Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Buildings & Electricity

Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources

  • Hydropower Trips Up Trump’s Fossil Fuel Fantasy

    The completion of the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project in New York City in 2022 has connected ratepayers with clean hydropower resources in Quebec, reducing carbon emissions by 3.9 million metric tons per year and powering 1 million homes with renewable energy. Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the project's completion, solidifying New York's position as a climate and clean energy leader and pushing gas power plants out of operation. The project showcases Hitachi Energy's HVDC Light technology, repurposes former fossil energy sites, and brings economic investments and job opportunities to disadvantaged communities. Additionally, a new report from the Department of Energy highlights the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of battery energy storage systems in improving hydropower facilities, further contributing to the energy transition in East Coast states. President Trump's support for hydropower projects, despite his opposition to other clean energy sources, is noted.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/17/hydropower-transmission-new-york-energy-policy/

  • “Electro-tech super-levers:” How solar, batteries and EVs are beating out gas and oil across Asia

    Ember's report highlights how firmed solar is now cheaper than new gas power capacity in Asia, and electrifying road transport could save $US300 billion in oil imports. Asia's dependence on fossil fuel imports costs $US1.1 trillion annually, despite having vast solar and wind resources. The region's manufacturing dominance in solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines positions it to transition to electrotech and reduce fuel import dependency. Solar plus batteries are already cheaper than LNG in most of Asia, with predictions that they will outcompete LNG everywhere in Asia by 2030. With solar plus battery power addressing the supply side and EVs solving the demand side, Asia could save over $300 billion a year in oil imports and halve its oil imports within twenty years by electrifying its fleet.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/electrotech-superlevers-how-solar-batteries-and-evs-are-beating-out-gas-and-oil-across-asia/

  • Solar tracker pneumatic actuator design study improves efficiency up to 66.4%

    A study in Iraq tested solar tracker pneumatic actuator design, resulting in efficiency increases of 62.3% and 66.4% on test panels for dual-axis solar trackers in harsh climates. The actuators, utilizing double-acting pneumatic cylinders, were found to be well-suited for urban, rural, and rugged isolated solar applications. Additionally, air spring actuation is being highlighted for its cost-effectiveness and simplicity, recommended for urban and rural solar projects in Australia as the country advances into the solar era.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/18/solar-tracker-pneumatic-actuator-design-study-improves-efficiency-up-to-66-4/

  • Perovskite tandem PV for agrivoltaics

    Researchers from Cornell University conducted a life-cycle assessment on integrating advanced perovskite tandem PV into agrivoltaic lettuce production in the US, comparing different technologies with conventional silicon PV. The study evaluated greenhouse gas emissions, water impacts, and potential benefits of agrivoltaics, showing that retrofitting US lettuce farmland with agrivoltaics could have significant environmental benefits. Next-generation agrivoltaics have the strongest potential in water-scarce regions like California's Southern Desert and Arizona, with responsible design transforming farmland into a platform for integrated food production, clean energy generation, and water conservation. The research, presented in a paper titled "Advancing Food-Energy-Water Sustainability with Scalable Perovskite Tandem Agrivoltaics" published in Nexus, highlights the potential of agrivoltaics to simultaneously produce food, generate clean electricity, reduce emissions, conserve water, and ease land-use competition.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/17/perovskite-tandem-pv-for-agrivoltaics/

  • Chart of the Day: Farewell King Coal, long live King Solar (and wind and batteries)

    In 2025, the world saw a significant shift towards renewable energy with 814 GW of new solar and wind capacity installed, surpassing the 158 GW of gross fossil fuel capacity. This transition has resulted in renewables overtaking coal in global electricity production for the first time, marking the end of the era of King Coal. Solar energy is leading the fastest shift in electricity generation in history, signaling the arrival of the age of King Solar, Wind, and Batteries. The trend towards renewable energy is still accelerating, highlighting the importance of continued investment and innovation in climate solutions.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/chart-of-the-day-farewell-king-coal-long-live-king-solar-and-wind-and-batteries/

  • Satellite breakthrough enables accurate panel-scale temperature mapping for solar farms

