The world's largest electric aircraft has completed its first flight, a milestone behind Heart Aerospace's 30-seat ES-30, designed to make short electric flights commercially viable by 2031.

EVs expand across global markets, California's battery boom grows, solar pushes out fossil generation, and mineral production highlights this week's key energy and technology developments.

Record European heat is forcing nuclear reactors offline, with France cutting a sixth of its fleet's output and Hungary's Paks plant pushed to near-shutdown on the shrinking Danube river.

Tesla's huge Texas solar factory, surging EV sales across Southeast Asia, rising heat pump costs and soaring critical mineral prices highlight this week's energy and technology developments.

Italy is opening the door to billions in new green energy investment as EU fiscal flexibility creates room to expand renewables, strengthen grids and reduce its reliance on natural gas.

The EU has approved €290 million to support sustainable aviation fuel production in the Netherlands, helping expand cleaner jet fuel, lower emissions, and accelerate sustainable aviation.