In 2026, six states, including Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and Colorado, have passed smart solar and storage policies to address rising electricity demand, lower power bills, and improve grid reliability. These policies, supported by SEIA, aim to deploy solar and storage, expand access to low-cost electricity, and save consumers billions of dollars over the next two decades. By investing in distributed energy resources and virtual power plant programs, these states are leading the way in modernizing their electric grids and demonstrating the effectiveness of clean energy solutions in meeting electricity demand, improving reliability, and reducing costs. Other states are also considering similar legislation to advance their clean energy goals.
Category: Electricity & Industry
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Shift Production
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ASEAN Shifts Focus to Battery Manufacturing, Scaling EV Adoption, and Grid Integration
The upcoming 4th ASEAN Battery Technology Conference in Malaysia will focus on transitioning Southeast Asia towards clean energy through industrialization efforts in battery manufacturing. The region aims to move from simply extracting raw minerals to developing a resilient battery industry through domestic chemical synthesis and specialized cell design. The conference will address technical challenges such as atmospheric and thermal management in the tropics, with a focus on lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry for its thermal stability. Strategic partnerships, safety protocols, and advancements in grid-scale energy storage integration driven by renewable energy expansion will also be discussed to advance battery innovation and deployment in the region. Key stakeholders in the energy storage industry are collaborating to align manufacturing processes, standardize safety testing, and deploy engineering talent in Southeast Asia, aiming to strengthen the region's role in the global energy storage landscape.
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Australia sees record surge in solar, wind and battery projects
In the 2025/26 financial year, AEMO reported a record level of new solar, wind, and battery projects entering the National Electricity Market, totaling 9.1 GW / 12.9 GWh of new generation and storage capacity across 34 projects reaching full output, more than double the previous year. Battery projects, including hybrid solar-plus-battery projects, dominated the connections pipeline. Despite challenges in the delivery pipeline causing delays, AEMO highlighted strong performance in supporting Australia's energy transition.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/20/solar-wind-and-battery-projects-surge-to-record-high/
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New Delhi Air Pollution Index Further Pushes for EV Adoption in India
India's latest push towards electric vehicles is driven by air pollution concerns in Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities. The city's winter smog crisis is exacerbated by crop-residue burning, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust. The National Clean Air Programme tracks air quality trends and implements clean-air action plans in non-attainment cities like Delhi. The Delhi EV Policy 2026 aims to allocate funds to accelerate electrification, ban gasoline-powered two-wheelers, and increase public charging points to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality. Delhi's policy aims to drastically reduce vehicular air pollution and position the city as a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The phaseout of gasoline-powered two- and three-wheelers is seen as transformative by experts, as these vehicles contribute significantly to urban emissions. Success will depend on the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure and the affordability of EVs for lower-income drivers. The national government's PM E-DRIVE Scheme complements Delhi's efforts by addressing the affordability barrier to EV adoption nationwide. This coordinated approach highlights India's strategy of framing cleaner transportation as essential to public health and urban air-quality goals.
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VinFast Bets on Entrepreneurs with “Rentapasada” Program in the Philippines
VinFast in the Philippines has launched the Rentapasada program, offering aspiring transport entrepreneurs the opportunity to start a ride-hailing business using electric vehicles with minimal upfront investment. The program includes vehicle access, charging, maintenance, and a dedicated ride-hailing platform, aiming to position electric vehicles as tools for entrepreneurship. With two vehicle models available, VF 5 and Limo Green, Rentapasada provides flexibility for drivers to match the vehicle with their business plans. By lowering capital requirements and addressing energy costs through VinFast's charging network, Rentapasada enables drivers to earn with an EV from the outset, reduce operating costs, and eventually own the vehicle that helped build their business.
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India rolls out first hydrogen-powered train built in the country
India has launched its first domestically built hydrogen-powered train, the "NaMo Green Rail," as part of efforts to expand clean energy use in its rail network. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project, highlighting the importance of self-reliance and sustainable development. The train, consisting of hydrogen-powered driving cars and passenger coaches, operates in Haryana at speeds of up to 75 kph. The pilot project includes hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure to test the technology's viability in reducing carbon emissions and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Hydrogen fuel cells, which power the train, produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water vapor.
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Brilliant AI Solution to High Solar Soft Costs & Overpricing in the United States
AgentSolar AI, founded by Tursun Ablekim, is a new system that aims to address the issue of Americans overpaying for rooftop solar power by using AI to advocate for consumers and ensure they get a fair deal. The platform can analyze proposals, verify installer reputation, and initiate structured negotiations to help consumers avoid overpaying for solar energy. By automating the process of securing better terms for solar buyers through automated emails, AgentSolar AI is working to reduce solar soft costs and drive them down to more normal levels. Progress is also being made on the permitting aspect of the challenge, ultimately helping U.S. homeowners save money and increase access to affordable solar energy solutions.
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Scientists build 31%-efficient indium-free tandem perovskite silicon mini-module via reactive plasma deposition
An international research team has developed an indium-free perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using tin oxide films and a low-damage reactive plasma deposition process, resulting in high efficiency and stability. Published in Science, the research showcases the potential for reducing material costs while maintaining strong performance under various conditions. This breakthrough could lead to low-cost, sustainable, and scalable photovoltaic technologies on a terawatt scale, offering promising solutions for addressing climate change.
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NLR Battery Innovation Awarded NASA’s Invention of the Year
The National Laboratory of the Rockies and NASA have developed the ISC-D, a device that triggers battery failure in lithium-ion cells to study reactions and prevent system-wide failures, recognized as NASA's 2025 Invention of the Year. This innovation has improved battery safety standards for space missions, with KULR Technology Group licensing the technology for embedding in battery cells for enhanced safety testing. Over 80 companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, are using the ISC-D technology, showcasing the importance of cross-industry collaborations in advancing battery safety and thermal management solutions for various applications in vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/16/nlr-battery-innovation-awarded-nasas-invention-of-the-year-2/
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Google’s $3.5B solar project pushes US into new territory
The Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, the largest solar and battery project in America, with 1,600 MW of solar and 1,900 MW of battery storage capacity, has garnered significant attention in the U.S. solar industry. Google's 20-year contract to purchase the electricity output highlights the tech industry's interest in renewable energy, while the project's $3.5 billion price tag and financing from four banks demonstrate investor confidence in the sector. Despite challenges like expired tax credits and logistical barriers, the project showcases the potential for solar and battery storage to meet growing electricity demand and the importance of domestic manufacturing in the clean energy industry. The steel coil used by PACO Steel for fabricating the project's pilings will be made in a way that is beneficial for the climate, further emphasizing the positive impact of the Steel River Energy Center.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/googles-3-5b-solar-project-pushes-us-into-new-territory/