EMEA Sustainability: Sustainability Brief vol.14

Research evidence excerpt

EMEA Sustainability: Sustainability Brief vol.14

billion and highlighting growing confidence in fusion as a future source of clean

energy. The sector is benefiting from rising interest linked to energy security and

AI-driven electricity demand, with many developers targeting commercial fusion

power generation in the 2030s.

France's state-owned utility EDF temporarily shut down three nuclear reactors and

warned that seven others may need to reduce output as an intensifying heatwave

raises river temperatures used for reactor cooling. The move highlights a growing

challenge for nuclear power systems, as climate-driven heat extremes can

constrain generation to comply with environmental limits designed to protect

aquatic ecosystems.

Swiss utility Alpiq has acquired a 90% stake in Harmony Energy, a leading

European battery energy storage developer, strengthening its position in energy

storage and grid-flexibility solutions. The deal adds around 400 MW of battery

projects under construction and a multi-gigawatt development pipeline across key

European markets, highlighting the growing strategic importance of battery

storage in supporting renewable energy integration and energy system resilience.

CATL and Dutch energy solutions provider Alfen have agreed to deploy 5 GWh of

sodium-ion battery storage systems across Europe, marking one of the largest

commercial rollouts of this emerging storage technology in the region. The

partnership aims to diversify energy storage beyond lithium-ion batteries, reducing

exposure to lithium price volatility while supporting Europe's growing need for

grid flexibility and renewable energy integration.

Ember estimates that Drax was the UK's largest carbon emitter in 2025 for the