SunCable has reached a 70-year agreement with traditional owners to build a 12,000-hectare solar farm in the Northern Territory, aiming to deliver up to 6 GW of renewable electricity to industrial customers in Australia and Southeast Asia. The project includes economic benefits for the local community, strict environmental protection measures, and highlights the potential for large-scale energy projects developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities. Additionally, the company is proposing to build a large-scale solar and battery energy storage precinct on Muckaty Station, supporting the SunCable project and expanding clean energy infrastructure with a focus on renewable energy solutions.
Category: Buildings & Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources
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World’s largest foldable rooftop PV system comes online in Switzerland
A 3.6 MW foldable rooftop solar installation has been inaugurated at a wastewater treatment plant in Switzerland, making it the largest of its kind globally. The system spans treatment basins, allowing the site to serve dual purposes of wastewater treatment and solar power generation. The project is expected to produce 3 GWh of electricity per year, with most of it consumed on-site. The folding-roof technology, derived from Swiss cable car engineering, automatically retracts during extreme weather events for protection. This innovative project demonstrates a pragmatic and effective way to advance the energy transition, utilizing existing space intelligently for economic efficiency and climate protection.
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Environmental News Network – Concordia Researchers Model a Sustainable, Solar-Powered 15-Minute City
Researchers at Concordia have proposed a new model for urban development that integrates the 15-minute city concept, renewable energy generation, green transportation, and urban agriculture. By transporting urban agriculture with electric vehicles to local outlets, this model aims to revolutionize urban living, eating, and shopping while combatting rising greenhouse gas emissions and fuel prices. The goal is to reduce emissions, build urban agriculture infrastructure, and strengthen community bonds by bringing daily needs closer to residents and minimizing fossil-fuel-consuming trips.
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African Nations Promote Locally Produced Solar Panels
African countries, including Nigeria, are taking steps to lead the renewable energy revolution by investing in local clean energy design labs, research hubs, and manufacturing facilities. Nigeria has signed deals with Chinese manufacturers to build solar panel production factories and is aiming to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by generating 30% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Companies like Salpha Energy in Nigeria are already manufacturing solar systems and electric products, showcasing Africa's ability to produce and export green technologies. With the help of expertise transfer from Chinese companies, African nations are ramping up production and moving towards a future powered by renewable energy.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/17/african-nations-promote-locally-produced-solar-panels/
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Spain allocates €2 billion to expand clean energy and industry programs
Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition has announced a €2 billion funding package to accelerate industrial capacity, expand renewable deployment, and enhance energy resilience. The program, funded through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Facility, focuses on industrial value chain development, renewable energy integration, electric mobility, and innovative thermal solutions. The package extends implementation deadlines and targets initiatives such as manufacturing renewable energy equipment, supporting renewable hydrogen projects, modernizing port infrastructure for offshore wind, and promoting electric mobility. The aim is to advance Spain's transition to a resilient, sustainable, and technologically advanced energy landscape in line with European energy and industrial objectives.
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Fraunhofer ISE builds first perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with copper metallization
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany have developed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with an efficiency of 19.35% using the mask-and-plate copper metallization technique, showcasing the potential for industrial metallization of next-generation solar cells. The method involves inkjet printing a resist "mask" with narrow openings and electroplating metals like copper to reduce shading and improve efficiency. The use of copper instead of silver lowers material costs and improves resource scalability. Additionally, academics have found that using copper in the metallization process does not harm perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, with various technologies developed to reduce the use of silver in solar cells. These advancements were presented in a study published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
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Sunbolt Is Leading On Solar Power Workstations At Educational Campuses
Sunbolt is a company specializing in solar-powered workstations and charging stations, providing reliable off-grid power solutions for vulnerable communities. Their products, including solar tables, seating areas, and charging hubs, run entirely on clean solar energy and have been installed in multiple states and countries. Each workstation generates between 700 watts and 1.4 kilowatts of solar power, helping organizations meet sustainability goals and cut carbon footprints. The units are easy to set up, self-ballasted, and require a flat surface with good sunlight. Overall, Sunbolt's workstations contribute to sustainability certifications and offer a practical solution for clean energy needs.
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MIT researchers develop polymer film that could prevent solar panel corrosion
MIT engineers have developed a polymer coating, 2DPA-1, that is highly impermeable to gases, making it ideal for protecting solar panels and extending the lifetime of perovskite crystals. This material, stronger than steel but much lighter, repels gases such as nitrogen and oxygen with permeability at least 1/10,000 that of other polymers. The unique structure of 2DPA-1 has shown remarkable results, making it a promising solution for protecting infrastructure exposed to the elements. Climate solutions experts should take note of this innovative development in materials science for enhancing the durability and efficiency of renewable energy technologies.
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How are the big wind, solar and battery projects that won CIS deals doing on benefit sharing?
The Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) in Australia is a $70 billion government initiative focused on accelerating investment in clean energy projects, with a strong emphasis on including First Nations people and communities. The CIS incorporates social and First Nations outcomes into its merit criteria and makes them contractually binding, with the First Nations Clean Energy Network tracking progress of 59 awarded projects in areas where First Nations have rights and interests. Proponents of CIS projects are required to actively engage with impacted First Nations communities to ensure equitable participation and benefit sharing, as the government is committed to ensuring First Nations have equitable opportunities, benefit-sharing, and self-determination in the energy transition.
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C40 Cities calls for COP30 to raise ambition and progress plan to phase out fossil fuels
C40 member cities are leading the way in the fossil-free transition by committing to halving fossil fuel use by 2030 and implementing measures such as electrifying transport fleets and creating clean energy utilities. They are taking concrete actions to drive down fossil fuel use, scale renewable energy production, and ensure a fair and inclusive transition away from fossil fuels. Cities around the world are already implementing ambitious climate actions like solar minigrids and clean cooking solutions, with a focus on just and inclusive transitions. National governments must collaborate with cities to create a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels across various sectors and mobilizing finance at scale, ensuring a fair process that includes input from cities, workers, unions, and civil society.