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The flagship battery storage project commenced operations on February 1, only days before cutting ties with the Russian power grid. Estonian state-owned energy company Eesti Energia has inaugurated the nation’s largest battery energy storage facility at the Auvere industrial complex in Ida-Viru County.
The battery energy storage park and its substation will be connected to the electricity transmission network using a 330kV AC underground cable, marking a first in Estonia. Baltic Storage Platform confirmed that the BESS will seek to ensure the stability and resilience of the Estonian electricity grid.
Energy storage is also vital for meeting Estonia’s goal of sourcing all its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The country’s climate minister, Yoko Alender, emphasised the role of storage systems in this transition, saying they would help ensure a “clean, reliable and affordable energy future” for Estonia.
Estonia’s investment in large-scale battery parks highlights its strategic push for both energy independence and a more sustainable power grid. However, battery parks do have environmental impacts.
Photo: VCG China has unveiled an action plan to boost full-chain development of the new-energy storage manufacturing industry, aiming to expand leading enterprises by 2027, enhance innovation and competitiveness, and achieve high-end, intelligent and green industry growth.
The plan said that the new-energy storage industry is a key source of support for advancing the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse and promoting the efficient development and utilization of new-energy resources. By 2027, China aims to cultivate three to five leading enterprises in the ecosystem.
To enhance support for the value chain of relevant manufacturing enterprises and foster a service-oriented manufacturing model, China seeks to drive the extensive adoption of next-generation information technologies, including blockchain, big data, artificial intelligence and 5G, within the new-energy storage manufacturing sector, the plan said.
"China has consistently supported the development of critical minerals, and this plan serves as a comprehensive guide for the industry, steering it steadily toward sustainable development," Lin added. China released 770 energy storage-related policies in 2024, with 77 issued at the national level, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
He added that Penang Port is exploring the possibility of setting up solar panels on stilts on shallow water pockets in its premises, “like a solar farm”. On the other hand, he said the global cruise business is expected to “go fully shore-power” by 2030.
The Penang government is assessing several strategic locations, including dams and coastal water bodies, to implement floating solar projects as part of efforts to strengthen its Renewable Energy (RE) sources. — NSTP/GHAZALI KORI Get breaking news fast — follow us on WhatsApp and Telegram.
He said that land-based solar farms were not ideal for Penang due to the scarcity and high value of available land. Therefore, he said, installing solar panels on water surfaces was seen as a more practical alternative. "Floating solar is a real possibility for Penang because we are surrounded by water.
The Star has learnt that this entails creating a solar farm that floats on a sheltered quarter of Penang’s harbour stretching over 4ha, the size of three World Cup football fields. On a sunny day, it is expected to churn out 30 megawatts of electricity, which theoretically will be enough for 6,000 homes.
Electrochemical and other energy storage technologies have grown rapidly in China Global wind and solar power are projected to account for 72% of renewable energy generation by 2050, nearly doubling their 2020 share. However, renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, are liable to intermittency and instability.
Jiang, H. et al. Globally interconnected solar-wind system addresses future electricity demands. Nat. Commun. 16, 4523 (2025). Peng, L., Mauzerall, D. L., Zhong, Y. D. & He, G. Heterogeneous effects of battery storage deployment strategies on decarbonization of provincial power systems in China. Nat. Commun. 14, 4858 (2023).
Nat. Commun. 13, 3172 (2022). Lu, T. et al. India’s potential for integrating solar and on- and offshore wind power into its energy system. Nat. Commun. 11, 4750 (2020).
The energy storage industry is going through a critical period of transition from the early commercial stage to development on a large scale. Whether it can thrive in the next stage depends on its economics.
Riyadh-based Acwa Power and Bahrain's state oil firm Bapco Energies have agreed to develop a solar power plant with large-scale battery energy storage in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province that will supply electricity to Bahrain.
In August, the Electricity and Water Authority announced the start of work on the country's first solar power plant, with capacity of up to 150 megawatts. Bahrain's National Energy Strategy focuses on improving energy demand efficiency, diversifying the national energy mix, including renewables, and ensuring secure and competitive access to energy.
The solar plant will have generation capacity of up to 2.8 gigawatts, developed over several phases, the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday. Electricity generated by the plant will be transmitted to the load centre of Bapco Energies in Bahrain, accelerating the country's transition to renewable energy sources.
The Bahrain Gas Project is being developed to supplement local gas production in Bahrain and ensure capacity to meet peak seasonal gas demand and industrial growth (capacity: 800 million standard cubic feet per day, expected funding requirement: $900 million).
KINSHASA, DRC The Democratic Republic of Congo announced a new government on Wednesday, ending more than five months of political uncertainty since the reelection of President Felix Tshisekedi.
(with newswires) The Democratic Republic of Congo unveiled a new government on Wednesday, ending more than five months of deadlock following President Felix Tshisekedi's re-election.
The new Cabinet is composed of 54 ministers versus 57 in the last government, including Prime Minister Judith Sumonwa Tuluka, Congo's first female prime minister who was appointed in early April.
