Author: sHq_LoGiNz

A partnership-driven program offering a practical, accessible way to extend device life and reduce e-waste

PARIS, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Back Market, a leading marketplace for premium refurbished technology, today announced a partnership with Google to expand access to ChromeOS Flex through a limited USB pilot program designed to help compatible older laptops stay secure, fast, and useful for years.

The idea is simple: many devices still function well; they just need the right software to stay secure and relevant.

Through this initial partnership, Back Market will offer ChromeOS Flex USB keys, giving sellers, buyers, schools, and small businesses a straightforward way to install a secure, cloud-first operating system on compatible laptops. The initial pilot will be limited in scale and focused on learning how to make device extension more accessible for everyday users.

“Extending the life of existing technology is one of the most immediate ways to reduce e-waste,” said Thibaud Hug de Larauze, CEO and co-founder of Back Market. “When companies like Google collaborate on practical solutions, it reflects that innovation doesn’t have to mean constant replacement, it can also mean making what we already have work better and longer.”

ChromeOS Flex is a secure, cloud-first operating system from Google that can be installed on many existing Windows and Mac devices. It’s designed to deliver a modern web-based experience while shifting more intelligence, updates, and security to the cloud, helping compatible hardware remain useful for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, document creation, and web-based work.

“Millions of laptops are approaching the end of their supported operating systems, even though the hardware is still perfectly fine and works,” said Alexander Kuscher, Senior Director at Google. “With ChromeOS Flex and this pilot with Back Market, we’re giving people a sustainable way to take back control and extend the life of their compatible devices, helping them save money while reducing unnecessary waste at the same time.”

Why it matters

The world generated more than 62 million metric tons of electronic waste in 2022, according to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and that volume is growing five times faster than the amount formally collected and recycled. Every device replaced before it truly needs to be adds pressure to landfills, supply chains, and the strategic resources required to build new hardware. Those pressures become especially visible when widely used operating systems reach the end of support for older models, prompting millions of otherwise functional laptops to face upgrade decisions driven more by software timelines than by the condition of the hardware itself.

At the same time, computing itself is evolving. As AI, applications, and security updates increasingly move to the cloud, performance is no longer defined solely by what is built into a device on day one. With the right software, many older machines can continue operating as secure, capable access points to modern, cloud-powered systems.

Mobile World Congress and The Slow Tech Uprising

On March 4, Back Market and Google will speak publicly together for the first time as partners during the Slow Tech Uprising event happening alongside Mobile World Congress.

The conversation will focus on how the implementation of AI is reshaping the value of devices and ask a straightforward question we can no longer ignore: in a cloud-powered era, how long should a device actually last?

By pairing a practical pilot with a bigger industry dialogue, the companies are signaling that extending device life is not a niche idea. It’s part of a broader shift that begins to separate real innovation from automatic hardware replacement.

About Back Market
Founded in 2014, Back Market is a leading marketplace dedicated to verified refurbished technology. Operating in 17 countries, Back Market connects consumers to high-quality, professionally refurbished devices, helping reduce electronic waste and shift the global tech economy toward circularity.

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SOURCE Back Market

SHANGHAI, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Huai’an Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) demonstration project (the “Project”) in China’s Jiangsu Province, which is the world’s largest CAES station, has recently been fully commissioned. Shanghai Electric (SEHK:2727, SSE:601727) supplied core equipment for the Project, including air turbine units, generators, electric motors, and molten salt storage tanks.

The Unit 2 has successfully achieved grid connection and full-load power generation at the first attempt, providing valuable engineering practice in support of China’s new-type power system development.

The Project consists of two 300 MW non‑supplementary combustion CAES units, totaling 600 MW of installed capacity and 2,400 MWh of storage, with approximately 71% conversion efficiency. Air is compressed and stored in salt caverns during low‑demand periods, then released to drive turbines for power generation at peak times, supporting grid stability through peak shaving and frequency regulation.

Utilizing about 980,000 cubic meters of salt caverns located 1,150 to 1,500 meters underground in Huai’an, the Project employs “molten salt + pressurized thermal water” non‑supplementary combustion high‑temperature adiabatic compression technology. This enables compressed heat to be stored and reused throughout the process without fossil fuel combustion, delivering significant low‑carbon benefits.

The first 300 MW unit reached full-load operation in December 2025, followed by Unit 2’s recent commissioning. With a total investment of $520 million, the fully operational station is expected to generate 792 million kWh of electricity annually, that is enough to power around 600,000 households. It will save approximately 250,000 tons of standard coal and cut CO₂ emissions by 600,000 tons each year, delivering a measurable impact on the region’s energy transition.

