Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Buildings & Electricity

Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources

  • How my perfectly ordinary house became a small power station

    The increasing trend of Australian households adopting solar and battery systems, accelerated by federal rebates, is changing the relationship between consumers and the electricity network. Policy makers are adapting to this shift by designing tariffs and incentives that reflect the changing energy landscape. The detailed installation process of solar panels and battery systems, along with the trend of larger residential battery installs, highlights the importance of finding professional installers and considering factors like roof orientation and electricity tariffs. The transition from consumer to prosumer of energy, with the ability to generate, store, schedule, and export electricity, has environmental, economic, and behavioral implications for households and the energy system. The real-world process of installing and living with residential household and battery storage, sponsored by Sungrow and AIKO, showcases the equipment used and the expertise of individuals like Sam, the Chief Operating Officer for Renew Economy and EV Media.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/how-my-perfectly-ordinary-house-became-a-small-power-station/

  • Moves afoot to bring balcony solar to Australia, and new wave of products has batteries included

    Efforts are underway in Australia to enable renters and apartment dwellers to install solar and battery systems on their balconies, following examples from Europe, India, South Korea, and Utah. The main challenge lies in changing regulations to ensure safety and compliance with electrical standards, with testing being conducted on balcony batteries for backup power during outages. Various organizations and governments are working to overcome legal and regulatory barriers to make plug-in balcony solar and batteries a reality in Australia. Advocates are pushing for regulatory changes to make balcony solar more accessible, highlighting benefits such as running critical devices during power cuts and tapping into dynamic tariff pricing. Despite challenges like outdated technology and conservative committees, there is potential for government intervention to drive progress towards clean energy solutions in Australia.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/moves-afoot-to-bring-balcony-solar-to-australia-and-new-wave-of-products-has-batteries-included/

  • Electrification is outpacing investment. A federal trust fund could close the gap.

    The article emphasizes the need for significant investment in the U.S. energy system to meet ambitious climate goals, with a projected $578 billion shortfall over the next 10 years. Drawing parallels to the Federal Highway Program, it highlights the success of the Highway Trust Fund in funding infrastructure projects and suggests a similar user-based funding mechanism for the electrical system transition. The importance of a federal trust fund for energy infrastructure is discussed, with a focus on enhancing generation, transmission, and resiliency to mitigate the impacts of climate change and increased demand. The success of this project hinges on acknowledging the national nature of the U.S. energy system and providing long-term funding certainty through a federal trust fund.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electrification-is-outpacing-investment-a-federal-trust-fund-could-close-t/808024/

  • SolarAfrica raises $94m for 114MW SunCentral 2 solar project

    SolarAfrica has secured financing for its SunCentral 2 solar project in South Africa, expected to deliver electricity by 2026 as part of a larger initiative to expand access to clean energy through utility-scale renewable generation and a flexible wheeling delivery system. SunCentral 2 is one of several projects aiming to reach a total capacity of 1GW, making it one of the largest solar initiatives in South Africa. The project includes community upliftment initiatives focused on job creation, education, and skills development, with SolarAfrica's overall wheeling pipeline spanning 3GW under development nationwide to enhance the strength of the national grid and support future renewable energy connections. This highlights the importance of industry leaders implementing sustainable practices to combat climate change, emphasizing the potential for renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and the need for companies to prioritize environmental responsibility in driving positive change towards a more sustainable future.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/solarafrica-raises-94m-suncentral-2-project/

  • Casa Pueblo Shows Puerto Rico a Path Towards Energy Independence

    Casa Pueblo in Puerto Rico, in collaboration with The Solutions Project, is advocating for the expansion of microgrid ecosystems in communities to address the energy problem and promote climate justice and energy equity. By scaling up from individual solar installations to energy communities of homes, they aim to improve quality of life and coexistence while making a real impact on the environment. The executive director stresses the importance of government investment in these solutions to achieve their goals of sustainable energy solutions for Puerto Rico.

