geoharvey

Opinion:

¶ “Rather Than An Endlessly Reheated Nuclear Debate, Our Politicians Should Be Powered By The Evidence” • Rather than debating endlessly about nuclear power, Australian politicians could serve its people by taking a close look at a major report by the International Energy Agency. Renewable energy is easily the cheapest. [The Guardian]

Wind turbines (Pixabay, Pexels)

Science and Technology:

¶ “High-Res Maps Of Entire Polar Regions Provide Clues For Climate Researchers” • Four more years of high-resolution imagery show the polar regions in stunning detail, thanks to a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. The maps lead to understanding the full effects of what’s truly happening in a changing climate. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Lula Da Silva Will Return To Brazil’s Presidency In Stunning Comeback” • Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva was elected the next president of Brazil, in a stunning comeback following a tight run-off race. His victory heralds a political about-face for Latin America’s largest country, and environmentalists hope that it will make Brazil a climate leader. [CNN]

Forest on the Amazon (Nareeta Martin, Unsplash)

¶ “Ukraine War: Russia Halts Grain Deal After ‘Massive’ Black Sea Fleet Attack” • Russia says it is suspending its involvement in the internationally-brokered deal that allows Ukraine to export grain from Black Sea ports, after accusing Ukraine of a “massive” drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. It also accused the UK of blowing up gas pipelines last month. [BBC]

¶ “EU Cities Can Offer New Opportunities For Prosumers Of Renewable Energy” • A briefing by the European Environment Agency promoted that European cities can assist in Europe’s shift to a low-carbon future by utilizing urban centers to facilitate urban prosumption. This would offer opportunities for citizens to produce renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop system (City of Cape Canaveral Community Center)

¶ “Green Grid To Connect Asia” • Sun Cable, funded by Mike Cannon-Brookes and Twiggy Forrest, is building partnerships to develop the giant Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink). AAPL consists of up to 20 GW of solar and 42 GWh of energy storage on a 12,000-hectare site in the Northern Territory. This is the Asian Green Grid Network. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Singapore To Use Low-Carbon Hydrogen To Reach 2050 Net Zero Target” • Singapore announced that it intends to achieve a carbon-neutral status by 2050, and that it will use low-carbon hydrogen as a major component of its decarbonization. The country is especially vulnerable to the impact of a warming planet. [Hydrogen Fuel News]

Singapore (Peter Nguyen, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Contributes Record 68.7% Of Power To Australia’s Main Grid For Brief Period” • Renewable energy hit a new record on Friday, briefly contributing over two-thirds of the power in Australia’s main grid. The Australian Energy Market Operator said the record was set at 12:30 pm, with 18,882 MW, from renewable sources. [The Guardian]

¶ “Galata Wind Receives EBRD Loan For Wind Projects” • In Turkey, Galata Wind signed an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for loans for two onshore wind projects. The $45 million loan will be used to finance the up to 50 MW of extension projects at the Mersin and Sah windpower projects. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Dan Meyers, Unsplash)

¶ “Russians Shelling Nikopol District From Nuclear Power Plant Premises” • In Ukraine, the Russian invaders are shelling the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk region from the territory of the Zaporizhia NPP, realizing that there will be no return fire. That’s according to the chief of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, Mykola Lukashuk. [menafn]

US:

¶ “USA’s First Vehicle-To-Grid Export Rate For Commercial Electric Vehicles” • A settlement agreement between PG&E and the Vehicle-Grid Integration Council, Electrify America LLC, and the California PUC is to establish the nation’s first “vehicle-to-grid” export compensation mechanism for its commercial EV charging customers. [CleanTechnica]

Electric school bus (Crenaissanceman, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “GM Suspends Advertising On Twitter” • General Motors has announced it was taking a break from advertising on Twitter. The move came as Tesla CEO Elon Musk finalized his purchase of the social media platform. Though GM has much ground to cover to achieve Tesla’s annual sales of EVs, the withdrawal may be a shot at Musk and Tesla as a competitor. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Michigan Utilities Say Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower Cost Of Transition To Renewable Energy” • The IRA may as well have been named the Emissions Reduction Act. Consumers Energy President Garrick Rochow praised its clean energy benefits in recent calls with investors. He said, “We see a lot of benefits in this new legislation.” [Michigan Radio]

Have a particularly gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Demented Gift American Politicians Handed To China” • Once America was great. We had a political system that was the hope of the world. But we also had the best science, with the greatest researchers, finding the best ways to do things. But we walked away from our greatness, and now the huge renewables market is dominated by China. [CleanTechnica]

America’s largest wind farm (Photo by Ionna22, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Researchers Discover Substitutes For Rare Earth Materials In Magnets” • University of Cambridge researchers, in collaboration with colleagues in Austria, report that tetrataenite, a “cosmic magnet” that takes millions of years to develop naturally in meteorites, can be made artificially and could be used instead of rare earth materials in magnets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Arctic Ocean Becoming Acidic Due To Climate Change” • Researchers have found that climate change is causing the Arctic Ocean to become more acidic. The latest research is the work of a team from the University of Gothenburg, who compared data from Arctic areas in 1994 through 2020. It was published in the journal Science. [DeeperBlue.com]

Arctic waters (Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Antarctica’s Emperor Penguins At Risk Of Extinction Due To The Climate Crisis” • Global warming is melting the sea ice the Antarctica’s emperor penguins depend on for their survival, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service now categorizes the species as threatened. The agency lists “imperiled species as endangered or threatened regardless of their country of origin.” [CNN]

¶ “The Architect Helping Sinking Cities Fight Flooding” • When floods devastated Bangkok over a decade ago, Thai landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom became determined to help her sinking hometown fight this deadly climate threat. The central question she focuses on is “how are we going to live with the water, without fear?” [CNN]

Design by Kotchakorn Voraakhom (Landprocess image)

¶ “The Nigerian Woman Cleaning Up A Land Soaked In Oil” • It is the rarest of stories: a fix for an environmental disaster that is actually working. Oil spill after oil spill has turned the Niger Delta, in southern Nigeria, into one of the most polluted places on Earth. Scientist Eucharia Nwaichi is using bioremediation to remove pollutants in the soil naturally. [BBC]

¶ “Mobilize Fast Charge: The New Ultrafast Charging Network In Europe” • New fast chargers are coming to Europe by mid-2024. Mobilize, a Renault Group brand, is launching Mobilize Fast Charge network. The ultrafast charging network consists of 200 charging stations, mostly at Renault dealerships that are less than five minutes from a motorway. [CleanTechnica]

Mobilize rest area (Mobilize image)

¶ “Solar Powering South Australia Completely For Several Hours A Day” • Recently, all of the electricity demand in South Australia was met by solar from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, for six hours of free electricity. All operational demand being met by renewables may become the norm this year, with excess supply being exported to Victoria or stored in batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy And Nepal” • Nepal declared Energy and Water Resources Decade (2018-28) to implement the Roadmap for Energy Development. Nepal is self-sufficient in electricity production now, producing 11,064 GWh in 2022, a big jump from 4,258 GWh in 2013. And next year, all of its people are to have access to electricity. [The Kathmandu Post]

Upper Tamakoshi diversion dam (Bishaldev100, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Greece Emerging As Electric Power Supplier To Southeast Europe” • Greece has recently become an exporter of electric power to its neighbors in Southeast Europe. The country has become a net exporter – rather than importer – of electricity, according to the Independent Power Transmission Operator, Greece’s national grid operator. [Greek Reporter]

¶ “Up To Six Mystery Drones Spotted Over UK Nuclear Plant In Possible ‘Malicious’ Event” • Up to six drones were reported to armed police after being spotted over a British nuclear plant in an incident which remains unexplained, new information shows. The unidentified aerial vehicles were spotted over a uranium enrichment site in Cheshire. [Metro UK]

Urenco (Eirian Evans, Capenhurst Technology Park, CC BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Oakland Expands Electric Vehicle Charging Access” • The city of Oakland, California, has opened another public EV charging station. It is an EVgo fast charging station near Lake Merritt. The new station has six 200 kW fast chargers, capable of charging a vehicle up to 80% in 15–45 minutes, depending on the charging capacity of the vehicle. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A ‘Delivery Wave’ At Tesla Is Causing Problems With Logistics, Not Demand” • Investors are nervous about a delivery decline, but as a company inside the Tesla ecosystem, it’s crystal clear at EVANNEX. Tesla is delivering plenty of cars. We are seeing the usual vehicle deliveries “bump,” but it’s coming slightly after the typical end of the quarter. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (EVANNEX image)

¶ “Chevron, Algonquin Partner On Permian Basin Solar Facility” • Multinational oil producer Chevron is venturing into renewable power through a partnership with Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. Chevron’s Hayhurst Solar Power Facility in Eddy County, New Mexico, that will generate renewable energy for oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin. [MySA]

¶ “‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle To Build The US’ Biggest Solar Power Farm” • When proposals for the largest solar plant ever conceived for US soil started to gather pace – a plan that involves putting several million solar panels up on the flat farmland of northern Indiana – something in one woman from a farming family seems to have snapped. [The Guardian]

Have a pleasantly exciting day.

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Opinion:

¶ “2022 Ford E-Transit – Video Review” • Ford has been on a roll recently when it comes to electrifying its vehicle lineup. Now Ford is making one of its most popular commercial vehicles as an EV, the E-Transit. We recently had a chance to check out the 2022 cargo van guise of the E-Transit and learn more about its impressive features. [CleanTechnica]

Ford E-Transit (Ford image)

¶ “Queensland Australia Has A Fossil Fuel Revenue Problem And Wants Hydrogen To Solve It” • Queensland has a challenge: a lot of rooftop solar that has no price signal, so it always runs, along with a lack of grid storage. However, hydrogen as a medium of electricity storage for firming the grid is a poor choice due to high cost and low efficiency. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Heat Waves Due To Climate Change Have Cost World Economy Trillions So Far” • A study in the journal Science Advances says increasingly extreme heat waves brought on by global warming have cost the global economy trillions of dollars since the early 1990s. The countries emitting the least CO₂ are suffering the most. [Business Standard]

Flooded street (Misbahul Aulia, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Ukraine War: Kyiv Set For Longer Power Cuts After Air Strikes” • The Ukrainian authorities have warned people in the capital Kyiv to expect longer power cuts, lasting more than four hours, because of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Rolling blackouts are hitting not only Kyiv but also central regions of Ukraine, including the city of Dnipro. [BBC]

¶ “The Highland Haven Insulated From Rising Energy Prices” • Hydroelectric schemes are not unusual in Scotland. Knoydart, the west coast of Scotland, is different, however. It is so remote that it is not connected to the National Grid, meaning prices here are not dictated by the wholesale cost of more expensive forms of energy such as gas. [BBC]

Inverie village in Knoydart (Subarite, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Offshore Wind – Victoria Won’t Wait” • Victoria will no longer wait for coal companies and energy generators to make up their minds and take action. Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has announced that the state will aim for 95% renewables by 2035. “By 2035 there will be no dirty coal generation in our state,” the minister said. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Goes Global Giga” • The Philippine Department of Energy announced that 40 offshore wind service contracts with a potential capacity of 30 GW have been issued. Chaozhou, in the Guangdong province of China, intends to install a 43.3 GW wind farm in the Taiwan Straits. Morocco is in talks about 10 GW of solar and wind. It is happening. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbine (Grahame Jenkins, Unsplash)

¶ “China’s Renewable Energy Capacity Expands In January-September” • In the January-September period, China’s installed capacity of wind power increased 16.9% year on year to around 350 GW, while the installed capacity of solar power generation came in at 360 GW, up 28.8%, according to the National Energy Administration. [Shanghai Daily]

¶ “IEA: The Rapid Growth Of Natural Gas Demand Is Coming To An End” • A World Energy Outlook scenario from the IEA based on the current government policies has global demand for every fossil fuel showing a peak. “One of the effects of the current crisis is that the era of rapid growth in global gas demand draws to a close,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said. [Oil Price]

LNG Ship (Maciej Margas, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Eskom: 53 GW Of Renewable Energy Required Over Next Decade” • Eskom revealed that around 53 GW of additional generation capacity from renewable energy sources will be needed over the next decade to ensure energy security in South Africa. Eskom revealed the figure during the Transmission Development Plan Public Forum. [ESI Africa]

¶ “Poland Chooses US Firm To Build First Nuclear Power Plant” • A US firm beat out its French and South Korean competitors to land a contract to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. Westinghouse Electric Company was given the multi-billion-euro deal as Poland seeks to be independent of Russian gas supplies. [DW]

Westinghouse AP1000 (Westinghouse image)

US:

¶ “Enphase Commits To Manufacturing Microinverters In US, Thanks To The IRA” • Enphase makes microinverters, the tiny devices that convert the direct current from PVs to alternating current to power homes or feed into the grid. The company is based in California, but it makes its products other countries. Now they will be made in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Line Upgrades Could Help Get Renewable Energy To The Grid, State Says” • The Alaska Energy Authority got the go-ahead to upgrade aging electrical transmission lines from Bradley Lake to Quartz Creek, in the state’s “rail belt.” The area’s transmission lines aren’t up to the task of bringing renewable electricity to the people living there. [KDLL]

Sterling Highway (steve lyon, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Puerto Rico To Make Improvements On Power Grid After Hurricane Fiona, Governor Says” • Governor Pedro Pierluisi said after Hurricane Maria, the government made repairs to the island’s power grid, but after Hurricane Fiona, they’re making improvements. Nearly fifty construction projects are underway in a transition to renewable energy. [WESH]

¶ “LePage Blames Renewables, Mills Blames Fossil Fuels – Here’s Why Energy Prices Are Really So High” • Electricity prices are sky high in Maine, and that has made for fertile campaign material this election season. But the data is clear that fossil fuel prices, not renewable energy subsidies, are largely to blame for the recent surge in electricity prices. [Maine Public]

Have an uninterruptedly cheerful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How Electric Vehicles May Be Able To Provide Backup Power For Homes” • GM announced a new business arm called GM Energy this month. It is set to offer bidirectional EV charging units that can send power back to homes and the electrical grid, Business Insider reports. GM, meanwhile, is set to partner with PG&E on a pilot project next year. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Electric School Buses Could Be “Mobile Batteries” During Blackouts” • A new federal program is awarding grants to school districts all over the country. This will reduce emissions and pollution, but there is another side benefit to the program. The batteries in the buses can be used for local backup power in the event of power failure. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Peak In Global Fossil Fuel Emissions Is Just Around The Corner” • Global fossil fuel emissions are expected to peak in 2025 as countries commit to spend heavily on low-carbon fuels. The International Energy Agency said in its annual World Energy Outlook report that Russia’s assault on Ukraine had the potential to “hasten” the global transition. [CNN]

Emissions (Chris LeBoutillier, Unsplash)

¶ “Climate Change: UN Warns Key Warming Threshold Slipping From Sight” • There is “no credible pathway” to keep the rise in global temperatures below the key threshold of 1.5C, a bleak UN assessment says. Scientists believe that surpassing 1.5°C would see dangerous impacts for people all over the world. Only an urgent transformation of society will avoid disaster. [BBC]

¶ “Volkswagen Claims Small Electric SUV, Two Entry Level Electric Cars In The Works” • In an interview with Autocar, Volkswagen Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer said Volkswagen will introduce two versions of its entry level electric car, They will start at around £20,000 and will be among ten new electric cars to be launched by 2026. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagon EV (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Volvo Group To Produce Battery Modules In Ghent By 2025” • Volvo Group’s truck plant in Ghent announced that it will start to produce battery modules in 2025. The investment decision to install battery module manufacturing capacity in Ghent is yet another important step for Volvo Group to shape its future value chain for battery systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vietnam Set To Open Renewable Energy Market To PPAs” • Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade aims to open up Vietnam’s electricity market to bilateral PPAs through a pilot scheme that would, for the first time, enable renewable energy generators to sell electricity directly to private off-takers under virtual or synthetic deals. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar plant in Ninh Thuan province (Trungnam Group image)

