Electrolyzer and fuel cell maker Plug Power has landed a $1.66 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help finance construction of up to six hydrogen production facilities.

The loan closing was announced by the DOE's Loan Programs Office (LPO) on Jan. 16, days before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Ramping up development of clean hydrogen is among the cogs of President Joe Biden's plan to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The versatile carbon-free energy carrier can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity or to generate power or heat.

"Finalizing this loan guarantee with the Department of Energy represents a significant step in the expansion of our domestic manufacturing and hydrogen production capabilities, which create many high-quality jobs throughout the U.S.," said Plug CEO Andy Marsh. "In addition to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the resilience of the U.S. energy grid, we believe the hydrogen economy aligns closely with national security interests, ensuring that the U.S. remains at the forefront of energy technology development and deployment on a global scale."

Plug Power's green hydrogen facility in Graham, Texas, will benefit from the DOE financing, the company said. The green hydrogen production facility will be powered by a wind farm and use Plug electrolyzers, which split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

The company submitted its loan application to LPO in 2020, and a conditional loan guarantee was announced by the LPO in May 2024.

Plug Power wasn't the only company that secured financing Jan. 16.

The LPO closed a $6.57 billion loan to help finance Rivian New Horizon's electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Georgia. Called Project Horizon, the 9 million-sq-ft facility will manufacture up to 400,000 electric sport utility and crossover vehicles annually, the LPO said.

In addition, LPO on Jan. 16 said it closed on a nearly $290 million loan guarantee to Sunwealth Holdco 18's Project Polo. The company plans to deploy up to 1,000 solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems in up to 27 states.

Here's a roundup of some other renewable energy news.

USA BioEnergy Secures Texas Land for $2.8B Biorefinery

Arizona-based USA BioEnergy has acquired more than 1,600 acres of East Texas land to build a $2.8 billion biorefinery, converting wood waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the company said Jan. 12.

The aviation sector is counting on SAF to lower emissions. However, the fuel -- which can be produced with a variety of feedstock that include used cooking oil and waste -- is in short supply and remains more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel. With economies of scale, prices are expected to fall as more producers bring projects online.

"This advanced-fuels facility development milestone underscores USA BioEnergy's commitment to the future of aviation and energy security," said Nick Andrews, CEO of USA BioEnergy. "It bolsters our goal of being the world's leader in advanced fuels."

The planned facility will be located in Bon Weir, Texas, and will initially occupy about 300 acres. The facility is being developed by USA Bioenergy subsidiary Texas Renewable Fuels with support from state, country and federal credits and tax incentives, USA BioEnergy said in a news release. The project is currently in the detailed design and engineering phase.

Plans are to annually convert 1 million tons of forest thinnings into 65 million gallons of net-zero transportation fuel, including SAF and renewable naphtha. The plant will also have carbon capture and storage system, aiming to sequester more than 50 million metric tons of CO2 during the facility's lifetime.

USA BioEnergy has already sealed a 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines for up to 680 million gallons of neat SAF from the facility. When blended with conventional jet fuel, the SAF could produce the equivalent of 2.59 billion gallons of net-zero fuel and avoid 30 million metric tons of CO2 over the offtake agreement term, the biofuels company said.

Chevron, Brightmark Mark Milestone with First Gas at 10 RNG Plants

Chevron's RNG joint venture (JV) with Brightmark Fund Holdings has delivered first gas at 10 renewable natural gas facilities across the Midwest, marking a milestone, the companies said.

The projects in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin are producing RNG using biogas from dairy livestock. The companies did not say how much RNG the 10 projects are producing or their capacities.

Championed for its lower emissions compared to traditional fuels, RNG is used in the same ways as conventional gas -- once moisture and impurities have been stripped to bring it up to pipeline quality. Brightmark works with farmers to produce RNG via anaerobic digestion, which involves collecting manure and other organic waste, putting it into a methane gas-extracting digester and then upgrading the methane-rich biogas into RNG.

