AI Is Causing a Power and Cooling Headache for Agencies
The latest NVIDIA AI processors are forcing federal agencies to confront unprecedented power and cooling requirements. Agencies must secure trusted partners or conduct assessments to size generators, UPS systems, and transfer switches, while private‑sector spenders are willing to invest over $1 billion but balk at 17‑month timelines. Supply shortages of memory, CPUs, and storage further delay deployments, prompting a shift toward prefabricated data centers with built‑in liquid cooling. The Department of Defense also faces unique edge‑computing challenges, requiring rugged, immersion‑cooled racks that can operate in austere environments.
Rapid-Charging EV Batteries Are on the Way
Rapid‑charging technology is moving from prototype to commercial deployment, promising to refill electric‑vehicle batteries in minutes rather than hours. Automakers and battery firms are unveiling ultra‑fast chargers that can add 300‑plus miles in under five minutes, leveraging high‑voltage (800V) platforms...
KMI Files for Texas Access Project, Taps Woodside as 1 Bcf/D Natural Gas Anchor Shipper
Kinder Morgan filed a FERC application for the Texas Access Project, a 1 Bcf/d natural‑gas pipeline linking East Texas supply to the southwest Louisiana LNG corridor. Woodside Energy Group signed a 20‑year anchor shipper agreement, guaranteeing demand for the pipeline. The...
No EU Appetite for Trump Demand on Hormuz Help, as Israel Pounds Lebanon
EU foreign ministers signaled they will not deploy naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz until the United States clarifies its Iran strategy. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany needs explicit goals from the US and Israel before committing...
Who’s Who in Tech: Antares Working on Nuclear Solution
Antares Nuclear, founded in 2023, secured $96 million in Series B funding (bringing total capital to about $130 million) to build modular, transportable reactors for hard‑to‑reach energy deserts. The startup is targeting the U.S. military and aerospace sectors rather than commercial data centers,...
Clēnera Raises US$304 Million for 120MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Idaho
Clēnera, the U.S. arm of Enlight Renewable Energy, secured US$304 million to fund the 120 MW Crimson Orchard solar‑plus‑storage project in Idaho. The development pairs 120 MW of photovoltaic capacity with 400 MWh of battery storage and is under construction in Elmore County. Clēnera...
Who’s Who in Tech: Critical Loop Is Powering Solutions
Critical Loop, founded in 2023 by Bala Ramamurthy, Andrew Grinalds and Lydia Maher, creates mobile microgrids that can deliver megawatts of power within weeks. The company targets energy‑desert locations such as islands, remote military bases, and high‑demand industrial sites. Falling...
Nagoya University and NU-Rei Report First Gallium Oxide Thin-Film Epi Growth on Silicon
Researchers at Nagoya University and spin‑out NU‑Rei announced the world’s first heteroepitaxial growth of gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) thin films on silicon wafers. The breakthrough relies on a High‑Density Oxygen Radical Source that doubles atomic‑oxygen density, enabling high‑speed homoepitaxial growth at...
A Maoist Survival Guide to the Iranian Energy Crisis
China is reinforcing energy self‑sufficiency as the Iran‑Ukraine war disrupts oil supplies. Xi Jinping’s 2021 oilfield visit underscored a Maoist‑style “rice bowl” doctrine, urging domestic production and strategic reserves. Beijing has accelerated renewable investments, expanded state‑owned oil drilling, and built...
Who’s Who in Tech: Arbor Energy Is Cooling the Market
Arbor Energy, founded in 2021 by Brad Hartwig and Andres Garcia Clark, secured a $55 million Series A round to accelerate its modular, turbine‑centered power stations. The company’s 25‑megawatt, fuel‑flexible units aim to supply clean baseload power for AI‑driven data centers that...
Reliance Industries Signs $3 Billion Green Ammonia Supply Deal with Samsung C&T
Reliance Industries Limited has signed a binding 15‑year supply agreement with South Korea’s Samsung C&T to deliver green ammonia, a deal valued at over $3 billion and slated to begin in the second half of FY2029. The contract ranks among the...
