China: Solar curtains, retired EV batteries power world's first zero-carbon tower

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By Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering. 

Excerpt: Rising 383.8 feet (117 meters) above Qingdao City, the innovative office tower is designed to operate entirely on green energy and stands as a model for future zero-carbon construction. ...this project integrates photovoltaic glass curtain walls across its east, south, and west facades. These transparent solar panels generate direct current electricity that supplies 25 percent of the building’s daily energy needs while minimizing energy loss. The system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 500 tons annually. ...Retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries are used for energy storage in the building. ...China’s green transition gained strong momentum in the first half of 2025, with renewable energy accounting for 91.5 percent of newly installed power capacity, according to data from the National Energy Administration. By the end of June, the country’s cumulative renewable energy capacity had reached 2.16 billion kilowatts, marking a 30.6 percent year-on-year increase.... 

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