Data Centers Half of Power Demand Growth in 2025
The International Energy Agency reported that global electricity demand grew 3% in 2025, driven largely by data centers and electric vehicles. Data centers alone accounted for roughly half of the power demand increase, even though they represent a smaller share of total consumption. Overall energy consumption rose 1.3% in the same year, underscoring the outsized impact of digital infrastructure on the grid. The findings highlight accelerating electricity needs for computing and transportation sectors.
AI Surge Gives Carbon Capture a New Push
Deep‑pocketed tech firms are funding carbon‑capture projects at natural‑gas power plants that supply data centers, leveraging the AI boom to offset high costs. At least five U.S. projects are under review, aiming to scrub CO₂ from electricity used for AI...
The Bjorn Lomborg Conundrum: Sceptic But Not Quite
Bjørn Lomborg, writing in the Financial Post, argues that Net Zero policies are losing political traction as governments confront rising energy costs and limited climate returns. He claims voters in the US, UK, Germany and Australia are growing weary of...
Caspian and Central Asian Oil Markets Recalibrate Amid Trade Shifts
At the second Caspian and Central Asia Oil Trading and Logistics Forum in Baku, producers and traders highlighted a pivot toward flexible, short‑term trading as Asian refiners dominate demand. Long‑standing pipeline routes remain vital, but participants are exploring alternative corridors,...
Storage Market Booming: Germany’s Largest Battery Storage System with 740 MWh Is Being Built in Förderstedt
Eco Stor is building Germany’s largest battery storage facility, Eco Power Three, in Förderstedt. The 740 MWh system will deliver 300 MW of power and could supply roughly 500,000 households for two hours. Construction began in summer 2025 with phased commissioning expected by late...
Achieving Excellent Electrochemical Stability of Li‐rich Mn‐Based Cathode by One‐Step Decanoic Acid Treatment Under Ambient Atmosphere
Researchers introduced a one‑step decanoic acid (DA) treatment performed in ambient air to modify the surface of Li‑rich Mn‑based cathodes (LLMO). The DA coating creates a thin, stable cathode‑electrolyte interphase and introduces surface oxygen vacancies that suppress side reactions and...
Bifunctional Molecular Bridge with Tunable Dielectric Constant for Air‐Processed Perovskite Solar Cells
Researchers introduced bifunctional molecular bridges—ethanolamine sulfate (EAS) and ethanolamine phosphate (EAP)—to simultaneously passivate defects and provide dielectric screening at the SnO2/perovskite interface of air‑processed perovskite solar cells. The dual‑function strategy regulates crystallization, reduces residual stress, and improves carrier dynamics, delivering...
How Catalina Helps Smaller Fuel Retailers Win Loyalty
Catalina argues that smaller fuel retailers can regain loyalty by leveraging granular customer data rather than competing on price or scale. By linking in‑store purchases with digital touchpoints, retailers can deliver moment‑specific offers that increase basket size and visit frequency....
A Bifunctional Ferroelectric Catalyst Enabling Simultaneous Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation and Two‐Electron Oxygen Reduction
Researchers have created a bifunctional ferroelectric catalyst, Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BSTO), that can be applied to both the photoanode and cathode of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. When coated on α‑Fe2O3, TiO2 or BiVO4 photoanodes, BSTO’s ferroelectric polarization adjusts band bending, markedly improving...
Defect‐Rich RuCu Multilayered Nanosheets for Effective Alkaline Hydrogen Electrocatalysis
Researchers have created defect‑rich RuCu multilayered nanosheets (RuCu MNSs) that serve as highly active, durable catalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and hydrogen evolution (HER). The RuCu MNSs/C catalyst delivers a mass activity of 4.91 A mg⁻¹ at 50 mV vs RHE, far...
Mozambique and China Forge Strategic Pact to Develop Minerals, Energy and Security Capacity
Mozambique and China signed a comprehensive cooperation pact that blends defence collaboration, geological mapping and industrial investment to unlock the country’s vast natural‑resource frontier. The agreement targets the Rovuma Basin’s more than 5 trillion cubic metres of gas and untapped deposits...
