Lunar Energy, a US startup specializing in energy storage systems, has secured $232 million in funding to expand its AI-powered energy storage system for residential use. The company aims to help consumers save money on electricity bills by intelligently learning patterns of electricity consumption and utilizing solar energy efficiently. Investors believe Lunar is outperforming competitors like Powerwall with their technology, and they are noted for their Gridshare platform used by Sunrun in various markets. Lunar Energy's CEO, Kunal Girotra, previously worked at Tesla Energy and launched the company in 2020 to help homes become active participants in a smarter, more resilient grid through its innovative energy storage solutions.
Category: Other Energy
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The DIY Diehards Building Green Infrastructure from Scratch
PureSelfMade, a company based in Germany, is developing a how-to book with designs for small wind turbines ranging from 600W to 3kW. Michel from Sweden attended a course to learn how to build a turbine for his home, highlighting the growing interest in renewable energy solutions. The company sells pre-manufactured parts made from transparent and locally sourced materials like wood, making assembly easy. Wind turbines can complement solar panels, especially in areas with limited sunlight, but the challenge remains in making them affordable. PureSelfMade offers models at a lower cost compared to traditional options, aiming to make small wind turbines more accessible for homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
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State owned utility’s third big battery officially opened, and is “re-rated” to be the biggest in Australia
Synergy has opened the Collie battery, the largest battery project in Australia with 2,400 MWh of storage capacity, as part of a transition away from coal-fired generators by the end of the decade. This battery will capture wind and solar energy to power homes when needed, contributing to a renewable energy mix. The town of Collie now hosts the two biggest batteries in Australia, solidifying its role in powering Western Australia's electricity system with clean energy solutions.
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Danish giant lodges EPBC referral for first of its two Gippsland offshore wind projects
Danish offshore wind developer Orsted has applied for the 2.8 GW Gippsland 1 project off the coast of Victoria, Australia, as part of the state's plan to transition to renewables and reach a 95% renewables target by 2035. The project involves installing up to 200 turbines and laying export cables over 90-120km in three to four years, with feasibility studies expected to be finished by the end of 2027. Challenges include the project's location 56km offshore, which makes cabling plans more costly and complicated. Multiple permissions are required, including EPBC approval, federal licenses, state environmental approval, and planning approval, with community concerns focusing on protecting coastal and marine areas, coexistence with commercial fishing, and understanding Indigenous values. Orsted emphasizes the importance of addressing these themes in their project development to ensure successful implementation.
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US solar market positioned for continued growth in 2026
The US solar industry is experiencing significant growth and job creation, with the global solar industry expected to expand by 2050. Safe harbor provisions are driving project pipelines and domestic manufacturing capacity, making solar the cheapest form of energy with cost declines expected to continue. The trend towards affordable and reliable energy access is benefiting the solar market, with large-scale projects offering low-cost generation capacity. Reshoring efforts in US solar manufacturing are contributing to long-term confidence in solar markets, reducing dependence on foreign entities and supply chains while creating new jobs and guarding against price volatility. Manufacturers investing in domestic operations and onshoring supply chains are well-positioned for success in the face of uncertainty and policy changes, setting the industry up for another record year in 2026.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/09/us-solar-market-positioned-for-continued-growth-in-2026/
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The Hydrogen Stream: Verna completes first two hydrogen pilot wells in Canada
Vema Hydrogen has completed two pilot hydrogen wells in Quebec, Canada, while Advait Greenergy and InSolare Energy are progressing on hydrogen projects in India. Canada and South Korea are discussing potential collaboration in auto manufacturing for Hyundai/Kia in Canada, with a focus on hydrogen energy. The University of Cagliari and the Indian Institute of Technology are collaborating on a research project on hydrogen energy systems. Hiringa Energy has reached Financial Close on the Kapuni Project in New Zealand, integrating wind, industrial renewable electricity supply, and green hydrogen production at scale. These developments highlight the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar power, to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Policy support and investment in renewable energy technologies are crucial to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and meet global electricity demand with clean energy solutions.
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Will Water-Powered Microgrids Work in the Real World?
The National Laboratory of the Rockies is hosting a webinar series on marine energy microgrid technologies, focusing on testing and de-risking these technologies in the lab before deployment in remote communities. The potential for harnessing wave, tidal, and river-current energy is immense and widely distributed across the US coastlines and rivers. Researchers at the laboratory are using wave energy converters to desalinate seawater and improve power electronics in these devices. This approach can help address unique energy challenges in remote communities like those in Alaska, where over 250 communities operate isolated microgrids. Interested individuals can sign up for CleanTechnica's Weekly Substack for more in-depth analyses and high-level summaries on clean energy topics.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/06/will-water-powered-microgrids-work-in-the-real-world/
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e-STORAGE partners with Sunraycer for battery projects in Texas, US
Canadian Solar's energy storage solutions business, e-STORAGE, and Sunraycer are collaborating to supply and maintain battery energy storage projects in Franklin County, Texas. The Lupinus projects, totaling 503 megawatt-hours, aim to support renewable energy integration and improve grid stability in the ERCOT market. Construction of Lupinus 1 is set to begin in Q1 2027, with Lupinus 2 following in Q3 2026, utilizing Canadian Solar's SolBank 3.0 battery energy storage system to create a more adaptable power grid. This collaboration highlights the importance of innovative energy storage solutions in advancing renewable energy integration and enhancing grid reliability.
https://www.power-technology.com/news/e-storage-sunraycer-battery-projects/
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Over 85% silver extraction efficiency achieved in solar panel recycling test
Iondrive, an Australian recycling developer, has achieved over 85% silver extraction efficiency in initial bench-scale testing with their IONSolv platform, which uses deep eutectic solvents to selectively dissolve and extract targeted metals. The company plans to optimize the process further before applying it to end-of-life PV materials, aiming to prevent valuable materials like silver and silicon from ending up in landfills. This development is crucial for improving recovery of materials from solar panels and advancing sustainable solutions for recycling in the renewable energy industry.
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Africa records fastest-ever solar growth in 2025
In 2025, installations of solar power in Africa increased by 54%, with around 4.5 GW of new solar PV capacity installed. Utility-scale projects accounted for 56% of installations, while distributed solar made up 44%. The report highlighted the under-reporting of rooftop, commercial, and distributed capacity due to limited data. The need for greater investment in battery storage, grids, and power system flexibility was emphasized to improve reliability of supply and support rising energy demand. The top 10 solar markets in Africa led the capacity additions, but solar deployment is spreading to a wider group of countries, with several mid-sized and emerging markets making significant gains. Despite the rapid growth of distributed solar in Africa, financing models have not kept pace, with most clean energy finance still coming from public and development sources geared towards large projects. Private investment in clean energy has increased, but funding for smaller solar systems used by homes and businesses remains limited. Leaders in the industry estimate that up to $46 billion will be needed by 2030 to meet electrification targets in African countries. The Global Solar Council warns that misalignment between funding and market needs could slow deployment of solar energy, but aligning finance, planning, and regulation with market realities could lead to significant growth in solar capacity and economic benefits.