Clean Tech Daily — 2026-05-18

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Solar on Track to Overtake Coal in Texas — A Seismic Shift for the Lone Star Grid

Texas, the largest energy market in the continental United States, is approaching a landmark moment: photovoltaic power generation is projected to surpass coal within its grid, according to new analysis published May 16. Outside the solar sector, wind projects like the 800 MW Vineyard Wind 1 continue to develop, while solar and storage dominate the broader 2026 U.S. pipeline. Small-scale solar alone is expected to contribute 8 GW of new capacity this year, further diversifying the grid mix.

The shift carries enormous symbolic and economic weight. Texas has long been synonymous with fossil fuel dominance, but plummeting solar costs and massive build-out of utility-scale projects are rapidly redrawing the energy landscape. The transition is being driven by relentless economics — solar and paired battery storage are increasingly undercutting coal on a pure cost basis, even without subsidy support.

The development also underscores a nationwide trend: renewables are reshaping grids faster than most projections anticipated, even as federal policy under the Trump administration has pulled back support for clean energy research and manufacturing. What happens in Texas — with its deregulated ERCOT market — tends to reverberate through energy markets nationwide, and this milestone could accelerate retirements of aging coal plants across the region.

2 sources

pv-magazine.com

Firm solar and storage costs fall to $54/MWh, says IRENA – pv magazine International

pv-magazine.com

Norwegian startup testing hybrid solar, wave, wind system – pv magazine International

Solar & Wind

Texas Solar Milestone: PV Generation Poised to Beat Coal New data published May 16 shows photovoltaic power generation is on track to surpass coal in Texas, with solar and storage dominating the 2026 U.S. capacity pipeline. Small-scale solar is expected to add 8 GW of new capacity this year, accelerating the grid transformation across ERCOT.

China Widens Its Clean Energy Manufacturing Lead Chinese companies now account for more than half of all global investments in clean energy manufacturing since 2019, while new U.S. clean energy investments actually declined last year, according to Inside Climate News reporting published May 14. The diverging trajectories are raising urgent questions about supply chain security and long-term competitiveness for the West.

Chinese Firms Abandoning Billions in U.S. Solar Projects Under the Trump administration's trade policies, Chinese firms are selling off their stakes in U.S. solar power production, according to reporting published May 16. Economic analysis confirms billions in previously committed clean energy investments are being withdrawn, reshaping the domestic solar supply chain and potentially delaying project timelines across multiple states.

EVs & Batteries

AI-Powered Charging Could Extend EV Battery Life by 23% Researchers at Sweden's Chalmers University of Technology, publishing in the IEEE journal, have developed an AI-based charging method that optimizes current during fast-charging cycles and extends vehicle battery life by as much as 23%. The system adapts charging behavior in real time, potentially reducing battery degradation significantly over a vehicle's lifetime and lowering long-run ownership costs.

BYD Flash Charging Now Rolling Into Top-Selling EV Models BYD is upgrading its top-selling EVs with its breakthrough Flash Charging system, enabling battery replenishment in as little as 5 minutes for luxury vehicles. The technology — which allows a 10% to 97% charge in just 9 minutes, even in temperatures as low as -30°C — is now being integrated across more of BYD's lineup, dramatically narrowing the convenience gap between EVs and internal combustion vehicles.

Used EV Batteries Are Holding Up Better Than Expected New data from Recurrent shows that the average EV retains 97% of its original range after three years of use, and 95% after five years, according to InsideEVs analysis published within the past week. The findings should reassure prospective used EV buyers and signal robust long-term value retention — a key concern that has historically slowed consumer adoption of pre-owned electric vehicles.

1 sources

electrek.co

electrek.co

Hydrogen & Emerging Tech

Battery Storage Costs Hit Record Lows in 2026 BNEF Report BloombergNEF's 17th annual Levelized Cost of Electricity report confirms that battery storage costs have fallen to record lows this year, even as costs for some other clean power technologies have increased. The divergence makes grid-scale storage increasingly attractive for project developers and utilities seeking to firm up intermittent renewable generation — a critical step toward 24/7 clean power.

Trump DOE Signals It May Unlock $430M in Hydropower Funds The Department of Energy is signaling it may unblock $430 million in Biden-era funding to help keep the aging U.S. dam fleet online, according to Canary Media reporting. The funds were frozen following the change in administration, and the potential release reflects the practical reality that hydropower — despite ideological tensions around climate policy — remains essential for grid reliability, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

New York Weighs Rolling Back Its Landmark Climate Law New York is edging toward potentially weakening its landmark climate legislation — a move that would be unprecedented even by the standards of the Trump era, when most climate-leading states have held the line, according to Time magazine reporting published May 14. The potential rollback reflects fiscal pressures and political realignment within the state, and could have ripple effects on other states that look to New York as a policy bellwether.

Policy & Investment

Britain's BII Targets $20 Billion Climate Investment Push Britain's development finance institution (BII) is pursuing 15 billion pounds ($20 billion) in climate and development project investments over the next five years, with plans to significantly ramp up private sector involvement, Reuters reported. The initiative represents a major commitment to mobilizing institutional capital for climate infrastructure in emerging markets, even as some Western governments scale back direct spending.

U.S. States Step Up as Federal Climate Support Retreats With the Trump administration reducing clean energy support at the federal level, a Center for American Progress analysis highlights how states are actively filling the gap — advancing policies on infrastructure accountability, air quality, and clean energy jobs. The report underscores the growing divergence between federal and state-level climate ambition in the U.S. energy landscape.

Senate Democrats Push Back on DOE Renewable Research Cuts Senate Democrats are expressing sharp frustration over proposed cuts to renewable energy research within the Energy Department's fiscal 2027 budget. While the department's overall budget is set to increase, funding dedicated to environmental management, renewable energy infrastructure, and clean technology R&D faces significant reductions — a division of priorities that reflects the broader tension between the administration's fossil-fuel focus and congressional advocates for clean energy.

By the Numbers

What to Watch This Week

• New York climate law vote: The state legislature is weighing whether to weaken its landmark climate legislation — a decision that could set a precedent for other states and trigger legal challenges from environmental groups.
• U.S.-China clean energy trade dynamics: With Chinese firms withdrawing billions from U.S. solar projects and China widening its manufacturing lead, watch for any new federal trade actions or supply chain policy responses that could reshape the domestic renewables market.
• Texas solar capacity data: As PV generation approaches coal's output in ERCOT, weekly grid data releases will reveal whether the crossover point arrives this summer — and how coal plant operators respond with early retirements or load curtailments.