¶ “ESAK To Support 100% Renewable Energy Transition” • The Electricity Sector Association of Kenya developing measures to ensure the country achieves a 100% renewable energy transition by 2030. This comes ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties session to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that will be held in Egypt. [Capital News]

¶ “UK Wind Power Sets New Generation Record” • The UK’s onshore and offshore wind farms set an electricity generation record of 19,936 MW of electricity, covering 52.2% of demand. The new record was set between 11:30 am and 12 noon on 26 October, beating the previous record of 19,916 MW that was set on 25th May this year. [reNews]

Wind farm (Acciona Energia image)

¶ “Supply Chain Weaknesses Across Renewables Pose A Barrier To The Energy Transition” • Many nations are declaring green energy as the future and have announced a doubling down on investment in renewables. However, despite these declarations, the prospects of renewable energy remain bleak, as supply chain weaknesses undermine efforts. [Power Technology]

¶ “UN Nuclear Watchdog To Conduct “Independent” Probe Into Ukraine Dirty Bomb Allegations” • The UN’s nuclear watchdog will this week carry out an “independent verification” of Russian allegations concerning the production of so-called dirty bombs at two sites in Ukraine. Kyiv suspects Russia might itself use a dirty bomb in a “false flag” attack. [NDTV]

Ukraine (Olga Subach, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Magna Expands In Three Locations Across Michigan” • In a recent press release, one of Canada’s largest companies, Magna, announced it is investing more than $500 million to expand its operations in three different locations in Southeast Michigan. One is a facility in St Clair where it makes battery enclosures. It also plans to open new facilities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electrofuels Rush Begins In Texas (Where Else?)” • Someone is going to make electrofuels happen, and Texas appears to be in contention for the e-fuels capital of the world. The latest addition to the Lone Star fold is South Korea’s SK Trading International, which has just invested a rather nice chunk of change in the US company Infinium. [CleanTechnica]

Electrofuels facility (Courtesy of Infinium)

¶ “How The Southern US Benefits From Federal Funding For Climate Action” • Many southern US voters don’t realize how much their elected leaders are taking advantage of federal funding for clean energy initiatives. It’s important that voters in midterm elections understand how their communities benefit from climate crisis initiatives. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Climate Change Is Appearing In The Midterm Elections In NH” • New Hampshire is already seeing the effects of climate change, and scientists continue to warn that leaders must act quickly to prevent increasingly dire consequences. But on the campaign trail, climate issues have been relatively absent from speeches, ads, and debates. [NHPR]

Have a gloriously beautiful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Reactors Can Become Dirty Bombs – And You Don’t Even Need a War” • The alarming stories about the Ukrainian reactors captured by Russians potentially being used as dirty bombs drives home one clear message: nuclear power plants and their high-level nuclear waste are inherently dangerous and their use should be discontinued. [Common Dreams]

Chernobyl exclusion zone sign (Kilian Karger, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Europe Has So Much Natural Gas That Prices Just Dipped Below Zero” • EU gas storage facilities are close to full, tankers carrying liquefied natural gas are lining up at ports, unable to unload their cargoes. Europe now has more natural gas than it knows what to do with. So much, in fact, that spot prices briefly went negative earlier this week. [CNN]

¶ “Svalbard: The Race To Save The Fastest-Warming Place On Earth” • Deep inside the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is home to the world’s northernmost permanent settlement, Longyearbyen, which is estimated to be heating at six times the global average. One resident who has been there three years finds the changes in that time shocking. [BBC]

Spitsbergen, Svalbard (Janik Rohland, Unsplash)

¶ “Indonesia To Put 2 Million Electric Motorbikes On Road By 2025” • Indonesia hopes for zero emissions by 2060 and to cut its carbon footprint by 29% by 2030. As part of this they plan to put two million electric motorcycles on the road by 2025. A large number of electric motorcycle makers and competitive prices make the goal reasonable. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “DB Schenker Pre-Orders 2,000 E-Trailers” • E-trailers look very much like a conventional semi trailers except they have their own battery packs and an e-axle that powers some of the wheels. Instead of requiring a tractor to do all the work, e-trailers share the task of transporting cargo. Freight carrier DB Schenker just pre-ordered 2,000 of them. [CleanTechnica]

E-trailer (Krone image)

¶ “China Electric Car Sales – 26% Fully Electric, 35% Have A Plug” • Plugin vehicles continue to be hot in the Chinese auto market. They grew 78% year over year in September. They scored over 636,000 registrations last month, a new record. Plugin hybrids surged 148% year over year. With 161,000 registrations, it was their fifth record month in row. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Global Energy Crisis A ‘Turning Point’ For Renewable Energy Adoption, IEA Says” • The global energy crisis set off by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could “hasten” the transition to renewable energy, the International Energy Agency said. Investment in renewable energy needs to double to more than $4 trillion by the end of the decade. [The National]

Wind farm in South Africa (Charl Folscher, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Bosch Set To Invest $260 Million, Create 350 Jobs In South Carolina” • Bosch announced that it is producing of EV motors at its Charleston, SC Rexroth facility. The company plans to invest $260 million more to expand production of EV components at the site, and expects to create at least 350 high-paying jobs in the region by 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Biden–Harris Administration: 389 School Districts Get Nearly $1 Billion From EPA’s Clean School Bus Program” • Under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly $1 billion of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition was awarded to 389 school districts in 50 states; Washington, DC; and several Tribes and US territories. [CleanTechnica]

Electric school bus (GreenPower Motor Company image)

¶ “Ford Makes Deals To Buy Cleaner Steel” • Making steel uses large amounts of carbon and emits a lot of CO₂. Fortunately, there are companies working on making lower-impact steel. Ford is working with some of them to get that greener, leaner steel into their vehicles. It is acting to ensure a stable supply of low carbon steel for its products. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “First Comes The Sub-Zero Gas Prices In Texas, Then The Flaring” • A glut of natural gas in the Texas shale patch has grown so large prices have fallen below zero. This is raising fears among environmentalists that drillers are burning off more of the fuel at wells. Flaring gets rid of gas that companies can’t or aren’t willing to put into pipelines. [Regina Leader Post]

Flaring (Pixabay, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “Bow, NH, Exploring Renewable Energy Installations On Town-Owned Land” • Bow’s Energy Committee asked the Select Board to consider installing solar PVs on town-owned properties to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. The committee aims to identify buildings and town-owned land that can be used to generate renewable energy. [Concord Monitor]

¶ “GM Says It Will Power All Of Its US Sites With Clean Energy By 2025” • General Motors said it has deals to power all of its US sites with clean energy by 2025. GM’s clean energy portfolio now includes sourcing agreements from sixteen renewable energy plants. GM reports that that portfolio has produced over $75 million of positive cash flow since 2017. [Electrek]

Wind farm (Kindel Media, Pexels)

¶ “Northern Maine Transmission Line Gets Key Vote From State Regulators” • State regulators gave initial approval to a proposed transmission line connecting a massive renewable energy project in Aroostook County to the New England grid. They held off on issuing contracts to give Massachusetts officials time to decide on picking up some of the costs. [Maine Public]

¶ “TVA Developing Plans For 20 Small Nuclear Reactors To Power Tennessee Valley By 2050” • To decarbonize and electrify America’s economy, the head of its biggest public power utility thinks several hundred new nuclear reactors may be needed in the next generation, including 20 or so new smaller reactors in the Tennessee Valley. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]

Have a fundamentally superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “COP27: What is the Egypt climate conference and why is it important?” • After a year of climate-related disasters and broken temperature records, world leaders are going to discuss action on climate change, at the UN climate summit in Egypt. COP27 is the 27th annual UN meeting on climate. It will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh from 6 to 18 November. [BBC]

Earth (ActionVance, Unsplash)

¶ “Is Sustainable Aviation Fuel The Solution For The Aviation Industry?” • In a Rethink Energy report, lead analyst Bogdan Avramuta points out that depending on “sustainable aviation fuel” (kerosene created from waste) will not achieve the aviation industry’s goals of decarbonization. And their goals are 50% reduction in emissions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “THIS Is The Toyota That Will Take The Fight To Tesla” • This is it, gang. The all-new, all-electric Toyota bZ3 sedan has been revealed, and it’s set to take on the Tesla Model 3 for mainstream electric supremacy in what is unquestionably the world’s most important new car market: China. It is part of a joint venture between Toyota and BYD. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota bZ3 sedan (Toyota image)

¶ “Rising Sea Levels Spell Disaster For America’s Coastal Nuclear Plants” • With sea level rise, nuclear plants are increasingly threatened by flooding. Serious and swift mitigation plans are clearly needed to make sure that aging nuclear infrastructure can safely stand up to storm surges and extreme weather. But nuclear advocates say there is plenty of time. [Yahoo Finance]

World:

¶ “World Is In Its ‘First Truly Global Energy Crisis,’ Says IEA Chief” • Tightening markets for liquefied natural gas worldwide and major oil producers cutting supply have put the world in the middle of “the first truly global energy crisis,” the head of the International Energy Agency said. Soaring global prices are hammering consumers. [CNN]

Oil rig (Arvind Vallabh, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe Electric Car Sales: 16% Of New Cars Fully Electric, 24% Have A Plug” • After over a year in the red, Europe was back in black in August, with a 3% growth rate. September confirmed the trend with a 9% increase in auto market sales, signaling that the worst of the production constraints might be over. Full battery EVs are dominating plugin sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Building World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm At 43.3 GW” • Chaozhou, a city in Guangdong province, has revealed ambitious plans for a 43.3 GW facility in an unusually windy area of the Taiwan Strait. Operating between 75 and 185 kilometers off the coast of Chiuna, the offshore wind farm will have thousands of powerful turbines. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind farm (Courtesy of the European Commission)

¶ “Wales To Launch State-Owned Renewables Developer” • The Welsh government announced plans to establish a state-owned renewable energy developer. The company will initially focus on building onshore wind projects in the government’s woodland estate, where four projects totaling 441 MW have already been built and 134 MW are in development. [reNews]

¶ “Amazon’s First Two Renewable Energy Projects In China Are Expected To Generate Enough Electricity Annually For 250,000 Chinese Homes” • China has made clean energy commitments to help build a long-term sustainable economy. Amazon’s first wind farm and solar farm in China are now producing 200 MW of clean energy. [About Amazon]

Amazon wind farm in China (Amazon image)

¶ “Doctors Decry ‘Record Profits’ For Fossil Fuel Companies As Climate Change Weighs On Global Health” • Doctors are taking aim at the fossil fuels industry, placing blame for the world’s most dire health problems on companies seek oil and gas profits even as climate change worsens heat waves, intensifies flooding and roils people’s mental health. [NBC News]

¶ “Putin Is Increasingly In Fear Of Attacks By Anti-War Russian Saboteurs” • Russia’s leadership has increasing concerns about acts of sabotage carried out against key infrastructure by Russian citizens who oppose the war in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said. The MOD cited sabotage blowing up of a train line in Russia’s Belgorod region. [The Independent]

Belogorad (Petr Magera, Unsplash)

¶ “Russia Doing ‘Secret Work At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant’ Amid ‘Dirty Bomb’ Claims” • Russian forces were doing secret work at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator said. Fears are rising the Kremlin might intend to make Zaporizhzhia the site of its alleged false flag operation involving a nuclear device. [Euronews]

US:

¶ “Thomas Built Buses Celebrates 200th Proterra Powered Electric School Bus Delivery” • Thomas Built Buses achieved a big milestone. The company has delivered its 200th Proterra Powered Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus. The 200th electric school bus went to Monroe County Public Schools in Indiana. [CleanTechnica]

Electric school bus (Courtesy of Thomas Built Buses)

¶ “Since When Did Oak Ridge National Laboratory Get Into Racing?” • The DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced that Marc-Antoni Racing licensed energy storage technologies it had developed. The primary focus is on components that would enable batteries to charge quickly while still being dense in terms of stored energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Midterm Outcome In Certain States Could Affect Energy Approach” • States have taken the lead on climate in recent years in the absence of federal policy. Maryland’s net-zero emissions targets, Oregon’s cap-and-trade program, and Arizona’s solar subsidies all hang in the balance in the midterm elections. Their fate could affect US climate performance. [Yahoo Finance]

Have an impressively happy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Good News On The 2022 Climate Action Front” • Positive climate action is making a difference. Here are some positive environmental stories from 2022, with a focus on environmental responsibility, the welfare of the society, and the responsibility of individuals for contributing towards social and environmental progression. [CleanTechnica]

Bison (Jonathan Mast, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Do We Know Humans Triggered Earth’s Warming?” • For more than 30 years top scientists worldwide have come together every several years to draft a report on climate change and what causes it. In the latest version of their report, they said: “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.” [ABC 6]

¶ “Hemp For Victory! Researchers Make Better And Cheaper Batteries From Plant Waste” • Texas-based Bemp Research says it developed a lithium-sulfur battery based on use hemp to make a boron-carbide material. It says its battery would overcome lithium-ion battery challenges on cost, scalability, performance, weight, and recyclability. [CleanTechnica]

Hemp (USDA image)

World:

¶ “UN Nuclear Watchdog To Inspect Ukrainian Sites” • The UN’s nuclear watchdog says it will send a team to inspect two sites in Ukraine at the government’s request. Officials said International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors will examine the sites for signs of “undeclared nuclear activities.” Russia has accused Kyiv of preparing to use dirty bombs. [BBC]

¶ “The Ships Full Of Gas Waiting Off Europe’s Coast” • Dozens of giant ships packed full of liquefied natural gas lie off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, the UK, and other European nations. Europe has about 95% of the gas it needs for winter in storage, so the ships will have to wait to unload. but there are other factors making the matter complicated. [BBC]

LNG tanker (青空白帆, CC-BY-SA 2.1 Japan, cropped)

¶ “Heat Pumps Get A Boost In UK And Newfoundland” • Heat pumps really scare natural gas, oil, and propane peddlers. It’s all about efficiency. Air source heat pumps are the low carbon future of home heating. With a £5,000 government grant and a 0% VAT, heat pumps will play an essential part in the UK achieving its Net Zero goals by 2050. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “WEDUSEA To Test World’s Largest Wave Energy Prototype” • WEDUSEA, a collaboration between fourteen industrial and academic partners coordinated by Ireland’s Ocean Energy, is ready to begin testing of a large scale wave energy device. It will launch the €19.6 million project this week at the Conference on Ocean Energy in Spain. [CleanTechnica]

Wave energy prototype (Courtesy of Ocean Energy)

¶ “Solar Power Is The Fastest Way To Reduce Dependency On Russian Gas In Europe” • Solar power is growing rapidly in Europe due partly to the need to reduce dependence on Russian gas. Statkraft’s Low Emissions Scenario now shows that Europe will have significantly more solar power by 2030 than expected before the war in Ukraine. [Yahoo Finance]

Australia:

¶ “’We Need Everything, Everywhere, All At Once:’ Industry Calls For Energy Storage Scheme” • The push for a Renewable Energy Storage Acceleration Scheme backed by the federal government and the state of Victoria was launched by the Smart Energy Council, the Clean Energy Investor Group and Climate Action Network Australia. [Renew Economy]

Victoria Big Battery (Image supplied)

¶ “Massive Supercharger Rollout In NSW” • The Australian state of New South Wales is set for a massive supercharger rollout. The NSW state government (Liberal) will invest “$39.4 million in the first round of Fast Charging Grants to co-fund 86 new fast and ultra-fast EV charging stations. Each station will have four to fifteen bays.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Storage Solution In Air?” • The Silver City Energy Storage Centre, to be built in a decommissioned mine at Broken Hill, New South Wales, will use compressed air technology developed by Canadian energy storage company Hydrostor Inc. Hydroster says the 200-MW facility will be among the biggest projects of its type in the world. [InDaily]

Rendering of Silver City Energy Storage Centre

¶ “AGL Study Looks To Converts Coal-Power Stations Into Renewable Storage” • AGL will investigate the feasibility of retrofitting gas-fired power stations into energy storage facilities using thermal storage in a $1 million study supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. AGL will study using a 200-MW generating unit. [Utility Magazine]

