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Solar

14/5/2025 News

Solar power surges to a record 597 GW in 2024, pushing global capacity beyond 2 TW

The world installed nearly 600 GW of solar in 2024 and could be installing 1 TW of solar power annually by the end of the decade, according to a new report from SolarPower Europe. Meanwhile Europe and Great Britain reached record levels of solar power generation this March and April, respectively.

Electricity markets

Head and shoulders photo of Flora Harley

7/1/2026 Comment / Flora Harley

Breakthrough in the bottleneck?

Navigating the UK’s renewable energy investment market is as challenging as ever, writes Flora Harley, Head of Energy and Sustainability Research with property consultancy Knight Frank, with continuing grid connection problems, but also with opportunities around the growth of corporate power purchase agreements.

Solar

Head and shoulders photo of Patrick Donati, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Terrawatt

10/4/2024 Comment / Patrick Donati

Solar showdown: Italy versus Europe

Patrick Donati, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Italian independent power producer Terrawatt, offers a comparative analysis of the renewable energy landscapes in Italy and the European Union (EU), with plans to improve connectivity between the continent’s power grids.

Electricity markets

Close up view of small battery energy storage systems stacked up in cuboid formation, with control unit with dials and knobs top located in the top right of the stack

EI Member only

14/1/2026 Feature / Jo Southernwood

Beyond the meter: turning electricity purchasing into a competitive advantage

As electricity grids continue their trajectory towards greater decentralisation, a new mandate is emerging for energy managers. They must evolve from being passive, price-accepting consumers to become active market participants. This fundamental shift is not just about cost-cutting, it’s about transforming energy from a fixed operational liability into a managed, flexible and strategic asset, writes independent sustainability consultant Jo Southernwood AMEI.

Electricity

Two women behind desk addressing a crowd of people

25/6/2025 News

Voltage missteps triggered the Iberian power outage, says Spanish government – but little consensus exists on who is responsible

Fingers have been pointed in Spain as reports paint differing views of the causes of a cascading power failure on 28 April that plunged Spain and Portugal into darkness for hours. In a report citing miscalculations, inadequate voltage control and improper plant disconnections as key factors behind the blackout, the Spanish government blamed national grid operator Red Eléctrica de España (REE) and private conventional power generators. In its wake, REE and a Spanish electrical utility association traded mutual accusations of blame.

Wind

EI Member only

4/2/2026 Feature / Andrew Mourant

When the grid goes dark

Failure of the power system on a national scale is the stuff of nightmares for business and domestic consumers alike – a potential crisis for which there has to be a plan. The onus on re-booting – the so-called black start (BS) after a total or partial shutdown – has rested largely on coal and gas turbine stations. Now, as the UK seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels, there’s a drive to see what role renewables, notably offshore wind, can play, writes Andrew Mourant.

Data centres

Rows of large, dark black mainframe computers with blue lights, lined up in darkened room

EI Member only

22/6/2026 Feature / Kristy Jooste

From energy sink to energy source: why data centres must bring their own flexibility

As AI drives a surge in electricity demand, grid operators are increasingly asking data centre developers to provide their own flexibility. Speakers at the recent Innovation Zero event argued that batteries, virtual power plants and new operating models could transform data centres from passive consumers into active participants in the electricity system. Kristy Jooste, Senior Content Officer, Energy Institute, reports.

Grid management

Aerial photo showing houses and surrounding area damaged by hurricane, roofs ripped off, trees knocked over

EI Member only

2/7/2025 Feature / Charlie Bush

What’s behind Puerto Rico’s battle to go green?

Despite being firmly rooted in the latest climate science and supported by 99% of scientists, global warming has become highly politicised, as have moves to decarbonise energy supply networks. Charlie Bush examines how the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico is a microcosm of modern ideological battles over the energy transition.

Grid management

11/12/2024 Comment / Andy Brown

A decade of listening to our members

The Energy Institute’s Energy Barometer, published last week, is in its tenth year of providing a window on the views of the energy professional community. EI President Andy Brown OBE FEI gives his top three takeaways.

Energy infrastructure

Head and shoulder photos of the authors, set side by side

30/6/2026 Comment / Paula Kivimaa,Neven Duić

Europe cannot afford to plan its energy future in silos

Europe’s exposure to energy price shocks is often framed as a supply challenge. Paula Kivimaa, Co-Chair of the EASAC* Working Group on the Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies, and Neven Duić, Co-Chair of the EASAC Energy Programme, maintain that the deeper vulnerability lies in how energy systems are planned and operated. A more integrated approach would improve security, reduce costs and accelerate the transition to net zero.

New Energy World™

Search results:

Solar power surges to a record 597 GW in 2024, pushing global capacity beyond 2 TW

Breakthrough in the bottleneck?

Solar showdown: Italy versus Europe

Beyond the meter: turning electricity purchasing into a competitive advantage

Voltage missteps triggered the Iberian power outage, says Spanish government – but little consensus exists on who is responsible

When the grid goes dark

From energy sink to energy source: why data centres must bring their own flexibility

What’s behind Puerto Rico’s battle to go green?

A decade of listening to our members

Europe cannot afford to plan its energy future in silos