Climate Change Solutions Update

Author: Power Technology

  • Peak Energy to build US sodium-ion storage factory in Sacramento

    Peak Energy has selected Sacramento, California, as the location for the US' first manufacturing facility for grid-scale sodium-ion energy storage systems. The facility is expected to produce up to 4GWh of battery systems annually, with over 6GWh of customer commitments already in place. With a capital investment of up to $71m, the project is set to create 239 new local positions. By using sodium-ion batteries made with domestic materials, the facility aims to lower energy storage costs while creating high-quality jobs in the region, with plans to begin shipping batteries in the first quarter of 2027.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/peak-energy-build-us-storage-factory/

  • Quaise Energy secures $134m for Project Obsidian

    Quaise Energy has secured $134m in Series B financing for Project Obsidian, a superhot geothermal power plant in Oregon with gigawatt-scale potential. Utilizing a millimetre wave drilling system, the project aims to deliver electricity to the grid by 2030 by accessing subterranean temperatures between 300°C and 500°C. The company plans to secure additional funding for the commercial deployment of their innovative technology, offering a promising solution for sustainable energy production.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/quaise-energy-project-obsidian/

  • Ecowende’s 760MW offshore farm delivers first power Dutch grid

    The Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm, developed by Shell, Chubu Electric Power, and Eneco, has been connected to TenneT's offshore grid in the Netherlands and has delivered its first green electricity. The wind farm comprises 52 turbines with a capacity of 15MW each, situated 53km off the Dutch coast. When fully commissioned, it is projected to produce 3.3TW-hours of renewable energy annually, supplying around 3% of the Netherlands' electricity needs. Eneco Wind Offshore Operations will handle the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the wind park, with electricity trading managed by Next Kraftwerke, SEEL, and EET. The project also contributes to grid stability by providing balancing energy services.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/ecowendes-760mw-offshore-wind-farm-first-power/

  • World Bank backs Morocco pumped storage project

    The World Bank has approved $265m in financing for the Ifahsa pumped storage hydropower project in Morocco, which will support the integration of additional renewable generation into the country's electricity system. This project will enable the addition of at least 1GW of solar and wind capacity to the national grid, displacing approximately three terawatt-hours of fossil fuel generation annually and avoiding an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The construction of the project is expected to create around 820 direct jobs annually, with additional employment linked to the renewable energy capacity enabled by the project. The financing package includes lending from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, concessional funding from the Clean Technology Fund, and a grant from the Livable Planet Fund, with co-financing from the African Development Bank and implementation by Morocco's Office National de l'Électricité et de l'Eau potable (ONEE).

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/world-bank-backs-morocco-pumped-storage-project/

  • Qualitas Energy receives $197m for Italian solar PV portfolio

    Qualitas Energy has secured €172m in financing for a 156MW-peak greenfield solar PV portfolio in Italy, including a term loan, ancillary facilities, and an interest rate swap. The portfolio consists of 15 assets with long-term contracted revenue streams, as the company aims to expand its presence in Italy and develop a diverse renewable energy platform. With a pipeline of over 1GW of wind projects expected by 2028, Qualitas Energy is making significant strides in advancing climate solutions. Legal advice was provided by BonelliErede, with DWF serving as legal counsel to the lenders.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/qualitas-energy-197m-italian-solar-pv/

  • Nuveen invests $546m in SunZia wind and transmission project

    The SunZia project, developed by Pattern Energy, is a large-scale wind and transmission project in the US that became fully operational in June 2026. It includes a 3.65GW wind facility and a 550-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line linking New Mexico and Arizona. Nuveen has finalized a $546m preferred equity investment in SunZia through its infrastructure credit investment platform, aiming to provide flexible funding to developers of major energy infrastructure projects. The project is designed to deliver renewable energy to power around one million homes per year, highlighting the increasing focus on energy generation and transmission infrastructure in the pursuit of climate solutions.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/nuveen-invests-in-sunzia/

  • Masdar begins construction of 1GW wind farm in Kazakhstan

    Masdar, in partnership with W Solar and others, has begun construction on a 1GW wind farm in Kazakhstan's Zhambyl region, along with a 600MWh battery energy storage system to stabilize the local power grid. This project is one of the largest in Central Asia to combine wind power with battery storage and is expected to power around 880,000 homes while avoiding 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Additionally, Masdar has signed a road map agreement with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development for the country's first round-the-clock clean energy project.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/masdar-construction-1gw-wind-farm-kazakhstan/

  • Egypt and SANY sign MoU for 2GW wind farm and turbine plant

    China's SANY Renewable Energy, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) have signed an MoU to establish a wind turbine manufacturing facility and develop a 2GW wind farm in the Gulf of Suez. The agreement aims to support localizing renewable energy technologies and increasing Egypt's clean energy output, with a goal of reaching 45% renewable energy in the electricity mix within the next two years. The facility will not only meet domestic wind energy project needs but also export excess production to neighboring markets, promoting technology transfer, boosting the use of locally made components in renewable projects, and strengthening Egypt's position as a regional exporter of electrical equipment.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/egypt-sany-sign-mou/

  • Pattern Energy launches SunZia energy project in US

    Pattern Energy Group has launched the SunZia renewable energy project, which includes a 3.65GW wind facility and a 550-mile HVDC transmission line to transmit power from New Mexico to Arizona and the western grid. This project has the capacity to supply electricity to approximately one million US households annually and has created over 2,000 jobs during construction. With an investment of over $20bn and $1.3bn in direct payments to various entities over 30 years, SunZia showcases the potential for large-scale renewable energy projects. The HVDC technology utilized in the project enables efficient long-distance electricity transfer, addressing grid infrastructure limitations in the energy sector and providing a promising solution for sustainable energy production.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/pattern-energy-launches-sunzia/

  • Power Summit 2026: AI, security and the road to European electrification

    European power industry leaders and policymakers gathered in Helsinki for Eurelectric's Power Summit 2026 to discuss challenges such as AI's impact on the power sector, industrial electrification, and supply and infrastructure security. The power sector is facing unprecedented threats due to a spike in power demand, geopolitical uncertainties, and the need to decarbonize and digitalize. The conversation highlighted the need for better orchestration of electrification technologies in industry and the importance of supply security and geopolitical resilience, with AI being discussed as both a burden and an opportunity for the power industry. Investment in AI is growing and seen as beneficial to revenue by executives, while Nordic energy systems have been successful in decarbonizing electricity production over the past 50 years, leading to optimism for the future of the energy sector.

    https://www.power-technology.com/analysis/power-summit-2026-ai-security-and-the-road-to-european-electrification/