Remarkable initiatives in the battle against climate change

Most Important News

Very inspiring events in our fight against climate change are taking place in Europe, as reported by Selin Girit for the BBC . Claudia Duarte Agostinho, a young woman from Portugal, together with her siblings and three more young Portuguese citizens, sued 32 governments, including all EU member states and the United Kingdom, arguing that they have failed to take sufficient action and as a result, were responsible for the devastating forest fires that occurred in their country.?

I applaud the integrity of these people who, like Greta Thurnberg, have defied all odds and stood up against those in power to demand that they do what they need to do.?

In this regard, some governments are stepping up to the plate and accelerating their nations’ transition to sustainable energy. As reported by SAFETY4SEA , both the United States–through the much-lauded Inflation Reduction Act–and Canada are investing heavily in wind and solar power, with over $12 trillion expected to be deployed to further the shift to renewable sources.?

Many business people in North America have spotted this as a triple-bottom-line business opportunity, and now, aim to position their country as a leader in the production of solar power. Such is the case of First Solar, a company that, as chronicled by Ivan Penn in the 纽约时报 , is making solar panels in Ohio and aims to capitalize on the subsidies granted by the Biden administration to expand all around the United States.?

Circling back across the Atlantic, Solar Energy UK, a trade association representing the interests of the entire solar industry value chain, has complained, according to George Heynes , from Solar Power Portal UK , that planning rules have become “uneven and unfair,” which has complicated the installation of solar panels for many people. This is largely due to some sectors being considered “conservation areas,” which limits the modifications that can be made to the buildings in the zone. Action is needed in this regard. For example, as Melissa Frick shared for @MLive.com, the Grand Rapids Township Board, in Michigan, redefined its zoning ordinance to allow residents to install solar panels in their yards

Last, but not least, did you know that the country that imports the most solar panels in the world does not use over half of them? As reported by @Emily Proctor from IamExpat Media , this nation is the Netherlands, however, as mentioned, the Dutch only keep 40 percent of the panels they import, exporting the remaining 60 percent to nations like Germany.?

Innovations

It is always exciting to review some of the latest developments and breakthroughs that are taking place in the solar industry, especially considering that @Harrison Dreves, from the @National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado, shared that NREL recently published a report stating that even though fossil energy still provides most of the world’s electricity, the new capacity that is being built up to address the growing demand is dominated by renewables. So, what are some of these exciting projects??

In Algeria, Pooja Chandak from SolarQuarter Global reported that the country is building its first solar power village, a remarkable step as the MENA region also aims to capitalize on the benefits of sustainable energy sources. This growing tendency to implement solar worldwide is increasing hopes that the world will reach its climate goals on time. According to a report from ETEnergyworld Middle East And Africa , investments in climate action would need to increase from the present level of $1.8 trillion to $4.5 trillion by 2030 in order for these goals to be feasible.?

One technology that could give a boost to solar and renewable prospects is artificial intelligence, which is now disrupting every sector. Charlotte Horwood , for TechRound , reports that AI-driven algorithms can be of help in every stage of the process, for example, by optimizing solar panel designs, monitoring performance in real-time, and enhancing production through precise positioning. I’m really looking forward to seeing more AI-powered innovations in the field.?

Also, in a couple of additional news, a research breakthrough happened in China, where manufacturer Huasun, according to Emiliano Bellini from pv magazine Global , has claimed that its Himalaya G12-132 HJT solar module has reached record outputs of 744.43 W and a power conversion efficiency of 23.96%, which could significantly boost the company’s utility-scale initiatives.

International News

As every week, it is time to acknowledge more important news from around the world in terms of renewable energy:

• A team from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand is investigating whether climate change is having any impact on earthquake-induced natural disasters, such as landslides, which have caused a lot of damage in the nation
• Apple will need to revamp its supply chain to meet its carbon neutrality goals, according to Bloomberg
• A report by the International Energy Agency highlights how many nations are setting records in deploying climate-friendly technologies, which has brought hope to many climate analysts
• The head of Portugal-based energy company EDP has said that the solar industry needs to diversify from a China-dependent supply chain, according to the Financial Times
• Speaking of China, the country has invested $8 million in Lebanon to assist with the country’s solar industry, especially in the telecommunications sector, according to Solar Quarter

All in all, great news, and a positive sign that, despite the challenges, many stakeholders are coming together and rallying around this accelerated transition to sustainability. And just before I leave, one final note. I found this great list by @Ryan Regan in the Solar Tribune , and, as the holiday season looms on the horizon, why not think about solar-inspired gifts for our loved ones? Check this out, and, if you are looking for more ideas to give those you care about something that they will value and that will make a difference in the world, consider giving them a solar set from WeDoSolar . We will have attractive Black Friday and Christmas offerings, so stay tuned!?