Maguire: Maguire, China's renewables boom has boosted it to a rare clean-capacity club.
In 2025, the world's largest polluter will have crossed a crucial energy transition threshold by installing more clean power than fossil fuel production capacity for the first. Global Energy Monitor data shows that China will have 1,494 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy generation capacity operating in 2025. This compares to 1,420 GW?of fossil fuel-fueled capacity. China now draws 51% of its energy from clean sources, surpassing Brazil, France, and Germany, as the major economies that are primarily fueled by clean energy sources.
India looks at increasing gas usage during peak hours in order to guarantee power supply
India's top power official revealed on Friday that the country is looking at whether its under-used, gas-fired plants can be used during evening peak hours to provide flexibility in generation as renewable energy grows rapidly. Gas-fired power generation is usually only maximized during the summer peak months, because it's relatively expensive. It is still aiming to maintain its approximately 20?gigawatts gas-based capacity in order to balance the grid. The plants are cleaner than coal, and they offset the intermittent nature?of?wind and?solar power.
Maguire: Maguire, China's renewables boom has boosted it to a rare clean-capacity club.
In 2025, the world's largest polluter will have crossed an important energy transition threshold by installing more clean power generation capacity than fossil fuel generation capacity. Global Energy Monitor data shows that China will have 1,494 gigawatts (GW) of clean power generation in operation by 2025. This compares to the?1,420-GW capacity powered by coal, gas, and other fossil fuels. China has now a 51% share of its energy fleet that is derived from clean sources. It joins Brazil, France, and Germany as major economies that are primarily powered by clean sources.
Trump ends US vehicle emission standards, revokes climate regulations
On Thursday, the administration of President Donald Trump announced that it had repealed a scientific conclusion that greenhouse gasses endanger human life and removed federal tailpipe emission standards for cars and trucks. The administration has rolled back its climate change policies in the most dramatic way possible, following a series of regulatory changes and other actions designed to promote fossil fuels and to impede the development of "clean energy". Trump stated that the EPA had just finished a process to 'terminate the endangerment findings…
Carbon weighs down on prices for the front year but spot prices are up because of less wind
German and French spot electricity prices rose Thursday morning, amid predictions of a?lower wind power generation. Meanwhile, a steep?drop in the European Carbon Market weighed on long-term prices. The French 'day-ahead' baseload power contract rose by 39.70 euros, to?54.25 euros per megawatt (MWh), at 1007 GMT. Meanwhile, the German contract had risen 3.50 euros, to 107 euros/MWh. He added that wind power production is expected to drop from a peak of 35 gigawatts at the beginning of the day down to 10?GW by the end of the day. This will increase the demand for more expensive, alternative generation.
Australia's Origin Energy raises earnings forecast for energy markets, shares rise 8%
Australia's Origin Energy increased its full-year earning?outlook? for its energy retail division, citing higher electricity margins that helped the firm exceed market expectations. The shares of the electricity retailer and gas retailer jumped 8.1% intraday to A$11.970. This was their largest intraday percentage increase in almost three years. The slow rollout of solar and wind on both coasts, coupled with tight gas markets, is forcing Australia's states to run coal plants longer than they planned. This, despite the fact that demand for renewable energy has shifted and policies have been changed.
Norway Wealth Fund seeks investment in battery storage as the market matures
Norway's sovereign fund announced on Wednesday that it hopes to make its initial investments in battery storage systems. This reflects the increasing importance of batteries for stabilising increasingly intermittent electricity markets. Since 2021, the $2.2 trillion sovereign fund, 'the largest in the world,' has invested in renewable energy infrastructure that is not listed, with a focus on offshore wind farms, as well as solar and wind assets located both onshore and off-shore. It became an investor in German transmission grid operator Tennet last year.
MVM purchases 10% of BP's Shafag Solar Project
The oil giant announced Wednesday that it had sold a 10% share in its Shafag Solar?project? in 'Azerbaijan? to MVM Energetika Zrt of Hungary. BP?said that BP owns 40.01 % of the project. SOCAR owns 39.99% and MVM and Azerbaijan?Development?Fund each own 10 %. BP announced the news a day before, after it reported that it had taken about $4 billion of impairments in its renewables and?biogas?assets. This included its?solar unit Lightsource Bp. Lightsource bp and its joint venture partners are building the Shafag Project. British Oil Major said it made a decision in June to invest final funds on the project.
France Slashes Renewable Energy Targets in New Law
France set out a new energy law after years of wrangling on Thursday which slashes its wind and solar power targets and drops a mandate for state-run firm EDF to shutter nuclear plants."We need to stop our internal family squabbling. We need both nuclear and renewables," finance minister Roland Lescure told reporters.The law, to be pushed through by decree on Friday after almost three years of bitter disagreement among lawmakers, also reverses a previous legal mandate to shut 14 reactors.That was a 2017 campaign promise of President Emmanuel Macron…
EIA: US power consumption will surpass records in 2026 and '27
The Energy Information Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook released on Tuesday said that the U.S. electricity consumption will continue to rise in 2026-2027. This is after it reached its second consecutive record?high in 2025. The EIA predicted that power demand would rise from 4,195 billion kilowatt hours in 2025, to 4,268 in 2026, and 4,372 in 2027. The demand for electricity is increasing, in part because of data centers dedicated to artificial?cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Also, homes and businesses are using less fossil fuels to heat and transport their vehicles and use more electricity.
