Energy Transition in Motion (Week of July 11, 2025)
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago say they have developed a new membrane to efficiently extract lithium from water.
Direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies have been gaining traction in the industry as companies work to extract the lightweight metal with less environmental impact and less exposure to vulnerable global supply chains. Lithium is an essential ingredient in electric vehicle batteries, cell phones, energy storage systems and other technologies.
“The researchers believe this breakthrough could have broader applications, from recovering other key materials like nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, to removing harmful contaminants from water supplies,” Argonne said. “In a world increasingly shaped by access to clean water and secure supplies of critical materials, innovations like this may help power not just our devices, but our future.”
The membrane created by the researchers is made from a clay called vermiculite that Argonne says is abundant and costs only about $350 per ton. Researchers developed a process in which the clay was peeled apart into ultrathin layers of about a billionth of a meter thick. The layers were then restacked to form a filter.
To prevent the layers from falling apart in water, microscopic aluminum oxide pillars were placed between each layer, resembling “a high-rise parking lot under construction—with many solid pillars holding each ‘floor’ in place,” Argonne said. The structure not only prevented collapsing, but it also neutralized the membrane’s negative surface charge.
Sodium cations were then introduced into the membrane, changing the surface charge to positive.
“In water, both magnesium and lithium ions carry a positive charge, but magnesium ions carry a higher charge (+2) compared with lithium’s (+1),” Argonne said. “The membrane’s positively charged surface repels the higher charged magnesium ions more forcefully than it does the lithium ions. This difference allows the membrane to capture lithium ions more easily while keeping magnesium ions out.”
Here’s a roundup of more renewable energy news.
Biofuels
Hydron Sells Its First Commercial RNG Production Plant in Canada
Clean fuel company Hydron Energy on July 7 said the company has received its first order for a commercial-scale biogas upgrading plant for deployment in Ontario, Canada.
The customer was not named.
The company’s Intensified Regenerative Upgrading Platform Technology (INTRUPTor) produces renewable natural gas from anaerobic digesters, waste-water treatment plants and landfills using a biomimicry process. Its simplified design and fabrication requirements are intended to lower capital and operational costs for RNG projects by up to 50% while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, the company said. The technology utilizes proprietary mesoporous nanostructure sorbent, parallel passage contactors architecture and integrated rotary valves, it said.
“The timing couldn’t be better for the deployment of our product in Ontario,” said Mike Winters, senior vice president of commercial operations at Hydron Energy. “A large number of biogas production facilities are currently on FIT [feed-in tariff] contracts. With many of these contracts coming to an end, there are dozens of farms that are looking into RNG production as a more lucrative alternative.”
Energy storage
EnergyX Enters Arkansas Smackover Lithium Play with Acquisition
GM- and Eni-backed lithium player Energy Exploration Technologies (EnergyX) on July 9 said it plans to acquire Pantera Lithium subsidiary Daytona Lithium in a AU$40 million (US$26 million).
The move will add an approximately 35,000 gross acre-position in the Arkansas Smackover to the company’s portfolio.
EnergyX will join others that include Standard Lithium, Equinor, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Tetra Technologies and Albemarle in an area that has been a center of activity for direct lithium extraction from brine in the U.S. Chevron in June announced its entrance to the Smackover in two deals with about a combined 125,000 net acres.
EnergyX said it executed a binding conditional agreement with Australia-based Pantera on July 4 to acquire Daytona Lithium. The acquisition will add to the company’s existing 12,500-acre position in the Texas Smackover, where its Project Lonestar aims to produce 50,000 tonnes per annum of lithium hydroxide by 2030 using its proprietary LiTAS DLE technology platform.
“This acquisition by EnergyX of 35,000 acres of lithium assets from Pantera represents a transformative milestone as we continue to redefine the global lithium supply chain,” said Teague Egan, CEO and Founder of EnergyX. “By vertically integrating a world class lithium resource with our advanced LiTAS DLE technology platform, we will accelerate our roadmap in building Project Lonestar to become a full-spectrum, low-cost lithium producer.”
As part of the agreement, EnergyX said it will acquire all the issued shares of Daytona Lithium. The AU$40 million purchase price is comprised of A$6 million cash, payable in three installments and AU$34 million in EnergyX common stock priced at US$9.50 per share (A$14.50 as of July 4), representing about 2.3 million shares.
The transaction is expected to be complete in third-quarter 2025, pending Pantera shareholder approval and diligence, EnergyX said.
The acreage being acquired is adjacent to Exxon, Chevron and Standard Lithium’s assets.
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Hydrogen
Mitsubishi Launches Gas Cogeneration System with H2 Co-Firing Option
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has launched a gas cogeneration system capable of hydrogen co-firing at up to 15% volume with a power output of 450 kW, the company said in a news release.
The technology was jointly developed with Toho Gas and Mitsubishi’s Industries Engine & Turbocharger group. The companies modified the fuel gas and engine control systems of the GS6R2 city gas mono-firing engine into a hydrogen co-firing engine, Mitsubishi said.
System reliability was confirmed with more than 500 hours of demonstration testing at the Toho Gas Technology Research Institute. Demonstration testing also confirmed there is no risk for abnormal combustion. The system has two operating modes—city gas 13A mono-firing and hydrogen co-firing.
“Cogeneration systems, owing to the expected reduction in the environmental load through energy conservation, are considered one of the distributed energy resources that should be pursued further to achieve carbon neutrality,” Mitsubishi said. “Moreover, since they are power sources able to respond to power outages resulting from large-scale disasters or other emergencies, they are also expected to play a role in strengthening resilience.”
