Browsing: REGIONAL

Europe’s electric vehicle transition is increasingly becoming a question not only of transport emissions but of electricity system economics. A new study by Fraunhofer ISI for Transport & Environment (T&E) estimates that weakening EU electric vehicle targets could require the equivalent of 150 additional peaking power plants to compensate for lost flexibility from EV batteries.

Producing one kilogram of hydrogen through conventional electrolysis requires approximately 9 kilograms of water, creating additional pressure on freshwater supplies as electrolyzer deployment expands. UK-based Hychor, a spin-off from the University of Aberdeen, is developing a seawater-based hydrogen production system designed to address this limitation by eliminating the need for freshwater treatment before electrolysis.

California’s growing electricity demand and renewable integration challenges are increasing the importance of hybrid solar and battery storage projects capable of delivering both clean energy and grid flexibility. The BigBeau Solar+Storage Project in Kern County is the latest example of this shift, with EDF power solutions North America and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, securing 15 year power purchase agreements covering output from the 128 MWac solar facility and its 40 MW/160 MWh battery energy storage system.