"We're extremely excited to see these projects come online and begin reducing methane emissions while driving economic development in local communities," said Bob Powell, founder and CEO of Brightmark. "This milestone demonstrates the scalability of these solutions and determination from farmers to reduce methane emissions in one of the nation's largest agricultural regions."

Brightmark RNG Holdings, the JV between Chevron and Brightmark, now owns and operates 15 projects in the Midwest, Chevron said in a news release. The two companies formed the JV in 2020 to focus on dairy biomethane.

"Delivering first gas at 10 farms is a significant milestone," said Nuray Elci, vice president of renewables at Chevron. "Transitioning to a lower carbon intensity energy economy demands, among other things, ambitious goals, innovation and practical solutions. This success highlights renewable natural gas' potential and fosters new opportunities for transport, industry and consumers."

To date, Brightmark's RNG circularity centers have reduced emissions by more than 1.2 million tons of CO₂ equivalent, according to the release. That is equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by planting and growing nearly 20 million trees for 10 years, Chevron said.

Plenitude Completes Construction of Texas Battery Storage Facility

Eni's Plenitude has finished construction of Guajillo, its largest battery energy storage facility, the company said Jan. 13.

Located in Webb County, Texas, next to Plenitude's Corazon solar farm, the facility has a capacity of 200 megawatts (MW). It is scheduled to begin commercial operations by mid-2025, Plenitude said in a news release.

"Large lithium-ion batteries are a rapidly expanding technology, enabling an increasing penetration of renewable energies in electrical systems," said Patrick Monino, head of Plenitude Renewables North America and managing director of Eni New Energy US. "Guajillo's completion positions Plenitude at the forefront also in this sector and consolidates our presence in the U.S. renewable energy market."

The company has an installed capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) in the U.S., he said.

Prevalon Lands BESS Contract from Idaho Power

Idaho Power has selected Prevalon Energy for a 200-MW battery energy storage system project, marking its second contract win with the electric utility company.

Aiming to bolster grid resiliency, the four-hour battery storage project will be capable of delivering up to 800 megawatt hours (MWh), Prevalon said in a Jan. 14 news release. The project will be powered by Prevalon's HD 511 System, which includes battery enclosures, inverters, medium-voltage transformers and an energy management system, the release states.

The project is expected to become fully operational by 2026.

Moment Energy Brings in $15MM for Repurposed EV Battery Gigafactory

Electric vehicle (EV) battery recycler Moment Energy on Jan. 16 said it has closed a $15 million funding round co-led by the Amazon Climate Pledge Fund and Voyager Ventures.

The company is working to build a factory in Taylor, Texas, that will repurpose EV batteries into battery energy storage systems. Moment Energy says its batteries can be used in projects ranging from 400 kilowatt hours to 10 MWh.

"By providing a new path for second-life batteries, we're able to enhance grid stability, increase lithium security in North America, and support renewable energy integration," Moment Energy CEO Edward Chiang said.

Once fully operational, the factory will have an annual production capacity of 1 gigawatt hour (GWh), the company has said.

The project landed a $20.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2024.

Aramco's Lithium Project Promising But Not Yet Commercial, Minister Says

Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco's project to extract lithium is "promising, but not yet commercially viable," the kingdom's mining minister told Reuters on Jan. 15.

Aramco has partnered with the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) for the pilot, Bandar Alkhorayef said.

Lithium Infinity, also known as Lihytech, a startup launched out of KAUST, is leading the extraction project with cooperation from Saudi mining company Ma'aden and Aramco.

Aramco and Ma'aden signed a non-binding term sheet on Jan. 15 to explore the creation of a minerals exploration and mining joint venture in the kingdom. The proposed venture "would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies," the two companies said during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

Commercial production of lithium could start by 2027.

Alkhorayef also confirmed that Saudi Arabian mining company Manara Minerals was looking at investing in Pakistan's Reko Diq mine, saying that the Saudi Development Fund could contribute over $100 million to Pakistan's mining infrastructure.

