Author: Arnes Biogradlija

Australian energy storage manufacturer PowerCap enters the European market with sodium-ion battery systems priced at €500 per kWh, targeting Italy, Germany, and Spain as initial deployment markets. The company’s 5 GWh manufacturing capacity and established Australian distribution network provide an operational foundation for continental expansion, though market acceptance remains contingent on performance validation against established lithium-ion alternatives. Technical Specifications and Performance Parameters PowerCap’s residential POD systems offer modular capacity scaling from 10.30 kWh to 27.46 kWh through three to eight battery units configured in parallel. The technology delivers 8,000 charge-discharge cycles at 25°C operating temperature with 0.5°C charging rates, maintaining…

Bumhan Fuel Cell has secured a 67.6 billion won ($50.7 million) contract with SK Plug Hi-Bus to construct eight liquid hydrogen charging stations for commercial vehicles, marking the largest single infrastructure agreement in the company’s history. This transaction reflects Korea’s strategic pivot toward liquid hydrogen infrastructure as the government pursues deployment of 30,000 hydrogen commercial vehicles and 70 liquid hydrogen stations by 2030. Market Fundamentals and Policy Framework The contract aligns with Korea’s national initiative to establish a comprehensive clean hydrogen ecosystem, positioning liquid hydrogen as the preferred solution for commercial vehicle applications. Liquid hydrogen’s density advantage—occupying 1/800th the volume…

The race to scale clean hydrogen production has sparked interest in engineered mineral hydrogen—a process that harnesses water-rock reactions with ultramafic formations to generate hydrogen at the wellhead. While laboratory results show promise, field deployment reveals a complex web of geographical, economic, and operational challenges that may limit commercial viability. The Geographic Mismatch Problem North America’s oil and gas service infrastructure concentrates heavily in established shale basins like the Permian and Eagle Ford, where decades of drilling have created deep operational expertise. However, the ultramafic rocks essential for mineral hydrogen production—serpentinites and ophiolites—occur primarily along California’s Coast Ranges, portions of…

The Franco-German Council of Ministers convened in Toulon on August 29, 2025, with French Prime Minister François Bayrou facing a confidence vote scheduled for September 8—just ten days away. This timing underscores the precarious political backdrop against which President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz attempted to project renewed bilateral cooperation and European leadership. Symbolic Stagecraft and Strategic Messaging France’s choice of venues—the military port of Toulon and the presidential summer residence at Fort de Brégançon—deliberately showcased national military capabilities. The meetings occurred against the backdrop of the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” and Fort de Cap Brun, with full…

Over 5 million tonnes per annum of low-carbon hydrogen projects have reached Final Investment Decision (FID), yet a stark disconnect persists between preliminary commitments and binding commercial agreements. This gap exposes fundamental structural weaknesses in hydrogen market development that threaten to undermine the sector’s projected growth trajectory. Recent high-profile deals signal growing commercial engagement across the clean hydrogen value chain. ExxonMobil and Marubeni’s May 2025 agreement for 250,000 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually, alongside RWE and TotalEnergies’ 15-year contract for 30,000 metric tons of green hydrogen starting in 2030, demonstrate that first movers are willing to commit to long-term arrangements.…

Egypt’s new solar manufacturing facility targets 2GW annual production capacity across cells and modules while generating 841 jobs, yet the scale represents less than 1% of China’s current manufacturing dominance, which captured 98% of global solar wafer production and 92% of cell manufacturing as of 2023. The $220 million investment by Bahraini, Chinese, Egyptian, and Emirati partners positions the facility within broader efforts to reduce Chinese supply chain concentration, though market impact remains constrained by production volumes. The Atom Solar Project’s location in New Alamein City’s Sokhna Industrial Zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone provides logistical advantages for both…

Australia’s latest Capacity Investment Scheme tenders targeting 2.4GWh of energy storage and 1.6GW of renewable generation in Western Australia represent 10% of the federal government’s 40GW by 2030 target, yet expose fundamental grid management challenges unique to the state’s isolated electricity system. The AU$4 billion private investment projection assumes successful deployment across Western Australia’s South-West Interconnected System, which operates independently from the National Electricity Market serving eastern states. The tender structure reveals operational constraints that distinguish Western Australia’s grid from interconnected systems. Unlike the NEM’s broader geographic diversity and interconnection capacity, the SWIS faces acute challenges managing high rooftop solar…

La Française de l’Énergie’s €15 million drilling campaign in Lorraine targets 2.1 billion cubic meters of certified coal bed methane reserves, positioning the project as a test case for domestic unconventional gas production in a region historically dependent on energy imports. The 12-month operation beginning autumn 2025 combines conventional coal gas extraction with exploratory drilling for natural hydrogen deposits discovered in 2023. The timing reflects broader European energy security concerns, as France imports the majority of its natural gas from diverse suppliers, including the United States, Russia, Qatar, Algeria, and Norway. The project’s claimed carbon footprint advantage—reportedly 10 times lower…

Novelis’ two-week hydrogen fuel switching demonstration at its Latchford aluminium plant achieved technical objectives while revealing critical infrastructure constraints that challenge broader industrial decarbonization timelines. The trial, supported by the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s Industrial Fuel Switching Competition, converted a natural gas furnace to operate on hydrogen, yet commercial viability remains contingent on external infrastructure developments not expected until 2031. The aluminum recycling facility’s successful adaptation of existing infrastructure represents a measured technical validation rather than an immediate commercial breakthrough. While Novelis claims the demonstration maintained safety, quality, and performance standards, the company’s projected 45,000 tonnes…

📈 The winners will be those who understand the economics, not just the geology 🌍 For just 99 USD (74 GBP), access the only comprehensive, case-based masterclass on how to turn natural hydrogen discoveries into commercial ventures that can decarbonize industry. Led by Dr. Arnout Everts, a broad-skilled geoscientist with 35 years of experience guiding subsurface development projects across their life cycle, this two-day online masterclass cuts through the noise and delivers actionable insights grounded in real exploration and development scenarios. What you’ll learn: You’ll also receive a case study overview, industry-relevant tools, and insights no public report has revealed…