Energy Transition in Motion (Week of May 23, 2025)

Aramco has successfully commissioned a 1-megawatt hour flow battery system to power gas production activities in western Saudi Arabia, marking a world first, the company said May 22.

The energy and chemicals company used an iron-vanadium flow battery as a backup solar power source for gas well operations. Developed with partner Rongke Power, the battery flow system can support up to five wells over its projected 25-year lifespan, Aramco said in a news release.

“Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes separately from battery cells, and electrolytes pumped into the cell convert chemical energy into electricity,” the company said. “In addition to providing energy independence, flow batteries can be repeatedly discharged and recharged with minimal capacity loss. They also reduce fire risks compared to other types of batteries, while their modular design makes them easier and less costly to maintain.”

The milestone was reached as the company continues efforts to reduce emissions across its assets. Aramco already uses solar energy to power some of its remote gas wells connected to lead-acid battery systems. However, the flow battery system offers another sustainable opportunity.

Ali A. Al-Meshari, senior vice president of technology oversight and coordination for Aramco, called the system a breakthrough for the oil and gas sector.

“This is just one example of how Aramco is developing and deploying advanced technologies with the aim of enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions across its operations,” he said.

Here’s a roundup of some other renewable energy news.

Biofuels

Neste, FedEx Seal Deal For Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Neste has inked an agreement to supply FedEx with more than 3 million gallons of blended SAF for delivery at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

FedEx on May 20 said the fuel it purchased includes a minimum of 30% neat Neste MY SAF. As used in its blended form, the fuel will account for roughly one-fifth of all jet fuel consumed annually by FedEx at LAX, based on fiscal-year 2025 fuel forecasts, the package deliverer said. Neste’s SAF is made completely from renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste.

“Our aviation network represents the largest amount of FedEx fuel use globally and, as a result, is our biggest opportunity to drive down emissions,” said Karen Blanks Ellis, chief sustainability officer and vice president of environmental affairs at FedEx. “As we work toward our goal of carbon-neural operations by 2040, we need the SAF market to continue to grow to meet industry demand.”

Fuel delivery started earlier in May and is expected to continue throughout the next year, according to the news release.

Infinium Begins Construction of eFuels Facility in Texas

Efuels producer Infinium has started construction of its Brookfield Asset Management and Breakthrough Energy-backed Project Roadrunner eFuels production site in Reeves County, Texas, near Pecos, according to a May 19 news release.

Chemically identical to conventional petroleum-based fuels, eFuels are made with waste CO₂ and renewable energy.

The project will produce about 23,000 tonnes per year (7.6 million gallons) of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) and other eFuel products when it becomes operational. That would make it the world’s largest eFuels production facility, according to the release.

“Infinium’s Project Roadrunner marks a huge achievement for the fuel industry,” said Infinium CEO Robert Schuetzle. “Not only will the project produce commercial eSAF for its customers, it will bring highly skilled jobs and economic growth to the Pecos community and state of Texas. This project demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Infinium, its investors and partners to help ensure that the United States remains a global leader in energy security, resilience and innovation.”

In related news, Electric Hydrogen announced May 19 its 100-megawatt (MW) HYPRPlant was selected for Project Roadrunner. Electric Hydrogen said its modular solution lowers hydrogen total installed project costs by up to 60% compared to other electrolyzer solutions.

The eFuels facility is expected to begin commercial e-fuels production in 2027.

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Energy storage

E3 Lithium, Pure Lithium Progress Lithium Extraction, Battery Technology

Initial results of a study show lithium concentrate made by E3 Lithium can produce battery-ready lithium metal anodes using Pure Lithium’s technology, according to a May 22 news release.

As part of the study, E3 said several variations of its lithium chloride concentrate were used to make lithium metal anodes at Pure Lithium’s Boston facility. The lithium chloride was electrodeposited as pure lithium metal onto a copper substrate to create battery ready anodes, which were then assembled by Pure Lithium into batteries.

“The results of this study concluded that an easily producible version of E3’s lithium concentrate provided the most cost-effective feedstock for use in Pure Lithium’s batteries,” E3 said in the release. “It also demonstrated the robustness of Pure Lithium’s process, showing no performance differences between batteries made using lithium chloride from E3’s Leduc Brines, and those made from Pure Lithium’s standard sources.”

