Science and Technology:
¶ “How Space-Based Solar Could Help Us Go Past Net Zero Targets” • A space-based solar power system cosists of a large number of sizable satellites in a high-earth orbit, where the sun is visible over 99% of the time. A study commissioned by the UK’s Energy Department suggests that small-scale SBSP could be cost-competitive as early as 2040. [Euronews]
Power beaming demonstration (NASA, public domain)
World:
¶ “Taxing Fossil Fuel Profits” • Fossil fuels provide around 70% of the EU’s energy, leaving it still dependent on imports. In 2024, fossil fuel companies made €180 billion in taxable profits in the two years following Russia’s war against Ukraine. A study shows that taxing fossil fuel company profits can play a key role in financing the energy transition. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Electric Now Clearly Dominates the City Bus Market” • Six out of ten new EU city buses were zero-emission in 2025, as battery-electric and fuel cell powertrains made up 56% and 4% of new sales respectively. This was hard to imagine back in 2019 when the Clean Vehicles Directive was first adopted and only 12% of the bus market was electric. [CleanTechnica]
Electric bus (Danil Ilyasov, Unsplash)
¶ “Microsoft Achieves 40 GW Renewables Goal” • Microsoft achieved a 40 GW contracted renewable energy capacity. This is more than an environmental milestone. It demonstrates how diversified procurement strategies can hedge against energy price volatility while increasing deployment of clean energy systems across multiple continents. [Discovery Alert]
¶ “RWE Signs With Vestas For 1.4-GW Vanguard West Turbine Deal” • RWE has confirmed a contract with Vestas to supply 92 turbines to its 1.4-GW Vanguard West offshore wind farm off east England. The OEM will also be responsible for delivery and commissioning of the V236-15MW units at the array. RWE aims to bring the project online in 2029. [reNews]
Wind turbine (Vestas image)
¶ “RES Bags Key Permit For 436.5-MW Oz Project” • RES has received federal approval for its 436.5-MW Tarong West wind farm near Kingaroy in Queensland. The developer said the 97-turbine project will enter construction later this year to support the state’s Energy Road Map. The scheme had already hit other key planning and milestones. [reNews]
¶ “Ampyr Acquires 530-MW East Yorkshire Solar Farm” • Ampyr Solar Europe has completed its acquisition of the 530-MW East Yorkshire Solar Farm from Boom Power. Plans for the array near Howden in East Yorkshire were approved by the UK government in May 2025. It will connect to National Grid’s substation at Drax power station from 2029. [reNews]
Solar farm (Ampyr Solar Europe image)
¶ “Hinkley Point C’s Cost Has Climbed To £35 Billion And EDF Confirms Unit 1 Will Power Up In 2030” • EDF Energy revealed Hinkley Point C’s Unit 1 will not come online until 2030 and costs for the project have risen to £35 billion (in 2015 prices), nearly double the estimate given when the nuclear power plant was given the go ahead. [New Civil Engineer]
US:
¶ “Sierra Club Statement On Trump Administration Opening Millions Of Acres Of Protected Public Lands To Mining” • The Department of the Interior announced that it will revoke two public land orders to open more than two million acres of public lands in Alaska to drilling and mining. The now-rescinded public land orders date to the 1970s. [CleanTechnica]
Malaspina Glacier, Alaska (Brandon Tober, University of Arizona)
¶ “Solar Initiative Aims To Ease Grid Strain And Cut Costs” • The Access MI solar program aims to increase renewable energy and ease long-term strain on the power grid by offering discounted rates on solar energy installation and more. The push comes as the area is still recovering from last year’s ice storm that knocked out power across the region. [9&10 News]
¶ “Battery Storage System Replaces Wastewater Facility Diesel Generator” • When we write about battery storage, sometimes it is paired with solar power to store excess clean electricity. Energy storage has other applications, as we see in this case because it can be used to provide backup electricity efficiently. Viridi put one in to replace a backup generator. [CleanTechnica]
Battery system (Viridi image)
¶ “Origis Completes 500-MW Swift Air Solar Project” • Origis Energy brought online three Swift Air Solar facilities in Texas. Origis planned, developed, and built the Swift Air Solar facilities in three phases, with the final phase delivered in late 2025. These solar projects represent more than $650 million in investments the region. [Solar Power World]
¶ “Solar Array To Power Poland Spring Plant In Hollis” • Primo Brands, an owner of several bottled water brands nationwide, has launched a solar project at its Poland Spring bottling plant in the York County town of Hollis. The 13-MW (DC) on-site solar PV installation was developed in partnership with Onyx Renewables and PowerFlex. [Mainebiz]
Solar array in Maine (William Byers, US DOE)
¶ “Senators Denounce Trump Administration For Redirecting Clean Energy Funds To Support Old Coal Plants” • Senators Martin Heinrich (D, NM) and Patty Murray (D, WA) sent a letter to the US DOE, denouncing the Trump Administration for using funds Congress set aside for carbon capture programs to prop up old coal power plants. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Nuclear Critics Challenge Hochul’s Plan” • A series of “Forums for a Nuclear-Free New York” is being held to counter the drive by Governor Kathy Hochul to make New York a nuclear power hub. Hochul’s Public Service Commission ordered a $33 billion bailout of four old upstate nuclear plants, and she is pushing for 5 GW of new ones. [South Shore Press]
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