22 August 2026

66 new posts across 4 climate and energy sources — 8 worth your time.

One week of Climate & Energy, 8 stories, as published.

Sage Geosystems brings its first next-gen geothermal plant online

Sage Geosystems has brought its first next-generation geothermal plant online near San Antonio, Texas. The project represents only the third next-gen geothermal system to produce power in the US, marking a milestone in commercializing on-demand clean electricity.

Why it matters — Demonstrates the commercial viability of next-generation geothermal systems that can produce on-demand clean electricity outside of traditional hydrothermal geographic areas.

Canary Media · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Grid & Transmission

He helped Uruguay decarbonize. Can he help other countries do the same?

Ramón Méndez Galain explains how Uruguay transitioned to a 98% fossil-free grid by utilizing its existing reservoir hydropower assets as a 'battery' to balance variable wind and solar. The transition relied on a redesigned market structure and cross-party political consensus to attract private capital while keeping the utility public.

Why it matters — Provides a proven playbook for integrating high penetrations of variable renewables by using existing reservoir hydropower as a dispatchable battery.

Volts · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Grid & Transmission

2 GW HVDC Is Becoming Standard. The Rest Of The Grid Isn’t.

High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is transitioning from a niche solution for subsea or long-distance lines to a standardized 2 GW grid integration technology. However, integrating these massive point-to-point direct current links into legacy alternating current (AC) grids presents significant technical challenges.

Why it matters — Highlights the engineering shift toward standardizing 2 GW HVDC systems and the resulting integration challenges with legacy AC grid infrastructure.

CleanTechnica · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Grid & Transmission

Why can't utilities innovate?

This post explores the systemic barriers preventing electric utilities from adopting grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), advanced software, and smarter operational procedures. Featuring insights from PG&E's Quinn, it discusses the risk-averse nature of regulated utilities where no operator wants to be the first to pilot new technologies.

Why it matters — Explains the 'pilot purgatory' phenomenon where utilities avoid being the first to adopt grid-enhancing technologies due to regulatory and risk structures.

Volts · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Data Centre Demand

PJM wants data centers to bring their own power. Pennsylvania’s on it.

PJM Interconnection has proposed a framework to prevent massive data center loads from spiking electricity prices, shifting the responsibility to states to enforce these rules. In response, Pennsylvania is advancing legislative measures to address the grid capacity challenges posed by the rapid expansion of these facilities.

Why it matters — Signals a regulatory shift where grid operators are forcing data centers to secure their own localized generation rather than relying solely on the shared grid.

Canary Media · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Transport & EV

OCTA Is Spending Again On Hydrogen Because The Fuel Chain Failed

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is spending $27.6 million to expand its fuel-cell bus fleet and infrastructure, but the investment is driven by the failure of its existing hydrogen supply chain. The post details the operational challenges and high costs of maintaining hydrogen transit infrastructure.

Why it matters — Serves as a cautionary case study on the high operational risks and supply chain vulnerabilities of hydrogen fuel-cell transit fleets.

CleanTechnica · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Storage

Q&A: What is ‘long-duration energy storage’ – and why does the UK need it?

The UK is deploying long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems to store surplus wind and solar energy. These 'super batteries' are designed to discharge power during extended periods of low wind and solar generation to maintain grid stability.

Why it matters — LDES provides grid operators with a mechanism to manage multi-day renewable generation droughts, which standard short-duration batteries cannot cover.

Carbon Brief · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

Grid & Transmission

PJM Eyes Surplus Interconnection Pathway

PJM Interconnection is considering rule changes to create a pathway for adding generation and battery storage near existing power plants using surplus interconnection capacity. An earlier reform effort in early 2025 yielded limited results, with only two of eight applications approved since 2023. MISO and SPP have seen more success, with 44 and 22 projects, mostly battery storage, coming online in about one to two years respectively.

Why it matters — PJM's renewed focus on surplus interconnection aims to accelerate grid integration for new generation and storage, potentially reducing costs and timelines for developers.

Utility Dive · 22 August 2026 · Read the original →

We’ve reached the 'bring your own power plant' stage of grid planning.

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