US:

¶ “PPL To Work On Transmitting Renewable Power From Offshore To New England Mainland” • PPL Corp has reached an agreement with Elia Group to develop methods to transmit power generated by offshore “wind farms” to customers in New England. That can help customers and advance the utility’s environmental goals, according to PPL. [WFMZ]

Offshore wind farm (Carl Raw, Unsplash)

¶ “University Of Oklahoma Engineers Help Build Power Grid Of The Future” • Extreme weather, natural disasters and increased demand are taking a toll on America’s century-old infrastructure. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma were given funding to study thermal energy storage in commercial and residential buildings to promote renewable energy. [Newswise]

¶ “Five Walmart Suppliers Team Up On Renewable Energy Buy” • Five Walmart suppliers teamed up to purchase renewable energy from a Kansas wind farm, the retailer announced last Tuesday. The deal is part of the retailer’s plan to reduce 1 billion metric tons worth of emissions from throughout its supply chain by 2030. [Supply Chain Dive]

Have an appropriately glorious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Climate Films Shaping Society” • We need a subtler, more varied portrayal of climate change in film than just climate disaster blockbusters, says Becca Warner. Social scientists and non-profits argue that climate is a topic that belongs in many kinds of on-screen stories, not just the occasional thriller about climate disaster. [BBC]

Grey’s Anatomy episode “Hotter Than Hell” (Credit: ABC)

World:

¶ “Nigeria’s Stolen Oil, The Military And A Man Whose Name Is Government” • A network of illegal oil pipelines being unearthed in Nigeria shows the extent of oil theft in the country. In Delta state, thieves built their own 4 km (2.5 mile) pipeline through the heavily guarded creeks to a 24-foot rig on the Atlantic Ocean, where vessels blatantly load stolen oil. [BBC]

¶ “New Ground As Tech Aims To Help Boost Soil Health” • More than half of the world’s agricultural soil is degraded, experts say. An Indian guru called Sadhguru is leading a global campaign, SaveSoil, which pushes to improve soil health around the world. He calls for farmers to be given incentives to keep a minimum of 3% of organic content in their soil. [BBC]

Sadhguru (SaveSoil image)

¶ “Uganda-Tanzania Oil Pipeline Sparks Climate Row” • Uganda and Tanzania are set to begin work on a massive crude oil pipeline a year after the International Energy Agency warned that the world risked not meeting its climate goals if new fossil fuel projects were not stopped. The two East African countries say their priority is eonomic development. [BBC]

¶ “Hurricane Roslyn Makes Landfall In Mexico, Potentially Bringing Life-Threatening Conditions” • Hurricane Roslyn slammed into west-central Mexico on Sunday, bringing rain and threats of inland flooding. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said, “This rainfall could lead to flash flooding and landslides in areas of rugged terrain.” [CNN]

Hurricane Roslyn approaching Mexico (CIRA image)

¶ “Lilium Jet EVTOL Reaches New Milestone” • The Phoenix 2 air taxi is the prototype for an EVTOL jet, and it’s currently in its fifth generation. Because the engines can pivot, they allow for quick vertical takeoff and an easy transition into flight. Lilium had shared a video of the Phoenix 2 prototype going from a hover to wing-borne flight. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Etihad Airways Plans To Bring In COP27 Delegates On A Net Zero Emissions Flight” • Delegates to COP27 will travel to the conference with net zero emissions, rather than contributing to climate change. Etihad Airways partnered with World Energy for the first Net-Zero flight powered by Book & Claim, a Sustainable Aviation Fuel, to deliver delegates. [CleanTechnica]

Etihad Airways flight (Etihad Airways image)

¶ “Hydrogen To Be Injected Into UK Station For First Time” • Hydrogen will be injected into an emergency gas-fired power station for the first time in a pilot backed by the owner of British Gas. Centrica invested in an industry joint venture to trial using hydrogen at an existing “peaking plant” at its Brigg station in Lincolnshire, the Guardian can reveal. [The Guardian]

¶ “Russians Will Not Leave Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, But Are Allegedly Not Opposed To ‘Safety Zone’” • The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Ryabkov, stated that a protective zone around the Zaporizhzhia NPP is necessary. He also made clear that Russia considers demilitarisation of the ZNPP as impossible. [Yahoo News]

Soldier (Ministry of Defence, Russian Federation, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Food Waste Is A Huge Climate Problem. A New Candy Has A Sweet Solution In Time For Halloween” • Plant-based, chewy FAVES candies contain 96% fruits and vegetables. The ingredients are chosen partly to be nutritious, and partly because they would otherwise have gone to waste at farms and grocery stores, the company says. [CNN]

¶ “Eviation Sells More Alice Electric Aircraft For Underserved Routes” • Aviation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, and there actually are companies striving to bring electric aircraft into the market. Some are succeeding. In a recent press release, Eviation had exciting news that it sold 25 more of its electric Alice aircraft. [CleanTechnica]

Alice (Eviation image)

¶ “Hershey And National Grid Renewables Sign Second Big Power Deal” • Everything has an environmental cost, and anything that we can cut it back on helps. And yes, that’s even true for chocolate. That’s why a recent deal between Hershey and National Grid Renewables is so exciting, and it isn’t the first time they’ve done it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “States Are Vying For Money To Start ‘Hydrogen Hubs. What Are They?” • The DOE is looking to dole out $7 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law to fund up to ten regional clean hydrogen hubs. Each would be “a network of clean hydrogen producers, potential clean hydrogen consumers, and connective infrastructure…” [Nebraska Examiner]

Windpower making green hydrogen (Longshanks, public domain)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “US DOE Pledges Funding For Hydro” • The US DOE has announced three funding opportunities to advance hydropower. The funding will come through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It will support expansion of low-impact hydropower, such as pumped storage and retrofits for dams that do not produce power. [reNews]

¶ “State Of NJ Files Lawsuit Against Five Oil And Gas Companies For Climate Change Misinformation” • The Attorney General and agencies of New Jersey and filed a lawsuit against five oil and gas companies and the American Petroleum Institute, alleging they knowingly made false claims to deceive the public about climate change. [Essex News Daily]

Have an unusually satisfying day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Europe Should Sanction Russia’s Nuclear Industry – Now” • The Russian nuclear industry has once again managed to avoid inclusion in the latest round of EU sanctions. It is the eighth in a row that it skirted this vital issue in an apparent acknowledgment that Europe’s dependence on Russian nuclear fuel cannot easily be reversed. [The Moscow Times]

Model of Emstand nuclear plant (ChNPP, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “6K Has A New Formula For Sustainable EV Batteries” • The US firm 6K has been showing off its improved battery technology. The Massachusetts startup just won $50 million in funding from the Biden administration to manufacture more sustainable EV batteries domestically, deploying a proprietary high tech process it calls UniMelt®. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Massive Russian Strikes Target Energy Grid” • Russia has launched a “new massive strike” targeting Ukraine’s energy grid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He said the attacks were on a “very wide” scale, hitting Ukraine’s regions in the west, centre, south and east. Nearly 1.5 million households were without electricity. [BBC]

BM-21 Grad rocket launcher (Qasioun News Agency, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Opole And Solaris Are Putting Even More Electric Buses On Polish Roads” • Opole, a city in southern Poland, has around 127,000 people living in it. According to a recent press release, Opole’s public transport operator Miejski Zakład Komunikacyjny just signed a contract with Solaris Bus & Coach to receive eight electric buses. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tata Motors Is Electrifying Both Transit And Rideshare” • The Government of Jammu & Kashmir commissioned Tata Motors to provide it with 150 9-meter and 50 12-meter electric buses as part of their a transportation initiative. Tata Motors also signed an agreement with Evera, a ride-hailing platform in the Delhi region, for 2,000 XPRES T EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Tata XPRES T EV (Norbert Aepli, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Can Low Speed Electric Vehicles Spark The EV Revolution In Africa?” • Low Speed EVs are starting to find their way to some African cities. They have been available in some West African countries where they drive on the right side of the road. Now they are being introduced in eastern African countries, where cars are on the left side of the road. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bureau Of Meteorology Was ‘Cowering In The Corner’ On Climate Crisis: Former Staff” • Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology was accused of “cowering in the corner” on the climate crisis, with current and former staff describing a conservative culture that left the Australian public poorly informed. The bureau was accused of havin a toxic workplace. [The Guardian]

Wildfire in Tasmania (Matt Palmer, Unsplash)

¶ “Sri Lanka Gets 6000 MW Of Renewable Energy Proposals As Competitive Bidding Ends” • Sri Lanka had received proposals from operators to build around 6,000 MW of renewable electric generating capacity when expressions of interest were called, according to industry officials, as competitive procurement was also ended. [Economy Next]

¶ “India’s First Solar-Powered Village Promotes Green Energy, Sustainability And Self-Reliance” • During his two-day visit to India this week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited a model project site in Gujarat state, designated the country’s first solar-powered village. He commended villagers there on the shift towards renewable energy. [UN News]

Residents interacting with the UN Secretary-General (UN News)

¶ “Macron Calls For ‘Massive Acceleration’ Of Renewable Energy” • President Macron called for a “massive acceleration” of renewable energy development in France, along with offshore wind farms and solar power, through a plan has the country work to narrow the gap behind its European neighbors in terms of energy policy. [Nation World News]

US:

¶ “Major Storm Is Bringing Early-Season Snow To The Western US This Weekend” • A major storm system is bringing early-season snow, heavy rain and severe thunderstorms to the US this weekend and into early next week. It begins in the western US this weekend, bringing with it the first significant snowfall of the season to the Intermountain West. [CNN]

Forecast map (NOAA & National Weather Service)

¶ “Foxconn Model V Is Just The Latest Electric Truck To Be Unveiled” • Foxconn, the iPhone maker, has been making rapid headway into the automotive world, having purchased the old GM factory in Lordstown, Ohio, and kicking off the production of the Lordstown Endurance. Now, they have a production-ready electric truck: the Foxconn Model V. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “TeraWatt Plans High Power Charging Corridor From Long Beach To El Paso” • TeraWatt Infrastructure, the EV charging company, has raised a billion dollars from investors in its initial funding round. It plans to use that money to build and operate charging centers for heavy duty electric trucks on Interstate 10 from California to Texas. [CleanTechnica]

TeraWatt charging area (TeraWatt image)

¶ “Energy Debated In New Mexico State Land Office Race As More Lands Leased For Wind Power” • Thousands of acres in south-central New Mexico are to host two windfarms on public land after a lease sale by the New Mexico State Land Office. Both bids were awarded to subsidiaries of Pattern Energy for a total of 15,000 acres. [Carlsbad Current-Argus]

¶ “Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Has Long To-Do List To Assure Safety” • The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant has a new lease on life – thanks to $1.4 billion in taxpayer financed loans – but oversight officials and critics worry about the massive backlog of inspections left unaddressed because the plant was headed for shutdown. [NBC Bay Area]

Have an unambiguously outstanding day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Lower-Cost Tesla Will Outsell All Current Teslas Combined” • During the Q3 2022 Tesla conference call, an institutional investor asked about a low-cost Tesla EV. In response, Elon Musk said it was the “primary focus of our New Vehicle Development team, obviously.” One strategist commented that such a car would outsell all current models. [CleanTechnica]

Elon Musk (Steve Jurvetson, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Victoria’s Ambitious 95% Renewable Energy Target Is Risky But Essential” • It’s the end the line for coal in Victoria, after Premier Dan Andrews announced plans for 95% renewables within 13 years. The industrialised state has been aiming for 50% by 2030. But it’s also the end of the line for our ailing, mostly privatised, energy market. [Startup Daily]

World:

¶ “Zelensky Accuses Russia Of Plot To Blow Up Dam” • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of preparing to blow up the Kakhovka dam at a hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine. The action would lead to a “large-scale disaster.” The dam is under Russian occupation, but Ukrainian forces are closing in on it. [BBC]

Kakhovka dam (GennadyL, public domain, cropped)

¶ “Renewable Pathway More Cost Effective Than Fossil Fuels In Indonesia” • Unlocking Indonesia’s untapped renewable energy potential to meet the rising demand is more cost effective than continuing a heavy reliance on domestic and imported fossil fuels, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. [Modern Diplomacy]

¶ “OsloBuss Building New Charging Facility For Electric Buses” • OsloBuss is transitioning away from diesel-powered buses in favor of battery-powered vehicles. It is the first tour bus company in northern Europe to do so. It now has ten of the 50-passenger electric buses manufactured by Yutong in service and will add more in the near future. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus (Courtesy of OsloBuss)

¶ “China’s Ban On Overseas Coal Power Plants Is Good For The Climate … But Experts Ask Where The Support For Renewable Energy Is” • Beijing’s pledge a year ago has put a “significant dent” in planned coal-fired projects overseas, according to research. But China must do more to redirect resources towards renewable energy. [South China Morning Post]

¶ “Daniel Andrews Plans To Revive State Electricity Commission” • The Victorian government has announced it will revive the publicly owned State Electricity Commission and bring forward its net zero emissions goals if it is re-elected. Premier Daniel Andrews said the move is Victoria’s “most significant energy announcement” in 30 years. [The Guardian]

Coal-fired power plant (Robert Linder, Unsplash)

¶ “UAE Is Leading Global Efforts To Promote Clean, Renewable Energy” • The UAE leads global efforts in clean and renewable energy through its strategies and investments in this field. Last year, the UAE announced the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, making it the first country in the Middle East and North Africa with such an initiative. [Gulf Today]

¶ “Nunavik Renewable Energy Firm Eyes Projects In Six Communities” • A Nunavik renewable energy company says it wants to hear from residents in six communities about possible renewables projects. Staff from Tarquti Energy Inc have been exploring the potential for various projects to reduce reliance on diesel in Nunavik. [Nunatsiaq News]

Tarquti power system (Courtesy of Tarquti Energy Inc)

US:

¶ “GMC Sierra EV Denali – 754 HP, 400-Mile Range” • GMC has unveiled its Sierra EV Denali. In its press release, GMC says its first electric pickup truck will have 754 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque in Max Power mode, together with a range of 400 miles on a full battery charge. The Ultium battery pack is a structural part of the chassis. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Interior Dept. Pokes Sleeping Offshore Wind Giant As Renewables Take Charge” • US offshore wind projects on the East Coast have been moving against opposition. Now it’s time for the Pacific Coast, which is a different kettle of fish. Instead of political opposition, the wind industry faces the easier challenges posed by floating wind turbines. [CleanTechnica]

Floating windpower (US DOE image)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Announces $28 Million To Advance And Deploy Hydropower Technology” • The US DOE announced more than $28 million across three funding opportunities to support research and development projects that will advance and preserve hydropower as a critical source of clean energy. [Department of Energy]

¶ “Legislative wins present opportunities for clean energy contractors” • It’s a challenging time to be a renewable energy infrastructure contractor, but two of the Biden administration’s signature bills could help ease the challenges for contractors who know how to find and bid for work on the projects that the bills fund or help get funded. [Power Engineering]

Building a solar thermal facility (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “DOE Awards $38 Million For Projects Leading Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling Initiative” • The US DOE announced $38 million for a dozen projects that will work to reduce the impacts of light-water reactor used nuclear fuel disposal. The research projects are being led by universities, private companies, and national laboratories. [Department of Energy]

¶ “Port Of Oakland Approves Two-Year Deal For Renewable Energy” • The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners extended an agreement to have the Port of Oakland purchase renewable energy from the East Bay Municipal Utility District. The Port has been buying energy from a power generation station at the wastewater treatment plant. [CBS News]

Have a fabulously worthwhile day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Methane is a global climate concern, but new technologies offer hope” • Scientists estimate we could slow the worldwide rate of warming as much as 30% by cutting methane pollution from human-caused sources as quickly as possible. New technologies enable us to locate and measure methane emissions faster and with greater precision than ever before. [CNN]

MethaneSAT will launch in 2023 (Environmental Defense Fund)

