What's happening: Saudi Arabia prequalifies firms for new gas transmission grids
The Energy Ministry has pre‑qualified eight standalone firms and seven consortia to design, build, own and operate natural‑gas transmission networks in five key industrial cities. The BOO scheme targets Al‑Kharj, Sudair and three Jeddah zones, with a technical‑bid deadline of 23 April 2026. A total of 36 industrial cities are slated for future grid development.
Also developing:

Aypa Power has closed a $1.5 billion revolving warehouse credit facility to finance its utility‑scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across the United States. The facility includes a $500 million “accordion” option, making it the largest storage‑focused independent power producer (IPP) warehouse financing to date. Funds will back projects slated for completion through 2028, including a 300 MW/1,200 MWh LFP‑based system in South Carolina. The deal was structured by a consortium of major banks, underscoring strong lender interest in the U.S. energy‑storage market.

United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI) is urging the United States and Malaysia to crack down on ship‑to‑ship (STS) transfers of sanctioned Iranian crude off Malaysia’s East Outer Port Limits. UANI identified about 60 dark‑fleet tankers waiting for STS operations,...

Fluence reported a 154.4% year‑on‑year revenue increase to $475.2 million in the quarter ending 31 December 2025, while its GAAP‑adjusted gross‑profit margin fell to 4.9% from 12.5% a year earlier. Net loss widened to $62.6 million and EBITDA loss grew to $52.1 million. The company’s...

The Philippine House of Representatives approved House Bill 6676, establishing a national framework for the development, utilisation and commercialisation of energy storage systems. The legislation passed with a 192‑3 vote and now awaits Senate approval before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can...

Octopus Australia announced the acquisition of the 1.2 GW/4.8 GWh Hanworth Battery Energy Storage System in New South Wales, positioning it as the country’s largest planned BESS. The project will connect to Transgrid’s Bannaby Terminal and can supply more than half a...

Australia’s New South Wales has awarded its largest ever long‑duration energy storage (LDES) tender, contracting six lithium‑ion battery projects totaling 1.17 GW of power and roughly 12 GWh of capacity. The awards, made by ASL, exceed the original 1 GW target by 117 %...
Did you know air pollution is the top preventable cause of premature death and ill-health in the world today: killing nearly 10 million people per year? And about two-thirds of that air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels? From the...

U.S. forces escalated the standoff with Iran after an F‑35 shot down an Iranian drone that approached a carrier in the Arabian Sea. Both sides have scheduled high‑level talks in Istanbul, raising hopes for a diplomatic de‑escalation. The dispute centers...

A CE Delft study commissioned by Nabu reveals a compatibility issue between on‑shore power supply (OPS) and LNG‑powered vessels. Ships with membrane or Type B tanks, which have lower pressure tolerance, may struggle to manage boil‑off gas (BOG) when connected to...

Baltic Storage Platform, a joint venture of Evecon, Corsica Sole and Mirova, inaugurated the Hertz 1 battery energy storage system – a 100 MW/200 MWh facility near Tallinn. The BESS will trade across frequency‑containment, automatic and manual frequency‑restoration reserves as well as intraday and...

Three Chinese energy‑storage firms—Great Power, Sunwoda and Deye Technology—have filed or updated Main Board IPO applications on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Great Power targets RMB 10 billion revenue in 2025 and expects a profit turnaround. Sunwoda refiles its prospectus, showing RMB 56 billion...

Enlight Renewable Energy announced that its CO Bar Complex in Arizona will total 1.21 GW of solar PV and 4 GWh of battery storage across five stages, with an estimated $3 billion investment and $1.6 billion net cost after tax credits. The project secured a...

Wärtsilä will invest roughly €140 million to expand its Sustainable Technology Hub in Vaasa, boosting production capacity by 35% and adding an 11,000 sq m extension. The upgraded facility, slated for completion in Q1 2028, supports the company’s record‑high 2025 operating profit of €833 million...

LG Energy Solution announced a target of 90 GWh of new battery‑energy‑storage‑system (BESS) orders in the United States for 2026, raising its ESS cell output to over 60 GWh while keeping total global capacity at roughly 300 GWh. The company plans to slash...

OVO Energy, a UK supplier serving over four million homes, is facing a severe financial crisis that could lead to bankruptcy within a year. The company posted the lowest customer‑satisfaction score in the 2025 Which? survey and is one of...

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana has commissioned the 75 MW/150 MWh Glacier Battery System near Cut Bank, a $100 million investment that bolsters grid reliability. The battery storage enables rapid response to fluctuations from wind and solar generation. It also allows BHE Montana to...

On January 1, 2026 the United States enforced foreign‑entity‑of‑concern (FEOC) restrictions and a 25% Section 301 tariff on Chinese‑origin battery energy storage systems (BESS). The new rules have shifted procurement from a price‑only focus to a comprehensive risk‑management approach that evaluates supply‑chain...

Nuveen Infrastructure’s managing director Isabel Rodriguez de Rivera warned that Spain’s energy‑storage market still lacks a complete regulatory framework, hindering bankability of large‑scale battery projects. While the EU’s Clean Energy Package has spurred overall European BESS growth, national gaps persist,...

