ConnectDER, a US startup, is retrofitting electricity meters to make clean tech like rooftop solar, home energy storage, and EV charging stations more affordable for older homes. Their meter socket adapters allow devices to plug directly into the meter socket, bypassing costly electrical upgrades. By creating virtual power plants that connect energy-producing and consuming devices, ConnectDER is helping to reduce peak demand on the grid and the need for new infrastructure. With approvals from utilities like ComEd and Ameren in Illinois, ConnectDER's products are streamlining the installation process for distributed energy resources, enabling homeowners to participate in the energy transition and sell stored energy back to the grid. This innovative approach by ConnectDER and other green businesses is accelerating the adoption of clean technology and making renewable energy more accessible and affordable for households across the US.
Category: Buildings & Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources
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Johannesburg Accelerates Net-Zero Vision through C40 Cities’ CAI Africa Programme
The City of Johannesburg is making significant progress in implementing its Climate Action Plan towards achieving net-zero emissions and climate resilience by 2050. Key achievements include advancements in the Energy and Waste sectors, financial integration of the CAP, and institutional alignment for integrated climate considerations. The city aims to divert 100% garden waste from landfill sites by 2040, reduce CO2eq emissions, create jobs, and drive community engagement through micro-grids in informal settlements. The UCAP CAI programme in Joburg is serving as a model for replicable, scalable solutions with real impact, inspiring progress in cities across Africa and beyond. Strong engagement with young people, funding strategies for scaling successful pilots, and the urgent need for accelerated and collaborative climate action are also highlighted as COP30 approaches.
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Memo to LNP: AEMC says slowing renewables, sweating coal, a recipe for 20 pct power price hike
The latest report from the Australia Energy Market Commission (AEMC) shows that electricity prices are set to fall by 5% over the next five years due to the increase in renewable energy resources, but delays in wind generation and transmission projects could lead to a 20% increase in household electricity prices after 2030. The AEMC warns against prolonging the life of coal-fired power stations, as it could add up to 5% to prices. Transitioning to wind energy can lower costs and reduce reliance on expensive gas generation, with the potential to reduce electricity prices by 10% by 2035. The AEMC recommends better coordination of consumer energy resources, doubling rooftop solar by 2035, and a nationally consistent regulatory framework for renewable energy to lower costs and reduce network investment.
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Huawei unveils FusionSolar 9.0 platform with AI, grid-forming tech
Huawei has launched FusionSolar 9.0, an integrated solar-plus-storage platform with smart inverters and AI-driven management to enhance grid stability and efficiency in weak grids with high renewable penetration. The platform includes a kilovolt-class AC system, grid-forming smart string inverters, and an AI layer for real-time analysis and optimization, aiming to transform solar plants into active grid-support assets. Designed for large ground-mounted projects, FusionSolar 9.0 offers high efficiency, protection, and fault localization capabilities, making it a valuable tool for improving stability in weak grids with high shares of renewables.
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Virtual Power Plants Thwart Plot Against Renewable Energy
The US renewable energy transition is unstoppable, with virtual power plants utilizing distributed energy resources like solar panels and home storage systems to manipulate load-shifting and avoid new gas peaker plants. EnergyHub's acquisition of Resideo Grid Service aims to integrate a DER Management system for utility companies. With over 2.5 million DERs in their management roster, VPPs are seen as a fast, cheap, and customer-centric solution to load growth. MIT's EUREICA concept utilizes solar panels, batteries, EVs, and other DERs to respond to grid disruptions, highlighting the shift towards a cyber-physical system in the electricity grid. The smart home of the future can connect to virtual power plants for incentives and protection against cyberattacks.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/02/virtual-power-plants-thwart-plot-against-renewable-energy/
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Civ Robotics unveils AI-powered navigation tool to automate solar construction processes
Giv Robotics and Civ Robotics are utilizing AI-powered navigation systems at solar parks in the US to streamline construction processes and combat labor shortages in the solar sector. CivNav, a GPS sensor box mounted on construction machines, provides operators with precise guidance for the placement of piles, pallets, and PV modules with up to 5 cm accuracy, eliminating the need for manual surveying. This technology has the potential to accelerate construction timelines, reduce staff requirements, and generate daily reports with real-time operational data to help managers identify bottlenecks. Civ Robotics' innovative solutions have already contributed to over 20 GW of solar projects worldwide and are being utilized by major companies in the industry.
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More US States Are Promoting Balcony Solar
Balcony solar is a concept that allows apartment dwellers to generate their own electricity by hanging solar panels on their balcony railings, democratizing the energy supply and reducing utility bills. States like Utah, New York, and Pennsylvania are passing legislation to allow for the installation of balcony solar systems, seen as a game changer for renters and low-income individuals. Despite some utility companies' hesitancy due to grid issues and threats to their business model, the growing interest in balcony solar systems at the state level is a response to federal negativity towards clean energy. Legislation exempting balcony solar systems from interconnection agreements with utility companies, along with a typical break-even point of around 3 years, is expected to make balcony solar more accessible in the future.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/01/more-us-states-are-promoting-balcony-solar/
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Building the perfect perovskite, one layer at a time
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a precise layer-by-layer vapor-phase growth method for halide perovskites, specifically CsPbBr3, on a 2D perovskite single crystal. This advancement could lead to more thermally stable perovskite solar cells, with scalable, solvent-free, and industrially compatible processes suitable for various optoelectronic applications. The research also demonstrated that uniform thickness control allows for tunable band offsets, improving charge transport and recombination dynamics. The team is now focused on integrating these structures into fully functioning devices such as solar cells and LEDs, offering promising solutions for advancing renewable energy technologies.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/building-the-perfect-perovskite-one-layer-at-a-time/
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Ethio Telecom Expands Its EV Charging Network with the Launch of a Third Super-Fast Smart Station in Addis Ababa
Ethiopia has made significant strides in promoting electric vehicles by restricting the import of internal combustion engine vehicles and investing in electric vehicle infrastructure. The country has seen a surge in electric vehicle registrations, with over 60% of new vehicle registrations being electric in 2024. Ethiopia's energy mix is already over 90% sourced from renewables, with projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam contributing clean electricity. Ethio Telecom has launched electric vehicle charging hubs with ultra-fast and super-fast chargers to support the growing electric vehicle ecosystem in the country. This transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy not only helps reduce emissions and improve air quality but also frees up scarce foreign currency resources by substituting imported fossil fuels with locally generated clean electricity, showcasing that electrification is not just happening in Europe but also in countries heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports like Ethiopia.
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Another EV Charging Hub Running On Renewable Energy Launches In California
Terawatt Infrastructure has launched a new fleet charging hub in Rialto, California, with 18 fast chargers for fleet vehicles powered by 100% renewable energy. The hub includes amenities like a driver lounge, license plate recognition for seamless entry, and 24/7 security, part of Terawatt's vision to create a connected, electrified network for EV fleets. Solar power canopies at the hub generate electricity, provide shade, and protect vehicles from precipitation, contributing to emissions reduction. The installation of new EV chargers not only benefits the environment by reducing harmful air pollution but also creates jobs in the EV industry, with Southern California employing 119,200 workers in the sector.