Opinion:
¶ “Our Completely Impartial, Unbiased Review Of ‘Don’t Look Up'” • “Don’t Look Up” is a satirical movie that skewers climate deniers. The movie is simplistic in the extreme. Some will love it, and some will hate it. But one NASA scientist said it is “the most accurate film about society’s terrifying non-response to climate breakdown I’ve seen.” [CleanTechnica]
Meryl Streep in trailer (Netflix via YouTube)
¶ “Setting The Record Straight On Electric Car Fires” • General Motors all but ceased production of its Chevy Bolt electric car after sixteen of them were destroyed by battery fires. We should take battery fires in a wider context, comparing them with other vehicle fires. Battery fires get a lot of press, while more dangerous gasoline fires get ignored. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hydrogen Ships Are Easy, But Getting Hydrogen Is Hard” • OffshoreWIND.biz recently shared the tale of a ship that could be powered by green hydrogen. The new ship, the REM Energy, is actually pretty cool. It has a 12 MW battery (that’s more battery storage than 120 Teslas). But it has an issue. There is no clean hydrogen for it in Germany. [CleanTechnica]
REM Energy (Siemens Gamesa image, cropped)
¶ “Implementing The Clean Energy Investments In Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” • Those following US Congressional climate policy in the US are seeing 2021 end after setbacks to the Build Back Better Act in its current form, as Senate Democrats have been unable to find sufficient votes for passage. But its provisions are necessary for US climate policy. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “High Gas Prices Lead To Conversion Of Ammonia Plant To Green Hydrogen” • Incitec Pivot Ltd, Australia’s largest supplier of fertilizers, produces around two million tonnes of ammonia each year. With a plant under threat of closure due to the high cost of gas, it is considering converting an ammonia plant to use green hydrogen. [CleanTechnica]
Plant at Brisbane, Queensland (Courtesy of Incitec Pivot Limited)
¶ “Of Auto Sales In Europe In November, 15% Were Fully Electric Vehicles” • More than 221,000 plugin vehicles were registered in Europe in November, up 33% year over year. This happened in an overall auto market that is falling off a cliff, down 18% last month, with the 864,000 units registered, which makes it the worst November in 30 years! [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hydrogen Scooters With Swappable Cans Power Forward In France” • The French government seems to think hydrogen can play a significant role in transportation, and the hydrogen-fueled Mob-ion TGT scooter, in particular, shows just how simple it can be to “swap” an empty can of hydrogen for a new one, providing a range of 150 miles. [CleanTechnica]
Mob-ion TGT (Mob-ion image)
¶ “Companies In Japan Must Set Renewable Energy Targets In As Early As 2023” • In Japan, about 12,000 companies will have to draw up targets regarding their adoption of renewable energy as soon as 2023, according to a new government policy. Companies required to create targets are those that use more than a specific amount of energy. [Asia News Network]
¶ “Spain To Hold 500 MW Renewables Auction On April 6” • Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge submitted the draft of the country’s third renewable energy auction. It is set to be held on April 6 with an aim to allocate 500 MW of renewable energy capacity, including 200 MW of concentrating solar power. [PV Magazine]
CSP plant in Spain (Iberdrola image)
¶ “Germany To Close Nuclear Reactors Despite Energy Crisis” • Germany will shut down three nuclear power plants on Friday even as Europe is in a historic energy crises, following Angela Merkel’s timetable for phasing out atomic energy. The closure of the plants in Brokdorf, Grohnde, and Gundremmingen could well tighten the energy squeeze. [Yahoo News]
¶ “RWE Will Also Shut Down Three Lignite Plants At The End Of The Year” • In addition to a unit at the Gundremmingen nuclear power plant, the electricity company RWE will shut down three lignite plants at the end of this year. The company said the 300-MW units Neurath B, Niederaußem C, and Weisweiler E would be shut down. [Market Research Telecast]
Niederaußem power plant (Stodtmeister, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “Colorado Wildfires: Tens Of Thousands Evacuated As Blazes Spread” • Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as wildfires spread through Colorado. The fast-moving fires are burning in Boulder County, north of Denver, and officials say deaths and injuries are likely as the blazes spread further. [BBC]
¶ “Hyundai Home: Electric Car, Rooftop Solar, Battery Storage, And An EV Charger All In One Package” • Hyundai is creating a complete concierge service for its EV customers. Called Hyundai Home, it will allow people to buy an electric car, get a charger at home, add rooftop solar panels, and get a residential battery storage, all in one purchase. [CleanTechnica]
Don’t ask me – I have no words for it. (Hyundai image)
¶ “Scout Acquires 369-MW Blue Sky Solar” • Colorado-based developer Scout Clean Energy acquired the consented 369-MW Blue Sky solar project in Illinois from RES. Scout said the facility is to begin commercial operations in 2024. The county taxing jurisdictions will receive an estimated $36.3 million in revenues over the project’s life. [reNews]
¶ “Major Energy Storage Project Coming To San Diego” • A portfolio of 44 battery storage systems across San Diego County, aimed at adding more emissions-free energy to California’s electric grid, is about to roll out, with one location in Chula Vista and another in El Cajon poised to break ground within the next month. [The San Diego Union-Tribune]
Have a gloriously rewarding day.
geoharvey 
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