Climate Change Solutions Update

Author: Cleantechnica

  • Electrify America Real-Time Charger Info Now On Google Maps

    Electrify America and Google have teamed up to offer real-time charging station information on Google Maps, enhancing accessibility for electric vehicle drivers. This partnership addresses the need for up-to-date charger status as EV usage expands. Drivers can now conveniently check charger availability, connector type, charging speed, and operational status through the user-friendly Google Maps interface. This collaboration represents progress in making public charging more convenient and efficient for EV drivers, particularly during long journeys.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/27/electrify-america-real-time-charger-info-now-on-google-maps/

  • The Yangtze River Is Becoming the World’s Largest Electrified Trade Corridor

    The electrification of ports and vessels along major river systems like the Yangtze, Rhine, Mississippi, and Mekong is a key step towards a sustainable shipping industry. The Gezhouba, an all-electric bulk carrier with containerized lithium battery modules, showcases the potential for clean energy in inland shipping. Inland ports like Yichang are integrating ship charging into their grid operations, while delta ports like Shanghai and Ningbo are evolving into partial power plants with renewable energy sources. The global trend is towards electrification of inland and short-sea shipping by mid-century, with deep-sea vessels transitioning more slowly. Once reliable electric power reaches these terminals, the transition to clean energy in the shipping industry is seen as inevitable.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/26/the-yangtze-river-is-becoming-the-worlds-largest-electrified-trade-corridor/

  • One Brownfield Down, One Clean Solar Power Plant Up

    Solar power plants are being established as a quick and economical way to add kilowatts to the grid while also preserving farmland and transforming contaminated sites into community assets. The US Environmental Agency's Re-Powering America's Land program aims to harvest clean energy from contaminated sites, with brownfield-to-solar development becoming a mature sector of the solar industry. The Acton project in Massachusetts, utilizing ground screws for secure racking systems, showcases the industry's ability to transform contaminated sites into clean power stations. Terrasmart, a US racking firm, is manufacturing ground screws in-house to support the growth of the solar industry. The Acton project repurposes a contaminated Superfund site for solar energy production, creating local jobs and boosting grid resilience, with energy storage included to optimize the value of solar power for ratepayers. Community solar projects like Acton enable all ratepayers to save money as solar costs have dropped, driving significant growth in the community solar market and integrating with the agrivoltaic market. Despite challenges from the federal government, the demand for solar energy remains strong among ratepayers, with a new solar power plant in Acton, Massachusetts transforming a contaminated site into a community asset.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/04/another-clean-community-solar-power-plant-replaces-a-derelict-brownfield-whats-not-to-like/

  • Maxus eTerron 9 and the “Grid of Tomorrow” Presented at Electric Power Conference

    The CEPSI 2025 Exhibition at the Asia Clean Energy Summit showcased the Maxus eTerron 9 electric pickup truck and advanced charging installation, focusing on vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology. The eTerron 9 serves as a case study in distributed energy resources, with a 102.2 kWh battery pack capable of grid support applications. SP Group demonstrated the charging infrastructure with bidirectional power flow capabilities, offering up to 6.6 kW of external power output for various applications. The exhibition highlighted the potential of electric vehicles as grid-connected energy assets, addressing decentralized power systems and energy resilience discussions at CEPSI 2025.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/03/maxus-eterron-9-and-the-grid-of-tomorrow-presented-at-electric-power-conference/

  • Major Battery Tech Event To Be Held In Spain

    Battery Tech Europe is a new event at Fira de Barcelona focusing on the next generation of emerging battery applications and showcasing European innovation in battery technology. The conference will bring together thousands of energy professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss pathways for solving challenges in the sector and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable energy model. With a focus on grid-scale storage, aerospace technologies, maritime electrification, and other key sectors beyond electric vehicles, the event aims to prioritize European innovation and energy independence. Featuring 5,000 battery professionals, 150 exhibitors, and 100+ expert speakers, the conference will facilitate knowledge transfer of the latest innovations and development policies in the battery technology sector, highlighting advancements in sustainability and technology.

