Second-Life Batteries, Electrification Momentum & Offshore Wind Innovation
Tesla co-founder JB Straubel is back with a new venture—Redwood Energy—using second-life EV batteries to power the grid. This week also brings a new observatory tracking AI’s growing energy footprint, warnings over lagging climate pledges, and EU-backed innovation in offshore wind maintenance. Electrification continues to play a key role in cutting fossil fuel imports.
🧠 Redwood Energy Launches Battery Reuse Business to Fill Storage Gap
JB Straubel, co-founder and former CTO of Tesla, has unveiled Redwood Energy, a new business turning second-life EV battery packs into fast, low-cost energy storage. With 1 GWh already in the pipeline and plans to expand to 5 GWh in 12 months, It offers a faster, lower-cost way to meet growing power needs using second-life batteries sourced and reused in the U.S.
⚡ New AI–energy observatory tracks data center demand and energy-sector adoption
A new Energy and AI Observatory explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the energy sector. It features interactive tools on rising electricity demand from data centers and examples of how AI is being deployed across the industry.
🌍 Only 13 countries submitted updated climate pledges ahead of COP30
As COP30 approaches, just 13 governments met the February deadline to submit enhanced decarbonization plans. Host country Brazil now faces the challenge of rallying broader ambition amid global tensions and competing priorities.
🔌 Electrification is reducing fossil fuel imports in key demand sectors
Over three-quarters of net fossil fuel imports go to transport, buildings, and industry—sectors now rapidly shifting to electric alternatives. Electrification replaces fossil fuels with domestic electrons, cutting reliance on imports.
🤖 EU-backed robot cuts offshore wind maintenance costs
Latvian startup Aerones is lowering offshore wind costs with a climbing robot that inspects and repairs turbine blades. With support from EU funding, the technology aims to speed up repairs and improve wind farm efficiency.