Opinion:
¶ “After Fukushima, A Fundamental Renewable Energy Shift In Japan Never Happened – Could Global Climate Concerns Bring It Today?” • The power of entrenched utilities kept electricity generated from coal and nuclear energy on the grid, but a sake brewer in Fukushima, hurt by the disaster, is pushing local renewable energy. [Inside Climate News]
Fukushima Prefecture (zoo_monkey, Unsplash)
¶ “Scared? Don’t Be. Divestment Is Actually A Good Financial Move! (Video)” • Bill McKibben outlined recently how new data affirm the solidity of fossil fuel divestmen, and data showing that portfolio divestment will gradually filter out into the world’s markets, “doubtless pushing more investors to divest.” Here is a video from Blackrock’s CEO. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Climate Change Is Altering Earth’s Axis And Will Cost $27 Trillion A Year, Says Swiss Re” • Conventional wisdom holds that nothing humans can do will affect something so enormous as the Earth. This research proves that conventional wisdom is wrong. Human activity is having an effect on the spin of the Earth, and it will have a huge cost. [CleanTechnica]
Global surface mass changes (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
¶ “Elon Musk Props Up Carbon Removal Research With $100 Million Competition” • Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is putting up $100 million for a new XPrize competition aimed at spurring the creation of new carbon removal technologies and helping to ease the climate crisis. The prize is the largest cash incentive ever, according to XPrize. [CNN]
¶ “Mechanical Stomachs Help Fix Campus Food Waste Issue” • The University of Nebraska is using a “mechanical stomach” to save 95 tons of CO₂ emissions per year by digesting the food and sending it down the drain instead of sending food waste on long (and emissions heavy) journeys to landfills. The biodigester can handle any food waste. [CleanTechnica]
Biodigester (Craig Chandler, University Communication)
¶ “Electric Cars: What Will Happen To All The Dead Batteries?” • “The rate at which we’re growing the industry is absolutely scary,” says Paul Anderson of Birmingham University. He’s concerned about what happens when they run out of road – in particular what happens to the batteries. They will have to be recycled, and that should be automated. [BBC]
World:
¶ “Lithium Systems Acquires 123 Ton eDumper Project” • The eDumper began life as a Komatsu HD605-7 diesel heavy duty dump. eMining AG converted it to “eDumper” spec using li-ion batteries and a kinetic energy recovering system sourced from Lithium Systems. It can carry 65 tons of ore and recovers a lot of energy going back into the mine. [CleanTechnica]
Fully electric eDumper (Lithium Systems image)
¶ “Saudi Arabia Says Focus On Renewable Energy Will Save Them $200 Billion” • Saudi Arabia is looking to expand beyond fossil fuels dependence. It believes it can save over $200 billion over the next decade by replacing liquid fuel used for domestic consumption with gas and renewable energy sources, its finance minister said. [Industry Leaders Magazine]
¶ “RP Global Supports Spanish Partner On 300 MW Of PV” • RP Global is working with Spanish project developer Tartessos to develop a 300-MW solar project in the Castilla-Leon region in Spain. The land for the project has already been secured and environmental impact assessments have not raised any red flags, according to Tartessos. [reNEWS]
Solar array (RP Global image)
¶ “Hamburg Hydrogen Initiative Unveils 100-MW Electrolyser Plan” • Potential offtakers in Hamburg are partnering with Shell and Vattenfall to deliver an ambitious green hydrogen network that includes plans for 100-MW electrolyser. The Hamburg Port Authority and eleven other companies have teamed up on the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub. [reNEWS]
US:
¶ “Clean-Energy Experts Predict Federal Dollars Will Spur Nevada Job Boom” • Experts forecast up to 400,000 new jobs in Nevada as a result of the Biden administration’s climate-change goals and infrastructure plan. President Joe Biden has pledged to cut U.S. carbon emissions in half in by 2030, and that means a lot of workers will be needed. [NewsService.org]
Transmission lines (Laura Musikanski, Wikimedia Commons)
¶ “Apple Doubles Down On The United States, Promising Another $80 Billion Investment” • Apple is doubling down on its manufacturing presence in the US. The company announced it’s bolstering a previously announced investment by an additional 20%, increasing the amount to $430 billion, and adding another 20,000 new jobs. [CNN]
¶ “Leeward Gets 580 MW Of Indiana Renewables” • Leeward Renewable Energy entered into an agreement with Tri Global Energy to acquire two renewables projects in Indiana totalling 580 MW. The deal comprises the acquisition of a 180-MW wind project and a 400-MW solar project. Both are planned to be operational as early as 2023. [reNEWS]
Wind turbines (P Franken, Unsplash)
¶ “Elon Musk: Expect Tesla Model Y To Be Best Selling Car, SUV, Or Truck In World In 2022 Or 2023” • In the Q1 conference call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he expects the Model Y to be the top selling light-duty passenger vehicle (car, truck, or SUV) in the world in 2022 or 2023. He said he expects that it’s more likely than not that it will be in 2022. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “New Federal Program To Help Remote Alaska Communities With Renewable Energy Infrastructure” • The DOE recently announced the awardees of a new program to help remote communities find clean energy solutions. The project will help five Alaska towns explore everything from hybrid fishing vessels to reducing reliance on diesel. [KCAW]
Have an exceptionally untrammeled day.
geoharvey 