¶ “Renault Twingo ZE First Impressions” • The Renault Twingo ZE is the fully electric version of the 2014 Twingo III. The platform for this car was designed with the possibility of an electric drivetrain in a joint venture with Daimler. The Twingo ZE is not a conversion from a pure gas model, but is rather based on a dual-powertrain platform. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “StoreDot’s Super Fast-Charging Batteries Pass Durability Benchmark” • At CleanTechnica, we have started to get pretty skeptical of battery technology claims. Most speculative stories we don’t cover, because all too often, the technology doesn’t work out. StoreDot is delivering cells that have tested in an EV form factor that is ready for production. [CleanTechnica]

StoreDot battery system (StoreDot image)

World:

¶ “Europe Faces Tough Decisions Over Nuclear Power” • With the war in Ukraine, Russian supplies of natural gas was cut off, and energy prices are at emergency levels. Some tout nuclear power as an answer, but half of the French nuclear power plants are not operating in the wake of Covid-19. The French Prime Minister says use less energy. [BBC]

¶ “Solaris Showed Off Two Buses, New Tools At Transexpo 2022” • Solaris, one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturers in Europe, presented two battery-powered buses at the Transexpo Fair, the Urbino 12 electric bus and the Urbino 18.75 electric bus. The former is the most popular model, and the latter is classic articulated model. [CleanTechnica]

Solaris Urbino 18.75 electric bus (Solaris image)

¶ “Qatar’s First Large-Scale Solar Power Plant Starts Operation” • The 800-MW Al Kharsaah solar power plant in Qatar has been completed, and it has been started up and connected to the country’s grid. Developed by TotalEnergies, in partnership with QatarEnergy and Marubeni, the plant is located 80 km west of the capital, Doha. [Energy Digital Magazine]

¶ “Russia Removed From Nuclear-Energy Stage At Washington Summit” • Russia has lost its place on stage at a key international nuclear summit in Washington that takes place next week. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that executives from Rosatom and Russia’s industry regulator were dropped from the agenda. [South China Morning Post]

IAEA Zaporizhzhia inspectors (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Australia:

¶ “Victoria unveils offshore wind strategy” • Victoria has released its Offshore Wind Implementation Statement, which sets out the next steps to establish a Victorian offshore wind industry. These include the creation of a new government agency – Offshore Wind Energy Victoria – to streamline and drive coordinated development of the sector. [reNews]

¶ “Akaysha Energy 850-MW, 1680-MWh Battery Coming To New South Wales” • Remember when Tesla installed a 100-MW, 129-MWh Hornsdale battery in South Australia in 2017? Back then, it was huge. But my, how the world has changed. Akaysha Energy announced it will build an 850-MW, 1680-MWh battery in New South Wales. [CleanTechnica]

Rendering of the Akaysha battery (Akaysha image)

¶ “Broken Hill Mine Flipped Into Renewable Energy Storage” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has unveiled the re-purposing of a defunct mine in Broken Hill, in New South Wales, for renewable energy storage, using compressed air. Arena has conditionally approved A$45 million in funding to construct the 200-MW, 1600-MWh facility. [Mining Weekly]

US:

¶ “Audi’s Line Of EVs May Soon Be Produced In The US” • Audi’s line of EVs may soon be produced in the US, as soon as 2023, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, which encourages EV makers to build their vehicles in the USA. For BEVs and PHEVs to remain eligible for tax credits, the final assembly must happen in North America. [CleanTechnica]

Audi e-tron (Liam Walker, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Tesla To Build 1,000 GWh Of Battery Cells Domestically, Over Double Entire World’s 2022 Output” • In the Q3 Tesla earnings call, Elon repeated one important message three times. It is that Tesla plans to make a 1,000 GWh of batteries a year, vertically integrated, domestically. There is a lot to that statement, so here’s a break-down of what it means. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electrify America Adds MEGA Battery Backup To Charging Stations” • Electrify America has unveiled its first application of megawatt-level battery storage in Baker, California, ensuring that there’s always enough power to for its customers to charge up their EVs, regardless of the grid. The system has a solar canopy and its own battery. [CleanTechnica]

Electrify America charging site (Electrify America image)

¶ “Alabama Power Seeks Proposals For Renewable Energy Projects” • Alabama Power is seeking proposals for renewable energy projects from 5 MW to 80 MW including solar, wind, geothermal, tidal or ocean currents, low-impact hydro, biomass, and biogas from sewage treatment processes, solid municipal waste, or landfills. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “UConn, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Announce Partnership For Research And Innovation” • UConn has reached a partnering agreement with the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory for clean energy innovation and grid resilience. NREL will establish a research collaboration with UConn at the UConn Tech Park. [UConn Today]

Have a delightfully peaceful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “For Years, I Was Insulated From The Effects Of Climate Change. Evacuating My Home Was A Rude Awakening” • I lived in a city for most of my life and, for many years, I felt largely immune to climate change. While I knew it was happening, I was protected from the immediate impacts. That changed pretty soon after I moved to the mountains. [CNN]

Wildfire in Colorado, 2018 (US Forest Service, public domain)

¶ “US Nuclear Power Industry Has A Russian Problem” • US firms developing a new generation of small nuclear power plants have a big problem: only one company sells the fuel they need, and it’s Russian. That’s why the US government is urgently looking to use some of its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium to help fuel the new advanced reactors. [NDTV.com]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Aeromine Rooftop Wind Technology Outperforms Solar” • Aeromine created a bladeless wind energy system that harvests ambient wind currents to generate electricity. It is vibration-free, silent, and easy to install.  Aeromine says it can generate up to 50% more electricity than a comparable solar power array, but it costs no more. [CleanTechnica]

Aeromine system (Aeromine image)

¶ “New Zinc Energy Storage System Beats Supply Chain Blues” • A lithium supply chain that is not up to snuff leaves room for alternatives to edge into the market. The latest development on that score comes from the Canadian company Salient Energy, which is offering a new zinc-ion battery that relies on abundant materials in the US. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Global CO₂ Emissions From Fossil Fuels To Rise By Less Than 1% This Year As Renewables And Evs Take Off” • Finally, good news in the battle against greenhouse gasses: CO₂ emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are on track to rise less than 1% this year. We have electric vehicles and an uptake of renewables to thank for the surprisingly small increase. [CNN]

Coal burning power plant (Sam LaRussa, Unsplash)

¶ “Ukrainians Told To ‘Charge Everything’ As Power Grid Hit By Russia” • Ukraine’s national energy company has urged citizens to “charge everything” by 07:00 (04:00 GMT) Thursday because of expected power cuts caused by Russian missile strikes. Energy plants were hit by Russian missiles again on Wednesday – part of a wave of such strikes since 10 October. [BBC]

¶ “Roam Rolls Out The First-Ever Electric Mass-Transit Bus Operation In Kenya!” • Roam announced the launch of the first electric, public mass transit bus operation in Nairobi. A year-long pilot project aims to address the unique challenges of public transport by providing mass transit that is reliable, sustainable, efficient, and modern. [CleanTechnica]

Roam bus (Courtesy of Roam, Kenya Power)

¶ “Octopus Energy Partners with Nexta for 1.1 GW Renewables in Italy” • A UK-based builder of wind and solar farms, Octopus Energy Generation, said it will enter Italy’s green power market by investing in renewable energy developer Nexta. Octopus held that the move will help the country wean itself off gas and lower future energy bills. [Saur Energy]

¶ “Victorian Labor To Build Publicly Owned Renewables, Revive Electricity Commission If Re-Elected” • A re-elected Victorian Labor government would build 4.5 GW of publicly owned renewable energy generation, with a renewable energy target of 95% by 2035. The election promise also includes an emissions reduction target of 75% to 80% by 2035. [ABC]

Solar array in Queensland (Queensland government)

¶ “Securing Tasmania’s Renewable Energy Future Through Historic Partnership” • The Tasmanian Government and the Australian Government are partnering under the Rewiring the Nation initiative to move ahead on an energy package including the Marinus Link, the North West Transmission Development, and Battery of the Nation. [Premier of Tasmania]

¶ “Government Rules Out Nuclear Power” • The Government of Ireland will not be taking the advice of Engineers Ireland to build Small Modular Reactors, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath has said. “My own view and the view of the Government is that the future for Ireland is renewable energy,” he said. “It’s not nuclear.” [Newstalk]

Rendering, NuScale plant (Oregon State University, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Awards $2.8 Billion For US Manufacturing Of Batteries For Electric Vehicles And Electric Grid” • Twenty companies in twelve states will receive a total of $2.8 billion to build and expand facilities to extract and process lithium, graphite, and other battery materials, manufacture components, and show technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo Trucks Levels Up Its Electric Trucks Sales Process With End-To-End Fleet Electrification Consulting” • Volvo Trucks North America spent a week showing off its trucks at its 2022 Electromobility Summit. Its flagship truck in North America is the Volvo VNR, a Class 8 semi truck with a power-packed fully electric powertrain. [CleanTechnica]

Fully electric FH for the European market (Volvo Trucks image)

¶ “Tesla Dominating US Luxury Vehicle Market” • Tesla remains the leader in the luxury sector of the US auto market, outpacing typical leaders BMW and Mercedes-Benz by a wide margin. Tesla doesn’t reveal its specific sales numbers, but current estimates hold that the automaker outsold its next competitor in luxury vehicles by over 100,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “7-Eleven Enrolls In MIGreenPower Renewable Energy Program For 160 Locations” • 7-Eleven Inc enrolled in DTE Energy’s voluntary renewable energy program, MIGreenPower. The enrollment will enable 7-Eleven to achieve 100% renewable energy for all 160 of its southeast Michigan locations for 20 years beginning in 2025. [North American Windpower]

Have an abundantly useful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “In Arizona, The Future Of Renewable Energy Is On The Ballot” • When political pundits call Arizona a key swing state in the midterm elections, they’re talking about the races for control of the US Senate and House. However, this election could decide whether Arizona will become a leader in decarbonizing its power grid or abandon those efforts entirely. [Sierra Club]

Arizona (Robert Murray, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Four More Big Battery Stories” • Scaling up renewable energy generation capacity seems to be all about scaling up battery storage capacity to help with the fluctuations in supply. Luckily, we’ve got a lot of battery news. In fact, we’ve got so much battery news that we can’t cover it all. Here are four battery stories I’ll run through quickly. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Infraco Africa And Equatorial Power To Roll Out Access To Clean Power And Agri-Processing In The DRC And Rwanda” • Equatorial Power integrates the delivery of energy with water purification, agri-processing business incubation, and e-mobility. Infraco Africa is joining with it on mini-grids in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. [CleanTechnica]

Rwanda (Infraco Africa)

¶ “Electric Cars From China Are Putting The Squeeze On European Manufacturers” • Transport & Environment reports that a lack of incentives is slowing the electrification of European carmakers while Chinese EV makers are seeing their market share increase. Chinese companies could capture a majority of the EV market in Europe in time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Developer Gains Nod For 90-MW UK Solar” • Renewables developer Boom Power has secured permission to construct over 90 MW of solar capacity in Yorkshire. The developer has been granted planning permission for the Osgodby (over 40 MW) and Low Farm (49.9 MW) solar farms. The Boom Power pipeline is approaching 3 GW in the UK alone. [reNews]

Solar array (Andres Siimon, Unsplash)

¶ “Landmark Energy Deal Massive Step Forward For Victorian Renewable Energy Transition” • The federal Albanese and Victorian Andrews governments announced an energy deal to accelerate Victoria’s renewable energy transition and kickstart offshore wind. The $2.25 billion deal will finance creation of six “renewable energy zones.” [The National Tribune]

¶ “Finland’s OL3 Nuclear Reactor Risks More Delays After Damage Found” • Damage was detected in the feedwater pumps of Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor during maintenance work. The damage is likely to delay the commissioning of the plant and the startup of regular production, according to TVO, the plant’s operator. [Nasdaq]

Olkiluoto nuclear plant (Hannu Huovila, TVO, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “As The Mississippi River Plunges, The Army Corps Is Building A 1,500-Foot-Wide Levee To Keep Salt Water Out Of Drinking Water” • The Army Corps of Engineers has begun construction on a 1,500-foot-wide underwater levee in the Mississippi River to prevent saltwater from pushing up the river amid record-low river levels and flow rates. [CNN]

¶ “Biden moves one step closer to making giant Pacific Ocean wind turbines a reality” • The Department of Interior announced it will hold a lease sale for wind energy off the coast of Central and Northern California, bringing the Biden administration’s dream of a massive West Coast wind farm one step closer to reality. [CNN]

Offshore wind farm (CGP Grey, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Treasury Department Launches Assessment Of How Extreme Weather Is Increasing Insurance Rates” • As climate change makes storms stronger and more destructive, Treasury will take a hard look at how climate-related disasters are driving insurance rates up. They will assess worsening extreme weather and its impact on the cost of insurance. [CNN]

¶ “Canoo Gets Orders For 3000 EVs From Zeeba And 9300 From Kingbee” • Earlier this year, Canoo hinted it might not have funds to begin production. Then Walmart stepped in with an order for 4500 delivery vans. Now Zeeba, a national fleet leasing company, has ordered 5,450, and Kingbee, a national van rental provider, ordered 9,300. [CleanTechnica]

Canoo (Image courtesy of Canoo)

¶ “$1.2 Billion Gemini Solar+Storage Project To Use 100% CATL Batteries” • The giant 690-MWac Gemini solar power project planned for Las Vegas will include 1,416 MWh of energy storage capacity. This will be one of the largest solar+storage projects in the US, or the world for that matter. The $1.2 billion project’s developer is Primergy Solar LLC. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Signs 200-MW US Onshore Wind PPA” • Ørsted has signed a group power purchase agreement with five corporate suppliers to Walmart to supply the latter with electricity from the 200-MW Sunflower Wind onshore wind farm in Kansas. Amy’s Kitchen, Great Lakes Cheese, Levi Strauss & Co, The JM Smucker Co, and Valvoline Inc are buying the energy. [reNews]

Wind farm (Ørsted image)

¶ “BLM Announces Completion Of Crimson Energy Storage Project” • The Bureau of Land Management announced that construction of the Crimson Energy Storage Project, a 350-MW battery storage system in eastern Riverside County, California, is now complete. The system is in operation and expanding grid capacity. [Bureau of Land Management]

¶ “Solar Developer Secures $100 Million Loan” • Renewables provider Pivot Energy has agreed a $100 million revolving development loan facility with debt finance firm Fundamental Renewables. The money will go towards funding a diverse range of solar and storage projects across the US. The facility provides Pivot Energy with financial flexibility. [reNews]

Have a truly magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Say “Climate Pollution” Instead Of “Greenhouse Gases” – The Difference In Impact Is Huge” • Climate activists are altering the language they employ to describe our quickly warming world, and the term “climate pollution” has started to shift the way that the public ascribes responsibility for the existential crisis that surrounds us. [CleanTechnica]

Supercell over Oklahoma (Raychel Sanner, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “You Call That An Energy Plan?” • Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a press release on what he calls his energy plan. Along with it was 26 pages labeled “2022 Virginia Energy Plan,” but it isn’t a plan at all. To start with, the “plan” fails to comply with legal requirements of what the plan must include. It fails even to mention climate change. [Virginia Mercury]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Advances In Decarbonizing Steel And Cement Manufacturing” • The steel industry produces nearly 8% of all carbon emissions globally, according to a McKinsey report. The cement industry is responsible for about 8% of global emissions, according to the BBC. A number of companies are developing different ways to decarbonize these processes. [CleanTechnica]

How to make steel (Electra image)

World:

¶ “Fuel Protests Gripping More Than 90 Countries” • High costs of living are driving people to protest in the streets against high prices. The BBC has mapped all reported demonstrations over fuel since January 2021, revealing a huge increase in protests this year. Around the world demonstrators have demanded that fuel be made more affordable. [BBC]

¶ “EU Produces Record Wind And Solar Energy As It Shirks Russian Gas” • Wind and solar power made up a record 24% of the European Union’s electricity since Russia invaded Ukraine, a report says. It’s a boost that also helped the bloc battle soaring inflation. Nineteen of the EU’s 27 member states had record wind and solar generation since March. [CNN]