Plug Power Seals Hydrogen Supply Agreement Extension
Electrolyzer maker and hydrogen producer Plug Power on July 9 said it has secured a new multiyear enhanced supply agreement with a U.S.-based industrial gas company through 2030.
As part of the agreement, the company—which was not named—will continue supplying Plug with liquid hydrogen while collaborating on improved network efficiency and lower costs, Plug said in a news release.
“This expanded agreement supports our mission to build on our already robust and resilient hydrogen network in the U.S.,” said Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh. “As we continue to scale our applications business and build long-term partnerships with customers, reliable supply and cost efficiency are critical. This contract is a win for Plug, our customers, our suppliers and our margin profile. The immediate cost reduction complements our progress this year with Project Quantum Leap, focused on cost optimization and cash flow improvement.”
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Solar
Sunnova to Sell Part of Solar Panel Business to Omnidian for $7MM
(Reuters) Sunnova Energy said on July 9 that it has agreed to sell a portion of its residential solar installation business to Omnidian for $7 million in cash, along with the assumption of certain liabilities, as part of a stalking horse deal.
Last month, Sunnova filed for bankruptcy as the U.S.-based residential solar panel installer grappled with mounting debt and softening demand, highlighting challenges faced by the industry, including higher interest rates, reduced incentives in California and concerns over potential subsidy rollbacks.
In its bankruptcy filing, Sunnova estimated its assets and liabilities to be in the range of $10 billion to $50 billion.
Sunnova said Seattle-headquartered Omnidian, as part of the deal, will assume customer service and system management for a substantial portion of its in-service customers.
Omnidian provides protection and performance plans for residential and commercial solar and energy storage systems, according to its website.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, pushing to maximize oil and gas production, canceled a $2.92 billion partial loan guarantee in May that had been approved under former president Joe Biden.
Sabanci Renewables Acquires Pepper Solar Farm in Texas
Sabanci Holding subsidiary Sabanci Renewables has acquired the 156-megawatt (MW) Pepper Solar Power plant in McLennan County, Texas, from OCI Energy, according to a news release.
Construction for the solar plant is expected to begin December 2025 with commercial operations starting in third-quarter 2027.
With the acquisition, Sabanci’s renewable energy portfolio capacity in the U.S. is 660 MW, the company said. Sabanci is targeting a 3-gigawatt (GW) renewables portfolio by 2030.
“Pepper Solar is an exciting next step that reflects both our growing confidence in the U.S. renewables space as well as proving our ability to execute at scale,” said Tolga Kaan Doğancıoğlu, CEO of Sabanci Climate Technologies. “Pepper SPP will strengthen our position as a long-term, reliable player in the market.”
The company’s other solar assets include the 272-MW Cutlass II, which is operating in Fort Bend County, Texas, and the 232-MW Oriana, which is set to be commissioned in July in Victoria County, Texas.
Invenergy Cranks Up Solar Power in Indiana
Invenergy on July 9 said commercial operations have started in Indiana at the 250-MW Fairbanks Solar Energy Center, which has been acquired by Northern Indiana Public Service Co.
Located in Sullivan County, the solar facility provides enough electricity to power more than 50,000 American homes and businesses, the company said in a news release.
“Projects like the Fairbanks Solar Energy Center are an important component of NIPSCO’s energy generation portfolio,” said Vince Parisi, president and chief operating officer at NIPSCO. “Reliable and cost-effective power sources are essential to Indiana’s energy future.”
Invenergy led development and construction of the facility. The project is the company’s second completed solar facility in Indiana. Its pipeline in the state includes additional projects across 15 counties, the company said. Trade Post Solar Energy Center, which is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2026, is among them.
Wind
Ørsted Raises $3B for Greater Changhua 2 Wind Farm Off Taiwan
Denmark-based Ørsted has closed on an approximately $3 billion finance package for the 632-MW Greater Changhua 2 wind farm offshore Taiwan, the company said July 10.
The wind farm is comprised of the Greater Changhua 2a, which is operational, and Greater Changhua 2b, which is under construction and commissioning expected near year-end 2025.
“We’ve received very strong support from both international and local banks and export credit agencies for the project financing of Greater Changhua 2. This shows that there is a healthy appetite for premium assets with robust contractual structures,” said Ørsted Group CFO Trond Westlie said, “and it’s a clear sign that we’re working diligently to deliver on our divestment and partnerships program.”
The asset-level project financing package was reached with 25 banks and five export credit agencies, the company said.
UAE’s Masdar, Iberdrola Invest in 1.4-GW Wind Farm in UK
(Reuters) Abu Dhabi’s state-owned renewable energy company Masdar and Spain’s Iberdola will jointly invest in a 1.4-GW wind farm in the U.K., Masdar’s parent company TAQA said in a statement July 10.
The project is estimated to cost around 5.2 billion euros (US$6.10 billion). Around 4.1 billion euros in project financing was signed with 24 international banks, the statement said.
Under the agreement, Masdar and Iberdrola will each hold a 50% stake in the asset, East Anglia THREE, located off the eastern British coast and expected to start operations in the last quarter of 2026.
Masdar has previously invested in renewable projects in the U.K. and is expanding into several countries in Europe, as well as in Asia and the U.S., as parent TAQA seeks to boost its capacity to 150 GW by 2030.
The renewables company recently invested about $200 million to buy a 49.9% stake in a solar portfolio controlled by Spanish power utility Endesa, and last year acquired Greece’s Terna Energy and Spain’s Saeta Yield.
Hart Energy Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.