SP Energy Networks Launches Flexbility Platform
SP Energy Networks has introduced ElectronConnect, a new flexibility platform designed to streamline participation in grid‑balancing markets. Developed with flexibility service providers, the platform already supports month‑ahead markets that help match supply and demand. The initiative aims to accelerate the uptake of low‑carbon technologies while keeping network costs low for customers. Executives from both SP Energy Networks and Electron highlighted the partnership’s role in expanding market opportunities and improving network reliability.
How to Delaminate End-of-Life Solar Modules with Ultrasonic Cavitation
A German‑Turkish research team introduced a solvent‑free ultrasonic cavitation process to delaminate end‑of‑life crystalline‑silicon photovoltaic modules. The technique fully separates the glass from the front EVA layer and partially releases silicon fragments, achieving an 82.2% mass‑based delamination efficiency. Laboratory tests...
Aggreko to Deliver ‘Australia’s Largest’ Off-Grid Renewable Hybrid Power Plant
Aggreko announced a landmark 15‑year power purchase agreement with Harmony Gold to supply the Eva copper project in northwest Queensland. The off‑grid hybrid plant will combine a 118 MW solar farm, a 250 MWh battery storage system and a 104 MVA thermal generator,...
ITM Power Wins £86.5m UK Backing for Sheffield Hydrogen Electrolyser Factory
ITM Power secured £86.5 million from the UK government and Great British Energy to expand its Sheffield electrolyser factory, targeting a 1 GW production capacity. The investment will add a new production line and create over 400 jobs, positioning the site as...
DESNZ Launches Pilot for Non-Pipeline Carbon Capture Transport
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has launched the Non‑Pipeline Transport (NPT) Pathfinder, a pilot to test road, rail and ship CO₂ transport alongside existing pipelines. The initiative follows the December 2024 contracts for the Teesside carbon...
GridStor, Axpo Execute Energy Storage Revenue Swap Agreement for 440MWh Texas BESS
GridStor and Swiss utility Axpo have executed a revenue‑swap agreement for the 220 MW/440 MWh Hidden Lakes battery‑energy‑storage system in Galveston County, Texas. The swap converts volatile merchant market revenue into a fixed, guaranteed payment, allowing GridStor to de‑risk its investment while...
EU to Relax Methane Rules to Secure Energy Supplies
The European Union announced it will temporarily relax its methane‑emissions rules to safeguard energy supplies amid a tightening gas market. The move delays the implementation of leak‑detection technology and allows member states to apply short‑term exemptions for operators. Officials say...
Planet-Friendly Logistics
In February the U.S. government repealed the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, stripping the agency of authority to regulate greenhouse‑gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Despite this policy reversal, the logistics sector—particularly maritime shipping—continues to pursue decarbonization, with the International...
NFPA’s Comprehensive Battery Safety Code Nears Finish Line
The National Fire Protection Association is set to release NFPA 800, its first comprehensive battery safety code covering the entire lifecycle of stationary energy‑storage systems and consumer‑grade batteries. The provisional standard, expected later this month after a fast‑tracked vote, will define...
Family Offices Piled Into Oil After Capital Dried Up. The Recent Rally Has Made for Big Gains
Family offices have capitalized on the recent oil price surge, which rose about 30% to over $94 a barrel after the Iran conflict began in February. With institutional investors pulling back due to ESG pressures, these ultra‑wealthy firms entered the...
Oil Prices Rise to Nearly $100 After Iran Accuses U.S. of Breaching Ceasefire Deal
Oil prices surged on Thursday, with Brent crude reaching $98.54 a barrel and U.S. WTI climbing to $99.41, after Iran accused Washington of violating three elements of a two‑week cease‑fire agreement. Iran’s parliamentary speaker cited Israel’s strikes in Lebanon, a...
Santos Announces Positive Results for Quokka Appraisal Campaign
Santos Ltd completed the Quokka‑1 appraisal well on Alaska’s North Slope, confirming a high‑quality Nanushuk reservoir with 143 feet of net oil pay and 19% average porosity. After a single‑stage fracture, the well flowed at 2,190 bopd of light‑gravity oil. The results...
