The Irish government has announced an €18.9 billion investment package for grid infrastructure through 2030, aiming to increase solar electricity capacity to over 3.3 GW by year's end, with a significant portion of this growth driven by data centers. Almost all Ireland's data centers are concentrated in the Greater Dublin Area, driving up electricity prices and causing grid overload. The government has lifted its moratorium on new data centers and introduced the LEAP plan, requiring them to generate at least 80% of their energy from onsite renewables.
A new study from Ball State University found that utility-scale solar projects have no statistically significant negative effects on residential property values in Indiana. Contrary to concerns, proximity to large wind or solar projects did not result in decreased property values. The research brief was part of larger studies examining the impact of renewable energy projects on local real estate markets.
The solar industry is shifting its focus from equipment costs to infrastructure challenges such as transmission systems, substation design, and interconnection requirements. In Texas, the demand for energy is driven by data centers and large industrial customers, with developers now prioritizing infrastructure availability over site selection. The scale of this shift is reflected in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' receipt of hundreds of gigawatts of prospective new load requests.
Flex plans to acquire EPC Power at a value of $4.4 billion, with the expected transaction close in Q4 2026 and separation into an independent publicly traded company in Q1 2027. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in California, EPC Power is expected to become part of Flex's Cloud and Power Infrastructure segment after the acquisition. The deal will result in EPC Power becoming a subsidiary of Flex.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has launched a large virtual power plant (VPP) program called SHARE, which taps into home batteries and heat pumps in Bay Area communities. The program is a collaboration with multiple partners to deploy the new VPP. PG&E's goal appears to be enhancing reliability and efficiency in the region.
NextEra Energy's AI-driven dispatch and outage-scheduling tool has saved its customers over $20 million this year, while Santee Cooper expects a custom AI weather-forecasting model to prevent costly spot-market purchases during extreme weather. Both utilities report real dollar savings from the implementation of their respective AI tools. These tools have already moved from concept to operational stage.
The US power grid is shifting towards a period of rapid electrification, with data centers projected to account for 9.5% of electricity demand by 2050. Utilities should ask questions about advanced reactors as the grid undergoes significant changes due to exponential growth in artificial intelligence and domestic manufacturing. The country's energy needs are being reshaped, prompting utilities to reassess their reactor options.
The Ostrea Solar project in Yakima County, Washington has reached commercial operation. The 270 MW solar farm features wildlife corridors and a mix of pollinator-friendly plants. Cypress Creek Energy's CEO stated that the project demonstrates how new power can be brought online quickly and affordably while creating lasting benefits for local communities.
The price gap between solar and wind power is widening, causing a decrease in land-based wind power development, with at least 44GW of wind projects being "stuck" in review due to this shift.
UK solar power reached a record high of over 16% capacity in summer 2026, with the UK's total installed solar capacity now standing at around 12 GW. This milestone was set during the summer period when the sun is strongest, indicating sustained growth in solar energy generation. Solar power accounted for approximately 9.5% of the UK's electricity generation mix over the summer.
PV Magazine