Science and Technology:
¶ “Everything You Need To Know About Tesla’s New 4680 Battery Cell” • Tesla didn’t hold back at Battery Day, announcing a new tabless 4680 cell form factor. The battery has increased energy density, thermal characteristics similar to smaller cells, improved the power-to-weight ratio, and lower cost, with its manufacturing streamlined. [CleanTechnica]
“Jelly roll” (Tesla Battery Day Screenshot)
¶ “New Energy Storage System From Building Blocks, For Coal Power Plants” • A team of researchers at the University of Newcastle has come up with a way to use retired coal plant sites for large scale energy storage systems. The storage system consists of bricks that can hold energy in the form of heat, then discharge it to run steam turbines. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “China Aims For Carbon Neutrality By 2060” • China will aim to hit peak emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, President Xi Jinping announced. Mr Xi outlined the steps when speaking via videolink to the UN General Assembly in New York. China is the world’s biggest source of carbon dioxide, responsible for around 28% of global emissions. [BBC]
This year’s low Arctic sea ice minimum (Getty Images)
¶ “New Data From Norway Shows Rapid Transition From Diesel To Electric” • Things have changed. It used to be that diesel Volkswagen Golfs sold fast in Norway, but not any more. Instead, 97% of new Golfs sold in Norway are electrics. The shift is so dramatic that Volkswagen no longer sells the Golf with a diesel engine in Norway. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Tesla Giga Shanghai Could Produce 1 Million Cars Per Year Eventually” • One comment by Elon Musk at Tesla’s 2020 Annual Shareholder Meeting was something the Tesla-oriented writers at CleanTechnica thought was new. He said that Giga Shanghai (Tesla’s factory in Shanghai) could eventually produce a million vehicles a year. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Giga Shanghai (Tesla image)
¶ “Auctions Show Indian Renewables Still Primed For Growth” • The positive outcomes of recent Indian renewables auctions demonstrate that the appetite investors have to back clean energy infrastructure is unabated despite Covid-19 disruption, according to a note from the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. [pv magazine India]
¶ “Lightsource BP Acquires 100-MW Spanish Solar Farm” • Solar developer Lightsource BP has acquired a 100-MW solar portfolio in Teruel, Spain from renewables firm Forestalia for a sum that is undisclosed. Under the terms of the sale, both parties will work closely together to progress the projects until they reach financial close and begin construction. [reNEWS]
Solar farm (Image: Lightsource BP)
¶ “Swancor Reveals 4.4-GW Formosa Plans” • Swancor Renewable Energy, backed by affiliates of US-based Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, announced plans to develop a 4.4 GW portfolio of offshore wind projects off the coast of Taiwan. Swancor says the three wind farms could generate enough electricity to power over 4.5 million homes. [4C Offshore]
¶ “Nuclear Plants In Arabian Sea Face Tsunami Risk” • A major tsunami in the northern Arabian Sea could severely impact the coastlines of India and Pakistan, which are studded with sensitive installations including several nuclear plants, according to the author of a study recently published in the journal Pure and Applied Geophysics. [PreventionWeb]
Nuclear power plant (©)
US:
¶ “Musk: Cheaper Tesla Ready ‘in About Three Years'” • At a live presentation that Elon Musk labelled “Battery Day” he also teased the possibility of a $25,000 (£19,600), fully-autonomous Tesla “in about three years time.” He also announced a battery technology, which will provide five times more energy, six times more power, and 16% greater driving range. [BBC]
¶ “Blackstone Sets Up A $250 Million Fund For Distributed Renewable Projects” • Blackstone announced a $250 million distributed and sustainable energy fund. It plans for investments in microgrids, distributed generation, renewable energy with battery storage, energy efficiency, combined heat and power plants, and green transportation. [Mercom India]
Rooftop solar system
¶ “Shell To Fuel Microsoft With Renewable Power In Net-Zero ‘Alliance’ Deal” • Transitioning oil supermajor Shell is to begin supplying Microsoft with renewables-sourced power to help the IT giant reach its 2025 targets for 100% clean energy. The deal is part of a far-reaching “strategic alliance”, the two companies have announced. [Upstream Online]
¶ “Greenbacker Bags Colorado PV-Storage Project” • Greenbacker Renewable Energy has acquired a pre-operational solar-storage project in Colorado. The Rawhide Prairie Solar project comprises a 29-MW solar facility and a 1.3-MW battery. The project, which is in Larimer County, is expected to reach commercial operation the last quarter of 2020. [reNEWS]
Solar farm (APPA image)
¶ “Solar Wins Big In Project Selection To Advance Maine’s Clean Energy Goals” • Maine’s ambitious goals to build clean energy and address climate change reached an important milestone when the state Public Utilities Commission approved contracts for 17 renewable power projects – largely solar, but also wind, biomass, and hydroelectric. [The Bethel Citizen]
¶ “New York Wraps Up First Community PV-Storage Project” • New York State’s first community solar paired with energy storage project has been completed. IPPsolar installed the 557-kW rooftop solar system and 490 kW of Tesla batteries in Westchester County. The installation will reduce the energy costs for approximately 150 household. [reNEWS]
Have an enthrallingly gorgeous day.
geoharvey 