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Google Signs Deal with Constellation for Nuclear Power
Google has contracted for power from Constellation Energy, with new nuclear energy accounting for about a quarter of the supply. The 20-year deal will enable more than $4.3 billion in new investment and upgrades at 11 nuclear units in the PJM grid.
California requires AI data centers to fund local grid and water upgrades
Gavin Newsom has signed seven bills that require AI data centers to cover the cost of upgrades to local power grids and water systems while also disclosing projected water consumption and satisfying specific efficiency standards. The legislation prevents utility expenses from being transferred to residents as data center activity expands.
US Data Centers Could Use More Natural Gas Than Germany and Japan Combined by 2035, BNEF Says
BloombergNEF projects U.S. data centers could consume about 18 Bcf/d of natural gas by 2035 — more than Germany and Japan combined and nearly double BNEF’s forecast from nine months earlier — TechCrunch reported September 15, 2026. Onsite plants may use 2.9–3.4 Bcf/d while grid-connected sites could add ~15 Bcf/d; price and climate impacts are framed as contingent.
Tamarack Valley, Headwater Exploration Agree to $7.25B All-Stock Merger
Tamarack Valley and Headwater Exploration have agreed to merge in an all-stock deal valued at C$10 billion ($7.25 billion) that will create the largest publicly traded oil producer focused on Alberta's Clearwater Formation. The transaction includes a dividend increase, updated growth targets, leadership changes and the spin-off of non-core assets into a new public company.
SB Energy Files for US IPO With $439B Backlog
SB Energy, the SoftBank-backed developer of AI data centers, filed for a US IPO on Tuesday, reporting 66.4% revenue growth in the first half of 2026 and a $439 billion backlog while disclosing it has no operational facilities and is substantially dependent on OpenAI. The filing underscores the tight linkages among OpenAI, SoftBank, and Nvidia in the $500 billion Stargate project as the company seeks to broaden its customer base through acquisitions.
Rebirth Clings to Factory, Solar Fire Averted, Battery Tests Reveal Gaps
Rebirth Group is fighting eviction from its Normandy factory over unpaid rent, a homeowner personally put out a solar panel fire in Moselle, and German lab tests revealed usable-capacity shortfalls in 16 home batteries. The stories illustrate the practical frictions that continue to accompany the energy transition.
Germany brings around 260MW of BESS online through three fresh deals
Alpiq, CATL-backed CNTE and Terralayr have each activated battery storage projects in Germany that together bring around 260MW of operational capacity, including the country’s former largest system at Bollingstedt. The developments arrive weeks before the Energy Storage Summit Germany 2026 opens in Berlin.
LG Energy Solution starts LFP and NMC battery production in Michigan
LG Energy Solution has begun production of LFP and NMC battery cells at its Lansing, Michigan factory, announced on 18 August. The plant is expected to reach more than 35 GWh annual capacity to supply both BESS and EV customers including Toyota.
Europe BESS round-up: Encavis, OX2 advance in Italy, Sunotec commissions Bulgaria project
Encavis has acquired its first utility-scale standalone BESS in Italy, OX2 has purchased two projects from Hanwha in the Italian market, and Sunotec has commissioned a 379MWh installation in Bulgaria as part of its debut collaboration with GEN-Is.
Base Power unveils 39.2-kWh Core battery after landing $1B in fresh capital
Base Power has raised $1 billion to commercialize its new 39.2-kWh Core home battery that provides up to 36 hours of backup and installs in under an hour. The funding will speed deployment of a system three times larger than typical home batteries that also participates in virtual power plants.
DCC Agrees £5.75bn Takeover by KKR and Energy Capital
DCC Energy has agreed to a £5.75 billion sale to KKR and Energy Capital Partners, offering shareholders £65.25 per share plus additional payments. The deal highlights surging foreign private equity interest in undervalued UK-listed firms, pushing 2026 M&A to a record $197 billion year-to-date.
Brookfield to Buy Aypa Power From Blackstone Funds at $7 Billion Valuation
Brookfield Asset Management will acquire Aypa Power from Blackstone-managed funds at an enterprise value of approximately US$7 billion, gaining a 6.5GW portfolio plus a development pipeline exceeding 20GW that is 95% contracted under 17-year average terms.
