Global Climate News

US-based Powin discusses how data centers can power AI sustainably. AI spend is projected to reach $632 billion by 2028, increasing data center energy demand. Electricity costs account for 46% (enterprise) and 60% (service provider) of total data center spending. Data centers could consume 6.7% to 12% of total US electricity by 2028. Increased demand for fossil fuels is predicted, with Goldman Sachs estimating 3.3 billion cubic feet per day of new natural gas demand by 2030. Sustainable solutions like battery energy storage systems (BESS) and nuclear power are highlighted to reduce environmental impact and optimize costs.

South Africa-based Photon Energy is expanding its footprint with a 250MW concentrated solar PV plant with 150MW of thermal hydro storage in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal. The project, deploying RayGen technology, aims to improve South Africa’s energy stability and is expected to reach ready-to-build status by Q2 2026.

University of California in Los Angeles researchers Richard Kaner and Yuzhang Li are developing zinc and vanadium batteries for grid-scale energy storage. These batteries are cheaper and safer than lithium-ion batteries, recycle three times faster, and are less flammable due to their water-based electrolyte. The team has achieved the longest-cycling performance of a vanadium-based cathode with the highest cycling rate and capacity reported.

Modo Energy released version 3.3 of its Battery Revenue forecast for Great Britain. The update includes new intraday price modeling, re-optimized battery dispatch in the intraday market, updated nuclear capacities, and commodity price updates. Gas prices for 2025 are 13% higher than previously forecast.

The article discusses various types of inverter batteries and factors affecting their price in Nigeria, focusing on their role in providing backup power during outages. It highlights the importance of considering battery capacity, type, brand, warranty, and compatibility with inverters when making a purchase. The article also emphasizes the benefits of inverter batteries, including uninterrupted power supply, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness.

SINTEF researchers found significant variations in fire safety measures in battery rooms, highlighting the need for national guidelines to address the risks associated with Li-ion battery fires. A recent case study examined seven buildings, revealing inconsistencies in ventilation and fire safety measures. The researchers recommend a holistic approach to battery room design, considering room size, battery chemistry, and fire suppression systems.

Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection (BSMI) implemented mandatory inspections for residential lithium battery energy storage appliances and power conversion systems (up to 20 kWh and 20 kW, respectively) starting July 1, 2026, to ensure safety and reliability in line with the country's renewable energy goals. The regulations address thermal runaway risks and require compliance with standards for electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and grid connection safety.

US-based Energy Vault partnered with RackScale to deploy 2 GW/20 GWh of data center batteries for a new hyperscale battery energy storage system. This collaboration focuses on enabling a sustainable world with renewable energy.

UK-based Modo Energy has released an upgraded revenue forecast for battery energy storage (BESS) in Great Britain, version 3.3. The upgrade includes intraday prices in the fundamental model and a new modeling approach for realistic optimization between revenue streams. This allows for more clarity and confidence in modeling BESS revenues.

US-based GridBeyond, a company focused on optimizing energy assets for sustainability, discussed the challenges and opportunities in BESS markets (ERCOT, CAISO, PJM), highlighting the impact of regulatory changes and the role of cryptocurrency miners in grid stability and revenue generation. The podcast also features Modo Energy, which provides market forecasts and data for energy assets.

Great Britain's battery energy storage revenues reached a two-year high in December 2024, driven by high wholesale prices and record Balancing Mechanism dispatches. Revenues increased 65% from November to £84k/MW/year. The new Quick Reserve service, launched December 3rd, contributed to record-high reserve revenues, five times higher than the previous record. Wholesale price spreads increased to £96/MWh on average, with peaks of £260/MWh and £409/MWh on December 11th and 12th, respectively.

Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection (BSMI) has implemented mandatory inspections for residential lithium battery energy storage appliances and power conversion systems up to 20 kWh and 20 kW respectively, starting July 1, 2026. These regulations aim to improve safety and address risks associated with increasing renewable energy adoption.

Europe has seen significant growth in battery storage capacity, increasing from 4.8 GW in 2022 to 10.8 GW in 2024. Great Britain leads with 4.3 GW, representing 9% of peak hour demand. However, supply chain issues hindered project completion. Over €1.8 billion in grants were confirmed for grid-scale battery energy storage projects in 2024, complementing 1.6 GW of capacity secured through auctions.

Australian company Vaulta is leading innovations in integrating new battery chemistries like sodium and aluminum batteries into real-world applications. They are also focusing on second-life battery usage, sustainable energy solutions for neighboring islands, and AI integration for energy management and IoT functionality.

Researchers have developed a new dataset to characterize seasonal compound variable renewable energy (VRE) droughts across the contiguous United States, analyzing their frequency, duration, magnitude, and spatial scale. The study, covering 1982-2019, found droughts can last up to 5 months and are most frequent in the Fall. The impact of these droughts on resource adequacy is demonstrated using a nodal bulk power grid model for the Western US.

EcoFlow has compared solar and gas generators for winter use, highlighting the advantages of solar generators: environmentally friendly, silent operation, minimal maintenance, portability, expandability, and long lifespan. Gas generators offer weather independence, consistent power, lower upfront cost, higher wattage, and quick refueling.

Google has announced six initiatives to advance clean energy solutions in 2024. These include partnering with NV Energy and Duke Energy to develop new clean energy rate models, investing in solar capacity in Asia Pacific with BlackRock and New Green Power, partnering with Kairos Power for advanced nuclear power, collaborating with Microsoft and Nucor to scale reliable clean energy technologies, scaling procurement innovation to speed up clean energy deals, and reimagining data center power through co-location with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate. These actions aim to meet growing electricity demand sustainably and reliably.

US-based Powin Energy, a leading energy storage company, reported significant milestones in December 2024, including the completion of a 70 MW/280 MWh battery storage facility in Rialto, California, and a partnership with EVE Energy for the supply of 15 GWh of battery cells for its energy storage systems. Powin also participated in Nasdaq TradeTalks, discussing the demand for climate tech solutions, and its CRO was a finalist for the Business Leader of the Year at the edie Awards.

Switzerland-based Primeo Energie is installing a 65-megawatt-hour battery storage system in Kappel, Switzerland. This large-scale battery, built by INTILION, will help stabilize the power grid by storing excess renewable energy and releasing it when needed, improving grid reliability and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 4000 tons annually in the first years. The project is supported by the German government's Renewable-Energy-Solutions program.

Serbia has received a €105 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to decarbonize district heating in Novi Sad. The project, co-financed by a €21 million EU grant and €3 million in project implementation assistance, involves constructing a large-scale solar-thermal plant with 38,600 m² of solar collectors, an 850,000 m³ heat storage system, a 17 MW heat pump, and a 60 MW electric boiler. This will reduce natural gas consumption by 29 percent and deliver clean renewable heat energy.