Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Transportation

Cut emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift to Alternatives
– Electrify Vehicles
– Switch Fuels

  • Largest Tesla Supercharger Hub Opens — Is Powered By Solar

    Tesla has launched its largest Supercharger hub in Lost Hills, California, powered by solar energy and battery storage. The hub features 164 V4 Supercharger stalls delivering over 300 kW of electricity each and is mostly off-grid, thanks to the solar power array and Megapacks. By bypassing the slow permitting and grid connection process, Tesla is able to provide sustainable and reliable travel options for EV drivers, including those with trailers. Located 146 miles north of Los Angeles, this achievement marks a significant step forward in the advancement of climate solutions in the transportation sector.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/27/largest-tesla-supercharger-hub-opens-is-powered-by-solar/

  • ENCORE: Small Dollar, Big Impact

    Premal Shah discusses effective altruism and the importance of investing in reforestation efforts, system change, and renewable energy to combat climate change. He emphasizes the need to focus on solutions with the highest impact per dollar, such as building solar in markets with dirtier grids. Shah argues that changing the rules of capitalism and making strategic investments are essential in addressing the climate crisis effectively.

    https://www.climateone.org/audio/encore-small-dollar-big-impact

  • Philippines commissions 6.5 MW solar project for social housing

    The Ning Ning Solar Rooftop Project in the Philippines is the world's first grid-connected, solar rooftop project within a social housing community, providing clean energy to almost 2,000 homes and expected to reduce over 6,233 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the project's benefits, such as revenue generation for community services and additional power supply to the grid. The successful collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities paved the way for this innovative project, with plans for more rooftop solar projects in the future to further combat climate change.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/27/philippines-commissions-6-5-mw-solar-project-for-social-housing/

  • Environmental News Network – How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Achieve a Clean Energy Future

    AI is playing a crucial role in supporting the clean energy transition by managing power grid operations, planning infrastructure investments, and guiding the development of novel materials. Despite concerns about increased energy demands, AI is also helping to reduce energy consumption and emissions in buildings, transportation, and industrial processes. Furthermore, AI is optimizing the design and siting of new wind and solar installations and energy storage facilities, further aiding the transition to clean energy.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/77486-how-artificial-intelligence-can-help-achieve-a-clean-energy-future

  • Environmental News Network – Unlocking Ammonia as a Fuel Source for Heavy Industry

    Amogy, a startup founded by MIT alumni, has developed a catalyst that can split ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen more efficiently, potentially transforming energy systems using existing infrastructure. The company plans to sell catalysts and modular systems to convert ammonia directly to power, bypassing health concerns related to nitrous oxides. Amogy has already created ammonia-powered drones, tractors, trucks, and tugboats, and has partnerships with industry leaders, raising over $300 million. This innovation could lead to a carbon-free and energy-dense fuel solution that could significantly impact the transition to cleaner energy sources.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/77492-unlocking-ammonia-as-a-fuel-source-for-heavy-industry

  • The City That Turns Human Waste into Clean Fuel

    Innovative projects in Germany and Denmark are transforming sewage gases into valuable resources like methanol and green hydrogen, offering sustainable solutions for industries and rural communities. The Mannheim 001 pilot project in Germany is producing methanol from biogas at a wastewater treatment plant, with plans for upscaling production, while the Kassø e-methanol facility in Denmark showcases successful large-scale investment in this area. These initiatives not only aim to decarbonize industries and reduce energy consumption in sewage treatment plants but also have the potential to benefit rural communities by cutting waste disposal costs and generating renewable power. Despite obstacles such as regulations and lack of legal frameworks, the global potential of scaling sewage-to-methanol could have significant climate and air quality benefits, particularly in meeting the fuel demand of the global shipping sector striving for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

    https://reasonstobecheerful.world/city-turning-human-waste-to-clean-fuel-germany/

  • Electric School Buses & V2G — Match Made in Heaven

    The article highlights the advantages of utilizing electric school buses as a V2G fleet, showcasing real-world outcomes from V2G programs and addressing the financial viability challenges post federal tax credits. It also delves into the importance of EV fleet energy management. Readers are encouraged to further explore the topic through a podcast or video, and to participate in the ongoing discussion in the comments section.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/25/electric-school-buses-v2g-match-made-in-heaven/

  • Celebrating Tribal Communities Leading the Clean Energy Transition

    Generation180 and the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy (ATCE) are empowering Tribal Nations to lead the way in clean energy projects and energy resilience. United Tribes Technical College and Tribal Energy Alternatives (TEA) are key players in promoting tribal ownership, workforce development, and hands-on learning opportunities in clean energy systems. TEA's Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund awarded $3.6 million to 26 Tribal Nations in 2025, supporting various clean energy initiatives. ATCE acts as a strategic partner, providing technical guidance and funding through philanthropic investments to support Tribal communities in shaping the future of clean energy and advancing energy sovereignty.

    https://generation180.org/blog/celebrating-tribal-communities-leading-the-clean-energy-transition/

  • Australia doesn’t have to choose between energy affordability and emission reductions

    IEEFA has found that improving energy affordability in Australia does not have to be incompatible with emissions reduction targets. The country's aging coal fleet and network assets need to be replaced, with renewables backed by storage and transmission being the most cost-effective option. Gas-based generation has become increasingly uncompetitive, with high prices and declining consumption. Contrary to misconceptions, renewables have not been driving electricity prices up, with high gas and coal prices, coal outages, and network costs being the main factors. Faster approval processes and better market regulations are needed to ensure a smooth transition to cleaner energy sources. Reforms to improve competition, allow distributed energy resources to compete, and promote energy efficiency, electrification, and flexible demand are key to lowering household energy bills. Transitioning to modern electric alternatives, such as heaters and hot water systems, along with solar and battery systems, can significantly reduce costs. Industrial energy efficiency and electrification also offer major savings. The key pathways to improve energy affordability are aligned with net zero emissions goals, emphasizing the need for accelerated deployment of renewables, energy efficiency, and electrification. The narrative that lowering bills and cutting emissions are mutually exclusive is false.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-doesnt-have-to-choose-between-energy-affordability-and-emission-reductions/

  • When solar meets next-gen nuclear

    Researchers in China have proposed a scheduling framework for microgrids that integrates solar power with small modular nuclear reactors to improve short-term dispatch capability and long-term economic viability. The framework utilizes multi-objective distributionally robust optimization and real-time reinforcement learning to co-optimize photovoltaic and SMR generation. The system includes a generator, battery, electrolyzers for hydrogen production, and an energy management system to make decisions based on forecasts and real-time data. The proposed optimization framework reduces operational costs by 18.7% and carbon emission intensity by 37.1% compared to conventional fossil-dominated microgrids, while enhancing critical load supply reliability to above 98% across all uncertainty scenarios. Researchers have developed a new operational strategy for microgrids that combines demand response optimization with reinforcement learning to adapt to real-time environmental changes, allowing for flexibility in managing energy imbalances and reducing reliance on carbon-intensive backup generation. The coordination between short-term battery storage and long-term hydrogen storage enhances cost-effectiveness and reliability.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/25/when-solar-meets-next-gen-nuclear/