Volkswagen Debuts All-Electric ID. Cross Compact SUV
Volkswagen has introduced the all-electric ID. Cross compact SUV priced from 27,995 euros, with advance sales now underway in Germany. The model provides WLTP ranges reaching 427 km along with optional premium interior appointments and assistance technologies sourced from higher vehicle classes.
BlackRock Subsidiary GIP Targets Majority Stake in Summit Ridge Energy
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a BlackRock subsidiary, intends to acquire a majority stake in community and commercial solar company Summit Ridge Energy. The partnership is expected to improve capital access and help the developer lead consolidation across a fragmented solar sector.
General Fusion finishes SPAC merger, becoming first publicly listed fusion firm
General Fusion completed its SPAC merger with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III on July 10, 2026, becoming the first publicly traded fusion company. Shares will begin trading on Nasdaq under GFUZ on Monday after an earlier $1 billion deal announcement that followed layoffs and a CEO funding plea, plus a new Italy deployment partnership with Renexia, though significant technical hurdles remain.
Energy Dept. Orders Data Centers to Use Backup Power
The Department of Energy has authorized PJM to require data centers to use backup power during a heat wave straining the grid this week. The move highlights growing electricity demand from AI-driven data centers in a region with the world's largest concentration of such facilities.
China Plans 400 km Solar Wall to Fight Desertification
China is building a 400 km solar corridor along the Kubuqi Desert that will reach 100 GW by 2030 while helping halt desert expansion. The dual-purpose project already has sections operating and could generate nearly 40 TWh of electricity annually.
Walmart signs first nuclear power purchase agreement
Walmart signed its first nuclear power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy on June 23, securing about 176 MW of zero-emission electricity from the Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois via two 15-year contracts that begin in 2029 and 2030. The deal includes 30 MW of new generation capacity and represents the retailer's initial step into nuclear energy procurement for clean power supply.
EU signs tripartite pact to speed energy storage rollout
The European Union has launched a first-of-its-kind tripartite agreement to accelerate storage deployments, with 22 member states pledging capacity over the next two years. The Commission cited 30-35GW while the formal document states 45GW; the pact aims to lower system costs, reduce price volatility and strengthen local manufacturing. The bloc is estimated to need around 200GW by 2030 against 55GW installed at the beginning of this year.
VW Weighs Up To 100,000 Job Cuts and Core Brand Spin-Off
Volkswagen Group is considering up to 100,000 global job cuts, four German plant closures after current programs end, and spinning off its core brand into a standalone entity. The restructuring would rank among the company’s largest ever as it grapples with a 44 percent profit decline and heightened competition.
Fire Engulfs Process Unit at Pennsylvania Refinery Owned by Delta Air Lines
A large fire broke out at Monroe Energy's Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania on June 25, prompting a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. The Delta Air Lines subsidiary reports no community health risks from its air monitoring, while firefighters continue battling the blaze that started in a process unit pump room.
Sunrun, Tesla, Renew Home form 16 GW distributed power plant
Sunrun, Tesla, and Renew Home will aggregate more than 16 GW of home batteries and smart devices into the largest U.S. distributed power plant, targeting data center demand driven by AI. Sunrun shares rose as much as 26 percent on the news as investors anticipate recurring revenue.
RTE outage leaves 100,000 Breton homes dark after heatwave reassurance
A heat-induced transformer explosion at an RTE substation in Ergué-Gabéric cut power to up to 106,000 Breton households on June 23, with 68,000 still affected the next morning. The outage arrived one day after RTE publicly stated there was no concern for electricity supply this summer despite rising demand and infrastructure strain from record temperatures.
NatPower taps Tesla Megapacks for 25 GWh storage push across Italy and Britain
NatPower has partnered with Tesla on a multiyear project to install 25 GWh of Megapack battery storage in Italy and Britain as the first phase of an initiative that could reach beyond 100 GWh and generate up to $15 billion in revenue over 20 years.