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Carlyle raises $2.3bn infrastructure credit fund targeting energy transition
Carlyle has closed its second infrastructure credit fund with approximately $2.3 billion of commitments, exceeding its $2 billion target and making the vehicle more than three times larger than its predecessor. The fund already has six investments with about $500 million committed across North America and Europe, focusing on areas such as the energy transition, low-carbon power, water and waste treatment.
Low-waste process recovers valuable fibres from difficult plastics
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a process for breaking down durable plastics that currently lack practical recycling routes. The method uses an environmentally preferable solvent and ruthenium-based catalyst, consumes less energy than incineration and allows recovery of valuable fibres. “Before now, people might have avoided using these materials, despite their strength, durability and lightness, because they didn’t have a good way to recycle them,” said Zak Page, a UT associate professor of chemistry.
Ireland doubles Circular Economy Innovation Grant funding
Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has increased the 2026 Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme from €650,000 to €1.5 million. Individual grants are expected to range from €50,000 to €150,000, with applications open until 12 October. The scheme has awarded more than €2.4 million to 50 projects since 2021, covering food waste, plastics, packaging, construction, textiles and other waste streams.
NextEra and Dominion propose faster renewable and storage investment in Virginia
NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy have proposed accelerating solar, battery storage and other clean-energy development in Virginia, United States, as part of their proposed collaboration. The package includes a $100 million workforce fund, up to $1 billion a year for five years in supplier spending and 1,000 new direct jobs. NextEra also plans to maintain existing Virginia employment for five years.
Spain’s largest bank-financed standalone battery portfolio enters construction
Spain’s Return Energy has reached financial close and started construction of three battery-storage projects in Vizcaya with combined capacity of 55MW/220MWh. The company says the portfolio is the largest standalone battery project in Spain to have secured bank financing and entered construction. ENGIE, Rabobank, CATL and Enerland are supporting the projects, which are expected to begin commercial operation in the second half of 2027 and create about 50 local construction jobs. “This milestone demonstrates that battery storage in Spain has become an investable infrastructure asset,” commented Steve Sceery, director of Return Spain.
AI research could help organise fragmented environmental evidence
Large language models could assist environmental researchers by screening scientific literature, identifying relationships between findings and extracting quantitative information from fragmented studies, according to new research. The research focuses on using AI to improve the conversion of existing environmental literature into structured, usable knowledge while retaining scientists in the research process. “Large language models have the potential to reduce the enormous amount of manual work required to organize environmental evidence, but their greatest value lies in assisting experts rather than replacing them,” said corresponding author Jing Guo of Nanjing University.