On 28 April 2025, Spain and Portugal suffered one of Europe’s largest power failures in decades. Around 60 million people lost electricity as the Iberian grid went from stable operation to total collapse in just minutes. Voltage surged, generators tripped, and the system fragmented into islands before operators restored supply overnight.

President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly this week to mount one of his most forceful critiques yet of renewable energy and international climate policy. Framing himself as a defender of affordable, reliable power, he told delegates that his administration had delivered lower gasoline prices and cheaper electricity at home while rolling back what he called “false” green mandates.

Electricity systems are evolving quickly, from record-breaking demand in hot, dry regions to inventive new ways of pairing solar with storage and infrastructure. This week’s updates show how countries are testing bold ideas — from Mexico’s solar-plus-battery potential to California’s solar-over-canals experiment — while renewable energy continues to dominate new capacity.

Rising electricity demand, cheaper renewables and changing mobility trends are reshaping how power is produced, delivered and used worldwide. Grid investment must climb sharply to keep pace with EV charging and renewable connections, even as new data confirms wind and solar now outcompete fossil fuels on cost. At the same time, BYD is moving to manufacture plug-in hybrids in Europe, and research from Australia shows unexpected agricultural benefits from solar grazing.

From coal’s continued build-out in Asia to falling solar costs and a surge in EV sales, this week’s stories capture the tensions and transitions shaping the global energy landscape. New studies show how renewables act as insurance against price volatility, while rare earth demand from electric motors underscores how clean technologies are reshaping supply chains.

From record-breaking solar output in the UK to shifting global investment flows and sharp critiques of nuclear megaprojects, this week’s energy stories highlight how clean power is accelerating while traditional technologies face mounting challenges.

This week’s stories highlight the shifting global energy landscape — from IRENA’s push to decarbonise the toughest sectors, to France’s largest battery system coming online, and renewables overtaking fossil fuels in global investment. While solar and storage continue to drive progress in Africa and beyond, nuclear power is under renewed scrutiny, with critics questioning whether it can truly be called green.

From oil demand nearing a peak in China to record-low solar and storage costs, the energy transition continues to reshape global markets in unexpected ways. A new U.S. study reimagines how electrification could have halved energy demand over decades, while Africa is forging its own unique route to electric transport. Meanwhile, Chile pushes ahead with a massive solar-wind-battery project, underscoring the accelerating pace of clean energy investment worldwide.

Recent clean energy and technology developments highlight the rapid shifts reshaping power markets worldwide. Europe’s soaring solar output is helping to lower electricity prices, while nuclear innovation in the form of small modular reactors promises new options despite ongoing hurdles. Denmark’s electric vehicle market continues its rapid growth, and Ohio breaks ground on a major floating solar project. At the same time, AI supercomputers are setting new records for speed and energy use, illustrating the growing complexity of the global energy landscape.

From rapid renewables growth in the Netherlands to the US scaling back its clean energy ambitions, this week’s stories chart both momentum and retreat. Global investment in low-emissions electricity continues to rise, but America’s newly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” could stall solar, wind, and storage additions. Meanwhile, the AI infrastructure boom is reshaping the US economy, acting as a new kind of private-sector stimulus. We also look at global oil producers and a decade of shifting electricity investment.

This week’s top energy and tech stories cover the continuing fall in renewable electricity costs, major progress in electrification, and a key shift for clean heating in Europe. We also dive into a detailed breakdown of critical minerals in U.S. defense systems and explore an innovative graphene-based microchip that could replace traditional batteries.

From solar breakthroughs on farmland and rooftops to the latest push for fairer energy pricing, this week’s stories spotlight the global energy transition in action. Inventions in photovoltaics are booming, UK EVs are pulling more weight on the roads than their numbers suggest, and California farmers are turning to solar for survival. Meanwhile, a policy rethink could be key to heat pump adoption—and a fresh look at natural gas reserves shows which nations still hold the biggest cards in the fossil fuel game.

The UK government has reintroduced a major electric vehicle (EV) purchase incentive, aiming to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transport. From 16 July 2025, car manufacturers can apply for the new £650 million Electric Car Grant, which offers discounts of up to £3,750 on new EVs priced at £37,000 or less.