geoharvey

Science and Technology:

¶ “Canada Might Be Getting A 1,000 Kilometers Per Hour Vacuum-Tube Train” • A Canadian company has unveiled plans for a fully electric train-style vehicle which could travel at 1,000 km/h (621 mph) and, it claims, would cost less than a plane ticket to travel on. FluxJet will be propelled at ultra-fast speeds along a protected tube-guideway. [CNN]

Tube train (Image courtesy of Transpod)

¶ “Scientists Make A Major Breakthrough In The Race To Save Caribbean Coral” • Scientists at the Florida Aquarium have made a breakthrough in the race to save Caribbean coral. For the first time, marine biologists have successfully reproduced elkhorn coral, a critical species, using aquarium technology. The coral are vital for protecting coastlines. [CNN]

¶ “Hydrogen Bromide Flow Battery For Large-Scale Renewables Storage” • Dutch startup Elestor secured €30 million in funding from a consortium of lenders led by Equinor. It will use the funds to continue developing its hydrogen bromide flow battery technology. Elestor plans to build a gigawatt-scale production facility. [pv magazine Australia]

Elestor flow battery (Elestor image)

World:

¶ “Germany Announces €65 Billion Package To Curb Soaring Energy Costs” • Germany announced a €65 billion ($64.4 billion) set of measures to address rising energy costs, as Europe faces scarce supplies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Energy prices have soared since the February invasion, and Europe is trying to wean itself off Russian energy. [BBC]

¶ “Electric Cars Have 23% Of New Zealand Auto Market, Tesla Has 12%” • New Zealand has caught the electric car fever, and August showed that more than ever before. Last month, 23% of new auto sales were sales of fully electric cars. Tesla and BYD had sizable market shares in August. Tesla accounted for 12% of the market while BYD accounted for 4%. [CleanTechnica]

Lake Pukaki, New Zealand (Casey Horner, Unsplash)

¶ “Lithium Spot Prices Up ~900% Since January 2020” • Given the combination of the increase in demand for lithium and a lack of investment in the supply, it should be no surprise that the cost of lithium has gone up a lot over the last two years. The future relationship of supply and demand is not clear. As new sources come on line, demand is increasing. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Equinor Files To Build Sheringham, Dudgeon Extensions” • Equinor has applied to the Planning Inspectorate for permission to build extensions to the Sheringham Shoal and the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farms off the UK’s North Norfolk coast. Dan McGrail, CEO of Renewable UK, noted that over 85% of people in East Anglia support the technology. [reNews]

Offshore windfarm (Equinor image)

¶ “EDPR Launches Crowdfunding For 29-MW Wind Project In Italy” • Renewable energy company EDP Renovaveis SA has launched a crowdfunding initiative in the city of Casalbore, Italy, where it is building a 28.8-MW wind park. The campaign aims to raise between €300,000 ($299,790) and €500,000 for the wind project in 48 months. [Renewables Now]

¶ “UK Planning Revamp Needed To Hit Offshore Wind Goals” • The UK’s offshore industry can boost turbine installations threefold to help reach net zero, but planning must be made easier, according to Offshore Energies UK. The UK government must double or even triple the rate of offshore wind turbine installations to meet its target for 2030. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash)

Australia:

¶ “Copenhagen Energy Submits Third 3-GW Offshore Wind Proposal In Australia” • After filing two proposals earlier this year for 3-GW offshore wind farms in Western Australia, Copenhagen Energy revealed details for a project of the same size planned for an area 10 to 44 kilometres offshore between Lancelin and Two Rocks, Western Australia. [Offshore Wind]

¶ “$44 Million Boost To Accelerate Pumped Hydro Energy Storage” • The New South Wales government has announced funding for five pumped hydro schemes spread across the state. It is looking to deliver large-scale energy storage and firming capacity to allow for increased uptake of renewable energy and closing coal-fired plants. [pv magazine Australia]

Pumped storage (Snowy Hydro image)

¶ “Tasmanian Sunshine To Power Hydrogen Fuel” • Tasmanian sunshine could be used to power green hydrogen projects under a deal inked with an international renewable energy company. Australia’s Countrywide Hydrogen and Wirsol Energy, a German company, agreed to work together on the viability of solar-to-hydrogen projects in the state. [PerthNow]

US:

¶ “Buick Offers Dealers Buyout Option As Electric Car Plans Accelerate” • If you own a new car dealership, preparing to sell EVs can be an expensive proposition. Service people need to be retrained, and new tools and equipment need to be purchased. Buick will offer all of its 2000 US dealers an opportunity to opt out of the EV future. [CleanTechnica]

Buick Wildcat (Buick image)

¶ “Inflation Reduction Act To Give US Solar Energy Industry A Much Needed Boost” • The latest data from the US Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie show a near leveling off of growth. But this forecast was based on the idea that the Investment Tax Credit would start declining in 2024. It has now been extended to 2032! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Chance Of California Power Outages Up As Heat Wave Worsens” • California’s chance of power outages will grow in the coming days, as the state prepares to enter the worst stretch yet of an ongoing heat wave, officials said. Also, Governor Newsom legislation to allow the state’s last nuclear plant to stay open beyond its planned 2025 closure. [WHIO-TV]

Have an enchantingly successful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.