Wärtsilä is wrapping its energy storage business into a joint venture with solar manufacturer RCT Solutions, marking a significant shift for the Finnish company. The move comes as part of Wärtsilä's efforts to restructure its energy storage operations and focus on core competencies. Details of the joint venture are not yet publicly available.
Solar energy has set new records, and the installation of batteries is also on the rise. The PJM grid recently added its largest battery to date. Several companies are securing significant investments and upgrades for their renewable energy projects.
Airengy and Hagag Europe are investing €55 million in a 5 GWh compressed-air energy storage plant in Romania, with construction expected to start in 2027 and commercial operation in early 2028. The project will use Airengy's proprietary 'AirBattery' technology, which has already been deployed on smaller scales, including a 250 kW plant in southern Israel. The plant will have a discharge capacity of 25 MW and will be developed in two phases.
Germany's grid connection agreements are creating challenges for ramp constraints, with the country's power grid facing limitations that impact the energy storage business case. The country's energy storage market is being affected by strict grid connection agreements and regulatory hurdles, making it difficult to deploy large-scale battery storage projects. As a result, energy storage companies in Germany may need to adapt their business models to comply with these regulations.
Cyprus curtailed about 162 GWh of solar energy in January-May 2026, equivalent to more than 65% of the country's potential solar power generation during the period. The affected plants are predominantly photovoltaic systems and other renewable sources, with curtailment rates rising sharply from around 12% in 2022 to 47% in 2025. CyprusGrid founder Andreas Procopiou attributes record curtailments to must-run conventional units occupying significant grid capacity that could be used by renewables.
China Energy Investment Corp's Guohua Rudong solar-hydrogen-storage integrated project has been completed, featuring a 400 MW PV plant, a 60 MW/120 MWh battery energy storage system, and a green hydrogen production facility with a capacity of 1,500 Nm³ per hour. The project is expected to generate around 468 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to meeting the yearly power demand of nearly 200,000 households. China's largest integrated solar-hydrogen-storage project began operations in June 2026.
APAC's AI data centers are likely to remain dependent on fossil fuels for at least a decade due to the lack of long-duration energy storage solutions. Long-duration energy storage can help break this dependency and transition towards renewable energy sources. Pavina Adunratanasee suggests that this technology is crucial in ending APAC's reliance on coal and gas.
Floating solar PV power systems have been gaining interest due to their potential as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly source of energy. The use of foam and air bubblers has improved the stability and efficiency of these systems, making them more practical for large-scale implementation. This innovation could play a significant role in increasing global renewable energy production.
New Jersey legislators have advanced bills to boost nuclear power generation, increase storage capacity, and promote agrivoltaics as the state seeks to add clean energy capacity. The Power N.J. Act aims to procure advanced nuclear energy facilities and establish a program to purchase reliability capacity certificates that represent environmental attributes of nuclear energy projects. The move is part of Governor Mikie Sherrill's efforts to expand the state's generating capacity and bring down rising electricity rates, particularly for data centers.
GridRails CEO Michael Grasso advocates for a shift from a penalty-based framework to a real-time incentive model for utilities, allowing consumers to adjust their energy usage instantly and receive financial rewards. This change would enable real-time adjustments to grid stability. Instant financial gratification through digital wallets could also empower consumers to take control of their energy usage.
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