New partnership advances sodium-ion manufacturing in Spain
In a week marked by the largest sodium-ion battery order to date, widely seen as a watershed moment for the technology’s commercialization at scale, one of Europe’s emerging players, Spain’s Bihar Batteries, is strengthening the outlook for European-made sodium-ion batteries.
Installed BESS capacity in Spain grew by 589% since 2025 blackout
Some of the consequences of the blackout include a 589% increase in installed BESS capacity in Spain between April 2025 and April 2026, the introduction of renewable participation in voltage control, a greater role for gas in the generation mix, and continued progress on interconnections.
The battery cost disconnect
For years, the battery energy storage (BESS) story has followed a familiar script: costs fall, deployment accelerates, economics improve. Even when cell costs rose and system prices briefly flattened during the 2021-22 lithium price spike, the narrative largely held. Paola Perez Peña, senior principal analyst at S&P Global Energy, examines why the latest jump in lithium prices has only had limited impacts on overall BESS costs so far.
CATL raises $5 billion in share sale, Sungrow files for Hong Kong IPO for the second time
CATL has completed a roughly $5 billion share sale in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Chinese inverter and battery manufacturing giant Sungrow is making a second attempt at an IPO after its initial listing bid, launched in October 2025, lapsed.
China commissions salt cavern hydrogen storage project
China’s first large-scale salt cavern hydrogen storage demonstration project has been commissioned in Henan province. The 1.5 million m³ facility validates geological hydrogen storage technology and supports renewable energy integration.
Bulgaria seeks to revive 864 MW Chaira pumped-storage hydropower plant
Supported by Toshiba, Bulgarian utility NEK is working to restart its 864 MW Chaira pumped-storage hydropower plant, the largest of its kind in Southeastern Europe. The facility has been offline since March 2022 following a turbine failure.
CATL secures world’s largest sodium-ion battery order with Hyperstrong
The two companies announced a 60 GWh supply agreement on Monday, marking a pivotal step in the commercialization of sodium-ion battery technology.
UK startup showcases all-in-one water cylinder heat pump prototype
Nusku has developed a prototype of a fully integrated air-source heat pump system that combines the heat pump with a hot water cylinder and controls into a single outdoor unit. The design aims to simplify installation and reduce space requirements by replacing separate indoor and outdoor components with one pre-packaged system.
AccelerateEU backs 200 GW storage goal but omits dedicated mechanism
The European Commission’s AccelerateEU energy crisis plan endorses a 200 GW battery storage target for 2030 but proposes no dedicated financing mechanism to reach it, according to SolarPower Europe (SPE), which is calling for a separate EU-wide auction funded by emissions trading revenues.
The Hydrogen Stream: Atome builds $665 million green hydrogen-based fertilizer plant in Paraguay
Atome PLC has taken Final Investment Decision on a 60,000 tpa green hydrogen-based fertilizer plant in Villeta, Paraguay. The $665 million project is financed by DFIs and equity partners and is targeting production by 2029.
