The first large scale solar-battery hybrid power plant on Australia's main grid, Quorn Park, has been energised and is ready to send solar power into evening demand peaks. This facility combines an 80 MW solar farm with a 20 MW, 40 MWh battery, allowing for solar to be stored and fed into the grid during peak demand times. Solar-battery hybrids are seen as a solution to provide reliable and cost-effective support to the grid, meeting the evolving needs of communities and accelerating the energy transition. Solar battery hybrids are becoming increasingly popular in the green energy transition, with Chris Bowen naming 20 winners of a 6.5 gigawatt CIS tender, making them a key technology for clean energy solutions.
Category: Other Energy
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Amea Power begins construction on 1 GW/600 MWh solar-plus-storage plant in Egypt
Amea Power has secured financing and begun construction on Africa's largest single-site hybrid renewable facility in Egypt, integrating 1 GW of solar PV with 600 MWh of BESS and expected to be operational by June 2026. Located in the Aswan Governorate, the project is a key part of Egypt's clean energy journey, enhancing energy security, supporting local employment, and contributing to national development. The project's financing, led by the IFC and involving international partners, highlights the growing momentum towards sustainable energy solutions in the region.
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Sparc hits production milestone at hydrogen pilot plant in Australia
Sparc Hydrogen, a joint venture involving Sparc Technologies, Fortescue, and the University of Adelaide, has successfully achieved sustained hydrogen generation at its pilot plant in South Australia using a photocatalytic water-splitting process powered by concentrated solar energy. This breakthrough technology eliminates the need for electrolyzers or electricity, positioning Sparc Hydrogen as a leader in direct solar-to-hydrogen production. The company aims to further optimize its technology for scalability and commercialization, with the potential to unlock low-cost green hydrogen production. With the global green hydrogen market projected to reach $1.4 trillion per year by 2050, this innovation could play a significant role in advancing climate solutions.
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Germany brings world’s first supercapacitor STATCOM online
Siemens Energy and TenneT have successfully installed the world's first supercapacitor-based grid-stabilization system in Mehrum, Germany. The SVC Plus FS system utilizes supercapacitors to provide instantaneous reserve and reactive power, eliminating the need for large fossil-fuel power plant generators. After over a decade of development and three years of construction, the system now operates fully automatically and remotely controlled. This groundbreaking project sets a new standard for the global energy transition, showcasing the potential of supercapacitors to revolutionize traditional grid-stabilizing functions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/15/germany-brings-worlds-first-supercapacitor-statcom-online/
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The Orphan Well Case For Renewable Energy
Oklahoma has made progress in utilizing wind energy resources, ranking #3 in total renewable energy production and #4 in net power generation from renewables. Despite challenges with pollution and abandoned wells from the oil and gas industry, the state is a renewable energy leader with potential for solar energy growth. Renewable energy opportunities are emerging, with farmers and property owners pursuing solar panels and wind turbines for new revenue. The Energy Department is exploring harvesting geothermal energy from oil and gas wells, as well as repurposing unused oil storage tanks for energy storage, showing that Oklahoma has the potential to grow its renewable energy profile alongside its fossil fuel industry.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/14/the-oilfield-binge-purge-another-reason-to-ditch-fossil-fuels/
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Assessing Global Progress 10 Years After Paris Climate Accords
Despite criticism, the Paris Climate Accords have led to significant progress in the shift towards clean energy, with renewable energy growing by 15% and accounting for over 90% of new power generation capacity. Investment in clean energy has surpassed that in fossil fuels, and electric vehicles now make up a fifth of new car sales globally. The agreement has reshaped policy, finance, and sectoral rules, but its ultimate success depends on political leaders closing the ambition gap, phasing out fossil fuels, and scaling up finance for a just transition. Commitments made since the Paris agreement have brought the projected temperature increase down to about 2.8°C, but more ambitious action is needed to phase out fossil fuels and meet net zero emissions targets earlier.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/14/assessing-global-progress-10-years-after-paris-climate-accords/
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China National Petroleum Corporation achieves 25.05% efficiency for inverted perovskite solar cell
China National Petroleum Corporation has developed a high-efficiency inverted perovskite solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 25.05%, validated by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology. This cell utilizes an inverted architecture and interface molecules to enhance stability and boost open-circuit voltage. CNPC plans to integrate this technology with traditional silicon cells to lower the cost of energy production. They are set to establish a pilot line in 2026 and a mass production facility in 2028, aiming to achieve renewable energy capacity on par with their oil and gas output by 2035.
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NLC India Renewables and PTC India sign green energy JVA in India
NLC India Renewables Limited and PTC India have formed a joint venture to develop renewable energy projects in Tamil Nadu, India, with a total capacity of up to 2,000MW. The initial phase will focus on 500MW and include solar, wind, hydro, battery energy storage systems, green ammonia, and other green technologies. Power sales will be through competitive and regulated channels, catering to distribution companies, government agencies, and commercial and industrial consumers.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/nlc-india-ptc-green-energy-jv/
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Indian researchers develop stable liquid hydrogen transport system
Researchers at MIT World Peace University in India have developed a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) system that allows for the safe and stable transportation of hydrogen in liquid form. This innovation addresses the challenges of integrating hydrogen into energy systems due to its explosive nature and complex transportation requirements. The LOHC system involves a two-stage chemical process where hydrogen is bonded into a liquid for storage and transport, and then released at the point of use. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce costs and transport risks associated with hydrogen supply chains, positioning India at the forefront of LOHC development and potentially accelerating the national hydrogen mission for clean-energy logistics in transportation and heavy industry.
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Japan signs first fusion power PPA
Japanese start-up Helical Fusion has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Aoki Super Co, marking the first fusion-energy PPA in Japan. The fusion reactor, based on the stellarator design, aims to deliver the world's first commercially viable stellarator for electricity generation. Helical Fusion plans to build a pilot reactor with a generation capacity of 50-100 MWe and have it operational around 2040, with Aoki Super's strategic investment in July 2025 showcasing their commitment to sustainability. Both companies believe fusion energy can support environmentally responsible retail operations, highlighting the potential for fusion energy to play a key role in sustainable energy solutions.
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/japan-signs-first-fusion-power-ppa/