Stepchange News — 2026-07-02

1

German researchers achieve 25.5% efficiency record for perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell — Researchers from HZB and Humboldt-Universität in Berlin have achieved a record 25.5% conversion efficiency in a CIGS-perovskite tandem PV…

More: PV Tech, PV Magazine

2

Groundwork Collaborative proposes freezing electricity rates by leveraging AI data center demand — There’s an interesting new report out today from the progressive think tank Groundwork Collaborative that makes a case for how Democrats…

More: Heatmap News

3

Vena Energy raises $970 million for Australian solar and storage projects — Vena Energy has raised A$1.4 billion (US$970 million) to support 614MW of solar PV capacity and 1,141MWh of BESS in Australia.

More: PV Tech

4

New Jersey Governor Receives Bill to Eliminate Data Center Tax Credit — Data center politics are continuing to evolve rapidly, and almost always in the direction of increasing costs and restrictions for data…

More: Heatmap News

5

Interior Department pays Duke Energy $129 million to abandon offshore wind lease — A Duke Energy subsidiary paid $155 million for the lease in 2022, saying it could support up to 1.6 GW of capacity. The utility now says it…

More: Utility Dive, Heatmap News, Electrek, CleanTechnica

6

Firmus Technologies secures 1.2GW renewables deal to power South Australian AI facilities — Firmus Technologies has signed a 12-year wholesale energy supply agreement with Gunvor Group, including 1.2GW of renewables by 2032.

More: PV Tech

7

Energy Dome to build 23 MW carbon battery in Ireland with 10-year capacity contract — The project has secured land, planning consent, and a grid connection and has been awarded a 10-year capacity contract. It is expected to…

More: PV Magazine

8

Kempower and PowerUp America launch first of 12 EV fast charging sites in Southeast — Kempower and charge point operator PowerUp America have opened a new public DC fast charging station in Manchester, Kentucky – the first of…

More: Electrek

9

Frontier, Stripe-led carbon removal coalition, commits $915M to five emerging removal technologies — According to one of the world’s leading carbon removal buyers, the sector’s future lies in piles of industrial waste. When Frontier, the…

More: Heatmap News

10

Toyota's bZ4X electric SUV tops 17,500 sales in U.S., outsells Land Cruiser — The new 2026 bZ has emerged as one of America’s best-selling EVs, outselling several of Toyota’s popular SUVs.

More: Electrek

11

Scotland's solar capacity reaches 0.9 GW as storage tops 1.5 GW — Latest government figures add that Scotland’s storage capacity surpassed 1.5 GW by the end of March. There are currently 0.2 GW of solar…

More: PV Magazine

12

SolaX unveils AC-side vehicle-to-home charging system at Intersolar Europe — The system features an architecture that separates AC charging from controlled DC discharging and allows the EV charger and inverter to be…

More: PV Magazine

13

Subaru's new electric SUVs outsell Solterra months after launch — Just months after arriving at dealerships, Subaru’s new electric SUVs are outselling the Solterra.

More: Electrek

14

Eversource launches load management pilots in Massachusetts amid solar growth — The programs address specific substations with high solar penetration or summer-peak congestion issues. They could expand in the coming…

More: Utility Dive

15

Opsun launches flat-roof racking system that integrates string inverters with solar arrays — North American solar mounting manufacturer Opsun Systems Inc. has launched a commercial flat-roof racking solution engineered to support…

More: PV Magazine

16

Chevy Equinox EV sales fall 41% as new Bolt and Cadillac models offset decline — GM’s best-selling Chevy Equinox EV took a hit after sales dropped 41% in the first half of 2026. The new Chevy Bolt EV and Cadillac’s…

More: Electrek

17

Oracle challenges Wisconsin data center utility credit requirement — The utility’s credit requirement is neither the strictest in the country nor unusual. The post Does Oracle actually have a case against…

More: Latitude Media

18

New Mexico town cuts water to immigration detention center as wells run dry — Following years of drought, the wells in Estancia, N.M., are running dry. After declaring a water emergency last week, the small town in…

