Battery storage capacity in the United States averaged a 70% annual growth rate over the last three years. The U.S. power system had operational battery storage capacity of 43.6 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2025, with an additional 8.3 GW added in the first six months of 2026. By mid-2026, total nameplate battery storage capacity reached nearly 52 GW.
Grid flexibility plans far outnumber the actual capabilities of flexible grids, with more plans announced than delivered, indicating a mismatch between planned and executed changes. The complexity of grid systems makes it difficult to implement and deliver these plans in practice, highlighting the need for greater coordination and planning. This disparity suggests that current grid management is not fully equipped to handle the demands of increasingly interconnected power systems.
The US solar power industry is expected to receive a boost from the President's new Section 232 order under the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, which aims to protect domestic manufacturing of polysilicon. The order could help increase demand for American-made solar panels and stimulate growth in the industry. Solar stakeholders anticipate that this move will have a positive impact on US solar power production.
The Trump administration is imposing new tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives, including ingots, wafers, solar cells, and modules. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) states that this move could harm the US solar industry's growth and competitiveness. The SEIA and other industry groups have expressed concerns about the potential impact of these tariffs on the sector.
Apollo Power's new lightweight flexible solar module, Panda Plus, has secured Class A fire certification, a feat previously only achieved by rigid glass modules. This achievement sets the module apart from its competitors and is attributed to improved materials and a new manufacturing patent. The 320 W, frameless version of the module weighs 6.8 kg and measures 2,020 x 1,005 x 2.3 mm.
The Dutch solar market is shifting towards a more comprehensive approach to home electrification, with high energy prices driving demand for combined systems of solar panels, heat pumps, air conditioners, and batteries. Sales of solar panels are lower this year compared to 2025, partly due to the complexity of registering additional panels on existing systems. The commercial PV market is also experiencing a slowdown, driven in part by ongoing grid congestion.
Spain's government has allocated €274.2 million ($316 million) for renewable hydrogen production projects in Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, and Aragón, with a combined electrolysis capacity of 102.27 MW. Hydnum Steel has secured a €150 million investment commitment from the Co-investment Fund to build what it describes as the first green steel plant on the Iberian Peninsula. The total investment for the project is over €1.5 billion, with approximately €600 million in equity and €1 billion in debt.
Water levels are set to be increased in the used fuel pools at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to ongoing concerns about potential losses of off-site power. The decision aims to mitigate these risks and ensure public safety. No timeline is specified for when the water level increases will take place.
Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill to roll back existing energy efficiency standards, potentially resulting in energy waste and additional strain on the grid. The bill would prevent the Department of Energy from updating or implementing new strong efficiency standards. This could lead to increased energy consumption by consumers.
The US government has launched a new tariff on solar imports, which will increase the cost of installing solar panels and affect polysilicon imports. The move aims to strengthen efforts to "reshore" solar manufacturing by making it more expensive for foreign companies to produce solar panels in the US. The tariffs are expected to impact the global solar industry, particularly countries that rely heavily on imported polysilicon.