Renewable Natural Gas: What Investors Should Know
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is poised for a surge in M&A activity as investors chase climate‑friendly fuel credits and long‑term contracts. Analyst Dave Lindenmuth warns that while the sector offers strong ESG appeal, it also faces feedstock volatility, regulatory patchwork,...
Last Turbines Arrive at One of Sunshine State’s Biggest Wind Projects, with a Big Battery Included
The final 41 turbines have arrived at Queensland’s Wambo wind farm, completing the 254 MW second stage and bringing the total capacity to 506 MW across 81 turbines. Stage one’s 252 MW is already connected to the grid, and the project includes a...
The Clock Is Ticking: Coal Is Down, Prices Have Fallen, but Wind Projects Are Very, Very Late
Australia’s National Electricity Market is seeing coal’s share dip below 50% and evening‑peak prices fall sharply, driven by growing battery capacity and reduced coal generation. However, the anticipated wind build‑out is stalling, with developers missing final investment decisions and construction...
Italy ‘Definitely’ Most Attractive European Market for Solar Development
Jan‑Philip Kock, chief of staff at German IPP Encavis, said Italy is the most attractive European market for solar‑only projects, citing strong industrial demand, high gas‑driven power prices and the government’s Energy Release scheme that subsidises electricity for renewable investors....
Multimillion-Dollar Fine for EnQuest over 33 Idle Wells as UK Cracks Down on Decom Inactivity
The UK regulator North Sea Transition Authority fined EnQuest £16.5 million (≈$22 million) for not decommissioning 33 idle wells in the Alma, Galia, Broom and Dons fields. The penalty, £500,000 per breach, follows missed deadline extensions after production stopped in 2020‑2021. NSTA...
Sora Fuel Raises $14.6 Million to Produce Jet Fuel From Air, Water, and Clean Energy
Climate‑tech startup Sora Fuel announced a $14.6 million financing round to accelerate its air‑to‑fuel technology that converts water, ambient CO₂ and renewable electricity into carbon‑negative jet fuel. The Boston‑based company claims its integrated direct‑air‑capture process can capture CO₂ for under $50...
How LECO Process Could Push TOPCon Solar Cell Efficiency Beyond 26%
Researchers at UNSW and Chinese specialist Laplace have demonstrated that laser‑enhanced contact optimization (LECO) can lift industrial TOPCon solar cell efficiency beyond 26%. By applying intense laser pulses to under‑fired contacts while maintaining a reverse bias, LECO dramatically lowers contact...
UK to Require 62,000 New Rapid Chargers by 2030 to Meet EV Demand
Knight Frank’s latest report warns that the UK will need an extra 62,000 rapid EV chargers by 2030, requiring roughly 1,900 acres of land. The country’s electric‑vehicle fleet is expected to swell to 7.6 million vehicles, representing about 20% of all...
Analyst Report: Alliant Energy Corp
Alliant Energy Corp (LNT) operates as a regulated electric and natural‑gas utility serving roughly one million electricity customers and 435,000 gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Its generation portfolio is 43% renewable (primarily wind), 37% natural gas and 19% coal,...
Strait of Hormuz Is Not Just an Oil Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz, named after the Zoroastrian deity Ahura Mazda, is more than an oil conduit; it is a historically consecrated passage that now carries a diverse mix of energy and commercial cargo. Approximately 20% of global oil and over...
Fossil Fuels Shine Light of Hope in Africa
Africa’s chronic power shortages are prompting governments and investors to double‑down on fossil‑fuel projects, from natural‑gas plants to oil‑linked power stations. Recent announcements highlight billions of dollars in new upstream and downstream capacity aimed at stabilising grids in Nigeria, Kenya...
Alstom Acquires Cummins Hydrogen Fuel Cell Business
Alstom announced the acquisition of Cummins' rail hydrogen fuel‑cell business, adding engineering, product and support capabilities along with the Herten, Germany manufacturing site. The deal value was not disclosed. Cummins had earlier halted new electrolyser sales after incurring $458 million in...
Kyodo News Digest: April 9, 2026
Japan is weighing an extra 20‑day release of its strategic oil reserves as safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain despite a U.S.–Iran cease‑fire. Domestic consumer confidence slipped to 33.3 in March, the lowest level since last May,...
