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.
Category: Electricity & Industry
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Shift Production
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World’s first 628 Ah grid-scale battery enters operation
The world's first 628 Ah grid-scale battery has been successfully implemented in China, showcasing a major advancement in the industry. This project utilizes 200 MW/400 MWh battery energy storage with lithium iron phosphate cells, featuring an innovative design with stacking processes and high-toughness separators for improved safety and cost efficiency. EVE Energy has been mass-producing these large-capacity cells since December 2024, positioning themselves as a leader in the field of grid-scale battery solutions. This development highlights the potential for scalable and sustainable energy storage solutions to support the transition to a cleaner and more efficient energy system.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/12/worlds-first-628-ah-grid-scale-battery-enters-operation/
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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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Q&A: New UK onshore wind and solar is ‘50% cheaper’ than new gas
The UK government's latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction has secured a record 7.4GW of solar, onshore wind, and tidal power, making it the largest auction round to date. Contracts were agreed at competitive prices of £65/MWh for solar and £72/MWh for onshore wind, below recent wholesale power prices. These projects will help cut consumer bills, reduce gas imports, and lower gas demand by 95TWh per year. The auction results highlight the economic viability of renewable energy sources, with onshore wind and solar projects seen as more cost-effective than new gas-fired power stations. These investments in renewable energy will strengthen the UK's energy security and help the country move towards meeting its 2030 clean power targets.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-new-uk-onshore-wind-and-solar-is-50-cheaper-than-new-gas/
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Agrivoltaics? Yes in my vineyard
Researchers in Spain conducted a study in the Murcia region, surveying 238 wine tourists and finding broad support for trellis-integrated agrivoltaics in vineyards, with 94% backing solar integration. The study focused on vineyards in a region where viticulture is significant, with questions about the importance of photovoltaic energy, preferred system configurations, and perceptions of landscape integration. Overall, the research found a positive social perception of agrivoltaic systems, particularly in vineyard settings, confirming high acceptance of this dual-use land model among the surveyed population. The results were presented in a study published in Renewable Energy Focus, with involvement from academics at Technical University of Cartagena and Miguel Hernández University of Elche.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/12/agrivoltaics-yes-in-my-vineyard/
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Comparing safety profiles of lithium-ion, sodium-ion and solid-state batteries
New research challenges the reputation of LFP batteries as the "safest" chemistry due to high levels of hydrogen fluoride emissions, highlighting the need for battery energy storage technologies with high performance and safety in the global transition to sustainable energy systems. Researchers compared lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and solid-state batteries for safety attributes tailored to different deployment scenarios, including factors like initiation resistance, abuse tolerance, gas hazards, and application-specific constraints. The study established a safety baseline for lithium-ion batteries by analyzing failure mechanisms under various abuse conditions, providing valuable insights for climate solutions experts in selecting the most suitable battery technology for sustainable energy storage.
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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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The coming age of compact fusion: local power for a data-hungry world
The article discusses the increasing energy consumption of data centers and the potential impact on global electricity supply, highlighting the shift towards distributed, resilient, and high-density power systems, with a focus on compact fusion power as a strategic solution. Challenges of achieving fusion on Earth through magnetic confinement systems like Tokamaks and Stellarators are explored, emphasizing the importance of building fusion power systems small, fast, and locally to address the growing energy demands of the digital economy. Advances in compact fusion technology are leading to transformative potential in the field of fusion energy, with smaller, denser, and more controllable reactors being developed to meet the global demand for clean and reliable power. Compact fusion efforts aim to bridge the gap between big science and fast tech, making fusion energy an everyday utility and bringing the power of the stars within reach.
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Australian state awards 12 GWh of long-duration storage contracts
New South Wales has awarded long-term energy service agreements to six battery energy storage projects totaling 1.17 GW and nearly 12 GWh, increasing the state's contracted storage capacity to 30 GWh. These projects meet the state's legislated objective of delivering 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030 and 28 GWh by 2034, with a focus on transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing price volatility. The New South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap aims to replace old coal-fired power stations with 12 GW of renewable energy and 2 GW of storage by 2030, with tenders being sought for additional projects to further strengthen competition in the market. The overall goal is to increase renewable energy capacity and transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner and more reliable sources.
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Australian tech company unearthing new capacity on the grid lands $1.1bn valuation after new capital raise
Neara, an Australian energy technology company, has raised $90 million to expand its AI and machine learning products, crucial for the green energy transition. The company's software builds 3D models of networks to identify new capacity and better plan for new generation and data centers, with a focus on addressing challenges faced by power grids in the face of rising electrification and demand from AI and data centers. Traditional methods are no longer sufficient for managing a modern grid, with challenges in grid access and planning affecting sectors like data centers and renewable energy. Data centers present an opportunity similar to renewable energy, with countries needing to address grid issues to benefit. The data center industry is seen as a "space race" with significant potential.