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Plug Power, Allied Green Ammonia Seal 3GW Electrolyzer Deal

Allied Green Ammonia (AGA) has tapped Plug Power for a 3-GW electrolyzer system for the green hydrogen-to-ammonia plant AGA is developing in Australia, according to a Jan. 15 news release.

The facility could become one of the world's largest green ammonia facilities with a production of 2,700 metric tons per day.

A final investment decision (FID) is anticipated by second-quarter 2025. Following FID, Plug said it will begin manufacturing of the proton exchange membrane electrolyzers with delivery starting in first-quarter 2027.

"Ammonia producers are recognizing the substantial advantages of cost and carbon reduction through electrolysis-based hydrogen," said Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh. "We're thrilled to partner with Allied Green Ammonia, a leader in global green ammonia production. Together, we're not only advancing green ammonia production but actively supporting the global transition to a net-zero emissions future."

Plug Power said it is currently developing a basic engineering and design package with technical details engineering specs to attract investors and finalize financing.

"Strong, enduring partnerships are the bedrock of successful projects like this," said Alfred Benedict, chairman and managing director of AGA. "Having the right allies by our side, like Plug, makes all the difference in turning ambitious, green energy visions into reality."

Thyssenkrupp Says $3B Green Steel Plan Not Wholly Reliant on Hydrogen

Thyssenkrupp said a planned green steel site worth around 3 billion euros (US$3.1 billion) could go ahead even if government ambitions to build up a world-leading hydrogen industry fail.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become chancellor in next month's election, said late on Jan 14. a fast shift to hydrogen was unrealistic.

The current SPD-led government, which broke apart last year over issues including disagreements on funding, has sought to speed up the decarbonization of its industry, with hydrogen a pillar of that strategy.

However, doubts about the economics and regulatory uncertainty have led to project delays and questioning of whether industry, especially steelmakers, can implement their plans.

While the government is in charge of ensuring a timely ramp-up of hydrogen infrastructure and supply to secure Europe's steel sector, the group's planned green steel site in Duisburg was not dependent on it, Thyssenkrupp said.

"The plant can also be operated with natural gas. In natural gas operation, around 50% of the CO2 emissions generated in conventional blast furnace operation can already be avoided," the group said. It said the plant would be virtually climate-neutral if operated entirely with green hydrogen, meaning hydrogen produced using renewable energy.

"In principle, we are open to all technologies for the further green transformation of the steel business and reserve all conceivable options to further decarbonize crude steel production in particular."

Thyssenkrupp, Germany's largest steelmaker, said the next step in its steel transformation could be the construction of a modern electric arc furnace to replace another blast furnace in Duisburg.

Leeward Lands Google as Offtaker for Oklahoma Solar Portfolio

Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has lined up Google as an offtaker for its more than 700-MW solar portfolio in Oklahoma, according to a Jan. 15 news release.

Long-term power purchase agreements with Google will help power the company's data centers.

"This partnership with Google not only strengthens our collaboration but also contributes to the reliability of Oklahoma's electric grid and helps advance national energy independence," said Eran Mahrer, chief commercial officer at LRE.

Dallas-based LRE said construction has started on the 372-MW Mayes County Solar Portfolio, which is within one mile from Google's data center in Pryor, Oklahoma. The Mayes County Solar Portfolio is comprised of the 145-MW Salt Branch Solar, 125-MW Huckleberry Solar and the 102-MW Mayes Solar, LRE said in a news release.

The company's other Oklahoma solar projects include the 372-MW Twelvemile Solar Project 1 & 2 and the 200-MW Twelvemile 3 Solar Project.

Plenitude Acquires Stake in California PV, Storage Facilities

Eni-owned Plenitude on Jan. 16 said it has entered a deal with EDP Renewables North America to acquire a 49% equity stake in the Sandrini solar farms and battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Kern County, California.

The agreement for the two solar farms, which have a combined capacity of 300 MW, and the 368-MWh Sandrini BESS facility, was made with EDPR NA via Plenitude's U.S. subsidiary Eni New Energy US Inc.

