SoftBank Group is piloting AI-controlled cellular base stations powered by solar panels and a 3 kW wind turbine in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. The system reduces energy use while maintaining service quality by storing excess power in batteries and switching to the grid when needed. AI manages the station's "sleep" mode to lower power consumption during low communication traffic, making it suitable for deployment in remote areas. The compact design and AI analysis allow for a broader selection of cells without compromising communication quality. SoftBank plans to expand testing of the wind- and solar-powered base stations in the future.
Category: Buildings
Cut Emissions:
– Shift Energy Sources
-
Jackery Brings Creativity & Design To Solar & Energy Storage
Jackery showcased their new solar-integrated home batteries and innovative solar products at CES, including the HomePower 3600 Plus, solar roof tiles, and the Solar Gazebo. The gazebo, with 2 kW of panels, offers roughly 10 kWh of energy production per day and can be combined with storage systems for backup power, priced in the $12-15,000 range. While not a replacement for utility-scale generation, these products offer creative solutions for specific consumer needs and drive mass adoption through innovation and design. The potential of electrification in products like solar garages and EV charging stations is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of catering to different needs to accelerate clean electrification adoption.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/16/jackery-brings-creativity-design-to-solar-energy-storage/
-
Australian households add record amounts of rooftop PV, as home battery installations top 4.3 GWh
In December, Australian households and small businesses saw a surge in rooftop solar capacity and home battery installations, adding a record 4.3 gigawatt hours of storage capacity in 2025. The market was booming for both residential and commercial scale rooftop systems, with a record monthly capacity of 328 megawatts added in December alone. The home battery market thrived, with 42,000 new systems registered in December and a total of 184,000 installed in 2025. Changes to battery rebates are expected to impact demand in early 2026, as the average size of rooftop solar systems has increased to 9.64 kW, reflecting a trend towards self consumption.
-
India deploys 37.9 GW of solar in 2025
In 2025, India achieved its highest annual renewable energy additions with a record 37.9 GW of solar and 6.3 GW of wind capacity. Solar installations saw a significant increase of 54.7%, mainly driven by utility-scale projects. The growth was fueled by the commissioning of delayed projects, accelerated construction efforts, and a rise in domestic manufacturing capacity. Additionally, government initiatives played a key role in driving rooftop solar installations. These developments highlight India's progress towards achieving its renewable energy goals and reducing carbon emissions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/14/india-deploys-37-9-gw-of-solar-in-2025/
-
Chinese scientists push selenium solar cells beyond 10% efficiency
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved a world record for selenium solar cells, reaching 10.3% efficiency, surpassing the 10% threshold for the first time. This milestone was made possible through optimized charge-selective contacts, light-driven crystallization, and post-deposition annealing, resulting in stable devices with a 1.03 V open-circuit voltage. The breakthrough in selenium solar cells, known for their wider bandgap and high efficiency potential, demonstrates the success of careful optimization and strategic combinations by the research team. The device also exhibited minimal efficiency loss after 1,000 hours of testing, highlighting its promising future in the development of efficient solar energy solutions.
-
Handbook for Livable and Resilient Cities : Integrating Hazard and Risk Information into Urban Planning
Rapid urbanization has led to environmental, social, and economic challenges in cities worldwide, including increased exposure to extreme weather events and pollution. Governments must work together to improve urban livability and resilience through risk-informed urban planning. Livable and resilient cities promote green urban growth, social inclusion, and shared prosperity while focusing on reducing the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. Planned and sustainable growth in these cities ensures access to healthy environments, affordable housing, basic services, and low-carbon transportation.
-
Panasonic’s AI Strategy Enters the Implementation Phase: Real-World Impact for Better Future Showcased at CES 2026
At CES 2026, the Panasonic Group showcased a range of AI and advanced technology solutions, focusing on workplace, wellness, and environmental solutions. These included innovations such as a smart aging-care solution, RizMo biorhythm monitoring device, and perovskite solar cells for renewable energy generation. The company also introduced an automatic home appliance disassembly system to improve recycling efficiency, demonstrating their commitment to building a sustainable future through innovative technology solutions. Panasonic's comprehensive manufacturing capabilities are being leveraged to support the evolving needs of AI infrastructure, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact in data centers.
-
This Startup Retrofits Buildings Using As Few New Materials As Possible
GeoStruXer, a startup in Bahrain, used innovative engineering solutions to stabilize a grain warehouse in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, known for its unstable geological conditions. By reducing the need for new materials and potential carbon emissions, the startup maintained the structure in an effective and sustainable way. Instead of installing 2,700 stabilizing micropiles as initially proposed, GeoStruXer used satellite technology and InSAR to accurately measure ground deformation and address the shifting of the building. This approach showcased the importance of understanding incremental shifting over time in engineering solutions for climate resilience. Additionally, GeoStruXer's use of AI and satellite data to model ground deformation accurately not only reduced the number of micropilings needed but also saved materials, costs, and minimized carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring the structure's sustainability for another 10 years. This approach is being applied in various projects to reduce material use, minimize cumbersome methods, and maximize structural performance, ultimately avoiding the emissions involved in building new structures. GeoStruXer's recognition with the Bentley-Envision award for sustainable infrastructure highlights the importance of integrating software like GeoStruXer to eliminate inaccurate assumptions, leading to reduced costs, materials, and emissions in construction projects. Bentley Systems' introduction of a sustainability award category further emphasizes the significance of evaluating the environmental, social, and economic impacts of projects, with GeoStruXer scoring the best in sustainability out of all 270 entrants in Bentley's infrastructure awards categories.
-
MOCHI Blocks 90% Of Heat Transfer In Windows
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new material called MOCHI, which is a thin coating that can be applied to windows to allow light in while reducing heat transfer by 90%. Made of a silicone gel with tiny air bubbles, MOCHI is long-lasting, transparent, and could revolutionize energy efficiency in buildings. This clear-but-insulating material could trap heat from sunlight for sustainable energy production and has a thermal transmittance that beats conventional windows by a large margin. While the potential impact on global energy demand is revolutionary, the mass production feasibility of MOCHI is still uncertain due to the time-consuming manufacturing process.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/07/mochi-blocks-90-of-heat-transfer-in-windows/
-
Some Ho, Ho, Hopes for 2026 and Beyond
In 2026 and beyond, advancements in clean energy, climate action, and innovation offer hope for addressing climate change. Key themes include focusing on the business case for clean energy, increasing public funding for climate technologies, utilizing AI for innovation and energy efficiency, accelerating deployment of low-carbon energy, and promoting electrification for global decarbonization. The need for year-round, real-economy action and increased climate ambition is emphasized, along with the importance of collaboration and sharing knowledge in the pursuit of climate solutions.
https://speedandscale.com/newsletter/some-ho-ho-hopes-for-2026-and-beyond/