Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-05-15
Masdar and RWE secured planning approval for a landmark 3 GW offshore wind project off the UK coast this week — enough to power roughly 3 million homes. Ford launched a new energy storage subsidiary targeting 20 GWh of annual battery capacity, while Oman unveiled plans to procure a 1 GW round-the-clock renewable energy project plus major desalination capacity. British Columbia also selected four new wind farms from its 2025 call for power, reinforcing Canada's push for energy sovereignty.
Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-05-15
Top Stories
Masdar & RWE Win Planning Approval for 3 GW Dogger Bank South Offshore Wind Farm
- What happened: Masdar and RWE received planning approval for the Dogger Bank South offshore wind development, a 3 GW project in UK waters targeting approximately 3 million British households.
- Why it matters: Dogger Bank South would be one of the largest offshore wind projects in the world. The approval is a significant milestone for UK clean energy ambitions and demonstrates that major international energy companies continue to commit to large-scale offshore wind despite regulatory headwinds in other markets. It also underscores the UAE-based Masdar's expanding global renewable footprint.
- Scale: 3 GW offshore wind; designed to power ~3 million UK households.
Ford Launches Energy Storage Subsidiary Targeting 20 GWh Annual Capacity
- What happened: Ford officially launched Ford Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary that will manufacture US-assembled battery energy storage systems (BESS). The company targets 20 GWh of annual production capacity, with deliveries slated to begin in late 2027.
- Why it matters: Ford's entry into the stationary energy storage market signals growing convergence between the automotive and clean energy sectors. Domestic US manufacturing of BESS addresses supply chain resilience concerns and could accelerate grid-scale storage deployment at a critical moment for renewable integration. The 20 GWh annual target is substantial by current market standards.
- Scale: 20 GWh annual BESS production capacity; US-assembled; deliveries beginning late 2027.
British Columbia Selects Four Wind Farms from 2025 Call for Power
- What happened: BC Hydro announced the selection of four new wind projects from its 2025 call for power, roughly 10 months after the province's second call for power was issued. BC Energy Minister Dix framed the farms as critical to the province's energy sovereignty.
- Why it matters: The selection reinforces British Columbia's strategic push to expand domestic renewable generation and reduce dependence on imports. Wind power diversifies the province's heavily hydro-dependent grid and adds resilience against drought-driven generation shortfalls — an increasing concern under climate change.
- Scale: Four wind projects selected; exact combined MW capacity not specified in available data.
Oman Targets 1 GW Round-the-Clock Renewable Energy Procurement in 2026
- What happened: Oman's Nama PWP announced plans to procure a 1 GW round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy project in 2026, alongside two independent water projects (IWPs) combining 230,000 m³/day of desalination capacity.
- Why it matters: Round-the-clock renewable procurement — pairing generation with storage to guarantee 24/7 supply — represents a maturing approach to decarbonisation that goes beyond simple capacity additions. Oman's move signals the Gulf region's deepening integration of storage and firm renewable power, consistent with broader MENA ambitions.
- Scale: 1 GW RTC renewable project; 230,000 m³/day combined desalination capacity.
Project Tracker
| Project | Type | Capacity | Location | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogger Bank South | Offshore Wind | 3,000 MW | UK | Planning approved | |
| Khavda Renewable Energy Park (new tranche) | Solar | 150 MW | Gujarat, India | Operational (commissioned) | Link |
| Ford Energy BESS Facility | Battery Storage | 20 GWh/yr production | USA | Launched; deliveries 2027 | |
| BC Hydro Wind Projects (4 farms) | Wind | TBC | British Columbia, Canada | Selected / awarded | |
| Oman 1 GW RTC Renewable | Solar/Wind + Storage | 1,000 MW | Oman | Procurement planned 2026 |
Policy & Regulation
-
Australia: The 2026–27 federal budget halved spending on Australia's flagship renewable hydrogen program (Hydrogen Headstart), as the government reprioritised amid cost-of-living pressures and inflation reaching 4.6% in April. The budget also cut funding for domestic solar and battery manufacturing efforts. Critics labelled the move a retreat from the "Future Made in Australia" agenda.
-
Australia (data centres): All state and federal energy ministers — except Queensland — agreed that data centres should be required to invest in new renewable energy and storage capacity sufficient to "fully offset" their energy needs. The policy push reflects mounting concern over data centre load growth straining grid capacity.
Investment & Finance
-
Ford Energy (USA): Ford Motor Company officially launched Ford Energy as a wholly-owned stationary storage subsidiary, targeting 20 GWh of annual US-assembled BESS capacity. First deliveries are expected in late 2027, with the venture aimed squarely at the rapidly growing grid-scale storage market.
-
Wood Mackenzie — Battery Storage Market Insights: Analysts from Wood Mackenzie, following the Energy Storage International Conference and Expo 2026 in Beijing, published five key insights on the trajectory of battery storage products and solutions — highlighting continued cost declines and technology evolution expected to accelerate deployment globally. (Specific investment figures not disclosed in available data.)
Technology Spotlight
Norway's Flex2Future Tests Hybrid Offshore Solar-Wave-Wind System
Norwegian startup Flex2Future has begun testing a scaled-down model of its hybrid offshore energy system in collaboration with research institute SINTEF. The system integrates solar, wave, and wind energy into a single offshore platform, with the company's CEO claiming it can deliver power at competitive costs. If the technology scales, it could open new frontiers for offshore renewable generation in high-latitude and deep-water environments where single-source offshore installations face constraints. Testing is currently at model scale — commercial deployment remains prospective.
What to Watch Next Week
- Adani Khavda expansion: Adani Green Energy commissioned 150 MW of new solar at Khavda this week, bringing the park closer to its 30 GW target by 2029. Watch for further commissioning announcements as the world's largest planned renewable energy complex continues to ramp up.
- Australia hydrogen policy fallout: Following the halving of Hydrogen Headstart funding in the 2026–27 budget, industry responses and potential project cancellations or delays are likely to emerge in the coming days — track statements from green hydrogen developers with Australian exposure.
- BC Hydro wind contracts: With four wind farms selected from British Columbia's 2025 call for power, formal contracting and project details (including total MW and timelines) are expected to be published. These announcements will clarify the scale of BC's near-term wind expansion.
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.
Powered by