Wind farm (Anastasia Palagutina, Unsplash)

¶ “Mercedes CEO Says Europe’s Gas Crisis Will Accelerate Its Shift To Renewables” • Europe’s gas crisis will be “a catalyst” for Mercedes-Benz to push deeper into clean energy, says its CEO. Mercedes is taking steps to cut down its use of natural gas at the company’s factories in Germany by roughly half, while keeping production levels up. [CNN]

¶ “Volkswagen BEV Sales Nearly 500,000 A Year – Now Ewan McGregor Is Providing A Boost” • Volkswagen aims to be the top selling battery EV maker in the world. That’s not going to be easy, but the German auto giant has made a lot of progress. Tesla plans to reach 1.4 million BEV deliveries this year. Volkswagen Group is approaching 500,000. [CleanTechnica]

Use the Force (Volkswagen image)

¶ “South Africa’s Eskom Signs Land Lease Agreements With Independent Clean Power Generators” • To move forward on the switch to renewable energy, Eskom is making land available close to its power stations, where there is sufficient grid capacity, for Independent Power Producers to lease and invest in renewable energy projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Investments Could Outstrip Upstream Oil And Gas In 2022” • High spot electricity prices, particularly in Europe, are changing narrative for the utility wind and solar investment. Potential payback periods of under one year could start a race to develop renewable assets purely based on project economics, Rystad Energy research shows. [Oil Price]

Solar power plant (Zbynek Burival, Unsplash)

¶ “Portugal Bets All On Renewable Energy After Abandoning Coal” • As the UN steps up calls to make the switch to renewable energy to fight the global climate emergency, Portugal is among the first EU countries to abandon coal entirely. Portugal is has been joined by Belgium and Sweden in its renouncing coal as an energy source. [Global Times]

¶ “Germany To Postpone Nuclear Plant Closures As Russia’s War In Ukraine Fuels Energy Crisis Fears” • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ordered ministers Monday to prepare to keep all three of the country’s remaining nuclear plants running until mid-April, putting his foot down on an issue that had threatened to split his three-party government. [CBC]

Neckarwestheim Unit 1 (Felix König, public domain)

US:

¶ “Stealthy Green Steel Startup Cracks Lazy Iron Ore Code” • Electra figured out a solution to the problem of carbon emissions for steel, which involves, well, a solution. The idea is to dissolve less costly, low-grade iron ore in a solution, then extract the iron. The company states that its process can work on ores with an iron content as low as 35%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California’s Tomato Farmers Are Getting Squeezed By Water Crisis As Growing Costs Continue To Rise” • This year, fewer tomatoes were grown as rising interest rates, inflation, and the crushing drought squeezed farmers who saw their margins sliced and diced. While the cost of growing tomatoes continues to rise, it ultimately hits consumers. [CNN]

Tomatoes (Meg MacDonald, Unsplash)

¶ “BP Buying Leading RNG Production Group In $4.1 Billion Deal” • British oil major BP is continuing to diversify its energy portfolio. It announced a deal to acquire a company considered a leader in production of renewable natural gas, Houston-based Archaea Energy. BP is paying $3.3 billion in cash, along with $800 million for Archaea’s debt. [Power Magazine]

¶ “DOE Invests $14 Million To Enhance Environmental And Wildlife Benefits From Solar Energy Infrastructure” • The DOE announced $14 million in funding to study how solar energy infrastructure interacts with wildlife and ecosystems. These projects are part of a DOE renewable power research portfolio of nearly $100 million. [Department of Energy]

Have a satisfyingly extraordinary day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Recent Battery Deals Could Indicate Manufacturers Are Up To The Task Congress Gave Them” • China has 100% control over battery-grade synthetic graphite, 73% control of cobalt, 68% control of nickel, and 59% control over lithium. US car makers, however, are showing they are up to the task of finding new sources of materials. [CleanTechnica]

Chevrolet Equinox EV in the 2024 model year (GM Image)

¶ “Australia’s Energy Future Is Renewable, Not Radioactive” • Bernard Keane summed up the nuclear debate like this in Crikey: “Someone on the right will call for a ‘debate’ on nuclear power. Critics will point out that nuclear power is ludicrously expensive, takes decades to build, and is prone to multi-hundred per cent cost blowouts.” And so it goes on. [Green Left]

World:

¶ “BYD Scores Big Rental Deal” • BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, partnered with SIXT, an international car rental company, for the European market. The agreement is to begin a long-term partnership with a shared vision to help accelerate electric mobility adoption. The all-electric BYDs will be available to customers in Q4 2022. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Atto 3 SUV (BYD image)

¶ “19% Of New Car Sales In Germany Fully Electric, 32% Have A Plug” • The German automotive market may have bottomed out. After growing 3% in August, September brought a solid 14% sales increase, while plugins grew even faster. Sales of full electric vehicles were up in September by 33% year over year, taking 19% of the overall market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “16% Of New Cars Now Fully Electric In France!” • In France, the overall auto market presented its second positive month, after a long fall in sales. It was up 6% year over year, but still down a significant 19% compared to September 2019. Full electrics were the highlight of the market, growing 34% YOY, and winning 16% of the market in September. [CleanTechnica]

Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “World Energy Storage Forecast Increased 13% – Thanks, IRA & REPowerEU!” • The Inflation Reduction Act in the US and the EU’s REPowerEU will underpin the US and EU movement towards faster battery deployment. The IRA, for example, includes an Investment Tax Credit that applies to standalone energy storage projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Iberdrola Commissions Australian Wind-Solar Project” • Iberdrola has started commissioning its first wind-solar hybrid project, Port Augusta. The renewable facility, located in the state of South Australia, combines 210 MW of wind power with 107 MW of photovoltaic power and has required an investment of A$500 million ($312 million). [reNews]

Wind and solar power (Iberdrola image)

¶ “NTR Signs Irish Solar PPA With AIB” • NTR has signed a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement with Irish banking group AIB to source energy generated from two solar farms NTR will construct in County Wexford. The solar farms at Enniscorthy and Gorey combine to place 21.4 GWh of new renewable energy in the Irish grid. [reNews]

¶ “Renewable Energy Plants Could Boost Property Prices” • According to PRD’s, Renewable Energy In the Property Market, local government areas that built either a wind or solar energy plant in 2017, have seen average property prices increase 41% over the past five years. The value of a home can also be increased by installing solar panels. [Elite Agent]

Wind farm in Queensland (Lepidlizard, public domain)

¶ “Germany’s Scholz Vows Solution To Nuclear Power Dispute Next Week” • The German government will resolve a dispute over nuclear power in the coming days, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Berlin on Friday, after plans to delay the nation’s nuclear phase-out beyond the end of the year exposed cracks in the coalition. [StreetInsider]

US:

¶ “Climate Change Exposes Lack Of US Preparedness In Defending Arctic Ocean Interests, Senator Says” • Climate change is unlocking a new crossroads and potential center of conflict: the Arctic. But one key lawmaker, Maine Senator Angus King, warns the US has lagged behind in securing the region, as other powers move in. [CNN]

USCGC Bertholf, Arctic Ocean (US Coast Guard, public domain)

¶ “Lots Of Energy Around Green Energy In Lebanon” • Want a glimpse into the future? Visit Lebanon, New Hampshire. Solar arrays glint in the sun at the city’s buildings. The city bought one of the nation’s first Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. The municipal airport is getting ready for electric planes. All this is not an accident. [Union Leader]

¶ “Billions Of Snow Crabs Have Disappeared From The Waters Around Alaska” • The snow crab harvest has been canceled in Alaska for the first time ever after a sharp fall in the snow crab population. There had been around 8 billion snow crabs in 2018, but the number fell to 1 billion in 2021, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game researcher said. [CNN]

¶ “Will ERINs Make Teslas Cheaper?” • The US Renewable Fuel Standard mandates that fuel sold in the US has to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels. Since 2005, that has mostly been corn ethanol. It seems consideration is now being given to EV makers to allow them to generate electric Renewable Identification Numbers. [CleanTechnica]

Have a securely powered day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Electric Vehicle Phobia” • We will soon be going south into New South Wales and Victoria, on our first post-Covid roadtrip. We will visit old friends and relatives en route, and we expect some negative comments on our transportation. Some are wary of the Tesla Model 3 and fear for our safety. Some think we may not get there at all. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Charlie Deets, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Can An Enormous Seaweed Farm Help To Curb Climate Change?” • Imagine a seaweed farm the size of Croatia floating in the South Atlantic. Spinning in a natural ocean eddy, it sucks a billion tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere every year and sinks it to the ocean floor out of harm’s way. A UK businessman plans to have this up and running by 2026. [BBC]

¶ “NASA Is Making It Even Easier For Scientists To Understand Climate Change” • A new mission led by NASA, the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, hopes to provide better context and understanding about climate change. The mission is being run from aboard the International Space Station and has recently produced its first mineral maps. [BGR]

Work on the ISS (NASA image, public domain)

World:

¶ “Vancouver’s Air Quality Affected As Several Wildfires Rage” • Wildfires burning in British Columbia and Washington state have triggered an air quality advisory, a Metro Vancouver district press release says. The smoke contributes to high concentrations of fine particulate matter in the area, which pose the greatest risk to health. [CNN]

¶ “The BYD Atto 3 Launched In India, Laos, And Nepal!” • It has been reported on several platforms that BYD is planning to start producing at least 300,000 EVs per month soon from its various plants in China and other places. This week saw the Atto 3, being launched in new markets, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, India, and Nepal. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Atto 3 (Image courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Removing The Barriers To EV Uptake In Australia” • Now, with rollouts of charging systems throughout Australia, barriers to EV uptake are pretty much gone. Apart from misinformation and ignorance, the only barrier facing Australians at the moment is the upfront cost of purchase. This may disappear next year as cheaper imports reach us. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “German Greens Lay Out Nuclear Power Position Amid Federal Government Infighting” • The Green Party, one of the three coalition parties governing at federal level, supported German Economy Minister Robert Habeck in his plans to keep two nuclear power plants on standby, in case of an energy crunch over winter, up until April 2023. [DW]

Isar II nuclear plant (E.ON Kernkraft GmbH)

US:

¶ “The Mighty Mississippi Is So Low, People Are Walking To A Unique Rock Formation Rarely Accessible By Foot” • Tower Rock, an island in the middle of the Mississippi River south of St. Louis, is typically surrounded by water and only accessible by boat. But as severe drought pushes river levels to near-record lows, people can now reach it on foot. [CNN]

¶ “Credit Suisse Predicts Renewable Energy That Is ‘Too Cheap To Meter’ By 2025” • Credit Suisse says the Inflation Reduction Act will have such a tremendous impact on renewable energy that the US may see the LCOE from renewable sources fall to less than 1¢/kWh hour by 2025, after all tax and production credits are factored in. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Raphael Cruz, Unsplash)

¶ “US Offshore Wind Guidance Accelerates Development Of The US Offshore Wind Industry” • The US offshore wind sector has new official guidance that can be used in the regulatory approval process. The first of five recommended-practice documents for offshore windpower is an overarching flagship document for the US Offshore Wind Standards Initiative. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “CIRI Looks To Triple Power At Fire Island Wind Farm” • An Alaska Native corporation is looking at expanding its Fire Island Wind Project, adding perhaps a dozen turbines and tripling the power output from the island in Cook Inlet, five miles west of Anchorage. With 11 big turbines, it is already the second-largest wind farm in Alaska. [Anchorage Daily News]

Fire Island wind farm (tjpeters, free for use)

¶ “Gov Youngkin reconfirms goal of investing in nuclear energy” • Gov Glenn Youngkin is reconfirming his goal of investing more into nuclear energy. Southwest Virginia could become home to the nation’s first small modular reactor, or SMR, due to the aggressive plan from Youngkin. He made a new announcement in Wise County. [WSET]

¶ “Miami-Dade County Involved In National Study To Fight Climate Change Impact On Island Communities And Urban Settings” • To help fight climate change, Miami-Dade County is participating in a nationwide study that will analyze the cooling potential of urban natural areas among other things. The study is led by the Natural Areas Conservancy. [Islander News]

Have an enchantingly cozy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “What Will Happen With Russia?” • With or without Putin, it’s hard to see those in power ignoring the short-term benefits of black gold and investing in an economic transformation. While Ukraine moves into renewable energy, who in Russia is going to make the historical giant a more modern, more diversified, more robust economy? [CleanTechnica]

Russian product exports, 2019 (OEC, CC0, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Ready For Liftoff: Traveler Electric Longboard Breaks Down” • Traveling with most e-boards is not easy. The aptly-named Traveler Board is an exception to that rule, however. On the contrary, it’s been designed with portability in mind, splitting at key points to fit itself neatly into a carry-on style “personal item” backpack. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EnerVenue Backs Its Nickel Hydrogen Batteries With 20-Year, 200,000-Cycle Warranty” • EnerVenue makes nickel hydrogen batteries that have proven themselves in orbital spacecraft by providing reliable electricity for over 200 million cell-hours and over 100,000 charge and discharge cycles. Now, EnerVenue wants to do business on Earth. [CleanTechnica]

EnerVenue nickel hydrogen battery (Courtesy of EnerVenue)

¶ “Climate Change Turning Arctic Ocean Into Acidic Soup Where No Marine Life Can Thrive” • A study says acidification in the western Arctic Ocean is currently happening a rate three to four times higher than in other oceans, due to climate change. The Arctic Ocean acidification rate is correlated to sea-ice loss speed that is caused by climate change. [MSN]

World:

¶ “Nigeria Floods: Braving The Rising Waters In Kogi State” • Nigeria is suffering its worst flooding in a decade, forcing 1.4 million people from their homes. The central city of Lokoja is in one of the worst-affected areas, Kogi state, and residents here are doing their best to cope. Unfortunately, more rains are in the forecast, so flooding will probably remain. [BBC]

Lokoja in normal times (Chinexfrust701, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “BMW 100%-Electric Vehicle Sales Up 114.8%” • BMW took a while to put another full-EV model on the market after its BMW i3, but it’s rolling stronger and stronger now in the EV space. In the first 9 months of 2022, BMW Group sold 128,196 fully electric vehicles. That puts them up 114.8% compared to the first 9 months of 2021. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Stellantis Materials Deal Shows Growth In Minerals From Friendly Countries” • Stellantis and GME Resources Limited have announced their agreement to sell quantities of battery grade nickel and cobalt sulphate products from the NiWest Nickel-Cobalt Project in Western Australia, through a binding Memorandum of Understanding. [CleanTechnica]

EV in a place I would not want to drive (Courtesy of Stellantis)

¶ “Family Bank And BasiGo Sign Electric Bus Financing Deal In Kenya” • Family Bank, the fifth-largest bank in Kenya, signed a partnership agreement with BasiGo to enable players in the public service vehicle industry to access flexible financing options. The deal will assist in supply of electric bus services to sub-Saharan Africa. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Central Asian Solar On The Rise” • Utility-scale solar is stirring in Central Asia, with support from development banks. After a series of auctions, PV projects have been commissioned and are under development in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Corporate interest in distributed, small-scale renewables is growing but better incentives may help. [PV Magazine]

Solarway founder Abdulla Ushurov in Kazakhstan (Solarway)

¶ “Australia’s Newest Coal Plant Bluewaters Strips Fortunes Amid Rapid Rise Of Renewable Energy” • Less than a year after the coal-burning Bluewaters power station came online, powerful investors pulled the plug the business empire that created it. The downfall of its head, Ric Stowe, has served in some ways as a troubling metaphor for Bluewaters itself. [ABC]

¶ “Indigenous-Owned Wind Farm Thrives In One Of Quebec’s Windiest Regions” • Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula is home to some of the strongest sustained winds in Canada. Indigenous groups have successfully developed independent energy projects that are bringing economic prosperity and electricity to thousands of households. [The Weather Network]

