Big Moves
RWE secures approval for 1.1 GW Australian wind farm
RWE has received federal environmental approval for its 1.1 GW Theodore wind farm. The project is located in Central Queensland, Australia. The project secured State Development Approval in June 2025 and was awarded the Capacity Investment Scheme contract under Tender 7 in May 2026. The project, valued at A$3 billion, will comprise up to 170 wind turbines and a battery energy storage system (BESS).
News
Spearmint Energy secures approval for 600 MWh Minnesota BESS
Spearmint Energy has received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for the Midwater energy storage project. The project includes a 150 MW/600 MWh standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) located in Freeborn County, Minnesota. The project will be built on 10-20 acres of land adjacent to the Glenworth Substation. The Midwater BESS project is Spearmint’s second BESS project to secure state permitting in Minnesota, following the approved Snowshoe Energy Storage Project in Olmsted County.
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
How Turning Brownfields into Brightfields Can Help American States Meet Energy Goals and Strategically Reuse Land
Energy system has always required land. Communities face competing needs and goals that inform how they use their land. At the same time, communities are also grappling with rising energy demand driven by new domestic manufacturing, data center expansion, and the electrification of vehicles and buildings. While solar and wind are now among the most cost-effective sources of new electricity, deploying them at scale is not just a question of cost. Projects often face siting constraints, permitting delays, interconnection challenges, and community opposition. Brightfields offer one way to meet growing energy demand while reusing previously developed land and reinvesting in communities. If these goals are priorities for policymakers, states should consider adopting intentional brightfield policies and practices as part of their broader energy strategy.
Mega Trends & Analysis
IESO’s Planning Outlook: New loads trigger transmission needs across Ontario
The Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) 2026 Annual Planning Outlook (APO), released in March 2026, identifies system needs from 2027 to 2050 and outlines the actions needed to meet them. This annual planning exercise draws on market intelligence, forecast data, models and studies, and includes a long-term projection of Ontario’s electricity needs. For the first time, the IESO has introduced three demand scenarios – Reference, High, and Low – alongside a new “growth margin” concept that distinguishes uncertain and variable sources of demand growth from stable baseline demand.
Policy Watch
New Community Solar Policy Interventions in Various US States
In 2026, the United States surpassed 6 million solar installations, just two short years after it reached 5 million installations. For Americans looking to save on their utility bills and, for those who add batteries, ensure resilient access to power during a grid outage, solar and storage are the go-to solutions. There is enough solar installed in the United States to power roughly 50 million households, and by 2034, there will be enough solar capacity to power 100 million homes. In 2025, a new solar project was installed every 59 seconds, and solar and storage combined to provide 79% of all new energy capacity added to the U.S. grid.
Tech Talk
Digital Upgrade: Growing role of automation in enhancing renewable power operations
With renewable energy capacity expanding rapidly, power plants are increasingly using automation and digital tools to handle more complex operations and improve efficiency. Automation in the sector has progressed steadily, moving from basic mechanisation to advanced systems such as programmable logic controllers and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) platforms. At present, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, robotics and internet of things (IoT) are enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and better forecasting of power generation. Automated systems also allow operators to centrally monitor and remotely manage renewable assets across multiple locations, helping reduce downtime, lower losses and improve overall plant performance.
SPONSORED CONTENT & ADS
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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
Carbon Pricing in the Philippines: Paper
The paper reviews the experiences of other governments and applies its own analysis of proposed carbon pricing and carbon market legislation filed in the Philippine House of Representatives under the 20th Congress. Specifically, this paper examines the texts of House Bills (HBs) 1817, 2055, 2481, 3685, 3820, 6407, and 6890, drawing on IISD’s technical submissions to the House Committee on Climate Change and a broader review of related bills filed before the House adjourned on 3 June 2026. The analysis considers factors that typically shape whether carbon pricing and carbon market frameworks work well in practice: whether they reduce emissions, encourage cost-effective decarbonization, remain administratively feasible, maintain support from businesses and the wider public, protect market integrity, and contribute to a just transition.
Finance
Green Hydrogen Economics: Cost and financing considerations
Green hydrogen has rapidly moved from being a long-term decarbonisation concept to an emerging industrial and energy transition priority. Backed by policy support, growing institutional interest and ambitious project announcements, the sector has witnessed significant momentum over the past few years. However, despite this progress, the industry remains at a formative stage, with commercial viability continuing to depend on how effectively challenges related to production costs, financing, infrastructure and demand creation are addressed. Several aspects of the value chain are evolving simultaneously, but not always at the same pace, making the economics of green hydrogen central to the sector’s growth trajectory.
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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