarily on onsite generators. Grid...
Italy Plans to Build ‘Europe’s Largest Data Center’ in Former Trino Power Plant
Italy’s Trino municipality announced a €4 billion ($4.65 bn) plan to convert the decommissioned Enel Galileo Ferraris power plant into what could become Europe’s largest data center. The project, driven by data‑center developer Techbau, will repurpose the 130‑hectare site while keeping Enel...
$1.6bn Data Center Plan Rejected in Cleveland, Ohio
Private credit firm Lakeland Equity Group’s $1.6 billion proposal to build a hyperscale data center in Cleveland was rejected by Mayor Justin M. Bibb on May 14. The plan called for a 150 MW, 300,000 sq ft campus on a 35‑acre site in the Slavic...
DNOs Should Move From ‘Reactive’ to ‘Preventative’ Resilience Approach, Says Report
A new Imperial College report warns that the UK electricity distribution network is becoming increasingly fragile due to ageing assets, rising electrification and more frequent extreme weather. It calls on distribution network operators to abandon reactive, fix‑on‑fail tactics and adopt...
Digital Realty Expands in Spain, Launches Data Center in Barcelona
Digital Realty has opened its first Barcelona data center, BCN1, delivering 14 MW of capacity across 15,000 sqm. The facility, located in the Sant Adrià de Besòs innovation district, uses HVO100 biodiesel for backup power and meets the company’s high sustainability standards....
Oman Signs 2.7GW Hybrid Renewables PPA with Naqaa Sustainable Energy
Naqaa Sustainable Energy has signed a 2.7 GW hybrid renewable power purchase agreement with Oman’s state‑run Nama Power and Water Procurement for projects in Mahout and Duqm. The hybrid scheme will combine solar PV, wind turbines and battery storage to deliver...
Cost-Effective Hail Resistance Comes From R&D and Insurance Feedback
Heliene CEO Martin Pochtaruk says robust R&D and insurer feedback are essential for creating hail‑resistant utility‑scale solar modules. The Canadian‑government‑backed 35% R&D tax credit lets Heliene conduct destructive testing with Sandia National Labs, validating its 3.2 mm front glass and aluminum...
Terrestrial Energy: Projects Progress & DOE Programs Strengthen Commercialization – Quarterly Update Report
Terrestrial Energy’s Integrated Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) made notable strides in Q1 2026, securing NRC approval of its Postulated Initiating Events (PIE) safety framework and advancing DOE‑backed TETRA and TEFLA pilot programs. A strategic partnership with Riot Platforms opened a data‑center...
Enphase Localizes Battery Software for Reducing Power Loss
Enphase Energy has rolled out its PowerMatch battery‑software for residential IQ Battery systems, targeting the US, Puerto Rico, and select Central American and Caribbean markets. PowerMatch intelligently activates only the micro‑inverters needed at any moment, aiming to cut inverter‑related energy...
Neighborhood Battery Combined With Solar & EV Chargers
Yarra Energy Foundation is piloting a community battery in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, that pairs with local EV charging stations. The system provides renewable electricity to renters and apartment dwellers lacking rooftop solar, while smoothing grid demand and preventing overvoltage. By...
Singapore’s Vena Energy Starts P24-Billion Philippine Solar Projects
Singapore‑based Vena Group has broken ground on two utility‑scale solar projects in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, with a combined investment of about ₱24.3 billion (≈$440 million). The Astra Solar Power Project will cost ₱3.76 billion (≈$68 million) and generate roughly 142 GWh annually, enough for 120,000...
Taiwan Shifting to Regionalized Approach for Solar Permitting
Taiwan's city of Taoyuan introduced new solar permitting guidelines that require operators to conduct self‑inspections on environmentally‑sensitive sites, engage local residents, and establish disaster‑panel storage plans. The rules also mandate third‑party health checks once plants are online and enforce stricter...
