Big Moves
Suniva plans a 4.5 GW solar cell factory in South Carolina
Suniva plans to establish a 4.5 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Laurens, South Carolina. The facility is expected to open in the second quarter of 2027. The 620,000 sq. ft. facility represents an investment of over $350 million which along with Suniva’s existing Atlanta facility will raise the company’s total U.S. solar cell manufacturing capacity to over 5.5 GW annually.
News
ACCIONA Energía signs 800 GWh renewable energy deals in Italy
ACCIONA Energía has signed agreements to supply 800 GWh of renewable energy to energy-intensive industries in Italy, including Acciaierie Venete. The contracts fall under Italy’s Energy Release 2.0 mechanism, managed by Gestore dei Servizi Energetici. Industries will procure power at €65 per MWh for three years and ACCIONA Energía will develop new projects backed by 20-year fixed tariff arrangements.
Interviews
Floating solar is getting more reliable and profitable: Ciel & Terre’s Vincent Grumetz
The first floating solar projects were installed 15 years ago, and we can see that those power plants are still running and producing electricity. Thus, the technology is proven. Further, growth is also being driven by the price, and floating solar technology is becoming more competitive. For instance, the price of solar modules went down, and so did the capex of floating solar, thereby making this technology more profitable.
Opinion & Perspective
Energy Security in the Shadow of War: How SEA Countries are Navigating the 2026 Fuel Crisis
When the Middle East conflict escalated into an open war, the subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on 4 March sent immediate shockwaves through the global energy market. For the CASE countries—Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam—this represented an existential threat, as one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies normally pass through this chokepoint and Southeast Asian countries import around 56% of their crude oil from the Middle East. The supply blackout and the skyrocketing price of fossil fuels have forced governments to prioritise supply security through domestic reserves, stockpiling, and fuel diversification.
Mega Trends & Analysis
Coal versus Renewables in Southeast Asia’s energy crisis
For energy-importing countries in Southeast Asia, the current oil and gas crisis has led to consumer curtailment and a scramble for affordable resources. Countries that have suspended operations or underutilised coal generation capacity now see it as a way to replace the LNG used for electricity generation. This demonstrates that coal is not insulated from geopolitical shocks: short-term switching pushes up demand, which in turn pushes up prices. Only renewables are immune to such immediate crises, as once installed, they do not require a constant supply of fuel to generate electricity.
Policy Watch
Maine’s New Plug-in Solar Law
A new plug-in solar law passed in April 2026 clears the way for Maine renters, homeowners, and local business owners to take advantage of clean, cheap solar power to reduce their electricity bills. These small, portable solar panels are expected to generate a lot of interest because they’ll give Mainers the opportunity to generate solar power right at home to offset electricity use. A typical kit consists of between one and up to four to six solar panels, an inverter, and a plug, with the option of a battery. Now Mainers will be well positioned to make their own energy decisions, reduce their high electric bills, and take direct advantage of the cheapest energy on the planet.
Tech Talk
Intelligent Assets: AI applications transforming the renewable energy sector
India’s renewable energy sector is undergoing a transformation. The reason AI is gaining traction in the renewables sector lies in the way renewable projects operate. Solar and wind projects are highly variable in their output as they rely on constantly changing environmental conditions. AI, supported by internet of things sensors, advanced analytics platforms and digital twins, provides the computational layer required to process these large volumes of operational data. From improving forecasting accuracy and optimising plant performance to enabling intelligent grid management and supporting project planning, AI applications are now emerging across the renewable value chain.
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Webinars & Videos
The Future of Electricity in the Middle East and North Africa Webinar
Across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – a region that has long been a cornerstone of the global energy system – electricity demand is surging, driven by cooling and desalination needs, as well as urbanisation, electrification and digitalisation. How countries meet this increased demand will have profound implications for both regional economies and global energy markets.
Knowledge Centre
Electric Truck and Bus Market in US: Brief
A total of 460,299 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) were registered in 2025 in the United States, of which 2,375 (0.52%) were zero-emission. Total registrations contracted by 7.6% compared with 2024, and zero-emission registrations had a sharper decline of 15.5%. The annual zero-emission registration share slipped from 0.56% in 2024 to 0.52% in 2025, ending the upward trend observed in recent years. California had the highest number of new zero-emission MHDV registrations in 2025 (875), followed by Texas (152), New York (119), Pennsylvania (112), and New Jersey (103).
Finance
Data Centre Boom and Ireland’s Energy Bills
One of Ireland’s key electricity supply mechanisms – the capacity market – is coming up for its 10-year renewal with the European Commission, in May 2028. Without necessary interventions, there is a risk that it could add billions of euros to household energy bills to support data centre electricity consumption; which could run in contradiction to EU state aid rules. The Irish capacity market is already set to add over €7 billion to energy bills between 2018 and 2037, via contracts to companies paid through levies on energy bills.
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This space is reserved for sponsored content and advertising banners. Sponsored content can include white papers, webinars, case studies, research reports and other relevant content. The advertising can be in the form of banners with links to the advertiser’s landing page. If you would like to promote sponsored content or advertise, please write to us at: marketing@reglobal.co