Energy Digest

Duke Energy has successfully powered up a 50 MW grid battery project at its former Allen coal plant site in the Carolinas. The $100 million investment aims to stabilize the grid and reduce energy costs across the region, particularly during extreme weather conditions. This upgrade is part of Duke Energy's efforts to expand its energy storage infrastructure.

The Solar Energy Expo in Poland, held in January 2026, attracted a record number of industry visitors despite having a smaller show-floor footprint. The event focused on flexibility and market reform, as well as storage, inverter, and grid-forming technologies, highlighting Poland's transition towards more efficient energy systems. The expo marked an important milestone for Poland's solar market, which has been expanding rapidly.

India has commissioned its first merchant battery energy storage system, a 100 MWh project in western India, marking a significant milestone in the country's renewable energy landscape. The project, developed by Juniper Green Energy, has completed trial operations and received approval to start commercial operations. This is one of the largest operating BESS projects in India, positioned to generate merchant revenues through various market opportunities.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) funding bill has ignored some of President Trump's requested cuts, specifically maintaining funding for the solar and wind energy programs under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Despite this, the bill still reflects many of Trump's budget reductions. The disparity highlights the ongoing tension between Trump's administration and Congress over energy policy.

The article reports that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Laura Swett is seeing progress in PJM's data center and power supply plans, indicating improved cooperation among stakeholders compared to the recent past. However, no specific details about these plans are provided. FERC's involvement suggests that the commission is monitoring the developments.

A 1.2-GW pumped storage hydro project is set to be developed at a former smelter site in Washington state, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issuing an operating license for the project. The development is being led by Rye Development and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The project aims to generate clean energy for the region.

The article discusses the recent recall of Tesla Powerwall batteries due to fire safety concerns and suggests that homeowners looking for alternative solutions are now exploring other options. As a result, the author is updating their recommendations for home solar battery backup systems. The article aims to provide an overview of alternative solutions for those seeking a reliable energy storage system.

The article discusses the rapid growth of energy storage markets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, driven by large-scale projects. However, it suggests that the next phase of development will require significant backing from private sector investors to continue this momentum. This is crucial for the region's transition towards a more sustainable energy future.

The article discusses Hendrix by Marmon Utility, a US-based manufacturer of engineered solutions for distribution and transmission systems. Their products aim to deliver grid resiliency, wildfire mitigation, faster restoration, and enhanced reliability for electric utilities. The company's focus is on providing innovative solutions to support the evolving needs of the energy sector.

The article discusses Kerite by Marmon Utility, a US-based manufacturer of engineered underground cable solutions for electric distribution. The company aims to deliver long-term reliability, reduced maintenance, and superior grid performance for utilities. However, the specific details about their products or services are not provided in the snippet.

The European Commission has launched an investigation into a €61 million arbitration award to Malta-based ACF Renewable Energy, which invested in a Bulgarian solar plant under a renewable energy support scheme. The commission is assessing whether the award is compatible with EU State aid rules and whether it breaches EU treaty provisions. Bulgaria notified the commission but has not paid the sum.

Denmark's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities has announced the establishment of a framework for studying the potential use of nuclear energy, including small modular reactors. This move comes after lifting a moratorium on nuclear power in Denmark. The study aims to investigate both the benefits and risks associated with new nuclear technologies.

BKW, a Swiss energy giant, is pivoting from coal to hydrogen infrastructure in Germany. The company has written down its stake in the Wilhelmshaven coal plant and is instead investing in a hydrogen-capable gas-fired plant at Hamm in North Rhine-Westphalia. This move marks a bold shift towards sustainable energy as coal's role declines under Germany's Energiewende (energy transition) policy.

Dispatch Energy has brought a 4MW hydrogen fuel cell plant online in Bridgeport, Connecticut, providing clean baseload power to the local grid. The plant, which produces enough electricity for approximately 3,393 homes, replaces an old setup and significantly reduces emissions by about 50%. This project marks an example of urban renewal as Dispatch Energy transforms a former manufacturing site into a hub of sustainable energy.

