Maritime leaders from Canada's West Coast are calling for the creation of a Canadian-owned commercial trading fleet and a clean, electrified shipbuilding strategy to enhance supply chain security and energy sovereignty. They aim to strengthen national trade control, drive investment in domestic shipbuilding, green marine technology, and clean energy infrastructure. British Columbia is seen as a potential leader in this initiative, with plans to combine advanced electrification and clean energy systems for port microgrids and vessel charging. The leaders are urging government support to unlock banking capital and policy backing for Canadian shipyards and clean port electrification.
Category: Electricity & Industry
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Shift Production
-
Energy Vault breaks ground on 150MW SOSA Energy Center in Texas
Energy Vault has acquired the SOSA Energy Center in Texas and has begun construction on a 150MW/300MWh battery energy storage project, expected to be operational by Q2 2027. The project will provide grid support and renewable integration services in the Texas ERCOT market, with a total portfolio of over 340MW using their B-VAULT technology. Meanwhile, Hover Energy has been recognized for their excellence in innovation and leadership in intelligent microgrids and distributed renewables, receiving three 2025 Power Technology Excellence Awards. Their AI-enabled Microgrid Management SystemTM and networked microgrids are helping to rebuild the energy grid for a more flexible and resilient future.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/energy-vault-sosa-energy-center/
-
Programmatic alignment is key to scaling residential battery demand response
Residential battery storage paired with demand response programs is becoming a key strategy for utilities to manage peak demand and maintain reliability during extreme weather events. U.S. residential battery installations saw a significant increase in 2025, with major utilities expanding programs to defer grid upgrades and strengthen resilience. Coordinated marketing and simple enrollment pathways are key to scaling residential Distributed Energy Resources (DER) participation, as shown by research from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and ACEEE. Risk-sharing models, where utilities guarantee minimum payments to OEMs and technology providers, can help shift the financial risk of enrollment. To scale battery programs, it is important to treat battery demand response as a market development opportunity rather than just a technology deployment problem. Unified action, streamlined interconnection, interoperable standards, and risk-sharing business models are needed to align utilities, OEMs, and customers around shared value for successful scaling.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/residential-battery-demand-response/805594/
-
EPFL researchers enhance perovskite solar cell performance via rubidium
Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland and a collaborative team from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National University of Singapore, University of Ioannina, and Politecnico di Milano have made significant advancements in perovskite solar cell technology. By incorporating rubidium (Rb) into the perovskite lattice structure, they were able to enhance stability and efficiency, achieving champion efficiency levels of 25.77% and 20.65% respectively. The introduction of Rb+ cations at grain domain boundaries and the lattice strain approach led to improved carrier diffusion length, lifetime, and suppression of halide phase segregation. These developments mark a promising step forward in the quest for more efficient and stable solar energy solutions.
-
BYD New Global BEV Sales Leader, Displacing Tesla
In 2025, BYD surpassed Tesla as the top electric car manufacturer, selling 2.26 million electric vehicles globally. BYD's success is attributed to its production of both fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, allowing it to meet consumer and regulatory demands. With plans for new factories in Hungary and Turkey, BYD's export business is growing, and analysts predict total sales could reach 5.3 million units in the following year. BYD has unveiled a technology platform to boost competitiveness, focusing on electric buses and heavy-duty trucks, with sales doubling in 2025 to 57,000 units. Despite its lower stock valuation compared to Tesla, BYD's progress in the EV market could potentially change the dynamics of the industry.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/02/byd-new-global-bev-sales-leader-displacing-tesla/
-
UK study finds azimuthal trackers boost floating PV performance
A University of Exeter study found that azimuthal tracking systems deliver the largest energy gains and lowest levelized cost of energy for floating solar PV plants in the UK, with a 26.9% increase in production compared to fixed systems. This makes floating solar a competitive option for marine-based renewable energy. Meanwhile, in the United States, Texas has become one of the top states for solar energy production due to its abundant sunlight, large land area, and decreasing costs of solar technology. The expansion of solar power in Texas is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
-
Equinor latest US offshore wind developer to challenge Trump
Equinor has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's stop-work order on five offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind 1, in a Washington, DC federal district court. This legal action is crucial for the construction of offshore wind projects, which play a significant role in transitioning to renewable energy sources and combating climate change. The outcome of this lawsuit could have a major impact on the advancement of renewable energy solutions and the fight against climate change.
-
Last of 1,500 steel towers in Australia’s largest transmission project erected finally erected
Australia's largest energy transmission project, EnergyConnect, has reached a major milestone with the completion of over 1500 steel towers across NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. Despite delays and cost blowouts, the project aims to connect the power grids of three states, supporting Australia's renewable energy and emissions targets. Workers are assembling and erecting towers weighing between 20,000kg to 60,000kg, suspended 65m off the ground. Scheduled for completion by late 2026, EnergyConnect will accelerate Australia's renewable energy transition and strengthen the national grid.
-
Nuvve Selected for 40 MWh of Battery-as-a-Service Projects from Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in New Mexico
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has partnered with Nuvve New Mexico to deploy battery energy storage systems in northern New Mexico, providing peak load mitigation, grid resiliency, and market participation. This Battery-as-a-Service model allows KCEC to access grid infrastructure without upfront capital investment, supporting healthcare operations and enhancing community services. Nuvve's technology turns batteries, electric vehicles, and buildings into grid resources, enabling bidirectional charging and load optimization for a more resilient and sustainable grid. The collaboration aims to explore future opportunities for grid modernization and advance flexible energy solutions globally.
-
Vestas gets 390MW wind turbine order in South Korea
Danish wind turbine maker Vestas has secured a 390MW contract for the Shinan-Ui offshore wind project in South Korea, where they will supply 26 of their V236-15.0MW offshore wind turbines. The project, expected to enter commercial operation in 2028, aligns with South Korea's clean energy transition plans and marks Vestas' first offshore wind contract in the country. Additionally, networked microgrids are being implemented to create a more flexible and resilient energy future, rebuilding the grid for better management of energy resources. These microgrids have the potential to improve overall efficiency and reliability of the energy system, contributing to climate solutions by driving large-scale deployment of offshore wind in South Korea.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/vestas-wind-turbine-south-korea/