Caruso Sparks Deal with Rivian for EV Charging
Caruso, the Los Angeles‑based real‑estate developer, signed a multi‑year agreement with Rivian Automotive to install over 150 DC fast‑charging stations across its properties within the next year. The partnership adds two Rivian showrooms at The Commons at Calabasas and The...
Securing Energy Supply Chains: One Critical Mineral Deal at a Time?
The U.S. government has moved beyond traditional grants and loans, taking equity stakes in seven private critical‑mineral projects during 2025. These investments, largely led by the Department of Defense, aim to de‑risk domestic mining and processing of minerals such as...
Rethinking Utility Incentives and Business Models in the Age of Distributed Energy
The piece argues that traditional utility incentives—rewarding capital‑intensive infrastructure—are misaligned with soaring electricity demand driven by electrification, AI data centers, and the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs). This misalignment forces ratepayers, especially low‑income households, into higher bills while utilities...
How DTE Energy Is Using AI for High-Bill Calls and Building Customer Trust
DTE Energy has deployed BillWise, an AI‑driven platform that delivers real‑time alerts linking weather forecasts to expected usage spikes, helping customers anticipate bill changes before they arrive. The system also equips call‑center agents with a shared dashboard that mirrors customer...
Nations Meet to Discuss Fossil Fuel Exit as Iran War Drives up Prices
Around 60 governments met in Santa Marta, Colombia to discuss practical steps for phasing out fossil fuels as the Iran war drives up energy prices. The summit, co‑organized by the Netherlands and Colombia, will focus on financial instruments, regulatory incentives,...
Apple Suppliers Boost Green Energy but Stagnate on Emissions Cuts
Apple’s 2026 Environmental Progress Report shows its suppliers added 20 GW of renewable energy and saved 17 billion gallons of water in 2025, cutting gross manufacturing emissions by more than half to 8.15 million metric tons CO₂e. The company’s Zero Waste Program diverted...
‘Ban or Not, Coal Power Projects Remain Hard to Scale’
The Ayala Group’s ACEN Corp. warns that new coal‑fired power plants in the Philippines will remain difficult to develop even if the government lifts the current moratorium. CEO Eric Francia cites weak social acceptance and financing gaps as key obstacles,...
Serenity Power Announces $1 Million Pre-Seed Investment
Serenity Power, a Canadian cleantech startup developing solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), closed a CAD 1.16 million (~US$0.86 million) pre‑seed round led by Avatar Ventures. The oversubscribed raise builds on earlier CAD 900 k (~US$0.66 million) of non‑dilutive grants and will fund the first commercial prototype,...
AMA: Energy 2026: Pelagus Makes The Case for Digital Inventory in Energy and Maritime
Pelagus, a joint venture of thyssenkrupp and the Wilhelmsen Group, is championing a digital inventory model that replaces costly physical spare‑part stockpiles with on‑demand 3D‑printed components for the energy and maritime sectors. Equinor alone identified €2.5 bn (≈ $2.7 bn) of unused spare...
Meta AI Space Power and the Race to Beam Solar Energy From Orbit
Meta has signed a contract with Overview Energy to reserve up to 1 GW of space‑solar capacity, targeting a 2028 orbital demonstration and commercial delivery by 2030. The system would collect sunlight in geosynchronous orbit, convert it to low‑intensity near‑infrared light,...
KMI Acquiring Monument Pipeline for $505M, Expanding Texas Natural Gas Reach
Kinder Morgan (KMI) agreed to purchase the Houston‑area Monument Pipeline from ARM Energy Holdings for $505 million in cash. The 225‑mile system serves LNG shippers, natural‑gas utilities, and petrochemical users across the Texas Gulf Coast. The deal adds long‑term take‑or‑pay contracts...
Data Center Demand Drives 66% Surge in Natural Gas Power Plant Costs
Tech giants Microsoft and Meta are increasingly building on‑site natural‑gas power plants to power data centers, but BloombergNEF shows construction costs have surged 66% to $2,157 per kilowatt since 2023. Build times have also lengthened by 23%, stretching projects into...
Cities Sue EPA for Failing to Uphold Soot Standard
A coalition of ten states, the District of Columbia, Harris County, Texas, and New York City filed a lawsuit against the EPA for failing to implement the 2024 Clean Air Act rule that tightens the fine‑particulate (soot) standard from 12 µg to...
