Author: Arnes Biogradlija

The U.S. nuclear sector is entering a new test phase as startup Aalo breaks ground in Idaho on its first extra-modular reactor (XMR), a sodium-cooled unit the company claims will become the first new test reactor of its kind to reach criticality in the country in more than four decades. Positioned under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, the project represents one of at least three advanced reactor designs the DOE expects to bring to first criticality by July 2026. Aalo’s Idaho deployment, dubbed Aalo-X, is not simply a technology demonstration. The company has tied its schedule…

Germany’s northern grid is set for another capacity boost as Eco Stor advances its 103.5-MW/238-MWh battery energy storage project in Schuby, Schleswig-Holstein, marked by the delivery of its main transformer in August. The nearly 130-tonne unit, sourced from Hungary, is the largest single component of the installation and a critical link between the local medium-voltage network and the 110 kV transmission system. At full capacity, the Schuby facility will hold enough power to supply around 170,000 households for two hours, underscoring how battery storage is shifting from pilot-scale deployments to grid-relevant assets in Germany’s energy transition. The project follows the…

Future Proof Shipping’s hydrogen-powered vessels achieve annual CO2 savings of 2,000 tonnes per barge for 100 round trips of 500 kilometers each, while H2 Barge 2 is projected to reduce 3,000 tonnes of CO2 annually on Rhine operations. These emission reductions represent significant environmental impact from two vessels, though scaling challenges related to hydrogen costs and limited financial incentives constrain broader industry adoption of zero-emission shipping technology. Vessel Performance and Technical Specifications H2 Barge 1, measuring 110m x 11.45m, launched in May 2023 for container operations between Rotterdam and Belgium’s BCTN terminal in Meerhout. H2 Barge 2 followed in February…

India’s renewable energy ministry and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have established a joint framework for hydrogen and ammonia value chain development, coinciding with India’s achievement of record-low green ammonia pricing through its ongoing auction series. ACME Cleantech Solutions secured capacity at ₹49.75 per kg ($0.57/kg) in recent SECI auctions, demonstrating competitive production economics that support Japan’s import strategy. Strategic Alignment and Policy Frameworks Japan’s pioneering hydrogen strategy, established in 2017, targets 20 million tonnes of annual hydrogen consumption by 2050 and three million tonnes of ammonia fuel use by 2030. India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aims…

Transition Industries’ Pacifico Mexinol project will produce 6,130 metric tons of methanol daily, scaling to approximately 2.2 million tonnes annually when operational in 2029. The facility is positioned to become the largest standalone ultra-low carbon chemical production facility and among the world’s largest green hydrogen and methanol producers, representing a significant shift in industrial-scale renewable hydrogen deployment in Latin America. Technical Architecture and Production Capacity The Elyzer P-300 electrolyzer uses proton exchange membrane technology to split water into high-purity hydrogen, with specifications indicating approximately 4,000 kg H₂/hour production capacity. The 210 MW electrolyzer facility represents substantial scaling from earlier PEM…

Britain’s grid currently cannot sustain clean energy operation for even one hour despite ambitious plans to achieve 95% renewable power by 2030, highlighting the fundamental stability challenges facing high-renewable electricity systems. The April 28 blackout across Spain and Portugal, triggered by voltage surges and frequency deviations that conventional power plants were unable to control, demonstrates how grid inertia deficits create systemic vulnerabilities as renewable energy penetration increases. Technical Foundation of Grid Inertia Traditional electricity grids derive inertia from large spinning generators in coal-fired and gas power plants, which provide resistance to sudden frequency changes through rotational momentum. This mechanical inertia…

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…