This week’s renewable energy developments showcase how North America continues to accelerate investments in clean electricity, grid modernization, solar expansion, and energy storage innovation. Canada is advancing a nationwide strategy to expand clean electricity infrastructure, Texas is rapidly increasing utility-scale solar generation, and new battery repurposing facilities are supporting the growing need for sustainable energy storage solutions. Together, these developments reflect the increasing role renewable energy technologies will play in supporting future electricity demand, affordability, reliability, and long-term sustainability.
1. Canada Advances National Electricity Strategy to Expand Clean Power Infrastructure
Canada is launching a new National Electricity Strategy focused on doubling the country’s electricity grid capacity by 2050 to support future energy demand, electrification, and economic growth. The initiative aims to strengthen clean electricity generation, modernize grid infrastructure, improve transmission connectivity, and expand domestic clean technology manufacturing.
Canada currently operates with an electricity grid that is approximately 80% non-emitting, while maintaining some of the lowest electricity costs among G7 nations. As electricity demand is expected to double by 2050, the country plans to invest heavily in clean energy generation, storage systems, transmission lines, and grid modernization projects.
The strategy is expected to deliver up to $15 billion in total energy savings by 2050 while helping lower energy costs for many Canadian households. A major focus will be improving grid reliability and efficiency by connecting currently fragmented electricity systems across provinces and territories through expanded transmission infrastructure.
Canada is also increasing support for home energy retrofits and electrification initiatives, including financing programs, grants, and heat pump adoption to help households reduce long-term energy costs and improve energy efficiency.
In addition, workforce development remains a major focus, with more than 130,000 skilled workers expected to be needed by 2050 to support grid construction, modernization, and maintenance activities across the country. The strategy also aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing so more clean energy technologies and grid components can be produced within Canada.
2. Solar Power in Texas Expected to Surpass Coal Generation in 2026
Utility-scale solar energy in Texas is forecasted to surpass coal-fired electricity generation for the first time in 2026 within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid system. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar generation is expected to reach 78 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026, compared with 60 billion kilowatt-hours from coal.
The rapid growth of solar energy in Texas has been driven by strong utility-scale solar capacity additions aimed at meeting rising electricity demand. Between 2021 and 2025, solar’s share of ERCOT’s electricity generation mix increased from 4% to 12%, while coal’s share declined from 19% to 13%.
Texas is expected to account for approximately 40% of all solar capacity additions in the United States during 2026. Several large-scale solar and battery energy storage projects are currently under development to support growing electricity demand and improve grid stability.
Battery energy storage systems are also playing an increasingly important role in balancing electricity supply and supporting renewable energy integration. These systems help improve grid reliability while enabling greater use of clean energy generation during periods of high electricity demand.
Solar generation within ERCOT is expected to continue expanding strongly through 2027, reflecting continued investment in renewable energy infrastructure and the growing role of utility-scale solar in supporting long-term energy needs.
3. Canada Expands EV Battery Repurposing to Support Energy Storage Growth
A new large-scale EV battery repurposing megafactory in Vancouver, British Columbia is expected to become fully operational by the end of June, supporting growing demand for energy storage systems across North America.
The facility will repurpose retired electric vehicle batteries into commercial-scale energy storage systems for applications including data centres, hospitals, factories, and microgrids. By extending the lifespan of EV batteries, the initiative supports circular economy practices while helping reduce waste and improve resource efficiency.
The megafactory is expected to reach a production capacity of 1GWh by 2030 and create approximately 100 skilled jobs. The facility will operate as a vertically integrated site, handling battery intake, testing, refurbishment, integration, and deployment.
As electricity demand continues to rise due to expanding AI infrastructure and data centre growth, second-life battery systems are becoming increasingly important for reliable and scalable energy storage. Repurposed battery systems can provide faster deployment timelines compared with manufacturing entirely new battery cells, helping support the continued growth of clean energy infrastructure.
The project also highlights growing momentum behind battery repurposing technologies and sustainable energy storage solutions across North America as industries continue searching for more efficient and cost-effective energy storage alternatives.
Looking Ahead
Renewable energy investment and infrastructure development continue to accelerate across North America. Grid modernization, solar expansion, electrification, and battery storage technologies are helping strengthen energy reliability while supporting long-term sustainability goals. As electricity demand continues to rise across industries, transportation, and digital infrastructure, clean energy systems will play an increasingly important role in powering future economic growth and improving energy resilience.
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References
- Prime Minister of Canada – Prime Minister Carney announces forthcoming National Electricity Strategy
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/05/14/prime-minister-carney-announces-forthcoming-national-electricity - U.S. Energy Information Administration – Electricity generation from solar could exceed coal in ERCOT for the first time in 2026
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67685 - Energy Digital – Moment Energy: The World’s Largest EV Battery Upcycling Site
https://energydigital.com/news/moment-energy-the-worlds-largest-ev-battery-upcycling-site
