Energy Digest

The article discusses how recent changes in Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the executive branch have transformed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) landscape for energy infrastructure projects. These changes aim to streamline permitting processes for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including those related to artificial intelligence (AI). The new NEPA landscape promises to facilitate more efficient project development and deployment.

The article discusses the relationship between renewable energy, economics, and inertia in power and energy systems. It clarifies that solar panels alone cannot add inertia to an electrical grid, requiring devices like synchronous compensators to achieve this effect. The article touches on the importance of considering these factors when integrating renewable energy sources into the grid.

A black-out event occurred in Spain and Portugal, affecting over 55 million people, causing widespread disruptions to daily life. The rapid collapse of the energy grid was alarming, with power generation dropping from 25GW to less than 1.2GW within minutes. This incident highlights the need for a holistic solution to address the "systems" problem of modern power grids.

PowerChina has launched a 31 GW solar module procurement tender for 2026 projects, with bids due by December 24, 2025. The tender is split across n-type TOPCon, heterojunction (HJT), and back-contact (BC) technologies, with bifacial compatibility and cell sizes of 182 millimeters required. This move aims to secure supply-chain stability through framework agreements as part of PowerChina's wider 97 GW renewables and grid equipment program.

The article discusses US President Trump's alleged "war on solar power" and how it is ultimately a losing battle. Despite his personal grudge against wind turbines, Trump's stance on solar panels seems less clear-cut. However, the author implies that innovators in the space solar industry are thriving.

Hithium Energy Storage has unveiled a new long-duration storage solution with a 1,300Ah cell, integrated system, and lithium-sodium hybrid for AI data centers. The company aims to address the intermittency of renewable generation and the rapidly rising electricity demand of digital infrastructure. This move positions Hithium as a strategic player in the energy storage market.

**** The Indian Ministry of Power has reported a significant drop in the cost of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in India, with prices decreasing from INR 10.18/kWh to INR 2.8/kWh. This reduction is attributed to market trends suggesting that BESS will operate at 1.5 cycles per day, bringing the effective cost down. The Ministry is also administering schemes to support the expansion of battery storage, including subsidized funding for large-scale projects. **

The Italian government has approved over 710 MW of mainly agrivoltaic solar projects in Puglia, clearing a regulatory barrier to construction. The approvals follow positive Environmental Impact Assessments and are being developed by a mix of Italian and international companies. The Council of Ministers is also challenging regional limits on where photovoltaic plants can be built in Umbria Region Law No. 7/2025.

Tribal nations are facing significant challenges in regrouping after losing federal funding for clean energy initiatives, with the demand for energy expected to continue growing in the coming years. As a result, tribal communities must take an active role in the transition to renewable energy sources. The loss of federal funding highlights the need for alternative solutions and partnerships.

GAF Energy, a solar shingle manufacturer, has closed its research and development facility in San Jose, California, and moved its headquarters to Texas. The company will now only manufacture its solar shingles at its Texas factory. This move indicates a shift in the company's operations, potentially due to regional economic or regulatory factors.

The article discusses how Distributed Energy Resources (DER) flexibility markets are transforming the grid and enabling utility savings. These markets allow DERs, such as solar panels and wind turbines, to adjust their output in response to changing energy demand, reducing strain on traditional power plants and promoting a more efficient grid. By leveraging DER flexibility, utilities can also reduce costs and improve overall grid resilience.

Thea Energy, a fusion technology company spun out from Princeton University and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, has completed its preconceptual design for a fusion power plant using the stellarator technology as part of its Helios system. This achievement marks an important step forward in the development of commercial fusion energy. The completion of this design is expected to contribute to the advancement of clean and sustainable energy sources.

The ISO-NE (Independent System Operator-New England) has opposed a refund to BP Energy Retail Co. for $6M in billing errors, citing concerns about potential instability in the energy market if refunds are granted. Eversource Energy and the Retail Energy Supply Association have urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve a resettlement for all affected power suppliers. The ISO-NE's decision suggests they prioritize maintaining a stable energy system over providing refunds.

The article highlights several holiday sales and deals on various products, including electric vehicles (EVs), power stations, appliances, and more. Hiboy is offering up to 50% discounts on EVs, while EcoFlow has a 48-hour Christmas flash sale with a discounted price of $1,799 for the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Power Station with a 440W solar bundle. Additionally, other products like e-scooters, robot lawn mowers, and power stations are also available at discounted prices.

The article discusses thermal batteries, which are a type of energy storage system that can be used to stabilize the grid and reduce costs. Exposing thermal batteries to real-time market signals could help lower system costs and strengthen America's manufacturing base and AI infrastructure. This concept is advocated by Katherine Hamilton and Isaac Brown of the Thermal Battery Alliance.

