The German development bank KfW has signed an agreement to provide 18 million euros in funding to support renewable energy projects in Pakistan's Northern Areas. This initiative aims to enhance sustainable power generation and improve energy access in the region through the development of hydropower infrastructure.
Plenitude, a subsidiary of Eni, has entered into a 15-year corporate power purchase agreement with Methagora to source 50 GWh of biomethane annually. The gas will be produced from agricultural waste at sites across France, supporting the transition to renewable energy and strengthening the local circular economy.
The Japanese government is conducting surveys on Minamitori Island to assess its suitability as a potential site for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The initiative is part of a broader effort to identify long-term solutions for managing waste generated by the nation's nuclear power plants.
Spain has committed €490.5 million from its post-pandemic recovery funds to advance renewable hydrogen production and industrial heat decarbonization projects. This funding, channeled through European auction programs, aims to support the nation's ambitious green energy transition goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Chinese scientists operating the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) have achieved a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion, demonstrating that fusion fuel can remain stable at densities far exceeding previously thought limits. This advancement, published in Science Advances, brings sustained, higher-power fusion closer to reality.
Inner Mongolia, a leading green energy hub in China, is actively developing 'flexible' power plants, including large-scale battery storage and hydrogen-powered facilities. These initiatives aim to enhance energy grid stability, integrate vast renewable resources, and reduce curtailment of wind and solar power, supporting the region's ambitious clean energy transition goals.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Elon Musk proposed that Spain's sparsely populated areas could generate all of Europe's solar power, highlighting existing technology but lamenting political and investment obstacles. Spain, already a significant solar energy producer, has ambitious renewable targets but faces challenges in policy and market dynamics.
A pilot plant in South Korea, a collaboration between the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and EN2CORE Technology, has successfully demonstrated the daily production of 100 kg of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from landfill methane. This breakthrough, located at a landfill site in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, offers a promising pathway for decentralized, waste-based fuel supply for the aviation sector.
Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) saw renewable energy sources, including storage, supply over 51% of its power for the first time in the December 2025 quarter. This milestone, detailed by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), marks a significant shift in the nation's energy landscape, with solar power playing a crucial role and coal generation reaching an all-time quarterly low.
Frontieras North America has finalized the acquisition of 183 acres in Mason County, West Virginia, for a proposed $850 million FASForm™ coal reformation facility. The project is expected to create over 2,000 construction jobs and more than 200 permanent positions, transforming coal into fuels, fertilizers, and industrial carbon products with zero waste.
Britain set a new record for renewable electricity generation in 2025, with clean sources supplying 47% of the nation's power. Despite this surge, households continue to face elevated energy bills, largely due to the electricity market's structure which links prices to gas.
Spain has initiated the RENOVAL 2 program, a €355 million subsidy scheme aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing of renewable energy equipment. Funded by the EU's NextGenerationEU, the initiative seeks to strengthen Spain's industrial value chain across solar, wind, storage, and green hydrogen technologies, with applications open from January 22 to February 25, 2026.
Researchers at China's EAST 'artificial sun' reactor have overcome a long-standing fusion limit by maintaining plasma stability at extreme densities, achieving a 'density-free regime'. This breakthrough, published in Science Advances, marks a significant step towards practical fusion energy.
Japan is significantly boosting its investment in geothermal energy, aiming to nearly triple its installed capacity to 1.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. This strategic move, driven by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), seeks to leverage the nation's vast geothermal potential and enhance energy security while addressing climate goals.
ACCIONA Energía has activated its 50 MW biomass power plant in Logrosan, Cáceres, now supplying 380 GWh of clean energy annually to the Spanish grid. The facility, utilizing forestry waste, is projected to prevent over 187,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and generate substantial local employment, contributing to forest management and rural economic development.
China has unveiled the world's largest liquid-air energy storage plant, dubbed the 'Super Air Power Bank,' in the Gobi Desert near Golmud city. This innovative facility, capable of powering 30,000 homes, utilizes cryogenic technology to store energy, marking a significant advancement in renewable energy integration.
Argentine power producer YPF Luz has brought the initial 100-MW phase of its El Quemado solar farm in Mendoza into commercial operation, significantly boosting its solar generation capacity. This project, set to reach 305 MW, marks a key milestone for renewable energy in Argentina and is the first under the RIGI investment framework.
Belarus has officially decided to construct a third power unit at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP) in Ostrovets. This strategic move aims to further enhance the nation's energy independence and meet growing domestic electricity demand, building on the success of the plant's two operational units.
Moldova's Ministry of Energy has initiated a tender for the construction of wind farms totaling 170 megawatts, a first for the country to mandate integrated energy storage systems of 44 megawatt-hours. This initiative aims to bolster energy security and contribute significantly to Moldova's 2030 renewable energy targets.
Petrobras has signed an agreement to acquire a 49.99% stake in Lightsource BP's Brazilian subsidiaries, forming a joint venture to develop onshore renewable energy projects in Brazil. This strategic move marks Petrobras' entry into the solar power generation segment, aligning with its 2026-2030 business plan for portfolio diversification and decarbonization.