Maryland Senate Passes Bill Aimed at Managing Impact of Large Load Users on the Grid
The Maryland Senate approved the Utility Relief Act, targeting the grid impact of large load users such as data centers, and sent it to a conference committee for reconciliation with the House version. The Senate lowered the load‑factor threshold, potentially...
TST Launches ‘Dragonize’ Depot Charging Network to Scale Electric Truck Operations
TST Logistik has unveiled "dragonize," a cooperative depot‑charging network for electric trucks, backed by the digital platform DepotOS. The first hub in Worms, Germany, features eight high‑power chargers (three 400 kW, three 240 kW, two 160 kW) and 7.5 MW of on‑site solar, serving...
ERCOT Proposes $1,500/MW Incentive for Legacy Texas Storage to Adopt Grid Stability Support
ERCOT has introduced a $1,500 per megawatt incentive, backed by a $25 million fund, to encourage owners of legacy energy storage and renewable assets in Texas to retrofit their inverters to grid‑forming capability. The proposal, presented to the Inverter‑based Resource Working...
Lion Energy Takes Equity Stake in American Battery Factory Aimed at Securing Domestic Battery Supply
Utah‑based Lion Energy has taken an undisclosed equity stake in American Battery Factory (ABF) to lock in a domestic supply of lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) cells. The partnership gives Lion over 4.5 GWh of offtake from ABF’s planned 5.5 GWh Tucson gigafactory for the...
The Surprise Market That's Trouncing the EU on Energy Storage
Turkey has approved a 33 GW battery storage pipeline, more than double the combined capacity of Germany and Italy, the EU’s two largest storage markets. The surge follows a 2022 regulation that obliges new wind and solar projects to match generation...
US Could Try to Rebut Aspects of EU's CBAM, S&P Says
S&P Global Energy warns that the United States may formally challenge elements of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The potential rebuttal would likely be framed under World Trade Organization rules, arguing that the EU’s carbon levy discriminates...
Northern Lights Adds Third CO2 Carrier to Expand CCS Network
The Northern Lights joint venture has added a third liquefied carbon dioxide carrier, the Northern Phoenix, to its fleet. The vessel will haul captured CO₂ from Yara’s facilities to the Øygarden receiving terminal, where it will be piped to subsea storage....
SMRs Not Viable Short-Term, Taiwan Must Plan Early: Expert
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are not a short‑term solution for Taiwan’s energy shortfall, according to nuclear‑energy expert Lee Min. He highlighted nuclear power’s stable costs, low carbon output, and fuel security, especially after the May 2025 shutdown of the Maanshan plant’s...
South Korea’s AI Industrial Policy Meets the Energy Shock
South Korea is confronting a new Middle‑Eastern oil shock while pushing an aggressive artificial‑intelligence industrial strategy first outlined in the mid‑1970s. President Park Chung‑hee’s historic pledge to modernise heavy‑machinery and chemicals sectors now intersects with today’s AI ambitions, creating a...
Methoxyl‐Substitution of Phenylethylammonium Strengthened 2D/3D Heterogeneous Structures for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency and Stability
Researchers introduced p‑methoxyphenethylammonium chloride (MeO‑PEACl) into formamidinium‑based perovskite inks, creating a buried two‑dimensional/three‑dimensional (2D/3D) heterostructure in inverted solar cells. The methoxy‑substituted cation reduces solubility, stabilizes the α‑phase during anti‑solvent dripping, and wraps 3D grains with a thin 2D layer. This...
Singapore Installs 504 MW of Solar in 2025
Singapore recorded a record solar rollout in 2025, installing 504 MW of new capacity and bringing cumulative photovoltaic capacity to 2.09 GW. The surge pushed the nation past its original 2030 goal, prompting the Energy Market Authority to raise the target to...
Fire Survivors Call for Audits of Edison's Wildfire Prevention Spending
Fire survivors are urging California lawmakers to require independent audits of Southern California Edison, PG&E, and San Diego Gas & Electric’s wildfire‑prevention spending after a Times investigation revealed the utilities failed to spend hundreds of millions they claimed were needed....
Voltalia Commissions 148MW Bolobedu Solar Farm in South Africa
Voltalia has commissioned the 148 MW Bolobedu solar farm in Limpopo, South Africa, now delivering power to Rio Tinto’s Richards Bay Minerals under a long‑term corporate power purchase agreement. The plant is expected to generate about 300 GWh per year, enough for roughly 425,000...
