The upcoming 4th ASEAN Battery Technology Conference in Malaysia will focus on transitioning Southeast Asia towards clean energy through industrialization efforts in battery manufacturing. The region aims to move from simply extracting raw minerals to developing a resilient battery industry through domestic chemical synthesis and specialized cell design. The conference will address technical challenges such as atmospheric and thermal management in the tropics, with a focus on lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry for its thermal stability. Strategic partnerships, safety protocols, and advancements in grid-scale energy storage integration driven by renewable energy expansion will also be discussed to advance battery innovation and deployment in the region. Key stakeholders in the energy storage industry are collaborating to align manufacturing processes, standardize safety testing, and deploy engineering talent in Southeast Asia, aiming to strengthen the region's role in the global energy storage landscape.
Category: Transportation
Cut emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift to Alternatives
– Electrify Vehicles
– Switch Fuels
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Australia sees record surge in solar, wind and battery projects
In the 2025/26 financial year, AEMO reported a record level of new solar, wind, and battery projects entering the National Electricity Market, totaling 9.1 GW / 12.9 GWh of new generation and storage capacity across 34 projects reaching full output, more than double the previous year. Battery projects, including hybrid solar-plus-battery projects, dominated the connections pipeline. Despite challenges in the delivery pipeline causing delays, AEMO highlighted strong performance in supporting Australia's energy transition.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/20/solar-wind-and-battery-projects-surge-to-record-high/
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New Delhi Air Pollution Index Further Pushes for EV Adoption in India
India's latest push towards electric vehicles is driven by air pollution concerns in Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities. The city's winter smog crisis is exacerbated by crop-residue burning, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust. The National Clean Air Programme tracks air quality trends and implements clean-air action plans in non-attainment cities like Delhi. The Delhi EV Policy 2026 aims to allocate funds to accelerate electrification, ban gasoline-powered two-wheelers, and increase public charging points to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality. Delhi's policy aims to drastically reduce vehicular air pollution and position the city as a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The phaseout of gasoline-powered two- and three-wheelers is seen as transformative by experts, as these vehicles contribute significantly to urban emissions. Success will depend on the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure and the affordability of EVs for lower-income drivers. The national government's PM E-DRIVE Scheme complements Delhi's efforts by addressing the affordability barrier to EV adoption nationwide. This coordinated approach highlights India's strategy of framing cleaner transportation as essential to public health and urban air-quality goals.
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VinFast Bets on Entrepreneurs with “Rentapasada” Program in the Philippines
VinFast in the Philippines has launched the Rentapasada program, offering aspiring transport entrepreneurs the opportunity to start a ride-hailing business using electric vehicles with minimal upfront investment. The program includes vehicle access, charging, maintenance, and a dedicated ride-hailing platform, aiming to position electric vehicles as tools for entrepreneurship. With two vehicle models available, VF 5 and Limo Green, Rentapasada provides flexibility for drivers to match the vehicle with their business plans. By lowering capital requirements and addressing energy costs through VinFast's charging network, Rentapasada enables drivers to earn with an EV from the outset, reduce operating costs, and eventually own the vehicle that helped build their business.
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India rolls out first hydrogen-powered train built in the country
India has launched its first domestically built hydrogen-powered train, the "NaMo Green Rail," as part of efforts to expand clean energy use in its rail network. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project, highlighting the importance of self-reliance and sustainable development. The train, consisting of hydrogen-powered driving cars and passenger coaches, operates in Haryana at speeds of up to 75 kph. The pilot project includes hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure to test the technology's viability in reducing carbon emissions and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Hydrogen fuel cells, which power the train, produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water vapor.
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Giving away excess daytime solar for free
Australia is leading the way in solar energy generation and the use of home batteries and electric vehicles to manage excess daytime solar. The new solar sharer retail tariff allows families to receive up to 24 kWh of free electricity per day between 11 am and 2 pm, making their annual energy bill the cheapest in history. Additionally, Australia is utilizing electric vehicles as mobile batteries to reduce peak demand and lower prices, while the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro storage project will significantly increase rechargeable energy storage in the country. The shift towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind is driving down fossil gas generation, with market innovation and government intervention enabling rapid growth in solar deployment at a low cost.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/17/giving-away-excess-daytime-solar-for-free/
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Brilliant AI Solution to High Solar Soft Costs & Overpricing in the United States
AgentSolar AI, founded by Tursun Ablekim, is a new system that aims to address the issue of Americans overpaying for rooftop solar power by using AI to advocate for consumers and ensure they get a fair deal. The platform can analyze proposals, verify installer reputation, and initiate structured negotiations to help consumers avoid overpaying for solar energy. By automating the process of securing better terms for solar buyers through automated emails, AgentSolar AI is working to reduce solar soft costs and drive them down to more normal levels. Progress is also being made on the permitting aspect of the challenge, ultimately helping U.S. homeowners save money and increase access to affordable solar energy solutions.
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NLR Battery Innovation Awarded NASA’s Invention of the Year
The National Laboratory of the Rockies and NASA have developed the ISC-D, a device that triggers battery failure in lithium-ion cells to study reactions and prevent system-wide failures, recognized as NASA's 2025 Invention of the Year. This innovation has improved battery safety standards for space missions, with KULR Technology Group licensing the technology for embedding in battery cells for enhanced safety testing. Over 80 companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, are using the ISC-D technology, showcasing the importance of cross-industry collaborations in advancing battery safety and thermal management solutions for various applications in vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/16/nlr-battery-innovation-awarded-nasas-invention-of-the-year-2/
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Zayed Sustainability Prize Closes 2027 Submissions with Strong Global Participation
The Zayed Sustainability Prize has closed submissions for its 2027 awards cycle, receiving a record 10,233 entries from 177 countries across six categories. The submissions reflect a growing emphasis on resilience, adaptability, and systems-level impact, with a focus on practical, community-focused solutions. Key trends include a strong focus on AI-enabled healthcare and agricultural technologies, decentralized energy, improved groundwater access, and circular economy approaches. The Climate Action category received the highest number of submissions, followed by Food, Health, Global High Schools, Energy, and Water, showcasing a global demand for practical solutions to address urgent challenges. The section discusses solutions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, water access, and climate action, with a focus on affordability, reliability, and community resilience. It highlights student-led projects in global high schools addressing renewable energy, water filtration, waste management, and biodiversity. The Zayed Sustainability Prize recognizes innovative solutions in various categories, with winners receiving funding to implement or expand their projects, positively impacting over 411 million lives worldwide and promoting sustainable development and resilience.
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Delhi Launches Big New EV Policies
Delhi, India has implemented a new EV Policy 2.0 to combat air pollution by mandating that only electric three-wheelers and commercial goods vehicles can be registered starting in 2027, and all new scooters and motorcycles must be electric by 2028. The city is offering financial incentives for buyers, including subsidies for electric vehicles and additional incentives for scrapping old ICE vehicles. Delhi's efforts to transition to electric vehicles and improve air quality could serve as a positive example for other cities facing similar challenges, reflecting the success of strong government mandates in driving EV adoption seen in China and Europe. This shift towards electric vehicles is crucial in combating air pollution in urban areas like Delhi.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/15/delhi-launches-big-new-ev-policies/