PPL Electric Reaches $275M Rate Case Settlement, Including Data Center Tariff
PPL Electric Utilities announced a $275 million settlement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that would raise average residential bills by 4.9% to roughly $184 per month. The deal introduces a new large‑load tariff for data centers and other customers consuming...
Europe’s Energy Storage Startup Landscape
European energy‑storage startups have secured €2.14 billion in equity, with half of that capital deployed in the last three years. Battery storage still dominates funding at €331.8 million, but investors are increasingly backing mechanical, EV‑charging‑with‑storage and thermal solutions. The market is moving...
Electrification Boom Meets Supply Chain Reality
America’s electrification build‑out is hitting a supply‑chain wall, with lead times for transformers and high‑voltage switchgear now exceeding 100 weeks, according to McKinsey. The shortage is inflating margins for equipment makers and underpins the ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF (ELFY), which...
Crude Bottleneck Extends, but Geopolitical Premium Flaring; Brent Oil Will Likely Test $120
The United States carried out large‑scale strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island over the March 14‑15 weekend, targeting military facilities while sparing the island’s crude export terminal. Kharg processes over 90 % of Iran’s oil shipments, so the attacks raise geopolitical tension...
SolaREIT Expands Real Estate Financing to PV Transmission and Substations
SolaREIT, a solar‑focused real‑estate investment trust, announced it will now finance land for substations and transmission corridors tied to photovoltaic projects. The move comes as clean‑energy lending has slowed dramatically, dropping from a 22% growth rate to just 5.8% year‑over‑year....
RWE at the Upper End of Its 2025 EBITDA and Profit Guidance - €35 Billion for Wind Power, Solar and...
RWE reported 2025 adjusted EBITDA of €5.1 bn and net income of €1.8 bn, landing at the top of its guidance range despite a dip from 2024. The German utility announced a €35 bn net investment programme through 2031 aimed at adding roughly...
Pakistan Oil Tanker Transits Hormuz
A Pakistan‑flagged Aframax tanker, the Karachi, successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, becoming one of the few vessels to do so since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran halted traffic. The ship departed Fujairah on Feb. 25, was spotted...
Bessent Says Treasury Is Not Intervening in Oil Commodities Markets and Has No Authority to Do So
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that the administration has no plans and likely lacks the authority to intervene in oil futures markets, dispelling rumors of government action to curb rising prices. He emphasized that while past presidents have...
Japan’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Enters Commercial Operation: 220-MW Kitakyushu Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm Feeds Electricity Into the Grid
Japan’s largest offshore wind farm, the 220 MW Kitakyushu Hibikinada project, began commercial operation in early March 2026. The facility comprises 25 turbines of 9.6 MW each and is expected to generate about 500 million kWh annually, enough for roughly 170,000 households. Operated by...
Dutch Startup Plans Roll-to-Roll Factory for Perovskite Solar Cells
Dutch research institute TNO has spun off Perovion Technologies to industrialise lightweight, flexible perovskite solar cells. The company aims to construct the first roll‑to‑roll perovskite manufacturing line in the Netherlands by 2030, targeting applications where glass panels are impractical. A...
Iran Seeks Return of 3 Tankers Seized by India in Return for Hormuz Safe Passage: Report
India's coastal authorities seized three U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers—Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia—on February 6, alleging illicit trade links to Iran. Tehran has offered to release the vessels in exchange for guaranteed safe passage of Indian‑bound ships through the Strait...
Ciemat Unveils Large-Area Multispectral Solar Simulator for PV Module Testing
CIEMAT has launched a large‑area multispectral solar simulator designed for precise electrical characterization of full‑size photovoltaic modules. The system delivers better than 0.4% spatial irradiance uniformity, 500 ms LED illumination pulses and dynamic I‑V acquisition, enabling single‑pulse testing of high‑capacitance modules....
Gujarat Hikes LPG Supply by 20 per Cent; Prioritises PNG Connections
Gujarat has raised LPG distribution by 20 percent above the normal weekly quota to guarantee uninterrupted fuel availability. The state is simultaneously prioritising piped natural gas (PNG) connections for hotels, restaurants and other commercial users where network infrastructure exists. Buffer stocks...
TEPCO Delays Commercial Operation of Recently Restarted Nuclear Reactor
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced a delay in the commercial operation of its No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant, the first unit restarted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The postponement follows a small‑scale electricity leak detected on a power...
