“Solar records have been set in all seven of the U.S.’s organized wholesale power markets. Records have also fallen in utility service territories outside these organized markets, notably in Florida.

These power production records (all of which are current through April 17) are the direct result of a rapid capacity buildout. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. added 31 gigawatts (GW) of solar generation capacity in 2024 alone, raising the total to 121.2 GW. An additional 3 GW came online in January, and those additions are now showing up in the record-breaking spring generation numbers. More than 50 GW of additional solar capacity is expected to come online in 2025 and 2026.”

From Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

“TAE Technologies, a private fusion energy company developing the cleanest and safest approach to commercial fusion power, has achieved a first-of-its-kind breakthrough that fundamentally advances the performance, practicality and reactor-readiness of the company’s proprietary fusion technology.

Experimental results published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications prove TAE has invented a streamlined approach to form and optimize plasma that increases efficiency, significantly reduces complexity and cost, and accelerates the company’s path to net energy and commercial fusion power.”

From TAE.

“World Bank President Ajay Banga on Wednesday doubled down on his push to revamp the bank’s energy strategy to end a ban on lending for nuclear power projects and enable more natural gas projects, saying he will seek executive board approval in June.

The changes would mark a shift from the bank’s focus only on renewable energy projects, save for consideration for some gas projects in the poorest countries.”

From Reuters.

“Southern Nuclear has become the first company to load and test nuclear fuel enriched above 5 percent in a U.S. commercial reactor, marking a major milestone in advanced nuclear energy.

The advanced fuel – aimed to improve fuel cycle safety and reduce operational costs – was developed under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Accident Tolerant Fuel Program.

According to the Alabama-based nuclear energy power company, the higher enrichment levels make it possible for the fuel to last for a significantly extended period of time while simultaneously operating at increased power levels.

This, in turn, could lead to a substantial increase in reliable power production at nuclear power plants across the country.”

From Interesting Engineering.