Access to France's reduced VAT rate for residential solar installations is dependent on the use of low-carbon panels and a home energy management system, such as PvPilot's software. This platform orchestrates household electrical devices in real time based on solar production and consumption patterns, controlling devices like water heaters, batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations. By visualizing energy data and optimizing AC-coupled batteries, the system aims to increase solar self-consumption and enable fully solar-powered operation without drawing from the grid. This B2B2C model offers a comprehensive solution for maximizing the efficiency and sustainability of residential solar installations.
Category: Buildings & Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources
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The Evolution Of The US Floating Solar Industry
The US floating solar industry is growing, with companies like AccuSolar and Noria leading the way in innovative projects and technology. Opportunities for floating solar projects are abundant, including reservoirs, irrigation ponds, and industrial sites. Research shows that careful site selection can minimize habitat conflicts and benefit aquatic life, making floating solar a promising way to increase clean energy capacity while conserving land. Leveraging existing water-based industries and improvements in solar conversion efficiency are key pathways for growth in the US floating solar industry. Contact CleanTechnica for advertising opportunities or to suggest a guest for their podcast, as they provide daily newsletters with 15 new cleantech stories a day.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/16/the-evolution-of-the-us-floating-solar-industry/
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Heat pump sales dipped in 2025. They still beat gas furnaces.
In 2025, distributors faced a backlog of heat pump equipment due to stocking up in 2024, but despite temporary challenges, heat pumps remain the most efficient way to heat and cool homes. The high cost of heat pump systems has hindered widespread adoption, but federal funding and incentive programs are making them more affordable. State and local governments are implementing initiatives such as rebates and lower electricity rates for heat pump owners to promote their usage. The market is transitioning from gas furnaces to heat pumps, signaling a shift towards more sustainable heating and cooling solutions.
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/heating-cooling-sales-us-gas-furnaces
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In The UK, “Power To The People” Is Latest Clean Energy Trend
The UK government is investing up to £1 billion in community-owned green energy projects to democratize the energy system, increase local wealth, and potentially reduce energy bills. The initiative, administered by GB Energy, will support solar, wind, hydro, and biomass projects, allowing communities to own and control clean energy. Additionally, building taller towers for transmission lines in rural areas is aiding the growth of community energy projects, with a focus on keeping profits local to support public services. The shift towards community and publicly owned energy schemes is gaining political support in Scotland and the UK, highlighting the potential for transformative outcomes in the transition away from oil and gas.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/15/in-the-uk-power-to-the-people-is-latest-clean-energy-trend/
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Major capital raise seeks $450 million to “lead New Zealand’s renewable energy future”
Contact Energy in New Zealand is raising $NZ525 million to accelerate its renewable energy development plans, with a focus on infrastructure to support the country's growing electricity demand. The company's recent acquisition of Manawa Energy has added hydroelectric and geothermal stations, a grid-scale battery, and a solar farm to their portfolio. Contact Energy will be constructing a 200 MW/400 MWh battery and a 150 MW solar farm, with ongoing development of other renewable projects. This capital raise will fund further geothermal and solar projects, aligning with efforts to combat climate change and transition to cleaner energy sources for a more renewable, resilient, and affordable energy future.
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Renewables account for more than 55 pct of Spain’s energy mix in 2025, and in first month of 2026
In 2025 and January 2026, renewable energy made up over half of Spain's total energy mix, with wind energy leading the way followed by solar PV. Despite rising electricity demand, renewable production reached record levels, with wind power maintaining its position as the top source of electricity generation. Energy storage technologies played a crucial role in maximizing the utilization of renewable energy sources.
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Illinois coalition proposes ambitious data center regulations
Illinois lawmakers and environmental groups are working on legislation, known as the "POWER Act," to regulate data centers and require them to supply their own clean energy. The measure, supported by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, aims to protect consumers from grid investments and help the state eliminate power sector carbon emissions. Data centers would need to submit clean energy plans and obtain at least 80 percent of their noninterruptible power supply from renewables, batteries, and demand reduction. This proposal is a significant step towards achieving a more sustainable energy system and reducing the carbon footprint of data centers in Illinois.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/illinois-coalition-proposes-ambitious-data-center-regulations/
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BrightNight initiates construction at Arizona’s Pioneer Clean Energy Centre
BrightNight is constructing the Pioneer Clean Energy Centre in Arizona, featuring a 300MW solar power plant and 300MW/1.2GWh of battery energy storage to provide clean and affordable electricity while enhancing grid resilience. This project is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 641,893t annually and save 260 million gallons of water. Additionally, it will create 250-300 jobs during construction and bring in $83.3m in local and state property tax revenue.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/brightnight-pioneer-clean-energy-centre/
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Beyond first-time installations: How Europe’s residential solar Market is shifting toward upgrades and intelligent energy systems
Residential solar PV installations in Europe have declined in 2025 due to market saturation, reduced incentives, and changing consumer behavior. However, momentum is shifting towards complementary technologies such as energy storage, smart energy management platforms, and AI-driven optimization solutions. Prosumers are now prioritizing system upgrades and advancements in decentralized storage to better manage self-consumption and local overcapacity. Installers are also emphasizing seamless integration of ancillary technologies into home automation environments. This shift towards enhancing system performance and control signals a move towards longer-term engagement models for residential suppliers. The section discusses the evolution of residential energy systems, with a focus on the growing demand for self-consumption optimization and energy storage in mature rooftop markets like Germany. There is a shift towards balcony PV and storage systems, particularly among apartment dwellers and urban households. Germany leads in balcony PV adoption, with significant growth in both PV and storage attachment rates. Regulatory easing in other European markets is also expanding access to small plug-and-play systems. Leading brands are innovating to meet evolving customer expectations, with products like AI-enabled storage solutions and home energy networks designed to maximize solar utilization. Installer feedback emphasizes the importance of manufacturers supporting retrofits and seamless integration across energy technologies for sustained market growth. The residential energy market in Europe is seeing a shift towards intelligence, integration, and reliability in products such as energy storage systems and intelligent PV modules. While rooftop PV installations have slowed, there is still active engagement with residential energy technologies, with a focus on long-term reliability and better control over energy use. This shift is reflected in the growing interest in home storage, intelligent energy management, and smaller scale formats like balcony PV and storage. Leading players are responding to this trend by developing innovation-led portfolios to shape the next phase of growth in Europe's residential energy market.