World:
¶ “There Are Now 1,000 Electric Buses In Moscow!” • A little more than a year ago, I reported on Moscow getting its 500th electric bus. Just before Christmas, Moscow Transport got its 900th electric bus, and decorated it nicely with white and blue Christmas lights. Now, we’re barely into 2022 and the figure is up to 1,000. No joke. [CleanTechnica]
Thousandth electric bus in Moscow
¶ “Renewables Supplied 46% Of Net Public Power In Germany In 2021” • The share of renewables in net public power generation amounted to 46% in 2021, down from 50% the year before, figures released by research institute Fraunhofer ISE show. The decline was the result of reduced wind speeds, though windpower is still the major power supply. [Clean Energy Wire]
¶ “France Plugin EV Share Breaks Records In December” • In France, Europe’s second largest auto market, the plugin electric vehicle share of sales was 24.4% in December, a new record high, with pure electrics taking 14.6%. The overall auto market, at just under 160,000 units, was down some 15% from pre-pandemic seasonal averages. [CleanTechnica]
Dacia Spring (Image courtesy of Dacia)
China:
¶ “Tesla’s Important Role In Advancing EVs And Innovation In China” • Elon Musk had a vision for Tesla in China. And the Wall Street Journal said, “President Xi Jinping defiantly pledged to make China the world’s future innovation and industrial center. Key to his plan was Elon Musk.” And as Tesla’s succeeds in China, other Chinese EV makers are thriving. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Largest Pumped-Hydro Facility In World Turns On In China” • The State Grid Corporation of China, the largest grid operator and power utility in China, has put the largest pumped-hydro facility in the world into commission. It’s a 3.6-GW, 6,612-GWh system in the Hebei province. It is the Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station. [CleanTechnica]
Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station (SGCC image)
¶ “The World’s First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Is Sending Power To The Grid” • China connected its first small modular nuclear reactor to its power grid, making it the first country in the world to draw power from such a machine, a report from Bloomberg reveals. A 200-MW China Huaneng Group reactor is now grid-connected. [Interesting Engineering]
Australia:
¶ “World’s Largest Coal Port To Be 100% Powered By Renewable Energy” • The world’s largest coal port announced it will now be powered 100% by renewable energy. Its CEO also said, “We get 84 cents a tonne for coal shipped through our port. We get between $6 and $8 for every other product. You can see where I’d rather have my money.” [The Guardian]
Port of Newcastle (Lynda Hinton, Unsplash)
¶ “Korea Zinc Backs Storage Developer Energy Vault In Green Push” • Korea Zinc has agreed to invest $50 million in energy storage developer Energy Vault and use its technology at its zinc refinery in Australia, the two companies said. Storage is key to bringing down the refinery’s energy costs, which are 30% of the plant’s total costs. [MarketScreener]
¶ “Looking Beyond The Grid To Power Australia” • Off-grid power company Pacific Energy is planning an industrial-scale expansion as it rolls out a hybrid future in some of the most rugged parts of Australia. Only 2% of Australia’s population lives in off-grid locations, but more than 6% of the nation’s electricity use is in these remote areas. [PerthNow]
Remote Australia (Tarryn Myburgh, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “GAF Energy Is Bringing New Solar Shingles To Selected Markets” • GAF Energy was created as a separate business entity a few years ago to develop solar roof products. Now it says it has created solar roof shingles that can be installed much like conventional shingles. And GAF has an enormous network of roofing contractors. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ford Increases F-150 Lightning Production Target From 80,000 To 150,000/Year!” • First, Ford’s production target for the F-150 Lightning was 40,000. Then 80,000. Now, Ford CEO Jim Farley tweeted that with strong customer demand for the F-150 Lightning, the target was raised significantly once again, this time to 150,000 sales a year! [CleanTechnica]
Ford F-150 Lightning in “Antimatter Blue” (Ford image)
¶ “50-MW Schuyler County Solar Facility Receives Final Permit From ORES” • The New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting announced they have issued a final siting permit for a major solar facility, Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center, LLC. The project will have a capacity of 50-MW. It is to be built in the Town of Dix, New York. [WETM]
¶ “US Utility Files 500-MW Clean Energy Plan” • US utility Appalachian Power is seeking approval for almost 500 MW of clean power over the next three years as part of its long-range plan to meet the renewable energy targets under the Virginia Clean Economy Act. It is looking to acquire or contract 294 MW of solar and 204 MW of wind power. [reNews]
Wind farm (Johanna Montoya, Unsplash)
¶ “First US WAGABOX® Landfill Gas To RNG Project To Be In New York” • Waga Energy, a European expert in the production of Renewable Natural Gas from landfill gas, signed a contract with Steuben County, New York for the development of an RNG project at a municipal solid waste landfill, which is located in the town of Bath. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Renewable Energy Sources Are Now Adding More Than 2,250 MW Of New Generating Capacity Each Month” • According to a SUN DAY Campaign review of FERC data, solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, hydropower) are now adding more than 2,250 MW of new generating capacity each month. [Environment + Energy Leader]
Have a wonderfully funny day.
geoharvey 