Renewable Energy Highlights: Key Developments from the Week of June 13, 2025

Energy Transition in Motion (Week of June 13, 2025)

This week, we highlight some significant developments in renewable energy, including a notable partnership between RWE and Amazon.

On June 12, RWE announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) aimed at enhancing the energy company’s digital transformation efforts while supplying clean energy to Amazon. Under this agreement, AWS will offer RWE cloud services that focus on artificial intelligence and data analytics. In return, RWE will provide electricity generated from its wind and solar facilities, some of which are already operational while others are still under construction. Ulf Kerstin, Chief Commercial Officer of RWE Supply & Trading, described the agreement with AWS as a “significant milestone in our commitment to supporting the digital infrastructure that powers our modern economy with clean energy.”

This collaboration builds on an existing relationship that has seen the execution of seven power purchase agreements, totaling 1.1 gigawatts (GW) in capacity in the U.S. Howard Gefen, General Manager for Energy and Utilities at AWS, stated, “Using advanced capabilities like artificial intelligence and analytics, we’ll help RWE accelerate their digital transformation, enabling smarter decision-making and enhanced operational performance throughout their energy business.” The partnership is expected to strengthen ties with RWE’s AI Research Laboratory in Seattle, accelerating the development of advanced AI forecasting models through extensive computational power and cloud elasticity.

Here’s a summary of this week’s renewable energy news:

### Biofuels

**Chevron Opens New Tech Center Focused on Low-Carbon Fuels**
Chevron Corp. launched a technology center in Iowa dedicated to developing lower carbon fuels. The 45,000-square-foot Ames Technology Center, located on the Chevron Renewable Energy Group’s campus in Ames, was inaugurated on June 10. Jim Gable, Vice President of Innovation at Chevron, noted that the advancements made at this center would be applied across Chevron’s renewable energy initiatives and potentially deployed at biorefineries worldwide. The company is working on new catalytic technologies, collaborating to create lower carbon feedstocks, and leveraging its fuel production expertise to commercialize products such as biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and renewable natural gas.

**US EPA Proposes Higher Biofuel Blending Volumes Through 2027**
On June 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed increasing the biofuel blending volumes that oil refiners must incorporate into the fuel mix over the next two years, responding to a rise in biomass-based diesel mandates. The proposed blending volumes are set at 24.02 billion gallons for 2026 and 24.46 billion gallons for 2027, an increase from 22.33 billion gallons in 2025. The EPA’s proposal includes a quota of 7.12 billion biomass-based diesel Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for 2026, which is projected to yield a blending of 5.61 billion gallons.

### Energy Storage

**Agilitas Energy Commissions Battery Energy Storage System in Houston**
Agilitas Energy has commissioned a nearly 10-megawatt (MW)/22.4-megawatt hour (MWh) battery energy storage system in Houston to support the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. CEO Barrett Bilotta expressed confidence in ERCOT’s increasing recognition of the unique benefits that energy storage can provide for grid reliability. This project is the first distributed generation battery energy storage system interconnected to CenterPoint Energy’s distribution system and participating in ERCOT’s wholesale delivery market.

### Geothermal

**XGS Energy, Meta Team Up for 150-MW Geothermal Project in New Mexico**
Meta Platforms has partnered with XGS Energy to develop a 150-MW geothermal project in New Mexico. The project, expected to begin operations by 2030, will supply electricity to support Meta’s data center operations in the state. XGS Energy’s solid-state geothermal technology is designed to harness energy from areas with hot rock, which can significantly contribute to domestic data center development.

### Hydrogen

**Quest One and MasTec Form Green Hydrogen Production Partnership**
Quest One has partnered with MasTec Clean Energy & Infrastructure to enhance the construction of large-scale electrolysis projects, focusing on green hydrogen initiatives in North America. The collaboration aims to reduce project capital costs and risks associated with industrial-scale proton exchange membrane electrolysis plants.

### Solar

**Geronimo Power Adds Solar Capacity in Ohio**
Geronimo Power has commenced operations at two solar projects in Ohio, adding 167.5 MW to the grid. CEO Blake Nixon announced that the new projects, Ross (120 MW) and Fayette (47.5 MW), are part of a broader portfolio that aims to generate significant economic impact in the state.

**Avangrid Activates Camino Solar Project in California**
Avangrid has launched its 57-MW Camino solar project in Kern County, California. This project, featuring 105,000 solar panels, represents Avangrid’s seventh energy facility in the state and contributes to a total operating capacity of 10.5 GW in the U.S.

**DESRI Begins Construction on 205-MW Solar and Storage Project in Arizona**
New York-based DESRI announced the start of construction on the Catclaw Solar and Storage project in Buckeye, Arizona. This 205-MW project, which includes a 1,000 MWh storage system, is expected to begin operations in 2026 and will provide enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes annually.

### Industry Challenges

**Sunnova Files for Bankruptcy Due to Residential Solar Struggles**
Sunnova Energy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it faced mounting debt and declining demand in the residential solar sector. This follows similar actions by other companies in the industry, reflecting ongoing challenges posed by high interest rates and changes in market incentives. Sunnova is in the process of selling certain assets while continuing operations throughout the bankruptcy proceedings.

**Atlantic Shores Halts 1.5-GW Offshore Wind Project**
Atlantic Shores has filed to cease its 1.5-GW offshore wind project in New Jersey, citing regulatory challenges and changes in federal policies. The project, which was expected to power over 700,000 homes, faced obstacles following executive actions that halted offshore wind leasing and approvals.

This week’s developments reflect the ongoing evolution of the renewable energy sector, showcasing both advancements and challenges as the industry pushes toward a more sustainable future.