Opinion:
¶ “How Europe Can Cut A Third Of Its Oil Demand By 2030” • Two-thirds of the EU’s oil use is for transport. The EU is acting to eliminate oil imports from Russia, but to ensure that it does not simply shift oil purchases from one authoritative regime to another, member states should seize the opportunity to wean transport from fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]
Reductions in million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “As Britain Gets Drier, We Don’t Talk About How Much Water Nuclear Power Uses” • In the middle of one of the worst droughts in British history, the Tory Energy Secretary has just authorised the consumption of more than 20 billion litres of water by a new nuclear plant. A campaign group has launched a legal challenge on that basis alone. [The Independent]
World:
¶ “How The Mediterranean Became The World’s Most Invaded Sea” • In Mediterranean waters, almost a thousand non-native species have been listed. Some of these pests have become a surprising source of opportunity. The invasive blue crab is prolific, and Tunesian fishermen did not know what to do with them. Now they are sold as a delicacy. [BBC]
Blue crab (Anne Laudisoit, public domain, cropped)
¶ “Loire Valley: Intense European Heatwave Parches France’s ‘Garden’” • The Loire Valley is known as “the Garden of France.” But the garden is withering. France is suffering its worst drought since records began, and the drought has turned lush vegetation into arid fields of brown crops, shrivelling under what is now the fourth heatwave of the year. [BBC]
¶ “Russia’s Natural Gas Pipeline Exports To Europe Down To Almost 40-Year Lows” • In mid-July 2022, exports declined to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day, the lowest level in nearly 40 years. This is a very big loss for Russia. The country’s natural gas exports to the EU and the UK averaged 16.0 Bcf/d in 2019, 12.4 Bcf/d in 2020, and 10.9 Bcf/d in 2021. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Pakistan floods: ‘I lost everything’” • The Pakistani province of Balochistan was devastated by flash floods that began in June. This year’s monsoons have brought 133% more rainfall than the annual average. Close to 50,000 houses have been either been damaged or flattened so far, displacing thousands of people. Over 500 have been killed. [BBC]
¶ “Network Rail And EDF Sign UK Solar PPA” • Network Rail is to offtake power from EDF Renewables’ recently consented Bloy’s Grove solar farm in the east of England. EDF will make 50 MW of capacity available to the operator through the power purchase agreement, which will cover 15% of its annual consumption for non-traction energy. [reNews]
Work on solar panels (EDF image)
¶ “Tesla And Indonesia Agree On Nickel Supply Deal Worth $5 Billion” • CNBC Indonesia reports that Tesla and the government of Indonesia have an agreement for that country to supply nickel worth $5 billion to Tesla over the next 5 years. The deal seems to mean that Tesla will not be relying primarily on iron phosphate batteries in the future. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ørsted First Energy Company To Set 100% Renewable Electricity Requirement For Suppliers” • Ørsted expects all its suppliers to use 100% renewable electricity by 2025, becoming the first energy company in the world to do so, the company said. In 2020, Ørsted committed to getting 100% of its energy from renewables by 2025. [Offshore Wind]
Block Island wind farm (Ionna22, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Shell Seals $1.55 Billion Acquisition Of Indian Renewable Energy Group” • Shell finalised its $1.55 billion acquisition of Indian renewable energy company Sprng Energy from Actis Solenergi. By doing so, Shell is acquiring solar and wind power assets that will triple the amount of renewable energy capacity it has in operation. [Energy Voice]
US:
¶ “Rivian Plans To Game The System, Get Buyers Tax Credit” • Rivian is none too happy about the Inflation Reduction Act, which puts an $80,000 cap on the price of vehicles eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. Most of Rivian’s trucks are far above that figure, but the company thinks it has a way to get tax credits for pre-order holders. [CleanTechnica]
Rivian pickup (Jeff Johnson, courtesy of Rivian)
¶ “US Energy Production Declined By Record Amounts In Several States In 2020” • In 2020, energy production in the US fell by record amounts compared with 2019, mostly as a result of decreased economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven states saw their largest annual energy production decline in at least 60 years. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Electric School Buses Win Big In USA” • Electric school buses are growing rapidly in the US, with a nearly ten-fold increase in commitments by school districts and fleet operators in the past year. Thirty-eight states have now committed to procure more than 12,000 electric school buses. Several states have acted this year to transition to clean buses. [CleanTechnica]
Electric bus (Courtesy of GreenPower Motor Company)
¶ “BayWa RE To Build Hawaiian Solar + Storage Plant” • BayWa re will construct a 30-MW solar and 30-MW battery storage plant on Hawaii for AES Corporation. BayWa will build the Waikoloa Solar + Storage project, an integrated solar PV and battery energy storage system, with a 120-MWh capacity, in the South Kohala district on Hawaii island. [reNews]
¶ “Closure Of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant Could Be Delayed” • California’s last operating nuclear power plant is scheduled to shut down by 2025, but concerns over a power grid stressed by heat, wildfires and drought may give it a second chance. The plant is owned by PG&E. It is currently scheduled to be shut down in 2025. [The Weather Channel]
Have a superbly serene day.
geoharvey 
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