Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-04-29
The U.S. Department of Interior this week announced agreements with two additional offshore wind developers — Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind — to voluntarily surrender their project leases, accelerating a broader rollback of American wind energy under the Trump administration. Meanwhile, TotalEnergies took a Final Investment Decision on a massive 100 TWh wind-and-BESS project in Kazakhstan, and the U.S. EIA confirmed that 86,370 MW of new clean capacity is slated to come online in the United States in 2026 alone.
Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-04-29
Top Stories
Trump Administration Blocks Two More Offshore Wind Projects
- What happened: The U.S. Department of the Interior announced agreements with Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind, both of which have separately agreed to voluntarily surrender their offshore wind project leases, following a similar deal struck previously with TotalEnergies. The move was condemned by U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin as "outrageous and unlawful."
- Why it matters: The agreements signal an accelerating federal pivot away from offshore wind and toward oil and gas under the current administration. Each project represented significant clean energy capacity that will now not be built, widening the gap between U.S. climate commitments and actual policy trajectory.
- Scale: Two separate offshore wind lease agreements surrendered; the broader policy context affects the entire U.S. offshore wind pipeline.
TotalEnergies Takes Final Investment Decision on Giant Kazakhstan Wind + BESS Project
- What happened: TotalEnergies announced it has taken the Final Investment Decision (FID) and secured financing for the Mirny onshore wind and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Kazakhstan. The project is located in the southeast of the country.
- Why it matters: The Mirny project is one of the largest single renewable energy investment decisions globally this week. It demonstrates that international energy majors continue to make large clean energy commitments in emerging markets even as U.S. policy turns away from wind. Over its lifetime, Mirny is expected to generate 100 TWh of renewable electricity.
- Scale: 100 TWh lifetime generation; FID secured with financing confirmed as of April 24, 2026.
EIA: 86 GW of New Solar, Wind & Storage Coming to the U.S. in 2026
- What happened: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that renewables (including small-scale solar) and battery storage will provide 86,370 MW of new clean capacity in 2026 — equivalent to roughly 80 GW of utility-scale solar, wind, and storage combined.
- Why it matters: This is a landmark figure that underscores how the clean energy buildout in the U.S. is driven by economics and grid demand, even as federal policy tilts against wind. The pipeline is robust enough to continue largely on its own momentum in the near term.
- Scale: 86,370 MW (~86 GW) of total new clean capacity projected for the U.S. in 2026.
One Year After Spain's Blackout: Renewables Prove Their Resilience
- What happened: One year after Spain's major grid blackout — which initially and incorrectly blamed solar power — the country's renewable energy buildout has continued to expand. Renewables have helped insulate Spain from gas price volatility caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
- Why it matters: Spain's experience offers a global case study in both the risks and rewards of high-renewables grids. The vindication of solar and wind after the initial misattribution of blame is significant for policy debates across Europe. The country's grid evolution continues at pace.
- Scale: Spain is one of Europe's leading renewable energy markets; its experience has broad implications for EU grid stability policy.
Project Tracker
| Project | Type | Capacity | Location | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirny | Wind + BESS | ~100 TWh lifetime output | Kazakhstan (southeast) | FID taken, financing secured | |
| Bluepoint Wind (surrendered) | Offshore Wind | Undisclosed | United States | Lease voluntarily surrendered | |
| Golden State Wind (surrendered) | Offshore Wind | Undisclosed | United States | Lease voluntarily surrendered | |
| European Energy Lithuania Wind Farm | Wind | 161 MW | Lithuania | PPA signed; commercial operations targeted 2028 | Link |
| New York State (3 projects) | Solar + Wind | Combined >5.1 GW total permitted by ORES (35 projects) | New York, USA | Approved (three new large-scale permits) | Link |
| India (record solar+wind surge) | Solar + Wind | +22 TWh distributed solar in 2025 | India | Operational — drove 3.3% drop in fossil generation in 2025 |
Policy & Regulation
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European Union: The EU is actively rethinking its energy strategy in the wake of the Hormuz crisis, which cut off Persian Gulf LNG and oil flows beginning in early March 2026. Brussels is now weighing a mix of nuclear expansion, accelerated renewables, and green hydrogen — including potentially allowing nuclear-derived hydrogen to qualify under RFNBO rules. The debate is intensifying, with critics questioning whether the bloc is betting on the right energy mix.
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United States (New York): New York's Department of Public Service approved three new large-scale solar and wind projects, bringing the total permitted by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to 35 projects — representing over 5.1 GW of additional clean energy. All permits were issued within the required one-year review timeline and include enforceable conditions for construction, operation, and end-of-life decommissioning.
Investment & Finance
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European Energy / Lithuania Wind: European Energy signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a 161 MW wind farm in Lithuania. The project is expected to generate approximately 490 GWh annually, offset roughly 120,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, and reach commercial operations by 2028.
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TotalEnergies / Mirny (Kazakhstan): TotalEnergies secured full project financing for the Mirny onshore wind and BESS project in Kazakhstan, taking its Final Investment Decision on April 24, 2026. The project is expected to generate 100 TWh over its lifetime, representing one of the largest single clean energy FIDs announced globally this week.
Technology Spotlight
Solid Hydrogen Storage + Carbon Capture for Grid Balancing
A paper published in Nature Communications this week proposes a novel system integrating solid hydrogen storage with carbon capture using magnesium looping. The system uses waste heat to improve efficiency, enabling it to balance intermittent wind energy supply while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. Researchers suggest the approach could achieve near net-zero carbon intensity in electricity generation — a potentially important piece of the long-duration storage puzzle as wind and solar penetration rises globally.
What to Watch Next Week
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EU RFNBO Green Hydrogen Review: The European Commission has committed to reviewing its Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) rules in Q2 2026, accelerated by the Hormuz crisis. Watch for formal consultation launches or draft rule changes that could expand eligibility to nuclear-derived hydrogen — a move that would reshape European hydrogen economics significantly.
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U.S. Wind Policy Legal Battles: Following the court's preliminary injunction curtailing Trump administration moves to block wind and solar permitting, watch for the next round of litigation developments. The legal battle over federal renewable energy permitting authority is heading toward potentially precedent-setting hearings.
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India Renewable Capacity Milestones: With record solar and wind additions already driving a 3.3% drop in fossil generation in FY2025, India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is expected to release updated capacity commissioning data for FY2026. India's wind+solar share (14%) remains below the global average (17%), putting pressure on policymakers to accelerate deployment.
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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