The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) approved a first-of-its-kind virtual power plant (VPP) program that will spur between 50 to 200 MW of new capacity, but renewable energy groups are criticizing the program’s approach. MPUC passed Phase 2 of Capacity*Connect from Xcel Energy, a utility-owned storage program, on Thursday. Capacity*Connect will deploy battery energy storage…

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Burns & McDonnell has started construction on a 260-MW/1,040-MWh battery energy storage system outside Wadley, Georgia, for Georgia Power. The project, approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), is located beside the existing third-party owned Wadley solar facility and near existing transmission infrastructure. The new Wadley BESS is a company-owned asset that strengthens the…

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Bluetti has unveiled its latest residential battery system, the EnergyPro 13K energy storage system (EP13K ESS). Compatible with both new and existing solar installations, EnergyPro 13K has a continuous output of 13.2 kW (120 V/240 V) and a high surge capacity of 150 LRA, enabling it to run high-demand appliances. Its integrated automatic transfer switch (ATS)…

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Qcells is launching a new division to work with homebuilders integrating clean energy solutions. The Qcells New Homes solar platform offers U.S. home builders a turnkey, vertically integrated package of everything needed to get a residential solar and storage system online. Solar panels will be manufactured at Qcells’ facility in Georgia, and Qcells New Homes…

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LONGi has launched its solar-plus-storage strategy, LONGi One, marking a shift from traditional multi-vendor system architectures to a fully integrated design approach.

Pan-African developer Axian Energy has reached financial close on what it is billing as West Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage project.

R.Power's Michał Swół speaks to PV Tech Premium about Germany's position as a leader in Europe's renewable energy auction space.

South Australia could see its peak load double from 3.3GW today to 6.5-7GW by 2040, driven by data centres, green steel and hydrogen demand.

Ecoener has secured 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to build two solar PV projects totalling 200 MWp in Guatemala.

Two Vietnamese renewable energy developers have formed a new entity dedicated to developing C&I solar PV and energy storage assets in Vietnam.

Italian renewables platform Whysol Renewables has secured financing towards four agrivoltaics plants and two battery energy storage systems (BESS) in southern Italy.

Rolls-Royce and Voltaria to build a 43 MW large-scale battery storage facility in Scotland

mtu EnergyPack to support Scottish power grid and Clean Power 2030 Action Plan from 2027 The battery storage facility will have a capacity of 86 MWh and an output of 43 MW Rolls-Royce provides turnkey solution and long-term service More than 200 mtu battery storage systems in use worldwide

Rolls-Royce has begun construction on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction EPC contract from leading battery energy storage platform Voltaria Helios Energy Storage to supply a large-scale battery energy storage facility in Falkirk, Scotland. This is the first large battery energy storage project by Rolls-Royce in the UK and will help stabilize the grid and support the UK’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

The mtu EnergyPack, with a capacity of 86 MWh and an output of 43 MW – which is equivalent to the demand of around ten thousand homes or a large industrial site – will connect to the grid in 2026 and come online in 2027. It will store electrical energy during periods of high renewable energy production and feed it back into the grid during peak demand. The battery storage will facilitate additional renewable generation by avoiding uneconomical turn-down of wind generation. Rolls-Royce will maintain the system for 15 years.

The UK is considered Europe’s most mature market for battery energy storage systems, and it continues to grow rapidly. With its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the UK has set a target of providing 27 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage capacity by 2030, primarily for grid-connected applications to support carbon-free electricity supply. This capacity will help balance supply and demand, maximize electricity generation from renewable sources by reducing the requirement for expensive curtailment of renewable generation, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Nigel Jefferson, CEO at Voltaria, said:

The Bankside project in Falkirk is the first of many battery energy storage sites Voltaria intends to deliver and operate.

”Rolls-Royce were selected because we were impressed by their commercial and technical offering, as well as their technical advice and engagement in the run-up to the decision, and their 15-year full-wrap long-term service agreement. Rolls-Royce and the CATL battery solution are market leaders, and both stand for quality, so our expectations for the delivery and operation of this project are high. Rolls-Royce has also leveraged the Scottish supply chain, which is great to see.”

