Alternatives to lithium-ion using materials such as zinc, vanadium, or sodium are well-suited for stationary storage used by utilities to capture renewable energy and deliver electricity to consumers hours later. The sector is poised for surging growth, with annual installations projected to rise from 6 GWh last year to about 155 GWh in 2030.

How to manage intermittency is one of the challenges of weather-dependent low-carbon electricity. It is not simply about paying for back-up for when nature refuses to play ball. It generates additional system costs. A report by the UK’s business and energy department shows how they change the economics of different low-carbon energy sources.

German Treasury attracted more than €33bn of bids for up to €6bn of 10-year debt. Issuance of green bonds has exploded in recent years, as fund managers hunt for assets linked to ESG criteria. Germany’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 could cost as much as an extra 1.1 per cent to 2.8 per cent of gross domestic product a year.

Companies around the world are developing a new generation of reactors. One model can even fit into a single-family house. These power plants are designed to make nuclear energy affordable. There is a growing awareness that closing coal or natural gas plants could lead to electricity shortfalls as seen in California’s rolling blackouts earlier this month.

Bitcoin-related power consumption has reached record highs this year. A study from the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance released on Monday estimates that the global bitcoin mining industry uses 7.46 GW, equivalent to around 63.32 TWh of energy per year. The study also notes that miners are paying around $0.03 to $0.05 per kWh this year.

The state plans rolling blackouts to deal with a heatwave that has pushed the power grid to the limit. California has vastly expanded the capacity of solar power. The drawbacks have been evident in the past week as temperatures soared daily above 100°F (38°C) and air-conditioner use leapt in the late afternoon and early evening, just as the sun set.

Impact investing is now all of a sudden having its moment. We must be very mindful though that this is done correctly to actually have impact as opposed to just moving capital around. With such a plethora of investing styles and funds on offer, not to mention the buzzwords, it is important that the impact market scales with integrity.

Demand for inflation-protected bonds has intensified in the US, as investors look to shield portfolios against the risk of a spike in inflation as economic activity rebounds from the coronavirus crisis. While few investors fear an immediate resurgence in inflation, what has become the “concern du jour” is what happens when a recovery takes hold.

Various investment houses are now offering mutual funds that specialise in clean energy or the energy transition. Investors should also think about the types of asset class they are picking, if they want to achieve change. Some believe bonds are a more effective tool at listed companies, as they are often issued to supply finance for more specific purposes.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya sold a 1 billion euros perpetual note on Tuesday, and designated it as a green bond. CoCo bonds pay more interest than other debt. In exchange investors bear losses, if the bank fails. Transparency on how the funding has supported environmentally friendly causes will be critical, if the bank is to avoid the greenwashing tag.

The German program is buckling under the weight of surging costs and needs an urgent fix. The green surcharge will cost consumers about €26.2 billion this year. At a cost of some €11 billion to the budget, the government will cut the green fee by 2 cents/kWh next year. In other words, power consumers’ burdens will be relieved by taxpayers.

The last few months have been sunny and windy and the wholesale prices have been low due to the pandemic. But the owners of solar- and wind power stations in Germany receive a fixed price and the difference comes from a surcharge paid by consumers. It will likely increase by 25% in 2021 and an average household will pay 350 euros per year.