Floating PV Tested at Manure Lagoon in Spain
Spanish engineering firm Intergia is piloting floating photovoltaic (PV) systems on pig‑farm manure lagoons to cut ammonia emissions while generating on‑site electricity. Two prototypes—one a 33 kW commercial float covering 20% of a lagoon in Zamora, the other a 9.4 kW custom...
TCS | Charge’s R1.8-billion Bet on an Off-Grid EV Future
South Africa’s Charge is investing roughly $97 million (R1.8 billion) to build a coast‑to‑coast network of off‑grid, renewable‑powered EV charging stations, targeting one site every 150 km along national highways. The first station on the N3 corridor launches in May 2024, and the...
REGENT Teams with Schneider Electric to Power Seagliders Off-Grid
REGENT Craft successfully demonstrated off‑grid charging of its Seaglider vessels on May 18, 2026, using a DC‑coupled modular system built with Schneider Electric and World4Solar. The test proved the craft can receive power at coastal, island or remote sites without grid connections,...
China Puts ‘World’s First’ Offshore Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center Into Operation
China’s Lingang Special Area has commissioned the world’s first offshore wind‑powered underwater data center, a project launched in June 2025 and fully operational by February 2026. The facility began as a 2.3 MW demonstration unit and will scale to 24 MW, delivering up to...
Wind Leads Ireland Electricity Mix in April
In April, wind became Ireland’s top electricity source, delivering 38% of total output. Renewable generation reached 48% of the mix, driven by 1,078 GWh of wind and a record 163 GWh of grid‑scale solar. Gas supplied 35% while imports covered 16%, and...
Bondada Engineering Bags Orders Worth ₹469-Cr From Adani Group
Bondada Engineering announced it has secured orders worth ₹469 crore (approximately $57 million) from the Adani Group for the Balance of System (BOS) package of a 250 MW solar project in Khavda, Kutch, Gujarat. The orders, issued by Adani Green Energy and its...
Rakuten and KDDI Are Locked in an Epic Power Struggle
Japan’s NEDO has selected Rakuten and KDDI for a joint research program aimed at slashing data‑centre and mobile‑network power consumption by roughly 40% by 2030. The five‑strand initiative tackles virtualised network optimisation, AI‑driven RAN tuning, compact cooling for compute hardware,...
OX2 Starts Construction Work at 135MW Muswellbrook Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Australia
Swedish IPP OX2 has broken ground on its 135 MW solar‑plus‑storage project in Muswellbrook, New South Wales, pairing the solar plant with a 100 MW battery system on 482 ha of former coal‑mining land. Construction includes a new 2.4 km overhead line to the...
Japanese Scientists Achieve World Record 25.14% Efficiency for Perovskite-CIGS Tandem Solar Cell
Japanese researchers at Tokyo City University, together with AIST, have set a new world record for a perovskite‑CIGS tandem solar cell, achieving a certified 25.14% power conversion efficiency on a 1 cm² two‑terminal device. The record surpasses the previous 24.6% benchmark...
As Islands Grapple with Spiking Fuel Costs, Renewables Offer a More Secure and Affordable Option
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest outlook shows light fuel oil‑based power costs climbing from $0.29 to $0.45 per kilowatt‑hour by 2050, a 33 percent rise driven by Middle‑East geopolitical shocks. For a typical 50‑MW island grid, that surge means roughly...
AtkinsRéalis Bets on Nuclear-Powered AI Factories Amid Data Centre Surge
AtkinsRéalis Group’s nuclear division propelled a 34% profit surge in Q1, now representing a quarter of the firm’s revenue. The company secured multibillion‑dollar life‑extension contracts for reactors at Ontario’s Pickering plant and Romania’s Cernavoda site. In March it teamed with...
CIM Group Unveils Permanent Power Company with $400m Support
CIM Group has launched Permanent Power Company as a national power platform and secured a $400 million financing commitment from HPS Investment Partners. The firm also signed a long‑term power purchase agreement covering 246 MW of solar PV and 150 MW/600 MWh of battery...
