## Key Energy Sector News – May 29, 2025
**Contracts Signed for 26 Large-Scale Renewable Projects in New York**
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the execution of contracts for 26 large-scale land-based renewable energy projects across New York State. This initiative is expected to significantly boost the state’s renewable capacity and accelerate progress toward its climate goals[1].
**Record U.S. Utility-Scale Solar and Battery Storage Additions Projected for 2025**
The U.S. is set to add 63 GW of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity in 2025, a nearly 30% increase from 2024. Solar and battery storage will account for 81% of these additions, with solar alone contributing over half and Texas and California leading the way. Battery storage growth is also expected to set a new record, with 18.2 GW to be added[6].
**Major Hybrid Natural Gas and Green Hydrogen Plant in Utah**
The Intermountain Power Project in Utah is scheduled to start operating with a fuel mix of 30% green hydrogen and 70% natural gas in 2025, as part of a plan to fully transition to green hydrogen by 2045. This project includes an electrolyzer powered by renewable energy for on-site green hydrogen production and underground storage, marking a significant shift in the decarbonization of power plants[8].
**Global Surge in Renewable Energy Projects, Especially in Asia-Pacific**
Southeast Asia and the Pacific are expected to bring 23 GW of new renewable energy capacity online in 2025, including a 250-MW floating solar array in the Philippines and a 520-MW solar park in Australia. This regional acceleration underscores the global momentum behind renewable deployment and grid-scale projects[8].
**U.S. Renewable Energy Dominates New Power Generation, Energy Storage Surges**
Renewables were the second-largest source of U.S. power generation in 2024, with wind and solar accounting for 71% of new capacity additions. Energy storage also saw significant growth, with a record 10.4 GW of utility-scale storage capacity added in 2024, a trend expected to continue into 2025 as the grid modernizes to accommodate more variable renewable resources[7].
**Grid and Transmission Infrastructure Siting in Focus**
Industry stakeholders gathered at the Siting Renewable Energy Projects and Transmission Infrastructure conference (May 29–30, 2025) in Denver to address regulatory, technical, and community challenges in expanding grid infrastructure. The conference highlighted the need for streamlined permitting and new approaches to integrate large volumes of renewables and storage[4].
**Trends: Cleantech Manufacturing and AI Driving Demand Growth**
Data center expansion and cleantech manufacturing are projected to add over 57 GW of new power demand in the U.S. by 2030, outpacing current supply. This surge is propelling accelerated deployment of renewables and energy storage, and is expected to shape policy and grid investment strategies in 2025[5].
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Sources:
[1] NYSERDA
[4] Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
[5] Deloitte Insights
[6] U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
[7] BloombergNEF/Business Council for Sustainable Energy
[8] TriplePundit