Author: Arnes Biogradlija

Germany’s battery storage capacity reached 22.1 GWh by mid-2025, yet EnBW’s proposed 400MW/800MWh facility at the decommissioned Philippsburg nuclear site represents more than an economic opportunity—it embodies the complex realities of energy transition infrastructure financing without government subsidies. The country now operates nearly two million battery storage systems, but large-scale projects face mounting economic scrutiny as market dynamics shift. EnBW’s decision to pursue the project without federal support occurs within a German market that added 100 large-scale battery systems (above 1MWh) in 2024, doubling the previous year’s installations. This acceleration reflects growing market confidence, yet the 800MWh storage duration represents…

Tesla’s energy storage revenue exceeded $10 billion in 2024, representing a 67% year-over-year increase, yet this growth trajectory faces mounting pressure from escalating trade tensions. The company’s recent $4.3 billion agreement with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (LGES) for lithium iron phosphate batteries reveals the strategic constraints forcing American technology leaders to restructure global supply chains amid an increasingly complex tariff environment. The three-year contract, spanning August 2027 to July 2030 with options for seven-year extensions, represents more than a supplier agreement—it signals Tesla’s calculated retreat from Chinese battery dependence. Chinese LFP cells now face 64.9% tariffs, escalating to 82.4%…

Austria’s hydrogen demand projections reach 41 TWh by 2040, yet European hydrogen deployment faces stark reality checks as only 3.6% of the planned hydrogen supply for 2030 commissioning has passed final investment decision. The Austrian gas industry’s push for €3.5 billion in infrastructure investment, led by Stefan Wagenhofer of the Austrian Gas and Water Association (ÖVGW), reflects ambitious domestic planning amid broader European market uncertainty. The investment proposal centers on converting existing gas infrastructure to accommodate hydrogen transport, with 730 km of new gas pipelines required alongside repurposing 1,420 km of existing infrastructure. This infrastructure strategy assumes market demand materialization…

Brazil is positioning itself as a future leader in the global hydrogen economy with an expansive pipeline of 111 green hydrogen and derivative projects, collectively valued at 454 billion reais (US$81 billion). Spread across 15 states, the projects span hydrogen, green ammonia, e-methanol, and green steel production, with an estimated demand for 90 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity. That figure alone represents more than half of Brazil’s current installed electrical capacity and underscores the sheer scale of ambition. Despite this momentum, the hydrogen transition remains fragile. Like in other emerging hydrogen markets, Brazil faces structural challenges that threaten to…

Canada’s small modular reactor market commands a projected CAD 5.3 billion value between 2025 and 2040, yet the integration of SMR technology with green hydrogen production remains largely theoretical despite ambitious corporate announcements. First Hydrogen Corp’s expanded collaboration with the University of Alberta’s Renewable Thermal Laboratory exemplifies the gap between technological aspirations and commercial reality in Canada’s nuclear-hydrogen nexus. The company’s announcement of SMR design collaboration coincides with Canada’s first approved SMR project at Darlington, featuring four GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors producing 300 MW each, establishing a benchmark for nuclear-hydrogen integration viability. However, the economic fundamentals underlying these partnerships reveal…

German hydrogen demand reached 2.4 million tonnes in 2023, projected to grow at just 3.2% annually through 2034—a pace that starkly contrasts with the urgency embedded in the newly proposed Hydrogen Acceleration Act (WassBG). The federal government’s draft legislation, submitted for consultation through July 28, 2025, reflects mounting recognition that bureaucratic barriers, not technological limitations, represent the primary constraint throttling Germany’s hydrogen market development. The WassBG’s most significant intervention involves reclassifying hydrogen infrastructure projects as matters of “overriding public interest,” a legal designation that streamlines permitting processes and reduces judicial review timelines. This regulatory framework shift addresses a critical bottleneck:…

Canadian transit is pouring billions into decarbonization, yet the buses aren’t showing up—and when they do, they can’t always run. According to Dr. Josipa Petrunic, the CEO and President of CUTRIC, leading some of the country’s most ambitious zero-emission transit projects, the challenge isn’t just about technology; it’s about politics, fear, and an industry still haunted by a decade-old failure. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE “Transit agencies don’t buy one car—they buy fleets,” Petrunic says. “And those fleets need infrastructure, on-road charging, and hydrogen. Depot charging alone will never cut it.” Her blunt assessment reveals a reality that many policy…

The widespread blackout that affected Spain and Portugal in April has prompted the Portuguese government to announce a €400 million investment program aimed at strengthening grid resilience and expanding battery storage capacity. Energy Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho stated that €137 million will be directed toward improving operational and control capabilities, a critical step as the country integrates higher shares of intermittent renewable energy. The April 28 outage was traced to a voltage surge within Spain’s electricity system. A Spanish government report identified miscalculations by grid operator Redeia in balancing energy sources and highlighted the failure of some coal, gas,…

BP’s decision to withdraw from the $55 billion Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) in Western Australia marks a notable pivot in the company’s energy transition strategy and underscores broader questions about the pace and economics of large-scale green hydrogen development. Initially acquiring a 40.5% operating stake in 2022 and later expanding its share to 63.57%, BP had positioned itself as the lead partner in the 26 GW Pilbara project—expected to produce up to 1.6 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually. Yet, in line with its recent strategy reset, BP has informed partners InterContinental Energy and CWP Global that it…

The commissioning of the Da’an Wind and Solar Green Hydrogen Synthesis Ammonia Integration Demonstration Project in Jilin province marks a critical test case for large-scale renewable-to-hydrogen-to-ammonia conversion. With 800 megawatts of installed capacity—700 MW from wind and 100 MW from solar—the project is designed to produce 32,000 tons of hydrogen and 180,000 tons of ammonia annually, positioning it as the largest single-unit green ammonia facility globally. While the production figures are significant, the broader implications lie in system integration and market alignment. The project utilizes excess renewable energy to drive electrolysis, converting water into hydrogen, which is then combined with…