Floating Solar Plus Wave Energy Smackdown For Fossil Fuels
Everybody is talking about a new EU clean power project that pairs floating solar with offshore wind turbines, but they’re missing half the story. Wave energy is also part of the project. The wave part is not getting much attention, probably because wave-to-electricity conversion has fallen behind wind and solar in the renewable energy race. Nevertheless, if all goes according to plan, the waters of the EU will be peppered with wave conversion devices as well as floating solar panels.
More Offshore Solar & Wind Turbines With Wave Energy, Too
The EU project is tackling the problem of how to make room for new offshore energy industries in busy coastal waters. Finding sites for new offshore wind farms can be a tough row to hoe, as offshore wind fans in the US can testify.
The new project is called EU-SCORES for “European SCalable Offshore Renewable Energy Sources.” The idea is to pair wind turbines with other clean power systems, with the aim of reducing the overall footprint of marine energy development.
EU-SCORES comes under the umbrella of the Dutch Marine Energy Centre, which will assess two sites for hybrid marine energy systems. One is a solar-plus-wind site in Belgium, which has been getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so. Floating solar is a relatively new idea that has been catching on fast for application to inland water bodies including reservoirs as well as natural lakes and ponds. The idea of setting solar panels afloat in the open sea poses new technology challenges.
In that regard, EU-SCORES shares some similarities with the CrossWind offshore wind project under way in the Netherlands, which is also on track to receive floating solar panels.
However, EU-SCORES seems to be taking a much more aggressive approach to hybridizing offshore wind farms. As DMEC describes it, the “full-scale demonstrations are intended to prove how the increased power output and capacity installed per km2 will reduce the amount of marine space needed, thereby leaving more space for aquaculture, fisheries, shipping routes and environmentally protected zones.”
“Additional benefits achieved by co-using critical electrical infrastructures and exploring advanced operation and maintenance methodologies supported by innovative autonomous systems should lower the costs per MWh,” DMEC adds.
Wave Energy: It’s All About Co-Location, Location, Location
Where were we? Oh right, wave energy. If you caught that thing about co-using, that’s a critical issue for wave energy stakeholders. Translating the infinite, 24/7 motion of waves into electricity is a tantalizing goal, but one of the factors holding back the wave energy field is the relatively high cost of shunting clean kilowatts from seagoing wave energy generators over to coastal communities.
Back in 2014, the United Nations’ International Renewable Energy Agency took a look at the wave energy field and recorded 100 projects around the world, all of which were still in the pilot and demonstration phases. The early-stage nature of the technology made it difficult to project future costs for commercial-level projects. However, IRENA did come up with the figure of 22% for the proportion of lifetime costs that could be ascribed to power take-off systems.
IRENA also estimated that installation, operation, and maintenance, and mooring would account for another 41% of lifetime costs for wave energy projects. Co-location with offshore wind turbines would presumably shave away some of those costs as well.
About Those Locations…
Another kind of challenge for the wave energy industry is that the recovery potential varies considerably from one place to another. The one-size-fits-all nature of wind turbines and solar panels does not apply as much to the wave energy field, and that has slowed the development of more mature, efficient supply chains.
In 2016, the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory looked at the problem and noted that “wave energy technology is still an emerging form of renewable energy for which large-scale grid-connected project costs are currently poorly defined.”
“Ideally, device designers would like to know the resource conditions at economical project sites so they can optimize device designs. On the other hand, project developers need detailed device cost data to identify sites where projects are economical. That is, device design and siting are, to some extent, a coupled problem,” the lab continued.
A New Burst Of Energy For Wave Energy
Regardless of the challenges, wave energy fans have persisted, and it looks like all that hard work is about to pay off. The wave energy harvesting end of the EU-SCORES project is being attached to an offshore wind farm in Portugal, using buoy-type wave harvesting devices developed by the Swedish company CorPower Ocean, as the firm’s Commercial Director Kevin Rebenius is happy to explain.
“We see great value in showcasing the highly consistent and complementary power profile of wave energy, and how this can be combined with wind and solar to deliver a more stable and predictable electricity system based purely on renewables,” Rebenius said.
CorPower Ocean’s contribution to the wave energy field is a pumping system modeled on natural pumps such as those found in the human heart.
According to CorPower, its device can produce 5 times more electricity per ton than other wave energy harvesters, partly by enabling superior performance during calm periods and partly by maintaining performance during storms. Here, let’s have them explain.