Wind farm (Luca Bravo, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Sony And Honda Will Build Electric Cars In America, May Bypass Dealers” • In June, Sony and Honda announced a new company, called Sony Honda Mobility, that will manufacture electric cars together. Now, the new company said the cars will be made at one of Honda’s 12 US factories, most likely in Ohio. First deliveries  are to be in 2026. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “VW And TVA Testing Combined Electric Cars And Electric Aviation” • It makes sense for utilities to include not only EVs in their street fleets, but try to make use of small electric aviation, too. And, that’s exactly what Volkswagen and the Tennessee Valley Authority plan to do, starting with a test vehicle. It is part of a larger plan to go all electric. [CleanTechnica]

TVA EV (Volkswagen image)

¶ “San Diego Ranked The ‘Greenest’ City In America Thanks To Renewable Energy” • A study released this month ranked San Diego as the greenest city in America, thanks to copious amounts of renewable energy and healthful environment. San Diego was followed by Portland and Honolulu in the study by WalletHub, based in Washington, DC. [Times of San Diego]

¶ “Georgia Workers Begin Loading Radioactive Fuel Into New Nuclear Reactor” • Workers are loading radioactive fuel into a new nuclear reactor in Georgia, putting the first new American nuclear reactor built in decades on a path to generate electricity in coming months. Workers will transfer 157 fuel assemblies into the reactor core at Plant Vogtle. [WGMD]

Have a terrifically comfy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “XPeng’s Flying Car Looks Super Cool, But What Kind Of Future Does It Have?” • XPeng got a lot of headlines this week for the first global public flight of XPeng Aeroht’s XPeng X2 flying car. It was a fun event and you can watch a video of the milestone here. Seeing the flying electric car in the skies of Dubai definitely makes one feel like the future has arrived. [CleanTechnica]

XPeng X2 (XPeng image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Offshore Wind Turbine Prototype Breaks 24-Hour Output Record” • Siemens Gamesa set a fresh record in wind generation this week. A Siemens SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbine prototype produced 359 MWh within a 24-hour time period, “the most power one turbine has ever produced over this duration …” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Smaller, Faster Charging Batteries From Penn State Will Turbocharge EV Revolution” • Researchers at Penn State say they have found a way to make batteries for EVs that can be smaller and faster charging. That addresses the concern many people have that charging an EV takes too long. They published the research in the journal Nature. [CleanTechnica]

Battery graphic (Penn State image)

World:

¶ “Global Wildlife Populations Have Declined By 69% Since 1970, WWF Report Finds” • The world’s wildlife populations have plummeted by an average of 69% between 1970 and 2018, a dangerous decline resulting from climate change and other human activity, the World Wide Fund for Nature warned in a report Thursday. [CNN]

¶ “Europe Has Enough Energy To Survive The Winter. Next Year Might Be Different” • Russia’s attempt to use its vast energy exports as a weapon against Europe isn’t going to plan. Moscow has greatly reduced gas supplies in retaliation for sanctions by Western countries, but the region has been able to amass enough for the upcoming winter. [CNN]

Liquified natural gas ship (Maciej Margas, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Capital Dynamics Raises €521 Million In New Renewables Fund” • Capital Dynamics closed its latest renewable energy fund with €521 million in capital commitments. The CEI IX fund exceeded its initial target of €300 million by about 75%, receiving capital commitments from a large, globally diversified investor base of new and existing investors. [reNews]

¶ “How Big Is Renewable Energy’s Impact On Property Values?” • Several renewable energy projects across Australia seemed to have a significant impact on property values, a report says. Having one in a local government area (LGA) seemed to have a strong benefit on both property prices and on the overall cost of living. [Your Investment Property Magazine]

Gold Coast (City of Gold Coast, Unsplash)

¶ “Progress Made On Safety Zone Around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Says IAEA Head” • The head of the UN’s nuclear energy watchdog said on Thursday that he believes “good progress” is being made in talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials for the establishment of a safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power plant. [Anadolu Agency]

¶ “Europe Is Still Quietly Importing Russian Nuclear Energy” • Russia’s nuclear fuel industry remains conspicuously untouched by European sanctions more than seven months into the war in Ukraine. This is despite eight rounds of sanctions having been imposed, and it is much to the dismay of Kyiv officials and environmental campaigners. [CNBC]

Nuclear power plant (Nicolas Hippert, Unsplash)

UK:

¶ “Labour Vows To Treble Solar Power Use During First Term If Elected” • Labour criticised prime minister Liz Truss’s plan to ban solar power from most of England’s farmland and vowed to treble the renewable energy source in its first term. Labour hopes to make the most of a cabinet rift over energy after the business secretary opposed the PM over solar. [The Guardian]

¶ “Cambridge Power Gains Planning Nod For 50-MW Battery” • Cambridge Power has secured planning permission for a 50-MW battery storage project in Essex. The site, next to the Lawford substation, is the latest to secure planning permission in Cambridge Power’s growing portfolio. The project forms part of the Brookfield 800-MW joint venture portfolio. [reNews]

Cambridge Power battery (Cambridge Power image)

¶ “Summer 2022 Smashed Dozens Of UK Records” • Two months after the summer heatwave, its data underline the huge impact climate change is having on the UK. More than half of the UK’s oldest active weather stations recorded their hottest day ever in 2022. New all-time highs were set at 56 of the 109 longest standing stations, Met Office data show. [BBC]

US:

¶ “Oakland To Use Electric Buses To Provide Backup Power To Municipal Buildings” • The California Energy Commission has funded a first of its kind vehicle to building (V2B) project that will allow the batteries of electric buses to provide backup power to community buildings to provide safe places for residents during emergencies. [CleanTechnica]

New Flyer electric bus (New Flyer image)

¶ “Fully Electric Vehicles Reached About 6% Of Auto Sales In USA In 3rd Quarter” • Fully electric vehicles have grown and grown in recent years. More and more models hit the market each month, and some of them are selling in decent volumes. Meanwhile, Tesla’s strong growth continues and one wonders how high Tesla can go. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “CSU Moves Toward Energy Goal With Solar Project” • Two Colorado-based solar energy companies, Namaste Solar and Solaris Energy, both Certified B corporations, helped Colorado State University toward its goal of 100% renewable electricity with the installation of 17 of 20 sites on four CSU campuses over the past two years. [Loveland Reporter-Herald]

Have a relaxingly rambunctious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Aptera Gamma – CleanTechnica Video Walkthrough” • We live in an exciting time of our world. We are pushing technology to the limits, especially when it comes to new EVs. One of the most exciting upcoming EVs for many of us is the Aptera, and I recently had a chance to checkout the Gamma prototype at Fully Charged Live. [CleanTechnica]

Apterra (Chris Anthony, public domain)

¶ “ElectraMeccanica Solo – CleanTechnica Review” • It’s not everyday that you’ll see a small electric vehicle with just 3 wheels and a single seat. Designed for those within a city for easy commuting and use, the ElectraMeccanica Solo was founded in 2015 as a way for solo drivers to complete the majority of their trips in an efficient auto-cycle. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Nissan Sells Its Business In Russia For €1, Focuses Instead On New EV Enterprise With Renault” • Nissan is on the brink of investing $500 million to $750 million in Renault’s EV business. So what if it loses $687 million or so as it hands over its business in Russia to a state-owned entity for €1? The automaker swears it can maintain its earnings forecast. [CleanTechnica]

Nissan EV (Nissan image)

¶ “Bboxx Partners With Ampersand To Provide Thousands Of Electric Motorcycle Taxis For Riders In Rwanda” • Persistent Energy’s Report, titled “A Dozen Markets and Counting, Opportunity For Two Wheel E-Mobility in SSA,” says that three times more motorcycles are imported annually into Sub-Saharan Africa than cars. Electrifying them is important. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Offshore Wind Could Unlock Green Aluminium” • Offshore windpower could supply 100% of the electricity needed for the Portland Aluminium Smelter in Victoria. The 1-GW Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm is a subsidiary of Alinta Energy. The smelter is responsible for more than 10% of electricity demand of the state. [Australian Renewable Energy Agency]

Portland Aluminium Smelter (Photo via ARENA)

¶ “Power Restored At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, IAEA Says” • International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi says power was restored at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine after the second outage in five days highlighted the “precarious” situation concerning the station’s safety and security functions. [Voice of America]

¶ “Greta Thunberg On Nuclear And Why It’s ‘Completely Insane’ We Aren’t Talking About Energy Saving” • Greta Thunberg says it would be “a mistake” for Germany to switch off its nuclear power plants if that means burning more climate-wrecking coal. The German government is still debating the future of its nuclear plants, set to be shut down this year. [Euronews]

Greta Thunberg, 2022 (Raph_PH, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

UK:

¶ “Liz Truss On Collision Course With Jacob Rees-Mogg Over Solar Power Ban” • Liz Truss is facing a rebellion from Jacob Rees-Mogg’s business department over plans to ban solar power from most of England’s farmland. The prime minister and her environment secretary, Ranil Jayawardena, want to ban solar from about 58% of agricultural land. [The Guardian]

¶ “Scottish Renewable Energy Output Hits Record Level Amid Soaring Bills” • Scotland produced a record amount of renewable energy at the start of summer this year, a report says. Higher wind speeds, increased rainfall, and additional capacity coming online helped boost the country’s output to 7,358 GWh in April, May, and June, up 36% from 2021. [STV News]

Whitelee wind farm (Rosser1954, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “TagEnergy Inks 500-MW Storage Deal” • TagEnergy and Balance Power have signed a framework agreement to build, own, and operate 500 MW of energy storage projects in the UK. This will require investment of over £300m over the next four years. TagEnergy’s current portfolio of over 300 MW battery projects will increase by 500 MW. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Outlines Plan To Pay For Colorado River Water Cuts As Crisis Looms” • As concerns grow over the future of the drought-plagued Colorado River system, the Biden administration has announced how it intends to pay farmers, cities and Native American tribes in the Southwest for significant, voluntary water cuts. [CNN]

Lake Mead (Carlin Harris, Pexels)

¶ “Honda Announces Major EV Manufacturing Investment In Ohio” • At a press conference with Governor Mike DeWine, Honda and LG Energy Solution said they will invest $4.2 billion and create a combined 2,527 new jobs in Ohio between building a new EV battery factory in Fayette County and the retooling of existing Honda plants to make EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Inflation Reduction Act Spurs Changes In US Electric Vehicle Production” • The Inflation Reduction Act is barely 2 months old and already there are news reports galore of battery plants being built in America, new lithium mining agreements, and EV plants being built. Major corporations are adjusting their plans to take advantage of the economic reality. [CleanTechnica]

Audi EV (Audi image)

¶ “US Auto Sales Down 21% Vs Q3 2019 – Tesla Up 169%” • US auto sales were up 1% in the 3rd quarter of 2022 compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021, but they were down 13% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2020 and down 21% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2019. Naturally, Tesla’s sales increased all 4 years in a row in the 3rd quarter. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hitachi Expands US Transformer Facility” • Hitachi Energy today announced plans to expand and modernise its power transformer manufacturing facility in South Boston, Virginia to accommodate renewable energy generation. It plans to invest more than $37 million in the facility, which is being modified to satisfy demand from utilities and data centres. [reNews]

Have a transcendentally pleasant day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “NASA Solid-State Battery Is Lighter And More Powerful” • Researchers at NASA are chasing a dream – advanced solid-state batteries that can power electric aircraft. Battery performance is a key aspect in the development of more sustainable electric aircraft, whose batteries must store huge amounts of energy while being extremely light. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Israel And Lebanon Reach Historic Agreement, Paving The Way To Potentially Rich Gas Exploration” • Israel and Lebanon have reached a historic agreement, leaders on each side said separately, settling a years-long maritime border dispute over major oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean. The disputed area is 860 km² (332 mi²) of the sea. [CNN]

¶ “New Zealand Wants To Tax Farmers For Their Cows’ Burps And Farts” • Prime Minister Jacinda Arden confirmed that her government will push ahead with a proposal to make farmers pay for their livestock’s emissions in a bid to combat climate change. New Zealand is a major livestock and meat exporter, and has around 10 million cattle. [CNN]

New Zealand farmland (Match Sùmàyà, Unsplash)

¶ “Greenland’s Culture Shifts As Arctic Heats Up” • Communities in northern Greenland have lived in one of the world’s toughest environments for centuries. But temperatures have risen faster in the Arctic region than elsewhere on earth, and the impact of climate change is being felt on the local way of life. In the past, they used dogs to pull sleds, but not now. [BBC]

¶ “Cars.Co.Za Buys Into The Sun Exchange’s Karoo Fresh Off-Grid Solar Project To Boost Sustainability” • Sun Exchange, a global solar leasing platform, announced that leading South African automotive platform, Cars.co.za, has bought into a project that provides off-grid solar-plus-battery storage power to Karoo Fresh. [CleanTechnica]

Solar and battery system (Sun Exchange image)

¶ “The Ten Biggest EV Battery Manufacturers In The World (2022)” • The EV battery world has changed a lot in the past few years. Let’s start with the ten largest EV battery manufacturers through most of 2022, but then also look at how this list changed over the years. There are several Chinese and Korean companies on the list, but none in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Maersk To Transport, Install French Floater’s Turbines” • The Maersk Supply Service has contracted to transport and install three 10-MW wind turbines at the Eoliennes Flottantes Du Golf Du Lion wind farm, a French pilot project. The EFGL wind farm is in the Mediterranean Sea, 16 km off the coast of Leucate in the Gulf of Lion natural marine park. [reNews]

Maersk at work (Maersk Supply Service)

¶ “World Must Triple Investment In Renewable Energy By 2050: UN Report” • Global investments in renewable energy need to triple by 2050 to put the world on the trajectory toward net-zero emissions, a report by the World Meteorological Organization says. The supply of electricity from clean energy sources must double within eight years. [CGTN]

¶ “Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Loses External Power” • Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost all external power and was running on diesel generators, the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog said. Ukraine accused Russia of preventing fuel shipments from reaching the site. They are needed to provide power to cool the plant. [UPI]

Zaporizhzhia plant (Maxim Gavrilyuk,
GNU Free Documentation License 1.2, cropped)

UK:

¶ “Use Covid Lessons To Curb Climate Change, Lords Tell Government” • Information campaigns like those used in the Covid-19 pandemic would help individuals act on climate change, a House of Lords report has said. To meet climate goals, a third of cuts to UK emissions by 2035 must come from people changing their behaviour, the report says. [BBC]

¶ “Seagreen Gets Nod To Increase Capacity” • Scottish ministers gave the go ahead for plans seeking to maximise the renewable energy potential of Seagreen, Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm. The application to increase the potential installed capacity of the project’s remaining 36 turbines from 360 MW to up to 500 MW has been granted. [reNews]

Wind turbines (SSE image)

¶ “UK Confirms 2023 Revenue Cap On Renewables” • The UK government has confirmed plans to introduce a temporary cap on renewable energy generators’ revenue to curb the impact of soaring wholesale power prices. The ‘Cost-Plus Revenue Limit’ will apply to renewables in England and Wales from the start of 2023. [reNews]

US:

¶ “GM Is Starting An Energy Storage Subsidiary To Take On The Tesla Powerwall” • General Motors is starting an energy storage business using its Ultium battery packs to power homes and charge cars as well as to feed power back into the grid when needed. GM Energy divisions will be of Ultium Home, Ultium Commercial and Ultium Charge 360. [CNN]

GM Ultium Home system (GM image)

¶ “BYD Bringing Cutest Little Electric School Bus To California Schools” • BYD is bringing a Type A electric school bus to the Los Olivos Elementary School District in California, and it’s one of the cutest vehicles around. The Los Olivos Elementary School District aims to be the first school district that has a 100% zero-emission school bus fleet. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Duke Energy Targets Carbon-Free Power Generation” • Like many utilities, Duke Energy is working with NREL to investigate the pathways to a decarbonized grid, as well as opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in coordination with policymakers and regulators. Duke Energy has a goal of a net-zero CO₂ emissions power system by 2050. [CleanTechnica]

Have an adequately triumphant day.

