Author: Graham Foster

Department of Energy Supports PG&E with $15 Billion Loan The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office has recently announced a significant boost for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) with a conditional loan guarantee of $15 billion. This funding is aimed at helping PG&E enhance its hydropower and battery storage capabilities, expanding its energy offerings. In addition to supporting renewable energy projects, the loan will also facilitate the improvement of grid capacity and the incorporation of innovative grid technologies. This will enable PG&E to create virtual power plants, which are systems designed to harness small-scale energy resources across Northern and Central…

Britain’s electricity transmission network owners have announced plans to invest as much as £77.4 billion from 2026 to 2031. This move is aimed at supporting the UK government’s clean energy goals. On Wednesday, National Grid, which manages the transmission network for England and Wales, shared its intention to invest up to £35 billion during this period. Meanwhile, ScottishPower Energy Networks, responsible for central and southern Scotland, plans to invest £10.5 billion. SSEN Transmission, which oversees northern Scotland, will spend up to £31.7 billion as well. This significant increase in investment is crucial for the UK’s ambition to decarbonize the electricity…

Key Highlights: Ener.co has revealed that its innovative spray-on coating has boosted energy efficiency for 36 of Verizon’s urban data centers located in the Northeastern U.S. This specialized carbon nanotechnology coating is applied to HVAC condenser coils, helping Verizon save over $1.28 million annually on energy expenses while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,700 metric tons each year. The implementation of this technology has allowed for a 30-month payback period through energy savings, with projections indicating an additional $16 million in savings for Verizon’s data centers over the next ten years. Insight: Ener.co promotes its Enercoat spray-on coating as…

Tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are on the hunt for large amounts of electricity to support their ambitions in artificial intelligence. One intriguing option they are exploring is nuclear power. In a significant move, Microsoft has teamed up with a utility firm to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island, a site infamous for the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history. Jamie Smyth, the U.S. energy editor, outlines the hurdles that need to be overcome as the 2028 deadline approaches for this nuclear revival. Working through these challenges will be crucial as tech companies seek sustainable and reliable…

Oil and gas companies in the UK are facing significant challenges due to government tax policies that they described as “punitive.” According to Brian Gilvary, the chair of Ineos Energy, these tax measures are forcing companies to look for opportunities outside the UK. Ineos Energy, which is part of the chemicals group Ineos, recently invested $3 billion in US assets instead of focusing on projects in the North Sea. Gilvary expressed disappointment with the current tax environment, stating that it has made expansion in the UK nearly impossible, particularly in the gas sector. Gilvary likened the UK’s oil and gas…

Oklo, a startup focused on nuclear energy and led by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, has made a significant deal to supply power as demand rises in the artificial intelligence sector. The agreement, lasting 20 years, is with Switch Inc., a major player in data center operations. It involves constructing reactors capable of producing up to 12 gigawatts of power, enough to supply around 7.6 million households in New York. Oklo claims this deal could be one of the largest clean energy agreements ever, although it remains non-binding, and the company’s technology is still years away from being operational. Jacob DeWitte, Oklo’s…

Dive Brief: Oklo is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to build 12 gigawatts (GW) of new reactor capacity over the next two decades. This comes through a master power agreement with data center developer Switch. Oklo announced this significant step today, marking a major development in advanced nuclear technologies. The agreement sets a foundation for future cooperation, with hopes that specific binding contracts will be drawn up as projects reach certain milestones. According to Oklo, initial deployments of their 50-MWe Aurora reactor could kick off by 2029, and they are also looking into larger 100+ MW designs for scalability.…

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. election, a conversation took place at the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan that highlighted a significant shift in climate politics. A leading figure from a climate change think-tank revealed his team in the U.S. was adopting communication strategies similar to those used in China, carefully navigating political sensitivities to avoid upsetting the new administration. This approach underscores a major change in how climate discourse is handled in America, with expectations that Trump’s government will roll back many of the environmental policies established during Biden’s tenure. However, the situation is not…

Welcome back to Energy Source! Today, we’re focusing on some recent developments in Europe’s energy landscape, particularly in the UK. Last week, the UK introduced an ambitious five-year plan aiming for 95% of its electricity to come from renewable sources. However, what followed was a surprising weather event known as “Dunkelflaute.” This German term describes a time when both wind and solar energy sources are virtually inactive, often occurring in winter. It’s not a frequent occurrence, but when it does happen, it can cause significant challenges. During this recent Dunkelflaute, Europe faced several days with minimal renewable energy generation alongside…

Energy Vault Collaborates with RackScale to Enhance Data Center Power Supply Energy Vault is teaming up with RackScale to provide up to 2 GW/20 GWh of reliable power to data centers starting in 2026. This partnership aims to improve the efficiency of data center operations amidst the growing demand for consistent electricity sources. As part of this collaboration, Energy Vault will utilize its innovative B-Nest battery enclosures. These systems reportedly offer energy density that is over eight times greater than conventional ground-mounted battery storage. Each data center equipped with this technology can expect to receive primary power for over 10…