With so much happening in the world of corporate sustainability, SustainabilityOnline has introduced The Sustainability Brief – a regular round-up of some of the top stories making headlines around the world.
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Cargill expands renewable electricity portfolio in central US
Cargill has signed a 12.6-year virtual power purchase agreement for 87MW of wind power from the Sweetland Wind project in South Dakota. The agreement is expected to generate about 392,000MWh of renewable electricity annually and support reductions of approximately 162,000 tonnes of CO₂e a year. Cargill has also contracted the 85MW Choctaw Fields Solar project in Oklahoma, bringing the two projects’ expected lifetime emissions reductions to about 3.3 million tonnes of CO₂e.
Construction uncertainty adds almost $2 trillion to global project costs
Uncertainty increased global construction project-pipeline costs by an average 12.4% over the past year, equivalent to almost $2 trillion when applied to forecast 2026 construction spending, according to Currie & Brown’s Construction Certainty Index. The survey of more than 1,300 construction and infrastructure decision-makers found 70% citing material-cost inflation, 64% energy-price volatility and 59% supply-chain disruption as major delivery impacts. “Organisations can’t afford to lurch from one crisis to the next or simply wait for calmer conditions,” commented Dr Alan Manuel, group CEO, Currie & Brown.
EY launches climate resilience centre for Singapore and Southeast Asia
EY has launched a Climate Resilience Centre of Excellence in Singapore to help businesses address climate, energy and nature-related risks and develop projects aimed at strengthening resilience across Southeast Asia. The centre is intended to support organisations facing physical climate impacts, energy security concerns, supply chain disruption, biodiversity loss and geopolitical uncertainty. According to Grace Fu, Singapore’s minister for sustainability and the environment, the centre will help to “accelerate climate adaptation by supporting climate risk assessments, adaptation planning and the development of adaptation financing solutions”.
Canadian Solar to supply 200MWh battery system for former coal site in Australia
Canadian Solar’s e-STORAGE has signed an agreement with OX2 to supply and commission a 100MW/200MWh battery system for the Muswellbrook Solar Farm and Battery in New South Wales, Australia. Shipments are scheduled to begin in Q3 2027, with commercial operation targeted for Q3 2028. The project is located on a former coal mine within the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone and includes a 20-year service agreement.
Turbo Energy brings 62.5MWh of storage online at Spanish factories
Turbo Energy has brought 62.5MWh of intelligent battery storage into commercial operation at three Spanish industrial sites operated within the Pamesa Net Zero project, according to reports. The systems combine battery storage, 34MWp of rooftop solar and energy-management software to coordinate electricity generation, storage and industrial demand. The installations form part of a previously announced $53 million contract covering 366MWh across 10 factories.
RSK reports £982.5m water revenue as environmental business grows
Environmental services and engineering firm RSK Group reported FY26 revenue of £2.47 billion, up 10.3%, with EBITDA increasing 24.2% to £152.1 million. Water was its largest sector, generating £982.5 million, while built and natural environment generated £614.7 million and energy £452 million. Environmental solutions accounted for 53% of group revenue. RSK also invested more than £172 million through 10 acquisitions during the financial year.
European sorghum production could expand as climate warms
Research by INRAE and AgroParisTech projects that climate change could increase average European sorghum yields from 3 tonnes per hectare under current conditions to 3.4–3.8 tonnes per hectare between 2050 and 2100. Areas combining high and stable yields could increase from 22% to 29–34% of European cropland. The researchers identify sorghum as a potential lower-water alternative to maize for livestock feed.
European coastal waters assessed for harmful artificial-light pollution
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have developed a framework for assessing whether artificial light at night threatens the environmental status of European waters. The method combines light pollution from coastal settlements with seawater clarity and light penetration. Applying existing data identified parts of the Adriatic, Baltic, Mediterranean and North seas as among the areas at greatest potential risk. “Alongside other stressors, such as underwater noise, it helps us build a more complete picture of cumulative human impacts on the ocean, providing the evidence base for effective action from global policy to local management,” commented Professor Tim Smyth, director of science at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Torch Systems raises $11.5m for AI monitoring of renewable-energy infrastructure
US startup Torch Systems has raised $11.5 million, comprising $9.5 million in equity from Khosla Ventures, Abstract, Construct Capital and Starship Ventures and $2 million in venture debt from First Citizens Innovation Banking. The company is scaling solar-powered TerraNode devices combining cameras, environmental sensors and edge AI. “We’ve invested extraordinary amounts of capital and ingenuity into teaching AI to understand the digital world, while much of the physical world that powers our lives still goes unwatched,” commented Vasya Tremsin, co-founder and CEO of Torch Systems.
Green-bond market development programme launched in El Salvador
The European Union, International Finance Corporation, Global Green Growth Institute and El Salvador’s stock exchange have completed a workshop aimed at developing the country’s green-bond market. More than 60 public- and private-sector representatives participated. The programme is financed through the EU’s Global Green Bonds Initiative under Global Gateway and is intended to strengthen capacity to structure and issue green bonds using international standards.
