energySunday, June 21, 2026

Solar beats coal, Spain's renewables pay off

Two big signals today that the energy transition is real: solar beat coal in the US for the first time, and Spain's renewable buildout is actually lowering household bills. But the old guard isn't going quietly, Shell is selling its wind farms, and Alberta is betting on gas for AI.

Sources

Renewables are winning

Two milestones show renewables are reshaping electricity markets, not just as a niche but as the dominant force.

#01e360.yale.eduJun 21

In a U.S. First, Solar Supplied More Power Than Coal Last Month

Solar generated more electricity than coal in the US last month for the first time ever, hitting 12.8% of supply. A historic milestone that underscores coal's accelerating decline.

2 min readRead original

#02www.euronews.comJun 21

Spain’s renewables revolution is paying off: Electricity bills are lower despite energy crisis

Spain's renewable-heavy grid is cutting household electricity bills by €10/month, even during an energy crisis. Renewables reduced fossil fuel price influence by 75% since 2019.

5 min readRead original

#03oilprice.comJun 21

Clean Energy Investment Hits $2.2 Trillion, Nearly Double Fossil Fuels

Global clean energy investment is set to hit $2.2 trillion in 2026, nearly double fossil fuel spending. The IEA report calls it a historic shift driven by energy security.

Fossil fuels push back

But the fossil fuel industry isn't retreating, it's pivoting to new demand centers like AI data centers.

#04www.ctvnews.caJun 21

Smith touts natural gas as key to Alberta’s AI ambitions as proposed data centre sparks concerns in small community

Alberta's Premier Smith is pushing natural gas to power AI data centers, drawing criticism over emissions and local impacts. A case study in the tension between tech growth and climate goals.

#05www.bloomberg.comJun 21

Shell Plans $1 Billion Wind Farms Sale in Latest Renewables Exit

Shell plans to sell its offshore wind farms for over $1 billion, exiting renewables to refocus on fossil fuels. A reminder that oil majors are still hedging their bets.

#06splash247.comJun 21

Germany rejects TotalEnergies request to surrender offshore wind site

Germany rejected TotalEnergies' request to surrender a 1.5 GW offshore wind license, signaling that regulators will enforce commitments even as developers balk.

Storage and grids adapt

As renewables grow, storage and grid planning are scrambling to keep up.

#07www.autonocion.comJun 21

A windowless concrete tower 40 stories tall on the China coast stacks 35-ton blocks to store a wind farm's power, lifting them when the wind blows and dropping them through generators when the grid needs it, no lithium inside

China built a 40-story concrete tower near Shanghai that stores wind energy by lifting and dropping 35-ton blocks. A lithium-free gravity storage alternative to pumped hydro.

#08www.theage.com.auJun 21

Melbourne’s massive data centre boom forces planners to rewrite the script

Melbourne's data center boom is forcing Victoria's grid planners to rewrite long-term electricity forecasts for the first time. A sign of how AI demand is reshaping energy planning.