Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Electricity & Industry

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

  • ‘Motherhood further shaped my leadership perspective’

    Margarita Licht, Product Manager at Goldbeck Solar, emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and cognitive styles in the solar and energy storage sector for smarter solutions and effective problem-solving. Energy storage within the solar sector requires multi-disciplinary thinking to address complex challenges like grid balancing and battery optimization. Inclusion and diversity in teams lead to better outcomes, as different backgrounds bring unique approaches to problem-solving. Licht's leadership perspective, shaped by motherhood, highlights the need for diversity in cognitive styles to enhance decision-making processes and drive meaningful impact in the industry. She focuses on creating inclusive environments that value individual strengths and enable different perspectives to contribute to valuable solutions. The article also discusses the importance of aligning technical and commercial decisions at all levels to deliver sustainable infrastructure and reliable energy solutions, with a focus on the participation of women industry leaders and experts at Women in Solar+ Europe, including Margarita Licht.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/03/motherhood-further-shaped-my-leadership-perspective/

  • Green steel is the way forward for Indiana, former steelworkers say

    Former steelworkers in Northwest Indiana are advocating for a shift towards cleaner steelmaking methods to save jobs, create economic opportunities, and reduce healthcare costs. The transition is crucial as outdated blast furnaces may become obsolete, leading to job losses and economic decline. Efforts are being made to modernize steel production, with the acquisition of U.S. Steel's Gary Works mill by Nippon Steel presenting an opportunity for investment in green steel production. The use of Direct Reduced Iron plants, electric furnaces, and green hydrogen could further reduce emissions in the steel industry, which is currently highly polluting. Without investments in clean steel, the city of Gary, Indiana could face worsening urban decay and competition with electric arc furnaces.

    https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/green-steel/way-forward-indiana-steel

  • Rooftop solar reaches 20% of Puerto Rico’s generation mix

    In 2025, rooftop solar capacity in Puerto Rico reached 1.5 GW, surpassing natural gas as the second-largest generation source, driven by electricity reliability issues. Distributed generation resources, particularly rooftop solar with battery systems, have seen significant growth. LUMA Energy, the island's grid operator, is working to transform and stabilize the grid. Distributed battery storage has also increased, reaching a total energy capacity of 2,864 megawatt hours. Despite setbacks like Hurricane Maria, rooftop solar generation has steadily increased, contributing to Puerto Rico's total generation capacity exceeding 7 GW.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rooftop-solar-puerto-rico-generation-mix-eia/816499/

  • What If The US Redirected The Money From The Iran War To Clean Energy?

    The section discusses the potential benefits of redirecting $200 billion from the Iran War efforts towards clean energy projects in the US, emphasizing the importance of investing in renewables for energy security, economic stability, and reduced emissions. It contrasts wasteful war spending with the potential for a Just Transition to clean energy, decentralized grids, and incentives for electric vehicles. The article also highlights the low operating costs and stability of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, stressing the need for government intervention in funding research and innovation for electrification. Innovations in the EV battery sector, shared charging hubs for heavy-duty trucks, and submersible hydropower in the Great Lakes region are discussed as key solutions for climate action, along with grid enhancements and free training for clean energy installers. The focus is on the importance of shifting towards a clean energy paradigm for a more sustainable and secure future, showcasing the positive trend towards sustainable energy solutions in the US.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/04/02/what-if-the-us-redirected-the-money-from-the-iran-war-to-clean-energy/

  • Finnish delight: how the world’s happiest country decarbonized its power sector

    Finland has been ranked as the world's happiest country for the ninth year in a row and has also achieved a significant decline in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the power sector. The country has seen a nearly 80% reduction in emissions from electricity generation between 2016 and 2025, with structural changes such as the phaseout of fossil-fueled electricity generation and increased use of nuclear and wind power leading to a nearly 95% carbon-neutral electricity mix. Finland has ended Russian gas imports, expanded its nuclear and wind power capacity, and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The enactment of the Climate Change Act in 2022, the opening of Europe's largest nuclear reactor, increased wind generation, and the closure of the last active coal plant in 2025 have all contributed to significant emission declines, making Finland a global example of effective decarbonization despite a growing economy and population.

    https://climatetrace.org/news/finnish-delight-how-the-world-s-happiest-country-decarbonized-its-power-sector

  • UNSW study finds tracker-based PV systems experience higher UV degradation than fixed-tilt arrays

