Opinion:
¶ “Are Renewables The Cheapest New Source Of Power?” • After a politician said he thought renewable energy is the cheapest source for new power generation, AAP FactCheck took a look. It found that renewables are the cheapest form of new power generation, even when accounting for the cost of firming, based on available evidence. [Australian Associated Press]
Wind turbines in Australia (Alex Eckermann, Unsplash)
¶ “Transitioning Fleets To EVs Without Disrupting Operations, Cost-Effectively” • As fleets buy more electric vehicles, the most important factor for fleet managers is that the transition to EVs cannot disrupt current operations, a report found. For a smooth transition, it is essential that fleet operators understand utility capabilities and rate options. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “ESS Makes 12+ Hour Flow Battery For Sustainable Energy Storage” • Flow batteries have big advantages for stationary energy storage, but they are costly. Energy Storage Systems has a technology that could change that. Its battery is based on an iron compound and ordinary salt, which makes it both low-cost and environmentally friendly. [CleanTechnica]
ESS flow battery (ESS image)
¶ “Renewables, Gas Generators Seen As Winners In Green Hydrogen-Tinged Future” • The opportunity lies in co-locating renewable power facilities with electrolyzers – systems that break water into hydrogen and oxygen – to produce a carbon-free liquid fuel. It is more costly than natural gas, but it does not require pipelines. [S&P Global]
World:
¶ “Can Ireland Return To Its Former Wilderness?” • Once, 80% of all Irish land was covered by native trees, The figure now just 1%, as farmland dominates. Rewilding is the process of returning human-altered land to a more natural, ecologically-rich state. Rewilding could also act to counter climate change by building ecosystems that lock in carbon. [BBC]
Temperate rainforest in December (John Haynes, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Green Genius To Invest Over €100 Million To Create Solar Parks In Poland” • Green Genius, a renewable energy company that is a part of an international group of companies known as the Modus Group, has sunny ambitions for Poland. At the end of last year, it won two auctions for solar power plant projects with a total capacity of 79 MW. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nissan Teams Up With The Arbor Day Foundation To Plant 20K Trees” • Nissan and the Arbor Day Foundation are joining forces to plant new trees all across Europe. They aim to plant 20,000 trees this year to benefit local communities and the broader world. The effort is a celebration of Nissan’s successful decade with the Nissan LEAF. [CleanTechnica]
Nissan LEAF (Arbor Day Foundation)
¶ “OX2 Swoops On 400 MW Of Finnish wind” • OX2, a Nordic developer, acquired the project rights to the 400-MW Lestijarvi wind farm in Finland from YIT for an undisclosed price. The project, which is the largest onshore wind farm in the country, will be built in Central Ostrobothnia. It will feature up to 72 turbines with heights of 240 meters. [reNEWS]
China:
¶ “Tesla Giga Shanghai Made Almost 25,000 EVs In January 2021” • Twitter user “Teslar” shared news that, according to the China International Corporation, Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory made 24,800 electric vehicles last month. This is up 9.9% from December 2020. Over 9,000 of the cars Tesla made in China last month were for export. [CleanTechnica]
Happy Chinese New Year from Tesla
¶ “China launches world’s largest carbon market” • China is launching the world’s largest carbon market, giving financial incentives to power plant operators to reduce their emissions. Experts hope it will be pivotal in helping the country meet its carbon targets. For now, the market only covers a single sector and lacks some strict regulations. [PRI]
¶ “Tesla’s $25,000 Model 2 Will Be Sold Globally, Tom Zhu Says” • Tom Zhu, president of Tesla’s operation in China, spoke in an interview with Chinese state media’s Xinhua Net about the news that Tesla China is developing a $25,000 vehicle. Zhu provided new information about Tesla’s new Model 2 EV. He said that it would be sold globally. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Giga Shanghai (Image courtesy of Tesla)
US:
¶ “How Cities Are Electrifying The Auto Market – Carsharing” • It’s no secret that transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the US. So it’s no surprise that, while promoting the use of public transit, biking, and walking, cities also embrace EVs in their quest to cut carbon emissions. And some are thinking outside of the box. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Study Shows New York Subways Have A Pollution Problem” • According to a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, New York’s subways are the most polluted in the Northeast. An analysis of the particulate pollution found that across the systems tested, iron accounted for the most common particulate material found in the air. [CNN]
New York subway station (Eddi Aguirre, Unsplash)
¶ “NYC Advances ‘Renewable Rikers’ Energy Plans” • The island with the world’s largest correctional facilities may one day be the site of a renewable energy plant. Plans for the transition gained momentum when New York City Council members voted to conduct a study of the potential for green infrastructure on Rikers Island. [Courthouse News Service]
¶ “Plus Power Breaks Open Market For Massive Batteries In New England” • Battery plants established themselves in the sunny Southwest, but now they have won big in New England. Plus Power, based in San Francisco, won two bids in a capacity auction held by the New England ISO. Two batteries storing a total of 650 MWh are due online in 2024. [Greentech Media]
Have a thrillingly pleasant day.
geoharvey 