Translucent Energy, a solar manufacturer, has expanded its portfolio with a new 1.3-gigawatt solar factory in South Carolina, aiming to boost the state's solar industry and focus on markets outside of the state. The company's stakeholders are pleased with President Trump's proclamation to limit imports of polysilicon, incentivizing domestic production. Translucent also offers transportable microgrid systems like TAU for rural electrification and emergency relief, as well as EV charging stations like EV-E for efficient operation. The US solar industry is experiencing growth and opportunities for companies like Translucent to enter the market with customized solutions for fleets and developers.
Category: Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System
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Transforming Britain’s Old Coalfields Into Clean Energy Sources
In Gateshead, England, a mine water heat network has been successfully implemented to draw warmth from flooded mine workings, saving 72,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 40 years. The system uses a water-source heat pump to extract heat from geothermally warmed water, delivering five to six units of heat for every unit of electricity used. This initiative showcases the potential of utilizing renewable energy sources and existing infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills for residents and businesses. The success of similar projects in Canada, the Netherlands, and potentially in northern China highlights the significant climate solution that mine water energy systems can offer if implemented effectively.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/mine-water-heat-gateshead/
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UK launches programme for ultra-long energy storage
The UK has launched a programme for ultra-long energy storage, offering grants to developers working on technologies that can store clean energy for over 100 hours. Micheal Shanks has been appointed as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This initiative aims to support the development of energy storage solutions to help achieve net zero emissions goals.
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EU adopts budget-flexibility guidelines for photovoltaics, heat pumps, and BESS
The European Commission has extended the national escape clause for defense to include energy security measures during 2026-2028, allowing flexibility in budgetary spending to support the transition away from fossil fuels and strengthen energy security. Criteria such as additionality, effectiveness, and sustainability of public finances will be considered for accessing this flexibility. Eligible measures include investments in renewable energy, energy storage technologies, nuclear power plants, electric vehicle infrastructure, and building energy renovations. Member States must provide a list of planned energy security measures and estimated costs for approval by the Commission.
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Bangladesh mandates solar charging for millions of electric rickshaws
Bangladesh has mandated the use of solar power for charging the batteries of millions of illegally operated three-wheelers, aiming to reduce pressure on the grid and fuel resources. This transition is expected to create investment opportunities, generate employment, and contribute to green power generation in the country. Industry experts have welcomed the policy as a significant step towards sustainability, with the recommendation to include net metering for its success.
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Mahle Introduces Range Extender For Electric Trucks
Mahle, a tier-one supplier to the automotive and trucking industry, has introduced a new range extender system for heavy trucks at the IAA Transportation trade show in Germany. The system aims to address the limited range and inadequate charging infrastructure for battery electric trucks, allowing for flexible range without compromises and efficiency without restrictions. The system includes an efficient high-voltage generator driven by a compact internal combustion engine, which can easily be integrated into existing battery electric vehicle platforms. A truck equipped with the Mahle system has a range of over 800 km, emitting about 80 percent less carbon dioxide in range extender operation compared to a conventional diesel engine, and virtually no emissions if powered by renewable fuels. Additionally, Mahle is introducing a new Contactless Transmitter (MCT) electric motor for heavy commercial vehicles that does not require rare earth elements, offering advancements in electric motor technology to help move the electrification of heavy trucks forward.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/08/20/mahle-introduces-range-extender-for-electric-trucks/
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World’s largest offshore wind farm to also feature first directly integrated grid-scale battery
Danish offshore wind energy giant Ørsted is constructing the world's largest offshore wind farm, the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 project, with 197 wind turbines expected to be completed by 2027. The project will also include a 300 MW/600 MWh battery energy storage system named Iceni, integrated into the transmission infrastructure. Iceni will utilize Tesla batteries and the Nimbus platform by Arenko for optimization and asset management. This project represents a pioneering effort in combining significant generation capacity with utility-scale storage, addressing operational and trading challenges in the renewable energy sector.
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Environmental News Network – Buildings That Cool Like African Elephants
Architect Dorit Aviv and materials scientist Shu Yang have developed a cement-based tile that mimics the cooling mechanism of African elephants, capturing and slowly evaporating water to reduce surface temperatures without the use of air conditioning. This innovative solution has the potential to help cities combat rising temperatures, decrease energy consumption, and lower emissions from traditional cooling systems. By implementing these tiles, urban areas could see significant reductions in their environmental impact while also creating more sustainable and efficient cooling solutions.
https://www.enn.com/articles/78264-buildings-that-cool-like-african-elephants
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Low concentrator photovoltaic receiver for wireless laser power transmission
Researchers from the University of Jaén in Spain have developed a low-concentrator photovoltaic receiver for wireless laser power transmission, aiming to improve power-conversion efficiency and angular tolerance under static illumination. They used monocrystalline silicon cells with interdigitated back-contact architecture and PMMA concentrators for fabrication, highlighting the need for further optimization in laser-to-electricity conversion efficiency. Additionally, researchers found that grouping solar cells based on similar photocurrent can significantly reduce losses, with a ring interconnection architecture performing almost as well as an ideal mismatch-free configuration. The team emphasized the importance of current-balancing strategies and tailored interconnection schemes for high-efficiency laser-powered photovoltaic reception, while also developing a semi-transparent crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic module with rear-side optical concentrators for agrivoltaics applications, balancing efficiency and optical transparency while minimizing shading.