Climate Change Solutions Update

Tag: North America

  • An Easier Path To Heat Pumps: Monthly Lease, No Up-Front Cost

    Heat pumps are gaining popularity in the US due to their energy efficiency, with sales surpassing gas furnaces for the fourth consecutive year in 2025. Startups like Quilt are developing more efficient systems and partnering with companies like Palmetto to reduce installation costs and expand rapidly across North America. Programs such as "Power Ahead Colorado" are working to accelerate heat pump adoption by addressing financial barriers and providing contractor training. Partnerships between companies like Palmetto and Quilt are offering monthly plans to make it easier for homeowners to switch to energy-efficient HVAC systems, while organizations like the Building Decarbonization Coalition are addressing permitting obstacles to streamline the process for energy upgrades. The focus on scalability and innovation in the built environment sector is evident in these developments, with companies like Symbium receiving investments to strengthen their leadership in instant permitting.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/05/29/heat-pumps-us-startup-quilt-lease-finance/

  • The U.S. Is Manufacturing a Ton of Grid Batteries

    The United States has made significant progress in producing its own energy storage systems, with batteries accounting for 28 percent of new power plant capacity this year. President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has incentivized domestic battery production, leading to self-sufficiency in grid battery enclosures and cells. By the end of 2025, the US is projected to have the capacity to produce 145 gigawatt-hours of finished grid storage systems annually. The industry now faces the challenge of potentially exporting surplus batteries to maintain manufacturing potential. LG Energy Solution Vertech is leading the rapid growth in grid-battery manufacturing, with plans to increase cell production capacity to 50 gigawatt-hours across North America this year. The Department of Energy is investing $500 million in funding to strengthen battery supply chains domestically, emphasizing the importance of a resilient and responsive supply chain for delivering power quickly. U.S. manufacturing can improve delivery certainty and shorten project timelines, with industrial reshoring seen as a way to protect against geopolitical uncertainties and disruptions caused by the White House. A local supply chain helps protect against U.S.-led disruptions in the global trade.

    https://reasonstobecheerful.world/us-grid-battery-storage/

  • Boralex and SNGRDC commission battery storage facility in Canada

    Boralex and the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation have commissioned the Hagersville Battery Energy Storage Park in Ontario, Canada, with 300MW/1.2GWh of capacity using 334 Tesla Megapack 2XL units. The project aims to stabilize the grid, support renewable energy integration, and align with Ontario's electricity system needs for decarbonization. SNGRDC now holds 1GW of battery storage capacity in North America, with additional projects in development, showcasing a significant step towards climate solutions and sustainable energy practices.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/boralex-sngrdc-commission-battery-storage/

  • Scaling Solar Smarter: Innovation, Supply Chains, & the Future of Clean Energy

    Marty Rogers, General Manager for SolarEdge North America, discusses the future of solar energy in terms of inverter and storage innovation, reshoring critical manufacturing to the US, and sustainability practices. SolarEdge is focusing on strengthening the domestic solar supply chain, practicing sustainability in its operations, and innovating in the inverters and storage space. The company is leading the way in developing intelligent, grid-connected devices that optimize performance and lower the lifetime cost of ownership. Residential solar trends are shifting towards energy independence and resilience, with a growing demand for battery storage and backup capabilities. States prone to outages or high electricity rates are finding solar + storage more attractive due to sustainability mandates, rising utility costs, and new financing models. Grid services and virtual power plants are becoming essential for sharing and monetizing distributed energy while improving grid stability. CleanTechnica offers in-depth analyses and summaries on clean tech topics, with options to sign up for newsletters and follow on Google News.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/20/scaling-solar-smarter-innovation-supply-chains-the-future-of-clean-energy/