Kalpakkam PFBR Criticality Marks New Phase in India’s Nuclear Programme: Minister Jitendra Singh
India achieved first criticality of its indigenously designed 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam on April 6, 2026, marking a milestone in the country’s three‑stage nuclear programme. The reactor, built by BHAVINI and using uranium‑plutonium mixed‑oxide fuel, can generate...
GE Vernova Blade Break Halts Wind Farm Using Biggest Onshore Turbines
A blade on one of GE Vernova's 6.1 MW, 158‑meter onshore turbines snapped at the Drumlins Park wind farm in County Monaghan, Ireland, forcing the 49 MW site to shut down as a precaution. The incident, captured on drone footage, caused no injuries...
Adani Total Gas Q4 Results: Cons PAT Grows 9% YoY to Rs 168 Crore; Revenue up 17%
Adani Total Gas posted a consolidated net profit of ₹168 crore (≈ $20 million) in Q4 FY26, a 9% year‑on‑year rise, while revenue jumped 17% to ₹1,695 crore (≈ $204 million). EBITDA grew 13% to ₹310 crore, offsetting an 18% increase in natural‑gas input costs. The company...
Invisible Infrastructure: Inside a Dallas Community-Driven GIS Substation
Denton Municipal Electric completed the Hickory GIS substation, doubling capacity while cloaking the facility in a 22‑foot screen wall that matches historic downtown. The project used BIM to coordinate underground utilities and addressed challenging soil and water conditions. Community workshops...
Powerbank on Wheels: Bidirectional Charging Demonstrated in Electric Trucks
Project partners in the German SPIRIT‑E research initiative publicly demonstrated bidirectional charging on a MAN eTGX electric truck, delivering up to 325 kW back to the grid. The 480 kWh truck also powered a second eTGX via a bidirectional station, showcasing vehicle‑to‑vehicle...
Big Read: Investors Face Climate Target Reckoning as Emissions Progress Slows
Investors have largely met their 2025 climate‑related emissions targets, but recent data shows the rate of reduction has stalled, slipping to just a 2% annual decline. The slowdown forces asset managers and institutional investors to revisit the feasibility of more...
Migrating a Charging Network to a New Software Platform: Case Studies From AMPECO
AMPECO, a European EV‑charging software provider, has built migration into a core competency, moving more than 120,000 charge points from legacy systems to its platform. The company detailed four recent migrations – E.ON Drive’s 6,000 points across 11 countries, Swisscharge’s...
CATL to Supply Chinese Steelmaker with Batteries and Charging Stations for Electric Mining Trucks and Machinery
Chinese battery leader CAT CATL signed a multi‑year deal with steelmaker Jianlong to equip its mining trucks, heavy trucks, ships and construction equipment with lithium‑ion batteries and integrated charging‑and‑swapping stations. The partnership targets deployment of over 3,000 electric heavy trucks within...
North America Breaks Rig Loss Streak
North America’s weekly rig count rose by one to 674 on April 24, ending a string of weekly declines. The U.S. added a single rig, bringing its total to 544, while Canada’s count held steady at 130. Gas rigs in the...
AI-Enabled Smart Grid to Accelerate Power Sector’s Shift to Clean Energy
GlobalData’s new Smart Grid report highlights an AI‑driven transformation of power networks, with utilities leveraging real‑time analytics to fine‑tune load balancing and boost reliability. AI models from firms like Solcast and RisingStack now‑cast solar output, while National Grid uses sensor...
Georgia Power Files RFP for up to 6,000MW of New Dispatchable Energy Resources
Georgia Power has filed a request with the Georgia Public Service Commission to launch an all‑source RFP for 2,000‑6,000 MW of new dispatchable capacity, targeting needs through 2033. The solicitation will cover thermal generation, standalone energy‑storage systems and battery‑storage‑plus‑renewables configurations, with...
Huaneng Energizes 5.4 GW Hydro-Solar Complex in Southwest China
China's state‑owned Huaneng Group has commissioned the 5.43 GW Xiaowan Hydropower‑Solar Hybrid Project in Yunnan, merging 4.2 GW of hydropower with 1.23 GW of solar. The complex uses a new hydro‑solar intelligent coordination system that aggregates electricity from 16 photovoltaic farms through a...
