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GE Vernova secures German order for three wind turbines
GE Vernova has agreed to supply three 5.5MW onshore wind turbines to Stadtwerke Heidenheim AG for the Schlotberg-Jüchsen wind farm in Thuringia, Germany. The order includes a 20-year service agreement and brings the utility’s installed capacity using GE Vernova turbines to 74MW. The turbines will be manufactured at the company’s Salzbergen factory, with delivery scheduled to begin in August 2027 and commissioning planned for December 2027. “Our continued investment in Salzbergen reinforces our dedication to a robust, local supply chain, aiming to help ensure that Germany’s energy goals are supported by reliable, industrialized ‘Made in Germany’ technology,” commented Marcas Breatnach, executive sales leader Northern Europe at GE Vernova.
Schneider Electric research identifies potential system-cost reductions from distributed energy
Research from Schneider Electric’s Research Institute has assessed 40,500 electricity-system scenarios and found that higher levels of rooftop solar and battery deployment could reduce overall system costs when combined with growing electricity demand. The lowest modelled system cost was 10% below the current benchmark using average installed costs outside the United States, potentially reaching 40% below the benchmark under projected costs in the 2030s. “Electrification is entering a decisive phase,” commented Esther Finidori, chief sustainability officer, Schneider Electric. “The technologies are available, but delivering progress at scale requires us to address infrastructure, digital intelligence, skills and financing together.”
Sustainable Energy First appoints former Ellen MacArthur Foundation CEO as chief growth and strategy officer
Sustainable Energy First (SE First) has appointed former Ellen MacArthur Foundation CEO Jonquil Hackenberg as its new chief growth and strategy officer. In a statement, SE First said that Hackenberg, who will also join the group’s board, will lead its SE First’s commercial function, ‘strengthening the connection between organisations’ ESG ambitions and their commercial outcomes’. “The energy transition and the circular economy are two sides of the same coin: one changes the energy we use, the other reduces how much we need in the first place,” Hackenberg commented. “Businesses that bring the two together cut costs, carbon and risk at the same time.”
Nordex wins 84MW wind farm order in Albania
Nordex has received an order from Austrian energy company Verbund to supply and install 12 N163/6.X wind turbines for the 84MW Spille wind farm in Albania, according to reports. The contract includes a 15-year service agreement. The project represents Nordex’s first wind energy development in Albania and marks the company’s entry into the country’s wind market. Verbund was awarded the contract following an international tender.
HyProMag USA receives first equipment for rare earth magnet recycling facility
HyProMag USA has received the first major process equipment for its rare earth magnet recycling and manufacturing facility in Northlake, Texas. The project is intended to recover and reuse rare earth materials in permanent magnets, reducing reliance on newly mined material. The facility is targeting annual production of approximately 1,526 tonnes and 100 direct jobs. “By establishing a domestic source of recycled rare earth magnets, HyProMag USA will strengthen US manufacturing capacity and contribute to a more secure and resilient rare earth magnet supply chain,” commented Julian Treger, chief executive officer of CoTec.
Solar Foods receives positive EFSA opinion for microbial protein
Finnish food technology company Solar Foods has received a positive scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority for its Solein protein ingredient, produced using a gas fermentation process. The opinion represents a regulatory milestone towards commercialisation in Europe. Solein is produced using microorganisms fed with carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen, rather than conventional agricultural feedstocks. The company says the process could enable protein production with a smaller land footprint than conventional farming. “After years of proving the technology, product and production process, our focus is increasingly on commercial execution and scaling the business,” said Rami Jokela, CEO of Solar Foods.
Alcazar Energy reaches financial close on $626m Egyptian wind projects
Alcazar Energy Partners has secured $436m in debt financing for two wind farms at Ras Ghareb on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, according to reports. The Niat and Rasgha projects will each have 250MW of capacity, with total investment of $626m. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank and Germany’s DEG are providing the financing. The projects are expected to generate more than 2.3TWh of electricity annually and begin operating by the end of 2028, under 25-year power purchase agreements.
Eastman receives reinstated $375m award for advanced plastics recycling
Eastman has secured reinstatement of a US Department of Energy award worth $375m, less approximately $35m already received under the previous agreement. The revised programme will support expansion of the company’s methanolysis recycling facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, including a planned 30% increase in output. The technology converts difficult-to-recycle polyester waste into virgin-quality recycled materials. “This partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen American manufacturing by building a more resilient domestic supply chain for recycled materials,” said Mark Costa, Eastman board chair and chief executive officer.
Hillcrest, Equipmake sign commercial agreement for heavy-duty electric vehicle technology
Canadian clean-technology company Hillcrest Energy Technologies has signed its first definitive commercial licensing agreement, partnering with UK drivetrain manufacturer Equipmake to develop an 800-volt traction inverter using Hillcrest’s Zero Voltage Switching technology. The inverter is intended for heavy-duty trucks, buses and off-highway equipment. The agreement moves the companies beyond their earlier development discussions towards commercialisation of the technology in electric vehicle powertrains.
Sun Chemical reports reductions in water use and landfill waste
Sun Chemical has recorded a 6% reduction in water supply and a 5% decrease in landfill volumes during 2025 compared with the previous year, in its 2026 Sustainability Report. Recycling increased by approximately 3%. The company also reports renewable energy projects at manufacturing facilities in Austria and Colombia, and approximately 12,000 product carbon footprint calculations across its portfolio. Sun Chemical produces inks, coatings, adhesives, pigments and electronic materials for industrial and consumer markets.
DanChurchAid calls for stronger international cooperation on climate action at COP31
DanChurchAid has urged governments attending COP31 in Antalya to overcome geopolitical divisions and strengthen international cooperation on climate action. The organisation is calling for faster emissions reductions, including implementation of the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels, alongside increased investment in climate adaptation. “The world is facing multiple crises, but the climate crisis has not gone away,” commented Mattias Söderberg, global climate lead at DanChurchAid. “We are entering a new climate reality, and the consequences are becoming increasingly severe. Governments cannot afford to put climate action on hold while dealing with other challenges.”