Scientists Rebooted This Forgotten Battery—And It Recharges in Seconds. This Could Be the Future of Energy.
Scientists have reinvented Thomas Edison’s 1901 nickel‑iron battery using modern nanotechnology, creating an aerogel electrode composed of protein‑derived nickel‑iron nanoclusters embedded in graphene oxide. The revamped cell can recharge in seconds and endure up to 12,000 charge‑discharge cycles, far surpassing the lifespan of conventional lithium‑ion packs. While its energy density remains below that of lithium‑ion batteries, the design promises safer, long‑lasting storage for grid‑scale solar and data‑center backup. Researchers are now optimizing fabrication and seeking scalable, low‑cost raw materials.
Equinix Signs Wind PPA with Auren Energia in Brazil
Equinix has signed a power purchase agreement with Brazil's Auren Energia to source wind power from two new farms, covering a substantial share of its Brazilian energy demand. The agreement, effective from 2026, underpins the company's expansion of data centers...
Avangrid Completes Mechanical Install of 166-MW Tower Solar Project in Oregon
Avangrid, part of the Iberdrola Group, has finished the mechanical installation of its 166‑MW DC Tower Solar project on 900 acres in Morrow County, Oregon. The farm, built with SEG Solar panels fabricated in Houston, is on track for commercial...
New Summit in Colombia Seeks to Revive Stalled UN Talks on Fossil Fuel Transition
Colombia and the Netherlands will host the First Conference on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta this April, aiming to jump‑start a stalled UN process for a global fossil‑fuel roadmap ahead of COP31. The gathering expects 40‑80...
The US’s Critical Minerals Club Threatens an Equitable Clean Energy Transition
The United States is forming a critical‑minerals trading bloc aimed at breaking China’s dominance in supply chains for digital and defense technologies. The initiative downplays clean‑energy needs, even though analysis shows only a handful of the 33 minerals the UK...
Polysilicon Prices Plunge, with Maximum Decline Exceeding 12%
Polysilicon prices in China plunged last week, with the steepest drop of 12.87% for n‑type granular material. High inventory—reaching 480,000 tons—combined with weak demand from downstream solar‑cell and module producers drove the decline. February output fell 17.3% to 84,400 tons,...
Esentia, Siemens Partner to Boost Waha-to-Mexico Gas Flow to 2 Bcf/D
Esentia Energy Systems and Siemens Energy have signed an agreement to upgrade the Wahalajara pipeline system, which transports natural gas from the West Texas Waha hub to Mexico. The upgrade is designed to lift daily throughput to roughly 2 billion cubic...
Babcock & Wilcox Will Deliver 1.2 GW of Gas-Fired Capacity for Applied Digital Data Centers
Babcock & Wilcox has secured a $2.4 billion design‑build contract with Base Electron to deliver 1.2 GW of natural‑gas‑fired capacity for Applied Digital’s AI‑focused data‑center campuses. The project will install four 300‑MW gas‑boiler and steam‑turbine generator sets supplied by Siemens Energy, with construction...
Oil Instability Powers Interest in Uranium & Nuclear Energy
Escalating Middle‑East tensions have pushed oil prices higher, reigniting concerns over energy security. The volatility is prompting policymakers and utilities to revisit nuclear power as a reliable baseload source, especially for power‑hungry AI data centers. Uranium, the core fuel for...
Which Healthcare Facility Retrofits Save the Most Energy and Emissions?
Hospitals are turning to retrofits rather than new construction to meet tighter sustainability rules, budget constraints, and patient demand, according to a Schneider Electric and JLL white paper. The study examined nine energy‑and‑carbon conservation measures (ECCMs) across seven facilities in...
Japan’s 27th Solar Auction Concludes with Average Final Price of $0.029/kWh
Japan’s Green Investment Promotion Organization wrapped up its 27th utility‑scale solar auction, allocating 79 MW at an average price of JPY 4.61/kWh ($0.029). The auction saw a zero‑yen bid for a 400 kW project and a highest bid of JPY 6.49/kWh, well below the...
