Portugal's EDP and Rondo Energy have partnered to provide zero-emission steam for industrial use through a heat-as-a-service agreement using a 7 MW solar plant and a 100 MWh thermal battery. The project with Central de Cervejas e Bebidas aims to store renewable electricity as high-temperature heat to supply continuous, carbon-free steam, replacing fossil-fuel boilers. This innovative approach of combining renewable energy generation with on-site heat storage could serve as a model for other energy-intensive industries like food and beverage, paper, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
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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One Brownfield Down, One Clean Solar Power Plant Up
Solar power plants are being established as a quick and economical way to add kilowatts to the grid while also preserving farmland and transforming contaminated sites into community assets. The US Environmental Agency's Re-Powering America's Land program aims to harvest clean energy from contaminated sites, with brownfield-to-solar development becoming a mature sector of the solar industry. The Acton project in Massachusetts, utilizing ground screws for secure racking systems, showcases the industry's ability to transform contaminated sites into clean power stations. Terrasmart, a US racking firm, is manufacturing ground screws in-house to support the growth of the solar industry. The Acton project repurposes a contaminated Superfund site for solar energy production, creating local jobs and boosting grid resilience, with energy storage included to optimize the value of solar power for ratepayers. Community solar projects like Acton enable all ratepayers to save money as solar costs have dropped, driving significant growth in the community solar market and integrating with the agrivoltaic market. Despite challenges from the federal government, the demand for solar energy remains strong among ratepayers, with a new solar power plant in Acton, Massachusetts transforming a contaminated site into a community asset.
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Mutirão in action at C40 World Mayors Summit as cities lead the way to COP30
City leaders from around the world are showcasing real solutions for climate action at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro ahead of COP30. The theme of the summit is "Mutirão in Motion: Cities Leading the Way to COP30" and highlights Brazil's tradition of community collaboration to build solutions. Initiatives such as the Global Methane Hub and the Urban Planning Accelerator are being launched to support cities in cutting methane emissions and integrating climate and equity into city master plans. Mayors are calling for increased funding for urban climate finance and are pushing for the 'Baku-to-Belém Roadmap to $1.3 trillion' to mobilize public and private investment in cities, states, and regions, especially in the Global South. Investment in electric bus fleets in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico has surged to US$4.3 billion, with a partnership aiming to drive port decarbonization through a $1 billion Global Port Sustainability-Linked Loan initiative. Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasizes the importance of cities in addressing climate change and building a sustainable future, while Mayor Eduardo Paes highlights the role of C40 cities in reducing emissions and creating green jobs. Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40, discusses China's "irreversible" green transition and growing global ambition, with efforts in transitioning to a more sustainable economy seen as a positive development in the fight against climate change, influencing other nations to follow suit. This shift towards sustainability is crucial in addressing the climate crisis and creating a more environmentally friendly future.
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Australia introduces Guarantee of Origin scheme for clean energy exports
The Australian Government has introduced the Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme, a voluntary framework to support businesses and exporters in tapping into the demand for renewable electricity. The scheme aims to provide emissions accounting and certification of renewable electricity for products, offering transparency for consumers and access to low-emissions markets for Australian producers. The Clean Energy Regulator will administer the scheme, certifying emissions of products like hydrogen and green metals, as well as renewable electricity, providing regulatory certainty for businesses and investors to increase Australia's share in the global clean energy market. Additionally, initiatives such as the Hydrogen HeadStart program, Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive, and Green Aluminium Production Credit are being launched to support the energy transition, showcasing how products are made and their life cycle emissions to compete in a decarbonizing global economy and attract investment in Australia.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/australia-introduces-guarantee-of-origin-scheme/
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Singapore and Sweden Strengthen Energy Partnership at SIEW 2025
The Energy Market Authority of Singapore and the Swedish government have established a bilateral energy forum to enhance clean energy cooperation, focusing on areas such as hydrogen supply chains, grid technologies, energy efficiency, and cross-border electricity trading. The partnership includes the deployment of HVDC transmission technology to integrate into the ASEAN Power Grid architecture. Challenges include significant financial commitments for HVDC interconnection and hydrogen infrastructure development, with success measured by tangible outcomes like project finance commitments and operational hydrogen supply chains. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch emphasize the strategic significance of the forum in advancing innovation and accelerating the green transition towards a sustainable energy future.
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The Built Environment reimagined: What trees can teach us about design
Andrés Mitnik, CEO of Strong by Form, is pioneering wood-based composites that mimic how trees grow to create lightweight, low-carbon materials for buildings, furniture, and vehicles. The company's breakthrough material, Woodflow®, uses digital modeling and robotic forming to create three-dimensional wood composites that are 90% natural material yet rival steel in performance. By learning from trees, Strong by Form is able to create thin yet powerful composites that can replace carbon-intensive materials in various structures. Collaboration is a key design principle for the company, working with scientists, engineers, and architects to ensure new technologies can be safely scaled and adopted. The interconnectedness of nature and innovation, highlighted by the Biomimicry Institute's AskNature Hive, emphasizes the importance of learning from nature to drive sustainable practices and create energy-efficient and restorative spaces in the Built Environment. The partnership between One Earth and the Biomimicry Institute focuses on collaboration across science, design, and local action to accelerate progress towards a thriving planet by working together with each other and with the natural world.
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C40 cities on track for 50 million good green jobs by 2030 as mayors deliver on World Mayors Summit job creation pledge
C40 Cities are committed to delivering 50 million green jobs by 2030, with a focus on inclusive economic growth and city-led climate action. The recent data highlights the importance of creating good green jobs in sectors like waste management, construction, transport, and energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve well-being. Mayors are accelerating investments in sustainable initiatives and working towards a just transition, recognizing the central role of cities in driving global climate and economic progress. Efforts are being made to address gender and equity gaps in green jobs, with a focus on providing fair wages, safe working conditions, and stable employment for all workers. The World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro will further emphasize the need to scale up finance for city-led climate action and strengthen skills training to drive the transition to a green economy.
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DOE inks $1B supercomputer deal to shape energy sector
The Department of Energy is partnering with Advanced Micro Devices to build two supercomputers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, focusing on advancing nuclear power, fusion, grid modernization, and other priorities of the Trump administration. These machines will utilize artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of technologies like advanced reactors and batteries. The first supercomputer, named "Lux," is expected to be operational by early 2026 with triple the AI capacity of current supercomputers. The Department of Energy aims to bring new supercomputers online in a shorter timeline, from years to months, to drive progress in climate solutions.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/doe-inks-1b-supercomputer-deal-to-shape-energy-sector/
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“Forget subsidies:” Solar-battery hybrids can deliver “incredibly competitive” power for big industry
Quinbrook, the developer of Australia's biggest battery, is focusing on hybrid solar and storage projects to power industrial energy needs at a competitive cost without government support. They are planning to build a smelting facility in Townsville powered by renewables, utilizing long-duration "infrastructure batteries" paired with cheap renewables. Australia is seeing a rise in DC-coupled solar-battery hybrid projects, with Quinbrook's partnership with China battery giant CATL allowing them to build batteries at a lower cost. Advancements in solar technology and batteries have led to historically low costs for solar energy, providing cheap and reliable energy for up to 18 hours a day in sunny locations like Gladstone and Townsville, without relying on government subsidies.