Fortescue is making strides towards eliminating fossil fuels at its mining operations in the Pilbara by 2030, with the unveiling of the first of its two battery locomotives. The company plans to replace its diesel fleet with 70 battery-powered trains, generating regenerative power but requiring topping up at the port. Fortescue is also exploring various battery technologies, such as solid state, sodium ion, and different lithium ion chemistries, to improve the efficiency of its electric locomotives. The company aims to transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles and equipment, alongside building multiple gigawatts of wind and solar energy, and up to 5 gigawatt hours of battery storage. Challenges with battery capacity and energy density are being addressed as Fortescue tests the performance of the locomotives at the Thomas railway yard in Port Hedland.
Category: Buildings & Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources
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Renewables account for more than 55 pct of Spain’s energy mix in 2025, and in first month of 2026
In 2025 and January 2026, renewable energy made up over half of Spain's total energy mix, with wind energy leading the way followed by solar PV. Despite rising electricity demand, renewable production reached record levels, with wind power maintaining its position as the top source of electricity generation. Energy storage technologies played a crucial role in maximizing the utilization of renewable energy sources.
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Illinois coalition proposes ambitious data center regulations
Illinois lawmakers and environmental groups are working on legislation, known as the "POWER Act," to regulate data centers and require them to supply their own clean energy. The measure, supported by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, aims to protect consumers from grid investments and help the state eliminate power sector carbon emissions. Data centers would need to submit clean energy plans and obtain at least 80 percent of their noninterruptible power supply from renewables, batteries, and demand reduction. This proposal is a significant step towards achieving a more sustainable energy system and reducing the carbon footprint of data centers in Illinois.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/illinois-coalition-proposes-ambitious-data-center-regulations/
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BrightNight initiates construction at Arizona’s Pioneer Clean Energy Centre
BrightNight is constructing the Pioneer Clean Energy Centre in Arizona, featuring a 300MW solar power plant and 300MW/1.2GWh of battery energy storage to provide clean and affordable electricity while enhancing grid resilience. This project is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 641,893t annually and save 260 million gallons of water. Additionally, it will create 250-300 jobs during construction and bring in $83.3m in local and state property tax revenue.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/brightnight-pioneer-clean-energy-centre/
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Beyond first-time installations: How Europe’s residential solar Market is shifting toward upgrades and intelligent energy systems
Residential solar PV installations in Europe have declined in 2025 due to market saturation, reduced incentives, and changing consumer behavior. However, momentum is shifting towards complementary technologies such as energy storage, smart energy management platforms, and AI-driven optimization solutions. Prosumers are now prioritizing system upgrades and advancements in decentralized storage to better manage self-consumption and local overcapacity. Installers are also emphasizing seamless integration of ancillary technologies into home automation environments. This shift towards enhancing system performance and control signals a move towards longer-term engagement models for residential suppliers. The section discusses the evolution of residential energy systems, with a focus on the growing demand for self-consumption optimization and energy storage in mature rooftop markets like Germany. There is a shift towards balcony PV and storage systems, particularly among apartment dwellers and urban households. Germany leads in balcony PV adoption, with significant growth in both PV and storage attachment rates. Regulatory easing in other European markets is also expanding access to small plug-and-play systems. Leading brands are innovating to meet evolving customer expectations, with products like AI-enabled storage solutions and home energy networks designed to maximize solar utilization. Installer feedback emphasizes the importance of manufacturers supporting retrofits and seamless integration across energy technologies for sustained market growth. The residential energy market in Europe is seeing a shift towards intelligence, integration, and reliability in products such as energy storage systems and intelligent PV modules. While rooftop PV installations have slowed, there is still active engagement with residential energy technologies, with a focus on long-term reliability and better control over energy use. This shift is reflected in the growing interest in home storage, intelligent energy management, and smaller scale formats like balcony PV and storage. Leading players are responding to this trend by developing innovation-led portfolios to shape the next phase of growth in Europe's residential energy market.
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How my perfectly ordinary house became a small power station
The increasing trend of Australian households adopting solar and battery systems, accelerated by federal rebates, is changing the relationship between consumers and the electricity network. Policy makers are adapting to this shift by designing tariffs and incentives that reflect the changing energy landscape. The detailed installation process of solar panels and battery systems, along with the trend of larger residential battery installs, highlights the importance of finding professional installers and considering factors like roof orientation and electricity tariffs. The transition from consumer to prosumer of energy, with the ability to generate, store, schedule, and export electricity, has environmental, economic, and behavioral implications for households and the energy system. The real-world process of installing and living with residential household and battery storage, sponsored by Sungrow and AIKO, showcases the equipment used and the expertise of individuals like Sam, the Chief Operating Officer for Renew Economy and EV Media.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/how-my-perfectly-ordinary-house-became-a-small-power-station/
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Moves afoot to bring balcony solar to Australia, and new wave of products has batteries included
Efforts are underway in Australia to enable renters and apartment dwellers to install solar and battery systems on their balconies, following examples from Europe, India, South Korea, and Utah. The main challenge lies in changing regulations to ensure safety and compliance with electrical standards, with testing being conducted on balcony batteries for backup power during outages. Various organizations and governments are working to overcome legal and regulatory barriers to make plug-in balcony solar and batteries a reality in Australia. Advocates are pushing for regulatory changes to make balcony solar more accessible, highlighting benefits such as running critical devices during power cuts and tapping into dynamic tariff pricing. Despite challenges like outdated technology and conservative committees, there is potential for government intervention to drive progress towards clean energy solutions in Australia.
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Electrification is outpacing investment. A federal trust fund could close the gap.
The article emphasizes the need for significant investment in the U.S. energy system to meet ambitious climate goals, with a projected $578 billion shortfall over the next 10 years. Drawing parallels to the Federal Highway Program, it highlights the success of the Highway Trust Fund in funding infrastructure projects and suggests a similar user-based funding mechanism for the electrical system transition. The importance of a federal trust fund for energy infrastructure is discussed, with a focus on enhancing generation, transmission, and resiliency to mitigate the impacts of climate change and increased demand. The success of this project hinges on acknowledging the national nature of the U.S. energy system and providing long-term funding certainty through a federal trust fund.
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SolarAfrica raises $94m for 114MW SunCentral 2 solar project
SolarAfrica has secured financing for its SunCentral 2 solar project in South Africa, expected to deliver electricity by 2026 as part of a larger initiative to expand access to clean energy through utility-scale renewable generation and a flexible wheeling delivery system. SunCentral 2 is one of several projects aiming to reach a total capacity of 1GW, making it one of the largest solar initiatives in South Africa. The project includes community upliftment initiatives focused on job creation, education, and skills development, with SolarAfrica's overall wheeling pipeline spanning 3GW under development nationwide to enhance the strength of the national grid and support future renewable energy connections. This highlights the importance of industry leaders implementing sustainable practices to combat climate change, emphasizing the potential for renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and the need for companies to prioritize environmental responsibility in driving positive change towards a more sustainable future.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/solarafrica-raises-94m-suncentral-2-project/
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Casa Pueblo Shows Puerto Rico a Path Towards Energy Independence
Casa Pueblo in Puerto Rico, in collaboration with The Solutions Project, is advocating for the expansion of microgrid ecosystems in communities to address the energy problem and promote climate justice and energy equity. By scaling up from individual solar installations to energy communities of homes, they aim to improve quality of life and coexistence while making a real impact on the environment. The executive director stresses the importance of government investment in these solutions to achieve their goals of sustainable energy solutions for Puerto Rico.
https://thesolutionsproject.org/casa-pueblo-shows-puerto-rico-a-path-towards-energy-independence/