Opinion:
¶ “Renewables Can Power The Economy Of An Independent Scotland – Lorna Slater” • Nicola Sturgeon was right to point out in debate that 97% of our electricity came from renewables last year. But Scotland’s potential is great enough to provide 25% of Europe’s renewable energy, and renewables can be a driver for an independent Scotland. [The Scotsman]
Wind turbines and Ailsa Craig (John R, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “‘World’s Fastest, Most Sensitive Drone-Based Leak Detection And Greenhouse Gas Measuring System’ Launched By ABB” • ABB claims it has the best solution for finding methane leaks. It says its “ABB Ability™ Mobile Gas Leak Detection System, HoverGuard, provides the solution by finding leaks faster and more reliably than ever before.” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Climate Change Cut Global Farming Productivity 21% Since 1960s” • Despite important agricultural advancements to feed the world in the last 60 years, a new study shows that global farming productivity is 21% lower than it could have been without climate change. The study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change. [The Tribune]
Farm (Gozha Net, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Sweden Hits 37% Plugin Share In March, New Policy Boost For Full Electrics” • Sweden saw a plugin electric vehicle market share of 37% in March 2021, up from 27.2% in March 2020. Plugin hybrids gained share from a last minute pull-forward in March, ahead of a policy change from April 1st which now more strongly favors full electric vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “India’s Tata Power Launches SOLAROOF Campaign” • Tata Power is India’s largest integrated power utility, and it is putting more of its weight behind rooftop solar power. It is running a nationwide ad campaign titled SOLAROOF, and the campaign is not just for residential buyers; it’s also for commercial, industrial, and institutional buyers. [CleanTechnica]
Tata Power SOLAROOF ad
¶ “Mingyang Hails Turbine Triumph At Zhanjiang Xuwen” • The turbine manufacturer MingYang Smart Energy has installed the first offshore unit at the Zhanjiang Xuwen wind farm off China. MingYang Smart Energy said the machine will be the first of 47 MySE6.45-180 hybrid drive turbines to be installed at the project this year. [reNEWS]
¶ “Mumbai Railways Getting EV Charging Stations With Help From UNEP And Tata Power” • Mumbai railway stations will be getting EV charging stations as part of a new initiative to advance e-mobility in the Mumbai region. The program is a collaboration between UN Environment Programme, Tata Power, and Central Railway. [CleanTechnica]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Image by PDPics from Pixabay)
¶ “Thai New Renewable Energy Landmark Will Boost Power Supply And Tourism” • The Provincial Electricity Authority will promote a hydro-floating solar hybrid project at Sirindhorn Dam in Ubon Ratchathani province as a new landmark for renewable energy and also stimulate the province’s economy by the end of this year. [Pattaya Mail]
US:
¶ “Tulane University Buys 5 Vicinity Electric Shuttle Buses” • Tulane University has received $737,500 from the US DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the purchase of five electric Grand West Vicinity buses and the installation of private charging stations, New Orleans City Business reports. [CleanTechnica]
Shuttle bus (Paula Burch-Celentano, courtesy of Tulane University)
¶ “The Fossil Fuel Industry Used Deception To Conceal Damage To BIPOC – NAACP Report” • The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People just published a report that identified ten tactics that the fossil fuel industry used to excuse not accepting accountability for its impacts on the environment and human health. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Tesla Delivered 184,800 Electric Vehicles In Q1 2021, Blowing Away Expectations” • Tesla has reported its vehicle production for the first quarter of 2021. Those numbers were well past what many were speculating, even including well known Tesla delivery tracker Troy Teslike. Tesla delivered 184,800 EVs and produced 180,338 in the first quarter. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model 3 (Bram Van Oost, Unsplash)
¶ “Energy Transition To Renewables Likely To Accelerate Over Next Two To Three Years” • The energy transition to renewables in the US is “likely to accelerate” over the next two to three years, says a report. The analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis claims that coal and gas are set to become the “biggest losers.” [nsenergybusiness.com]
¶ “Long Reliant On Oil And Gas, Oklahoma Is Emerging As A Leader In Renewable Energy” • Oklahoma has been developing a fair amount of windpower, but that is not all. About 11 GW of solar and storage projects being developed in Oklahoma have applied for approval from the Southwest Power Pool to feed power onto the grid. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma wind turbines (USGS image, public domain)
¶ “Apple Investing In Major Energy Storage Project In California” • Apple is constructing one of the largest battery projects in the country. California Flats is an industry-leading, grid-scale energy storage project capable of storing 240 MWh of energy, enough to power over 7,000 homes for one day. It is together with Apple’s 130-MW solar farm. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “A Reshaped Battlefield For Climate Policy” • Like former President Barack Obama, Biden made climate an early focus in his administration. But unlike Obama, Biden may find mildly friendly allies for his climate agenda in corporate America and diminished corporate forces fighting against his environmental proposals. [Ponca City News]
Have an extraordinarily okay day.
geoharvey 