Energy minister Chris Bowen announced that the federal government will use commonwealth legislation to override state opposition and mandate that new AI datacentres run on renewable energy while banning gas-fuelled facilities.
TotalEnergies will acquire around four gigawatts of renewable energy production from Shell in Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, and Spain, and will sell a stake in a separate portfolio to US firm KKR.
Australian political updates covering Energy Minister Chris Bowen's solar scheme expansion, delayed migration policy speeches by Tony Burke, debates over gambling advertising legislation, and tax changes.
India's Private Equity-Venture Capital investments hit $20.3 billion in Jan-July 2026, a 6% dip from last year, with July 2026 investments flat. Brookfield's Lumara led July deals. Venture Intelligence founder Arun Natarajan notes continued investor faith despite global challenges, with optimism from recent healthy exits.
Shanghai-based RedNote plans a 600MW data center project in Ulanqab, China, with a budget of around 15 billion yuan ($2.2 billion). The company is in talks with VNET for the buildout, targeting delivery in Q1 2027, as China encourages private investment in computing infrastructure.
Australia, a leader in domestic solar and battery adoption, now targets industrial-scale, ultra-low-cost solar through ARENA's 30-30-30 initiative, aiming for 30% efficient panels at 30 cents per watt by 2030 to drive new industries like green hydrogen and critical minerals processing.
A detailed Australian survey reveals organised anti-wind and solar campaigns have successfully eroded community support, while enthusiasm for electric vehicles surged following Donald Trump's attack on Iran. Despite this, home batteries and rooftop solar maintain high 'deep support'
Solar Impulse 2 completed the first fuel-free round-the-world flight in July 2016, demonstrating that advanced engineering and solar energy could power an aircraft across continents. The 40,000 km journey, lasting 16 months with 16 stopovers, showcased clean-energy technology in aviation.
Scientists from the Czech Republic, backed by NATO, are testing giant Miscanthus grass to naturally restore Ukraine's fertile black soil, which has been damaged and polluted by years of war. Early findings suggest the fast-growing plant can remove pollutants and improve soil health for future farming.
Czech researchers, backed by NATO, are testing giant Miscanthus grass near Most and in Ukraine's Vorzel to naturally remove pollutants and restore fertility in war-damaged soil, with early findings showing positive effects on soil health and carbon sequestration.
Meta has exited the RE100 renewable energy initiative after a decade, a move confirmed by the company and the Climate Group. This departure follows Meta's significant investments in natural gas power plants to fuel its AI data centers, raising scrutiny over its commitment to "100% clean and renewable energy" despite purchasing environmental attribute certificates.
전남 해남군이 RE100 국가산단 지정과 재생에너지 자립도시 조성을 위한 미래산업 전략을 추진하며, 솔라시도 지역의 국가산단 지정 및 특별법 제정을 산업통상자원부에 건의했다.
Britain's largest community solar project in north Devon has been forced to shut for its first summer due to concerns it could overload the local grid with renewable energy. The shutdown is expected to cost its 10,000 members £2m in lost revenue.
A salmon farm in Chile's Los Lagos region replaced diesel generators with floating solar panels. The project cut diesel use by over 36,000 gallons annually and reduced emissions by 386 tonnes, while also creating a quieter, shaded environment that attracted thousands of salmon.
A salmon farm in Chile's Los Lagos region replaced diesel generators with floating solar panels, significantly reducing emissions and fuel use. The project also created a quieter, shaded environment, attracting thousands of salmon seeking shelter.
The AI boom is driving massive demand for energy, leading to a resurgence in fossil fuels. Renewable energy advocates are pushing for data centers to be powered by clean sources, facing challenges as wind and solar construction can't keep pace with demand. Several states are enacting legislation to ensure data centers meet renewable energy benchmarks.
Hanwha Qcells will manage the EPC for 14 solar and energy storage projects in Arizona's Atlas Energy Park. The complex will have 2.8 GW solar and 5.7 GWh storage capacity by 2028, with Hanwha supplying all solar modules.
Donald Trump's criticism of China's renewable energy sector is based on domestic politics rather than facts. His claims about Chinese turbines and European buyers overlook China's significant advancements and integration of clean energy into its economic strategy.
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is developing the Foxtail Flats solar project in New Mexico to supply clean energy to a new Meta data center, marking a significant shift from oil and gas dependence. The 270 MW solar and 180 MW battery storage project secured permits before federal policy changes impacted renewable energy development.
Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly attempted to halt wind energy projects, leading to uncertainty and job worries for workers like Thomas Kilday. Despite legal challenges and buyouts costing billions, the administration claims no jobs were lost as leases were not operational.
Labour faces a race against time to meet its 2030 target of a virtually zero-carbon electricity system. Despite approving renewables at double the Conservative rate, hurdles in planning and grid connections mean the goal may be pushed to 2035. Experts warn of 'real world' risks impacting complex infrastructure delivery.
KKR and SK Inc. are launching South Korea's largest renewable energy platform, valued at $1.3 billion, with KKR taking initial management control. The platform aims to meet surging demand for clean power from chipmakers and AI data centers.
SK Inc. and U.S. investment firm KKR are forming a 49:51 joint venture for renewable energy, set to launch by year-end. The JV will manage 1.7 GW of assets, excluding hydrogen, with plans to reach 10 GW by 2031.
Masdar is developing a 1 GW wind farm in Kazakhstan, featuring a 300 MW battery storage system. This project, part of Masdar's global renewable energy strategy, aims to supply electricity to 300,000 households and avoid 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