Scaling up Industrialization in Africa
The Iran war underscored Africa’s vulnerability to fuel imports, spotlighting Aliko Dangote’s refinery as a proof‑of‑concept for local processing. A new Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) report shows institutional capital on the continent has risen to over $2 trillion, largely from soaring...
Spotlight on Energy and Climate
The April 27 2026 issue of Spotlight’s “Energy and Climate” brings together leading voices—Mike Berners‑Lee, Hannah Spencer, Lord Stern and Katie White—to examine the accelerating energy transition. The cover juxtaposes wind turbines, solar panels and industrial motifs, signaling a blend of technology...
Best-Selling Plug-In Hybrids More Costly than Electric Vehicles, Research Finds
New analysis by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit shows eight of the UK’s ten best‑selling plug‑in hybrids cost on average £4,150 ($5,300) more than comparable electric vehicles, a 10% premium. Real‑world fuel use is three times higher than manufacturers...
Ireland Solar Exceeds 1GW Peak Output
Ireland’s grid‑scale solar generation broke the 1 GW barrier, peaking at 1,133 MW on 27 April 2026. The milestone follows a rapid climb from 750 MW in March 2025, reflecting a surge in new solar farms. Solar’s share of electricity demand rose to 3.1% in 2025,...
Renewables Overtake Coal
Renewables now account for nearly 34% of global electricity generation, overtaking coal as the largest single source in 2025. Solar power drove 75% of the net increase, adding 636 TWh, while wind also expanded. Coal’s share slipped to 33% after peaking...
California Fuel Imports Soar After Refinery Closures
California’s gasoline and jet fuel markets are under pressure after the shutdown of Phillips 66’s 139,000 b/d Los Angeles refinery and Valero’s 145,000 b/d Benicia plant, erasing roughly 17% of the state’s refining capacity in seven months. Imports of refined products to the West...
The Real Cost of the Strait of Hormuz Goes Beyond Oil Prices
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed diesel prices higher, triggering roughly a 50% rise in less‑than‑truckload (LTL) surcharges for U.S. shippers. The cost spike is forcing companies to reroute freight away from fuel‑intensive lanes and to rethink inventory...
Data Center Power Demand in Taiwan Set to Surge Eightfold by 2030 - Report
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs forecasts that data‑center power demand will surge eightfold, reaching roughly 1 GW by 2030, driven largely by AI workloads. Overall electricity consumption is expected to rise 13% from 2023 levels, with AI data centers alone projected...
Distributed Energy Infrastructure Installs Community Solar Projects Through Heavy Snowfall
Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) has reached mechanical completion on two community‑solar farms near Lysander, New York—a 2.9‑MW West Genesee project and a 5‑MW Cold Springs project developed for Generate Capital. Construction proceeded through a record winter with over 100 inches of...
Opinion: The RFS Supports Energy Security and Farm Security
Nebraska soybean growers have endured a third consecutive year of weak prices and rising input costs. The Trump administration and EPA finalized the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2026‑27, cementing a minimum 5.25 billion‑gallon biomass‑based diesel volume. The rule unlocks a...
GB Clean Power Hinges on Fixing Grid Connections
Britain’s clean‑energy rollout is being hampered by chronic grid‑connection failures, with developers receiving empty offers that lack dates, conditions, or technical details. Delays now stretch 15 to 26 months and cost overruns have surged up to 200%, eroding investor confidence....
Meta Signs Deal to Power Data Centers at Night with Solar Energy From Space
Meta announced a partnership with Virginia‑based satellite startup Overview Energy to tap space‑based solar power for its AI‑driven data centers in the United States. The deal gives Meta early access to up to 1 GW of capacity, with an orbital demonstration...
Irish Ambition and Delivery on Renewables at WindEurope
Ireland’s delegation, led by Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Timmy Dooley, used the WindEurope conference in Madrid to showcase the country’s renewable ambitions ahead of its EU Presidency. The event, which attracted over 16,000 attendees, featured an Offshore Wind Ministerial Session...
Mideast War Lends Momentum to Global Shale Push
The war in the Middle East has reignited global interest in shale exploration beyond the United States, as energy‑security concerns push investors to look abroad. Successes such as Argentina’s Vaca Muerta basin, where Continental Resources and Halliburton have secured major contracts,...