THE EDIT
Your monthly briefing on the journey to fossil freedom
Issue #30 The flexible grid, February 2026
Klas Boman is leading the vehicle-to-grid revolution from his home in Hudiksvall, Sweden. Photo: Madeleine Engberg
When cars take charge – the case for vehicle-to-grid
What to know: In a live pilot project, electric cars are doubling as energy storage units for residents in this housing association in Sweden. Using vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G), electricity can be stored in car batteries and released back to homes or the local grid when it is needed most, with significant potential economic upside.
Why it matters: Millions of electric cars spend most of their time parked. Connecting those idle batteries to the power system could unlock vast, flexible storage right where demand exists – from homes and workplaces to supermarkets and public transport depots. As electricity demand rises and weather-dependent production grows, V2G offers a way to strengthen resilience, lower costs and keep energy local.
Wieringermeer wind farm, the Netherlands. Photo: Vattenfall/Sander Bel
Modern wind power is built to flex
Is your view on wind power outdated? Many perceptions of wind power are shaped by how the technology looked a decade or more ago. Today, modern wind farms play an active role in keeping the electricity system stable, delivering system services that help balance supply and demand. With fast-response turbines and direct links to flexibility markets, wind power can now adjust output within minutes as conditions change.
Flexibility pays off
SolarPower Europe has launched a new EU strategy for increased flexibility. The organisation claims that increased flex capacity (e.g. battery storage, smart EV charging and flexible industrial loads) could cut electricity costs with 25 per cent by 2030 and reduce fossil fuel imports by 130 billion euros per year. Without more flexibility EU will be stuck with bottlenecks, forced output reductions, and expensive reserve capacity. Read more about Solar Power’s EU strategy for flexibility.
Photo: Vattenfall/Daniel Reinhardt
Large batteries make a big difference
As wind and solar scale up, large battery storage is finally moving from promise to practice. Grid-scale batteries are now being built faster, bigger and cheaper, able to absorb surplus production and release power within seconds when the system tightens. What was once a niche technology is quickly becoming one of the most practical tools for managing volatility in Europe’s electricity system.
News flash
3 x quick updates from the energy world
Photo: Adobe
Church of net zero
800 years after the building of St Mary’s Church in Essex, it has installed its first heat pump. The initiative is part of the Church of England’s goal to reach net zero by 2030. (wired.com)
Photo: AI-generated
Under the sea
In a new project using sea water for cooling, China plans to place a data center below the ocean surface. Will it be – like Sebastian sang in The Little Mermaid – “better down where it’s wetter”? (wired.com)
Photo: Vattenfall
Year of renewables
Science’s annual award, “Breakthrough of the Year,” for 2025 has been given to renewable energy. That seems about right after a year in which renewables surpassed coal as a source of electricity. (science.org)
And finally …
Under the panels – the lake
Where you put floating solar panels matters. In a study from Oregon State University and the US Geological Survey, floating photovoltaic panels have been placed on eleven different reservoirs to study the environmental effects, reports Phys. The study shows that local conditions are important for the outcome. Sometimes when panels cover parts of the water surface they can cut evaporation as well as boost clean power. Other times, the floating solar can disturb ecosystems. The conclusion is: the design needs to take into account not only the relation to the sunshine, but also the biology of each watercourse.