World:
¶ “Can Rocket Launches Ever Be Green?” • Environmental effects of commercial space launches are a growing concern. There were 144 commercial launches last year, and at least three scientific research papers have already been published this year on the impact of rocket emissions on the atmosphere, temperatures, and the ozone layer. [BBC]
SpaceX Falcon (SpaceX, Unsplash)
¶ “Satellites Give Clues About The Coming Global Harvest” • As harvest time looms for the world’s primary wheat producers, countries that import wheat hope for a bumper global crop so record high prices might fall. But analysis on the health of crops around the world suggests that’s unlikely, and that Russia could be the only big winner. [BBC]
¶ “Hyundai Ioniq 6 Rocks V2L Technology With 379 Mile Range WLTP” • The new battery-electric sedan from Hyundai has a range of 379 miles using the WLTP standard common in Europe, Hyundai says, though some estimates are slightly lower. Hyundai says the car only needs 14 kWh of electricity to go 100 km (22.5 kWh for 100 miles). [CleanTechnica]
Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Hyundai image)
¶ “Scatec JV Signs Green Ammonia Offtake Deal In Oman” • The Norwegian developer Scatec and ACME Group signed a term sheet with Yara for the offtake from the first phase of a green ammonia plant in Oman. Fully developed, it will have a second phase, and the project could produce up to 1.1 million tonnes of green ammonia annually. [reNews]
¶ “Renewables Generation Costs Fall In 2021” • In 2021, the global weighted average cost of new renewable projects fell despite rising materials and equipment costs, a report from IRENA said. The global levelized cost of electricity of onshore wind projects added in 2021 fell to 3.3¢/kWh, while that of solar fell to 4.8¢/kWh. [reNews]
Renewable energy (IRENA image)
¶ “Two-Thirds Of New Renewables Were Cheaper Than Coal In 2021” • In 2021, 163 GW – nearly two-thirds – of new renewable power added was cheaper than the cheapest coal-fired power plants in G20 countries, a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency says. Costs for solar and windpower fell 13% to 15% in 2021. [Electrek]
¶ “Kishida Wants Up To Nine Nuclear Reactors Online This Winter” • To deal with concerns about electricity shortages this winter, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that he will push to have up to nine nuclear reactors in operation by then. Economy minister Koichi Hagiuda said that the highest priority will be put on safety. [The Japan Times]
Fumio Kishida (首相官邸ホームページ, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Low French Nuclear Output Is Bad News For The UK” • The UK power system faces another winter like last year’s, when thin supply buffers resulted in surging electricity prices, according to Fintan Slye, director of National Grid ESO, the UK network operator. The potential problem is partly caused by low output from nuclear plants in France. [Oil Price]
US:
¶ “Renewable sources generate 25.5% Of US Electricity” • The amount of Electricity generated by renewable sources continues to grow month over month and year over year in the US. In April 2022, the share of US electricity coming from renewable energy was up to 29.3%. Over the first four months of 2022, renewables provided 25.5% of US electricity. [CleanTechnica]
Renewable energy (Pixabay, Pexels)
¶ “Republican Attorneys General Fight SEC Over Corporate Climate Disclosures” • The SEC announced plans in March to require companies to disclose their climate risks within their operations as they compile required documents. Attorneys general from 24 states call the plan “an ill-advised misadventure into environmental regulation.” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Panasonic To Build $4 Billion Tesla Battery Factory In Kansas” • Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that a battery factory will be built De Soto, Kansas. It is expected to create 16,500 construction jobs and 4,000 permanent jobs in the community. It would be the largest economic development project in the history of Kansas. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla battery (Tesla image)
¶ “BLM Approves Construction Of Power Line From Arizona To California” • The US Bureau of Land Management authorized construction of a 125-mile-long transmission line across Arizona and Southern California. The transmission project is intended to carry electricity from renewable energy sources to customers in the two states. [E&E News]
¶ “Critics Push For Coal Ash Cleanup As State Panel Considers Georgia Power 12% Rate Hike” • State regulators are set to vote next week on Georgia Power’s long-term plan. Clean energy and environmental advocates say the plan fails to go far enough to expand renewable energy and falls short of responsibly closing coal-fired power plants. [Georgia Recorder]
Plant Scherer (Altamaha Riverkeeper image)
¶ “New York Power Plant To Be Repurposed For Renewable Energy Storage” • New York is taking a major step to achieve its climate ambitions. Long Island City’s infamous Ravenswood power plant, which is highly recognizable for its red and white smokestacks, was recently purchased by renewable energy giant, Rise Light & Power. [Green Matters]
¶ “Alaska’s Largest Coal Plant Closes, As Green Energy Takes Hold” • Healy Unit 2, Alaska’s largest coal plant, has been plagued by operational issues for five years. It needs costly repairs, and the board of the Golden Valley Electric Association voted to shut it down, invest in wind energy, and install pollution controls on Healy Unit 1. [Popular Science]
Have a fabulously peachy day.
geoharvey 