    A Chinese research team has developed a novel panel surface temperature retrieval model using moderate-resolution thermal infrared satellite imagery to accurately estimate the surface temperature of photovoltaic panels in utility-scale solar farms. The method accounts for the three-dimensional structure of PV arrays, changes in panel area with viewing angle, and the low emissivity of PV panels. By separating PV modules from inter-row gaps within each satellite pixel, the researchers were able to isolate the radiative signal attributable to the PV modules, resulting in a more accurate retrieval of panel surface temperature. Improvements in satellite-derived thermal data accuracy have led to a 3-5% decrease in bias in photovoltaic (PV) power simulation, with a focus on understanding and incorporating shaded gaps between rows of panels. The new approach was presented in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation by scientists from various institutions in China.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/16/satellite-breakthrough-enables-accurate-panel-scale-temperature-mapping-for-solar-farms/

  • Pseudo-planar heterojunction organic solar cell achieves world record efficiency of 20.21%

    A research team from China has proposed a novel interfacial buffering strategy for pseudo-planar heterojunction (PPHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) to improve device stability and fabrication reliability. By incorporating a highly crystalline polymer called D18 as a buffer layer between the donor and acceptor layers, the PM6/D18/L8-BO-based device achieved a superior power conversion efficiency of 19.80%, surpassing conventional devices. Further modifications with a non-fullerene small-molecule acceptor led to an efficiency of 20.21%, one of the highest reported for PPHJ OSCs. The study, published in the Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, offers practical insights for enhancing device performance and morphology regulation in organic solar cells with controlled vertical phase separation morphology.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/15/pseudo-planar-heterojunction-organic-solar-cell-achieves-world-record-efficiency-of-20-21/

  • Powering the Future: Why Energy Justice is a Youth Issue

    The article discusses the barriers young people in South Africa face due to lack of access to affordable electricity, impacting their education, job-seeking, and overall opportunities. The country's reliance on coal-fired power stations leads to air pollution, high electricity costs, and unreliable service. The Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program aims to support vulnerable households but faces challenges in reaching eligible families. The article suggests investing in renewable energy to provide clean, affordable, and reliable power to communities, ultimately benefiting education, employment, public health, and economic opportunity for South Africa's young people. The section emphasizes the importance of ensuring that future generations have access to affordable energy, economic opportunity, and a healthy environment as a right. It highlights the need for action and power to create a better future, rather than just promises. The author calls for building a powerful climate movement with the belief in a safe climate and a better future for all, focusing on creating a just, prosperous, and equitable world through the collective power of ordinary people.

    https://350.org/energy-justice-is-a-youth-issue/

  • World’s largest solar-hydrogen-storage project goes online in China

    China Energy Investment Corp (CHN Energy) has completed construction of the Guohua Rudong solar-hydrogen-storage integrated project in Jiangsu province, which includes a 400 MW coastal PV plant, a 60 MW/120 MWh battery energy storage system, and a green hydrogen production facility. This project, China's largest integrated solar-hydrogen-storage project, is expected to generate 468 GWh of electricity annually and aims to establish an integrated system linking renewable power generation, energy storage, hydrogen production, and downstream hydrogen use. Additionally, the project incorporates coastal ecological restoration measures and is part of China's third batch of large-scale wind and solar power bases.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/15/worlds-largest-solar-hydrogen-storage-project-goes-online-in-china/

  • Australian farmers call for on-farm electricification and clean tech support

    The Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) report, Energy Sovereignty for Regional Australia, advocates for the switch to locally produced, lower cost energy and sustainable biofuels in the agricultural sector. It emphasizes the need for accelerating electrification of farm equipment, such as irrigation and processing machinery, to reduce costs and increase energy security. The report calls for sensible tax policy reform to drive electrification technology while protecting farmers and associated industries. Highlighting the feasibility of using solar PV and battery storage for electric tractors, the report suggests policy support and incentives to accelerate the shift towards more sustainable practices in agriculture. Overall, the shift towards clean energy and electric machinery is seen as a major opportunity to cut costs and increase resilience in the agricultural sector.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/15/farmers-call-for-on-farm-electricification-and-clean-tech-support/