Profiting From Subsidies While Proliferating Trump’s Protectionism
First Solar reported a $1.53 billion net profit for 2025, heavily bolstered by $1.6 billion in 45X transferable tax credits that are counted as net sales. The company projects $2.1‑$2.19 billion of similar credits in 2026, prompting Wall Street to discount the earnings....
Thermal Management Solutions for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are projected to hit 2 TWh of capacity by 2033, driven by a 30% CAGR and expanding renewable integration. Overheating remains a critical challenge, as temperatures above 30 °C can cut battery life by up to 40%....
Hanjung America to Build ESS Manufacturing Facility in Indiana to Support StarPlus Energy
Hanjung America, a subsidiary of South Korean battery maker Hanjung NCS, announced plans to construct its first U.S. energy‑storage‑system manufacturing facility in Huntington, Indiana. The 133‑acre plant will focus on cooling‑fan modules and direct‑injection fire extinguishers that serve the Stellantis‑Samsung SDI...
Over 400 Tesla Fast Chargers Planned For New Charging Hub
Tesla announced plans for a massive fast‑charging hub in Yermo, California, featuring roughly 400 V4 Supercharger stalls capable of delivering up to 500 kW. The site, positioned along the high‑traffic corridor between Southern California and Las Vegas, may incorporate solar‑powered canopies...
2 Big UK Car Associations Are Telling Drivers to Ditch Non-Essential Journeys as Oil Soars Above $100 a Barrel
Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel after the Iran‑related conflict disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude to near $120 in a single day. In response, the UK’s AA and RAC urged motorists to skip non‑essential trips and adopt...
USA Crude Oil Stocks Rise Week on Week
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that commercial crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, increased by 3.5 million barrels to 439.3 million barrels in the week ending Feb 27, still about 3% below the five‑year average. Total petroleum stocks rose 2.9 million...
California Utility Defeats Shareholder Lawsuit Over LA Wildfires
Edison International, the parent of Southern California Edison, secured a dismissal of a shareholder lawsuit alleging fraud over the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. U.S. District Judge Otis Wright found the utility’s statements about its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program too...
Arizona Corporation Commission Ends State’s Renewable Energy Standard
The Arizona Corporation Commission voted unanimously on March 4 to repeal the state’s renewable energy standard and associated tariff rules, arguing that the mandates no longer justify the costs to ratepayers. Since 2006, utilities have collected more than $2.3 billion in REST...
Long-Duration Storage Installations Surge in 2025
Global long‑duration energy storage (LDES) installations topped 15 GWh in 2025, a 49 % year‑on‑year rise. China drove the surge, delivering 93 % of total capacity under a new provincial‑level storage action plan. Compressed‑air systems dominated the mix at 45 %, followed by thermal...
‘Battery Atlas 2026’ Maps Europe’s Cell, Pack and Battery Manufacturers
The third edition of the Battery Atlas 2026, released by RWTH Aachen University, maps Europe’s entire lithium‑ion battery value chain. While more than 2,000 GWh of cell capacity was announced in 2023, the realistic outlook for early 2026 is about 1,190 GWh,...
Midmorning Markets: Amid War Wildcards, Technical Ceilings Rise for Natural Gas Futures
Natural gas futures surged past technical resistance, pushing the Henry Hub benchmark above $3 per MMBtu and breaching the $3.50 ceiling. The rally follows supply disruptions from the war in Iran, which have tightened global gas markets. Meanwhile, milder spring...
Peru’s Ongoing Political Instability Leaves Renewable Energy Transition in Limbo
Peru’s political turbulence intensified after Congress ousted interim President José Jerí in February 2026, installing former judge José María Balcázar as a short‑term leader ahead of the April 2026 elections. The rapid turnover marks the third consecutive presidential removal since...
Nuclear Power for Commercial Vessels Central to ABS, HD Hyundai JDP
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has partnered with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries to launch a joint development project for a nuclear‑powered electric propulsion system. The collaboration will produce a conceptual design, electrical...
Flowfinity Streams Unifies Remote Monitoring and Field Operations for Municipal Infrastructure
Flowfinity Inc. launched Flowfinity Streams, an industrial remote‑monitoring platform tailored for utilities and municipalities. The solution merges IoT sensor data, work‑order management, compliance reporting, and a no‑code workflow engine into a single environment. In a pilot with a major U.S....