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World:

¶ “ISIS-Linked Militants Are Threatening Huge Natural Gas Reserves The World Needs Badly Right Now” • Mozambique has huge natural gas reserves. If they are exploited effectively, they could change its fortunes and help the world find enough natural gas to heat homes and fuel industry. But an insurgency threatens its entire economic future. [CNN]

Dhow in Mozambique (F Mira, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Floods Are Submerging Whole Houses In Nigeria. At Least 80 Have Died Trying To Escape” • Flooding in southern Nigeria has displaced up to 600,000 people, according to the country’s National Emergency Management Agency. Seventy-six people died when their boat capsized as they tried to flee dangerously high floodwaters. [CNN]

¶ “China’s electric car market is booming but can it last?” • The China Passenger Car Association predicts that 6 million new EVs would be registered in the country in 2022. Ana Nicolls, director of industry analysis at the Economist Intelligence Unit, says that with the removal of subsidies for purchasers of new vehicles, the appetite for EVs could wane. [BBC]

Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (David290, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Tesla Model Y Germany’s Best Selling Vehicle In September, Beating Iconic VW Golf” • Germany, Europe’s largest auto market, saw plugin EVs take 32.2% share in September, up from 28.7% year on year. Full electrics grew more than plugin hybrids. In September, the Tesla Model Y was the overall best selling vehicle of any kind. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “All EVs In Ethiopia Now Exempted From VAT, Surtax, And Excise Tax” • To supercharge the adoption of electric vehicle in the country, the Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance has recently exempted all EVs from VAT, Surtax, and Excise Tax! They went further to exempt completely knocked down kits from customs duty tax. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai EV (Hyundai image)

¶ “UK Government ‘To Impose Renewables Revenue Cap’” • The UK government is working on laws that would impose a revenue cap on renewable electricity after reports that talks between the industry and officials failed to find a voluntary strike price for new long-term power contracts. A meeting between industry and government is said to be scheduled for today. [reNews]

¶ “Greece Runs Entirely On Renewables For The First Time In Its History” • On 7 October, Greece used only renewable energy for about five hours, reaching a record high of 3,106 MWh at eight o’clock (GMT). It was the first time in the Greek power system’s history that 100% of the demand was met by renewable energy sources, an IPTO report says. [Greek City Times]

Wind turbines in Greece (Koliri, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Austria Challenges EU Ruling On Nuclear And Gas Power” • Austria has said it was seeking to enlist other European Union countries to support its legal action against Brussels for labelling investment in gas and nuclear power as “green.” Austria filed a legal challenge against the EU’s inclusion of the energy sources on a list of climate-friendly investments. [RTE]

Australia:

¶ “Solar Powers Up At Australia’s Biggest Hybrid Renewables Park” • AEMO confirmed that the 77-MW solar part of the 317-MW Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park, or PAREP, was one of three new renewables project to be signed up for connection to the NEM since mid-July, 2022. It is part of Australia’s largest wind and solar hybrid plant. [Renew Economy]

Transmission lines and wind turbines (Iberdrola image)

¶ “NSW Launched The First Auction For 12-GW Renewable Energy Zones” • NSW launched the first tender of a ten-year NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap program, and an auction will be held every six months. renewable energy and energy storage auction will replace the state’s retiring coal-fired power units. The state’s last coal-fired power plants are set to close in the next 11 years. [Energy Matters]

¶ “Farmers For Climate Action Report Says On-Farm Renewable Projects Are Getting Overlooked” • Large-scale wind and solar projects are accelerating across regional Australia, but a report says smaller on-farm renewable projects are being overlooked in the country’s transition to net zero emissions. In some cases, solar panels are not being put to full use. [ABC]

Australian beeves (Cgoodwin, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Minnesota State Begins Training Hybrid And EV Technicians” • Minnesota State Community and Technical College will be offering training for hybrid and electric car technicians, thanks largely to a $349,652 National Science Foundation grant. The plans for a new training program are to help meet the expected demand for the auto technicians. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wheatbridge Hybrid Wind, Solar, And Storage Facility Opens In Oregon” • The Wheatbridge Renewable Energy Facility in eastern Oregon was commissioned last week. It is the fourth and largest hybrid wind, solar, and battery storage facility in Ameica. There are many projects that combine wind and storage or solar and storage, but few that have all three. [CleanTechnica]

Turbine (Courtesy of Wheatbridge Renewable Energy Facility)

¶ “The Green Jobs Sector Continues Upward Momentum” • The green jobs sector is robust and getting stronger by the year. In fact, the median salary in a green job is $76,530/year – 31% more than the national median salary for the US workforce at $58,260. Also, the overall growth rate for green jobs higher than for the overall workforce (+7.7%). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The US Military Is Buying Ultium Battery Packs From GM Defense” • The latest news from GM Defense says it was chosen by the Defense Innovation Unit to create a prototype battery pack for testing and evaluation with Department of Defense platforms. GM Defense will rely on GM’s most advanced battery technology, the Ultium Platform. [CleanTechnica]

Have a flabbergastingly easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Want Energy Resilience? Invest Locally In Community Solar, Rooftop Solar, Heat Pumps, EVs” • Fortunately for those of us who don’t live in Babcock Ranch, the resiliency created there is possible across the country. Communities looking to build resilience in the face of worsening climate disasters will be able to prepare themselves. [CleanTechnica]

Solar settlement (Andrewglaser, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Microgrids As A Service” • Microgrids are more and more popular every year. They offer tremendous benefits in terms of energy security, resilience, and energy independence. Here is an interview with Michael Stadler, co-founder and CTO of Xendee, about microgrids and about Xendee’s “microgrid as a service” offering. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Volvo EX90 Will Feature App-Based AC & DC Bi-Directional Charging” • Volvo gets it. Electric cars are batteries on wheels that can be used to fry bacon at your campsite, support the grid, power your home, charge a friend’s EV, or earn extra money for their owners by sharing electricity with neighbors across the street or in the next county. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo bi-directional charging graphic

¶ “Battery State Of Health – What Is It? Why Is It Important?” • Like most things, the batteries in EVs age with time and use. This is a normal process that is influenced by factors such as number of cycles, temperature, and depth of discharge. Knowing how much life is left in an EV battery is critical for anyone planning to buy it for whatever reason. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Satellite Power Grid Would Beam Energy Around The Globe Just Like Data” • New Zealand company Emrod says it’s got the technology to enable efficient wireless energy transfer from orbit. It’s proposing a global wireless energy matrix, which would instantly beam renewable energy via satellite between any two points on Earth. [New Atlas]

Launch (SpaceX image)

World:

¶ “BYD Delivering 120 Electric Semi Trucks In 2022” • A decade or so ago, I recall a lot of debates about who was approaching the EV revolution best, Tesla or BYD. Or who was leading the EV revolution, Tesla or BYD. Of course, some people were happy to say “both!” Now, as Tesla is going into manufacture of its Semis, BYD is making them also. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Met Rise in Electricity Demand During First Half of 2022” • All of the increased electricity demand during the first half of 2022 was met by renewable energy, data released from the energy think tank Ember has shown. “Wind and solar are proving themselves during the energy crisis,” a senior electricity analyst wrote. [EcoWatch]

Wind turbines (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Ministers Hope To Ban Solar Projects From Most English Farms” • UK Ministers are planning to ban solar farms from most of England’s farmland, the Guardian can reveal. Environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena is understood to oppose solar panels on agricultural land, arguing that they would impede boosting food production. [The Guardian]

¶ “Wave Power Generators Could Help To “Firm” Solar And Wind, Says Report” • Wave machines dotted along Australia’s coastlines could hold the key to filling generation gaps in solar and wind-powered grids and reduce the need for battery storage, cutting the cost of renewable energy in the future, Australian research and trial operations show. [Renew Economy]

Wave Power Generator (Wave Power image)

¶ “Life Insurers Urged To Prepare For Climate Change” • Life insurers need to prepare for the impact of climate change, though its effects on the life sector are not as obvious as those facing property and general insurers. That was the message from George Stavliotis, a Sydney-based vice-president of Swiss Re, to attendees at a conference in Auckland. [Good Returns]

¶ “Line Hydrogen Partners With Blue Cap On Gigawatt-Scale Green Energy Solution” • Line Hydrogen announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Blue Cap Mining to develop a 100% renewable energy system to replace fossil fuel-based power generation at BCM’s Lord Byron mining operation in Western Australia. [pv magazine Australia]

Lord Byron gold mine site in WA (Line Hydrogen image)

¶ “Power Is Back At Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant. IAEA Warns The Situation Can’t Last” • The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has restored some power, UN nuclear watchdog officials announced. The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, called the restoration of power “a temporary relief in a still untenable situation.” [WAMU]

US:

¶ “Biden Is Blamed For Downturn In New Oil Drilling, But Fossil Fuel Companies Are The Ones Hitting Pause” • With the OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production, Republican rhetoric went into familiar territory: President Joe Biden’s green policies have us pay more at the pump. But energy experts tell CNN that the oil companies are just not interested in drilling. [CNN]

Alaska (Zetong Li, Unsplash)

¶ “Pioneers In The US Clean Hydrogen Sector Launch Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc, A Dedicated Clean Hydrogen Production Platform” • Principals of Hydrogen Technology Ventures have launched Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc, a clean hydrogen platform with a portfolio of green ammonia and hydrogen plants. They are to be operating in 2024. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Small Fairbanks Company Wants To Build Alaska’s Biggest Wind Farms” • A Fairbanks man and his business partner in the Lower 48 are planning to build what could be Alaska’s biggest wind farms, one each outside Anchorage and Fairbanks. One site would have 60 turbines and a capacity of 200 MW. The other would be about a third of that size. [Anchorage Daily News]

Have an excitingly welcome day.

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Opinion:

¶ “US Should Be More Transparent About Our Transportation Emissions – Our Health And Climate Depend On It” • The Biden administration has two weeks left to hear from Americans on a proposal that would require states, cities and towns to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result directly from highway activity. This is a critical step. [CleanTechnica]

Golden Gate Bridge in a fog (Chris Leipelt, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Grecell Portable Power Stations – CleanTechnica Review” • The team at Grecell sent CleanTechnica’s Derek Markham three of their portable power station models, ranging from 300 W to 2000 W, to test out and review, and after putting them all through their paces. He is happy to report that all of them performed as designed. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Earth System Grid Federation Launches Effort To Upgrade Climate Projection Data System” • The Earth System Grid Federation, a multi-agency initiative that gathers and distributes data for top-tier projections of the Earth’s climate, is preparing a series of upgrades to make using the data easier while improving how the information is curated. [CleanTechnica]

Simulated ocean conditions (LLNL and US DOE)

World:

¶ “Government Plan For Price Cap Is Risky, Firms Warn” • The government of the UK is set to cap the price of electricity from older renewable and nuclear facilities. The plans could hit the profits of energy firms that say they are concerned that further price limits could upset the UK’s reputation for having a stable regulatory environment and deter investment. [BBC]

¶ “Australia Is Rushing To Exit Coal” • AGL, one of Australia’s largest coal-fired power station operators, is not having a good year. It has fought off a hostile takeover effort and had to swallow the bitter pill of a failed demerger. Now it is bowing to the inevitable, as it announces the early closure of its fossil fueled fleet. AGL will exit coal. [CleanTechnica]

Yallourn W Power Station (Marcus Wong, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy, Already ‘Booming’ In South Africa, Will Require Much More Investment” • South Africa’s energy crisis will require investment, both from the private and public sector, of an estimated R1.2 trillion ($66.65 billion) between now and 2030, according to investment banker Emrie Brown, the CEO of Rand Merchant Bank. [IOL]

¶ “John Swinney To Stress Scotland Will ‘Not Put Up With’ Nuclear Power To Make Up For UK ‘Failures’” • Deputy First Minister John Swinney is set to renew the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear power stations being built north of the border. He will double down on his Government’s stance when he delivers his keynote speech to SNP. [The Herald]

Scottish windpower (W L Tarbert, public domain, cropped)

¶ “Ukraine Nuclear Plant Has Lost Final External Power Link, UN Watchdog Says” • Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe, has lost its last remaining external power source as a result of renewed shelling and is now relying on emergency diesel generators, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. [PBS]

US:

¶ “Exxon Illegally Fired Two Scientists Suspected Of Leaking Information To WSJ” • ExxonMobil has been ordered to reinstate two scientists who were fired after they were suspected of leaking information to The Wall Street Journal. A 2019 WSJ article said ExxonMobil might have inflated its production estimates and the value of assets in the Texas Permian Basin. [CNN]

Permian Basin pumpjacks (Zorin09, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Report Says Many Utilities Are Slow-Walking Clean Energy Goals” • A report released by the Sierra Club faults dozens of utilities that provide a major chunk of US electric generation for failing to speed up their decarbonization efforts. The report analyzed plans of 77 utilities that collectively supply about 40% of US electric generation. [Nebraska Examiner]

¶ “US Hurricane Rebuilding Rules Must Adapt To ‘Era Of Climate Change’: Expert” • A professor of environmental planning at the University of North Carolina, worked for several states following major hurricanes. He says current reconstruction standards are not up to the challenges of climate change, but correcting them will require real “political will.” [RFI]

Have a uniquely gratifying day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Let’s Talk Atmospheric Carbon Drawdown’s Hype Vs Reality” • This article focuses on the overhyped and overly hoped for silver bullets vs the realities of what will actually work to start reducing the CO₂ and CO₂e in the atmosphere. It concludes that we already have the technology we need to capture CO₂, and it has economic value. [CleanTechnica]

Viru bog (Diego Delso, CC-BY-SA)

¶ “Toyota Admits It Just Can’t Keep Up” • Toyota President Akio Toyoda told reporters, “Realistically speaking, it seems rather difficult to really achieve.” Meeting California’s zero-emissions requirements isn’t difficult for all automakers, or even for most automakers. It’s difficult for Toyota because Toyota has become a top laggard in the transition to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Zaporizhzhia: How Deteriorating Conditions At The Nuclear Power Plant Could Lead To Disaster” • Even when all reactors at the plant are shut down there is a risk of a major nuclear incident, as the plant requires permanent cooling. Furthermore, other factors exacerbate the fragility of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]

Rafael Mariano Grossi talking about the plant’s six reactors
(IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Winds Of Change Drive “Alarming” Rate Of Ocean Warming” • Researchers from UNSW Sydney say changes to strong, large-scale wind patterns are causing western boundary currents in the Southern Hemisphere to warm rapidly, transforming weather and habitats across the world. They explain in a study published in Nature Climate Change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Is Now The Cheapest Energy In History” • Thanks to incrementally better technology, panel design, and scale of manufacture, solar panels have become incredibly cheap. In the past decade alone, their price per unit of generated energy has fallen by 85%, so much so that multiple reports consider solar to be the cheapest energy ever. [ZME Science]

Please click on the image to enlarge it

World:

¶ “Facing Risk Of Blackouts This Winter, The UK Will Drill For More Oil” • The UK government could award oil and gas companies more than 100 new licenses to drill in the North Sea, as it looks for ways to bolster energy security amid a global supply crunch. The licensing round won’t lead to new UK production for several years. [CNN]

¶ “World Aviation Agrees To ‘Aspirational’ Net Zero Plan” • At a Montreal meeting, the International Civil Aviation Organisation pledged to support an “aspirational” net zero aviation goal by 2050. The plan was accepted by the 193 countries that are members of ICAO. However green groups say the deal is weak and not legally binding. [BBC]

Jet (Gabriela Natiello, Unsplash)

¶ “Tata Power Plans 10,000 MW Renewable Energy Push In Rajasthan” • At the Invest Rajasthan 2022 Summit, Tata Power unveiled its plan to step up its efforts in Rajasthan. The company said it plans to develop up to 8,000 MW of utility scale projects, 1,000 MW of solar rooftop and 150,000 solar pumps over the next five years. [BW Businessworld]

¶ “European Energy Has Reached Almost 1 GW In Renewable Energy Projects In Romania” • European Energy is expanding its activities in Romania, with 935 MW of projects, of which 810 MW in solar parks and 125 MW in wind parks. The company has also received grid connection approval for another 125 MW project. [The Diplomat Bucharest]