Shanghai Electric Power Generation Group supplied core equipment for the Project covering both power generation and thermal storage systems. The broad scope showcases Shanghai Electric’s integrated engineering capabilities in turbine machinery, power equipment, and thermal storage, delivering a reliable and replicable equipment solution for long-duration energy storage projects worldwide.

As the world moves toward carbon neutrality, long-duration energy storage technologies like CAES are key to enhancing grid resilience and enabling high‑penetration renewable integration. Leveraging system integration expertise from the Project, Shanghai Electric is advancing high‑end equipment manufacturing and integrated solutions to support the global energy transition and power system modernization.

For more information, please visit https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.

 

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SOURCE Shanghai Electric

SHANGHAI, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Huai’an Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) demonstration project (the “Project”) in China’s Jiangsu Province, which is the world’s largest CAES station, has recently been fully commissioned. Shanghai Electric (SEHK:2727, SSE:601727) supplied core equipment for the Project, including air turbine units, generators, electric motors, and molten salt storage tanks.

The Unit 2 has successfully achieved grid connection and full-load power generation at the first attempt, providing valuable engineering practice in support of China’s new-type power system development.

The Project consists of two 300 MW non‑supplementary combustion CAES units, totaling 600 MW of installed capacity and 2,400 MWh of storage, with approximately 71% conversion efficiency. Air is compressed and stored in salt caverns during low‑demand periods, then released to drive turbines for power generation at peak times, supporting grid stability through peak shaving and frequency regulation.

Utilizing about 980,000 cubic meters of salt caverns located 1,150 to 1,500 meters underground in Huai’an, the Project employs “molten salt + pressurized thermal water” non‑supplementary combustion high‑temperature adiabatic compression technology. This enables compressed heat to be stored and reused throughout the process without fossil fuel combustion, delivering significant low‑carbon benefits.

The first 300 MW unit reached full-load operation in December 2025, followed by Unit 2’s recent commissioning. With a total investment of $520 million, the fully operational station is expected to generate 792 million kWh of electricity annually, that is enough to power around 600,000 households. It will save approximately 250,000 tons of standard coal and cut CO₂ emissions by 600,000 tons each year, delivering a measurable impact on the region’s energy transition.

Shanghai Electric Power Generation Group supplied core equipment for the Project covering both power generation and thermal storage systems. The broad scope showcases Shanghai Electric’s integrated engineering capabilities in turbine machinery, power equipment, and thermal storage, delivering a reliable and replicable equipment solution for long-duration energy storage projects worldwide.

As the world moves toward carbon neutrality, long-duration energy storage technologies like CAES are key to enhancing grid resilience and enabling high‑penetration renewable integration. Leveraging system integration expertise from the Project, Shanghai Electric is advancing high‑end equipment manufacturing and integrated solutions to support the global energy transition and power system modernization.

For more information, please visit https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.

 

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SOURCE Shanghai Electric

HEFEI, China, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system (ESS) provider, has once again been named the global No.1 bankable brand in BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) 2025 Inverter Bankability Survey, with 100% recognition in survey responses. This marks the sixth time Sungrow has earned the prestigious No.1 ranking, reinforcing its industry leadership and the unwavering trust in its products across the global renewable energy market.

The BNEF Bankability Survey is a key benchmark in the renewable energy industry, reflecting the financial stability and trustworthiness of inverter suppliers. The Survey covers multiple dimensions, including manufacturer’s warranty, customer support and services, Lead times, etc. This continued acknowledgment from BNEF underscores the market’s constant trust in Sungrow and positions the company as the top preferred partner for solar projects. It signals that adopting Sungrow inverters in renewable projects increases the likelihood of securing long-term loans from banking institutions, thereby ensuring sustained financial stability and benefits for our clients.

“Our power electronic converters installation in 2025 is over 1000 GW,” said Lee Zhang, President of Sungrow Utility PV BU, “To date, Sungrow has cumulatively installed over 660GW of PV inverters worldwide. With over 7600+ personnel in the R&D team and 4 manufacturing bases worldwide, we continue to strengthen our role as a trusted and reliable partner in the global transition to clean energy.”

Moving forward, Sungrow will continue to deepen its global partnerships and drive technological innovation to support the world’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

About Sungrow

Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 29 years. As of Dec 2025, Sungrow has installed over 1000 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The company is recognized as the world’s most bankable PV inverter and energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects across the globe, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experiences. At Sungrow, we’re committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com/en.

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SOURCE Sungrow