    https://cleantechnica.com/?p=362894

  • First Solar Expands Its CdTe Solar Cell Footprint In The US

    First Solar, a US firm, is expanding its operations to meet the demand for its CdTe solar cell technology, which has advantages in manufacturing costs and durability, leading to an increase in its share of the US utility-scale solar market. The US Department of Energy is promoting CdTe technology as a sustainable and economical form of photovoltaic technology, with a focus on efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, a research team at New York University developed a method to prevent damage to solar cells during manufacturing, increasing their electrical output by 13% and overall power generation. With supportive federal policies, the US solar industry could further benefit from advancements in CdTe technology, making solar energy the least expensive and fastest way to add power generation capacity to the nation's grid.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/01/first-solar-expands-cdte-solar-cell-manufacturing-footprint-in-us/

  • Golden Week Goes Electric: China’s Holiday Travel Becomes a Showcase for the Clean Economy

    During China's Golden Week holiday, gasoline demand fell 9% year over year while the number of electric or hybrid vehicle trips rose sharply, with one in five car journeys made in electrified vehicles. The shift towards electrified transportation is evident in the country's infrastructure and cultural practices, with rail travel hitting record levels and the number of charging ports doubling. China's 15th Five-Year Plan outlines a "green transformation" of the economy with goals of peak carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, emphasizing grid flexibility and storage integration. The plan also highlights the importance of clean electricity and grid support, with a focus on self-reliance in critical minerals to support the electrified economy. Overall, the direction of travel towards a more sustainable energy system is clear, with Golden Week travel patterns reflecting the progress of China's energy transition.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/01/golden-week-goes-electric-chinas-holiday-travel-becomes-a-showcase-for-the-clean-economy/

  • Singapore and Sweden Strengthen Energy Partnership at SIEW 2025

    The Energy Market Authority of Singapore and the Swedish government have established a bilateral energy forum to enhance clean energy cooperation, focusing on areas such as hydrogen supply chains, grid technologies, energy efficiency, and cross-border electricity trading. The partnership includes the deployment of HVDC transmission technology to integrate into the ASEAN Power Grid architecture. Challenges include significant financial commitments for HVDC interconnection and hydrogen infrastructure development, with success measured by tangible outcomes like project finance commitments and operational hydrogen supply chains. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch emphasize the strategic significance of the forum in advancing innovation and accelerating the green transition towards a sustainable energy future.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/01/singapore-and-sweden-strengthen-energy-partnership-at-siew-2025/

  • Illinois Passes Clean Energy Bill Expected to Save Residents $13 Billion

    Illinois legislators have passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which is expected to lead to the buildout of 3 gigawatts of battery storage and the creation of a Virtual Pilot Program. The bill aims to save Illinois families and businesses $13 billion on their electricity bills over the next 20 years. The Solar Energy Industries Association praised the bill for its focus on solar, storage, and a Virtual Power Plant program, which will create jobs and empower Illinois residents. Governor Pritzker is expected to sign the bill into law, showcasing Illinois as a leader in clean energy policy.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/30/illinois-passes-clean-energy-bill-expected-to-save-residents-13-billion/

  • BMW Closes In On The Solid State EV Battery Of The Future

    BMW, in collaboration with Solid Power and Samsung SDI, is working on developing a solid state EV battery that replaces the conventional liquid electrolyte with solid materials, offering benefits such as increased safety, lighter weight, longer lifespan, and improved performance for electric vehicles. Other companies like QuantumScape and Toyota are also making advancements in this area, with a focus on using earth-abundant materials like sulfides as an alternative to ceramics in solid state batteries. The US is working on securing its EV battery supply chain, including extracting critical materials like lithium from oil and gas drilling wastewater, with ARPA-E launching a $25 million funding round for new extraction technologies. Columbia University has received funding to recover lithium and magnesium from wastewater, highlighting the importance of sustainable energy storage solutions. Solid Power's contribution of a sulfide-based electrolyte to the new solid state EV battery demonstrates ongoing efforts towards more efficient and environmentally friendly energy storage solutions.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/30/bmw-is-one-step-closer-to-the-solid-state-ev-battery-of-the-future/