**SUMMARY**: The Central Electricity Board of Mauritius has launched a tender for the supply, installation, and commissioning of rooftop solar systems with an optional battery energy storage system. The project aims to deploy 2 MW of cumulative capacity on the island of Rodrigues, east of Mauritius, and will be financed by a grant from the Green Climate Fund. The deadline for applications is February 2, 2026. **KEY TAKEAWAYS**: • The Central Electricity Board of Mauritius has launched a tender for rooftop solar systems with an optional battery energy storage system, targeting a cumulative capacity of 2 MW on the island of Rodrigues. • The project will be deployed on various public buildings with capacities ranging between 5 kW and 50 kW, and will be financed by a grant from the Green Climate Fund alongside government investment. • Interested applicants must submit their bids electronically by February 2, 2026, and the chosen developer will be responsible for supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar system.

Energy Storage Europe has welcomed a proposed EU reform to simplify grid connection and permitting processes, which aims to end the 'first-come-first-served' approach. The new rules are intended to make it easier for renewable energy projects to access the grid, reducing uncertainty and cost of development. This could lead to increased adoption of clean energy sources.

A new study by The Brattle Group and Dragos found that a single outage of a 100MW/400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) could result in significant monthly losses, estimated at US$1.2 million.

**SUMMARY** The Low-Carbon Ammonia Partnership aims to launch massive low-carbon ammonia projects on Louisiana's Gulf Coast, aligning with global decarbonization goals. Air Products and Yara International are collaborating on this initiative, leveraging their decades of industry expertise in hydrogen supply, industrial gases, and carbon capture technology. The partnership seeks to transform the Gulf Coast petrochemical corridor into a beacon of clean industrial innovation. **KEY TAKEAWAYS** * Air Products and Yara International are in talks to launch low-carbon ammonia projects on Louisiana's Gulf Coast, marking a significant step towards global decarbonization goals. * The partnership will utilize proven carbon capture technology and Yara's top-tier ammonia distribution network to produce over 750 million standard cubic feet per day of low-carbon hydrogen. * This initiative aligns with the industry expertise of both companies, with Air Products having decade-plus large-scale carbon capture successes at U.S. sites and Yara being the leading fertilizer producer and ammonia shipper globally.

The Korea Power Exchange is set to announce the winners of a large-scale energy storage auction in February, with the goal of procuring 540MW/3,240MWh of energy storage to support South Korea's electric grid. This project aims to improve the grid's resilience and reliability by providing a buffer against variable renewable energy sources. The announcement is expected to provide insight into the strategies being employed by South Korea to integrate large-scale renewable energy sources.

Germany has successfully connected the world's first supercapacitor-based STATCOM (electronic static synchronous compensator) to the grid, marking a significant milestone in power system control technology. The system, developed by Siemens Energy and TenneT, is designed to provide instantaneous reserve and reactive power, a function historically delivered by fossil-fuel generators. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize grid stability and pave the way for a more efficient energy transition.

Hebei Juhang Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd. is planning to establish a large-scale solar panel manufacturing plant in Pakistan, aiming to cater to both domestic demand and potential exports. The company met with representatives from the Board of Investment (BOI) in Pakistan, proposing a significant investment in the country's solar energy sector. Pakistan has offered incentives, including 6,000 acres of land allocation and special economic zones with zero income tax for the first ten years.

The French government has awarded all 507.7 MW of capacity in its latest technology-neutral auction to solar projects, marking the first time no wind projects were selected under the scheme. Agrivoltaic projects saw a significant increase in interest and were featured prominently in the awards. Pricing data showed continued downward pressure, with the weighted average award price reaching €0.07413/kWh.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25.05% for an inverted perovskite solar cell, with the goal of using it as the top device in perovskite-silicon tandem configurations. The inverted perovskite cell structure, known as p-i-n, was designed to address stability issues and raise the cell's open-circuit voltage. This achievement is a significant step forward for the development of more efficient solar cells.

The article discusses the importance of quality and bankability in solar power projects. Industry experts from various stages of the supply chain, including manufacturers and developers, gathered to share insights on common failures and how to prevent them. The discussion focused on the impact of tight margins on project quality and the need for a commitment to processes and fault prevention.

Toyota Motor North America has made a strategic investment in FirstElement Fuel Inc. to boost California's hydrogen infrastructure, with the goal of beefing up the state's network of 92 fueling spots across 38 locations. This move is aimed at scaling up the station network and addressing range anxiety for heavy-duty fleets that require fast recharging times. By investing in FirstElement Fuel, Toyota aims to support the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in California.