Why IT Leaders Need to Consider AI’s Energy Footprint
Gartner forecasts datacentre electricity consumption reaching about 1,200 TWh by 2030, a 20% rise from the previous year. AI‑optimized GPU servers are projected to draw roughly 156 GW, underscoring the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella pledged that Azure now runs on 100% renewable power and emphasized reducing the energy per token processed. Experts caution that without disciplined AI workload assessment, the sector could overwhelm grids and inflate carbon footprints.
Rio Tinto “Farms Out” Smelter Repowering as Decarbonisation Division Gets the Axe
Rio Tinto has dismantled its dedicated decarbonisation division, moving responsibility for the $1 billion repowering of the Tomago aluminium smelter to its aluminium and lithium team. The shift follows a budget cut that reduced the company’s 2021‑2030 decarbonisation spend to US$1‑2 billion,...
Pioneering Community Solar and Battery Project Launches After “12 Years of Hard Work”
A community‑owned 1.4 MW solar farm with a 4 MWh battery has been completed in Goulburn, NSW. The project, driven by the Goulburn Community Energy Co‑operative, raised $2.6 million from 288 local investors and secured a $2.1 million state grant. It is the world’s...
Quinbrook Bags EPBC Act Approval for 780MW Supernode North BESS in Australia
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners secured environmental clearance for its 780 MW Supernode North battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland, confirming the project as a “not controlled action” under Australia’s EPBC Act. The facility will sit on a 41‑hectare former CSIRO research...
Cadeler Arm Wins Offshore Wind O&M Deals in Japan and Taiwan
Cadeler’s service arm Nexra has landed two firm offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) contracts in Japan and Taiwan. The Japan contract, slated to begin in spring 2026, will run for one to two months and be executed by the...
South Australia on Path to 100 Pct Net Renewables Next Year After Labor Landslide and Liberal Backflip
South Australia’s Labor government, buoyed by a landslide win, will pursue a net‑100 percent renewable electricity target by 2027, relying solely on wind, solar and storage. The Liberal Party’s collapse removes a major policy obstacle, reinforcing voter support for clean energy....
Australia to Datacenter Operators: BYO Energy, Pay Your Way, Build Green, or Stay Home
The Australian government released new datacenter expectations requiring operators to build their own power generation, fund transmission infrastructure, and adopt sustainable water practices. Proposals that do not align with these criteria will be deprioritised in Commonwealth regulatory assessments. The guidelines...
“Massive Step:” State Inks Deals to Deliver More than 1 GW of New Wind Power Ahead of Mass Coal Exodus
Western Australia’s Labor government has secured more than one gigawatt of new wind capacity, surpassing its 810 MW target to replace retiring coal plants. Contracts were signed with three projects—130 MW Kondinin, 470 MW Parron Maam, and 330 MW of the 550 MW Marri farm—delivering...
Fully Funded Italian Solar Expansion: Construction of 7 MWp Puglia Solar Plant to Commence July 2026
Zenith Energy Ltd announced that construction of its 7 MWp solar portfolio in Puglia, Italy will start in early July 2026. The under‑construction portfolio (UCP) comprises three plants, with grid connection secured and 85% of the €3.87 million cost financed externally. The...
Can India Afford to Quit Coal?
India remains heavily dependent on coal, which supplies roughly three‑quarters of its power, even as the economy expands at 7.5% annually and electricity demand surges. Solar capacity has exploded from 4 GW to 140 GW in a decade, putting the country on...
UK Households Are Finding Solar Garden Lights Fail Years Early – and One Tiny Hidden Part Is to Blame
UK homeowners are discovering that solar garden lights often stop working after just two to three years, far shorter than advertised. The primary culprit is the low‑cost rechargeable battery, which degrades quickly under the UK’s cool, cloudy climate and limited...
Electric Propulsion Innovator Arc Raises $50M in New Funding
Arc, a Los Angeles‑based electric boat and powertrain firm, closed a $50 million Series C round led by investors such as a16z, Menlo Ventures, and Eclipse. The capital will be used to accelerate production of electric tugboat powertrains and to expand the...
