Global Climate News

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.

US-based Portland General Electric (PGE) received approval from the Oregon Public Utility Commission for a rate increase ranging from 5.5% to 7.7%, effective January 1, 2025. The increase will fund investments in battery storage, transmission infrastructure, and grid modernization to improve reliability and integrate renewable energy sources. PGE also proposed measures to allocate costs fairly for new industrial customers.

Researchers have developed a new carbon anode material for sodium-ion batteries using low-cost anthracite and boron quantum dots. The novel material demonstrates high discharge capacity, reversible capacity, and superior long-term cycling stability over 1000 cycles, representing a significant advancement in energy storage technology.

US-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is co-leading research with other national laboratories to develop thermal energy storage (TES) solutions through the Department of Energy's Stor4Build Consortium. The team has developed a novel heat pump prototype that can reduce electric demand for heating at peak times by up to three times compared to current commercial heat pumps. The program aims to demonstrate 50-100 kilowatt peak demand reduction across 20-50 homes by 2028, with individual homes achieving 50% reduction in power consumption for thermal loads.

Researchers have developed a high-performance carbon cathode material (N-hpaC-700) for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors using glucose-derived carbon and nitrogen doping. The material demonstrated exceptional energy storage capabilities with energy densities of up to 190 Wh/kg and maintained 72% capacity after 5000 cycles. This sustainable and cost-effective approach represents a significant advancement in energy storage technology.

Chilean energy company Colbún and Tesla signed an agreement for the supply of a 228 MW/912 MWh battery storage system for Colbún’s Celda Solar project in Camarones. The project, with a total investment of US$260 million, will create 200 jobs at its peak and is expected to be operational by mid-2026, providing energy equivalent to the consumption of 55,480 homes. This is part of Colbún’s plan to incorporate more than 1,500 MW of solar, wind, and storage generation by 2026.

Greece-based KTISTOR Energy has partnered with Sungrow to deploy PowerTitan 2.0 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across four facilities in Northern and Central Greece. The projects have a total capacity of 105 MWh and include installations in Rodopi, Kozani, and Viotia. The systems will be delivered in summer 2025 and will support grid stability and renewable energy transition in Greece.

The UK has launched the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and published the Clean Power 2030 report outlining pathways to achieve 95% clean power by 2030. The plan includes expanding offshore wind capacity from 15GW to 43-50GW, increasing battery storage from 5GW to 22-27GW, and tripling solar capacity to 47GW. The transformation requires an investment of £40 billion annually and aims to create a clean power system with 210-220GW of installed generation and storage capacity by 2030.

US-based California Energy Commission approved a $42 million grant to build a long-duration energy storage project at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The project will provide electricity to the statewide grid and backup power to the base for up to 14 days during power outages, using zinc hybrid cathode aqueous battery technology. It is expected to be operational in summer 2027.