Andreas Görtz, President Business Unit Mobile & Sustainable at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said:

As a European turnkey integrator, we foster the energy transition by delivering storage solutions – from system design and EPC delivery to intelligent control and lifecycle support.

”Our collaboration with Voltaria draws on all the experience we have gained in over 200 battery projects worldwide.”

Voltaria Helios Energy Storage is a joint venture between Helios Energy Investments, a group of private equity funds focused on energy transition investments, and Voltaria (which is owned by Renewables Infrastructure Capital).

READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market

Rolls-Royce and Voltaria to build a 43 MW large-scale battery storage facility in Scotland, source

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Telangana Power Generation Corporation Limited (TGGENCO) has announced the results of its auction for setting up 375 MW/1,500 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS). Coal India and Sarus Infrastructures both have secured 187.5 MW/750 [...]

The post TGGENCO announces results of 375 MW/1,500 MWh BESS auction appeared first on Renewable Watch.

NTPC Limited has announced the results of its auction for setting up 2,334 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its thermal power stations in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. GR Infraprojects [...]

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of data centers powered by artificial intelligence, energy storage strategies are undergoing a profound transformation. ZincFive^®, a leader in nickel-zinc battery solutions, has unveiled its third annual 2026 Data Center Energy Storage Industry Insights Report, developed with Endeavor Business Intelligence. This comprehensive study, based on surveys of 150 global industry professionals conducted in early 2026, reveals how AI workloads are reshaping power infrastructure priorities.

Key Trends Emerge

The report identifies surging AI demands as a central force. Notably, 57% of respondents report that AI is driving higher power density needs and smaller footprints, a trend holding steady from 54% last year. Additionally, 52% emphasize managing AI’s dynamic power fluctuations and upholding power quality – a sharp rise from 37% in 2025 – highlighting the urgency for resilient storage solutions.

Cost and safety dominate decision-making. An impressive 84% prioritize total cost of ownership, up from 79% in 2025 and 65% in 2024, while 76% stress battery chemistry safety. AI dynamic power ranks as the second-biggest driver for technology shifts at 49%, after cost (58%). Sustainability also plays a pivotal role, with 70% factoring it into purchases and 46% achieving moderate to significant cost savings from sustainable initiatives.

Prioritizing Battery Features for AI Challenges

When addressing AI-specific power issues, professionals rank power density (38%), safety (37%), uptime (33%), and maintenance ease (32%) as top criteria for battery selection. These insights underscore the need for advanced chemistries like nickel-zinc, which ZincFive champions for its high power density, safety, and sustainability in mission-critical applications.

“As AI workloads continue to transform data center infrastructure, operators are facing new challenges around power density, power quality, and system reliability,” said Tod Higinbotham, CEO of ZincFive. “This year’s report highlights how the industry is adapting to these evolving demands while balancing cost, safety, and sustainability priorities. The findings underscore the growing need for energy storage technologies capable of delivering high power performance, operational resilience, and infrastructure efficiency in the era of AI-driven data centers.”

Implications for the Industry

This report builds on prior editions, tracking consistent yet intensifying trends amid AI’s expansion. Data center operators can download the full 2026 report, along with 2025 and 2024 versions, from ZincFive’s website to inform strategic planning. As AI continues to demand more from power systems, innovations in safe, efficient energy storage will be crucial for maintaining uptime and sustainability goals.

To read the full press release, please click here.

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EnerVenue, the US company commercialising technology adapted from nickel-hydrogen batteries, has closed a US$300 million extension of its Series B preferred stock financing round.

Australian BESS face new financing reality as spreads halve to AU$100/MWh and lenders demand 50-70% contracting amid 15GW deployment surge.

The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved six battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totalling 1,332MW of capacity in the US state.

Form Energy, Noon Energy and Ore Energy are all commercialising proprietary 100-hour battery technologies for LDES applications, but how do they compare on metrics like cost, energy density and round-trip efficiency? We look at what they have revealed, as well as what they haven't.

In this news roundup, Unigrid, Inlyte Energy, CIUDEN, and Sunamp are advancing non-lithium energy storage technologies worldwide.