Category: Buildings & Electricity

Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
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  • Japanese utility uses Sharp PV-linked home batteries for grid balancing

    Tohoku Electric Power in Japan is utilizing Sharp's residential batteries and AI-powered energy management systems to balance grid demand and optimize household solar energy use. Customers can earn points redeemable for local products through the program, which learns household lifestyle patterns and solar power generation status to efficiently consume generated electricity and reduce electricity bills. The upgraded AI-based system by Sharp links residential solar power systems, storage batteries, home appliances, and electric vehicles for effective use of PV-generated electricity, allowing for remote control of batteries to adjust the balance of power supply and demand.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/04/japanese-utility-uses-sharp-pv-linked-home-batteries-for-grid-balancing/

  • Native American Heritage Month: how Tribal Communities are leading the clean energy transition

    The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project in New Mexico has installed a 27-kilowatt solar array at their youth center with support from Everybody Solar, generating over 48,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually to offset energy use and reduce carbon emissions. This clean energy project allows the organization to redirect energy savings towards expanding cultural education and wellness initiatives for Zuni youth and families, while also fostering community connections and sustainable futures. Tribal Nations, including ZYEP, are reclaiming control over their energy futures to reduce energy burden, insulate themselves from price volatility, and keep more dollars in the local economy, showcasing local leadership and energy sovereignty in action. Native communities are leading the way toward sustainability by investing in clean energy, strengthening cultural identity, expanding opportunity, and ensuring a livable planet for future generations.

    https://generation180.org/blog/native-american-heritage-month-how-tribal-communities-are-leading-the-clean-energy-transition/

  • The Yearly Offer of Action 2025

    Cities around the world are taking bold climate action in 2026 to combat rising temperatures and environmental stress. Adelaide, Athens, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Chefchaouen, Copenhagen, Dalian, Despeñaderos, Fortaleza, Guelph, Hobart, Quito, Rotterdam, Santiago, Tshwane, and Wuhan are implementing various climate solutions such as urban greening, electric buses, renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable infrastructure projects. These actions aim to make cities cleaner, greener, and more climate-resilient while promoting biodiversity and equitable access to nature, accelerating the path to net zero emissions and carbon neutrality by 2050.

    https://www.c40.org/news/yearly-offer-of-action/

  • TSEC unveils typhoon resistant glass-glass solar modules

    TSEC unveiled new typhoon-resistant solar modules, Quantum and Alpha Pro, at the Energy Taiwan trade show with wind resistance ratings of 17 and 14 on the Beaufort scale, respectively. Efficiency ratings for the monocrystalline modules range from 21.5% to 23.2%, designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and corrosion. The company's goal is to combat the damage inflicted by Typhoon Dana on solar panels in Taiwan, offering climate solutions experts innovative technology to address the challenges of climate change.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/03/tsec-unveils-typhoon-resistant-glass-glass-solar-modules/

  • First Solar Expands Its CdTe Solar Cell Footprint In The US

    First Solar, a US firm, is expanding its operations to meet the demand for its CdTe solar cell technology, which has advantages in manufacturing costs and durability, leading to an increase in its share of the US utility-scale solar market. The US Department of Energy is promoting CdTe technology as a sustainable and economical form of photovoltaic technology, with a focus on efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, a research team at New York University developed a method to prevent damage to solar cells during manufacturing, increasing their electrical output by 13% and overall power generation. With supportive federal policies, the US solar industry could further benefit from advancements in CdTe technology, making solar energy the least expensive and fastest way to add power generation capacity to the nation's grid.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/01/first-solar-expands-cdte-solar-cell-manufacturing-footprint-in-us/

  • Bogotá advances towards sustainable and equitable mobility with international support

    Bogotá, Colombia has emerged as a global climate leader through its implementation of sustainable mobility, clean energy, and urban planning initiatives under the Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme. The city's achievements include the Public Pedestrian Policy, urban energy governance model, and La Rolita electric transport system with a focus on gender equity, all contributing to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. By aligning public policy, financing, gender focus, and technical capacity, Bogotá has positioned itself as a regional leader in climate and social innovation in Latin America. The city's commitment to reducing emissions, strengthening capacities, and building a more sustainable and inclusive urban future serves as a milestone in equitable, sustainable mobility and inclusive climate action. International cooperation and high-impact projects are emphasized as key components in promoting a sustainable and equitable future for Bogotá's residents.

    https://www.c40.org/news/bogota-advances-towards-sustainable-and-equitable-mobility-with-international-support/

  • Singapore and Sweden Strengthen Energy Partnership at SIEW 2025

    The Energy Market Authority of Singapore and the Swedish government have established a bilateral energy forum to enhance clean energy cooperation, focusing on areas such as hydrogen supply chains, grid technologies, energy efficiency, and cross-border electricity trading. The partnership includes the deployment of HVDC transmission technology to integrate into the ASEAN Power Grid architecture. Challenges include significant financial commitments for HVDC interconnection and hydrogen infrastructure development, with success measured by tangible outcomes like project finance commitments and operational hydrogen supply chains. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch emphasize the strategic significance of the forum in advancing innovation and accelerating the green transition towards a sustainable energy future.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/01/singapore-and-sweden-strengthen-energy-partnership-at-siew-2025/

  • Putting people at the heart of cities, key to improving urban life

    Bogotá, Colombia is at the forefront of smart city initiatives, focusing on creating fairer, greener, and more inclusive urban spaces through digital transformation, mobility, and sustainability efforts. The city's approach prioritizes people-centered solutions like the TransMilenio bus system and Ciclovía car-free community spaces, showcasing how technology can enhance quality of life and strengthen community bonds. Keynote speaker Carlo Ratti advocates for cities to evolve into "senseable cities" that prioritize people over technology and prioritize reuse, retrofitting, and transformation in the face of the climate emergency. Bogotá's efforts align with a global conversation on sustainable and inclusive urbanization, emphasizing collaboration, learning, and a shared commitment to a more equitable urban future.

    https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166227

  • Cambridge scientists discover photovoltaic properties in organic radical semiconductor

    Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered photovoltaic properties in an organic semiconductor molecule called P3TTM, which has an "open-shell" character due to unpaired electrons, allowing for efficient photon-to-charge conversion in solar cells. The new material enables the fabrication of solar cells from a single, low-cost, lightweight material, potentially increasing overall efficiency. The findings were published in the study "Intrinsic intermolecular photoinduced charge separation in organic radical semiconductors" in Nature Materials, highlighting a promising advancement in solar cell technology for climate solutions experts.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/10/30/cambridge-scientists-discover-photovoltaic-properties-in-organic-radical-semiconductor/

  • Illinois Passes Clean Energy Bill Expected to Save Residents $13 Billion

    Illinois legislators have passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which is expected to lead to the buildout of 3 gigawatts of battery storage and the creation of a Virtual Pilot Program. The bill aims to save Illinois families and businesses $13 billion on their electricity bills over the next 20 years. The Solar Energy Industries Association praised the bill for its focus on solar, storage, and a Virtual Power Plant program, which will create jobs and empower Illinois residents. Governor Pritzker is expected to sign the bill into law, showcasing Illinois as a leader in clean energy policy.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/10/30/illinois-passes-clean-energy-bill-expected-to-save-residents-13-billion/