Ormat Technologies Begins Commercial Operations at 320MWh California BESS
Ormat Technologies announced that its 80 MW/320 MWh Shirk battery energy storage system in Visalia, California, entered commercial operation on March 12, 2026, meeting the City of Riverside’s 15‑year resource adequacy contract deadline. The project qualifies for a 40% investment tax credit, which Ormat...
Why the EU Commission’s Plan for an AI Data-Centres Boom Is Short-Sighted
European Commission's AI Continent Action Plan proposes tripling data‑centre capacity in five to seven years via the draft CAIDA regulation. The draft fast‑tracks permits for land, water and energy, sidelining local communities and environmental safeguards. Critics cite ongoing conflicts in...
EIA Ups WTI Price Forecast by $20 in Wake of Iran Conflict
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) raised its short‑term outlook for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, projecting an average price of $73.61 per barrel in 2026—$20 above its February forecast. The revision reflects heightened risk premiums after the February 28 onset...
Is Switzerland Going Back Contact?
Back‑contact (BC) solar modules from Aiko Solar and Longi captured over 50% of Switzerland's rooftop PV market in 2025, driven by a premium on module efficiency rather than price. The report notes a gradual decline in the AC/DC ratio to...
Pii Energy Unveils Plug-In 1.2 kW Solar, 2 kWh Home System
Pii Energy has introduced the Edge 2000, a plug‑in solar‑plus‑storage kit aimed at renters and apartment dwellers. The system pairs 1.2 kW of photovoltaic panels with a 2 kWh battery, ten smart outlets, and a Raspberry Pi‑driven controller. Priced at roughly $2,400, it...
Fire at Hsinchu Power Substation Kills 1, Injures 2 (Update)
A fire erupted at the Zhuyuan Extra High Voltage Substation in Hsinchu City on March 16, killing one worker and injuring two others. The blaze broke out while voltage‑stabilization equipment was being tested, prompting a rapid response from the Hsinchu...
VIDEO: Europe’s First 100GW of Energy Storage and What’s Next, with Energy Storage Europe
Europe achieved its first cumulative 100 GW of energy storage by the end of 2025, split evenly between lithium‑ion battery systems and pumped hydro facilities. Jacopo Tosoni, deputy secretary‑general of Energy Storage Europe, highlighted upcoming EU policy shifts to increase domestic...
Finlight, Atrato Merge, Target 2GW of Operational Distributed Solar PV Capacity in Europe by 2030
Finlight and Atrato Onsite Energy have merged under the Finlight brand, creating one of Europe’s largest distributed‑generation operators. The combined entity now manages 700 MW of commercial‑industrial solar and 23,000 residential projects across the UK, Spain and Portugal. Finlight will invest...
India May Soften New Grid-Supply Rules for Renewable Power Producers
India’s power regulator, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, drafted stricter grid‑supply rules for wind and solar producers, including hefty penalties for missing commitments. After developers warned the measures could erode revenues and deter clean‑energy investment, the government asked CERC to...
The Frog Is Dead: North America’s Power Grid Faces Its Biggest Reckoning in a Generation
North America’s power grid is confronting a rapid demand surge, driven by a data‑center boom, reshoring of manufacturing, and broader electrification, pushing load growth to 2‑3% annually. Utilities are scrambling to replace retiring baseload plants while adding intermittent renewables, creating...
BYD’s Five-Minute EV Chargers Are Going To Europe To Take On Ionity
China’s BYD will begin installing its Flash Chargers in Europe within weeks, delivering up to 1.5 MW of power to a single vehicle. The chargers are currently compatible only with BYD’s Denza Z9GT, which uses the new Blade 2.0 LFP battery and...
Cambodia Welcomes ‘Significant and Historic Achievement’ of 1GWh Grid-Forming Battery Storage Project
Cambodia has commissioned a 500 MW/1 GWh grid‑forming battery energy storage system in Pursat province, the country’s first and largest of its kind. Developed by local firm SchneiTec, the BESS uses grid‑forming inverters to provide inertia and voltage support, bolstering grid reliability...
