Viridi's recent replacement of a diesel backup generator with a battery energy storage system at a wastewater facility in New York State highlights the cost-saving benefits and improved reliability of such systems. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) like Viridi's offer municipalities a cleaner, lower-maintenance alternative to diesel generators, with federal and state incentives further reducing capital costs. As cities and towns prioritize resilience and budget predictability, the shift towards battery-based systems is expected to accelerate, especially in populated areas. CleanTechnica provides in-depth analyses on clean tech topics, offering insights on the growing trend towards sustainable energy solutions.
Category: Transportation
Cut emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift to Alternatives
– Electrify Vehicles
– Switch Fuels
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Solar Power Used To Charge An EV In The Sub-Arctic
A pilot project in the sub-Arctic successfully used off-grid solar power to charge an electric Subaru, challenging the notion that solar panels only work in hot climates. The portable solar panels and EV charger demonstrated the potential for clean energy solutions in extreme climates, with the technology being versatile enough to charge electric snowmobiles, e-bikes, ATVs, and motorcycles. The local indigenous communities in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions are interested in sustainable transportation and clean energy, driven by their environmental ethic and the challenges of climate change. This project's success highlights the potential for off-grid solar charging in extreme climates and signifies a shift towards green technology.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/19/solar-power-used-to-charge-an-ev-in-the-sub-arctic/
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Marinus Link and wind farm revival helps green bank smash six-month investment record
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) in Australia invested a record-breaking $6.1 billion in clean energy projects in the second half of 2025, focusing on initiatives like the Marinus Link transmission project, wind energy, natural capital, First Nations communities, transport, infrastructure, property, and climate tech innovation. The federal government provided additional funding for large-scale renewable energy projects, including wind projects like Aula Energy's Carmody's Hill project. Despite attempts to limit investments in wind and solar projects and include gas investments, the CEFC's contributions to renewable energy projects, transmission projects, green loans, EVs, and home electrification are crucial in Australia's race to achieve net zero emissions and combat climate change.
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Adani to invest $100 billion in AI data centers in India
Adani Group is set to invest $100 billion by 2035 to construct renewable-powered data centers in India, with a goal of reaching 5 GW of capacity and establishing a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem. This investment will facilitate the growth of renewable-energy-powered, AI-ready data center capacity across the country, positioning India as a key player in the global artificial intelligence economy. The planned 5 GW rollout would create the world's largest integrated data center platform, primarily powered by Adani Green Energy's renewable projects. Additionally, Adani plans to expand its renewable portfolio and enhance transmission networks to support high-demand AI workloads.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/18/adani-to-invest-100-billion-in-ai-data-centers-in-india/
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SwitchedOn podcast: How will the data industry control the future of clean energy?
Luis F. Gonzalez emphasizes the crucial role of the data and AI industry in driving the clean energy transition, predicting that data companies will lead the way in financing, shaping, and advocating for decarbonisation efforts. He points to the increasing integration of data and energy, highlighting the potential for AI to revolutionize energy infrastructure and enable consumer energy resources. Despite his optimism for intelligence-driven systems, Gonzalez also raises concerns about the risks of monopoly power and the lack of preparedness among energy regulators for this transformative shift towards a more sustainable future.
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Uber Putting $100 Million into EV Charging for Robotaxis
Uber is investing $100 million in EV charging infrastructure for robotaxis in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Dallas, partnering with companies like Waymo, WeRide, Waabi, and Nuro to deploy autonomous vehicles. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sees this as a multitrillion-dollar opportunity for Uber, focusing on growth investments in self-driving vehicles/robotaxis. CleanTechnica's newsletters feature cleantech stories and affiliate links, with a comment policy in place.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/18/uber-putting-100-million-into-ev-charging-for-robotaxis/
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Efficiency, demand flexibility can meet growing data center loads
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has found that energy efficiency improvements and demand flexibility in the U.S. grid could offset demand from AI data centers and other growing sources of load. By 2040, these measures could reduce U.S. energy demand by about 70 GW and peak demand by 60-200 GW. ACEEE recommends mandating performance incentive mechanisms for utilities and setting load flexibility goals to scale up energy efficiency and demand flexibility programs quickly with strong policy and financial support, offering a faster and cheaper alternative to building new power plants. These resources can help meet growing electric demand while ensuring reliability and affordability, targeting specific locations to defer or avoid the need for new infrastructure and saving families and businesses money.
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China rolling into U.S. backyard
Canada is making significant strides in the clean energy transition by focusing on electric vehicles (EVs), with a goal for EVs to make up 90 percent of new car sales by 2040. Africa is experiencing a surge in solar growth, led by countries like South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria. The industry is shifting towards supplier-led climate solutions, with India committing $2.4 billion to scale carbon capture solutions. A breakthrough in sodium-sulfur battery technology has made energy storage cheaper and easier to scale, while investment in next-generation geothermal energy has surpassed $2 billion. Vietnam has launched a $102 million climate finance initiative to protect forests and support climate-smart livelihoods.
https://speedandscale.com/newsletter/china-rolling-into-u-s-backyard/
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India’s blueprint for sustainable solar success
India's renewable energy transition in India has evolved to prioritize long-term reliability and efficiency through the use of high-performance solar panels and advanced technology. Policy incentives are now tied to performance and manufacturing capability, steering the industry towards high-value production. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar on 1 crore residential buildings, creating millions of energy-generating homes and normalizing the use of solar power. Developments in battery storage systems and hybridization of electrical systems are addressing the intermittency issue of solar power, making India's renewable energy ecosystem reliable, scalable, and equitable, offering a blueprint for emerging economies.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/16/indias-blueprint-for-sustainable-solar-success/
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French startup launches ‘universal’ home energy management system
Access to France's reduced VAT rate for residential solar installations is dependent on the use of low-carbon panels and a home energy management system, such as PvPilot's software. This platform orchestrates household electrical devices in real time based on solar production and consumption patterns, controlling devices like water heaters, batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations. By visualizing energy data and optimizing AC-coupled batteries, the system aims to increase solar self-consumption and enable fully solar-powered operation without drawing from the grid. This B2B2C model offers a comprehensive solution for maximizing the efficiency and sustainability of residential solar installations.