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People refresh themselves in the cool water of a fountain in front of the Cathedral at the Lustgarten park on Museum Island in Berlin on July 2, 2025, as temperatures were predicted to reach up to 37 degrees Celsius. Scientists estimated that rising temperatures from humancaused climate change were responsible for roughly 16,500 deaths in European cities this summer, using modelling to project the toll before official data is released.

the rapidly-produced study is the latest effort by climate and health researchers to quickly link the death toll during heatwaves to global warming — without waiting months or years to be published in a peerreviewed journal.

the estimated deaths were not actually recorded in the European cities, but instead were a projection based on methods such as modelling used in previously peerreviewed studies. Death tolls during heatwaves are thought to be vastly underestimated because the causes of death recorded in hospitals are normally heart, breathing, or other health problems that particularly affect the elderly when the mercury soars.

Bangladesh has updated its net metering framework for solar.

the new rules aim to expand access and raise self-consumption among prosumers.

the government of Bangladesh has approved new net metering guidelines for 2025 to support rooftop solar and allow every power user to become a power producer. ‘This progressive policy makes rooftop solar easier, smarter, and more rewarding for households and businesses,’ the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) said in a notification. Under the new guidelines, 100% of the sanctioned load is now allowed for net-metered rooftop solar, compared with 70% in the past. The sanctioned load is the maximum amount of power that an electricity provider authorizes a consumer to use at any given time.

the new provisions encourage PV system owners to increase self-consumption levels.

the guidelines also allow singlephase consumers to produce power under net metering.

under the previous rules, only three-phase consumers were eligible. Producers under net metering will receive direct payment in Bangladeshi taka into their bank or mobile banking accounts for electricity supplied to the grid.

the new framework also introduces an online application system for net metering and authorizes consumers with prepaid or smart meters to participate in the scheme.

in the past, this was limited to consumers with postpaid meters.

China’s EV giant has unveiled the 14.5 MWh DC ‘Haohan’ single-unit DC block with record-breaking capacity to challenge next-generation energy storage market. BYD has unveiled a new DC energy storage system with the world’s largest singleunit capacity of 14.5 MWh, intensifying competition in the fast-growing utilityscale storage market.

the ‘Haohan’ system was launched on September 18 at the International Digital Energy Expo in Shenzhen.

the company said Haohan’s minimum unit capacity of 14. 5MWh is more than double the industry norm of 6-7 MWh. When configured within a standard 20-foot container, the system delivers 10 MWh and achieves a volumetric energy density of 233 kWh per cubic meter, a 51% increase on the industry average. For a 1 GWh storage plant, Haohan would cut the number of required units by more than half, reduce land use by one-third, and trim cell count by 76%.

Climate change is spurring increasingly erratic and extreme swings between deluge and drought across the world, the United Nations warned recently.

the UN’s World Meteorological Organization said in a report that the world’s water cycle was becoming ever more unpredictable, with shrinking glaciers, droughts, unbalanced river basins and severe floods wreaking havoc. ‘The world’s water resources are under growing pressure and — at the same time — more extreme waterrelated hazards are having an increasing impact on lives and livelihoods,’ WMO chief Celeste Saulo cautioned in a statement released with the annual State of Global Water Resources report. Last year was the hottest on record, leading to prolonged droughts in northern parts of South America, the Amazon Basin and southern Africa. Parts of central Africa Europe and Asia, meanwhile, were dealing with wetter weather than usual, being hit with devastating floods or deadly storms, the report pointed out.

at a global level, WMO said last year was the sixth consecutive year where there had been a ‘clear imbalance’ in the world’s river basins.

Japan’s top power generator JERA is in advanced talks to buy natural gas production assets in the U.S. for around $1.7 billion, people familiar with the matter said, the latest example of the Asian nation investing in America’s energy sector. JERA emerged as the top bidder for the assets owned by GEP Haynesville II, a joint venture between Blackstonebacked (BX.N), opens new tab GeoSouthern Energy and pipeline operator Williams Companies (WMB.N), opens new tab, after banks solicited offers in recent weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.

the deal would mark JERA’s first foray into shale gas production, and give one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyers more control of its supply chain as Japan prepares for a surge in power demand from data centers critical to the artificial intelligence boom.

the Japanese firm topped other bidders, including multiple US-based energy companies, according to the sources, who cautioned that a deal is not guaranteed and GEP could still turn to other bidders, or scrap the sale altogether.

as a heavy importer of oil and gas due to its lack of domestic production, Japan has sought increased supplies from foreign allies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted energy markets.

Once again, conspiracy theories are thriving in Bangladesh.

it has spiraled since the chief adviser’s firm announcement that the next national election will be held by the first half of February next year. No force on earth can compel the interim government to change its election resolve, vow several government leaders. Yet again, another set of government leaders warns against any plot to foil the election plan.

the main political stakeholders of the election are also issuing warnings against anti-election conspiracies being hatched by forces at home and abroad. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has been in charge of governing the country since August last year, following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. From day one, he has made three promises: reforms, trials, and elections. He emphasizes reforms in the constitution, judiciary, and the Election Commission to make the next polls as free and fair as possible. He has set for himself a big dream: overseeing the country’s freest, fairest, and peaceful election. He has also set in motion the trial of former Awami League ministers, including Sheikh Hasina, on charges of murdering protesters during last year’s student-led mass upsurge. Former police officials of her administration have also been brought to the dock of the International Crimes Tribunal to answer charges of mass murder. Prosecutors expect the trial to be completed with verdicts in some of the high-level cases, especially those against Hasina, who is now living in India. Some progress in the process of trial has been visible, but not so in the efforts at reaching a political consensus on reforming the constitution and the election system. While there has been a general agreement on having an Upper House of the legislature, key political actors – BNP, Jamaat, and NCP – disagree on how it will be elected. BNP stands firm against Jamaat’s stand of getting the Upper House elected through proportional representation (PR) of the votes gained by different political parties. Jamaat is campaigning for the introduction of a PR system in electing the lower and upper houses of the legislature. The consensus commission formed to thrash out the differences is struggling to get its act together. Without any consensus on this issue, the next election seems to be in trouble.

