The latest renewable energy news includes announcements from TAT Technologies, Beyond Aero, BLUETTI, UN-Habitat, and others.
Beyond Aero and TAT Develop Thermal System for 1,500-km Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft
TAT Technologies has partnered with French aerospace startup Beyond Aero to develop the thermal-management architecture for a hydrogen-electric business aircraft. Beyond Aero is designing a clean-sheet aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells, with capacity for six passengers and a targeted range of 800 nautical miles, or around 1,500 km—about five times the range of comparable battery-electric aircraft, according to the company. The programme integrates gaseous hydrogen storage, fuel-cell propulsion and advanced thermal management. TAT will contribute aerospace cooling and thermal-system expertise. Founded in 2020, Beyond Aero is pursuing hydrogen-electric propulsion as a route to zero-emission business aviation where battery weight currently limits long-distance electric flight.
New Lithium-Metal Battery Separator Delivers 42% Higher High-Rate Capacity
Researchers at Hanbat National University have developed a bikitaite-infused cellulose separator that could improve the performance of lithium-metal batteries using high-nickel NCM90 cathodes. At a 4C discharge rate, cells using the new separator delivered 163 mAh/g, versus 115 mAh/g for conventional polyethylene separators—an improvement of about 42 percent. The technology also suppressed visible lithium dendrite growth and retained roughly 60 percent capacity after 2,500 cycles at 2C/4C. At −25°C, cells retained 68.9 percent capacity after 150 cycles. Because the innovation modifies the separator rather than redesigning electrode chemistry, researchers believe it could be integrated more readily into existing battery manufacturing lines.
BLUETTI and UN-Habitat Expand Distributed Clean Energy Programme to Nigeria
BLUETTI and UN-Habitat have expanded their clean-energy access partnership into Nigeria through a deployment in Benue State. In Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, BLUETTI donated 180 clean-energy kits to households headed by women or elderly residents, benefiting more than 1,000 people with improved electricity access. The initiative forms part of BLUETTI’s Lighting An African Family programme, which has now reached more than 60,000 people across Africa. BLUETTI and UN-Habitat estimate their continuing collaboration could avoid approximately 337.5 tonnes of carbon emissions over five years. The Nigeria deployment follows their first joint programme in Kenya during 2025 and extends the initiative from East Africa into West Africa.
