Researchers at MIT World Peace University have developed a solar thermal energy storage system using a phase change material-based thermal battery to provide hot water even after sunset. The system combines a Scheffler solar concentrator with a thermal storage capsule containing paraffin wax, capable of storing and releasing large amounts of heat. This technology aims to reduce dependence on electricity and fossil fuels for water heating applications, reaching Technology Readiness Level 7. Seeking collaborations for pilot deployment and commercialization, the next phase involves field trials, performance optimization, and scale-up for various sectors including residential water heating, industrial process heating, and off-grid rural communities.
Category: Transportation
Cut emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift to Alternatives
– Electrify Vehicles
– Switch Fuels
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Sunrun, Renew Home, & Tesla Team Up to Deliver More Than 16 Gigawatts of Fast, Flexible Power for Data Centers and Large Loads
Sunrun, Renew Home, and Tesla have partnered to deliver over 16 GW of flexible energy capacity to meet growing electricity demand from data centers and AI growth, creating the largest distributed power plant in the country. This collaboration aims to provide cost-effective solutions for data centers, lower energy bills for American households, and unlock latent capacity in home batteries, HVAC systems, and EVs. The companies have capacity available in Virginia and plan to expand nationwide, urging hyperscalers to engage immediately to secure local energy resources. By utilizing existing resources in American homes, this joint framework can provide national coverage, support economic growth, and offer sustainable energy solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
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UN secretary general urges AI giants to disclose environmental impact
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres proposed a framework for AI companies to disclose their environmental impacts and commit to powering data centers with renewables by 2030, emphasizing the need for transparency in measuring emissions, water, and land usage. The plan calls for a global shift from fossil fuels, with G20 countries leading the transition to reach global net-zero emissions by 2050, promoting clean energy projects, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, and supporting those most at risk from climate change adaptation. The UN is also calling for AI companies to commit to environmental disclosures and clean energy for data centers, amidst a push for a national data center moratorium due to concerns about electricity and water use, impacts on Indigenous lands, rising costs, and job losses.
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Can the circular economy win over big business?
The European Commission is set to adopt the Circular Economy Act to support the EU's goal of becoming a world leader in circularity by 2030, aiming to reduce dependency on imports of critical raw materials and achieve greater self-sufficiency. Businesses like Signify are leading the way in emphasizing resilience and circular practices, showing that the life cycle of products can be extended through refurbishing and remanufacturing. Lawmakers are urged to support reforms to address barriers facing circular products, with proposals for a secondary materials platform, digital product passports, and new industrial hubs. Experts believe that electrification and fossil energy price spikes will help circular products compete with the extractive economy, as the current geopolitical environment supports growth in the circular economy. A future where circularity is widespread and influences global supply chains towards more sustainable practices may be on the horizon.
https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/06/25/can-the-circular-economy-win-over-big-business/
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Countries rally behind electrification push as “powerful weapon” against fossil fuels
Governments led by the EU and the UK, along with COP31 co-hosts Türkiye and Australia, are prioritizing rapid electrification of the world's economy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet the 1.5C warming limit. UN Secretary-General Guterres emphasized the urgency of transitioning to clean electricity at a high-level summit in London, highlighting the need for clean electrification powered by renewables. The International Energy Agency and leaders stress the importance of upgrading infrastructure and financial reforms to achieve the electrification target of 35% of final energy demand by 2035. Whipps Jr., president of Palau, calls for faster progress in electrification through fast, predictable, and accessible investments to ensure the energy transition does not stall.
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New White Paper Calls on AI Hyperscalers to Align with Planetary Limits
The article emphasizes the importance of companies using clean energy to accelerate the next generation energy system, making AI more resource efficient and transparent, and prioritizing Exponential Solutions for gigatonne scale climate impact. The shift towards Earth-aligned AI requires coordinated efforts across the ecosystem, with three proposed tracks for implementation: clean power and energy system acceleration, AI efficiency and transparency standards, and scaling Exponential Solutions. The message is to aim for better aligned ambition, with Hyperscalers playing a key role in shaping an Earth-aligned economy through clean energy and net-positive climate impact.
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3 home energy providers offer 16.8 GW of distributed capacity to utilities, hyperscalers
Sunrun, Tesla, and Renew Home are partnering to provide nearly 17 GW of distributed energy capacity in the U.S., focusing on alleviating grid congestion and offering grid services to middle-class American families. Power system experts see untapped potential in distributed resources like battery and HVAC capacity in key markets such as Texas, California, and Virginia. In Puerto Rico, LUMA Energy has utilized Sunrun's PowerOn Puerto Rico VPP to address reliability issues on the transmission grid, with onsite solar and batteries playing a critical role in shortening power outages for over 200,000 customers. The need for sustainable solutions is evident as load-shedding events increase due to high demand and aging fossil-fuel generators going offline for maintenance.
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Two Microgrids With Solar Power Being Developed For Tribal Community In California
The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians and OATI are partnering to develop two microgrids for the tribal community in Northern California, bringing renewable energy onto tribal lands for energy independence and cost reduction. The project includes a 4.5 MWac solar power array and 21 MWh battery energy storage system, with funding from the California Energy Commission and FEMA. The microgrid will power on-reservation facilities and sell excess electricity to the grid, providing resiliency and substantial energy cost savings for the Paskenta community. This initiative will allow Paskenta to self-generate a significant amount of electricity, leading to significant cost savings and a more sustainable energy future.
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Penumbra-aware irradiance modeling for agrivoltaic orchards
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have developed a Python framework to improve light-simulation workflows for agrivoltaics, focusing on realistic representations of atmospheric conditions and crop geometry. This advancement enhances predictions for crop yield and solar energy production in shared land-use systems, reducing design uncertainty and supporting sustainable food-energy integration. The framework includes site-specific sun and sky spectra across the entire solar spectrum, rendering soft shadows efficiently for crops under semi-transparent PV modules. A new model for agrivoltaic orchards was also developed to optimize sunlight penetration for both crops and solar panels, resulting in a 16% increase in energy production compared to traditional setups. This research, published in the journal Applied Energy, highlights the importance of accurate canopy representation for optimizing light levels and mitigating suboptimal conditions in agrivoltaic systems.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/06/23/penumbra-aware-irradiance-modeling-for-agrivoltaic-orchards/
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Climate crisis: UN chief lays out solutions blueprint for clean energy transition
The UN Secretary-General emphasized the interconnectedness of protecting nature, shifting to renewable energy, and addressing climate change for the well-being of both humanity and the environment. He called for managing the transition to a sustainable future to avoid chaos and inequality, highlighting the need for fair finance to support developing countries in phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to green energy. Additionally, the Secretary-General urged support for science, truth, and early warning systems to combat climate misinformation and delay tactics, while also emphasizing the importance of investing in nature-based solutions to address the climate crisis and protect those most at risk from climate change.