Energy and Green Technologies

Batteries, renewable energy, grids, climate, and clean technologies.

147 Articles

California Moves to Make “Balcony Solar” System Installation Easier

California’s legislature approved SB 868, easing requirements for connecting small solar power systems to the grid and paving the way for renters and homeowners to install them more easily. The bill still needs to complete the legislative process and be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, with the proposed exemption expiring on January 1, 2030.

2026-08-26

Energy and Green Technologies

Successful Current-Transfer Test in ITER Superconducting Coil Paves the Way for Start-Up

Japan’s QST announced the successful current-transfer test in the ITER toroidal-field (TF) coil, a key component for generating the magnetic field that confines plasma inside the ITER reactor. The test strengthens the project’s readiness for the start-up phase after the current reached approximately 269 kiloamperes without any recorded performance issues.

2026-08-26

Energy and Green Technologies

Energy Storage Boosts Grid Reliability: Five U.S. States Lead the Expansion

The article examines how energy storage technologies have become a central part of electricity-grid reliability plans in the United States, highlighting initiatives in California, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Installed capacity in the country increased from 6,000 megawatt-hours in 2020 to more than 175,000 megawatt-hours currently, according to the figures cited in the source.

2026-08-25

Energy and Green Technologies

Photovoltaic Windows in a Bucharest Apartment Cover Around 47% of Hot Water Needs

A home experiment lasting more than two years demonstrated the possibility of using semitransparent photovoltaic glass to heat water directly with direct current, without a battery or solar inverter. The system covered between 43.7% and 46.7% of household hot-water energy, with potential additional benefits in reducing water waste and solar heat gain.

2026-08-25

Energy and Green Technologies

Pacific Fusion Begins Building Fusion Facility Targeting Enough Energy to Power Itself

The startup Pacific Fusion has begun construction of a pilot facility in New Mexico aimed at achieving what is known as “net facility gain” by 2030—that is, producing as much energy as the facility itself consumes. The company intends to use the project’s results to reach a commercial plant in the mid-2030s.

2026-08-25

Energy and Green Technologies

Wabtec FLXDrive Electric Locomotives Test Heavy Haulage in Australian Mines

Nearly a year after entering service on a dedicated line at BHP’s Jimblebar mine, BHP continues testing two 4,400-horsepower battery-electric locomotives from Wabtec. The company is preparing to expand the trial and conduct a direct comparison with locomotives from Progress Rail in the same operating environment.

2026-08-25

Energy and Green Technologies

Opinion: Massachusetts Energy Reforms Could Lower Costs, but Fixed Charges Threaten the Goal

SEIA is urging Massachusetts lawmakers to support reforms for grid interconnection flexibility and electricity storage and to streamline solar permitting, while opposing the imposition of new fixed charges on electricity bills. The organization relies on estimates indicating that these charges could increase the burdens on lower-consumption consumers and reduce the investment case for solar, storage, and energy efficiency.

2026-08-24

Energy and Green Technologies

How Is Africa Reshaping Fuel Stations Around Battery Swapping and Solar Power?

Fuel stations in Africa are moving toward a model different from traditional fast-charging stations, led by commercial motorcycle fleets and supported by battery-swapping networks and off-grid solar power. This shift reflects an attempt to address weak electricity grids and reduce downtime, but a lack of financing and infrastructure remains the biggest obstacle.

2026-08-24

Energy and Green Technologies

New Technology to Compensate for Capacity Loss in Lithium-Ion Batteries Could Reduce Manufacturing Costs

A Japanese organization announced on August 20, 2026, the development of a new lithium predoping technology aimed at compensating for the irreversible capacity in negative silicon electrodes used in lithium-ion batteries. The technology could help increase energy density and reduce the cost of battery materials, but industrial scalability and validation in customer cells remain crucial factors.

2026-08-24

Energy and Green Technologies

1.3 GW Solar Factory Supports Translucent Energy’s U.S. Expansion

Translucent Energy has begun operating the first phase of its new South Carolina factory, with a production capacity of 1.3 GW and plans to expand into solar cell and wafer manufacturing. The factory is also linked to the company’s portfolio of transportable microgrids and electric vehicle charging solutions.

2026-08-22

Energy and Green Technologies

$500 Million in U.S. Grants Give Battery Startups a Lifeline Through the Defense Sector

The U.S. Department of Energy allocated $500 million to strengthen the battery supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign sources, while startups received large grants to expand battery-material production and processing. The funding comes after electric-vehicle incentives declined and as defense demand grows for batteries used in drones, torpedoes, and communications equipment.

2026-08-22

Energy and Green Technologies

Cleveland-Cliffs Redirects $500 Million in Funding to Continue Using Coal at Steel Plant

Cleveland-Cliffs and the U.S. Department of Energy announced a revised plan for the Middletown Works plant that abandons the project to transition to low-emissions steel production, while retaining coal use and seeking to install a natural-gas-fired combined heat and power plant. The decision has drawn criticism from environmental groups and local residents because of its expected effects on pollution and health.

2026-08-21

Energy and Green Technologies

New U.S. Factory Could Make Grid-Storage Batteries Safer

Anthro Energy has begun construction of a plant in Louisville, Kentucky, to produce advanced polymer electrolytes, with a planned annual capacity of 12,000 tons—enough to support up to 25 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries. The company says the technology could reduce fire, swelling, and short-circuit risks while using existing battery-manufacturing equipment.

2026-08-21

Energy and Green Technologies

LG Energy Solution’s Michigan Plant Shifts from Automotive Batteries to Energy Storage

LG Energy Solution has begun producing LFP cells at its Michigan plant to supply Tesla’s energy storage systems, while continuing to manufacture NMC cells for Toyota vehicles. The shift reflects slowing growth in the electric vehicle market compared with rising demand from artificial intelligence data centers and power grids.

2026-08-21

Energy and Green Technologies

Poland Created Demand for Hydrogen Buses, but Polenergia Withdrew from Supplying Fuel Locally

Poland created an actual market for hydrogen buses through support for purchasing buses and refueling stations, as well as green hydrogen projects. However, Polenergia withdrew from a long-term agreement to supply hydrogen to the city of Rzeszów, revealing that creating demand does not guarantee economical and stable local supply.

2026-08-21

Energy and Green Technologies

California Bills to Support Balcony, Community Solar and Virtual Power Plants

Several bills have advanced in the California Legislature to expand solar energy use through plug-in balcony systems, community solar, and connecting home batteries to the grid as part of virtual power plants. The move comes after the state’s momentum waned following a change to net-metering policy.

2026-08-20

Energy and Green Technologies

Sunrun Redirects Solar Sales from Partners to Its Direct Team

Sunrun plans to strengthen its direct sales after the contribution from affiliate channels declined, adding 1,500 sales representatives in the second quarter of 2026. Despite revenue growth, the company lowered its annual outlook, while the share of systems equipped with battery storage rose to 74%.

2026-08-20

Energy and Green Technologies

Inertia Enterprises Cuts Nuclear Fusion Fuel Manufacturing from a Week to Hours

Inertia Enterprises has developed a method for manufacturing nuclear fusion fuel pellets in two to three hours, compared with a week or more at the NIF facility. This reduction could help lower the cost of a commercial plant and the inventory of tritium fuel required to operate it.

2026-08-20