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.
Category: Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System
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Energy Storage Startup Nails $550M To Chase Fossil Fuels Away
Antora Energy, a US energy storage startup, has received a $550 million Series C funding round for its long duration energy storage system using "hot blocks" thermal batteries. The Department of Energy's DAYS program supports technologies lasting at least 10 hours, with Antora's solid carbon blocks seen as a promising solution for storing excess wind and solar power. The company's focus on large-scale projects and expanding production, including a project in South Dakota, aims to accelerate the deployment of energy storage projects across the country. With a manufacturing campus in California, Antora Energy is creating new job opportunities and highlighting the importance of state and local officials in supporting renewable energy goals.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/30/energy-storage-factory-made-carbon-blocks-us-startup-antora/
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Low-cost open-access tool for rooftop PV assessment in informal settlements
Researchers have developed a low-cost methodology using UAV photogrammetry and GIS analysis to assess rooftop PV potential in informal settlements, demonstrated in two communities in Brazil with favorable solar capture conditions. The process involves flight planning, image processing, rooftop analysis, and module allocation using an open-access Python tool. Results showed that approximately 577 modules could be installed, providing 61% of the average monthly electricity demand for each household, validated against detailed simulations with consistent results. The article also discusses a decision-support tool for assessing rooftop PV potential in informal settlements, comparing simplified irradiance-based models with dynamic simulation approaches developed by researchers from the University of Jaén in Spain and the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil.
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Why consumers are choosing solar over fossil fuels
The 2026 Ipsos Energy Transition Barometer reveals a global shift towards renewable energy, particularly solar, driven by concerns over rising energy costs and a desire for energy independence. The Global Solar Council and Global Covenant of Mayors on Energy & Climate are partnering to promote residential rooftop solar and storage in thousands of cities worldwide, aiming to lower energy bills, increase resilience, and empower consumers. Public support for clean energy solutions like heat pumps, solar, and storage is strong, signaling a need for governments and decision makers in Europe, Asia, and the Americas to act on this shift in public opinion. This transition towards decentralized energy generation and storage is seen as a key economic policy for achieving energy security and affordability, with the public ready to embrace renewable energy for a more reliable, cost-effective, and secure energy future.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/29/why-consumers-are-choosing-solar-over-fossil-fuels/
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Delhi plans major shift to electric vehicles as it phases out gas-powered models
Delhi has implemented a new policy to phase out gas vehicles and promote electric vehicles (EVs) by 2027, targeting two- and three-wheelers which make up a majority of vehicles in the city. The plan includes subsidies for EV buyers, incentives to scrap gas vehicles, and expanding charging infrastructure. Challenges include building sufficient charging infrastructure, upgrading the electricity grid, and coordinating with surrounding states for decarbonization. The move is seen as a significant step towards improving air quality and reducing pollution in one of the world's most polluted cities, with electric vehicles already accounting for 12.7% of new vehicle sales in the city in the 2026 financial year.
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Community solar can bridge California’s energy affordability gap
Ardi Arian, founder of Renewable America, highlights the potential of community solar and storage projects through Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs to address high utility bills in California. The proposed legislation, AB 1813, aims to make these programs accessible to all Californians, potentially saving billions in energy costs and reducing the need for costly grid upgrades. With support from a broad coalition of stakeholders and expected approval by the full Senate, this legislation is seen as a common sense solution that will provide all Californians with access to clean energy solutions.
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Mexican graduates develop agrivoltaic system with rainwater harvesting, smart irrigation
A team of graduates from Monterrey Institute of Technology have developed SolarRoot, an agrivoltaic proposal combining photovoltaic modules, rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation for crops. The system aims to produce electricity and food simultaneously while reducing heat stress on crops and minimizing water loss. The project won first place in an international competition and will advance to the next stage in Qatar. The specifics of the project, such as power output, module type, crop selection, and water recovery, are still under evaluation.
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Polish scientists build 21.87% semi-transparent perovskite PV cell for tandem applications
Researchers at Gdańsk University of Technology in Poland have developed a fabrication strategy for semitransparent perovskite solar cells, achieving a champion power conversion efficiency of 21.87% for the cells and 27.15% for tandem devices when combined with a commercial crystalline silicon bottom cell. The team focused on optimizing electrode and buffer-layer design, as well as long-term stability testing, with the devices demonstrating operational stability lasting over 1600 hours under light soaking and more than 4000 hours under outdoor conditions. Scientists are also working on improving the performance of 4T tandem perovskite/silicon solar devices by addressing issues such as series resistance and optical losses, focusing on developing wide-bandgap p-i-n perovskite solar cells with high transparency, low electrical losses, and long-term stability. Key areas for enhancing performance include optimizing transparent electrodes and reducing near-infrared absorption.
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Neoen doubles size of big battery in Australia’s biggest renewable energy hub
Neoen is doubling the size of its Goyder battery in South Australia to 454 MW and 1,814 MWh, as part of a major renewable energy hub, to support the state's transition to 100% net renewables by next year. The longer duration batteries will help minimize pricing events and support the energy system's resilience, with Neoen winning contracts with the state government and BHP for firming capacity. Additionally, a megablock battery technology project is being built in Shanghai, highlighting the increasing importance of battery storage in Australia's clean energy future. Neoen, in partnership with Tesla and UGL, is proud to be involved in the state's rapid transition to renewables, with this being their 12th battery project with Tesla in Australia, showcasing the dedication of the team and partners in the renewable energy sector.
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Affordable Homes, Cooling Centers, and a Faster Grid? Yes, Please
The Innovation Incubator (IN2) program, coadministered by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies, is working with companies like Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, National Grid, WinnCompanies, and Tucson Electric Power to bring new technologies to communities in need. These companies are receiving funding and collaborating with energy experts to refine their technologies for broader use, such as stress-testing new materials and simulating technology performance under specific conditions. Projects include using emergent automation tools to address affordable housing crises, implementing networked building controls to reduce energy waste, and building a microgrid-powered cooling center to provide relief from heat-related deaths. The Energy Champions Network within the IN2 program is helping startups and organizations access insights and expertise to move their technologies closer to commercial success, ultimately aiming to optimize energy consumption, improve resilience to heat waves and power outages, and demonstrate the benefits of investing in climate resilience.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/27/affordable-homes-cooling-centers-and-a-faster-grid-yes-please/