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Westinghouse, ITER Sign $180-Million Contract to Advance Nuclear Fusion
Westinghouse Electric Co. and officials with the ITER project in France signed a contract for $180 million for the assembly of the vacuum vessel for the fusion reactor. This is a key milestone in the construction of the ITER reactor, leading the way toward the use of fusion as a practical future source of reliable carbon-free energy.
DOE Pilot Program Targets Three Nuclear Test Reactors for 2026 Criticality Under Department Authorization
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a novel pilot program that will allow private developers to build and operate full-scale advanced nuclear test reactors outside of the national laboratory system, without a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Through a new authorization model grounded in the Atomic Energy Act and a Trump-era executive order, the program seeks to bring at least three test reactors to criticality by July 4, 2026, using DOE-issued permits, private funding, and accelerated safety reviews.
Hydropower Growth Continues, Though Policy Challenges Loom in U.S.
Hydroelectric power generation hit a 10-year high in Europe in 2024, while hydro growth in other regions—most notably China—kept the technology at the top of the list when it comes to global energy output from renewable resources. The International Hydropower Association (IHA) in its 2025 World Hydropower Outlook said hydro is playing a "stablizing role" in Europe and elsewhere when it comes to power supplies at a time of heightened concern about volatile markets and shifting policies around energy, particularly in the U.S.
New York Gov. Says State Will Build New Nuclear Power Plant
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is ready to build a utility-scale nuclear power plant and would seek funding from the private sector to make it a reality. The governor on June 23 provided few details about the project, except to say it likely would be located in an upstate location.
India Scientists Develop Hydrogen Production Method Using Only Solar Power
Scientists in India said they have developed a scalable next-generation device that produces green hydrogen by splitting water molecules using only solar energy. A group at the Bengaluru-based Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), said the process would produce a clean fuel that could support decarbonizing industries, along with fueling vehicles.
Ireland Ends Use of Coal for Power Generation
Ireland is no longer burning coal to produce electricity after the country's last coal-fired unit was converted to use heavy fuel oil. ESB, the plant's operator, on June 20 issued a notice that the 305-MW Unit 3 of the Moneypoint station, located on Ireland's southwest coast, has ended its use of coal after 40 years. ESB previously had said Moneypoint after the conversion would operate under direct dispatch instructions from EirGrid, the grid operator, as part of the balancing market.
Polish Group Receives Millions to Expand Hydrogen Projects
Polish state-owned energy company ORLEN said it has secured more than 1.7 billion zloty ($458.3 million) in grants from European Union (EU) post-pandemic recovery funds to expand its hydrogen energy projects. The company on June 16 said the funding will enable production of hydrogen using renewable energy, along with infrastructure to support the use of hydrogen fuel in central Europe.
AI on the Edge: Can Distributed Computing Disrupt the Data Center Boom?
As artificial intelligence (AI) usage and sophistication grows, questions about the sustainability of the traditional model of utilizing huge, centralized data centers are frequently raised. Hyperscale data centers handle most AI workloads today, but they come with high energy demands and environmental costs.