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1. ⚡ Offshore Wind in the US Faces Major Setbacks After Tariff Hikes

The US offshore wind industry is facing tough headwinds. Recent tariff increases introduced during the Trump administration are driving up costs, delaying projects, and casting doubt on the country’s clean energy future.

📈 Key Impacts

• Rising Costs:

  • Tariffs on steel, aluminium, and imported turbine components are adding hundreds of millions of dollars to project budgets.

  • Example: Dominion Energy’s Virginia project could see costs rise by $500 million.

• Project Delays & Cancellations:

  • BloombergNEF now predicts only 17 GW of offshore wind capacity in the US by 2035 a 56% drop from previous forecasts.

  • Some projects are on hold or at risk of cancellation due to higher costs and regulatory uncertainty.

• Investor Caution:

  • Policy reversals and threats to clean energy tax credits are making investors wary, slowing down new investments and supply chain growth.

🌊 Offshore vs. Onshore Wind: Who’s Hit Hardest?

💡 Why It Matters

• Supply Chain Disruptions: Sourcing parts has become harder and more expensive.

• Potential Higher Energy Bills: Utilities may pass increased costs on to consumers.

• Clean Energy Goals at Risk: Progress toward US offshore wind targets is slowing dramatically.

2. 🇯🇵 Japan Opens the Door to Floating Offshore Wind

Japan has just passed a new law that allows floating offshore wind farms in its deep coastal waters—unlocking huge potential for clean energy.

• New Law: Japan’s government now permits wind farms in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), far from shore and in deeper water.

• Why Floating Wind? Most of Japan’s coast is too deep for traditional wind turbines, but floating technology can work in these areas.

Why It Matters

• Massive Potential: Experts say Japan’s EEZ could support up to 552 GW of offshore wind—enough to power the country many times over!

• Clean Energy Goals: Japan aims for 10 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and up to 45 GW by 2040.

• Energy Security: More wind power means less reliance on imported fossil fuels.

What’s Next?

• Industry Boost: The law is expected to spark a wave of new floating wind projects and attract major investment.

• Challenges Ahead: Developers still face high costs, slow permits, and need for better ports and grid connections.

  
  Japan’s new law is a game-changer for floating offshore wind. If challenges are overcome, the country could become a global leader in this exciting technology.

3. ⚖️ Lawsuit Filed to Halt Empire Wind After Policy Flip-Flop

A group of Trump supporters is suing to stop the Empire Wind offshore wind project after a surprising policy reversal by the Trump administration.

• The Trump administration originally paused the Empire Wind project with a stop-work order.

• After heavy lobbying from the industry and stakeholders, the administration reversed course and allowed the project to move forward.

• Now, Trump-aligned groups are taking legal action to reinstate the halt, frustrated by what they see as a sudden and unjustified U-turn.
  

Why It Matters

• This lawsuit underscores the ongoing political and legal battles over offshore wind in the US.

• Empire Wind, led by Equinor, is a high-profile project at the center of the debate over America’s clean energy future.

The fate of Empire Wind remains uncertain as legal and political fights continue.

4 . 🌏 South Korea’s New President Welcomes European Wind Companies

South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, is making it easier for European wind energy companies to do business in the country.

Key Points

• Support for Clean Energy: The new government wants more renewable power and less coal by 2040.

• Easier Project Approvals: A new law will help fast-track big offshore wind projects and attract foreign investors.

• Big Goals: South Korea aims to build 18.3 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Why It Matters

• Opportunities for Europe: European wind companies are encouraged to partner with Korean firms and join new projects.

• Growing Market: South Korea needs more clean energy and is eager for European technology and expertise.

  
  South Korea is becoming a top market for offshore wind, and European companies have a great chance to get involved.

5. French Offshore Wind Farms to Pause During Negative Power Prices

EDF and Iberdrola, two major energy companies, have agreed to temporarily shut down their offshore wind farms when electricity prices turn negative. This move comes after changes to their power purchase agreements, aimed at easing pressure on public finances and the electricity grid.

Why the Change?

• Too Much Power: Europe’s grid is sometimes flooded with excess electricity, especially as more wind and solar come online while demand remains low.