German utility Uniper has signed a conditional supply framework with CMBlu Energy to procure at least 5 GWh of the firm’s organic solid‑flow batteries. The agreement, running through 2037, allows Uniper to take delivery in 100 MWh blocks beginning in 2027 after...

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s consultation highlights the UK’s growing reliance on imported LNG as North Sea production declines, requiring costly new compressors to reverse gas flow. Rare‑scenario modelling shows a potential £1 billion‑per‑day economic hit if the...

Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) has unveiled a transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan covering 2028‑2033, directing electricity distribution upgrades to match rapid electrification, electric‑vehicle adoption, and new data‑center loads. Developed with Ofgem and the six distribution network operators (DNOs)...

The episode examines the paradox of hydrocarbon utilization in the Middle East, highlighting how oil is still burned for electricity at massive scales while natural gas remains underdeveloped and heavily flared. It contrasts the region’s wasteful practices with global trends...

The UK Ministry of Defence has raised objections to a planned wind‑farm near the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array in Scotland, arguing that turbine vibrations could interfere with the station’s ability to detect seismic signals from nuclear tests. Eskdalemuir is the sole...

Two new reports argue that long‑duration energy storage (LDES) is critical for Britain’s net‑zero pathway. The Transition Finance Council estimates the UK will need up to 8 GW of LDES by 2030 and over 15 GW by 2050, requiring £10‑15 bn of capital...

A Royal Society report warns that roughly half of the energy used by UK industry is lost as waste heat, contributing about 14% of national emissions. By capturing and reusing this thermal energy through heat‑cascade systems, firms could slash operational...

A Marsh Risk report warns that the UK and Europe could miss out on major carbon capture and storage (CCS) investment without clearer, credible policy support. The analysis of 504 senior CCS decision‑makers shows average capture costs of $163.45 per...

The UK regulator Ofgem is introducing an automatic £40 compensation for customers who wait more than six weeks for a smart‑meter installation or who experience unresolved faults beyond five working days. The rule, effective February, expands the Guaranteed Standards of...

Former coal‑mining towns in the UK are spearheading INNO‑TREC, a €5.4 million European Commission project that puts citizens at the heart of renewable energy generation. The initiative removes technical, financial and legal hurdles to community‑owned solar schemes, pairing rooftop panels with...

The European Investment Bank Group announced a record £90 billion of financing for 2025, with nearly 60% directed to green projects. The funding supports electricity grids, storage, renewables, and climate‑adaptation infrastructure, including £10 billion for grid upgrades and 56,000 km of new power...

The UK government has created a North Sea Future Board in Aberdeen to guide the basin’s shift from oil and gas to a clean‑energy hub. The board unites oil‑gas firms, renewable players, trade unions and local leaders to unlock investment,...

London’s South Bank will soon be heated by a £72.7 million river‑source heat network that extracts low‑carbon warmth from the Thames. Developed by Hemiko, the scheme taps water‑source heat pumps to supply the BFI Southbank, Southbank Centre, National Theatre and King’s...

In this episode, Chris Keefer interviews Ken Petrunik, a veteran of Canada’s nuclear golden age who led the construction of large CANDU reactors—including the Qinshan Phase III project in China—delivered ahead of schedule and under budget under a fixed‑price EPC contract....

Ukraine has launched a series of "kinetic sanctions" targeting Russia's shadow‑fleet oil tankers, using maritime drones and alleged limpet mines. Since November, at least eleven tankers – eight carrying crude – have been damaged, driving Black Sea insurance rates up...
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In this 26‑minute mini‑episode, host and guest Carter Lavin break down how everyday activists can turn climate and transportation goals into effective local campaigns. Lavin shares tactics from his new handbook, including power mapping, coalition building, and the “inside‑outside game”...

Europe’s battery market is overwhelmingly dependent on China, with 85‑87% of imports sourced from Beijing. The article warns that a Chinese suspension of battery exports would destabilize Poland’s energy transition, logistics, industrial output, and military readiness, and could similarly cripple...

Drax has built three 299 MW OCGT plants that secured GB Capacity Market contracts, yet none can operate because grid connections have not been delivered. Under the Capacity Market rules, the lack of connection triggers non‑delivery penalties that could wipe out...

The episode “Assisted Thinking” dissects the stark contrast between China’s massive reliance on coal—accounting for 58% of its primary energy in 2024—and the Western media narrative that paints Beijing as a climate leader. By examining data from the Statistical Review...

In this brief episode, ANZ Research analysts discuss the recent 4.9% drop in oil prices, attributing the decline primarily to easing geopolitical tensions with Iran. They explain how reduced risk of supply disruptions has softened market sentiment and led to...

In this episode of Decouple, the hosts dissect the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR), showing how its over‑engineered safety philosophy—extreme redundancy and conservative margins—clashed with Western construction capacity, supply‑chain readiness, and project‑management culture, leading to massive delays and cost overruns. They...
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In this mini‑episode, Chris and former IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka examine Japan’s precarious position in the global energy transition, weighing whether it should align with petro‑states, join the electrostate movement, or straddle both. Tanaka proposes a bold East Asian...