Over 1,200 New EV Charging Stalls Deployed By EVgo In 2025
EVgo announced it installed more than 1,200 new fast‑charging stalls in 2025, expanding its U.S. network to 5,100 stalls across 47 states. The company recorded a 366 GWh public‑network throughput, surpassed 1.6 million customer accounts, and generated $384 million in revenue, a 50%...
A Secret Weapon to Fight Carbon Emissions Was Just Discovered: Beavers
A Swiss study found that beaver‑engineered wetlands can sequester 108‑146 tons of carbon each year, turning a former floodplain into a net carbon sink. The carbon storage equals the emissions of roughly 832‑1,129 barrels of oil and could offset 1.2‑1.8% of...
Govt to Launch Bid for 7th Tranche of Critical Mineral Blocks on March 23
India will launch its seventh tranche of critical mineral auctions on March 23, 2026, offering 19 blocks across multiple states. The blocks contain lithium, graphite, rare‑earth elements, tungsten, vanadium and titanium, essential for electric vehicles, renewables, fertilizers and defence. The...
Green Schools = Big Savings
A new Building Power Resource Center report shows school districts nationwide cutting utility bills by installing solar panels, geothermal systems, and other efficiency upgrades. Kentucky schools saved over $2 million, Rhode Island districts trim $60,000 annually, and Colorado’s middle school reduced...
India to Start Carbon Credit Trading After Four Months: Power Minister Manohar Lal
India will commence carbon credit trading within four months, announced by Power Minister Manohar Lal. The government has launched a dedicated carbon‑mark portal to handle registration, verification and trading, and more than 40 projects in biogas, green hydrogen and forestry...
Octopus Claims Heat Pumps Can Be £200 Cheaper than Gas Boilers — but What About in Older Homes?
Octopus Energy’s new Cosy Heat Pump Fleet Performance Dashboard shows that about 80% of its heat‑pump customers paid less than they would have with a gas boiler, averaging £219 in annual savings. The data, drawn from thousands of UK homes,...
Gray Hydrogen, High Costs, and the Real Emissions of SunLine’s Fuel Cell Fleet
SunLine Transit Agency has invested roughly $27 million (2026 dollars) over two decades to build and repeatedly rebuild hydrogen refueling infrastructure for a 31‑bus fuel‑cell fleet. Despite upgrades from electrolyzers to a liquid‑hydrogen station, hydrogen fuel costs have remained high and...
Nuclear in the Spotlight Amid Oil, Gas Crunch
The ongoing Middle East oil‑gas disruption is reviving interest in nuclear power as a low‑carbon baseload source. European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, have pledged €200 million for innovative small modular reactors and urged member states to extend existing plant...
Juicier Steaks Soon? The UK Approves Testing of Gene-Edited Cow Feed
British regulators have approved the first gene‑edited crop for animal feed, allowing Golden Promise barley with increased fat content to be tested on cattle. The modified barley is designed to accelerate weight gain, boost milk production and cut methane emissions...
PSA Zeebrugge Powers 50% of Electricity Needs With Over 1,800 Solar Panels
PSA Zeebrugge has installed nearly 1,900 vertical solar panels on its warehouse façades, delivering an annual output of 770 MWh—enough to power half of the terminal’s electricity demand. The project, executed by Insaver of the Luminus Group, saves 101.43 tons of CO₂,...
Saudi Arabia's Edarat Secures Data Center Contract From Major Regional Bank
Edarat, a Riyadh‑based data‑center operator, landed a colocation contract with Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) valued at more than five percent of the bank’s projected 2025 revenue, roughly $70 million. The deal, slated for signing on April 10, adds to Edarat’s portfolio that...
Egypt's Renergy Group May Establish Data Center Alongside Its Green Energy Projects in Sinai Peninsula
Egypt's Renergy Group is planning a $15 billion green hydrogen and solar power complex in the El‑Tor area of the Sinai Peninsula, covering 127 sq km and featuring 15 GW of solar capacity to produce roughly 400,000 tons of liquid green hydrogen annually for European...
Vedanta Reuses 85 Million Cubic Metres of Water Across Operations in FY26
Vedanta Ltd reported reusing more than 85 million cubic metres of water across its mining and metals operations in FY26, achieving a 31 percent water‑recycling rate that ranks among the highest globally for water‑intensive sectors. The company’s three‑pillar strategy—recycle, conserve, replenish—underpins its...
