Energy Digest

Space solar power is becoming a reality, defying US energy policies favoring fossil fuels. The space solar field is emerging from science fiction to fact, offering a viable alternative to traditional solar power. This technology will inevitably outpace Trump's war on solar power and become a major player in the global clean energy market.

Amazon is growing its van fleet, investing in solar-powered semis, and using BetterFleet to optimize charging schedules for energy efficiency. Amazon's solar-powered semi initiative aims to reduce the company's carbon footprint. CEO Daniel Hilson discusses BetterFleet's capabilities with Electrek Daily's Quick Charge podcast.

Intersolar and Energy Storage North America wrapped up its show in San Diego after a week of rainy days, with a quieter convention hall than in years past. Exhibiting companies expressed optimism about new products appearing at the event, including more policy questions. The 2026 conference saw a mix of innovative and traditional products on display.

CTC Global has launched GridVista, a real-time transmission monitoring platform that utilizes Google Cloud and Tapestry for analyzing high-resolution data, providing benefits such as predictive maintenance, improved fault detection, and enhanced grid planning.

A battery energy storage system has replaced a diesel backup generator at a wastewater facility in New York State, demonstrating the potential for energy storage to power essential infrastructure. This project showcases the versatility of energy storage beyond solar pairing, highlighting its applications in other sectors such as wastewater treatment. The switch reduces reliance on fossil fuels and promotes a cleaner alternative.

Corporate clean energy procurement fell by 10% in 2025 to its lowest level in nine years due to negative pricing and policy uncertainty, despite being the second-highest year on record for corporate clean-energy power purchase agreements. The number of technology companies leading the market, such as Meta, Amazon, and Google, increased, accounting for 49% of global activity. Solar remained the top-generating technology for corporate clean energy projects in 2025.

India's energy storage sector is expanding with the adoption of various technologies, including a 100MWh flow battery, pumped hydro storage (PHS) systems up to 100GW, and grid-forming Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These developments indicate a widening scope for India in energy storage solutions. The country is now exploring diverse applications for energy storage technologies.

Women's participation in the renewable energy sector enhances decision-making, resilience, and long-term success through gender diversity and inclusive leadership. Diverse teams bring different perspectives to risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making, leading to better communication, assumption-challenging, and resilient solutions. Inclusive leadership also supports the development of a broader talent pool, strengthens leadership pipelines, and improves stakeholder trust.

Panasonic has launched a new fuel cell cogeneration system for detached homes, designed to increase on-site solar self-consumption through smart scheduling and demand response. The system integrates with a home energy management system to optimize electricity generation and consumption from gas, supporting both heating and emergency power during outages. It achieves high efficiency ratings of 41.0% and 37.0%, generating 200-700 watts of power.

Origis Energy has completed three solar facilities in Texas, supporting Occidental's operations in West Texas with a total capacity of 500 MW. The project was delivered in phases, with the final phase completed in late 2025. The energy infrastructure will support Occidental's STRATOS Direct Air Capture facility in West Texas.