“CorPower WECs can harvest the same amount of Annual Energy from a buoy with 1/10 volume compared to conventional point absorber WEC. 1. As comparison, a 300kW CorPower WEC has a diameter of 9m and weighs 60 tonnes. Getting large amounts of electricity from a small device significantly reduces CAPEX. The compact lightweight devices are also less costly to transport, install and service, bringing down OPEX.”
There Had To Be A Green Hydrogen Angle In There Somewhere…
CorPower is aiming to make the case for commercial viability by 2024. Meeting that goal will also provide a boost to other companies involved with EU-SCORES. For those of you keeping score at home, that includes the offshore floating solar company Oceans of Energy along with the familiar names of RWE, EDP, ENEL Green Power, and Simply Blue Group.
EU-SCORES could also add another notch in the belt of green hydrogen fans. CorPower, for one, is already making the pitch.
“The multi-source demonstrations in EU-SCORES will showcase the benefits of more consistent power output harnessing complementary power sources including waves, wind and sun, creating a more resilient and stable power system, higher capacity factors and a lower total cost of the power system. These aspects will also improve the business case for green hydrogen production, by allowing electrolysers to run at higher utilisation,” CorPower enthuses.
For those of you new to the topic, electrolysis refers to electrical systems that pop hydrogen gas out of water. That doesn’t make any sense at all from a climate action perspective if the electricity is sourced from fossil energy, but sub in renewables and the whole picture shifts.
The renewable energy angle is also a rather significant improvement over the current state of affairs, in which the global supply of hydrogen is sourced primarily from natural gas and coal. With the addition of seagoing solar panels and wave energy devices envisioned by EU-SCORES, it looks like end of the fossil grip on the global hydrogen economy is in sight.
Follow me on Twitter @TinaMCasey.
Photo: Array of wave energy harvesting devices, courtesy of CorPower Ocean.
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Kia launched the EV5 in South Korea, its stylish new Sportage-sized electric SUV. With prices starting at just $35,000, the Kia EV5 arrives as an affordable SUV that’s built for the masses. But those in the US may never get to see it.
Kia launches the EV5 in Korea at an affordable price
After opening orders in the UK earlier this week, Kia launched the EV5 in its home market of South Korea on Wednesday.
Like overseas, the electric SUV is available in three variants: Air, Earth, and GT-Line. Powered by an 81.4 kWh battery, the EV5 offers a range of up to 460 km (285 miles).
A single front-mounted electric motor provides up to 215 hp (160 kW) and 295 Nm max torque. It can also recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes using a 350 kW charger.
The EV5 is 1,875 mm wide, 4,610 mm long, and 1,675 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, which is slightly smaller than that of the Tesla Model Y. To give you a better idea, that’s 10 mm wider, 70 mm longer, and 30 mm taller than the Kia Sportage.
The extended wheelbase provides “best-in-class” rear passenger space, according to Kia, with 1,041 mm second-row legroom.
Despite an upright stance like the larger EV9, the EV5 still has a sporty look with Kia’s latest design elements. The vertically stacked LED headlights and slim DRLs with Star Map lighting add to the bold styling.
The interior features Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system, featuring dual 12.3″ driver cluster and infotainment screens in a panoramic display. Plus, there’s an added 5″ AC display.
Kia introduced several new features, including a new sound bar and display theme. Through a partnership with Disney, the EV5 will play welcome and goodbye tunes, EV-specific sounds, and more.
The base EV5 Air starts at 48.55 million won ($35,000) in Korea, while the Earth trim is priced from 52.3 million won ($37,600). Upgrading to the sporty GT-Line costs 53.4 million won ($38,400).
With government and local subsidies, Kia expects the EV5 to be available for purchase at around 40 million won ($28,800).
| Starting Price | Driving Range | |
| Kia EV5 Air | 48.55 million won ($35,000) | 460 km (285 miles) |
| Kia EV5 Earth | 52.3 million won ($37,600) | 460 km (285 miles) |
| Kia EV5 GT-Line | 53.4 million won ($38,400) | 460 km (285 miles) |
In comparison, the base Tesla Model Y RWD starts at 52.99 million won ($38,000) and has a driving range of up to 400 km (248 miles).
Although Kia plans to launch the EV5 in North America, it will be exclusively sold in Canada. We’ve seen a few EV5 models testing in the US, sparking speculation (or hope) that it could arrive, but don’t get your hopes up too soon. The last official statement from Kia still says the EV5 will be exclusive to Canada in the North American market.
What do you think of Kia’s new electric SUV? Would you buy one in the US? With Trump’s tariff war, don’t get your hopes up.
