Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-04-27
Solar overtook wind power globally for the first time in 2025, generating a record 636 TWh more than in the prior year, according to new data published this week. New York State launched a fresh land-based renewable energy solicitation to accelerate large-scale clean energy deployment. Meanwhile, the EU accelerated its review of green hydrogen rules under pressure from the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and a U.S. court blocked Trump administration moves to stifle wind and solar permitting.
Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-04-27
Top Stories
Solar Overtakes Wind Power Globally for the First Time in 2025
- What happened: Global solar power generation increased by a record 636 TWh in 2025, surpassing wind power output for the first time in history. Solar and wind together delivered roughly six times more new capacity than all other power sources combined and met nearly all new electricity demand worldwide.
- Why it matters: The milestone underscores the accelerating pace of the solar energy transition. Countries like Australia and several European nations led deployment, signaling that solar is now the dominant growth engine of global electricity supply. The shift is expected to put additional pressure on fossil fuel incumbents.
- Scale: 814 GWdc of total new solar and wind capacity installed in 2025 globally; solar generation up 636 TWh year-on-year.
U.S. Court Blocks Trump Administration Wind and Solar Permitting Restrictions
- What happened: A U.S. federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking a series of Trump administration actions that had paused or delayed renewable energy project permitting. The injunction will remain in effect while litigation continues.
- Why it matters: The ruling provides immediate relief to wind and solar developers who had seen federal permitting stalled. It is a significant legal check on executive actions targeting clean energy, and could determine the trajectory of domestic renewable buildout in the near term.
- Scale: The injunction covers a range of federal actions broadly affecting wind and solar project approvals across the country.
EU Accelerates RFNBO Green Hydrogen Rules Review Amid Hormuz Crisis
- What happened: The European Commission officially confirmed it will review its Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) green hydrogen rules within Q2 2026, accelerated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the Iran war in early March 2026, which cut off Qatari and Emirati LNG flows to Europe. Nuclear power eligibility for hydrogen production is among the options under consideration.
- Why it matters: The Hormuz crisis has transformed Europe's energy security calculus. Accelerating the hydrogen ruleset review signals that the EU is willing to revisit core assumptions — including what counts as "green" — in order to scale up domestic energy production rapidly.
- Scale: EU-wide policy affecting all hydrogen production and offtake rules; implications for hundreds of billions in planned clean energy investment across member states.
U.S. Energy Department Budget Cuts Draw Senate Democratic Backlash
- What happened: Senate Democrats publicly criticized proposed cuts in the Energy Department's 2027 budget that would reduce spending on renewable energy research, environmental management, and clean energy infrastructure — even as the department's overall budget is set to increase.
- Why it matters: Cuts to clean energy R&D could slow technological development at a critical moment when the U.S. is competing with China and other countries in next-generation solar, storage, and hydrogen technologies.
- Scale: Specific dollar amounts for renewable energy research cuts were not disclosed in public reporting, but the reductions affect environmental management, research, and infrastructure programs.
Project Tracker
| Project | Type | Capacity | Location | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYSERDA Land-Based Renewable Solicitation | Solar/Wind | TBD (large-scale) | New York State, USA | Solicitation launched | |
| Enea Battery Storage Rollout | Storage | TBD | Poland | Spending ramp-up announced for 2027 | |
| EBRD–Jordan Renewable Energy Framework | Solar/Wind/Storage/Hydrogen | Target: 50% renewables by 2033 | Jordan | Framework signed |
Policy & Regulation
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United States (New York): NYSERDA launched a new land-based renewable energy solicitation on April 24, aimed at continuing large-scale renewable energy deployment and delivering reliable, affordable energy to New Yorkers.
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European Union: The European Commission officially confirmed it will review RFNBO (green hydrogen) rules in Q2 2026, accelerated by the Hormuz Strait closure. Nuclear power's eligibility as a hydrogen production source is under active consideration.
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United States (Federal): A preliminary injunction was granted by a federal court blocking Trump administration executive actions that had stalled wind and solar permitting — the injunction holds while litigation continues.
Investment & Finance
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Poland / Enea: Polish state utility Enea plans to at least double its capital expenditure on renewable energy in 2027, up from 543 million zlotys (~$151 million) planned for 2026, with a particular focus on battery storage rollout.
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Jordan / EBRD: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a framework agreement with Jordan to support renewables, battery storage, grid modernization, and green hydrogen development, with Jordan targeting 50% renewable energy by 2033.
Technology Spotlight
Green Hydrogen Under Pressure — But Strategic Reviews May Unlock Deployment
OilPrice.com reported this week that the green hydrogen sector remains hampered by high production costs, project delays, and insufficient policy support, putting the technology's near-term commercial promise in question. However, this headwind is being countered at the policy level: the EU's accelerated RFNBO review, prompted by the Hormuz crisis, could reshape eligibility rules and unlock nuclear-derived hydrogen as a pathway. If nuclear energy is deemed eligible, it could dramatically expand the potential supply base for certified "green" hydrogen in Europe, lowering costs and accelerating deployment timelines.
What to Watch Next Week
- EU RFNBO Hydrogen Rules: Watch for draft revisions from the European Commission on green hydrogen eligibility rules, as the Q2 2026 review deadline approaches — any update on nuclear power inclusion would be a market-moving development.
- U.S. Renewable Permitting Litigation: Track whether federal agencies respond to the preliminary injunction blocking permitting restrictions on wind and solar; further court filings or compliance actions are expected.
- NYSERDA Land-Based Solicitation: Monitor for developer responses and bid submissions under New York's new large-scale renewable energy solicitation, which will shape the state's near-term clean energy pipeline.
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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