Science and Technology:
¶ “What It Takes To Realize A Circular Economy For Solar PV System Materials” • Taylor Curtis, sustainability analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a team of NREL researchers have been leading ongoing analysis of how to manage retiring PV modules in a circular economy for energy materials. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array (NREL image, public domain)
¶ “Atmospheric CO₂ And Methane Levels Soar To Record Highs Despite Pandemic” • Scientists have recorded a surprising rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane levels in 2020, which seems to contradict predictions that the pandemic would see a temporary slowdown in the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. [Renew Economy]
World:
¶ “Polestar 0: A Truly Carbon-Neutral Car By 2030” • Polestar is a brand of Volvo, which is based in Sweden but a Chinese asset. This week, Polestar announced “Project 0,” a plan to deliver a truly carbon-neutral car driven by a “design towards zero” focus that aims to eliminate emissions, not just offset them by planting trees or buying credits. [CleanTechnica]
Polestar Place in Oslo (Image courtesy of Polestar)
¶ “Should Biden And Bolsonaro Partner To Protect The Amazon? Some Brazilian Activists Say No” • When then-presidential candidate Joe Biden offered Brazil $20 billion last year to protect the Amazon, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro rejected it with scorn. Now, Brazilian activists worry that the two leaders could actually end up striking a deal. [CNN]
¶ “Neoen Secures Financing For 404-MW Finnish Giant” • The French developer Neoen has reached financial close for financing the 404-MW Mutkalampi wind project in Finland. When fully operational in 2023, the wind farm in Central and Northern Ostrobothnia in western Finland will be the largest onshore wind farm in the country. [reNEWS]
Wind farm (Wolfgang Hasselmann, Unsplash)
¶ “British Adventurer Will Drive Electric Vehicle From South Pole To North Pole” • Chris Ramsey, a British adventurer and the holder of a Guinness World Record for longest distance traveled on an e-bike in 12 hours, will be the first person to drive from the South Pole to the magnetic North Pole. His journey is to raise awareness about climate change. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Makes First Investment In Renewable Energy Infrastructure” • Norway’s sovereign wealth fund – at $1.3 trillion the largest in the world – announced its first investment in renewable energy infrastructure as part of a diversification away from bonds, equities, and real estate amid a global push to fight climate change. [Forbes]
Borssele offshore wind farm (Image from Ørsted.com)
¶ “Danish Q1 EV Sales Prove The Electric Race Is On: Brands Have To Get Their Act Together To Not Miss Out” • Volkswagen is the corporate winner for EVs in Denmark for the first quarter of 2021. This is fantastic, but not for the reasons you might think. It means competition is heating up in the EV space, with more than one EV winner. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ørsted Wins Polish CfDs With 2.5-GW Double Act” • The Polish Energy Regulatory Office has awarded a Contract for Difference to the Baltica 3 and Baltica 2 offshore wind farms with a total capacity of up to 2500 MW. The CfD was awarded at a maximum of zł319.60/MWh ($83.31/MWh). Ørsted is developing the wind farm with PGE. [reNEWS]
Offshore wind farm (Reegan Fraser, Unsplash)
¶ “Facebook Signs Maiden Floating Solar Deal” • Facebook has signed a multi-year virtual power purchase agreement with Sunseap for power from a floating solar project in Singapore, its first deal for power from a floating solar array. The terms of the deal say Facebook will receive all power generated by the 5-MW installation in the Straits of Johor. [PV Tech]
US:
¶ “The Water Fight Over The Shrinking Colorado River” • For years, scientists have predicted that the Colorado River would continue to decline due to global warming and increased water demands. New studies say it looks worse than they thought. The head of Colorado’s biggest water utility says using less water is the only solution. Many people agree. [BBC]
Ranchers relying on water (Colorado water trust)
¶ “Electric Hummer SUV And Silverado Pickup Coming From General Motors” • Stodgy General Motors, the same company we often criticize for its “kick the can down the road” approach to the EV revolution, made two announcements that make us think the arc of its corporate path may actually be bending towards EVs after all. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “UPS Orders 10 Electric Vertical Takeoff & Landing Aircraft” • Through a subsidiary, UPS is jumping into the future a bit faster. UPS Flight Forward ordered electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from Beta Technologies. The eVTOL aircraft will be used in small and midsize markets, and will land directly at the UPS facilities themselves. [CleanTechnica]
Beta Technologies eVTOL in UPS livery
¶ “Biden Tax Overhaul Calls for Removing Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Incentivizing Renewable Energy” • The Biden administration called for overhauling the corporate tax code that, among other things, would replace fossil fuel subsidies, some in the form of externalities, with incentives to promote renewable energy production. [Natural Gas Intelligence]
¶ “Rosendin Kicks Off Construction On 500-MW Texas Solar Project” • In southeastern Texas, Rosendin’s Renewable Energy Group has undertaken building the largest solar power project in the state. The Aktina Renewable Power Project calls for the installation of 1.4 million solar modules across 4,000 acres in Wharton County. [Solar Power World]
Have an altogether groovy day.
geoharvey 