Science and Technology:
¶ “How India’s Lattice Buildings Cool Without Air Con” • India’s architecture once featured intricate lattice structures. Cut from marble or red sandstone in ornamental patterns, jaali was an architectural feature in India between the 16th and 18th Century. Now, modern architects search for better ways to keep buildings cool, and the system is coming back. [BBC]
Hawa Mahal, pink palace of Jaipur (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)
¶ “Bosch Warns Auto Industry About Putting All Its Eggs In The Lithium-Ion Basket” • Markus Heyn, head of mobility services for Bosch, has some strong opinions about the auto industry’s reliance on lithium-ion batteries. He is not claiming fuel cells are superior to lithium-ion batteries. What he is claiming is that we should have a backup plan. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “EVDirect.com To Bring Affordable Electric Vehicles To Fiji” • After launching BYD EVs in Australia, EVDirect.com is moving to provide affordable EVs in the Fiji market. EVDirect.com will be the importer, distributor, and retailer of BYD Automotive products in Fiji, making it one of the first companies doing EV imports into the country. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Atto 3 (BYD image)
¶ “AMP Energy Plans 1.2 GW Solar Cell And Module Fab In India” • Privately owned renewable energy generation company AMP Energy announced plans to set up a vertically integrated solar modules manufacturing facility in West Bengal. The facility is to have a production capacity of 1.2 GW of mono-PERC solar cells and modules. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Korean Companies Plan To Turn Queensland Coalmining Town Into Renewable Energy Powerhouse” • Three major Korean companies signed a memorandum of understanding with the Queensland government, with a view to building one of Australia’s largest renewable energy hubs. The 3-GW hub is to be built in Collinsville, Queensland. [The Guardian]
Collinsville, Queensland (Greditdesu, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “South African Retailer Shoprite Takes Out The Biggest Sustainability Loan And First Green Loan In Retail Sector” • South Africa’s Shoprite Group is expanding its environmental programs as part of its sustainability strategy. A major part of this strategy is the accelerated rollout of solar PV at its supermarkets and distribution centers. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Shift In Energy System Helps Victoria Smash Emissions Targets” • The Victorian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2020 shows the state reduced carbon emissions to 29.8% below 2005 levels in 2020 – well beyond the state’s target to cut emissions by 15 to 20%. The state is on its way to meet its goal of a 50% cut in emissions by 2030. [pv magazine Australia]
Installing solar PVs (Government of Victoria)
¶ “Spain And UK Making Headway On Renewable Energy: Report” • Germany, China, Spain, and the UK are leading the G20 nations in the push towards renewable energy, a report said. The Climate Group compiled the rankings of G20 countries based on ambition and progress. More modest climbers include Australia, India, the US, and Japan. [Expatica]
¶ “Renewable Energy As A Price Stabilizer” • On Monday, the price of electricity was below €49 on the Leibzig exchange in Germany. It was higher in countries more dependant on fossil fuels: for example €141 in Poland and €257 in Switzerland. In France, with its dependence on nuclear, it was €169. The price of electricity is curbed by renewables. [PV Magazine]
Wind farm (Harry Cunningham, Pexels)
¶ “Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Shelling Nuclear Plant Again” • On Wednesday, the Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom accused Russia of again striking the Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant in southern Ukraine. “Russian terrorists bombed the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant again during the night,” Energoatom said on Telegram. [NDTV.com]
US:
¶ “GM Set To Invest $491 Million Into EV Upgrades For Indiana Plant” • General Motors announced plans to invest $491 million in its metal stamping operation in Marion, Indiana, in a bid to to prepare the plant to manufacture more of the stamped steel and aluminum parts used in EVs. The plant will be expanded and have new production lines. [CleanTechnica]
GM Marion plant (GM image)
¶ “Chevy’s EV Commercials Hope To Capture The NFL’s Appealing Audiences” • GM announced it will be targeting NFL Sunday football with an advertising campaign to promote its new EV lineup according to media reports. The EV commercials feature upcoming Chevrolet offerings: the Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “P&G And Engie Collaborate On New Renewable Energy Project In Hill County, Texas” • Procter and Gamble and Engie North America announced a Power Purchase Agreement for 200 MW from Engie’s Sun Valley Solar project in Hill County, Texas, 65 miles southwest of Dallas. This solar energy agreement is P&G’s largest globally. [BIC Magazine]
Panels at Sun Valley Solar
¶ “Committee Eyes Renewable Energy To Cut Education Costs” • Wyoming lawmakers are considering the potential cost-saving benefits of installing solar panels on school buildings as the state looks to more stable sources of long-term funding for public education. The state’s public schools spent more than $37 million on utilities in 2020. [Casper Star-Tribune]
¶ “Officials Report Significant Progress In Deconstructing The VT Yankee Nuclear Power Plant” • NorthStar Vermont Yankee Senior Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation Manager Corey Daniels presented pictures showing progress in deconstructing the reactor building to the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel. [WAMC]
Have a wonderfully worthwhile day.
geoharvey 
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