Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Electricity & Industry

Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Shift Production

  • Environmental News Network – Beyond Lithium: New Battery Tech Starts to Break Through

    The demand for batteries has surged with the increase in electric cars and the need for energy storage from renewables like solar. Electric vehicle sales hit 20 million in 2025, making up a quarter of all global car sales. The battery market is rapidly evolving, with a strong emphasis on innovation and research in battery technology. While lithium-ion batteries are currently the norm, new technologies like sodium batteries and solid-state batteries are emerging as potential challengers. Researchers are exploring various battery chemistries in search of new solutions for future energy storage demands.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78143-beyond-lithium-new-battery-tech-starts-to-break-through

  • Argentina awards 700.5 MW of battery storage across critical grid nodes

    Argentina's Energy Secretariat has awarded the AlmaSADI battery energy storage tender, selecting 20 projects totaling 700.5 MW across critical nodes of the Argentine Interconnection System. The projects, representing an estimated investment of $700 million, aim to improve grid reliability, respond rapidly to changes in electricity demand, and reduce the likelihood of outages in regions facing transmission constraints. With strong private-sector interest and 235 technical bids totaling 8,338 MW, the program is part of Argentina's efforts to address operational bottlenecks and relieve constraints in the electricity system.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/09/argentina-awards-700-5-mw-of-battery-storage-across-critical-grid-nodes/

  • Peak Energy to build US sodium-ion storage factory in Sacramento

    Peak Energy has selected Sacramento, California, as the location for the US' first manufacturing facility for grid-scale sodium-ion energy storage systems. The facility is expected to produce up to 4GWh of battery systems annually, with over 6GWh of customer commitments already in place. With a capital investment of up to $71m, the project is set to create 239 new local positions. By using sodium-ion batteries made with domestic materials, the facility aims to lower energy storage costs while creating high-quality jobs in the region, with plans to begin shipping batteries in the first quarter of 2027.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/peak-energy-build-us-storage-factory/

  • Green light for Technip-backed floater project that could halve hull weight

    A new floating wind technology that can reduce hull weights by half will be tested on an 8.5MW pilot project at the PlemCat test site in the Spanish Mediterranean, revolutionizing the wind energy industry. With environmental approvals obtained, the project can proceed, marking a significant step towards advancing climate solutions and transitioning to renewable energy sources. This development has the potential to make offshore wind farms more efficient and cost-effective, contributing to the fight against climate change.

    https://www.rechargenews.com/technology/green-light-for-technip-backed-floater-project-that-could-halve-hull-weight/2-1-2014670

  • With blue economy boom, coastal communities seek to benefit

    At the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, governments and institutions pledged billions for offshore wind, cleaner shipping, and marine protection to promote the blue economy as a source of jobs and climate action. Inclusivity and community involvement are emphasized to ensure sustainable development pathways that respect indigenous knowledge systems and harmony with nature. Lessons from failed blue economy projects highlight the importance of community involvement, rigorous environmental impact assessments, and transparent processes. Blue carbon schemes and offshore wind projects can bring climate and conservation benefits, but must be carefully planned to avoid disrupting marine ecosystems and small-scale fishers' access to the sea. Stronger safeguards and legal frameworks are needed to ensure sustainable ocean-based development.

    https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/07/08/blue-economy-coastal-communities-mombasa-ocean-finance/

  • Software can unlock 300 GW of capacity on U.S. grid without building a single power plant

    The traditional conservative planning model for the electric grid in the United States has hindered the deployment of clean energy by underutilizing infrastructure. Shifting to software-driven monitoring can unlock significant capacity on existing infrastructure without the need for new transmission lines or power plants. Startups like GridCARE are using software to identify and utilize idle capacity, leading to efficiency gains in a matter of weeks. This shift in planning approach is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources and improving grid stability, while also maximizing the value of the existing grid infrastructure to lower costs for consumers and activate latent capacity. Advanced software can help identify immediate opportunities to interconnect new generation and alleviate multi-year queue backlogs, providing a bridge to uncover hidden capacity in the existing system.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/07/software-can-unlock-300-of-capacity-on-u-s-grid-without-building-a-single-power-plant/

  • Ecowende’s 760MW offshore farm delivers first power Dutch grid

    The Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm, developed by Shell, Chubu Electric Power, and Eneco, has been connected to TenneT's offshore grid in the Netherlands and has delivered its first green electricity. The wind farm comprises 52 turbines with a capacity of 15MW each, situated 53km off the Dutch coast. When fully commissioned, it is projected to produce 3.3TW-hours of renewable energy annually, supplying around 3% of the Netherlands' electricity needs. Eneco Wind Offshore Operations will handle the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the wind park, with electricity trading managed by Next Kraftwerke, SEEL, and EET. The project also contributes to grid stability by providing balancing energy services.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/ecowendes-760mw-offshore-wind-farm-first-power/

  • World Bank backs Morocco pumped storage project

    The World Bank has approved $265m in financing for the Ifahsa pumped storage hydropower project in Morocco, which will support the integration of additional renewable generation into the country's electricity system. This project will enable the addition of at least 1GW of solar and wind capacity to the national grid, displacing approximately three terawatt-hours of fossil fuel generation annually and avoiding an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The construction of the project is expected to create around 820 direct jobs annually, with additional employment linked to the renewable energy capacity enabled by the project. The financing package includes lending from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, concessional funding from the Clean Technology Fund, and a grant from the Livable Planet Fund, with co-financing from the African Development Bank and implementation by Morocco's Office National de l'Électricité et de l'Eau potable (ONEE).

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/world-bank-backs-morocco-pumped-storage-project/

  • From Dangote to AirPlantTM One: Factories That Change the World

    The opening of AirPlantTM One, a significant facility in the energy transition, showcases the conversion of captured carbon dioxide, water, and renewable energy into clean industrial fuels, marking a step towards decarbonizing the aviation industry. This project, along with the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria, highlights the shift towards a lower-carbon future and the potential for transforming markets through bold infrastructure projects. AirPlant One, developed by Twelve, emphasizes the importance of physical infrastructure in driving lasting economic change and reshaping industries, demonstrating the deployment of laboratory-developed technologies at commercial scale in the pursuit of climate solutions. The journalist reflects on the ambition and transformational impact of such projects, emphasizing the transition from idea to reality in the ongoing efforts towards industrial decarbonization.

    https://www.twelve.co/post/from-dangote-to-airplant-one-factories-that-change-the-world

  • Medium-voltage series regulator enables 260% more PV capacity in German distribution grids

    A pilot project in Thuringia has successfully installed a compact medium-voltage series regulator to increase the capacity of existing power lines and accommodate more electricity from photovoltaic systems, allowing for around 260% more PV capacity without immediate grid expansion. Thüga plans to offer this technology to distribution system operators across Germany and Europe, with Hitachi Energy manufacturing the devices in Poland. This regulator is viewed as a cost-effective complement to existing grid technologies, potentially saving operators hundreds of millions of euros in expansion costs by 2035. Thüga highlights the importance of system interaction for efficiently integrating renewable energy sources.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/06/medium-voltage-series-regulator-enables-260-more-pv-capacity-in-german-distribution-grids/