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Solar and wind accounted for 91% of new US electrical generating capacity added in the H1 2025, according to data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which was reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign of data. In June, solar alone provided 82% of new capacity, making it the 22nd consecutive month solar held the lead among all energy sources.
Solar’s new generating capacity in June 2025 and YTD
In its latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with data through June 30, 2025), FERC says 63 “units” of solar totaling 2,439 megawatts (MW) were placed into service in June, accounting for over 81.5% of all new generating capacity added during the month.
The 14,567 MW of utility-scale (>1 MW) solar added during the first six months of 2025 was 74.9% of the total new capacity placed into service by all sources.
Solar has now been the largest source of new generating capacity added each month for 22 consecutive months: September 2023–June 2025. During that period, total utility-scale solar capacity grew from 91.82 gigawatts (GW) to 151.73 GW. No other energy source added anything close to that amount of new capacity. Wind, for example, expanded by 10.53 GW while natural gas increased by just 2.73 GW.
Solar, wind + biomass were over 91% of new capacity added in H1 2025
Between January and June, new wind has provided 3,139 MW of capacity additions – nearly doubling the new capacity provided by natural gas (1,727 MW). Wind accounted for 16.1% of all new capacity added during the first six months of 2025.
In H1 2025, solar and wind (plus 3 MW of biomass) were 91.04% of new capacity, while natural gas provided just 8.88%; the balance came from oil (14 MW).
Solar + wind are 23.17% of US utility-scale generating capacity
Utility-scale solar’s share of total installed capacity (11.34%) is now nearly equal to wind (11.83%). Taken together, they account for 23.17% of the US’s total available installed utility-scale generating capacity.
Moreover, at least 25-30% of US solar capacity is in the form of small-scale (e.g., rooftop) systems that are not reflected in FERC’s data. Including that additional solar capacity would bring the share provided by solar + wind to more than a quarter of the US total.
With the inclusion of hydropower (7.62%), biomass (1.07%), and geothermal (0.31%), renewables currently claim a 32.17% share of total US utility-scale generating capacity. If small-scale solar capacity is included, renewables are now about one-third of total US generating capacity.
Solar is on track to become No. 2 source of US generating capacity
FERC reports that net “high probability” additions of solar between July 2025 and June 2028 total 92,660 MW – an amount more than four times the forecast net “high probability” additions for wind (23,136 MW), the second fastest growing resource. Notably, FERC’s most recent three-year forecasts for growth by both solar and wind are the highest they have been thus far in 2025.
FERC also foresees net growth for hydropower (583 MW) and geothermal (92 MW) but a decrease of 131 MW in biomass capacity.
Taken together, the net new “high probability” capacity additions by all renewable energy sources over the next three years – the bulk of the Trump Administration’s remaining time in office – would total 116,340 MW.
There is no new nuclear capacity in FERC’s three-year forecast while coal and oil are projected to contract by 25,017 MW and 1,572 MW, respectively. Natural gas capacity would expand by 8,748 MW.
Adjusting for the different capacity factors of gas (59.7%), wind (34.3%), and utility-scale solar (23.4%), electricity generated by the projected new solar capacity to be added in the coming three years would be more than four times greater than that produced by the new natural gas capacity, while the electrical output by the new wind capacity would be 52% more than that by gas.
If FERC’s current “high probability” additions materialize, by July 1, 2028, solar will account for 17.1% of the US’s installed utility-scale generating capacity. Wind would provide an additional 12.6% of the total. Thus, each would be greater than coal (12.1%) and substantially more than either nuclear power or hydropower (7.3% and 7.1%, respectively).
Assuming current growth rates continue, the installed capacity of utility-scale solar is likely to surpass that of wind capacity this year and exceed that of coal by the end of next year. Installed solar capacity is already almost 50% greater than that of nuclear power. Thus, within two years, solar should be in second place for installed generating capacity, behind only natural gas.
Renewables may overtake natural gas within 3 years
The mix of all utility-scale renewables is now adding about two percentage points each year to its share of generating capacity. At that pace, by July 1, 2028, renewables would account for 38.1% of total available installed utility-scale generating capacity, rapidly closing the gap with natural gas (40.0%). Solar and wind would constitute more than three-quarters of the installed capacity of renewable sources. If those trendlines continue, utility-scale renewable energy capacity should surpass that of natural gas in 2029 or sooner.
However, as noted, FERC’s data do not account for the capacity of small-scale solar systems. If that’s factored in, within three years, total US solar capacity (i.e., small-scale plus utility-scale) could approach 350 GW. In turn, the mix of all renewables would be about 40% of total installed capacity or more, while natural gas’s share would drop to about 38%.
