Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Electricity

Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System

Jackery Brings Creativity & Design To Solar & Energy Storage

Jackery showcased their new solar-integrated home batteries and innovative solar products at CES, including the HomePower 3600 Plus, solar roof tiles, and the Solar Gazebo. The gazebo, with 2 kW of panels, offers roughly 10 kWh of energy production per day and can be combined with storage systems for backup power, priced in the $12-15,000 range. While not a replacement for utility-scale generation, these products offer creative solutions for specific consumer needs and drive mass adoption through innovation and design. The potential of electrification in products like solar garages and EV charging stations is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of catering to different needs to accelerate clean electrification adoption.

https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/16/jackery-brings-creativity-design-to-solar-energy-storage/

January 17, 2026
Trump’s offshore wind blockade suffers a third legal blow

A federal judge in Virginia has blocked the Interior Department's order halting construction of offshore wind projects along the Eastern Seaboard, including one off the coast of Virginia, due to lack of sufficient reasoning and emerging national security concerns. The preliminary injunction allows construction to restart while litigation continues, as delays have already led to significant costs and will impact energy delivery to the region, including military facilities and data centers. Dominion, an energy company, is challenging the pause in court, but the government is withholding classified information. This decision follows similar rulings in favor of offshore wind projects in New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, highlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding renewable energy development.

https://www.eenews.net/articles/trumps-offshore-wind-blockade-suffers-a-third-legal-blow/

January 17, 2026
Sodium-ion batteries gain momentum: Unigrid launches commercial deliveries as Altris, Draslovka forge Europe’s first supply chain

Unigrid, the first company outside of China to export sodium-ion batteries at scale, has launched commercial deliveries with a cost-efficient manufacturing model that enables rapid scaling without the need for building its own factory. With a tenfold expansion of global manufacturing capacity, Unigrid aims to reach 1 GWh in 2026, relying on Asian production facilities due to underutilization of local factories.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/16/sodium-ion-batteries-gain-momentum-unigrid-launches-commercial-deliveries-as-altris-draslovka-forge-europes-first-supply-chain/

January 17, 2026
SoftBank pilots solar-wind-powered AI-controlled base station

SoftBank Group is piloting AI-controlled cellular base stations powered by solar panels and a 3 kW wind turbine in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. The system reduces energy use while maintaining service quality by storing excess power in batteries and switching to the grid when needed. AI manages the station's "sleep" mode to lower power consumption during low communication traffic, making it suitable for deployment in remote areas. The compact design and AI analysis allow for a broader selection of cells without compromising communication quality. SoftBank plans to expand testing of the wind- and solar-powered base stations in the future.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/16/softbank-pilots-solar-wind-powered-ai-controlled-base-station/

January 17, 2026
UK secures 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity in Allocation Round 7

The UK Government's AR7 auction has secured 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, expected to power over 12 million homes with clean electricity, resulting in £3.4bn in private investment. The Clean Industry Bonus focuses on enhancing domestic supply chains and manufacturing facilities, creating up to 7,000 jobs across the UK, with significant employment opportunities in Scotland. RWE secured CfD for 6.9GW of offshore wind capacity, including projects like Norfolk Vanguard and Dogger Bank, with a strike price of £91.2 per megawatt-hour. RWE CEO Markus Krebber announced successful long-term offtake contracts for five projects in AR7 and a partnership with KKR to leverage their investment expertise for offshore wind projects.

https://www.power-technology.com/news/uk-8-4gw-offshore-wind-ar7/

January 17, 2026
Offshore wind halt would do ‘irreparable harm’ to 67 million Americans: grid operator

The US' largest grid operator is pushing for a swift resumption of work on the country's largest offshore wind project. This project is crucial for advancing renewable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions. Climate solutions experts should prioritize supporting and accelerating the development of offshore wind arrays to help combat climate change and transition to a more sustainable energy system. The success of this project could serve as a model for future offshore wind initiatives in the US. It is imperative that stakeholders work together to overcome any obstacles and ensure the timely completion of this important renewable energy project.

https://www.rechargenews.com/policy/offshore-wind-halt-would-do-irreparable-harm-to-67-million-americans-grid-operator/2-1-1929563

January 17, 2026
GES rolls out manganese-hydrogen battery with significant cost edge over lithium-ion

Italian company Green Energy Storage (GES) has developed a manganese-hydrogen flow battery for long-duration energy storage, targeting industrial-scale applications and large renewable energy plants. The battery boasts an efficiency exceeding 75%, a service life of over 10,000 cycles, and a low levelized cost of storage (LCOS). The cost is competitive at €0.02 per kWh per cycle compared to lithium batteries. The battery is expected to be commercially available in 2027 and is based on a flow architecture that decouples energy and power for independent sizing. Manganese was chosen for its abundance, established production chain, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/15/ges-rolls-out-manganese-hydrogen-battery-with-significant-cost-edge-over-lithium-ion/

January 15, 2026
Researchers achieve record perovskite solar module stability under light, heat, and UV stress

An international research team has developed a groundbreaking compound for perovskite solar cells, utilizing a new two-dimensional perovskite interlayer through co-crystal engineering. This technology has shown over 95% efficiency retention after 5,000 hours of exposure to light, heat, and UV stress, with improved stability due to the use of neutral triazine-based molecules. The industry-compatible co-crystal engineering method can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing workflows, addressing a major barrier to commercialization. The research, led by a team from Iritaly Trading Company and EPFL, has been detailed in a publication in Nature Energy, showcasing the potential for industrial adoption and scale-up of this innovative approach.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/15/researchers-achieve-record-perovskite-solar-module-stability-under-light-heat-and-uv-stress/

January 15, 2026
To break its coal habit, China should look to California’s progress on batteries

Batteries are reshaping power systems in the US and China, offering a clean alternative to fossil fuel-powered peaker plants. California's battery fleet set a new record by discharging 11.2 GW during peak demand, while China plans to significantly increase battery storage capacity and reduce natural gas use by 70% by 2035. The US has seen rapid growth in battery storage, with federal policies and incentives supporting the transition away from peakers. Experts suggest that prioritizing battery storage over fossil peaker plants can accelerate clean energy goals, establish market mechanisms, and solidify global leadership in the industry. By shifting to battery storage, both countries can achieve a clean and flexible grid while reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.

https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/01/15/to-break-its-coal-habit-china-should-look-to-californias-progress-on-batteries/

January 15, 2026
America’s new power barons: Who will rule the AI-grade megawatt megasector?

The article discusses the shift towards using a combination of nuclear, natural gas, and solar energy to power data centers in the U.S. as demand for electricity from AI and data centers is expected to triple by 2030. The Department of Energy is scaling back wind and solar grant programs, favoring natural gas as a reliable energy source for these facilities. Developers are reviving natural gas projects and pairing them with solar and storage to meet the demand for reliable and clean energy. The article also highlights the practical obstacles facing the energy transition, such as transmission bottlenecks and permitting delays, emphasizing the importance of delivering firm, scalable, low-carbon power. Private capital is seen as a catalyst for building micro-grids at hyperscale, with a focus on hybrid-power models combining gas, renewables, and storage, as companies aim to master the integration of different energy sources to become the new power leaders in the AI age.

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ai-data-center-power-novus/805494/

January 15, 2026