Results, according to the news release, showed the brine streams all achieved a very high purity level, greater than 99.9% pure lithium metal; and cells achieved over 500 cycles to date.

E3 said it continues to collaborate with Pure Lithium to develop and plan an integrated process capable of delivering the highest purity, lowest cost lithium metal anodes.

Geothermal

USGS: Geothermal Energy in Nevada’s Great Basin Could Play Larger Role

(Reuters) Geothermal energy in the Great Basin of Nevada and adjoining states could produce electricity equivalent to 10% of the current U.S. power supply, the U.S. Geological Survey said May 22.

The projected 10% would be a major increase, considering geothermal energy currently contributes less than 1% to the nation’s power supply, the agency said in a note.

“Provisional assessment shows potential for 135 gigawatts of baseload power—if current technology works at scale in Nevada and 5 adjoining states,” it noted.

Geothermal energy refers to heat generated within the Earth that can be harnessed for uses including heating, cooling and electricity generation.

With adequate technological advancements in coming years, the geothermal potential in the Great Basin is sufficient to fulfill a significant portion of the nation's electrical requirements, the agency added.

Following the assessment in the Great Basin, the next region to be evaluated will be the Williston Basin in North Dakota, according to the agency.

Hydrogen

Deutsche ReGas Gets EU Funding for Lubmin Hydrogen Project

(Reuters) Deutsche ReGas on May 21 said it will receive 112 million euros (US$126.97 million) worth of public grants from the EU’s Hydrogen Bank for a renewable hydrogen project at Lubmin on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast.

The grant comes under EU funding schemes to promote electrolysis processes that use carbon-free electricity to kick-start a local economy producing hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels.

ReGas said the hydrogen production at Lubmin, for which the funding will be spread over 10 years, can cut 1.6 MMmt of CO₂.

The EU subsidy is designed to help to close price differences between green hydrogen production costs and conventional energy prices.

The funding was awarded in a 992 million-euro auction, the second for the Hydrogen Bank, in which 15 projects from five countries were awarded money, ReGas said in a statement.

ReGas is a private developer and operator of energy infrastructure, including floating storage and regasification units and hydrogen electrolyzers.

The Lubmin plant, located near where ReGas used to import LNG on a floating reception terminal in the aftermath of the 2022 energy crisis, aims to make use of access to offshore wind energy and Baltic Sea water that can be used in the electrolysis process to make hydrogen. It is also close to both power transmission grids and a new hydrogen core transport network, set to start between 2025 and 2032.

Solar

AES, Meta Seal Deals for Solar Power

Power company AES Corp. on May 21 said it has entered two long-term power purchase agreements to supply Meta with electricity from 650 MW of solar projects in Texas and Kansas.

The electricity from AES’s power projects in the Southwest Power Pool market will help power Meta’s data centers, according to the news release. "These solutions support our goal for 100% clean and renewable energy and will add new generation to the grid in these markets,” said Urvi Parekh, global head of energy for Meta.

The agreements lift AES’ contractual arrangements with major global hyperscalers to 10.1 gigawatts (GW), the company said.

“By providing energy solutions that offer fast time-to-power and low-cost electricity, we continue to be the partner of choice for companies, like Meta, at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation,” said AES President and CEO Andrés Gluski.

TotalEnergies Flips On Its Largest Solar Project in Europe

Paris-based oil major TotalEnergies has inaugurated a cluster of five solar projects in Seville, Spain, that together make the company’s largest solar field in Europe.

Combined, the solar projects have an installed capacity of 263 MW and the ability to produce 515 gigawatt hours per year of electricity, the company said May 22 in a news release. That is equivalent to the amount needed to power 150,000 households. The field has about 400,000 bifacial solar panels with trackers.

Olivier Jouny, senior vice President  of renewables at TotalEnergies, said the project contributes to Spain’s goal of having renewables make up 80% of its energy mix by 2030. “With our 1,700 employees in Spain, we are building a competitive integrated power portfolio that combines renewables and flexible gas-fired power plants to deliver clean firm power to our customers,” Jouny said.

Most of the electricity produced will be sold via long-term power purchase agreements, and the rest sold on the wholesale market.

