Energy Transition Update

ThisWeekinFM Guest Editor, Daniel Lynn, has collected a wide selection of examples that demonstrate the direction of a collaborative and global energy transition from separate international regions.

A vast reduction of carbon emissions remains an international ambition despite a loss of support in the media and public, namely in the UK and US.   

UK 

Despite shrinking support from some sections of media and the public UK commitment towards NetZero remains purposeful. Construction, financing and adding renewable capacity to the national grid continues to gather steady progress. For example, renewable sources were responsible for 50% of gross final electricity consumption and 53% of total electricity generation from July 2025 to June 2026 in Northern Ireland.   

UK solar and battery storage company, Island Green Power - has been given consent to construct a 500MW BESS (battery energy storage system). The Abbotshaugh Energy Storage project will be located in Aberdeenshire. 

UK renewable energy developer Low Carbon has been allowed to proceed with the construction of a 400MW solar facility, with an adjoining 600MW battery storage installation. Once operations begin 130,000 homes will be able to receive clean electricity.  This project will be located in Lincolnshire.    

UAE State owned and global renewable energy company, Masdar - will finance four battery energy storage projects across the UK with up to £97 million of investment. 

Europe 

European aims to become carbon neutral is making incremental progress. In 2025, renewables made up 26.2 % of all consumed EU energy, up from 25.2% in 2024. Renewably generated electricity was responsible for 49.9% of all consumed electricity in 2025, up from 47.5% in 2024. 

Finally, 27.3% of all heating and cooling demand was met by renewable energy in 2025 across the EU, up from 26.7% in 2024. Additional progress is also evident in huge construction projects and investment deals.  

German renewable company, Skyborn Renewables - has secured €3 billion of financing for the construction of the 976.5MW Gennaker offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea. Once operational the wind farm will be able to meet the annual demand of around 1 million homes with green electricity. 

Danish investment platform, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners - has completed collecting financial commitments in their latest Growth Markets Fund II. Around $3 billion has been accumulated and will be directed towards the construction of large-scale energy infrastructure in Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America.  

UK based and Spanish owned renewable power group, Sonnedix - has been provided with $730 million of financing to pursue a strategy of refinancing, optimising and constructing active as well as future renewable energy projects across France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Asia Pacific 

China leads the way in reducing fossil fuel usage in the region and is making huge gains in introducing clean power to the population. Battery storage is an area experiencing considerable growth, accounting for 60% of global additions in 2025. National battery storage capacity has therefore grown by 84%.  

It has also been reported that coal generation has flattened in17 provincial regions. Additional progress is also being made by other countries in the region with huge financial deals and construction projects commencing in South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.      

Australian renewable energy outfit, Squadron Energy – is close to completing their 414MW Uungula wind farm in New South Wales. Once operational 220,000 homes can access clean electricity. This project represents AUD $41 million of investment.  

New Zealand power company, Mercury Energy - has added a further 36 turbines to their Kaiwera Downs wind farm located in Southland, New Zealand. This project cost $486 million and can currently provide power to 160,000 homes.  

US energy infrastructure developer, Pacifico Energy - has announced plans to inject over USD $1 billion into its Manho and Jindo Baram offshore wind projects located in South Korean waters. 

USA  

Like the UK, political and media support for NetZero is not as strong when compared to past years. However, positive progress continues - renewable sources accounted for 24% of total electrical generation in 2025. The first three months of 2026 has seen the US move upwards to 30% of all electricity being produced via renewable sources. 

Italian Utility operator, Enel - has completed the purchase of two US solar facilities from North American clean energy investors, Excelsior Energy Capital - for around $760 million.  

US renewable developer and operator Swift Current Energy has closed a $750 million credit facility with an option to increase the amount by $250 million ($1 billion total if option is triggered). Capital will be used to fund the nationwide construction of utility scale solar, wind and battery storage projects.  

US battery company, Key Capture Energy - has agreed a financial deal of £300 million to finance their domestic BESS aims.