The transaction close is subject to customary approvals, Eni said.

"Through this transaction we position ourselves in the California market, one of the most relevant for the development of renewables, further diversifying Plenitude presence in the United States and confirming our commitment to invest in electric storage systems," said Plenitude CEO Stefano Goberti. "Thanks to this acquisition we reach a total installed capacity in the country of about 1.7 GW."

The 200-MW Sandrini I and 100-MW Sandrini II were commissioned by EDPR NA in fourth-quarter 2024. Both have 15-year power purchase agreements in place: Sandrini I with Shell Energy North America and Sandrini II with Redwood Coast Energy Authority.

UAE's Masdar Announces $6B Project to Deliver Reliable Clean Power

United Arab Emirates state-owned renewable energy firm Masdar announced Jan. 14 plans to create a new solar and battery energy facility that will deliver 1 GW of uninterrupted clean power and is expected to cost around $6 billion.

Speaking at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, chairman Sultan Al Jaber, who also serves as the chief executive of energy giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) and is the UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, called the project a significant step toward making renewable energy feasible as baseload power.

"This will, for the first time ever, transform renewable energy into baseload energy. It is a first step that could become a giant leap," Al Jaber said.

"How can we power a world that never sleeps with energy sources that do? How can we transform renewable resources into reliable power? Today ... we have an answer," Al Jaber said before announcing the project.

Masdar said the project would address the challenge the intermittent nature of renewable energy supply has posed for grid operators.

Launched in partnership with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company, it will combine 5 GW of solar capacity with 19 GWh of storage, which will ensure uninterrupted delivery of 1 GW of electricity, the group said.

Masdar did not provide further details, but various estimates suggest such a facility would be able to provide power to hundreds of thousands of homes, or power the largest data centers.

It is expected to start operations by 2027 and to cover 90 square km (34.75 square miles) in "the desert of Abu Dhabi," Masdar's COO Abdulaziz Alobaidli said. The project is expected to cost around $6 billion and will be "equity and project finance debt funded," he said.

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BOEM Kicks Off Review of Proposed Vineyard Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has started the environmental review process for Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners' proposed 2-GW Vineyard Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind project, it said Jan. 14.

Located in the New York Bight Wind Energy Area, the wind farm would generate electricity from up to 117 turbines on a more than 43,000-acre lease area. The proposal also includes up to two potential export cable corridors that would make landfall at Rockaway Beach, Atlantic Beach or Jones Beach, New York, BOEM said.

"Our environmental reviews are essential for helping us identify, evaluate, and address the possible impacts of our renewable energy efforts on other uses of the offshore environment and marine ecosystems," said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. "Continued engagement with Tribes, local communities, ocean users, and others is critical for ensuring future decisions are well-informed."

A notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the project's construction and operations plan was scheduled to be published in the Federal Register Jan. 15, starting a 45-day public comment period running through March 1. Dates of virtual meetings and registration links are online.

Aker Solutions, Siemens to Begin Offshore UK Wind Farm Work

Clean energy developer RWE has cleared Aker Solutions and Siemens Energy to proceed with work for the Norfolk Vanguard West and East wind farms in the U.K. North Sea, according to a Jan. 15 news release.

The wind farms are part of the first phase of RWE's Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, which is expected to produce enough renewable electricity to power more than 4 million homes. The wind zone will be comprised of three projects -- Norfolk Vanguard West, Norfolk Vanguard East and Boreas -- each with a capacity of 1.4 GW, according to Germany-based RWE.

Aker Solutions will carry out engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the high voltage direct current offshore platform, the company said in a news release. Siemens Energy is responsible for the onshore station and high voltage equipment in the offshore substations. The Aker Solutions and Drydocks World JV will deliver the two HVDC platforms in 2027 with installation scheduled for 2028.

Project execution is already underway with engineering and procurement activities ongoing for both platform topsides and substructures, according to the release.