China has completed the first-phase of a massive energy project specifically aimed at solving the persist problem it has with air pollution in the country. The construction of a 250-acre solar farm which has been uniquely designed in the shape of a giant panda - also hopes to eliminate the country's dependence on coal.

According to a new report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, yearly shipments of smart energy meters in Europe will reach a record level of 31.3 million units in 2018. Smart electricity meter shipments grew 16% compared to the previous year to 22.2 million units. At the same time, smart gas meter shipments increased 9% to 9.1 million units. Growth in both segments will be sustained into 2019 and 2020, driven by ongoing large-scale rollouts in multiple countries.

The UAE PASS initiative, the platform which aims to bring all government services together and make them accessible via smartphone, has completed phase one of its programme.

US global search engine colossus and technology leaders Google have announced it will use electricity generated by a solar park to power a recently opened data center that the firm established. Google has publicly disclosed that it will purchase all of the electricity which is generated by the largest solar park in Holland over the next decade to power its data center.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has officially opened the world's largest Solar Park in Dubai - which will generate clean and renewable energy that according to officials involved in the project will ultimately pave the way for a more ‘stable electricity tariff rate' in the long run. The second phase of the park was inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The inauguration ceremony coincided with the International Day of Happiness - and the innovative Solar Park reflects a new era in the excellence and leadership of the UAE.

Homeowners will be turning their homes into personal power stations and cutting electricity bills by up to 80 per cent, thanks to a Virgin Startup-backed renewable energy company Resilience.

Nama Group has announced the commencement of the live operation of its centrally implemented Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) project designed for high value customers in the electricity sector in Oman.

The GCC could save up to US$ 10 billion in infrastructural investment in the coming year through the use of smart grids, according to the MENA Power Industry Outlook.

A Swiss multinational technology and smart grid solutions company has landed a lucrative contract for a 'smart metering' infrastructure project in India. Landis+Gyr, is recognized as being a visionary in smart grid solutions and is a global industry leader in metering solutions for electricity, gas water and energy.

The UK city of Nottingham has been recognized by Huawei's latest UK Smart Cities Index for its progressive approach to energy conservation. Nottingham was given the Star Award in recognition for its energy efforts in the city.

The sun-drenched US state of California has pledged its commitment to protecting the environment by passing new legislation that aims to make the state have a 100% clean electricity grid by 2045.

Swedish car manufacturing colossus Volvo has announced that all new models launched from 2019 will be fully electric or hybrid vehicles - which signals the end of nearly a century of Volvo cars being powered solely by the internal combustion engine.