Opinion:
¶ “Why The World Is Missing Its Chance For Clean Energy” • Sadly, the opportunity offered by economic slowdown of 2020 was lost. We sat down with Niklas Hagelberg, Coordinator on Climate Change at the UN Environment Programme, to find out more about the global energy crisis and what can be done to transition to an energy-efficient economy. [UNEP]
Sunflowers and wind turbine (Gustavo Quepón, Unsplash)
¶ “The West Just Experienced An Aspect Of The Climate Crisis That Scientists Have Warned Of For Years” • In the middle of a prolonged, water shortage-inducing megadrought, one area, Yellowstone, was overwhelmed by drenching rainfall and rapid snowmelt, creating a torrent of flash flooding that ripped out roads and bridges. [CNN]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Congo Peat: The ‘Lungs Of Humanity’ That Are Under Threat” • A giant slab of carbon-rich peat has been discovered in central Africa. It is under threat from uncontrolled development, posing a significant risk for future climate change, writes BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding. The peat bog stores about 30 billion tonnes of carbon. [BBC]
Congo River (Bsm15, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
World:
¶ “Europe Is Making It Much Harder For Russia To Ship Oil Anywhere” • The EU’s embargo on 90% of the oil it imports from Russia is the toughest punishment it’s inflicted on the Kremlin since the invasion of Ukraine. But another ban it just imposed could be nearly as important. It banned EU companies from insuring ships carrying Russian oil. [CNN]
¶ “Lightyear 0 Solar-Assisted Car Will Go Into Production This Year” • Dutch company Lightyear announced that this fall it will start making the world’s first production car fitted with solar panels. The Lightyear 0 will have curved solar panels in its roof, hood, and trunk that top up the electric battery. The first delivery in Europe could be as early as November. [CNN]
Lightyear 0 (Lightyear image)
¶ “Nepal To Move Everest Base Camp From Melting Glacier” • Nepal is preparing to move its Everest base camp because global warming and human activity are making it unsafe. The camp is used by up to 1,500 people in the climbing season. It sits on the rapidly thinning Khumbu glacier. A new site is to be found lower down, where there is no year-round ice. [BBC]
¶ “The UK’s Haven For Alternative Thinking” • The Centre for Alternative Technology spent the last half century redefining the relationship between nature and humankind. Once merely a haven for those who think about alternative ways to do things, it now offers master’s degrees in fields such as energy provision, green building, and sustainable food. [BBC]
Funicular powered by water and gravity (CAT image)
¶ “WA Urged Not To Delay On Renewable Energy” • A report by the Australian Energy Market Operator has found that Western Australia faced looming generation deficits even before the state government outlined a timetable for phasing out coal. The state’s Wholesale Electricity Market faces a shortfall of 21 MW from 2025 to 2026. [Western Magazine]
¶ “Australian State Grants Emergency Powers To Control Energy Crisis” • After cold weather combined with faults at coal plants to drive energy prices up, authorities in New South Wales were granted emergency powers to ensure the stability of the energy grid. They are directing the state’s private coal companies add supply to the grid. [The Straits Times]
Sydney harbor (Photoholgic, Unsplash)
¶ “Japan’s Top Court Says Government Not Responsible For Fukushima Damage” • Japan’s government is not liable for damages demanded by people whose lives were devastated by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the country’s top court said. As the first such ruling in a series of similar cases, the ruling sets a precedent. [Reuters]
US:
¶ “US Mining And Geothermal Industries Could Strike ‘GOLD’ Through Partnership” • The mining and geothermal industries could partner for a more lucrative and greener future. GOLD (Geothermal Opportunities Leveraged Through Data) can use data from abandoned mining wells for the benefit of both industries. [CleanTechnica]
NREL graphic, NREL acronym (NREL image)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Introducing The 2022 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline” • The 2022 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline is now available, including distributed wind and pumped storage hydropower supply curve data for the first time. The Electricity ATB is a collaborative project led by the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Grid-Scale Energy Storage Market Breaks Q1 Record” • The US energy storage market set a new record in the first quarter of 2022, with grid-scale installations totaling 2,399 MWh, the highest capacity for Q1 on record. The volume of US grid-scale installations was four times the volume seen in Q1 of last year, sources said. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Energy Storage (NREL image)
¶ “Duke Energy Progress Submits Annual Update For Fuel, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Program Charges In North Carolina” • Duke Energy Progress made its annual filings with the North Carolina Utilities Commission for costs associated with fuel and various riders, including state programs to encourage renewable energy adoption. [Duke Energy | News Center]
¶ “All Fifteen Cape Towns Say ‘No’ To Holtec’s Plans For The Bay” • This year Cape Cod voters were asked at local town meetings and elections about the now-closed Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. All 15 towns on the Cape, including six on Martha’s Vineyard, voted against Holtec plans to dump radioactive water into the bay. [Cape Cod Times]
Have a delightfully gratifying day.
geoharvey 