Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-04-24
A U.S. federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's actions that had stalled wind and solar permitting, marking a pivotal legal victory for clean energy developers. Meanwhile, a new Ember report confirmed that solar and wind delivered roughly six times more new capacity than all other power sources combined in 2025, meeting nearly all new global electricity demand. On the policy front, the EU formally accelerated its review of green hydrogen (RFNBO) rules to Q2 2026, citing the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis as a catalyst.
Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-04-24
Top Stories
U.S. Court Blocks Trump Administration's Anti-Wind and Solar Actions
- What happened: A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting several Trump administration executive actions that had effectively frozen wind and solar project permitting — including a requirement that projects receive personal approval from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The injunction takes effect while litigation continues.
- Why it matters: The ruling removes a significant bureaucratic barrier that had stalled dozens of renewable energy projects across the United States. Developers had faced severe uncertainty; the injunction restores a clearer permitting pathway and signals that executive overreach into clean energy approvals faces legal limits.
- Scale: The injunction covers a broad range of federal actions affecting wind and solar development nationally.
Solar and Wind Delivered ~6x More Capacity Than All Other Sources Combined in 2025
- What happened: A new report from global energy think tank Ember, covered by PV Magazine, confirmed that solar and wind together dominated global power growth in 2025 — delivering approximately six times more new capacity than all other energy sources combined. The two technologies supplied nearly all new electricity demand growth worldwide.
- Why it matters: The finding underscores that the energy transition is moving faster than many projections suggested. Countries like Australia and several European nations led the expansion, while Canada was singled out as lagging behind peers despite having significant renewable potential.
- Scale: 814 GWdc in new solar and wind capacity was installed in 2025 globally, according to Ember data cited by PV Magazine. Wind deployment rose 47% year-over-year, significantly outpacing solar's 11% growth.
EU Formally Launches Early Review of Green Hydrogen RFNBO Rules
- What happened: The European Commission officially confirmed it will review its Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) rules governing green hydrogen within Q2 2026 — earlier than previously scheduled. The review is part of the new AccelerateEU energy action plan. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has acted as a key accelerant, raising energy security concerns across Europe. The review will also explore whether nuclear power can be counted as eligible for hydrogen production.
- Why it matters: RFNBO rules determine which hydrogen can be classified as "green" and therefore qualify for EU subsidies and targets. Relaxing or expanding eligibility — particularly to nuclear — could significantly broaden the hydrogen production base and accelerate deployment, but is also controversial among renewable energy purists.
- Scale: The review covers EU-wide hydrogen policy affecting billions of euros in planned investment across member states.
SunZia Wind Begins Commissioning — Potentially Largest Clean Energy Project in U.S. History
- What happened: Pattern Energy's SunZia Wind project in New Mexico has begun commissioning operations, marking the start of operations for what the developer describes as the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history.
- Why it matters: SunZia represents a landmark for U.S. onshore wind, demonstrating that massive-scale projects can reach completion even amid a difficult policy environment. Its associated HVDC transmission line (~550 miles) also sets a new benchmark for clean energy infrastructure buildout.
- Scale: 3.5 GW total capacity (3,500 MW), 915 wind turbines, and approximately 550 miles of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines in New Mexico.
Project Tracker
| Project | Type | Capacity | Location | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SunZia Wind | Wind | 3.5 GW | New Mexico, USA | Commissioning begun | Link |
| ReNew FY2026 Portfolio | Solar/Wind/Storage | 2.4 GW (incl. 1.75 GW solar, 0.62 GW wind, 25 MW/100 MWh BESS) | India | Commissioned (FY2026) | Link |
| Microsoft Supplier Solar (Headwater Energy) | Solar | 5 MW | USA | Financial close reached | Link |
Policy & Regulation
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United States: A federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Trump administration actions that had frozen wind and solar project permitting, including a requirement for personal approval by Interior Secretary Burgum. The ruling is in effect while litigation continues, restoring normal permitting pathways for developers.
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European Union: The European Commission confirmed an accelerated Q2 2026 review of RFNBO green hydrogen rules as part of the new AccelerateEU energy action plan, driven partly by the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The review will also consider expanding eligible energy sources for hydrogen production to include nuclear power.
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Jordan: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a new framework with Jordan to support renewables, battery storage, grid modernization, and green hydrogen development, targeting 50% renewable energy by 2033.
Investment & Finance
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Microsoft Supplier Solar / Headwater Energy: A 5 MW solar project developed by Headwater Energy reached financial close, financed primarily by a group of Microsoft suppliers — including Slalom Consulting, Centific Technologies, ImagiCorps, BDA, Eleven 11 Solutions, TASA Analytics, and Visionet Systems — who signed long-term contracts for renewable energy certificates (RECs) to meet Microsoft's carbon-free electricity requirements.
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EBRD / Jordan Energy Framework: The EBRD announced a new investment framework with Jordan targeting renewables, BESS, grid modernization, and green hydrogen — supporting Jordan's goal of 50% renewable energy by 2033. Investment amounts were not disclosed in available coverage.
Technology Spotlight
Solid Hydrogen Storage + Carbon Capture Integration — Nature Communications
Researchers published new findings in Nature Communications on a system that integrates solid hydrogen storage with carbon capture using a magnesium looping process. The system leverages waste heat to improve efficiency, enabling wind energy supply balancing while simultaneously reducing emissions. According to the study, the approach could achieve near net-zero carbon intensity in electricity generation. The research addresses a key challenge for wind power: intermittency and the need for long-duration storage coupled with emissions reduction.
What to Watch Next Week
- EU RFNBO Review Progress: Watch for formal consultation documents or stakeholder submissions as the European Commission's accelerated Q2 2026 green hydrogen rules review gets underway — particularly around nuclear eligibility criteria and implications for hydrogen investment decisions across Europe.
- SunZia Wind Commissioning Milestones: Pattern Energy's 3.5 GW SunZia project in New Mexico has just begun commissioning. Track which turbine tranches come online and whether the HVDC transmission line timeline remains on schedule.
- U.S. Clean Energy Permitting Litigation: The preliminary injunction blocking Trump administration anti-wind/solar actions is in effect, but litigation continues. Watch for government responses, appeals, or further court proceedings that could reshape the legal landscape for U.S. renewable developers.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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