Moreover, FERC reports that there may actually be as much as 230,770 MW of net new solar additions in the current three-year pipeline in addition to 68,627 MW of new wind, 7,923 MW of new hydropower, 202 MW of new geothermal, and 27 MW of new biomass. By contrast, the net new natural gas capacity in the three-year pipeline potentially totals just 30,251 MW. Consequently, renewables’ share could be even greater by early summer 2028.
Renewables increase and fossil fuels shrink
A year ago, the mix of all renewables accounted for 29.95% of total generating capacity. Solar alone was 8.99% while wind was 11.75%. Over 12 months (by the end of June 2025), renewables’ share had risen to 32.17% with solar at 11.34% and wind at 11.83%.
Natural gas’s share slipped from 43.32% to 42.34% as coal fell from 15.76% to 14.82% and oil dropped from 2.77% to 2.71%. Similarly, nuclear power’s share of generating capacity decreased from 8.04% to 7.80%.
“Notwithstanding the hostility toward solar and wind shown by the Trump administration and its Republican supporters in Congress, both technologies are moving full speed ahead,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director, Ken Bossong. “In fact, FERC’s latest data suggest growth by renewables may actually be accelerating.”
Electrek’s Take
The New York Times reported today that the White House now has Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr, involved in trying to obliterate offshore wind power. The Health and Human Services Department has been instructed to study whether wind turbines emit electromagnetic fields that could harm human health. (While he’s at it, maybe he could check out fossil fuels and their harm to human health. Oh wait, that’s already been done.)
This is in addition to the nonsense from the Department of the Interior that temporarily stopped work on New York’s Empire Wind – it never could justify that costly and senseless action – and the Department of Defense’s “national security threat” that’s currently being cited as the reason for putting the 80% complete Revolution Wind out of commission.
Imagine being a president who harms their own people based on nothing more than whims and quirks, and justifying it with ridiculous lies. Except you don’t have to imagine it – your rising electricity bill will be proof enough that it’s real.
Read more: EIA: Solar and wind leave coal in the dust with record 2025 output
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The Honda Prologue quietly outsold much of the competition last month after sales surged 80% from last August. With over 9,300 models sold in August, the Honda Prologue is coming off its best sales month yet.
Honda Prologue had its best sales month in August
Honda’s electric SUV is one of the most popular electric vehicles in the US. After delivering the first models last March, the Honda Prologue quickly became a surprise hit.
In the second half of the year, it was the second-best-selling electric SUV behind the Tesla Model Y. The Cinderella story continued in August after Honda sold a record 9,347 Prologues, its best sales month so far.
Honda sold more Prologues last month than the Odyssey (6,690) and Passport (5,173). It also outsold most EVs in the US.
Despite setting its own monthly sales record, the Prologue outsold Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. Ford reported earlier today that Mach-E sales hit a record 7,226 in August. Hyundai’s new IONIQ 5 had a breakout month with 7,773 units sold, up 61% from last August.
Honda has now sold nearly 32,000 Prologue models through the first eight months of the year. The Mach-E remains ahead on the year with 34,319 units sold, followed by the IONIQ 5 at nearly 32,700.
Although GM doesn’t provide a breakdown, the company said it sold a record 21,000 EVs between the Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac brands.
GM expects the Chevy Equinox EV to be among the top three best-selling EVs this year, behind only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Meanwhile, GM warned that with the “irrational discounts” ending, EV sales will slow next quarter.
Like most automakers, Honda is offering some serious savings opportunities ahead of the $7,500 tax credit expiration at the end of the month.
Honda is promoting Prologue leases as low as $159 per month. The offer includes a $3,500 conquest or loyalty bonus and is available in most US states.
| 2025 Honda Prologue trim | Starting Price* | Starting Price After Tax Credit* |
EPA Range (miles) |
| EX (FWD) | $47,400 | $39,900 | 308 |
| EX (AWD) | $50,400 | $42,900 | 294 |
| Touring (FWD) | $51.700 | $44,200 | 308 |
| Touring (AWD) | $54,700 | $47,200 | 294 |
| Elite (AWD) | $57,900 | $50,400 | 283 |
It also offers a unique One Pay Lease deal that works out to about $200 a month if you pay the full $4,800 lease amount upfront. However, this one is only available for buyers in California and other ZEV states. Both offers include the $7,500 federal tax credit.
If you’re looking to secure the savings while they are still here, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to find deals on the popular electric vehicles in your area.
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