The U.S. power sector is undergoing a transformation with a shift towards cleaner, more distributed generation and rising demand driven by electrification and digital infrastructure. Retail energy providers (REPs) are facing a dual challenge of managing a next-generation supply portfolio while ensuring it resonates with customers. Wind and solar have overtaken coal in the national generation mix, signaling a systemic shift towards renewables. The growing demand for electricity driven by data centers, electrification, and digital consumption is reshaping the way REPs think about procurement and risk. The future of the retail electricity market will be shaped by decentralization, digitization, and decarbonization, requiring REPs to evolve into services and market orchestration providers. Retail energy providers must adopt a diversified approach to their supply portfolios to integrate renewable energy sources, dispatchable resources, storage, and demand response capacity. This is necessary to hedge against volatility and meet consumer demand for clean energy and sustainability. Customer-centricity, transparency, and personalization are becoming increasingly important in the retail energy market, with different generational segments having varying priorities. The next-generation retail energy mix requires alignment and diversification on both the supply and customer sides to ensure reliability, cost stability, and customer satisfaction. The article discusses the importance of retail energy providers (REPs) adapting to the changing energy landscape by integrating grid-edge resources, prioritizing flexibility in supply portfolios, segmenting offerings based on customer values, and investing in digital infrastructure. It emphasizes the need for REPs to treat supply and customer engagement as an integrated strategy, prioritize transparency, and engage in regulatory and market design conversations. The energy transition towards renewable penetration, demand growth, DER integration, and evolving customer expectations is redefining deregulated retail energy markets. REPs that successfully orchestrate portfolios reflecting modern supply realities and customer values will position themselves as trusted partners in the energy systems of tomorrow.
Category: Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System
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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/
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Thicker alumunium oxide layers can reduce ultraviolet-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells
Researchers from UNSW have developed a model linking UV-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells to hydrogen transport, charge trapping, and structural changes in the passivation stack. Thicker aluminum oxide layers improve UV resilience by limiting hydrogen migration. The study conducted on TOPCon cells showed a complex interaction between chemical degradation and temporary enhancement in field-effect passivation. High-energy UV photons break Si-H bonds in the SiNx capping layer, releasing mobile hydrogen that degrades chemical passivation. Thicker 7 nm AlOx layers act as a more effective barrier to hydrogen transport, improving UVID resilience. Researchers have identified new failure modes and degradation mechanisms in TOPCon solar modules, including the impact of soldering flux, contact corrosion, and sodium-induced degradation. The research also highlights the vulnerability of TOPCon solar cells to various forms of degradation under different conditions. The study provides design guidance for more UV-robust passivation stacks and improved testing protocols, as presented in a paper published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
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Sunrun & HASI Form New $500 Million Joint Venture to Accelerate Distributed Power Development
HASI and Sunrun have announced a joint venture to finance distributed energy assets, with HASI investing up to $500 million over 18 months to support over 40,000 home power plants in the US. This partnership aims to provide a more efficient cost of capital and accelerate the development of essential infrastructure through home-based energy systems. Sunrun's Chief Financial Officer highlighted the innovative financing structure with HASI as a first-of-its-kind for residential storage and solar financing, offering an efficient capital structure for growth. While forward-looking statements have been made, both companies acknowledge the risks and uncertainties involved, with factors outlined in their Annual Reports filed with the SEC.
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Consumers Energy begins Muskegon Solar operations in Michigan, US
Consumers Energy has launched the Muskegon Solar project in Michigan, producing 250MW of electricity for 40,000 homes and businesses while creating over 200 jobs during construction. The facility, equipped with over 550,000 panels that track the sun's movement, is part of the company's efforts to enhance energy production. Consumers Energy is also advancing battery storage, wind, new solar, and natural gas projects in Michigan, aiming to establish a reliable and cost-effective electric grid for residents.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/consumers-energy-muskegon-solar-operations/
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Alphabet acquires clean energy developer Intersect for $4.75B
Alphabet's subsidiary Google is making strides in decarbonization by acquiring clean energy and data center infrastructure developer Intersect in a $4.75 billion deal. This acquisition will help Google combat rising emissions and prioritize decarbonizing its operational electricity consumption, with Intersect's $15 billion clean energy infrastructure portfolio in Texas and California. Google aims to halve its emissions by 2030 and run on carbon-free power 24/7, partnering with utilities and energy developers for clean power generation. The acquisition will allow Intersect to collaborate with Google on joint projects to drive innovation and leadership in the U.S. energy industry, showcasing a new approach to sustainable energy solutions.
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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/
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World’s 1st Production Solid-State Battery!
A small company in Finland, Donutlabs, has developed the world's first production solid-state battery with a high energy density of 400 Wh/kg. Verge Motorcycles has incorporated these batteries into their motorcycles, allowing for up to 600 km of range and an 80% charge in less than 10 minutes. The batteries have a long cycle life, work in extreme temperatures, and are safe and cost-effective. This advancement in battery technology could lead to the end of combustion engines in various applications and accelerate the electrification of the world's energy, offering a promising solution to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/05/worlds-1st-production-solid-state-battery/
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Some Ho, Ho, Hopes for 2026 and Beyond
In 2026 and beyond, advancements in clean energy, climate action, and innovation offer hope for addressing climate change. Key themes include focusing on the business case for clean energy, increasing public funding for climate technologies, utilizing AI for innovation and energy efficiency, accelerating deployment of low-carbon energy, and promoting electrification for global decarbonization. The need for year-round, real-economy action and increased climate ambition is emphasized, along with the importance of collaboration and sharing knowledge in the pursuit of climate solutions.
https://speedandscale.com/newsletter/some-ho-ho-hopes-for-2026-and-beyond/
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Rooftop solar is booming, but not in the communities that need it most
Solar adoption in the U.S. has been rapidly growing, with 84% of new electricity generation capacity coming from solar and storage in 2024. State governments are implementing programs to lower barriers to entry for solar technology, such as tax credits and rebates, while community solar is being used to increase access for low-income households. There is nearly 14 GW of untapped potential on commercial rooftops that can power various facilities without requiring additional land use permits. By combining data analysis with community engagement, solar development can be made faster, equitable, and strategic, turning existing infrastructure into renewable energy assets that benefit a range of communities. The key to achieving a cleaner future lies in merging innovation with inclusion, aligning policy, technology, and trust to make solar work for everyone.