Ukraine Prioritizes Solar-Plus-Storage in Renewables Auctions
Ukraine enacted Law No. 4777-IX, overhauling 15 energy‑market statutes and creating a dedicated solar‑plus‑storage auction track. The new framework extends renewable support to 2034, mandates a minimum 10% quota for solar‑plus‑storage, and sets a €0.12/kWh price ceiling. It also eases...
Landsec Brings in Partner to Roll Out Retail Portfolio EV Charging Network
Landsec has struck a 20‑year partnership with RAW Charging to install a £24.5 million electric‑vehicle charging network across its flagship retail destinations. The rollout will deliver 1,000 charging bays – 554 AC fast and 446 DC rapid – at 28 sites,...
Stock Market Week 11/26: High Energy Prices Drive the RENIXX - Ballard Up Double Digits - Nordex: Additional Orders -...
The RENIXX renewable‑energy index climbed 4.9% last week to 1,251 points, driven by soaring oil and gas prices and Middle‑East geopolitical tension. Heavyweight gains came from Ballard Power (+20.1%) after securing a 500‑unit fuel‑cell drive order, while Xpeng, Canadian Solar,...
Third GE Turbine Blade Breaks Off at Troubled Wind Farm
A third turbine blade has broken off a GE Vernova 5.3 MW Cypress turbine at Sweden’s Björkvattnet wind farm, which supplies most of its power to Google under a long‑term PPA. The farm, operated by OX2 for investor Infravia, has already...
Chartwell Marine, CAJS Sign Japan Vessel MoU
Chartwell Marine and the Cooperative Association of Japan Shipbuilders (CAJS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop crew‑transfer vessels (CTVs) and service‑operation vessels (SOVs) for Japan’s offshore‑wind market. The partnership leverages Chartwell’s proven vessel designs and CAJS’s network of...
The US Exports Oil, but that Won’t Shield Americans From Higher Gas Prices
Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed the United States is a net oil exporter, but the reality is more nuanced. While the U.S. does export more crude oil and petroleum products than it imports, it remains a net importer of crude...
Mantashe Pushes Oil and Gas Drive as Global Tension Raises Fuel Price Risks
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe warned that soaring global crude prices—now above $100 a barrel—expose South Africa’s reliance on imported fuel and urged a rapid acceleration of domestic oil and gas development. He highlighted significant offshore prospects in...
China Signals ETS Expansion as Compliance Rules Prepare Steel, Cement Sectors
China’s 2024 work report confirmed plans to broaden its national emissions trading system beyond power to heavy‑industry sectors such as steel, cement and aluminium. New compliance rules now require these firms to report and verify emissions, laying the groundwork for...
TotalEnergies Plays Down War Impact on Operations
TotalEnergies announced a suspension of production in Qatar, Iraq and the offshore UAE, representing roughly 15% of its total output. The company emphasized that onshore UAE output of about 210,000 barrels per day remains unchanged and that its Satorp refinery...
National Grid Partners to Speed up Connections
National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) has teamed up with data‑modelling specialist Yottar to build an automated digital platform for assessing grid capacity. The solution merges NGED’s engineering knowledge with Yottar’s software to generate detailed network models that quickly reveal connection...
Building Manufacturing Capacity when the Grid Can’t Keep Up
Data centers powered by AI are set to consume over 1 GW each by 2035, rivaling city‑scale loads and crowding the electric grid. This surge forces manufacturers into direct competition for limited capacity, stretching utility connection timelines to 1.5–2 years and turning...
JST’s OD3Mag™ Outdoor Breaker Offers Robust Upgrade at Utility Substation in Pacific Northwest
Salem Electric selected JST Power Equipment’s OD3Mag outdoor substation breaker to replace an aging unit at its Oregon facility, prioritizing a rugged enclosure that can endure the Pacific Northwest’s wet climate. The breaker’s magnetic actuation reduces maintenance effort, while its...
5 Things You Need to Know About Advanced Conductors
Advanced conductors, especially Aluminum‑Encapsulated Carbon Core (AECC), are now mainstream, offering higher ampacity without the thermal sag of traditional ACSS. Reconductoring with AECC lets utilities boost transmission capacity quickly, avoiding new right‑of‑way permits and costly structural upgrades. Projects report 30‑40%...