Pre-Markets Down as Middle East Tensions Remain
Pre‑market trading is under pressure as the Iran conflict pushes WTI and Brent crude above $100 a barrel, lifting oil prices 78% year‑to‑date. Major indices are slipping, with the Dow down 1.16%, the S&P 500 off 1.05% and the Nasdaq losing...
India's Inter-Regional Transmission Capacity to Hit 143 GW by 2027: Shripad Naik
India’s inter‑regional transmission capacity is slated to rise to 143 GW by 2027 and 168 GW by 2032, supporting an anticipated peak demand of 388 GW in 2032. The National Grid will expand to 6.48 lakh circuit‑kilometres and boost transformation capacity to 2,345 GVA. Current...
Donut Lab Solid-State Battery Retains 97.7% Charge After 10 Days in Third Test
Donut Lab's third independent test by Finland's VTT confirms its solid‑state cell retains 97.7% of charge after a 10‑day idle period. The test measured a 26.5 Ah capacity at 1C and, after charging to 50% SOC, recovered 13.03 Ah, with only a...
TT-Line Switches Two RO/ROs to Bio-LNG
TT‑Line switched its Baltic ro‑ro ferries Nils Holgersson and Peter Pan to bio‑LNG in 2025, achieving a near‑zero emissions profile. The vessels, commissioned in 2022‑23 and powered by Everllence dual‑fuel engines, ran on renewable LNG without any performance loss. Tests...
GOP Whip Tom Emmer Predicts Oil Prices Will Drop After Iran War
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told CNBC that oil prices, which surged above $100 per barrel after Middle Eastern production cuts tied to the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran, will "tumble" once the operation concludes. President Donald Trump echoed the short‑term...
MISO, SPP Eye 500-kV Cross-Border Projects to Bolster Reliability, Save Money
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) are evaluating two 500‑kV transmission options—Core ($1.3 billion) and Core+ ($3.6 billion)—to strengthen reliability along their shared border in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The Core set would add 2.6 GW of import...
Domestic Coal Production Likely to Grow 6-7% Annually over Next Few Years: Kishan Reddy
India plans to boost domestic coal output by 6‑7 % annually, aiming for roughly 1.5 billion tonnes by FY 2029‑30. Production was about 1.05 bn tonnes in 2024‑25, and the government expects demand to peak around 2040. Minister G Kishan Reddy emphasized that...
Plug Power Plans Hydrogen Offering in Power Grid Auction
Plug Power Inc. is preparing to offer up to 250 MW of hydrogen‑generated electricity in a potential emergency auction run by PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power grid. The bid targets AI‑driven data centers and utilities seeking long‑term, seven‑year contracts. The...
Renewables Projects in Oman Near Completion
OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE) announced that its three renewable projects – Riyah 1, Riyah 2 wind farms and the North Solar plant – are on track to deliver 330 MW of capacity by the end of 2026. The developments represent a $230 million investment,...
Oil Companies Evacuate Staff From Iraq
International oil service firms Halliburton, KBR and SLB have evacuated foreign staff from southern Iraq as security deteriorates amid the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict. Iraqi crude output has slumped roughly 60%, falling to about 1.3 million barrels per day after key export routes...
Santos Greenlights Cooper Basin Infrastructure Upgrade
Santos Ltd and Beach Energy have approved the AUD 357 million Moomba Central Optimization (MCO) project, replacing seven aging gas‑run compressors with a single electric unit in South Australia’s Cooper Basin. The upgrade, slated for completion by 2029, aims to debottleneck the...
International Business Briefs | Saudi Arabia Joins Neighbours in Cutting Oil Output
Saudi Aramco has begun curbing output at two fields as the Strait of Hormuz bottleneck from the US‑Israeli war with Iran rattles global oil supplies. Meanwhile, Roche’s breast‑cancer drug giredestrant failed a late‑stage trial, sending its shares down more than...
