Infrastructure Gaps, Renewable Wins & Farming with Solar
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.
⚡ Grid Investment Needs to Surge Beyond Data Centre Demand
BloombergNEF projects that while data centres are grabbing headlines for rising electricity use, they will only account for about 3% of global grid capital spending between 2025 and 2050. The real drivers are replacing ageing infrastructure, connecting vast new renewable capacity and meeting EV-charging peaks, with grid investment needing to jump 60% versus 2020–2024 to avoid bottlenecks and curtailment.
☀️ Wind & Solar Beat Fossil Fuels on Cost Across 2024 Projects
A new report from Ember Energy finds that more than 90% of wind and solar projects commissioned worldwide in 2024 generated electricity cheaper than the least-cost fossil fuel option. The findings highlight how fast-falling renewables costs are undermining the economics of oil, coal and gas.
📊 US Power Mix Relies on Gas, Wind & Solar to Meet All Growth
With virtually no new nuclear, coal or hydro capacity being built, the US must rely on gas, wind and solar to meet all load growth this decade. Tight supply chains, limited pipelines and transmission make it critical to permit and build all three technologies to keep electricity affordable and reliable.
🚗 BYD Plans Local EV & Plug-in Hybrid Production in Europe
China’s BYD says it will start local EV production in Europe within three years, led initially by plug-in hybrids. Three or four new China’s BYD says it will begin local EV production in Europe within three years, with plug-in hybrids expected to drive near-term sales. In the next six months, the company plans to launch three or four new plug-in hybrid models and anticipates they will outsell all-electric vehicles. BYD’s premium Yangwang brand is slated to debut in Europe in 2027.
🐑 Solar Panels Help Sheep Grow Better Wool
A new study from Australia finds merino sheep grazing among solar panels produce higher-quality wool than those on traditional pastures. Researchers attribute the benefit to the year-round nutrition supported by microhabitats created in the shade of solar arrays—showing how agrivoltaics can support both clean power and agriculture.