Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Electricity

Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Production
– Improve Electrical System

  • Q&A: New UK onshore wind and solar is ‘50% cheaper’ than new gas

    The UK government's latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction has secured a record 7.4GW of solar, onshore wind, and tidal power, making it the largest auction round to date. Contracts were agreed at competitive prices of £65/MWh for solar and £72/MWh for onshore wind, below recent wholesale power prices. These projects will help cut consumer bills, reduce gas imports, and lower gas demand by 95TWh per year. The auction results highlight the economic viability of renewable energy sources, with onshore wind and solar projects seen as more cost-effective than new gas-fired power stations. These investments in renewable energy will strengthen the UK's energy security and help the country move towards meeting its 2030 clean power targets.

    https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-new-uk-onshore-wind-and-solar-is-50-cheaper-than-new-gas/

  • The coming age of compact fusion: local power for a data-hungry world

    The article discusses the increasing energy consumption of data centers and the potential impact on global electricity supply, highlighting the shift towards distributed, resilient, and high-density power systems, with a focus on compact fusion power as a strategic solution. Challenges of achieving fusion on Earth through magnetic confinement systems like Tokamaks and Stellarators are explored, emphasizing the importance of building fusion power systems small, fast, and locally to address the growing energy demands of the digital economy. Advances in compact fusion technology are leading to transformative potential in the field of fusion energy, with smaller, denser, and more controllable reactors being developed to meet the global demand for clean and reliable power. Compact fusion efforts aim to bridge the gap between big science and fast tech, making fusion energy an everyday utility and bringing the power of the stars within reach.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/the-coming-age-of-compact-fusion-local-power-for-a-data-hungry-world/808046/

  • SolarAfrica raises $94m for 114MW SunCentral 2 solar project

    SolarAfrica has secured financing for its SunCentral 2 solar project in South Africa, expected to deliver electricity by 2026 as part of a larger initiative to expand access to clean energy through utility-scale renewable generation and a flexible wheeling delivery system. SunCentral 2 is one of several projects aiming to reach a total capacity of 1GW, making it one of the largest solar initiatives in South Africa. The project includes community upliftment initiatives focused on job creation, education, and skills development, with SolarAfrica's overall wheeling pipeline spanning 3GW under development nationwide to enhance the strength of the national grid and support future renewable energy connections. This highlights the importance of industry leaders implementing sustainable practices to combat climate change, emphasizing the potential for renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and the need for companies to prioritize environmental responsibility in driving positive change towards a more sustainable future.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/solarafrica-raises-94m-suncentral-2-project/

  • BYD Challenges EV Range Assumptions With 1000 km Denza Z9

    The article discusses the benefits of electric cars, particularly in terms of convenience, power, comfort, and technology, with the Denza Z9 from BYD's premium brand offering a range of over 1000 km. The expanding flash charging network in China and plans to launch the Z9 in Europe with thousands of flash charging stations are highlighted. The introduction of solid-state batteries may further increase EV driving ranges in the future, potentially leading to EV driving range parity with ICE vehicles. This shift in consumer mindset towards accepting slightly lower ranges is changing perspectives and allowing other positive attributes of EVs to shine, ultimately contributing to climate solutions.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/10/byd-challenges-ev-range-assumptions-with-1000-km-denza-z9/

  • Casa Pueblo Shows Puerto Rico a Path Towards Energy Independence

    Casa Pueblo in Puerto Rico, in collaboration with The Solutions Project, is advocating for the expansion of microgrid ecosystems in communities to address the energy problem and promote climate justice and energy equity. By scaling up from individual solar installations to energy communities of homes, they aim to improve quality of life and coexistence while making a real impact on the environment. The executive director stresses the importance of government investment in these solutions to achieve their goals of sustainable energy solutions for Puerto Rico.

    https://thesolutionsproject.org/casa-pueblo-shows-puerto-rico-a-path-towards-energy-independence/

  • New York City adopts 2025 energy codes with focus on electrification, efficiency

    New York City has enacted new building codes aimed at promoting energy efficiency, reliability, and long-term cost savings, with mandatory air-leakage testing, enhanced requirements for backup electric heating, and simplified regulatory structures to promote resilience during extreme weather events. The codes, aligned with state codes, will be enforced starting in 2027, with compliance software available in March 2022, expected to provide significant energy savings and improve building envelope performance. The nonprofit Urban Green Council is focused on decarbonizing buildings in NYC through the NYCECC, which includes restrictions on electric resistance heating systems and backup systems, as well as energy efficiency measures beyond the statewide baseline. The NYC Department of Buildings is expected to develop code improvements through performance-based compliance pathways, with building owners already required to meet greenhouse gas emission limits through Local Law 97 and the All-Electric Buildings Law.

    https://www.facilitiesdive.com/news/new-york-city-adopts-2025-energy-codes-with-focus-on-smart-electrification/811111/

  • Ore Energy completes 100-hour iron-air storage system for EDF in France

    Ore Energy has successfully completed a pioneering 100-hour iron-air long-duration energy storage system pilot project for EDF in France, funded by the EU. This groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Europe, showcases the potential of iron-air technology to offer multi-day energy storage in a practical utility environment. Through testing under different load profiles and seasonal conditions, the system demonstrated its ability to store and discharge energy for up to four days. The valuable data gathered from this pilot project will play a crucial role in assessing long-duration storage technologies for meeting renewable energy balancing requirements in Europe.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/10/ore-energy-completes-100-hour-iron-air-storage-system-for-edf-in-france/

  • EU invests €3 billion in decarbonization of buildings, road transport

    The EIB has announced a €3 billion facility to support investments in cleaner heating, cooling, and reducing energy demands in buildings and road transport, including programs that benefit low- and middle-income households to prepare for the new emissions trading system. The aim is to accelerate the deployment of solutions like heat pumps and electric vehicles to reduce energy and transport bills, while also supporting a shift to public and shared transport, expanding e-mobility schemes, and deploying recharging infrastructure. Additionally, the EU has opened the IF25 Heat Auction to support electrified and direct-renewable heat production, further advancing climate solutions in the region.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/09/eu-invests-e3-billion-in-decarbonization-of-buildings-road-transport/

  • Australian state awards 12 GWh of long-duration storage contracts

    New South Wales has awarded long-term energy service agreements to six battery energy storage projects totaling 1.17 GW and nearly 12 GWh, increasing the state's contracted storage capacity to 30 GWh. These projects meet the state's legislated objective of delivering 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030 and 28 GWh by 2034, with a focus on transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing price volatility. The New South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap aims to replace old coal-fired power stations with 12 GW of renewable energy and 2 GW of storage by 2030, with tenders being sought for additional projects to further strengthen competition in the market. The overall goal is to increase renewable energy capacity and transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner and more reliable sources.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/09/australian-state-awards-12-gwh-of-long-duration-storage-contracts/

  • Australian tech company unearthing new capacity on the grid lands $1.1bn valuation after new capital raise

    Neara, an Australian energy technology company, has raised $90 million to expand its AI and machine learning products, crucial for the green energy transition. The company's software builds 3D models of networks to identify new capacity and better plan for new generation and data centers, with a focus on addressing challenges faced by power grids in the face of rising electrification and demand from AI and data centers. Traditional methods are no longer sufficient for managing a modern grid, with challenges in grid access and planning affecting sectors like data centers and renewable energy. Data centers present an opportunity similar to renewable energy, with countries needing to address grid issues to benefit. The data center industry is seen as a "space race" with significant potential.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/australian-tech-company-unearthing-new-capacity-on-the-grid-lands-1-1bn-valuation-after-new-capital-raise/