China’s Solar Growth, AI Power Impact & EV Surge
From China's record renewable and EV growth to new ways of powering AI, the energy system is changing fast. Huge batteries, floating nuclear reactors and even new turbine manufacturing show how quickly technology is adapting to rising demand.
☀️ China’s Provinces Join the Global Solar and Wind Leaders
China already leads the world in solar and wind generation, but the scale becomes even clearer at provincial level. Five Chinese provinces now rank among the world’s top 10 generators, with Inner Mongolia alone close behind the US and India.
⚡ SpaceX Moves Into Gas Turbine Manufacturing
SpaceX is reportedly building a foundry in Texas to produce specialised gas turbine blades and vanes, responding to severe supply bottlenecks caused by the rapid expansion of AI data centres. The move highlights how quickly power infrastructure is becoming a constraint on AI growth.
🔋 Germany’s New Mega-Battery Takes Shape
Germany’s Förderstedt battery park is moving towards partial commissioning and is expected to become the country’s largest battery storage facility when fully operational in 2027. Its 500,000-home equivalent capacity highlights the growing role of large-scale batteries in balancing the grid.
⚛️ Nuclear Reactors Take to the Water
A US startup is developing small modular reactors designed to operate on barges, potentially supplying electricity to ports, ships, charging infrastructure and data centres. If approved, the concept could offer a flexible new approach to deploying nuclear power.
🚗 China’s EV Market Hits New Records
Electric vehicles reached new highs in China in July, with plug-in models accounting for 65% of new car sales and battery EVs reaching a record 44%. Meanwhile, petrol-only vehicle sales plunged 44%, highlighting the speed of the country’s shift towards electrification.