    New research from the University of New South Wales highlights the significant impact of UV radiation on PV module degradation, with tropical and desert regions facing the highest stress. The study emphasizes the need for climate-specific testing and system design to accurately assess reliability. The researchers developed a global UV irradiance model that shows varying degradation rates based on deployment location and system design. Single-axis tracking systems in high-irradiance regions can experience up to 1.5 times more UV radiation and higher degradation rates compared to fixed-tilt installations. The study underscores the importance of considering UV exposure, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric conditions in assessing PV module performance. The article discusses the impact of UV-induced degradation on photovoltaic systems in arid and tropical climates, with rates reaching about 0.25-0.35% per year. A high-precision model to estimate UV radiation in PV systems was presented in the paper "Closing the UV-Induced Photodegradation Gap Through Global Scale Modeling of Fixed Tilt and Tracking Photovoltaic Systems." The study aims to connect fundamental degradation mechanisms with system-level impacts, combining accelerated testing with modeling to quantify energy yield losses in diverse climates and system designs. This research is part of a broader effort to understand how degradation affects real-world energy production in photovoltaic systems.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/02/unsw-study-finds-tracker-based-pv-systems-experience-higher-uv-degradation-than-fixed-tilt-arrays/

  • Major oil producers among 46 nations joining fossil fuel phase-out summit

    Forty-six countries, including major oil, coal, and gas producers such as Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Norway, will attend a conference in Santa Marta to accelerate the global shift from fossil fuels. The summit aims to create an international coalition committed to ending reliance on oil, coal, and natural gas, with a focus on prioritizing science and phasing out fossil fuel production and consumption. Notably absent are the United States and Saudi Arabia, while vulnerable nations like Palau and Sierra Leone are in attendance. The outcomes of the conference will inform discussions at COP31 and provide a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, with campaigners seeing it as an opportunity to showcase credible transitions and build momentum for global action. Colombia views the current global energy shock as a chance to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

    https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/03/31/major-oil-producers-among-46-nations-joining-fossil-fuel-phase-out-summit/

  • Grid batteries reach stunning new peak of 44 pct of evening demand in world’s fourth biggest economy

    California and Australia are experiencing significant growth in grid-scale battery storage, with California reaching a new peak of 44% of evening demand and Australia's South Australia reaching 30%. The rapid rollout of battery storage in California over the last five years has allowed for a reduction in reliance on gas and the ability to supply a significant share of demand throughout the evening. With a total capacity of over 17 GW in California, grid-scale batteries are proving to be a key solution in transitioning towards a more sustainable energy system.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/grid-batteries-reach-stunning-new-peak-of-44-pct-of-evening-demand-in-worlds-fourth-biggest-economy/

  • The US Is Sitting On 161 Gigawatts Of Wind Farm Capacity

    Repowering older wind farms in the US with new, more efficient turbines could add an additional 161 gigawatts in capacity without requiring additional land. This process involves replacing outdated equipment with new rotors, blades, and taller turbine towers to increase capacity, reduce operating expenses, neighbor complaints, and wildlife impacts, while freeing up land for other purposes. Wind repowering is highlighted as a key strategy to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy in the United States, with the potential to more than double the capacity of existing wind farms by 2024. The importance of repowering projects in addressing societal factors, regulation, and development principles is noted, emphasizing the need for a negotiated process between communities and developers to unlock the full potential of wind energy. Trump's policies are mentioned but wind energy continues to grow and play a key role in the nation's energy mix, with utility-scale solar and storage leading the way in capacity additions for 2026.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/03/30/the-us-is-sitting-on-161-gigawatts-in-underused-wind-farm-capacity/

  • Peak load tipped to double as industries flock to Australia’s world-first 100 pct renewables grid

    South Australia is experiencing a surge in electricity demand due to the growth of industries attracted by its high level of renewables. With around 75% of its electricity already sourced from wind and solar, the state aims to achieve 100% "net" renewables by next year. To support this expansion and accommodate increased load from industries like mining and data centers, ElectraNet predicts the need for new transmission lines. Projects such as the south-east transmission line and the proposed Northern Transmission project are crucial in connecting new generation and storage to existing customer demand, supporting electrification, and facilitating industrial expansion. Giles Parkinson emphasizes the importance of these initiatives in enabling clean energy growth in South Australia.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/peak-load-is-expected-to-double-as-industries-flock-to-australias-world-first-100-pct-renewables-grid/