The world's largest electric ferry, Hull 096, has been loaded onto a heavy lift vessel for its journey to Argentina where it will operate entirely on battery power, carrying passengers and vehicles between Argentina and Uruguay. Featuring a massive lithium-ion battery installation, this ferry represents a significant milestone in sustainable maritime transport and showcases the future of high-speed, large-capacity ferry technology. The project has garnered international attention and will soon enter service with ferry company Buquebus on one of the world's busiest ferry routes, highlighting the potential for electric ferries to revolutionize the industry and reduce emissions.
Category: Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System
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Sierra Leone switches on solar-storage project
Sungrow has commissioned a solar-plus-storage project in Sierra Leone, the first national-scale power generation project connected to the country's grid in nearly a decade. The project, which includes a solar array and a 35 MWh energy storage system, aims to address the country's low electricity access rates and frequent power outages of up to 18 hours. Sungrow's PowerTitan Series ESS was utilized for emergency response strategies, supporting the government's initiative to increase national electricity access rates from 16% to 36%. This project highlights the potential of solar-plus-storage solutions in improving energy access and reliability in developing countries like Sierra Leone.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/31/sierra-leone-switches-on-first-solar-storage-project/
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UK solar capacity hits 22.8 GW as market prepares for plug-in launch
In June 2026, the UK experienced a significant increase in solar installations, adding 132 MW of capacity and bringing the total solar capacity to 22.8 GW. New regulations on plug-in solar are expected to make entry into the distributed solar market easier, potentially creating opportunities in the rental sector. The UK saw a 2.2 GW increase in solar capacity in the year leading up to June 2026, with plans for new utility-scale plants, including the largest operational UK solar farm. The government secured 4.9 GW of capacity in the seventh CfD allocation round, indicating a positive trend towards more solar capacity coming online in the future.
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VICTORY: Courts Rule in Favor of Sierra Club, Approves FERC Order to Speed Up Clean Energy Projects
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Order 2023, directing grid operators to address delays in interconnection queues and add more clean energy to the grid, with 95 percent of projects being wind, solar, or battery related. Despite some grid operators favoring fossil fuels with "fast track" processes, the Sierra Club has been challenging these to promote clean energy access and affordability. The court ruling is a win for clean energy, addressing systemic barriers to technology that can lower emissions and improve grid reliability, ultimately advancing climate solutions.
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How African off-grid solar companies are using financing deals to land mainstream investors
Africa's off-grid solar companies like D.light and Sun King are utilizing innovative financing methods like green bonds and securitized debt to attract private capital for funding. This shift towards private capital markets signals a maturation of the market for climate financing in the off-grid solar sector. Local-currency investment is on the rise, with participation from new investors and the use of improved technology like lithium-ion batteries to reduce investor risk. While these transactions are seen as a tipping point towards wider adoption, there is a challenge in ensuring that commercial returns do not deter investors from helping the poorest households.
https://apnews.com/article/grid-solar-renewable-energy-finance-king-3c32d55f597a397261f2fb56435cb085
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China’s 15th Five-Year Plan For Solar & Wind Is Huge
China has published its 15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development, which includes targets for renewable energy capacity, power generation, non-power applications, and supply security for 2026-2030. The plan focuses on desert solar PV, solar power plants on wasteland areas, and large-scale wind power, aiming to add at least 370GW of new installed capacity across seven major wind and solar bases. By 2030, China plans to have 3,500 GW of total installed renewable capacity, with wind and solar accounting for 50% of power capacity. Additionally, renewable energy will be used for heating, hydrogen production, industrial raw materials, and other non-power applications.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/30/chinas-15th-five-year-plan-for-solar-wind-is-huge/
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Chinese researchers build 29.71% perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell based on sulfide
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a tandem solar cell combining a perovskite top cell and a CIGS bottom cell to improve stability and efficiency. Using a coordination-engineering approach with an organic sulfur-containing compound, the top cell achieved an efficiency of 22.21%, while the integrated tandem device reached 29.71% efficiency. The cells retained over 91% of their initial efficiency after 2000 hours of operation, making them among the most efficient perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells reported. This new method for creating stable wide-bandgap perovskites shows promise for improving optoelectronic properties and stability under various stressors, ultimately contributing to more reliable and cost-effective solar energy solutions in the fight against climate change.
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A plug-in solar solution that utilities and lawmakers can agree on
The momentum for plug-in solar systems is rapidly growing in the U.S. and Europe, with several states passing legislation to allow residents to use these systems in their homes. This legislation aims to help residents save money on energy bills and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, while also potentially reducing or deferring future infrastructure upgrade costs for utilities. The need for a two-pronged approach in plug-in solar state legislation is emphasized, with a focus on establishing tiered wattage definitions and capping energy export to the grid at 400 watts to ensure safety and grid reliability. States like Utah, Colorado, and Maine are leading the way in creating regulations that support the safe and successful implementation of plug-in solar systems, promoting the widespread and safe adoption of solar energy as America's cost-saving energy future.
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From crisis to capability: Lessons from Denmark on how to quit fossil fuels
Australia has strong wind and solar resources, investor interest, and a net zero ambition, but needs to accelerate its clean electricity transition. Denmark's energy transition, where renewable power generation rose from 3% to over 80% from 1990 to 2020, serves as a useful reference point. Australia can learn from Denmark's community participation in wind projects and policy durability to reduce risk for investors. The importance of reducing process risks in clean energy projects to attract investors is highlighted, with Denmark's streamlined permitting approach for offshore wind as a model for Australia to follow. Sustained investment in skills, research, manufacturing capability, and collaboration across industries is emphasized to create a domestic clean energy industry, with the suggestion that Australia can learn from Denmark's example of turning crisis into opportunity by making the transition to clean energy more investable and buildable through clearer project pipelines and better collaboration across the value chain.
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Bali’s Climate Lawsuit
Suriadi Darmoko, a plaintiff in a citizen lawsuit against the Indonesian government, highlights the increasing unpredictability and severity of climate-related disasters in Bali, including flooding, extreme heat, and drought. The intensifying climate crisis is leading to more frequent and severe events, impacting local communities, tourist areas, and coastal regions. The root cause of these issues is linked to global warming and rising greenhouse gas emissions, with the tourism industry being a significant contributor. The PULIHKAN Bali Coalition has filed a climate lawsuit to halt extractive permits and advocate for a transition to renewable energy, emphasizing the need for reform in climate and disaster financing. The urgent call for climate action stresses the importance of creating a just, prosperous, and equitable world through collective efforts to address climate change and secure a sustainable future.