Maguire: Australia's renewable energy boom will deliver a coveted price for power
Australia's wholesale power prices dropped to their lowest level in four years by 2025. This bucking of rising prices elsewhere, and proving that renewables-intensive power systems can lower power costs for consumers. The increased battery storage capacity, and the solar farms could allow utilities to reduce operating costs. These savings may be passed on to businesses and households as early as this year. According to Ember, an energy think tank, Australia's electrical system has been undergoing 'one of the most aggressive' overhauls in the last decade. The clean electricity production has more than doubled since 2019.
Britain invests up to $1.4 Billion in Community Energy Projects
The UK announced on Tuesday that it would invest up to one billion pounds ($1.4billion) in community energy projects such as solar panels for libraries and public buildings. This will help the country meet climate targets and reduce local energy costs. Britain wants to decarbonise the power sector largely by 2030. This will require an increase in renewable energy capacity. Local Power Plan launched on Monday aims to help local communities and public buildings implement clean energy projects. Great British Energy will provide the funding, which is part of the 8.3 billion pounds that GBE has committed over the course of the current parliament.
Draft law shows that Germany wants renewable energy firms to pay for grid connections.
According to a draft of a law, the German government intends to charge renewables companies for connecting to the electric grid in order to meet 'the rapid?demand? for expansion. The move, which was first reported by Spiegel magazine, would replace the current ?system where companies are allowed to connect to the ?grid on a first-come-first-served basis. This is due to the sheer volume of grid connection requests facing grid operators in Germany. Germany is one of the European countries that are pushing forward with a green agenda despite increasing criticism from U.S. president Donald Trump.
TotalEnergies will provide solar energy to Google's Texas Data Centres
TotalEnergies, a French oil major, signed two long-term deals on Monday to supply solar energy to Google's Texas data centres. The company is looking to meet the rising demand for electricity driven by artificial intelligence. Two Texas sites owned by the group are expected to start construction in the second quarter. Total will be able to deliver 1 gigawatt - or?28 terawatt hours of renewable energy over 15 years. The company is bucking the trend of oil majors and investing in renewable energy alongside gas fired power?plants.
New Zealand to build LNG import facility for energy security
Simon Watts, New Zealand's Energy Minister, announced on Monday that the country has selected contractors to build a LNG import facility. This will boost energy security and provide a reliable backup source of power, as well as support economic growth. By the middle of the year, the government hopes to sign a deal for an LNG import facility to be built in Taranaki on New Zealand's North Island. The facility will be ready in 2027, or even earlier in 2028. The model allows LNG to be imported only in large quantities and when required, thus limiting the exposure to global gas prices.
New Zealand to build LNG import facility for energy security
Simon Watts, New Zealand's Energy Minister, announced on Monday that the country has selected contractors to build an LNG import facility. The facility will bolster energy security and provide a reliable source of backup power, while also supporting economic growth. By the middle of the year, the government hopes to sign a deal for an LNG import facility to be built in Taranaki on New Zealand's North Island. The facility would be ready in 2027 to receive LNG. The model allows LNG to be imported only in large quantities and when required, thus limiting the exposure of global gas prices.
Tesla executives announce that the company is expanding its solar strategy to include more employees.
According to senior executives, Tesla is currently hiring to help support Elon Musk’s plan to become the largest U.S. manufacturer for solar energy components. The posts indicate that 'the company is implementing Musk's vision to set up 100 gigawatts domestic solar production. Musk announced this goal?last?month. Seth Winger wrote, "This is a bold, ambitious project," in one of many posts made by Tesla executives on LinkedIn. We need ambitious, audacious engineers and scientists who can help us scale up to a massive scale. Come join us if you want to help solve manufacturing problems with breakneck speed, and the U.S.
Enel, Italy's energy company, reports core profit for 2025 in line with guidance
Enel, the Italian utility company, reported a core profit of 22.9 billion euro ($27 billion) on Thursday. This is in line with?the?group's guidance for 2020. They also said that their net income will be slightly higher than 6.9 billion euro. The analyst consensus, calculated by LSEG, was 23 billion euros. However, the growth in international business was offset by a lower performance in Italy. The EBITDA for '2024 was 22.8 billion Euros, or 22.4 after removing the contribution from assets Enel had sold in that year.
Germany's PNE has lost bid for Vietnam wind projects, in a new blow to foreign investors
The Vietnamese authorities have selected a newly-created subsidiary of the real estate conglomerate Vingroup for the development of the first phase of the country's biggest wind power project, leaving out Morgan Stanley's German renewable company PNE. PNE said that the decision was a "surprise". Hanoi cut retroactively subsidies last year for several renewable energy companies. Diverging opinions on electricity prices and deadlines also weighs heavily on foreign investment into the country's emerging liquefied gas and nuclear sectors.
Tesla executives are hiring to support Musk’s solar expansion strategy
According to senior executives, Tesla is currently hiring to support Elon Musk’s recent announcement to become the largest U.S. producer of solar energy components. The posts indicate that 'the company is implementing Musk's vision to set up 100 gigawatts domestic solar production. Musk announced this goal?last? month. Seth Winger is Tesla's senior manager of solar product engineering. He wrote this in a LinkedIn post. We need ambitious, audacious engineers and scientists who can help us scale up massively. Come join us if you want to solve manufacturing problems with breakneck speed…