Boeing Signs 40,000 Tonne Biochar Carbon Removal Agreement
Boeing has signed a multi‑year agreement with Carbonfuture to purchase at least 40,000 tonnes of biochar‑based carbon‑removal credits. The credits will come from four diversified projects in the Global South, offering long‑term soil sequestration and fertility benefits. This off‑take targets Boeing’s...
Falling Natural Gas Prices Drive Coal-to-Gas Switching Surge
Falling natural gas prices have revived the fuel’s share in U.S. thermal power generation. Gas now supplies about 72% of the thermal stack, up from roughly 60% a year ago. The surge is driven by a recent dip in spot...
Decarbonizing the Steel Industry: Kraftblock Demonstrates Efficient Waste Heat Utilization at Tata Steel in Jamshedpur
Kraftblock installed a 20 MWh high‑temperature thermal storage system at Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur sinter plant. The unit captures waste heat up to 500 °C from the cooling circuit and can discharge up to 1.8 MW back into the process. It is projected to...
Canadian Natural Calls for More LNG After Record Production Year
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported its best operational year in 2025, achieving record natural gas output driven by liquids‑rich drilling. Despite a volatile market that saw AECO prices swing from negative to over $3 per gigajoule, the company maintained lower...
Midsummer Secures Second Order for CIGS Production Line Equipment
Swedish thin‑film specialist Midsummer landed its biggest contract to date, a SEK 236 million deal for a complete DUO CIGS solar‑cell production line. The order follows a May 2025 SEK 143 million purchase for a 15 MW turnkey line from the same undisclosed Swedish defense...
Build Smarter: Energy Demand Growth Can Benefit Everyone
American Gas Association CEO Karen Harbert argues that rising U.S. energy demand—driven by reshoring and AI—offers a chance to keep costs low if natural‑gas infrastructure expands quickly. She notes that demand has risen nearly 50 % since 2006 while shale has...
Oil Prices Soar to $120 a Barrel as Iran Names New Supreme Leader
Oil prices surged to near $120 a barrel as Iran’s conflict intensified following the appointment of a new supreme leader, then retreated to about $106 for Brent and $103 for WTI. The fighting threatens production and shipping in the Persian...
Vestas Signs Japan Nacelle Factory MoU
Vestas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to establish a wind turbine nacelle manufacturing base. The agreement sets a target for final‑stage nacelle assembly in Japan by fiscal year 2029, with a...
Span Looks to Cut Smart Panel Costs with $75M Eaton Partnership
Smart‑panel startup Span announced a strategic partnership with electrical‑equipment giant Eaton, which includes a $75 million investment. The deal aims to drive down the cost of Span’s $3,500 smart panels by tapping Eaton’s manufacturing scale and its extensive distributor and installer...
Pionix and Lumissil Partner to Slash Time-to-Market for EV-Charger Manufacturers and Enhance Interoperability with EVerest-Powered “ChargeBridge”
Pionix and Lumissil have deepened their partnership to deliver ChargeBridge, a pre‑certified System‑on‑Module that blends Lumissil’s IS32CG5317 Green PHY microcontroller with Pionix’s open‑source EV‑charging software. The module decouples hardware and software, allowing charger manufacturers to accelerate development cycles and simplify...
Resource Estimates for Chevron's Aphrodite Raised
Chevron’s Aphrodite consortium announced a 4% uplift in contingent gas resources to 3.67 trillion cubic feet, with low and high estimates now at 2.73 Tcf and 4.59 Tcf respectively. The revision stems from new core‑sample data and the Cyprus government’s approval of the...
INSPIRE Opens Aberdeen Offshore Wind Base
INSPIRE Environmental, a Venterra Group unit, has opened a permanent operational base in Aberdeen to serve offshore wind projects across Scotland, the UK, and Europe. The facility will eventually house about 30 specialists and is co‑located with Oceanscan to streamline...
House Leadership Files Fuel Excise Tax Suspension Bill; Public Hearing Set Tuesday
House leaders filed HB 8292, allowing the Philippine President to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes during national or global emergencies, triggered by soaring oil prices linked to Middle East tensions. The bill sets a concrete threshold—Dubai crude at $80 per...