Ryan Kennedy
US solar-plus-storage M&A heats up as AI data centers drive demand
As AI-driven data center demand tightens grid capacity across the United States, investors are shifting toward de-risked, late-stage solar-plus-storage portfolios to secure firm capacity in a higher interest rate environment, according to Deloitte.
US energy storage shatters records with 58 GWh installed in 2025
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence say US battery installations reached a record 57.6 GWh in 2025, up 30% year on year, as the industry enters what they describe as a new phase of sustained, high-volume deployment.
New model reveals pathway for land-efficient U.S. solar expansion
McGill University researchers used deep-learning computer vision to analyze 719 solar projects across the Western U.S. The study establishes a new “land-sparing” benchmark, providing developers with precise data to balance rapid capacity expansion with conservation and land-use priorities.
Solar, storage to lead record 86 GW of US capacity in 2026
Solar and battery storage are set to account for 79% of 86 GW of new utility-scale capacity planned in the United States in 2026, marking the largest annual increase in more than two decades, according to US federal data.
Google to deploy world’s largest iron-air battery for US data center
Google plans to deploy a 300 MW/30 GWh iron-air battery system in Minnesota under an agreement with Xcel Energy, pairing it with 1.6 GW of new wind and solar.
PowerBank posts $22.3 million in H2 2025 revenue amid space solar AI push
PowerBank Corp., a North American developer and operator of solar and battery energy storage projects, reported $22.3 million in revenue for the second half of 2025 and secured new credit facilities to expand its project pipeline.
US repeals greenhouse gas endangerment ruling
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has repealed the 2009 Endangerment Finding that classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health, removing the legal basis used to regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act.
High-voltage DC design targets AI data center costs
A white paper from Enteligent says an 800V direct current architecture linking solar and storage directly to data centers can cut capital costs, reduce copper use and improve efficiency compared with conventional alternating current systems.
US government withdraws defense of solar tariff pause
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has withdrawn from defending the executive order that paused certain tariffs on imported solar components, leaving private industry groups and companies to continue the appeal. The withdrawal increases legal uncertainty over potential retroactive duties tied to imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
RE+ Northeast 2026: Evolving solar and storage integration
Industry leaders convened in Boston to tackle grid modernization and accelerate the region’s renewable energy goals.
