Ford Energy, Ford's new battery energy storage subsidiary, has announced its flagship grid-scale energy storage product: the DC Block, a 20-foot containerized system built around 512 Ah LFP cells. The system comes in two configurations, offering 2-hour and 4-hour deployments, with plans to deploy at least 20 GWh annually over the next two years. Ford Energy aims to target annual revenues of $2 billion by scaling its operations.
The weekly average electricity price exceeded €100 ($117.45)/MWh in most European markets except Portugal, France, and Spain. The highest prices were recorded in Italy and Britain, while Spain's price was just below €60/MWh. An increase in CO2 emission allowances, lower wind energy production, and higher demand contributed to the rising electricity costs across major European markets.
Meralco PowerGen Corp has brought online the first phase of a 100MWh CATL battery project in Cebu, Philippines. The project is a grid-scale battery storage facility. It is part of Meralco's efforts to increase its energy storage capacity and stabilize the power grid.
Zendure has launched PowerHub, an energy management system that integrates solar PV, battery storage, grid power, EV charging, heat pumps, and smart home devices into one platform. The system supports up to 150 kWh storage capacity and can deliver up to 12 kW of continuous output for entire households including heat pumps and EV charging. It scales from a base unit of 8 kWh to 50 kWh per unit or 150 kWh in multi-unit setups.
Severe shortages of power transformers, driven by surging demand and raw material shortages, have pushed lead times for high capacity units up to four years. The shortage is dictating power project schedules across the country and becoming a main bottleneck for grid modernization and renewable energy deployment. Industry experts note that prices for these essential components have jumped by 80% over the last five years due to the supply crunch.
BW ESS has submitted a 700MW battery energy storage system project in NSW, Australia to the EPBC Act for environmental assessment. The project is intended to contribute to renewable energy supply and stabilize grid frequency. It will undergo evaluation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Constellation Energy is expecting FERC to provide clarity soon on its plans to restart the Crane Clean Energy Center, a former Three Mile Island nuclear plant. The company has moved its completion date from 2028 to 2027 and is seeking permission to transfer capacity interconnection rights to speed up the process. Constellation hopes to receive a response from FERC in the June-July time frame.
Panthalassa is a wave-powered AI data center concept that leverages ocean energy to power autonomous machines, providing a new category of computing. The project has received significant funding and attention for its innovative approach to addressing the growing issue of AI power bottlenecks. Panthalassa's design also eliminates traditional grid connection and land-based constraints.
Rapid growth of data centers, electrification, and manufacturing is transforming power system planning by prioritizing infrastructure investment and resource adequacy over decarbonization. The IEEE PES T&D Conference 2026 highlighted the challenges posed by this growth in grid reliability. Utilities and regulators are grappling with how to address these challenges.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has appointed Tim Pawlenty, the former Republican governor of Minnesota, as its new president. This marks a significant shift in leadership for the industry association. The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the nation's energy future, with the sun being cited as "the safest" source of energy.
PV Magazine