Voltalia Commissions 148MW Solar PV Plant in South Africa with Rio Tinto Subsidiary PPA
French renewable developer Voltalia has commissioned the 148 MW Bolobedu solar farm in Limpopo, South Africa, marking the country’s first large‑scale PV project built for a private client. The plant is backed by a long‑term corporate power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto’s...
Why Wind Farms and Electricity Pylons Are a Major Issue in the Welsh Government Election
Renewable energy expansion in Wales, especially new wind farms and high‑voltage pylons, has become a flashpoint ahead of the Senedd election on 7 May. Environmental groups and local communities in rural areas are voicing strong opposition, fearing visual impact, land‑use...
4 Oil ETFs Riding the Crude Price Surge: What Investors Should Know
Crude oil futures have surged to multi‑year highs as the Iran‑Russia conflict intensifies, prompting investors to seek oil‑related exposure through exchange‑traded funds. Four ETFs stand out: Breakwave Tanker Shipping (BWET), which tracks oil‑tanker freight rates and is up more than...
India-Bhutan Hydropower Push: Minister Manohar Lal’s 4-Day Visit to Drive Projects, Trade
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal began a four‑day trip to Bhutan to accelerate bilateral hydropower projects, notably the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu‑I and 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu‑II schemes. He will meet senior Bhutanese officials, review project milestones, and discuss expanding cross‑border electricity trade, which...
Global Record Expansion Of Renewable Energy Continues In 2025 - Geopolitical Situation Puts Solar And Wind In Focus
In 2025 global renewable energy capacity grew by 692 GW, reaching 5,149 GW – a 15.5% increase year‑over‑year. Solar photovoltaics added 510.3 GW and wind 158.7 GW, together accounting for 96.8% of net additions. Asia supplied three‑quarters of new capacity, while Africa and the...
VIDEO: European BESS Integration with Chinese Cells Can Be Competitive, Says Maxxen’s Ruben Valiente
Maxxen, a European battery‑energy‑storage‑system integrator, sources its lithium‑ion cells from China’s Hithium while providing local integration services. Managing director Ruben Valiente argues that European players can remain competitive without relying on a price premium, leveraging Chinese cell cost advantages and adding...
Adani Green Energy's Arm Inks Pact with UAE’s Minerva to Develop Renewable Energy Projects in India
Adani Green Energy’s UAE subsidiary, Adani Renewable Energy Middle East Ltd, has entered a joint‑venture with Minerva Holding RSC to develop renewable‑energy projects in India. The partnership is backed by International Holding Company (IHC) Group, the UAE’s largest listed firm...
UK Government Approves Record 800 MW Solar Plant over Local Opposition
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband granted a Development Consent Order for the 800 MW Springwell Solar Farm, the largest solar installation approved in the United Kingdom to date. The project, developed by Luminous Energy and EDF Power Solutions, will include battery...
Plume Raises €3.3M to Cut Years From Renewable Energy Development Timelines
Plume, a Franco‑American geospatial AI startup, closed a €3.3 million (≈$3.6 million) round led by AENU with participation from Y Combinator, Kima Ventures and others. The company’s platform consolidates more than 150 continuously updated geographic datasets and deploys AI agents that parse unstructured...
Oil Dynasties Roll in the Dollars, Fueling Their Family Offices
The spike in oil prices triggered by the Iran war has dramatically increased the fortunes of families tied to the fossil‑fuel sector. These dynasties are channeling their windfalls into dedicated family offices, seeking to preserve and grow wealth beyond traditional...
Bills to Protect Ratepayers From Data Centers Fail in Georgia Legislature
Georgia’s 2024 legislative session ended without any data‑center bills becoming law, leaving the state’s 2018 tax exemption and utility cost‑allocation rules untouched. Lawmakers considered a range of measures—from a full ban on new facilities to rolling back tax breaks and...
Why High Oil Prices Are Good for Oil Companies — Until They Aren't
Oil prices have surged to $90‑$100 a barrel after the Iran conflict, delivering a multi‑billion‑dollar profit boost for U.S. producers such as ExxonMobil. However, the windfall is tempered by hedging contracts that lock many firms to $57 per barrel and...