Bucking EV slowdown, Sila raises $300M to expand battery materials factory

techcrunch.com Jul 21, 2026

Bucking EV slowdown, Sila raises $300M to expand battery materials factory

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 21, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Battery materials startup Sila announced a $300 million funding round to expand its Washington state factory, enabling production of enough anode material for over 100,000 electric vehicles. The expansion comes amid a U.S. EV demand slowdown following Trump‑era policy shifts, while global sales rise 27 % year over year. Sila’s silicon‑carbon anodes offer 40 % more energy density than graphite and can charge faster, positioning the company as a key alternative to Chinese graphite suppliers. The plant, already operational since September, will scale to tens of gigawatt‑hours annually.

💡 Why It Matters

· By boosting domestic anode production, Sila reduces U.S.
· reliance on Chinese graphite and supports the growing grid‑scale battery market, especially for AI data centers and renewable integration.

Read full article on techcrunch.com

Pennsylvania Passes Solar Decommissioning Legislation to Ensure Sustainable Energy Development

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 349, establishing a statewide framework that requires solar developers to decommission ground‑mounted solar projects at the end of their useful life, rather than leaving responsibility on landowners. The bipartisan law clarifies expectations and ensures developers meet state requirements for site restoration. SEIA praised the measure as a win for affordability, economic strength, and landowner protection, emphasizing its role in advancing a clean‑energy economy across the state.

💡 By shifting decommissioning duties to developers, the law removes a long‑standing barrier for landowners, encouraging more solar installations and accelerating Pennsylvania’s transition to renewable energy.

cleantechnica.com · Jul 21

35.5%! LONGi Once Again Breaks World Record for Crystalline Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar…

At the 2026 Solar and Energy Storage Innovation Conference, LONGi announced its crystalline silicon‑perovskite tandem solar cell achieved a certified conversion efficiency of 35.5%, setting a new world record. The record follows a series of incremental gains—33.9% in November 2023, 34.6% in June 2024, and 35.2% earlier this year—demonstrating the company’s rapid R&D progress. The tandem cell, tested by the European Solar Test Installation, surpasses the Shockley–Queisser limit and approaches the theoretical 43% ceiling. Industrial‑scale tests showed 34.3% (261 cm²) and 32.2% (274 cm²) efficiencies, while module tests reached 31.4% and 29.4%, all certified by independent authorities and listed in the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables. LONGi’s tiered R&D strategy aims to translate laboratory breakthroughs into mass‑produced, high‑efficiency modules, reinforcing its leadership in clean‑energy technology.

💡 The 35.5% efficiency milestone narrows the gap to the theoretical limit, accelerating the commercial viability of tandem photovoltaics. It signals a pivotal shift toward higher‑yield solar solutions that could lower grid‑connected costs and hasten global renewable adoption.

cleantechnica.com · Jul 21

Groups Take First Step Toward Lawsuit Against TVA Over Clean Air Act…

The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing Appalachian Voices and the Sierra Club, issued a notice of intent to sue the Tennessee Valley Authority for Clean Air Act violations at its Kingston site. TVA previously planned to retire the 70-year-old coal plant but reversed course in February, deciding to operate both the coal facility and a new methane gas plant simultaneously. Environmental groups argue this dual operation requires a “major source” permit, yet TVA proceeded with construction using a less protective “minor modification” permit. The utility acknowledges that running both plants necessitates stricter compliance, including modern pollution controls. Critics contend TVA is sidestepping legal obligations to power data centers, threatening East Tennessee air quality. The combined facilities emit thousands of tons of harmful pollutants annually, linked to asthma and cancer. TVA estimates over $636 million in costs to maintain the coal plant, expenses passed to consumers. Groups warn that without proper permitting and public input, the utility’s actions endanger community health and violate federal mandates designed to protect public welfare from industrial emissions.

💡 This legal challenge exposes how utilities may exploit regulatory loopholes to extend fossil fuel infrastructure for data center demand, bypassing essential health protections. It sets a critical precedent for holding public power entities accountable when they reverse retirement commitments to prioritize corporate energy needs over statutory environmental mandates.

energy-storage.news · Jul 21

South Australia’s Lunio Energy brings 20MWh grid-scale battery storage system online

South Australian developer Lunio Energy has commissioned its first grid‑scale battery energy storage system (BESS) at Strathalbyn, a 5 MW/20 MWh facility located about 60 km south of Adelaide, and begun trading in the National Electricity Market. The battery stores electricity when market prices are low and discharges when prices rise, with future participation planned in frequency control ancillary services (FCAS). Optimisation and market bidding are handled by OptiGrid’s AI‑driven OptiBidder platform, which also manages over 170 MW of Australian BESS assets. Lunio Energy, part of the broader Lunio Group, selected OptiGrid after its strong capture‑rate performance. The system already operated during June’s price‑cap events, demonstrating the revenue potential of precise state‑of‑charge management in South Australia’s volatile market.

💡 Precise AI optimisation turns South Australia’s price volatility into measurable profit, proving that sophisticated forecasting can unlock value from short‑duration price spikes.

energy-storage.news · Jul 21

European Energy reaches financial close on 80MWh Mokoan solar-plus-storage site in Australia

European Energy secured AU$110 million (US$77 million) of non‑recourse financing from Deutsche Bank to refinance its 58 MWp Mokoan Solar Farm and fund a co‑located 40 MW/80 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Victoria, Australia. The solar plant, operating since June 2025 on 94 ha near Wangaratta, produces about 113 GWh annually and was selected under the Australian government’s Capacity Investment Scheme, which provides long‑term revenue support. The financing package includes a term loan, hedging and ancillary facilities, and marks the second Australian financial close for European Energy within three weeks, following the Winton North solar‑plus‑storage project. Deutsche Bank highlighted the deal as evidence of rising institutional appetite for integrated renewable assets, adding to its support of over 12 GW of Australian renewables since 2019.

💡 The combined solar‑storage model offers investors a single, flexible asset that can deliver both steady generation and grid‑balancing services, accelerating the shift toward reliable, contract‑backed renewable power.

energy-storage.news · Jul 21

India awards long-duration energy storage contracts for 1,344MW pumped hydro, utility-scale flow…

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) awarded 1,344 MW of pumped‑hydro capacity through a reverse‑auction to Tata Power (324 MW), Greenko (720 MW) and Torrent Energy Storage Solutions (300 MW), under tariff‑based competitive bidding and long‑term PPAs. The tender, launched in late 2025, was revised to target up to 1,500 MW of 12‑hour storage, reflecting the nation’s push for long‑duration energy storage (LDES). Simultaneously, Indian startup Delectrik secured a contract to supply a 100 MWh vanadium redox flow battery for the 30 GW Gujarat Hybrid Renewable Energy Park, marking the country’s first large‑scale flow‑battery deployment. SECI’s contracts follow a broader policy drive that includes streamlined clearances, transmission charge waivers and an estimated need for 74 GW of storage by 2032, rising to 90 GW of pumped hydro by 2047.

💡 The dual awards accelerate India’s transition to grid‑scale, multi‑hour storage, directly addressing the capacity gap needed to balance its rapidly expanding renewable fleet.