Can You Turn Any House Into a Zero Energy Bills Home? Our Expert Explains What You Can Do
Retrofitting existing homes to achieve zero‑energy‑bills hinges on a fabric‑first approach that first reduces demand, then layers solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps and electric‑vehicle integration. Standards such as EnerPHit guide achievable performance, while newer schemes like Octopus Energy Zero...
Susan Collins and Climate Change: ‘The Silence Is Deafening’
Sen. Susan Collins defended the EPA’s abrupt cancellation of $7 billion in Solar for All grants, which would have helped 20,000 low‑income Maine households, while simultaneously emphasizing the Inflation Reduction Act’s partisan origins. Despite a 31% score from the League of...
Sponsored: Inside the AI Data Center Boom: Perkins Coie to Host International Data Center Day Webinar Series
Perkins Coie will host a CLE‑accredited International Data Center Day webinar series on March 25, 2026, featuring five sessions that tackle legal and operational risks in AI‑driven data center projects. The agenda covers corruption exposure, supply‑chain resilience, power infrastructure for AI scale,...
Tesla Plans Entry Into India’s Energy Storage Market
Tesla announced it is hiring a business‑development lead to launch utility‑scale energy storage in India, signalling a move beyond its modest electric‑vehicle sales. The company will likely introduce its Megapack and Powerwall systems to tap the rapidly expanding solar‑plus‑storage market....
US Gas in Crosshairs Amid Preelection Data Center Uproar
The AI boom is turning data centers into a major source of electricity and natural‑gas demand in the United States. Large‑scale training clusters rely on gas‑fired backup generators, adding significant load to the gas system. However, grassroots opposition to new...
Texas Grid Rethinks Rules as Data Centers Surge
Texas grid operator ERCOT is overhauling its interconnection process to cope with a surge of data‑center, crypto‑mining and other large‑load projects that total over 200 GW of pending requests. The new "Batch Zero" framework groups all projects of 75 MW or larger...
Flow Batteries' Role in the AI Boom
US data‑center construction spending surged to $28.3 billion in 2024, tripling over the prior three years and intensifying power‑grid strain. While lithium‑ion batteries dominate current storage, their fire risk fuels community opposition, especially near dense populations. Flow batteries emerge as a...
A New Modular Wall System From CO Adaptive Seeks to Make Passive House Retrofits Faster, Cheaper, and More Accessible
CO Adaptive unveiled “The Block,” a modular wall system built from salvaged lumber to deliver Passive‑House‑level performance. The prefabricated, interior‑mounted panels create an airtight thermal envelope without altering historic façades, cutting retrofit time and expense. A prototype installed on Governors...
Former Newspaper Building in Kansas City Eyed for 20-Story Data Center Development
Revitalization Unlimited, a Miami‑based historic‑preservation fund, plans to replace the 1900‑era Western Newspaper Union building in Kansas City with a 20‑story, 30 MW data center. The 142,085 sq ft tower would feature natural‑gas fuel cells and ground‑floor retail, demolishing the existing 29,990 sq ft structure....
Texas Takes Over Permitting for Carbon Storage Projects
The Texas Railroad Commission secured EPA approval to issue Class VI carbon‑storage permits, shifting authority from the federal level to the state. This primacy is intended to streamline applications, with a $50,000 filing fee, an annual $50,000 idle‑well charge, and a...
UK’s First Hygdogen Fuel Cell-Powered VMS Deployed by National Highways
Fuel Cell Systems partnered with Swarco UK & Ireland to install the United Kingdom’s first fuel‑cell‑powered variable message sign (VMS) on the National Highways network at the M6 Lancaster Motorway Services. The deployment uses an Efoy Pro 12000 direct methanol...
Duos Deploys Second Edge Data Center in Amarillo, Texas
Duos Edge AI has installed its second containerized edge data center in Amarillo, Texas, on Potter County land adjacent to the region's largest colocation facility. The 300 kW pod is slated to become fully operational in the coming months, expanding the...
