Science and Technology:
¶ “OpenOA Software Improvements Illuminate Wind Plant Performance” • The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory upgraded its Open Operational Assessment software, which helps demystify wind plant operations for operators. One new feature of version 2.3 is a wind plant layout visualization for interactive maps of wind farms. [CleanTechnica]
Wind plant (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)
¶ “Israeli-Led Study Shows Reality Of Climate Change Worse Than Expected” • An Israeli-led study found that climate change is causing winter storms in the Southern Hemisphere to intensify much faster than predicted. The study, published in the Nature Climate Change journal, indicated that such storms have reached a strength not expected until 2080. [Algemeiner.com]
World:
¶ “DHL Orders Some Volvo Electric Trucks” • Delivery company DHL has tested and used an electric truck in London since 2020, and the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. DHL has put in an order for 44 electric trucks from Volvo. The trucks will be deployed all over Europe. Four of them will be larger trucks for for long distance work. [CleanTechnica]
DHL electric truck (Volvo Trucks image)
¶ “India’s L&T Ahead Dor NEOM $6.4 Billion Hydrogen Renewables Facilities: MEED” • Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Green Hydrogen Co is understood to have selected India’s Larsen & Toubro to build solar and wind plants for supplying electricity to the city’s $6.4-billion green hydrogen-based ammonia plant, inteligence company MEED said. [Arab News]
¶ “Adani Commissions India’s First Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Plant Of 390 MW In Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer” • Adani Hybrid Energy Jaisalmer One Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Limited, has commissioned a 390 MW wind-solar hybrid power plant in Rajasthan. It is India’s first wind and solar hybrid power generation plant. [Swarajya]
Renewable energy (AGEL image)
¶ “Sri Lanka To Implement Renewable Energy Generation Plan From June 1” • Facing a power crisis, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power and Energy said an accelerated renewable energy plan may be implemented from June 1. A search is starting for roof spaces to install solar panels on industrial, government, hospital, and hotel roofs. [Business Standard]
¶ “Nuclear Power Has No Place In Renewables Bill, Says Activists” • Activists are urging Indonesian regulators to exclude nuclear energy development from the new and renewable energy bill, arguing that it would impede the country’s transition to green energy. “Accommodating nuclear energy in the bill would hinder renewable energy development.” [Borneo Bulletin Online]
Nuclear power plant (Avda, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Deal Signed For World-Class Green Ammonia Project In Oman” • Oman’s integrated energy group OQ, American industrial gases firm Air Products, and Saudi-based energy company ACWA Power signed a joint development agreement to set up a world-class green hydrogen-based ammonia production facility in Oman. [Muscat Daily]
US:
¶ “Soon You’ll Be Able To Buy Solar Panels At Ikea” • Starting this fall, shoppers will be able to buy solar panels at Ikea stores. The new project, according to a news release, is a collaboration between Ikea’s US branch and SunPower, a California-based company that sells and installs solar power products, including solar panels. [CNN]
Ikea sign (Zheka Kapusta, Unsplash)
¶ “Why Can’t The US Stop Soaring Oil And Gas Prices?” • Since the start of 2021, prices for oil and gas have jumped two-fold or more. Recovery from 2020 Covid lockdowns and the Ukraine war have driven the price climb. Forecasts suggest US production will increase by about one million barrels per day, but it’s, not enough to meet the rise in demand. [BBC]
¶ “Truck Manufacturers Sue To Continue Polluting” • On the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association and their member companies filed a lawsuit to delay a lifesaving California clean truck regulation: the Heavy-Duty Omnibus rule. The suit claims the goals are set for dates that are too early. [CleanTechnica]
Trucking (500photos.com, Pexels)
¶ “Musk: Self Driving Cars Next Year” • Tesla is making progress on its goal of making cars that require no input from human drivers with its Full Self Driving Beta program, which has more than 100,000 testers currently in the US and Canada. Musk said the company should be able to expand the program to about 1 million Tesla owners this year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nio May Be Planning A US Factory” • China is the leader in EV manufacturing, but few of its cars make it to the US because of high import duties. Media outlets in China are reporting that Nio, one of the largest of the new crop of Chinese EV makers, is considering a factory in the US, which would be one way to avoid some of those import tariffs. [CleanTechnica]
Nio EVs in a factory (Nio image)
¶ “Feds Approve Plan To Delay Scrapping A New England Energy Rule That Harms Renewables” • The minimum offer price rule dictates a price floor below which new power sources cannot bid in the annual forward capacity market. This makes it harder for renewable energy to engage in a New England electricity market. FERC decided to keep the rule two more years. [WBUR]
¶ “This State Produces The Most Electricity From Renewable Sources” • Some states are transitioning to renewable energy faster than others. Using data from the US Energy Information Administration, 24/7 Wall St identified the state whose electricity supply has the highest percentage from renewable sources. That state is Vermont. [24/7 Wall St]
Have an exceptionally gratifying day.
geoharvey 