AtmosZero, a US startup, is leading the way in developing electric heat pump boilers to replace traditional steam boilers in commercial and industrial operations. These heat pumps are more energy efficient and cost-effective than conventional heating systems. AtmosZero has partnered with companies like R.F. MacDonald and received a grant from the US Department of Energy to further develop their technology. The company has opened a new manufacturing campus and is rapidly expanding its market reach to help accelerate commercial and industrial decarbonization efforts. Quilt is also making strides in the residential heat pump field, attracting numerous partners and expanding into new markets. SHS has partnered with Quilt to offer software-first climate systems, aligning with the trend towards electrification and energy efficiency in the HVAC industry. Gradient is another US innovator in the heat pump field to watch.
Category: Buildings & Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources
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Amorphous silicon-silicon tandem solar cell achieves 12.3% efficiency via new honeycomb-shaped micro-structures
Researchers at TU Delft have developed a novel hexagonal microtextured glass that enhances light scattering by up to 50%, improving optical performance in thin-film silicon solar cells. The technology shows promise for multijunction, flexible, and low-power solar applications, with high light scattering even at near-infrared wavelengths. The use of hexagonal texturized glass resulted in a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 9.3% in a single junction nc-Si:H solar cell and 12.3% in an amorphous silicon/nanocrystalline silicon tandem solar cell. The researchers foresee the technology being used in solar cells for consumer electronics, solar-powered sensors, and off-grid low-power applications, offering a potential solution for increasing solar energy efficiency in various settings.
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The UK has just thrown its weight behind community energy. Australia should too
The shift to renewable energy in regional Australia is met with opposition, but community energy projects like the Manilla Solar Project offer a different approach by involving locals in governance and financing. These projects can bridge polarized communities and provide agency and benefits to residents, filling the "missing middle" in Australia's renewable energy transition. The importance of community energy projects is highlighted, with success stories in countries like Denmark, Germany, and the United States. The UK's Local Power Plan serves as a model for supporting community and local energy projects, emphasizing the need for community participation in energy projects to be embedded in policy and system planning for trust and resilience. Eleanor Buckley advocates for Australia to adopt a similar approach to support mid-scale community energy projects.
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Battery Storage System Replaces Wastewater Facility Diesel Generator
Viridi's recent replacement of a diesel backup generator with a battery energy storage system at a wastewater facility in New York State highlights the cost-saving benefits and improved reliability of such systems. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) like Viridi's offer municipalities a cleaner, lower-maintenance alternative to diesel generators, with federal and state incentives further reducing capital costs. As cities and towns prioritize resilience and budget predictability, the shift towards battery-based systems is expected to accelerate, especially in populated areas. CleanTechnica provides in-depth analyses on clean tech topics, offering insights on the growing trend towards sustainable energy solutions.
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German consortium launches web guide for BIPV planning
Germany's SolarEnvelopeCenter project has launched a web-based planning guide for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), offering standardized design solutions for roofs and facades that meet building codes and industry standards. The collaboration between research institutes, architects, façade planners, and solar companies has resulted in 15 construction principles for BIPV integration, enabling early incorporation of solar elements in projects. The tool includes an input form and online configurator for refining parameters, with information on available products for each construction principle. Additionally, the German Solar Energy Society has developed training courses for industry professionals to effectively utilize the web-based tool.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/20/german-consortium-launches-web-guide-for-bipv-planning/
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Solar Power Used To Charge An EV In The Sub-Arctic
A pilot project in the sub-Arctic successfully used off-grid solar power to charge an electric Subaru, challenging the notion that solar panels only work in hot climates. The portable solar panels and EV charger demonstrated the potential for clean energy solutions in extreme climates, with the technology being versatile enough to charge electric snowmobiles, e-bikes, ATVs, and motorcycles. The local indigenous communities in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions are interested in sustainable transportation and clean energy, driven by their environmental ethic and the challenges of climate change. This project's success highlights the potential for off-grid solar charging in extreme climates and signifies a shift towards green technology.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/19/solar-power-used-to-charge-an-ev-in-the-sub-arctic/
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AI now can now predict solar cell efficiency from wafer quality
Korea University researchers have developed a machine-learning framework that predicts solar cell efficiency from wafer quality, enabling early wafer screening and optimized production paths. The approach combines predictive modeling, process optimization, and explainable AI to support photovoltaic manufacturing. The model uses over 100,000 industrial data points to make data-based decisions and enable intelligent automation in photovoltaic manufacturing. A new machine learning methodology for optimizing process conditions in solar cell manufacturing was introduced in a recent study published in Energy and AI, showing efficiency and rapidity compared to traditional methods. The research group also developed a machine learning model for predicting sheet resistance in solar cell manufacturing processes, offering reliability and interpretability for potential application in various industrial processes.
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Idemitsu switches on 2 MW of solar above rice paddy
Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan has launched a 2 MW agrivoltaics project in Japan, utilizing a movable mounting system to optimize sunlight for rice growth and power generation. This community-based model returns profits to farmers and aims to utilize 5% of the country's farmland for solar facilities. Agrivoltaics have the potential to increase renewable energy capacity in Japan, with research showing benefits for productivity in rice plantations. Recommendations include using double-axis tracking technology and vertical bifacial PV installations with safety measures and land-sharing approaches.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/19/idemitsu-switches-on-2-mw-of-solar-above-rice-paddy/
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Marinus Link and wind farm revival helps green bank smash six-month investment record
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) in Australia invested a record-breaking $6.1 billion in clean energy projects in the second half of 2025, focusing on initiatives like the Marinus Link transmission project, wind energy, natural capital, First Nations communities, transport, infrastructure, property, and climate tech innovation. The federal government provided additional funding for large-scale renewable energy projects, including wind projects like Aula Energy's Carmody's Hill project. Despite attempts to limit investments in wind and solar projects and include gas investments, the CEFC's contributions to renewable energy projects, transmission projects, green loans, EVs, and home electrification are crucial in Australia's race to achieve net zero emissions and combat climate change.
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Risk or Resilience? Congress Can’t Miss Its Opportunity in Major Housing Legislation
The proposed legislation in Congress aims to address the American housing crisis by incentivizing changes to land use laws and speeding up housing development processes. However, concerns remain about the legislation's ability to adequately address current and future physical risks like extreme heat exposure, flooding, and wildfire risk. There is a need for stronger affordability mandates, ongoing funding, and reimagining land use to create a housing ecosystem that meets current and future needs, including those driven by climate change. Congress should prioritize strategies to reduce residential heat exposure, invest in retrofitting housing, establish an Eviction Helpline for tenants, reform disaster recovery policies, and invest in improving existing housing stock to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters and housing challenges in the country. It is crucial for Congress to prioritize affordability, resilience, and climate solutions in shaping housing policy to avoid locking communities into risk.