Elena Energy Brief — Welcome to Storyflo Daily Energy. I'm Elena.

Today's energy briefing is packed with exciting developments in the sector. Let's start with the big news: battery additions reached a record 108 GW in 2025, according to the IEA, thanks to falling costs and greater demand. Utility-scale deployments led the charge, with 87 GW added, and 24 GW of those were co-located with renewables, a trend that's expected to continue (PV Magazine USA). Now, I know some of you may be thinking, "Batteries are great, but what about the grid?" Well, Siemens and Fluence just announced a breakthrough reference design for AI data centers that integrates battery energy storage, enabling faster commissioning, reliable long-term operation, and even voltage and frequency ride-through (PV Magazine USA). Renewable energy buyers are also getting a critical window to act, says Trio's Global Renewables Market Report. Between tax credit requirements, permit delays, and supply chain issues, there's a four-year window to secure projects and meet deadlines. Some innovat