CATL has been honored with the World Economic Forum's 2026 MINDS Award for their groundbreaking project on AI-driven lithium-ion battery design, which revolutionizes battery R&D by delivering virtual batteries with superior performance, reliability, and efficiency. The use of augmented intelligence transforms human design into co-design between AI and customers, aiming to accelerate the adoption of AI and data-driven technologies across industries. CATL emphasizes the importance of 'Augmented Intelligence' in battery production, combining human expertise with AI to ensure product quality and advance AI in the energy transition. The intelligent design platform combines physics-based electrochemical models with machine learning to speed up key steps in cell design, focusing on creating value and discovering new frontiers in technology.
Category: Industry, Materials & Waste
Cut Emissions:
– Improve Materials
– Improve Processes
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Use Waste as a Resource
– Shift Energy Sources
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Massachusetts can make ‘bottom-up’ distribution reforms for a better grid
Massachusetts is making strides in modernizing its electric grid and regulatory systems to meet decarbonization mandates and better serve customers. The state is exploring the DSO model to integrate distributed energy resources like solar, storage, heat pumps, and EVs, creating a more flexible and democratized energy system. The Grid Modernization Advisory Council is providing transparency and stakeholder input on utility planning, focusing on community needs and bottom-up planning. Stakeholders are advocating for a customer-driven, flexible grid, with the DSO model being recommended to enable grid edge flexibility and advance energy justice. Massachusetts utilities are recognizing the importance of a more flexible grid and modernized regulation, with the DSO structure seen as crucial in delivering an affordable, equitable, and efficient energy transition.
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At CES 2026, Limited Sustainability Presence Is Actually Its Biggest Win
The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased a growing number of sustainable innovations, with sustainability being integrated into product design rather than treated as a standalone category. Key examples include Solarstic's moldable solar modules for electric vehicles, SolreBorn's mobile units for recovering raw materials from decommissioned solar panels, and WES-Tec Global's plastic waste conversion technology. Additionally, AI-driven solutions like Siemens x NVIDIA Industrial AI Operating System and SaeFarm AI Satellite Farm Monitor are reshaping industrial value chains and agricultural practices for increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The deployment of Boston Dynamics Atlas Humanoid robots in manufacturing also highlights the potential for AI to improve operations and sustainability. However, the growing energy footprint of AI raises concerns about whether its efficiencies can outpace resource demands. The focus is on embedding sustainability into intelligent systems by pushing for energy transparency in AI, lifecycle thinking in system design, and ensuring efficiency gains are measurable, durable, and equitable, to avoid missing a second chance later.
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Chinese scientists build 31.13%-efficient perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell via 2D seeding agent
Researchers in China have developed a novel 2D seeding agent, CsPb2Br5, to regulate crystallization in wide-bandgap perovskite films, achieving an efficiency of 31.13% in perovskite-silicon tandem devices. This seeding agent addresses issues of uncontrollable crystallization and phase separation, promoting top-down vertical crystal growth to enhance charge transport and suppress phase separation. The optimized wide-bandgap perovskite also shows high power conversion efficiency and stability compared to control devices, with potential for use in large area devices. Co-corresponding author Wei Huang emphasized the focus on optimizing long-term stability for future applications.
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SoftBank pilots solar-wind-powered AI-controlled base station
SoftBank Group is piloting AI-controlled cellular base stations powered by solar panels and a 3 kW wind turbine in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. The system reduces energy use while maintaining service quality by storing excess power in batteries and switching to the grid when needed. AI manages the station's "sleep" mode to lower power consumption during low communication traffic, making it suitable for deployment in remote areas. The compact design and AI analysis allow for a broader selection of cells without compromising communication quality. SoftBank plans to expand testing of the wind- and solar-powered base stations in the future.
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Happy Hour Clean Technology Special: Pubinno Smart Tap at CES
Pubinno's smart beer tap system offers a resource-conserving way to serve draft beer, reducing waste and increasing keg yield. The system has saved over 1.4 billion liters of water and has received industry sustainability awards. It operates without special glassware, adjusts foam levels based on preference, and works well in self-service or with inexperienced bartenders. The system also works with nitrogenated beer and sodas, reducing emissions and water usage associated with packaging and transportation of beverages. Being eco-friendly can save venues money and make business sense, as incremental changes towards sustainability can have a significant positive impact on the environment.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/16/happy-hour-clean-technology-special-pubinno-smart-tap-at-ces/
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UK secures 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity in Allocation Round 7
The UK Government's AR7 auction has secured 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, expected to power over 12 million homes with clean electricity, resulting in £3.4bn in private investment. The Clean Industry Bonus focuses on enhancing domestic supply chains and manufacturing facilities, creating up to 7,000 jobs across the UK, with significant employment opportunities in Scotland. RWE secured CfD for 6.9GW of offshore wind capacity, including projects like Norfolk Vanguard and Dogger Bank, with a strike price of £91.2 per megawatt-hour. RWE CEO Markus Krebber announced successful long-term offtake contracts for five projects in AR7 and a partnership with KKR to leverage their investment expertise for offshore wind projects.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/uk-8-4gw-offshore-wind-ar7/
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GES rolls out manganese-hydrogen battery with significant cost edge over lithium-ion
Italian company Green Energy Storage (GES) has developed a manganese-hydrogen flow battery for long-duration energy storage, targeting industrial-scale applications and large renewable energy plants. The battery boasts an efficiency exceeding 75%, a service life of over 10,000 cycles, and a low levelized cost of storage (LCOS). The cost is competitive at €0.02 per kWh per cycle compared to lithium batteries. The battery is expected to be commercially available in 2027 and is based on a flow architecture that decouples energy and power for independent sizing. Manganese was chosen for its abundance, established production chain, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact.
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Researchers achieve record perovskite solar module stability under light, heat, and UV stress
An international research team has developed a groundbreaking compound for perovskite solar cells, utilizing a new two-dimensional perovskite interlayer through co-crystal engineering. This technology has shown over 95% efficiency retention after 5,000 hours of exposure to light, heat, and UV stress, with improved stability due to the use of neutral triazine-based molecules. The industry-compatible co-crystal engineering method can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing workflows, addressing a major barrier to commercialization. The research, led by a team from Iritaly Trading Company and EPFL, has been detailed in a publication in Nature Energy, showcasing the potential for industrial adoption and scale-up of this innovative approach.
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India deploys 37.9 GW of solar in 2025
In 2025, India achieved its highest annual renewable energy additions with a record 37.9 GW of solar and 6.3 GW of wind capacity. Solar installations saw a significant increase of 54.7%, mainly driven by utility-scale projects. The growth was fueled by the commissioning of delayed projects, accelerated construction efforts, and a rise in domestic manufacturing capacity. Additionally, government initiatives played a key role in driving rooftop solar installations. These developments highlight India's progress towards achieving its renewable energy goals and reducing carbon emissions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/14/india-deploys-37-9-gw-of-solar-in-2025/