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.
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…
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.
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.
Turkish Energy Minister: Saudi Arabia will build solar farms worth $2 billion in Turkey
Saudi Arabia is investing $2 billion in Turkey to build solar farms with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts. The Turkish energy minister announced this on Tuesday. In a recent post on X, Bayraktar said that during the visit of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoan to Riyadh he and his Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman had signed a?agreement on renewable energy power plants projects. According to the agreement, Saudi companies will build a solar power station in eastern province Sivas, and another one in central province Karaman, with a?total capacity of 2,000MW in the initial phase.
Glencore is in talks with a US-backed consortium to sell a 40% stake in DRC mining to Glencore
Glencore has been in discussions to sell a 40 percent stake in its copper-and-cobalt operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The assets are valued at $9 billion, including debt. The Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, led by Orion Resource Partners, a private equity fund, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation are seeking a combined stake of 40% in Glencore’s Mutanda Mining (KCC) and Kamoto Copper Company projects. Mutanda and KCC produce cobalt, copper and other metals used in electric cars and renewable energy technology.
Moroccan Energy Ministry Pauses Gas Pipeline Project
Morocco's energy ministry said on Monday it has paused a tender launched last month for a gas pipeline project, without giving details on the reasons for the suspension.The tender sought bids to build a pipeline linking a future gas terminal at the Nador West Med port on the Mediterranean to an existing pipeline that allows Morocco to import LNG through Spanish terminals and supply two power plants.It also covered a section that would connect the existing pipeline to industrial zones on the Atlantic in Mohammedia and Kenitra."Due to new parameters and assumptions related to this project...
Australia reaches new renewable milestone over 50%
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), a'statement made on Thursday,' said that Australia had achieved a clean energy milestone in the quarter ending December, despite a rise of over 2,2% in power demand from a year earlier. The gas-fired generation has fallen to its lowest levels since 2000. Meanwhile, the total electricity production across the National Electricity Market grew 3.1% from one year ago to just under 25,000 megawatts. The share of generation from renewables increased by 5 percentage points compared to a year earlier, and now exceeds 50%. The NEM excludes Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
EWE CEO: Germany's EWE will not participate in the first round of power plant tendering
The CEO of German utility EWE said that the company has no intention to participate in a upcoming tender in Europe's largest economy for new power plant capacities. However, this could change if additional rounds are scheduled later in this decade. Germany announced earlier this month that it had reached an accord with the European Commission regarding a plan to construct new power plants. It added it would tender 12 Gigawatts of capacity by 2026 with a particular focus on gas-fired sites. Plans are being developed to ensure the security of the supply by constructing baseload power stations.
Carlyle's energy investment list as it targets Lukoil assets valued at $22 billion
Analysts initially estimated that the Carlyle Group would acquire most of Lukoil’s foreign assets at $22 billion. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (the U.S. agency responsible for sanctions) has yet to approve the sale. The?U.S. The?U.S. Treasury had given Lukoil a deadline of February 28th to divest their global portfolio. Carlyle has recently expanded its energy holdings to include stakes in U.S. proven developed producing (PDP), oil and gas assets as well as midstream infrastructure and renewable energy platforms. Here is a list of Carlyle’s energy assets, including its clean energy and fossil fuels footprint.
Octopus Energy, a UK-based renewable energy company, will trade in China as the relationship between China and the UK strengthens
Octopus Energy is Britain's biggest electricity supplier by share of market. It announced a joint venture with China's PCG Power to trade renewable energy in Asia. This was during UK PM Keir Starmer’s state visit. Octopus Energy is making its first venture into China. Starmer wants to improve relations with China despite the U.S. Donald Trump has warned against doing business with Beijing. The joint venture Bitong Energy aims to trade renewable energy up to 140 terawatt-hours annually by 2030. It also aims for a valuation of more than 500 million pounds ($687.25 millions) in five years.
India's BPCL seeks renewable energy investments abroad
Bharat Petrol Corp. (BPCL), a state-run refiner in India, is scouting for global opportunities. These include strategic investments, acquisitions, and?solar wind and hydropower. The refiner will continue to expand refineries and pursue renewable energy, but stresses that conventional fuels are still essential for meeting India's rapidly growing energy demand. You have to keep up with the growth. "It is not green or conventional, you must go together," Subhankar Sen (BPCL director of marketing) told? On the?sidelines the India Energy Week Conference. India is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world.
SOLV Energy aims for $5 billion valuation at US IPO
SOLV Energy, a solar and battery storage company, said Friday that it aims to achieve a valuation up to $4.99 Billion in its initial public offering in the United States. The San Diego-based company plans to raise up to $512.5 millions by selling 20.5 million shares at a price between $22 and 25 cents each. The IPO market in the United States has recovered after last year's historic U.S. shutdown, which slowed down the Securities and Exchange Commission and stifled the deal flow. PicPay, a Brazilian fintech company, and York Space Systems went public on Thursday. Both companies attracted a lot of interest during the early trading.