to press for its demands, Jamaat and several other parties have taken to the streets. Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP), widely seen as a party close to Prof Yunus, is about to get its registration with the Election Commission, but it has vowed protests unless it gets Shapla (water lily) as its chosen election symbol.

it has become a matter of concern as the EC has turned down NCP’s plea, saying Shapla is not even in the EC list of election symbols. The law and order situation is another major concern for the government and other stakeholders of the election. Mob violence is yet to abate.

extortion continues unabated. Political murders have always been an issue in Bangladesh, and it is likely to rise as the election coming closer to the voters’ doorsteps. By an executive order, the interim government has banned all activities of the fallen Awami League and its front or associated bodies.

the party’s registration with the EC has been suspended along with its election symbol, Boat. Despite the ban, activists of AL could manage to bring out lightning processions on the streets and Dhaka and some other cities. Hundreds of arrests have been made in an attempt to stem such protests amid stern warnings from the law-enforcing agencies. Will AL be allowed to take part in the February elections? If not, what happens with the supporters/voters of the disgraced party? These and other issues need to be dealt with through politically correct steps from the current administration. No conspiracy theories will work.

China, the world’s biggest source of planet-warming gases, has for the first time committed to an absolute target to cut its emissions.

in a video statement to the UN in New York, President Xi Jinping said that China would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 7-10% by 2035, while ‘striving to do better’.

the announcement comes at a time when the US is rolling back on its commitments, with President Donald Trump recently calling climate change a ‘con job’. But some critics said China’s plan did not go as far as hoped to keep global climate goals in reach. ‘Even for those with tempered expectations, what’s presented today still falls short,’ said Yao Zhe, global policy adviser at Greenpeace East Asia. While the year’s big gathering of global leaders will be at COP30 in Brazil in November, the UN meeting in New York has extra relevance because countries are running out of time to submit their new climate plans.

these pledges – submitted every five years – are a key part of the Paris climate agreement, the landmark deal in which nearly 200 countries agreed steps to try to limit global warming.

the original deadline for these new commitments, covering emissions cuts by 2035, was back in February, but countries are now scrambling to present them by the end of September. Speaking before the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the pledges were critical to keep the long-term rise in global temperatures under 1.5C, as agreed in Paris.

Southeast Asia has the potential to tap into abundant renewable resources to satisfy its rapidly increasing electricity demand, according to a new report of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

in 2024, electricity consumption in the region surged by over 7%, nearly twice the global average, and is projected to double again by 2050.

this surge is fuelled by swift urbanization, industrial expansion, and improving living standards. Southeast Asia has an estimated 20TW of untapped solar and wind potential.

the report suggests that even a fraction of this could significantly contribute to meeting the soaring demand while enhancing energy security. Currently, many countries in the region are heavily reliant on imported fuels, making them vulnerable to global market volatility and supply disruptions. With eight of ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states setting net-zero emissions targets, policy instruments such as competitive auctions and direct power purchase agreements are being employed to foster renewable adoption.

according to the IEA report, the challenges associated with integrating variable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are manageable.

Half a dozen international firms are vying for a contract to construct a new floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Moheshkhali island as Bangladesh opts for enhancing LNGhandling capacity amid falling domestic gas reserves against rising demand. Sources say they have submitted proposals either to state-run Petrobangla, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, or both, in the hope of securing a new contract to develop the facility near the country’s two existing FSRUs that treat the imported liquefied natural gas or LNG. Oman’s OQ Trading International, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco Trading, Azerbaijan’s Socar, US-based Excelerate Energy, and Russia’s Novatek are among the global players interested in setting up the FSRU or related infrastructure used for degasifying imported LNG to feed into the national grid, according to market insiders. ‘We have received proposals from a good number of international firms showing interest in developing a new FSRU,’ said a senior official. He notes that the government may award the contract, considering the growing need for ramping up the LNGregasification capacity in the wake of depleting domestic reserves.

the project could be awarded either through an international tender or via government-togovernment negotiations, with emphasis on securing lower costs than those of previous projects, he adds.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) Limited recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to install, operate, and maintain a 150 kilowatt-peak (kWp) rooftop solar power system at BIDA’s headquarters at Agargaon in the city. The signing ceremony, held at the Investment Building’s conference room, was presided over by BIDA Executive Chairman (State Minister) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, said a press release. DESCO Managing Director Brigadier General Shamim Ahmed ndc, PSC (retd) attended the event as special guest.

on behalf of BIDA, the MoU was signed by Director Md. Maruful Alam, while DESCO’s Company Secretary Engineer Mohammad Kamruzzaman signed on behalf of the power distributor.

according to the agreement, DESCO will implement, operate, and maintain the system on a 9,105-square-foot rooftop area. The 20-year project involves an installation cost of around Tk 8.9 million, with an additional Tk 8.7 million earmarked for maintenance and replacement during the project’s lifespan.

the solar system is expected to generate about 2.85 million kilowatt-hours of electricity over 20 years, worth approximately Tk 29.9 million.