Climate Change Solutions Update

Tag: Vietnam

  • Cooling PV modules with hydrogel-coated paper

    A Vietnamese research team has developed a low-cost passive cooling system for PV modules using hydrogel-coated paper that combines water flow and interfacial evaporation to reduce operating temperatures. Outdoor tests showed temperature reductions of up to 14 C and efficiency gains of up to 16.8%, with stable operation achieved using both freshwater and natural seawater. The system was tested under real outdoor conditions and showed strong performance, with the hydrogel-coated paper maintaining effective cooling even with natural seawater. The novel passive cooling technique enables convective heat transfer through flowing water and dissipation of latent heat via interfacial evaporation, leading to significant efficiency gains for PV panels. The study involved researchers from various universities in Vietnam and aims to scale up the system for real-world use, focusing on optimizing materials for different climates, enhancing corrosion protection, and integrating energy generation with water treatment.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/28/cooling-pv-modules-with-hydrogel-coated-paper/

  • China rolling into U.S. backyard

    Canada is making significant strides in the clean energy transition by focusing on electric vehicles (EVs), with a goal for EVs to make up 90 percent of new car sales by 2040. Africa is experiencing a surge in solar growth, led by countries like South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria. The industry is shifting towards supplier-led climate solutions, with India committing $2.4 billion to scale carbon capture solutions. A breakthrough in sodium-sulfur battery technology has made energy storage cheaper and easier to scale, while investment in next-generation geothermal energy has surpassed $2 billion. Vietnam has launched a $102 million climate finance initiative to protect forests and support climate-smart livelihoods.

    https://speedandscale.com/newsletter/china-rolling-into-u-s-backyard/

  • From Plans to Progress: A Blueprint for Delivering 1.5°C Through the ‘Global Mutirão’

    The Global Implementation Accelerator initiative is helping countries implement their NDCs and NAPs, with collaborative alignment already delivering tangible results. Private capital in Brazil supports forest restoration, while companies like Unilever adopt renewable energy and regenerative farming. In Taiwan, the European Outdoor Group aggregates renewable energy demand, and in Vietnam, companies like H&M and IKEA support grid modernization. These initiatives create win-win situations where countries advance climate goals and companies secure future access to renewable resources.

    https://exponentialroadmap.org/from-plans-to-progress-a-blueprint-for-delivering-1-5c-through-the-global-mutirao/