Daily Digest Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Daily Digest: Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Wednesday, 11 February 2026, marks a pivotal day for energy storage scaling and policy friction, as Akaysha Energy submits a massive 1.6GWh BESS project in Australia while Texas sues over dumped wind turbine blades, highlighting the urgent need for circular solutions in the energy transition.

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Today's Summary

Today's headlines underscore the accelerating energy storage boom and its circularity challenges. Akaysha Energy submitted its 1.6GWh battery project under Australia's EPBC Act, while Energy Vault secured 1.5GWh of US-made sodium-ion BESS from Peak Energy – signaling a shift towards diversified battery chemistries. Samsung SDI also announced a global BESS partnership with Korea East-West Power. However, Texas sued over dumped wind turbine blades, emphasizing the looming end-of-life crisis for renewable infrastructure. Policy friction remains high: Tennessee's revised EPR bill now includes small business/county exemptions, Canada faces biofuel policy pushback, and Birmingham's bin worker strikes extend into September, crippling local waste services. In tech, Hauler Hero raised $16M for its AI waste OS, reflecting growing digitalization, while the EU cemented its 2040 emissions target (-90%).

Key Developments

Akaysha Energy Files 1.6GWh BESS Project in Australia

This massive project submission highlights the rapid scaling of grid-scale storage in Australia, demanding parallel investment in future battery recycling infrastructure to manage end-of-life units sustainably.

Texas Sues Over Dumped Wind Turbine Blades

The lawsuit spotlights the critical e-waste challenge of composite materials in renewables, pressuring the wind industry to develop circular decommissioning strategies urgently.

Tennessee EPR Bill Revamped with Exemptions

Adding small business and county exemptions reflects the political balancing act in US EPR implementation, potentially diluting impact but aiming for broader stakeholder acceptance.

Hauler Hero Raises $16M for AI Waste OS

This significant funding signals strong investor confidence in AI-driven optimization for waste collection and recycling operations, aiming to boost efficiency and resource recovery.

EU Lawmakers Approve 90% Emissions Cut by 2040

This binding target dramatically accelerates pressure on all industries, including waste and recycling, to decarbonize operations and supply chains, making circular strategies essential.

Birmingham Bin Strikes Extended to September

The prolonged strike action cripples local waste services, highlighting systemic labour tensions in municipal waste management and risking increased fly-tipping and recycling contamination.

TOP Today's Stories

Energy Storage News • 02:44

Akaysha Energy submits 1.6GWh BESS to Australia’s EPBC Act

Developer Akaysha Energy has submitted a 1.6GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project to Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Co...

Resource Magazine • 23:51

Report calls for large-scale secondary sorting to address flexible packaging recycling gap

Alliance to End Plastic Waste report maps recycling challenges and circularity enablers for flexible packaging across Europe and North America, propos...

E-Scrap News • 23:23

Texas sues over dumped wind turbine blades

The state attorney general sued Global Fiberglass Solutions over alleged illegal storage and disposal of all turbine blades at two sites, seeking pena...

Resource Magazine • 20:13

Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strikes past May elections into September

Industrial action mandate now runs to September as Unite and Birmingham City Council remain at impasse over WRCO role elimination and pay terms affect...

Waste360 • 18:00

Hauler Hero Raises $16M Series A to Build the First AI-Powered Waste Management Operating System

Hauler Hero, an all-in-one tech platform that helps waste management companies scale their businesses, today announced $16M in Series A funding led by...

Market Snapshot

The energy storage sector is surging (Akaysha, Energy Vault, Samsung SDI), driving demand for critical minerals and future recycling capacity. Policy remains a key market shaper, with EPR evolving (Tennessee exemptions), emissions targets tightening (EU 2040), and enforcement increasing (Texas blades lawsuit). AI investment (Hauler Hero) and labour disputes (Birmingham) highlight operational pressures. The focus is shifting towards securing supply chains (sodium-ion, solid-state advances) and managing end-of-life waste streams (blades, flexible packaging).

By Category

Tomorrow's Watch

Watch for reactions to the EU's 2040 target and potential ripple effects on corporate ESG strategies. Monitor developments in the Texas turbine blade lawsuit, which could set precedents for renewable waste liability. Track progress on sodium-ion BESS deployment following Energy Vault's deal.

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Published: 11 Feb 2026, 09:01