India’s Reliance to Start Solar Module Factory This Year, Exec Says

(Reuters) Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries will start its solar photovoltaic modules factory this year, a company executive said May 22.

“We are today building three bigger factories ... in order to produce clean energy requirements,” said Partha P. Maitra, president of strategy and initiatives at Reliance Industries.

India has been scrambling to meet its clean energy targets after falling short in 2022.

Over the past year, the country has ramped up investments in the sector, but needs to double capacity additions over the next five years to meet its target of 500-GW non-fossil power capacity by 2030, a Global Energy Monitor report showed.

Reliance aims to eventually scale up solar module capacity to 20 GW per year, Maitra said.

Its battery and micro power electronics factory will start next year, he said.

“If it happens we will be the no. 2 solar PV producer in the world. We will produce roughly 14% of total solar PV modules outside China,” the executive said.

Doral Renewables Secures $1.5B in Financing for Mammoth Solar Projects

Philadelphia-based Doral Renewables has closed on $1.5 billion of debt and tax equity financing for solar projects that are part of its 1.3-GW Mammoth Solar facility, the company said May 19.

The construction financing is for the Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I and Mammoth Central II projects, which each have a capacity of 300 MW and long-term power purchase agreements with utilities in place. Combined, the three solar projects—located in Indiana’s Pulaski County—will utilize more than 1 million U.S.-made solar panels, Doral said in the news release.

“We are thrilled to close these landmark financings in support of the construction of the remaining three phases of our Mammoth Solar project,” Doral Renewables CFO Evan Speece said.

KeyBanc Capital Markets, Banco Santander and HSBC Bank USA acted as coordinated lead arrangers for the $1.3 billion construction debt financing for the projects, which consisted of $412 million of construction-to-term loan facilities, $614 million of tax equity bridge loans and a $259 million letter of credit facility, according to the release

Doral also executed its first tax equity with Truist Bank, which made a more than $200-million tax equity commitment for Mammoth South.

Marathon Capital Markets served as the tax equity adviser, while McDermott Will & Emery provided legal counsel to Doral. CCA Group served as the tax equity adviser and Milbank LLP provided tax equity legal counsel to Truist. Norton Rose Fulbright provided legal counsel to the lenders, according to the release.

The three solar projects are scheduled to begin commercial operations in fourth-quarter 2026.

Wind

Equinor, Polenergia Agree on Polish Offshore Wind Project

(Reuters) Norway’s Equinor and Poland’s Polenergia made a final investment decision for the project to build two wind farms off the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, the Warsaw-based company said May 19.

The two farms, each with a generation capacity of 720 MW are set to cost a total of about 6.4 billion euros (US$7.20 billion) and start generating power in 2027 and be completed in 2028.

Investors—including PGE, Orlen, Equinor and Ørsted—are developing 6 GW of offshore capacity along the Polish coast set to come online by 2030. Auctions for projects in the second round are planned for 2025.

Poland is boosting offshore potential in the Baltic Sea estimated to be as high as 33 GW, according to the Polish Wind Energy Association.

Denmark Plans Offshore Wind Tender with up to $8.3B Subsidy

(Reuters) Denmark will launch an offshore wind tender with a capacity of 3 GW, enough to power three million homes, its energy ministry said May 19, offering subsidies to developers of up to 55.2 billion Danish crowns (US$8.32 billion).

The offshore wind industry has grappled with skyrocketing costs, higher interest rates and supply chain bottlenecks—prompting governments to halt or postpone tenders due to a lack of interest from bidders.

“We need more secure green power and energy to make Denmark and Europe independent of energy from Russia,” Energy Minister Lars Aagaard said in a statement.

The bids offered in the tender will determine the level of subsidy needed, with a cap set at 55.2 billion crowns over 20 years.

“It is the bid price and the development of electricity prices that determine whether it will be necessary to support the projects, or whether money will come to the state,” the ministry said.

Denmark in January announced it would halt all ongoing offshore wind tenders to revamp its model, saying that a framework where no subsidies were offered did not work under existing market conditions.

A month earlier, the Nordic country failed to attract any bids in its biggest offshore wind tender yet, with analysts pointing to a rigid auction model and a failure to adapt to a changed economic reality for renewable energy projects.

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Hart Energy Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.