Today’s renewable energy news includes announcements on Croatia, FranklinWH Energy Storage, SINEXCEL, among others.
Croatia Plans Mega Data Centre Powered by 0.5GW Solar and 8GWh Battery Storage
A massive new data centre project in Croatia is set to combine digital infrastructure with large-scale clean energy, featuring plans for 0.5GW of solar capacity and 8GWh of battery energy storage—one of the most ambitious hybrid energy concepts in Europe. Rather than treating power as a separate utility, the project flips the model—embedding generation and storage directly into data centre design. This creates a self-sustaining energy ecosystem capable of supporting high, continuous computing loads while reducing dependence on external grids. What stands out is the sheer storage scale. An 8GWh BESS system positions the facility to operate with high reliability, smoothing solar intermittency and ensuring uninterrupted power for energy-intensive operations like AI and cloud computing. For the broader market, the concept signals a shift: future data centres may evolve into energy hubs—producing, storing, and managing their own electricity. That translates into lower emissions, improved resilience, and more predictable energy costs as digital demand continues to surge.
FranklinWH Powers First City-Owned Residential Solar + Battery Pilot in the US
FranklinWH Energy Storage is rolling out installations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, marking the launch of the first U.S. city-owned residential solar and battery pilot led by a municipal utility. The programme, driven by the Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility (A2SEU), will begin deployments in around 150 homes, with plans to scale to 1,000 homes by 2027. This initiative flips the traditional model—the city, not homeowners, owns and deploys the systems. By combining rooftop solar with FranklinWH’s aPower S battery and aggregating them through distributed energy software, homes become part of a coordinated, utility-scale resource. The pilot directly targets energy-burdened households in the Bryant neighbourhood, where some residents spend over one-third of their income on electricity. By generating and storing power locally, the system reduces bills while improving resilience during outages and peak demand. At a broader level, the project demonstrates how cities can act as energy providers—using decentralised solar and storage to stabilise the grid, cut costs, and build a more inclusive, community-driven clean energy system.
SINEXCEL Delivers PCS Technology for Latvia’s Largest Wind-Linked Battery Project
SINEXCEL has powered Latvia’s largest wind-integrated energy storage project by supplying twelve 1725kW power conversion systems (PCS) to a 20.64MWh BESS at the Tārgale wind farm, now fully operational. The project is the first in the Baltic region to qualify for all frequency regulation services, marking a major step for grid stability. At the core is SINEXCEL’s 1725kW PCS platform, built for high-performance grid support. With 98.5 percent efficiency and millisecond response times, the system enables real-time frequency balancing, voltage control, and ride-through capabilities—critical for managing intermittent wind generation. What differentiates this deployment is its engineering resilience and scalability. The modular design allows on-site component replacement without shutdown, while advanced battery connection architecture protects system health and reduces operational risk. For the Baltic energy system, the impact is immediate: stronger grid reliability, better renewable integration, and a more responsive electricity market. It also signals growing maturity in utility-scale storage, where performance and flexibility are becoming as important as capacity itself.
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