Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Other Energy

Cut Emissions:
– Cut Fugitive Emissions

  • China powers up world’s largest liquid air storage project

    China has activated the world's largest liquid-air energy storage facility, the Super Air Power Bank, with a capacity of 60 MW/600 MWh, co-located with a 250 MW photovoltaic plant in the Gobi Desert near Golmud city. The facility compresses and cools air to -194°C, liquefies it, and stores it in specialized tanks for energy storage. When electricity is needed, the liquid air expands, driving turbines to generate power, transforming air into an energy storage carrier under extreme cold conditions. This innovative project showcases a sustainable solution for high levels of green energy self-sufficiency.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/30/china-powers-up-worlds-largest-liquid-air-storage-project/

  • Argentina’s YPF Luz begins 100 MW output at El Quemado solar park

    YPF Luz has activated the first 100 MW of its El Quemado solar park in Mendoza province, the first renewable energy facility to operate under Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI). With an estimated investment of $210 million, the project is progressing towards a total capacity of 305 MW, generating enough electricity for over 233,000 Argentine households. This milestone marks a significant step towards the country's renewable energy goals, showcasing the potential for large-scale projects in energy infrastructure to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/29/argentinas-ypf-luz-begins-100-mw-output-at-el-quemado-solar-park/

  • China commissions world’s largest 1 GW open-sea offshore solar project

    China has commissioned the world's largest open-sea solar project, the 1 GW HG14 offshore PV project off the coast of Dongying, Shandong province. The project combines PV with energy storage and aquaculture, occupying 1,223 hectares of shallow coastal waters. The installation is China's first gigawatt-scale fixed-pile offshore PV project, approved under a national sea-use rights framework. The project is expected to generate 1.78 TWh annually, meeting 60% of electricity demand in the area, while also reducing CO2 emissions and integrating aquaculture for additional revenue streams.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/29/china-commissions-worlds-largest-1-gw-open-sea-offshore-solar-project/

  • Massachusetts awards 1.3 GW in first large-scale energy storage tender

    The Massachusetts DOER has chosen four energy storage projects, including Jupiter Power's Trimount ESS, to contribute to reaching a goal of 5,000 MW of operational storage capacity by 2030. Trimount ESS will be located at a former Exxon oil terminal in Everett, repurposing the site into a clean energy hub. This project is anticipated to defer $2.2 billion in regional transmission upgrades, showcasing the potential for large-scale energy storage to support the transition to renewable energy sources and reduce the need for costly infrastructure investments.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/26/massachusetts-awards-1-3-gw-in-first-large-scale-energy-storage-tender/

  • How climate change is threatening human rights

    UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Professor Joyeeta Gupta emphasized the urgent need to protect people from climate change impacts, which are seen as a violation of human rights. The global consensus to limit warming to 1.5° Celsius is still dangerous, with small island States particularly vulnerable. Gupta's research suggests that crossing one degree Celsius has already violated the rights of over 100 million people, and breaching 1.5° Celsius by 2030 will have irreversible consequences. Climate justice and development are interconnected, and wealthy societies must reduce emissions more aggressively to create space for others to realize their rights. The ICJ has affirmed that continued fossil fuel use may be considered an internationally wrongful act, with states responsible for regulating emissions. Vehicle emissions, diesel generators, and burning of biomass contribute to poor air quality in Lagos Lagoon. Professor Gupta argues for recognizing a collective right to a stable climate, as climate instability undermines existing human rights. UN High Commissioner Türk warns that climate change is eroding fundamental rights and calls for a just transition away from environmentally destructive systems. Professor Gupta emphasizes the need for strong states and cooperation to address climate change as a public good problem.

    https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166649

  • ACCIONA Energía starts renewable supply from Logrosan plant in Caceres

    ACCIONA Energía's Logrosan biomass plant in Spain, with a capacity of 50 MW, is now supplying renewable energy and is expected to produce 380 GWh of electricity annually, avoiding over 187,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The plant primarily uses forestry residues for biomass, promoting active forest management to reduce wildfire risk. The project, awarded in a renewable energy auction, created over 400 construction jobs and will maintain 30 permanent roles, benefiting the local economy with revenue flowing back into the region. Additionally, the facility supports around 200 positions dedicated to land management and wildfire prevention, showcasing a comprehensive approach to sustainable energy production.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/acciona-energia-renewable-supply-logrosan-plant/

  • Sembcorp completes acquisition of 300 MW solar project in India

    Sembcorp Industries has expanded its renewable energy operations in India by acquiring a 300 MW solar project in Rajasthan, connected to the national grid and operating under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. This acquisition boosts Sembcorp's renewable energy capacity in India to over 7.6 GW, furthering its global renewables portfolio to 20.2 GW. This move highlights the company's commitment to sustainable energy solutions and contributes to the ongoing efforts to combat climate change through the expansion of renewable energy sources.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/26/sembcorp-completes-acquisition-of-300-mw-solar-project-in-india/

  • PV redox flow battery with 4.2% solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency

    Scientists in China have developed a novel anthraquinone-based solar redox flow battery (SRFB) device that combines a solar cell with a redox flow battery, achieving an average solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 4.2% under simulated one sun conditions. The SRFB device utilizes redox couples 2,6-DBEAQ and K4[Fe(CN)6] paired with a triple-junction amorphous-silicon photoelectrode, allowing for photo-charging without an external bias and discharge over 10 cycles with a solar-to-output electricity efficiency of 4.3%. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced solar-to-chemical energy conversion technologies, offering new possibilities for sustainable energy solutions.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/24/pv-redox-flow-battery-with-4-2-solar-to-electricity-conversion-efficiency/

  • ArcelorMittal announces $900m renewable energy projects in India

    ArcelorMittal has unveiled three new renewable energy projects in India, including a 250MW wind facility, 300MW solar facility, and 300MWh of battery storage in Bachau, Gujarat, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 1.59mt annually and add 1GW to their renewable capacity. CEO Aditya Mittal emphasized the importance of sustainable investments in the energy transition. These projects, along with others in Brazil and Argentina, will collectively provide 3.3GW of power generation capacity, contributing to climate solutions. The article also discusses the use of microgrids and distributed renewables, highlighting the use of AI-enabled Microgrid Management SystemTM and strategic partnerships to create networked microgrids for a more flexible and resilient energy grid, promoting sustainable energy solutions to address climate change effectively.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/arcelormittal-900m-renewable-energy-projects-india/

  • Off-grid floating PV-desalination system for hydrogen production

    A research team from the University of Exeter has successfully simulated a solar-powered hydrogen production system in Oman using floating photovoltaic technology and seawater desalination. The system has a levelized cost of electricity of $0.05/kWh and a levelized cost of hydrogen of $9.5/kg, generating 1,755 kg of hydrogen per day. This innovative approach offers a practical roadmap for hot-climate regions to produce large-scale hydrogen without competing for land or freshwater. The project showcases the potential for utilizing solar power for environmental solutions in the region, with researchers now focusing on optimizing the system to reduce costs and assessing long-term performance impacts.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/23/off-grid-floating-pv-desalination-system-for-hydrogen-production/