• Financial Sense: By stopping production during negative price periods, the companies help prevent unnecessary public spending and reduce strain on the grid.

  What Does This Mean?

• Grid Stability: Shutting down wind farms at the right times helps balance supply and demand.

• Public Savings: The move protects taxpayers from covering losses when power prices dip below zero.

• Industry Trend: Other European countries may follow as renewable energy grows and similar challenges arise.

  
  EDF and Iberdrola’s new approach marks a smart response to Europe’s changing energy landscape, keeping the grid stable and public costs down.

  

1 . ☀️ Heliene Expands U.S. Solar Module Production with New Minnesota Plant

Heliene has opened a new solar module plant in Rogers, Minnesota, boosting its U.S. manufacturing capacity by 500 MW. This brings Heliene’s total U.S. output to 1.3 GW per year.

Project Highlights:

• Bigger Capacity: The new plant is Heliene’s third in Minnesota and started operations in April.

• More Local Content: Heliene’s modules now use up to 66% U.S.-made materials, thanks to partnerships with companies like Suniva and Corning.

• New Jobs: The plant will create 220 jobs, supported by $2.3 million in state funding.

• Economic Boost: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar praised the facility for supporting clean energy and local employment.

• Incentives: The expansion takes advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act, helping developers save up to 50% on project costs by using more domestic materials.

Heliene’s new Minnesota plant is great news for U.S. solar creating jobs, strengthening the supply chain, and making clean energy more affordable.

2. 🌞 Emerge and Turbotim Partner to Bring Solar and Battery Storage to Ras Al Khaimah

Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, has signed an agreement with Turbotim to install rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems at Turbotim’s facilities in Ras Al Khaimah.

Project Highlights:

• Hybrid System: The project will replace diesel generators with a rooftop solar PV system (1.52 MWp total) and a 5 MWh battery energy storage system.

• Two Installations: Each of the two identical systems will feature 763 kWp of solar and 2.5 MWh of battery storage.

• Turnkey Solution: Emerge will handle everything—financing, design, construction, operations, and maintenance—under a 20-year contract.

Impact

• Lower Emissions: The project will cut over 2,178 tonnes of CO₂ each year—equal to the electricity use of 240 homes or removing 474 petrol cars from the road.

• Cost Savings: Turbotim will see significant reductions in energy costs and greater energy independence.

• Supporting UAE Goals: This partnership advances the UAE’s national sustainability and decarbonization agenda.

By switching from diesel to solar and battery storage, Turbotim and Emerge are setting a new standard for industrial energy solutions in the UAE.

1. Indian Researchers Achieve 29.14% Efficiency with Advanced Tandem Solar Cell

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have developed a high-efficiency tandem solar cell using an innovative inverted perovskite design, marking a significant leap in photovoltaic technology

Key Innovations

Inverted Perovskite Structure: The team used a “p-i-n” configuration (hole transport layer at the bottom), contrasting with conventional “n-i-p” designs. This approach improves stability and performance by optimizing light absorption and charge extraction1.

Aluminum Oxide Passivation: A 3 nm-thick Al₂O₃ layer, deposited via atomic layer deposition, reduced defects at the perovskite/C₆₀ interface. This boosted the standalone perovskite cell’s efficiency from 17.09% to 19.16% and its fill factor by ~6%1.

Device Configuration

The solar cell stack includes:

1. Glass/ITO substrate

2. Me-4PACz (hole transport layer)

3. 1.67 eV bandgap perovskite absorber

4. Al₂O₃ interlayer

5. C₆₀ electron transport layer

6. BCP buffer and silver contact

Tandem Performance

• Small Area (0.175 cm²): Achieved 29.14% efficiency when paired with a 25.5%-efficient silicon cell.

• Larger Area (1.08 cm²): Reached 26.86% efficiency, demonstrating scalability.

Future Potential

The researchers highlighted that adding an optical coupler could enhance infrared light transmission, further improving efficiency. This work underscores the viability of perovskite-silicon tandems for commercial solar panels.

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The MUX Energy Team 🌱