Iberostar Installs First Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell in a Hotel
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts and utility Redexis have installed Europe’s first green hydrogen fuel cell at the Iberostar Waves Bahia de Palma hotel in Mallorca. The system draws renewable hydrogen produced at the solar‑powered Lloseta plant, delivering both thermal energy...
Making Sustainability Practical in Colocation
The International Energy Agency forecasts global data‑centre electricity use to rise from 415 TWh in 2024 to about 945 TWh by 2030, driven largely by AI and digitalisation. In Europe, regulators are tightening reporting under the Energy Efficiency Directive, demanding concrete KPIs...
European Energy Starts Sicily Agrivoltaic Project
European Energy has begun building a 225.5 MW agrivoltaic facility near Vizzini, Sicily, marking Italy’s largest project of its kind. The development, backed by a final‑investment decision of over €200 million (about $218 million), will generate roughly 405 GWh of clean electricity each year....
Asia's Offshore Wind Ambitions Hinge on Bankable Auctions After Europe's Costly Lessons
Asian offshore wind markets are racing to replicate Europe’s recent auction success, but must design bankable tender structures to avoid costly delays. South Korea’s latest auction attracted nine bids totaling 3.6 GW, twice the capacity on offer, and highlighted a push...
New 1,000 MW Battery Joins Queue for Federal Green Tick, with Eye to Add Wind Farm Next Door
Iberdrola Australia has applied for federal environmental approval to build a 1‑gigawatt, 4,000‑megawatt‑hour battery energy storage system (BESS) near Nebo, Queensland, adjacent to a key Powerlink substation. The 34‑hectare site will connect via a 275‑kV underground line and remain largely...
Hong Kong Advances Hydrogen Strategy at International Development Symposium
Hong Kong unveiled a comprehensive hydrogen strategy at the International Hydrogen Development Symposium on May 18, 2026, emphasizing policy reforms, standards, and cross‑border partnerships to accelerate the clean‑fuel transition. Acting Secretary Diane Wong highlighted 37 pilot projects spanning double‑decker buses,...
More than 100 UK Datacentres Plan to Burn Gas to Generate Electricity
More than 100 new UK datacentres are planning to burn natural gas to generate electricity, with some seeking permanent supply. The combined demand exceeds 15 TWh per year, roughly enough to power London for four and a half months. Officials warn...
Retailer Beefs up Regional Power Offer with Three New Solar-Battery Projects and “Anti-Hail” Panels
Australian renewable generator Flow Power has finished three solar‑plus‑battery projects in South Australia’s southeast, each pairing a 6‑7 MW solar farm with a 5 MW/15 MWh storage system. The sites in Monarto, Naracoorte and Coonawarra feature anti‑hail PV modules, Australian‑made steel and prefabricated...
V2G Explainer: Safety and the Current State of Turning Electric Cars Into Batteries on Wheels
Australia is rapidly advancing Vehicle‑to‑Grid (V2G) technology, spurred by high rooftop solar adoption and growing consumer interest. While the Combined Charging System (CCS) and ISO 15118‑20 protocol promise standardized bidirectional power flow, many deployments currently rely on non‑homologated solutions that fall...
SMGP Taps ₱30-Billion Bond War Chest to Accelerate Renewable Energy Projects
San Miguel Global Power Holdings (SMGP) raised a ₱30 billion (~$540 million) bond, allocating nearly half (₱14.84 billion, about $267 million) to solar and hydro projects as part of its renewable‑energy push. The funding also supports a 200‑MW baseload supply contract with Meralco that...
Rooftop Solar
The Philippines is seeing a surge in rooftop solar as power costs soar and brownouts become routine. Bank financing has accelerated, with BPI’s solar‑loan portfolio jumping 89% to roughly $1.8 million in 2025 and installations now costing about $9,000 – cheaper...