Opinion:
¶ “Refining, Tesla’s Next Frontier” • Now that Tesla has spent 2 years getting the 4680 battery to production and it has paid almost all its debt, it is time for Tesla to make another BIG bet. That could mean financing mining, but refining the minerals needed to make the huge numbers of batteries seems to be a more exciting option. [CleanTechnica]
Cathode structure (Tesla image)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
World:
¶ “Tesla Visited The DRC And Argentina For Environmental And Societal Risk Assessments” • In its 2021 Impact Report, Tesla announced that it visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and Argentina to assess both environmental and societal risks. Tesla sent out a delegation with members of its Responsible Sourcing Committee to visit suppliers. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Coal Shortage And Heatwave Spark India’s Power Woes” • Beginning in April, power outages have rippled across India, slowing factories, closing schools, and sparking demonstrations. Two in three households said they were facing power outages. The main reason why electricity is in such short supply is a shortage of coal. [BBC]
Coal worker (Amir Arabshahi, Unsplash)
¶ “Hong Kong Utility Unveils 150-MW Offshore Wind Plan” • HK Electric unveiled plans to develop an offshore wind farm off the coast of Hong Kong with capacity of about 150 MW. The project would cover about 600 hectares about 4 km away from Lamma power station. It would feature 13 to 19 turbines, with capacity between 8 MW and 12 MW each. [reNews]
¶ “Sold Out! Every EV Volkswagen Can Manufacture In 2022 Is Already Spoken For” • Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen Group, says it is “basically sold out on electric vehicles in Europe and in the United States” for all of this year, The Verge reports. That means anyone hoping to buy an EV from VW, Audi, or Porsche may have to wait until 2023. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen ID.Buzz (Image courtesy of Volkswagen)
¶ “Wind Hits April High Note In Ireland” • In April 2022, wind energy provided 32% of Ireland’s electricity, up 7% on April 2021, according to the latest Wind Energy Ireland monthly report. Last month was the most power ever provided by wind in the month of April and follows a strong first quarter where wind provided around 39% of Ireland’s electricity. [reNews]
¶ “Siemens Gamesa To Supply 192-MW Canadian Wind Farm” • Siemens Gamesa is to supply turbines to Capstone Infrastructure Corporation’s 192-MW Wild Rose 2 wind farm, about 35 km southeast of Medicine Hat, Alberta. The deal is for 38 of Siemens’ 5.2-145 model, Capstone said. The energy will be sold through a 15-year power purchase agreement. [reNews]
Wind turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)
¶ “‘Great Uncertainty’ Over Nuclear Plants’ Delivery Following Opposition To Chinese Investor” • The delivery of Essex-based nuclear plant Bradwell faces “great uncertainty” after political opposition mounted against involvement of a Chinese investor. EDF said that without Chinese backing, it is no longer obliged to continue funding the project. [CityAM]
US:
¶ “A First In The US, Unions Announce Deal To Build Offshore Wind Farms (Video)” • Offshore wind developer Ørsted and North America’s Building and Trade Unions agreed to a “historic” national project labor agreement for offshore wind projects along the Atlantic Coast. The agreement sets better standards for an industry set to grow. [CleanTechnica]
Jack-up ship (Arnold Price, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Tesla’s Recycled Batteries: Almost 92% Reuse Of Raw Materials” • Tesla’s recycled batteries have provided almost 92% of their original raw materials back to Tesla for future use, according to new information in Tesla’s 2021 Impact Report. Tesla’s factories are already using an in-house, closed-loop recycling system. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Rivian’s Venture Into Its First Renewable Energy Project” • Rivian, based in California, produces distinctive EVs, but it is looking to do this while eliminating all of the greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain. The company is now working with a partner, Clearloop, to develop its own solar power project in Nashville, Tennessee. [Sustainability Magazine]
Rivian R1T (Rivian image)
¶ “Electricity Shortage Warnings Grow Across US” • From Texas to California to Indiana, electric grid operators are warning that power generating capacity is struggling to keep up with demand, a gap that could lead to rolling blackouts during heat waves or other peak periods as soon as this year. In Texas, tight conditions could start as soon as next week. [MSN]
¶ “California Sets 3-GW Floater Goal For 2030” • California set a floating offshore wind target of 3 GW by 2030 as part of a raft of new goals for the state. The California Energy Commission believes that with that end-decade goal, the state can deliver up to 15 GW by 2045 and possibly 20 GW by 2050. The targets are contained in a draft AB 525 report. [reNews]
Towing a floating wind turbine (Principle Power image)
¶ “Start Making Preparations For An Active Hurricane Season Now” • Researchers at Colorado State University predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2022. Experts expect at least 19 named storms, nine of which will become hurricanes, and four of which will be significant hurricanes with a category 3 or higher intensity. [Lake County News]
¶ “Georgia Nuclear Plant’s Cost Now Forecast To Top $30 Billion” • A nuclear power plant being built in Georgia is now projected to cost its owners more than $30 billion. A financial report from one of the owners pushed the cost of Plant Vogtle near Augusta to a forecast cost of $30.34 billion. Vogtle is the only nuclear plant under construction in the US. [CBS 46]
Have a simply magnificent day.
geoharvey 