Home-electrification startup Jetson has raised $50 million to reduce the cost of installing heat pumps in the US and Canada, aiming to install them at 30% to 50% less than competitors. The company, founded in 2024, has also developed its own smart heat pump technology. This investment will help fuel Jetson's ambitious effort to make affordable heat pumps more accessible.

Elon Musk discussed potential energy sources and their impact on artificial intelligence (AI) production at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He suggested that sparsely populated areas of Spain and Sicily could serve as Europe's "power plants" to generate electricity, citing solar power and battery storage as key technologies. Additionally, Musk mentioned the possibility of transmitting solar energy generated in space to Earth, which he expects to achieve within two to three years.

Ikea is launching a dynamic electricity tariff in Germany, called Svea Strom, which changes every 15 minutes based on day-ahead market prices. The tariff is available to customers without owning solar or storage systems and supplies electricity from TÜV-certified renewable sources. This is the first time Ikea has introduced such a tariff worldwide.

Here is the analysis of the power and energy systems article: The article highlights the growing need for hybrid inverter systems to drive the next phase of Indian rooftop solar growth, as traditional on-grid systems struggle to keep up with the increasing amount of solar generation. Energy storage, intelligence, and integration are key components that will lead this growth, addressing issues such as voltage fluctuations, reverse power flows, and localized grid stress. This shift is necessary for India's energy independence goal by 2047.

A groundbreaking solar-plus-storage project in the UAE, developed by Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company, is expected to redefine baseload power with its ability to deliver 1 GW of continuous energy. The project, currently under construction, will be the world's first gigawatt-scale renewable project designed for around-the-clock baseload power. This development signals a potential shift in renewable energy deployment despite high costs.

The European Union's solar energy generation reached a record high in 2025, accounting for 13% of the bloc's electricity production. This growth is attributed to an increase of 65.1 GW of solar installations in the EU last year, leading to a significant rise in solar-generated energy. Solar energy now surpasses coal and hydroelectric power as a source of energy in the EU.

Palmer Renewable Energy has proposed a 200MW solar-plus-storage project near Collie, Western Australia, which is the third utility-scale battery storage project in the region. The project aims to utilize renewable energy and provide grid stability. No specific details on the technology or timeline for completion are provided.

A US developer has been greenlit for a massive pumped hydro energy storage project in Washington State, set to add 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy to the nation's grid.

The power delivery landscape is expected to face significant challenges in the near future, including rising electricity prices and aging infrastructure. Grid modernization and advanced transmission technologies are seen as key solutions to address these challenges and meet increasing demand from data centers. A focus on rapid deployment and efficiency improvements will be crucial for successful grid modernization.

A team of scientists has designed a low-cost sodium-ion battery with cheap electrode materials, including a P2-type cathode material and hard carbon anode made from lavender flowers. The proposed system aims to provide scalable and environmentally sustainable energy storage for stationary applications. Initial electrochemical testing reveals promising results, with capacities of up to 360 mAh/g and capacity retentions of over 60%.

A Chinese company, CHN Energy, has launched an agrivoltaic project that integrates solar panels with a tea plantation in southwestern China. The first 32 MW of the project is now connected to the grid, spanning over 666,000 m2 of area across the tea plantation. The integrated model aims to improve tea quality and provide energy.

Chinese battery makers are accelerating the rollout of larger lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, aiming to reduce system complexity and increase energy density in stationary storage containers. The bigger formats are being promoted by top manufacturers such as CATL and EVE Energy, which claim to offer improved performance and efficiency. This trend is expected to gain traction as these companies expand their production capacity and installations.

Fortescue, an Australian mining giant, has claimed to have secured large-scale battery storage at "record-low pricing" in Australia. CEO Dino Otranto made this announcement, indicating a significant reduction in costs for the technology. This development could potentially lead to increased adoption of energy storage solutions in the country.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released a report stating that approximately 16.6 million people worldwide worked in renewable energy jobs in 2025, highlighting the significant growth and job creation in the renewable energy sector.

Noon Energy, a US startup, has unveiled its first operational demonstration project for a new energy storage technology capable of providing baseload power for multiple days. The company had previously teased the capabilities of this technology at trade shows. This achievement marks an important milestone in Noon Energy's development of sustainable energy solutions.