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Credit: Energy Dome / Business Wire 

Energy Dome has formed a global commercial partnership with Google that will leverage Energy Dome’s CO₂ battery technology to provide carbon-free energy to power Google’s operations.

The deal represents Google’s entry into commercial long-duration energy storage and is part of its strategy to achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030.

Energy Dome’s CO₂ battery technology is designed to consistently deliver energy from eight to 24 hours, meeting both the baseload and flexibility needs of large energy consumers. Its modular design utilises readily available equipment, helping circumvent supply chain and cost issues. The mechanical components of the system also contribute to grid stability by providing natural inertia through rotating machinery – crucial for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources.

The partnership aims to develop CO₂ battery projects across strategic global regions, including Europe, America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Google has also invested in Energy Dome, which is entering a commercial deployment phase with contracted projects in the US, Italy and India.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has officially granted Holtec International’s request to revert the Palisades nuclear plant from decommissioning status to an operating licence. The development marks the first instance in which a previously shut-down US nuclear plant has been approved to resume operations.

The pressurised water reactor situated in Covert, Michigan, halted operations in May 2022. In late 2023, Holtec commenced submitting licensing and regulatory requests to facilitate the plant’s return to operational status.

The NRC’s decision follows a comprehensive assessment of Palisades’ licensing foundation within the agency’s current regulatory framework.

With the approval in place, Palisades is permitted to accept new fuel and officially transition licensed reactor operators to on-shift status. The plant is now making steady progress towards a timely restart, with comprehensive testing, inspections and maintenance to guarantee a safe and reliable return to service.

Palisades has a capacity of 800MW and can produce power to supply more than 800,000 households. 

The UK government has announced an 11% increase in the guaranteed price for offshore wind projects in 2025’s renewable energy auction. The move is in response to escalating costs driven by inflation and supply chain challenges, especially following a 66% surge in 2024’s auction prices for offshore wind.

Offshore wind initiatives have been assigned a strike price of £81 ($109) per megawatt hour (MWh) based on 2012 figures, an increase from £73/MWh in 2024. Floating wind projects — which remain at a nascent developmental phase — will see a rise from £176/MWh to £194/MWh.

While these strike prices are preliminary indications, actual auction outcomes could result in lower finalised rates.

The application process for the 2025 auction, in which developers vie for contracts-for-difference (CfD), will commence in August with anticipated announcements between December 2025 and February 2026. The CfD scheme allows developers to secure a set price per unit of electricity generated, helping recoup initial investment costs.

The UK has prioritised offshore wind in its strategy to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030. 

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced the end of “preferential treatment” for subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy projects. 

This decision is in line with President Trump’s Energy Dominance agenda and follows the signing of Executive Order 14315 and the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The DOI will now subject all decisions and actions related to wind and solar energy projects – including leases, rights-of-way, construction and operation plans, grants, consultations and biological opinions – to an elevated review process by the Office of the Secretary.

The DOI aims to eliminate longstanding right-of-way and capacity fee discounts for existing and future wind and solar projects, as per provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill, ending years of subsidies for "economically unviable energy development”. By removing this support for renewables, it intends to “level the playing field” for what it deems dispatchable, cost-effective and secure energy sources such as coal and natural gas. 

China is grappling with a surge in power demand as an intense heatwave sweeps across the country. On 16 July, the National Energy Administration reported a record high electrical load in the country for the third time in July 2025, exceeding 1.5 billion kW due to broiling temperatures. This marks a rise of 55 million kW compared to 2024’s peak.

A subtropical high-pressure system caused temperatures at eight weather stations in the northwest and southwest to reach their highest recorded levels.

Provincial temperature records have been shattered 36 times since the start of summer 2025. Jiangxi province, for instance, has averaged 21.7 days annually with temperatures above 28°C since 2015 – a stark increase from five to seven days at the beginning of the century, according to state media reports.

Solar energy contributed significantly to meeting the increased demand, accounting for half of June 2025’s spike in electricity generation. Hydropower output also rose compared to 2023 figures but remained below those seen in 2022.