Climate Change Solutions Update

Author: Cleantechnica

  • Cows, Jamaica, & Solar — Winning The Clean Energy Revolution

    Agrivoltaics, the combination of solar and farming, is a beneficial practice that can provide financial benefits for farmers. Solar farms using sheep for vegetation control have been successful, with the sheep's excrement serving as fertilizer. Silicon Ranch is pioneering the combination of cattle and solar energy, introducing a system called CattleTracker to ensure the safety of both the animals and the solar panels. Solar grazing, a practice where livestock graze on land underneath solar panels, is being implemented by companies like Silicon Ranch to address greenhouse gas emissions from cattle farming. In the Caribbean, solar energy and battery storage systems are being increasingly used to provide electricity during and after hurricanes, with Jamaica aiming to reach 50 percent solar power by 2030.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/11/cows-jamaica-solar-winning-the-clean-energy-revolution/

  • BasiGo Opens 3 New Electric Bus Charging Hubs In Nairobi Capable of Charging 100 Buses A Day!

    BasiGo is expanding its operations in Nairobi by providing locally assembled electric buses to bus operators through their Pay-As-You-Drive model, with plans to launch three new depots featuring DC fast chargers capable of charging up to 100 buses daily. Kenya Power is partnering with BasiGo to increase electric vehicle charging stations in Nairobi, aiming to accelerate the adoption of electric buses and reduce emissions from the transport sector. The article emphasizes the importance of African governments creating supportive environments for electric mobility companies to thrive, promoting sustainable transportation solutions and clean energy practices to reduce carbon emissions in the region. By utilizing renewable electricity to power electric vehicles, Kenya can significantly reduce its fuel imports and trade deficit, while advancements in solar and battery technology make it feasible to set up solar- and battery-powered charging hubs to complement the grid supply and lower costs.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/10/basigo-opens-3-new-electric-bus-charging-hubs-in-nairobi-capable-of-charging-100-buses-a-day/

  • How Will Boston And Other Coastal Cities Fight Sea Level Rise?

    The Seaport District in Boston is facing increasing threats from sea level rise and flooding, with nearly all built structures at risk by 2050. Boston is collaborating with communities, nonprofits, government, scientists, and philanthropists through the Climate Ready Boston initiative to invest in coastal resilience projects. The city's Office of Climate Resilience is designing infrastructure to protect vulnerable areas like the Mario Umana Academy in East Boston. A proposed "Make Polluters Pay" bill in Massachusetts aims to hold major emitters accountable for climate damage costs, with bipartisan support for the idea of oil and gas companies paying into a superfund for climate adaptation projects. The increasing frequency of disasters is driving up costs for average people, leading to a belief that oil and gas companies should pay their fair share.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/09/how-will-boston-and-other-coastal-cities-fight-sea-level-rise/

  • Hydrogen, Measured Properly: What 2,000 Projects Reveal About Its Climate Value

    A study in Nature Energy has found that hydrogen makes sense in a few industrial applications but little else, with most of today's hydrogen being used for fertilizer, refining, and methanol. The study examined about 2,000 existing and planned hydrogen projects and found that if all were built, they would produce about 110 million tons of hydrogen per year with significant emissions. The researchers suggest that hydrogen should replace dirty hydrogen in existing markets rather than creating new applications. Sectors like steel, biofuels, and ammonia have the best climate returns per kilogram of hydrogen used, but alternatives like electric arc furnaces and biomethane based DRI may be cheaper and easier to scale. Ammonia fertilizer produced with green hydrogen can support the generation of biofuel through increased crop yields, while carbon capture has a narrow role in low-carbon options, with the focus shifting towards more efficient use of renewable energy.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/10/hydrogen-measured-properly-what-2000-projects-reveal-about-its-climate-value/

  • Sheep Frolic In Massive New Solar Power Plant

    Solar power plants in Texas are on the rise, with the state leading in wind power and competing for the top spot in solar power. The state's unique economic policy has allowed for the development of large-scale solar projects, such as Enel's GulfStar solar power plant with energy storage. Energy storage systems are being used to enhance the value of solar projects, providing reliability and support to the grid. Solar power plants are gaining support from industries like data centers and high-volume electricity users due to their quick construction and ability to deliver electricity at utility scale. The solar grazing movement is also gaining momentum in Texas, with Enel contracting 6,000 sheep to manage vegetation at solar power plants covering over 10,000 acres. This represents a significant leap for the solar grazing movement in the US, with Enel estimating that solar grazing covered 100,000 acres by 2024. Power plants across the country are creating opportunities for farmers, such as Agrivoltaic Solutions which has expanded to a 500-sheep operation on 1,500 acres of solar sites. State policy makers, like in New York, are taking action to support agrivoltaic projects with a $7 million demonstration and research program. Enel has commissioned its largest solar power plant in the US where sheep will manage vegetation and enhance soil. This initiative showcases the potential for combining agriculture and renewable energy to address climate change.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/07/sheep-will-frolic-in-massive-new-solar-power-plant-in-texas/

  • Old Nissan Leaf Gets About 180 Miles Of Range (Video)

    Old Nissan Leaf owners can increase their range by installing a new battery pack from VIVNE, potentially doubling their range to around 180-200 miles. This upgrade offers a cost-effective solution for those looking to extend the lifespan of their older EVs and avoid purchasing a new vehicle. In addition, VIVNE provides a kit to convert old EV batteries into home energy storage batteries, offering a sustainable energy storage option for homeowners and contributing to a more environmentally friendly approach to energy consumption.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/27/old-nissan-leaf-gets-about-180-miles-of-range-video/

  • Agrivoltaic Movement Pivots To Green Hydrogen

    The global agrivoltaic industry is evolving to include green hydrogen production, providing farmers with a new off-grid fuel and energy storage option. Researchers are studying the profitability and sustainability of integrating green hydrogen production with agrivoltaics, focusing on supporting food systems and producing green hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) charging stations. Co-locating agrivoltaics with water electrolysis to produce green hydrogen is seen as a means of decarbonization and energy independence, with projects like ECHO-WAVE in Luxembourg and federal support for green hydrogen in the US. The Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor has emerged to supply green hydrogen for industrial centers in Europe, with the EU Innovation Fund supporting projects combining agrivoltaic systems with wind turbines. More activity in this area is expected, leveraging infrastructure and resources in low-demand regions to meet the strong demand for hydrogen and renewable energy solutions in the face of climate change and the need to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/27/the-agrivoltaic-movement-pivots-to-green-hydrogen/

  • 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/

  • 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/

  • 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/