France’s Biggest Battery, Africa’s Solar Demand & Nuclear’s Green Problem
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.
🌍 IRENA Calls for Action in Hard-to-Abate Sectors
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is urging governments and the private sector to accelerate decarbonisation in industries that are hardest to clean up. The agency’s recommendations include setting sector-specific emissions targets, rapidly scaling up renewable energy deployment, and strengthening international cooperation. Policy support for green technologies, sustainable bioenergy, and closing the financing gap for low-carbon projects are seen as essential to move these sectors toward net-zero.
🔋 France Switches On Its Largest Battery System
France’s biggest battery energy storage system (BESS) has entered operation at the port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire. Built by Harmony Energy, the 100 MW/200 MWh project will provide grid stability, support renewable integration, and improve energy security. It marks a milestone in France’s efforts to scale up large-scale storage to complement its nuclear-heavy grid.
⚡️ Renewables Outpace Fossil Fuels in Global Investment
For the first time, global investment in renewables has surpassed spending on fossil fuels. In 2025 alone, clean energy projects are projected to attract $780 billion in funding. Over the past decade, investments in renewables have grown 109%, with significant increases also in grids, storage, efficiency, and electrification. By contrast, oil and gas investment has declined, underscoring how capital is shifting toward low-carbon technologies.
☢️ Nuclear Power Under Scrutiny
An in-depth analysis argues that both large and small new nuclear reactors are poorly suited to addressing climate, pollution, and security challenges. Typical projects take 12–23 years to complete, cost two to six times more than wind power, and can emit up to 37 times as much carbon across their lifecycle. Additional concerns include radioactive waste, accident risks, uranium mining health impacts, and potential weapons proliferation — reinforcing the case that nuclear may be more of a liability than a green solution.
☀️ Solar Demand Booms Across Africa
Demand for solar photovoltaics is rising rapidly across Africa, where PV combined with batteries is often the cheapest and most practical solution for electrification. Decentralised solar systems can provide access to power without the need for extensive grid buildouts, making them a key driver of universal energy access. As costs continue to fall, solar-plus-storage is expected to form the backbone of Africa’s clean energy transition.