Opinion:
¶ “Big Oil’s Race To Net Zero” • Shell, BP, and Total have all been pretty active in the renewables department in the past few years. Investors want to see a more sustainable business, governments are pushing for cleaner energy, and environmental activists are applying pressure to take responsibility for carbon footprints. So, how have they been doing? [OilPrice.com]
Wind farm
¶ “Falling Cost Of Renewables Provides Emerging Europe With Non-Nuclear Solution To Coal Exit” • Renewable Power Generation Costs 2019 shows that more than half of the renewable capacity added last year achieved lower power costs than the cheapest new coal plants. Natural gas, a CO₂ emitter, and more costly nuclear power are distractions. [Emerging Europe]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Charting A Course Towards The Ammonia Economy” • Most people have heard of the hydrogen economy, where renewable electricity creates hydrogen fuel from water – but an ammonia economy is emerging as a viable possibility. In the ammonia economy, ships, trucks, buses, power generators and even jets would run on ammonia. [Monash Lens]
Model of ammonia, NH₃ (Ben Mills, Wikimedia Commons)
World:
¶ “Tesla Plans To Add 4,000 New Superchargers In China This Year” • According to a report by Global Times, Tesla announced at a press conference in China it will install 4000 Superchargers in that country before the end of this year. This will address range anxiety. Tesla currently has about 2,500 Supercharges installed in the country. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Energy Transition Could Wipe $25 Trillion Off The Value Of Fossil-Fuel Reserves” • Two thirds of the value of the world’s oil and gas reserves – totalling $25 trillion – could be wiped out as the energy transition disrupts the entire fossil-fuel system, with profound ramifications for financial markets and geopolitics, a Carbon Tracker report says. [Recharge]
Somewhat tippy oil platform
¶ “Volvo Cars Chengdu Car Plant Powered By 100% Renewable Electricity” • The Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Chengdu, the company’s largest plant in China, is now powered by 100% renewable electricity, reducing CO₂ emissions by over 11,000 tonnes per year. The company’s global manufacturing is now 80% renewably powered. [Automotive World]
¶ “Wind Energy Wins Lion’s Share In Italian Renewable Energy Auction” • Wind power won 406 MW of the 425 MW awarded in an undersubscribed auction – 500 MW were on offer. The prime reason for the undersubscription is Italy’s cumbersome, lengthy permitting process. The unallocated MW from this auction has been added to the next tender. [REVE]
Wind turbines in Italy
¶ “Germany’s Covid Recovery Targets Green Hydrogen And EVs In Boost To Energy Transition” • The Germany government has agreed on a two-year €130 billion pandemic economic recovery program with a number of measures to boost the country’s energy transition, including a focus on green hydrogen and doubling EV subsidies. [RenewEconomy]
¶ “‘Path To 100%’ Community Of Experts Pursue Solutions For Global Renewable Energy Goals” • Wärtsilä is puting together an international community made up of renewable energy experts, researchers, business leaders, and journalists for a “Path to 100%” initiative. It could give guidance on goals being set for 100% clean energy across the world. [Environment + Energy Leader]
Wind turbines (Pixabay image)
¶ “Vestas Doubles Down In China With 100-MW Order” • Vestas took turbine orders for two 50-MW wind projects being built in China. Deliveries of both will commence in the fourth quarter of this year, with commissioning of both wind farms planned for the same quarter. China Three Gorge Renewables placed one order; the other customer was not named. [reNEWS]
US:
¶ “Tesla Working On 12 Person Vans For The Boring Company” • With the Boring Company reportedly approved to build an airport loop for the Ontario International Airport, Tesla is said to be working with The Boring Company to produce 12-person electric vans for such routes. Presumably, they will be operating autonomously. [CleanTechnica]
Boring Company pod (Boring Company image)
¶ “New Jersey Is The First State To Add Climate Change To Its K-12 Education Standards” • The State Board of Education for New Jersey adopted guidelines saying students will start learning about climate change in kindergarten and keep studying the crisis through graduation. It is the first state to include climate change education in its K-12 learning. [CNN]
¶ “New Community Solar Option In Colorado” • Community solar enables solar power for people without roofs, such as renters and apartment dwellers. Arcadia Power, a leader in community solar power, expanded into Colorado and partnered with Xcel Energy, a major utility in the state, and Pivot Energy, a community solar developer. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array in Colorado (Photo courtesy Pivot Energy)
¶ “US Energy-Related CO₂ Emissions Fell By 2.8% In 2019” • US energy-related CO₂ emissions declined by 2.8% in 2019 to 5,130 million metric tons, according to data in the Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Energy Review. CO₂ emissions had increased by 2.9% in 2018, the only annual increase in the past five years. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Bioenergy DevCo And Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Partner On Renewable Gas” • Bioenergy DevCo, a developer of anaerobic digestion facilities worldwide, made an agreement with Chesapeake Utilities Corporation on a project to remove excess organics from the poultry industry and convert it into renewable natural gas. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Have a profoundly mirthful day.
geoharvey 