Science and Technology:
¶ “Bramble Cay Melomys: Climate Change-Ravaged Rodent Listed As Extinct” • When Queensland declared the Bramble Cay melomys extinct in 2016, it was said to be the first mammalian extinction caused by human-induced climate change. Now, Australia has made the extinction of the small brown rodent official. [BBC]
Bramble Cay melomys (Ian Bell | EHP)
¶ “IRENA Identifies Innovations For Cost-Effective Renewables” • An International Renewable Energy Agency report provides insights into how innovations can lower renewable energy costs. It outlines 30 key innovations and 11 solutions in development by companies that could make the power system more flexible and cost-effective. [Power Technology]
World:
¶ “Indian Railways Pushes Towards Goal Of Full Electrification By 2022 With ABB Deal” • ABB is making headway in India with a new train deal worth $42 million with Indian Railways. ABB will supply its traction equipment for the rail network to improve the efficiency of existing equipment and to improve the reliability of the Indian rail network. [CleanTechnica]
ABB electric train facility (Credit: Kyle Field | CleanTechnica)
¶ “China’s Passenger Electric Vehicle Sales Jumped To 91,000 In January, Suggesting 2 Million Total Sales In 2019” • The China EV sales count for January 2019 shows that 91,175 passenger EVs were sold. When commercial vehicles are added, the number of EVs sold is around 96,000. This comes as total vehicle sales are declining in China. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Japanese Offshore Wind To Hit 4 GW In 2028” • Japan’s nascent offshore wind industry is set to increase dramatically over the next ten years, according to energy analysts Wood Mackenzie, who predict that by 2028 the island country will boast upwards of 4 GW of offshore capacity, a 62-fold increase on 2018 figures. [CleanTechnica]
Siemens Gamesa turbine
¶ “European Projects Amass 96% Of Chinese Renewables Investment, EY Report Claims” • Research shows that China was 2018’s largest outbound investor globally, with Germany, France, and the UK seeing the lion’s share of investment. Of the £26.2 billion ($34.13) invested last year by China, £25.1 billion went to Europe. [Energy Voice]
¶ “JinkoPower, Ardian, White Summit To Build 182.5-MW Solar Plant In Spain” • Chinese renewable energy company JinkoPower International has agreed with investment managers Ardian Infrastructure and White Summit Capital AG to build and operate a 182.5-MW solar PV plant jointly near the Spanish city of Seville. [Renewables Now]
Solar park in Spain (MilaCroft | Shutterstock.com)
¶ “New All-Time Record In Using Renewable Energies Set” • Israel set a new all-time record of generating electricity from renewable energies, the Israel Electric Company said. The IEC reported that the record was set February 13 when the peak production stood at 1295 MW, accounting for 16.4% of the total production of energy. [hamodia.com]
¶ “Institutional Investors Capitalise On Clean Power” • A study of institutional investors, which was commissioned by Aquila Capital, shows that respondents’ average portfolio exposure to clean energy has nearly doubled in two years. Investors expect increases in their investments to offshore wind, solar thermal, and onshore wind. [reNEWS]
Offshore wind farm (SXC image)
US:
¶ “Hawkins’ Renewable Hydrogen Bill Approved By Senate” • Public Utility Districts in the state of Washington could soon have the authority to produce and sell renewably generated hydrogen under a Senate-approved bill introduced by 12th District state Senator Brad Hawkins. The Senate passed the bill on a 47-0 vote. [gasworld]
¶ “Corporate Neighbors In Pennsylvania Share Solar Power, Courtesy Of Blockchain” • A peer-to-peer network in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, uses technology developed by Australian startup Power Ledger. It allows two of American PowerNet’s corporate neighbors to buy excess power generated by its solar panels. [GreenBiz]
American PowerNet solar system (Power Ledger image)
¶ “City Of Buffalo Seeks 32 Solar Power Bids” • As part of a broader program between five local schools, the City of Buffalo, New York, has submitted a request for proposals for 32 sites around the city, to be online by December 31, 2020. Project owners will sell the electricity through 20 year power contracts with the city. [pv magazine USA]
¶ “Developer Eyes World’s Largest Solar+Storage Facility For Texas” • Renewable energy developer Intersect Power floated plans to construct 459 MW of energy storage next to 459 MW of solar power in Borden County, Texas, according to the January generation interconnection status report from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. [Utility Dive]
Solar farm (Credit: Kauai Island Electric Cooperative)
¶ “Conservative Group Urges Wisconsin Lawmakers To Embrace Renewable Energy” • As the cost of wind and solar power continues to fall, a new organization is pushing the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature to embrace renewable energy and begin working on policies to address a rapidly changing marketplace. [Madison.com]
¶ “Lawsuit Aimed At Plant Vogtle Charges Gains Class-Action Status” • A Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit challenging the charges Georgia Power Co collects from customers each month to help underwrite its costs in building the nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle. [Atlanta Business Chronicle]
Have a completely copacetic day.
geoharvey 