Daily Digest: Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Significant energy storage momentum continues in Australia, with Tonic Group securing rapid approval for a 440MWh solar-plus-storage project in WA, Origin Energy now generating revenue from two utility-scale battery sites, and BW ESS proposing a massive 1.6GWh facility in the Hunter Valley. Western Australia's ERA also set a high benchmark price (AU$491,700/MW) driven by stringent 1,200MWh battery specs. This storage boom intersects with recycling concerns, as Cirba Solutions highlights battery fires are fueling EPR bill movement in the US. Policy developments include the Welsh Government proposing an extension of workplace recycling rules and the UK delaying its Mandatory Digital Waste Tracking rollout by six months (now Oct 2027), while the FCA proposed IFRS-aligned sustainability reporting requirements starting 2027. ESG saw major moves with Iberdrola and NBIM scaling their clean energy partnership to 1.5 GW, Holcim investing in carbon capture tech firm Capsol, and the GHG Protocol launching a crucial new Carbon Accounting Standard for the Land Sector. Zevero's acquisition of Inhabit points to consolidation in climate services. However, a US-EU trade rift adds new risks for ITAD and e-scrap exporters.