Jinko, LONGi, Tongwei and Aiko Secure Solar Module Orders Exceeding 4.6GW in March
Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers JinkoSolar, LONGi Green, Tongwei and Aiko booked more than 4.67 GW of overseas module orders in March. Europe accounted for 51.1 % of the volume, Australia 42.5 %, with the remainder split across Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. JinkoSolar led...
Newave Energia, Gerdau Open 452MW Brazilian Solar PV Project
Renewable developer Newave Energia and steelmaker Gerdau have commissioned the 452 MW Solar de Barro Alto photovoltaic plant in Goiás, Brazil. The project cost R$1.3 billion (US$240 million) and comprises roughly 731,000 solar panels. Gerdau will purchase 40 % of the output to power...
Shipping’s Biofuel Gamble Could Deepen Africa’s Land Squeeze and Food Insecurity (Commentary)
The commentary warns that adopting crop‑based biofuels to decarbonise shipping could exacerbate Africa’s land pressure and food insecurity. Shipping accounts for roughly 300 million tons of fuel annually and 3 % of global emissions, so even modest biofuel uptake would demand large...
EU’s Von Der Leyen Pledges to Revise Carbon Pricing System, Introduce €30 Billion Cleantech Fund
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced imminent revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the creation of a €30 billion "ETS Investment Booster" fund. The short‑term changes will adjust benchmarks for free allowances and strengthen the Market...
Why Data Centers Will Need a ‘Bring Your Own Power’ Strategy
AI‑driven workloads are set to push U.S. data‑center electricity demand up 22% in 2025 and nearly triple by 2030, straining an already stressed grid. Grid operators such as PJM warn that extreme‑weather events could push generation capacity to its limits,...
V-Green to Build 99 Fast-Charging Stations in Vietnam
V‑Green, a charge‑point operator and VinFast sister company, announced a plan to build 99 fast‑charging stations across Vietnam this year. The stations will be located along national and provincial highways in 34 provinces, each offering up to 100 chargers delivering...
Six EV Chargers That Offer Free Charging In North Carolina
Waynesville, North Carolina installed six new Level 2 EV chargers at its recreation park, offering free charging to the public. Each unit costs $700, with the town spending roughly $23,000 for installation and recouping $6,900 through a federal tax credit, bringing...
Walmart and H&M Are Trying to Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Clothes
Fashion accounts for roughly 4% of global greenhouse emissions, prompting brands to seek low‑carbon alternatives. San Francisco startup Rubi Laboratories uses enzyme‑filled bioreactors to turn captured carbon dioxide into cellulose, a material identical to traditional plant fibers. Walmart, H&M and...
FERC Rejects RWE Complaint over PJM Interconnection Practices
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dismissed RWE Clean Energy's complaint that PJM Interconnection violated cost‑allocation rules after the project’s upgrade estimate ballooned from $1.25 million to nearly $72 million, prompting the developer to withdraw a 125‑MW solar‑battery project. At the same...
Why Technical Due Diligence Is Becoming the Backbone of Europe’s Solar-Storage Boom
Europe’s hybrid solar‑plus‑storage projects are scaling rapidly, turning isolated PV and battery assets into integrated systems that deliver firm capacity and grid services. The added electrical, mechanical and digital interdependencies raise failure risks, making superficial technical due diligence a liability....
Danantara Secures US$1.4 Billion to Build PV Module Assembly Plant in Indonesia
Indonesia’s sovereign investment agency Danantara has secured US$1.4 billion to build a domestic PV‑module assembly plant, slated for completion by the end of 2026. The funding underpins the government’s goal of adding 50 GW of renewable capacity by 2035 and ultimately 100 GW...
Non-Fossil-Fuel-Based Power Generation Capacity to Hit 786 GW or 70% Mark by FY'36: Government Report
India’s National Generation Adequacy Plan projects non‑fossil‑fuel‑based capacity to reach 786 GW – about 70 % of the total 1,121 GW target – by fiscal year 2035‑36. The current non‑fossil portfolio stands at 275 GW, representing 52.5 % of the 524 GW installed today. The plan...
Global Solar PV Installations Reached 647GW in 2025
Global solar PV installations hit a record 647 GW in 2025, an 11 % increase over 2024, according to Ember. China contributed 378 GW, more than half of the world’s additions, with a May surge of 111 GW driven by pricing reforms. Combined solar...