Energy Digest

Daily Summaries & Key Takeaways of Power & Energy Updates
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Last Updated: October 23, 2026 at 08:04 AM
1

South Korea’s renewable energy capacity overtakes coal for first time

Summary

South Korea's installed renewable-energy capacity has surpassed coal-fired capacity for the first time, reaching 41,040 MW, with renewables now accounting for 25.4% of the country's installed generation capacity. The gap between renewables and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to narrow further, with renewables potentially overtaking LNG as the country's largest source of installed generation capacity within two to three years. The government aims to install 100 GW of renewables by 2030, with the Korea Power Exchange (KPX) committed to supporting this goal through grid expansion and data disclosure.
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2

Sodium-ion storage maker Peak Energy raises $108 million in GM-led round

Summary

Peak Energy raises $108 million in a GM-led round to scale domestic manufacturing, fulfill existing customer orders, and launch sodium-ion systems in data centers. The funding follows a $55 million Series A in 2024 and will support the delivery of over $1 billion in orders. The company aims to capitalize on the growing demand for passively cooled sodium-ion storage solutions to solve energy needs.
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3

European solar, BESS marketplace expands to Romania

Summary

Solmeria, a European renewable energy marketplace, has expanded to include solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects in Romania, adding its first listings in the country earlier this month. The marketplace now offers a combined capacity of 6.2 MW of solar and 6 MW of BESS, with several projects already generating interest from buyers. Solmeria aims to bring liquidity to listed projects, accelerate transactions, and reduce intermediation costs in the Romanian market.
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5

ACME Solar signs 1.2GWh PPA with SECI for clean energy supply during non-solar hours from Indian renewables assets

Summary

ACME Solar has signed a 300MW/1,200MWh power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to supply clean energy during non-solar hours from Indian renewables assets. The agreement is for 20 years, with the goal of ensuring a stable and renewable energy supply. The project will utilize a solar-plus-storage portfolio to provide electricity during periods of low solar radiation.
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6

Optivolt Raises $32M to Build the Brain for Solar Panels of the Future

Summary

Optivolt, a startup, has raised $32M in funding for its energy intelligence platform, transforming passive solar hardware into adaptive power systems. The funding is led by VXI Capital, backed by key figures in the solar industry, including Enphase CEO Paul Nahi and former SunPower CEO Tom Werner. The platform is being developed to build the "brain" for solar panels of the future.
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8

ANALYSIS: Solar & Storage Growth Drives Down Summer Wholesale Electricity Prices by 42% in Texas & 51% in California

Summary

Solar and storage growth led to a 42% decrease in summer wholesale electricity prices in Texas and a 51% decrease in California, highlighting the impact of renewable energy on energy affordability. The trend is significant as energy affordability becomes a key issue in the upcoming midterm elections. Solar and storage growth are expected to continue driving down electricity costs in the US.
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9

Sierra Club Applauds Approval for Ameren Missouri’s New Solar & Storage Projects

Summary

Ameren Missouri has received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission to build new solar and storage projects, which the Sierra Club and its members support. Renewable energy remains the cheapest way to generate electricity, while coal and fossil fuels are not competitive. This approval marks a positive step for clean energy in the state.
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10

Keeping the Lights on When Power Demand Fluctuates

Summary

Data centers quickly pivot to their own emergency energy when the main grid fails, allowing them to continue operations during a power outage. A 10-minute grid outage on the East Coast caused data centers to switch off the main grid and rely on their own power sources. Data centers have built-in emergency energy systems to ensure continuous operation during grid disruptions.
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Technical Papers & Research

AI-curated academic research for power system engineers

Curated by Llama 3.2
arXiv eess.SY + cs.LG View all → Showing papers with relevance ≥ 0.70

Grid Operations & Resilience 2 papers

Feeder-Aware Service-Conditioned Flexibility of Grid-Interactive Buildings
0.80 Relevance

Grid-interactive buildings can adjust demand, but the extent of this flexibility depends on feeder-head operating requirements, with 24.51% of flexibility contracts rejected due to constraints. Buildings can still provide flexibility, with 67.04% of contracts accepted, but often requiring rescheduling and building redispatch. Only 8.09% of contracts can be accepted without any changes.

Why This Matters
This paper matters for power industry professionals as it addresses the feasibility of grid-interactive buildings' flexibility in satisfying feeder-head operating requirements, which is crucial for grid resilience and reliability in the face of increasing renewable integration and demand flexibility. This research has implications for utility planning and operations, particularly in designing and operating flexible grid systems to accommodate variable energy resources.
Abstract PDF
Archive coverage constrains abstaining retrieval for transient stability screening more than conditional accuracy
0.80 Relevance

Simulating power-grid transient stability is constrained by the availability of historical data in the archive, which affects the performance of estimators, particularly when using retrieval-based methods that rely on archived data. The accuracy of these estimators varies depending on the archive's coverage, with more comprehensive archives like BUS39 showing better performance than less comprehensive ones like ELES. Archive availability constrains the deployment of estimators more than conditional accuracy on some grids.

Why This Matters
This paper matters for power industry professionals as it proposes a faster critical clearing time estimator for transient stability screening, which can improve the reliability and efficiency of power grid operations, particularly in scenarios with high renewable integration and variable wind/payload inputs, such as ISO operations and FERC filings. By reducing the need for repeated simulations, this estimator can help grid operators and planners make more informed decisions, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and efficient power grid.
Abstract PDF

Other 2 papers

Barrier Function Control for the Interconnection of DC Electronic Loads to Utility Grid
0.90 Relevance

A nonlinear control law is proposed to safely integrate DC electronic loads to the utility grid, using reciprocal barrier functions to guarantee operation within a desired region despite converter dynamics and fluctuating power demand. The proposed controller ensures the safety of electronic components from power surges and high transients. The controller's performance is validated through simulation scenarios, showing improved stability and robustness compared to conventional saturated-PI controllers.

Why This Matters
This paper matters for power industry professionals as it proposes a novel control law to ensure safe integration of DC electronic loads into the utility grid, addressing a critical aspect of renewable integration and grid resilience, particularly relevant for utility operators and grid planners aiming to manage variable renewable energy sources and ensure grid stability.
Abstract PDF
Model Predictive Control of Wind Turbines: A Model-Oriented Review of Prediction Models, Control Objectives, and Nonlinear Aerodynamic Formulations
0.80 Relevance

Model predictive control (MPC) has been applied to wind turbine regulation using various internal prediction models, including linearized and nonlinear, aeroelastic, and data-driven predictors. Studies show that low-order linear or piecewise-affine predictors are suitable for constrained power and speed regulation, while nonlinear and flexible models are needed to address drivetrain twist, tower motion, and blade loads. A classification system is proposed for direct nonlinear applied-pitch propagation, highlighting the integration challenge at the intersection of multiple prediction, control, and load objectives.

Why This Matters
This paper is relevant to power system engineers as it addresses the application of Model Predictive Control (MPC) in wind turbine regulation, which is crucial for optimizing the performance and integration of wind power into the grid. The research has practical implications for grid operators and renewable integration specialists, as it explores the use of different prediction models, control objectives, and nonlinear aerodynamic formulations to improve the efficiency and reliability of wind power systems.
Abstract PDF

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