    https://thesolutionsproject.org/casa-pueblo-shows-puerto-rico-a-path-towards-energy-independence/

  • New York City adopts 2025 energy codes with focus on electrification, efficiency

    New York City has enacted new building codes aimed at promoting energy efficiency, reliability, and long-term cost savings, with mandatory air-leakage testing, enhanced requirements for backup electric heating, and simplified regulatory structures to promote resilience during extreme weather events. The codes, aligned with state codes, will be enforced starting in 2027, with compliance software available in March 2022, expected to provide significant energy savings and improve building envelope performance. The nonprofit Urban Green Council is focused on decarbonizing buildings in NYC through the NYCECC, which includes restrictions on electric resistance heating systems and backup systems, as well as energy efficiency measures beyond the statewide baseline. The NYC Department of Buildings is expected to develop code improvements through performance-based compliance pathways, with building owners already required to meet greenhouse gas emission limits through Local Law 97 and the All-Electric Buildings Law.

    https://www.facilitiesdive.com/news/new-york-city-adopts-2025-energy-codes-with-focus-on-smart-electrification/811111/

  • A New Energy Storage Startup Challenges Tesla In US Market

    Lunar Energy, a US startup specializing in energy storage systems, has secured $232 million in funding to expand its AI-powered energy storage system for residential use. The company aims to help consumers save money on electricity bills by intelligently learning patterns of electricity consumption and utilizing solar energy efficiently. Investors believe Lunar is outperforming competitors like Powerwall with their technology, and they are noted for their Gridshare platform used by Sunrun in various markets. Lunar Energy's CEO, Kunal Girotra, previously worked at Tesla Energy and launched the company in 2020 to help homes become active participants in a smarter, more resilient grid through its innovative energy storage solutions.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/08/us-energy-storage-startup-moves-in-on-the-residential-market-with-another-232-million/

  • State owned utility’s third big battery officially opened, and is “re-rated” to be the biggest in Australia

    Synergy has opened the Collie battery, the largest battery project in Australia with 2,400 MWh of storage capacity, as part of a transition away from coal-fired generators by the end of the decade. This battery will capture wind and solar energy to power homes when needed, contributing to a renewable energy mix. The town of Collie now hosts the two biggest batteries in Australia, solidifying its role in powering Western Australia's electricity system with clean energy solutions.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/state-owned-utilitys-third-big-battery-officially-opened-and-is-re-rated-to-be-the-biggest-in-australia/

  • US solar market positioned for continued growth in 2026

    The US solar industry is experiencing significant growth and job creation, with the global solar industry expected to expand by 2050. Safe harbor provisions are driving project pipelines and domestic manufacturing capacity, making solar the cheapest form of energy with cost declines expected to continue. The trend towards affordable and reliable energy access is benefiting the solar market, with large-scale projects offering low-cost generation capacity. Reshoring efforts in US solar manufacturing are contributing to long-term confidence in solar markets, reducing dependence on foreign entities and supply chains while creating new jobs and guarding against price volatility. Manufacturers investing in domestic operations and onshoring supply chains are well-positioned for success in the face of uncertainty and policy changes, setting the industry up for another record year in 2026.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/09/us-solar-market-positioned-for-continued-growth-in-2026/

  • Battery demand ‘straps on a rocket’ as rooftop solar passes its peak

    Australian households have seen a surge in demand for batteries, with more units installed in the final six months of 2025 than in the previous five years combined, driven by generous federal government subsidies. Rooftop solar panel installations have also grown in size and popularity, meeting 14.2% of the country's electricity demand in 2025. The capacity of rooftop solar now exceeds that of coal-fired generators, with 28.3 gigawatts combined. The government's battery subsidy scheme aims to make the energy grid more affordable and reliable during peak demand times, encouraging stronger participation in virtual power plants by households and businesses.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/subsidies-the-fuel-as-battery-demand-straps-on-a-rocket/106300776