More: Inside Climate News

19

Scientists say urban trees are critical for city climate resilience

More: Grist

20

England records hottest June on record, Met Office data shows — Chief scientist says dangerous heatwaves, which are getting more likely, ‘bring home the implications of climate change’ The month of June…

More: Guardian Environment

Jul 1, 2026 · 5:02 PM PT edition · 20 stories

German researchers achieve 25.5% efficiency record for perovskite-CIGS tandem solar cell — Researchers from HZB and Humboldt-Universität in Berlin have achieved a record 25.5% conversion efficiency in a CIGS-perovskite tandem PV…

Groundwork Collaborative proposes freezing electricity rates by leveraging AI data center demand — There’s an interesting new report out today from the progressive think tank Groundwork Collaborative that makes a case for how Democrats…

Vena Energy raises $970 million for Australian solar and storage projects — Vena Energy has raised A$1.4 billion (US$970 million) to support 614MW of solar PV capacity and 1,141MWh of BESS in Australia.

New Jersey Governor Receives Bill to Eliminate Data Center Tax Credit — Data center politics are continuing to evolve rapidly, and almost always in the direction of increasing costs and restrictions for data…

Interior Department pays Duke Energy $129 million to abandon offshore wind lease — A Duke Energy subsidiary paid $155 million for the lease in 2022, saying it could support up to 1.6 GW of capacity. The utility now says it…

Firmus Technologies secures 1.2GW renewables deal to power South Australian AI facilities — Firmus Technologies has signed a 12-year wholesale energy supply agreement with Gunvor Group, including 1.2GW of renewables by 2032.

Energy Dome to build 23 MW carbon battery in Ireland with 10-year capacity contract — The project has secured land, planning consent, and a grid connection and has been awarded a 10-year capacity contract. It is expected to…

Kempower and PowerUp America launch first of 12 EV fast charging sites in Southeast — Kempower and charge point operator PowerUp America have opened a new public DC fast charging station in Manchester, Kentucky – the first of…

Frontier, Stripe-led carbon removal coalition, commits $915M to five emerging removal technologies — According to one of the world’s leading carbon removal buyers, the sector’s future lies in piles of industrial waste. When Frontier, the…

Toyota's bZ4X electric SUV tops 17,500 sales in U.S., outsells Land Cruiser — The new 2026 bZ has emerged as one of America’s best-selling EVs, outselling several of Toyota’s popular SUVs.

Scotland's solar capacity reaches 0.9 GW as storage tops 1.5 GW — Latest government figures add that Scotland’s storage capacity surpassed 1.5 GW by the end of March. There are currently 0.2 GW of solar…

SolaX unveils AC-side vehicle-to-home charging system at Intersolar Europe — The system features an architecture that separates AC charging from controlled DC discharging and allows the EV charger and inverter to be…

Subaru's new electric SUVs outsell Solterra months after launch — Just months after arriving at dealerships, Subaru’s new electric SUVs are outselling the Solterra.

Eversource launches load management pilots in Massachusetts amid solar growth — The programs address specific substations with high solar penetration or summer-peak congestion issues. They could expand in the coming…

Opsun launches flat-roof racking system that integrates string inverters with solar arrays — North American solar mounting manufacturer Opsun Systems Inc. has launched a commercial flat-roof racking solution engineered to support…

Chevy Equinox EV sales fall 41% as new Bolt and Cadillac models offset decline — GM’s best-selling Chevy Equinox EV took a hit after sales dropped 41% in the first half of 2026. The new Chevy Bolt EV and Cadillac’s…

Oracle challenges Wisconsin data center utility credit requirement — The utility’s credit requirement is neither the strictest in the country nor unusual. The post ​​Does Oracle actually have a case against…

New Mexico town cuts water to immigration detention center as wells run dry — Following years of drought, the wells in Estancia, N.M., are running dry. After declaring a water emergency last week, the small town in…

Scientists say urban trees are critical for city climate resilience

England records hottest June on record, Met Office data shows — Chief scientist says dangerous heatwaves, which are getting more likely, ‘bring home the implications of climate change’ The month of June…

Oracle challenges Wisconsin data center utility credit requirement — The utility’s credit requirement is neither the strictest in the country nor unusual. The post Does Oracle actually have a case against…