Romanian wind farm (500px, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Fourth Year In A Row Of Drought Is Likely In Southwest After Worst Three On Record” • The past three years have been the driest such period on record in California, state officials said. The state is now preparing for the increasing probability that it will see a fourth consecutive dry year as it works to conserve water resources as reservoir supplies dwindle. [CNN]

¶ “Barge Traffic Halted On Mississippi River By Lowest Water Levels In A Decade” • The lowest water levels in the Mississippi River in a decade, caused by a severe Midwest drought, have closed the vital channel to barge traffic at a crucial time of the year for the transport of crops from the nation’s heartland. Very limited traffic could reopen soon. [CNN]

Barges on the Mississippi (Justin Wilkens, Unsplash)

¶ “Under The Radar: Little-Known Code Proposal Imperils American Clean Energy” • A proposal by FEMA would change to the 2024 International Building Code, raising the structural “risk category” for ground-mounted solar PVs, energy storage systems, and wind turbines to the highest level possible. This would slow our response to climate change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bucknell University Celebrates Installation Of 1.76 MW Solar Array” • Bucknell University and Encore Renewable Energy of Burlington, VT, have hosted a public dedication of their new 1.76 peak megawatt solar array, developed by Encore Renewable Energy, which will move Bucknell closer to achieving its climate neutrality goals. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Solar array (Encore Renewable Energy)

¶ “Fourteen Times More Methane Leaking From Gathering Lines Than EPA Estimates” • Enough methane gas leaks from pipelines between Permian wellheads and processing facilities to power 2.1 million homes, a study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters finds. At 213,000 metric tons, it is 14 times higher than a previous EPA finding. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Appalachian Power Tells Virginia Customers Renewables Will Lower Their Bills” • Appalachian Power is asking its customers in West Virginia and Virginia to pay more to account for the higher cost of coal and natural gas. It said that the solution to reducing their monthly bills is to increase renewable power and move away from coal and natural gas. [WVPB]

Have a conveniently comfortable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Michigan Has Potential To Reduce Emissions By Over 94%” • The 2030 Report: How Michigan Should Meet Its Climate Change Goals outlines the most feasible and ambitious set of policies that would help Michigan reduce health-harming pollution and greenhouse gases while putting the state on a strong path for meeting its climate goals. [CleanTechnica]

Michigan wind farm (Gregory Varnum, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “CleanTechnica Tested: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station” • The new EcoFlow DELTA 2 bundles EcoFlow’s robust iron phosphate battery cell tech with its proven electronics into a compact 1 kWh package that boasts an impressive 1,800 watt continuous and 2,700 watt peak power output. We were eager to test it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Better Buy: Renewable Energy Or Uranium Stocks?” • While uranium stocks should continue performing well over the next decade, the time will come when we move away from nuclear energy. I would instead choose the security of renewable energy from environmental sources and seek stocks that are set up for growth in this sector. [Motley Fool]

Wind farm (Kervin Edward Lara, Pexels)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Seven Ways Of Getting CO₂ Out Of The Atmosphere” • There are currently seven recognized negative emissions technologies. What are their global CO₂ removal potentials, costs, and relevant side effects? Ranging from planting trees to drawing down carbon, here is an overview of the pros and cons of carbon capture and storage. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Solar Panels Create Micro-Climate To Save Vineyards In Spain” • The giant energy firm Iberdrola is keenly interested in its latest project, a tiny array of just a few solar panels with a total of 40 kilowatts in capacity, called Winesolar. The flea-sized project could have broad impact on both the solar industry and the wine industry, too. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels at a vineyard (Courtesy of Iberdrola)

¶ “Anglo American And EDF Renewables Agree To Renewable Energy Partnership In South Africa” • Anglo American, a global mining company, and EDF Renewables have announced their agreement to form a new jointly owned company, Envusa Energy, to develop a regional renewable energy ecosystem in South Africa. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Independence Can Unlock Scotland’s Renewable Energy Potential, Report Finds” • A report by Dr David Skilling, director of Landfall Strategy Group, showed that the green sector could create up to 385,000 jobs and boost the Scottish economy by £34 billion a year by 2050. The SNP’s leader at Westminster said the Union is holding Scotland back. [The National]

Wind turbines in Scotland (Tom Swinnen, Pexels)

¶ “Europe’s Renewable Energy Supply Chain Under Threat From Soaring Power Prices, 25% Of Solar And Battery Manufacturing Capacity At Risk – Rystad Energy” • Record-breaking electricity prices in Europe are damaging the continent’s attempts to build a reliable low-carbon supply chain and reach its decarbonization targets, as solar and battery costs mount. [energy-pedia]

¶ “UK Defies Climate Warnings With New Oil And Gas Licences” • The UK has opened a new licensing round for companies to explore for oil and gas in the North Sea. Nearly 900 locations are being offered for exploration, with as many as 100 licences set to be awarded. The decision is at odds with international climate scientists. [BBC]

Wind turbines (Matthis, Pexels)

¶ “IAEA Rejects Russia’s Claims To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Ukrain and Russia are caught up in a struggle over Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Vladimir Putin signed a decree saying Russia will take operational control of the Zaporizhzhia complex. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says the need for a safety zone is “more urgent than ever.” [NHK]

US:

¶ “The World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Haul Truck Could Help Clean Up The Mining Industry” • The mining industry puts out as much as 7% of the world’s carbon emissions. First Mode, based in Seattle, is designing a zero-emission solution to replace the diesel engines used in haul trucks. The plan is to do this with hydrogen fuel cells. [CNN]

Hydrogen-powered haul truck (Anglo American image)

¶ “Western Governors Sign Agreement To Tackle Climate Crisis And Transition To Clean Energy” • The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington and the premier of British Columbia gathered in San Francisco to sign an agreement to decarbonize the electric grid, speed the transition to electric vehicles, and make their communities more resilient. [CNN]

¶ “Viking Cruise Ship Can’t Finish Voyage Because Mississippi River Is Too Low” • A Viking river cruise ship heading north on the Mississippi River can’t finish its voyage because of low water levels, according to a statement from the company. The ship isn’t the only one facing problems on the largest US river. Several barges have run aground. [CNN]

Viking Mississippi (Viking image)

¶ “Tesla Semi Deliveries Begin December 1st!” • It’s been a long wait since we very enthusiastically discovered all of the amazing features and specs of the Tesla Semi when it was revealed 5 years ago, in November 2017. Elon Musk has just tweeted that Tesla has started actual Tesla Semi production, and deliveries will begin on December 1st, 2022. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Form Energy Raises $450 Million In Latest Funding Round” • Form Energy​ is in the race for long-term energy storage. Its efforts are centered on iron air technology to send power to the grid for up to 100 hours. The company claims its technology will cost about one-tenth as much as lithium-ion battery storage. Now it has funding. [CleanTechnica]

Have an amazingly delightful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Time Has Never Been Better For Community Solar In The US” • Community solar used to be a perk for upper income people. Just as some people spend big bucks to drive a luxury EV so they can lower their carbon footprint, others were willing to pay more for electricity to help the planet breathe easier. With the IRA, times have changed. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (US Bureau of Land Management)

Science and Technology:

¶ “This Solar-Powered Electric Car Cleans Carbon From The Air As It Drives” • Silver, sleek and sporty, Zem wouldn’t look out of place at a supercar championship. But Zem isn’t like other sports cars – or any car, for that matter. The one-of-a-kind prototype cleans carbon from the air while driving, using a carbon capture device fitted to its underside. [CNN]

¶ “Northern Hemisphere’s Extreme Summer Drought Was Made Twenty Times More Likely By Climate Change” • All across the Northern Hemisphere this summer, drought scorched the soil, dried up rivers and triggered mass crop failure. The drought was made at least twenty times more likely by the climate crisis, a new analysis found. [CNN]

Failed crop (Md Hasanuzzaman Himel, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Tesla Model Y Beats Ford And Toyota Best Sellers In New Zealand” • New Zealand’s aggressive bonus malus approach has enabled a fully electric vehicle , the Tesla Model Y, to become the top selling car in September. With 1,502 registrations, the Tesla Model Y beat the top models of Ford, which had 1,043, and the Toyota Hilux, which had 989. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Model Y Is Best Selling SUV In Australia!” • “[T]here is a clear market trend towards zero emission technology,” Tony Weber, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, says. This is a significant admission from the FCAI, which has long downplayed electric vehicles due to Toyota’s dominance of the group. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Screen Post, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “How Europe’s Energy Crisis Has Impacted Corporate Renewable PPAs” • The corporate renewable power purchase agreement market in Europe grew by almost seven times between 2016 and 2021, but it looks like the energy crisis will make 2022 the first year it sees a slowdown, data from the trade association WindEurope shows. [Energy Monitor]

¶ “Switching To Renewable Energy Could Save Trillions, New Study Finds” • Switching from fossil fuel energy to renewable energy could save trillions, a report involving the University of Oxford found. Furthermore, the faster we make the switch, the more money we will save. This study, was published on journal Joule in September. [The Oxford Student]

http://Solar panels (Andreas Gücklhorn, Unsplash)

¶ “Vladimir Putin Decrees Russian Takeover Of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to take control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Europe’s largest nuclear power facility. The boss of Ukraine’s state energy agency, Energoatom, announced that he would be taking over the plant, also. [RTV]

¶ “Nuclear Share In Energy Generation Falls To Lowest In Four Decades” • The share of nuclear power in global gross electricity generation fell below 10% last year to the lowest in around four decades, an industry report showed. Nuclear energy generated 2,653 TWh of electricity last year, accounting for 9.8% of global generation, the lowest since the 1980s. [Reuters]

Nuclear power plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Report: Transitioning Only 6% Of American Vehicles To Electric Could Prevent 67,000 Premature Deaths” • Changing America’s fleet of trucks and buses to run on electricity while changing the nation’s power grid to renewable fuels could prevent 67,000 premature deaths by 2050, according to a report from the American Lung Association. [CNN]

¶ “California Offers To Cut 130 Billion Gallons A Year To Save Colorado River; Expert Says It’s Not Enough” • A group of water agencies in California that consume the largest proportion of lower Colorado River water are offering to cut their usage in an effort to save the river basin voluntarily and stave off a larger crisis. One expert says it is not nearly enough. [CNN]

Colorado River (Donald Giannatti, Unsplash)

¶ “White House Releasing Progress Reports On Agencies’ Efforts To Combat Climate Change Risks” • The White House is showing a series of reports detailing agencies’ progress in steeling federal facilities, programs, and operations in the face of climate change. The progress reports come a year after more than 20 agencies released plans to ensure resilience. [CNN]

¶ “Ford Used Its Lightning Trucks, Sent Them To The Rescue For Hurricane Ian” • Ford has helped people who lost power before. For Hurricane Ian, it was a much more organized effort. In addition to other corporate aid efforts, Ford sent F-150 Hybrids, F-150 Lightning electric trucks, E-Transits, and other vehicles to assist non-profits. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)

¶ “Chevy Bolt EV And EUV Saw Record Sales, GM To Almost Double Production” • GM announced record sales of the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. With price drops and factory incentives, the Bolt Brothers have been selling like hotcakes. The total sales for Q3 alone were 14,709, the biggest quarter the Bolt Family has had since things started in 2017. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Mississippi sets new rule on incentive for renewable energy” • Mississippi utility regulators approved a new incentive program for renewable energy despite objections from Republican Gov Tate Reeves and large utility companies. Some lower-income customers who pay most of the cost of installing a system such as rooftop solar panels could receive a $3,000 rebate. [WRAL]

Have an serendipitously rewarding day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Election In Brazil Is A Fight For The Planet” • Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been called “the world’s most dangerous climate denier.” He just lost a reelection bid, but since his opponent, leftist former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, did not win by a majority, there will be a runoff election. The climate will be affected by the result. [CleanTechnica]

Brazilian forest (Mateus Campos Felipe, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Should We Pay Extra For Nuclear Power?” • As the governor of Virginia wants to switch support from renewables to nuclear power, it might be a good idea to revisit reports from last June. NextEra Energy, the biggest US investor in nuclear energy, made it clear that its cost analysis shows reasons to switch from nuclear to renewables. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “For Offshore Wind Hopes To Become Reality, Transmission Hurdles Must Be Cleared” • Amid news releases touting offshore wind’s megawatt targets and jobs, there’s been less attention on the challenge of bringing the electricity ashore and connecting it to a grid that was designed to bring power to the coast, not the other way around. [Virginia Mercury]

Offshore turbine installation (Dominion Energy image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Green Hydrogen Pipeline And Shipping Question” • To transition to a green hydrogen future, we need access to cheap renewable energy, clean water, and economical electrolyzers. These parts of the puzzle seem to be falling into place. Rethink Energy is tackling the question of how to transport this hydrogen and what it will cost. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Observations Confirm Model Predictions Of Sea-Level Change From Greenland Melt” • Rising sea levels from melting glaciers pose an increasing threat to coastal communities. An analysis of high-resolution satellite observations takes a major step forward in assessing this risk by confirming theoretical predictions and computational models. [CleanTechnica]

Sea level change (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

World:

¶ “‘Unproven’ Small Nuclear Reactors Would Raise Australia’s Energy Costs And Delay Renewable Uptake” • The small nuclear reactors being advocated by the Coalition would raise electricity prices, slow the uptake of renewables and introduce new risks from nuclear waste, according to a report from the Australian Conservation Foundation. [The Guardian]

¶ “White House Launches Last Ditch Effort To Dissuade OPEC From Cutting Oil Production To Avoid A ‘Total Disaster’” • The Biden administration has launched a full-scale pressure campaign in a last-ditch effort to dissuade Middle Eastern allies from dramatically cutting oil production, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. [CNN]

Offshore oil rig ( Genghiskhanviet, public domain)

¶ “World’s Largest Storage-as-Transmission Project Announced by Fluence and TransnetBW” • Fluence Energy GmbH and TransnetBW GmbH, the transmission system operator in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, announced they would deploy the world’s largest battery-based energy storage-as-transmission project. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Australia Post’s Goal Is 100% Renewables By 2025” • Australia Post is aiming to source 100% renewable electricity by 2025 as part of a newly released “road map” to decarbonise and align itself with the Paris climate goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The government-run mail carrier will pursue rooftop solar generation and RECs.[Renew Economy]

Australia Post delivery EV (Kgbo, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Rolls-Royce Power Systems and The German Renewable Energy Expert SOWITEC Partner Over The Production of Green Hydrogen” • Rolls-Royce Power Systems and the renewable energy expert SOWITEC will partner for production of green hydrogen. They plan total electrolysis capacity of up to 500 MW by 2028. [Hydrogen Central]

¶ “RWE pledges €15 Billion German Green Drive” • RWE has pledged to accelerate its efforts to phase out coal power generation, boosting its investment in renewables to replace the fossil fuel. RWE said it is ready to end lignite-based electricity generation in 2030 and confirmed that it will “invest massively” in renewable energy. [reNews]

Wind turbines (RWE image)

¶ “Nuclear Power Won’t Help Climate Urgency, Says Renewables Chief” • Francesco La Camera, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said the world needs to accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels but building new nuclear capacity was not the right way to do it. He said new nuclear power plants will take too long to build. [Nikkei Asia]

US:

¶ “NY Governor Hochul: Electrovaya To Establish Lithium-Ion Battery Gigafactory In Chautauqua County” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced Electrovaya, Inc, a producer of lithium-ion batteries for transportation and utility storage, has selected the Town of Ellicott in Chautauqua County, New York, as the site for its first US plant. [CleanTechnica]

Electrovaya battery energy storage system (Electrovaya image)

¶ “EVgo And Chase Open First Charging Station Of 50-Station Partnership” • EVgo and Chase announced that they opened the first of 50 fast charging stations at banking branches in the US. The first station opened in Carmel, Indiana, with 100-kW and 350-kW speeds. Chase is also looking to continue its on-site solar power growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Entergy Arkansas Announces 250-MW Solar Facility Near Osceola” • The Arkansas Public Service Commission approved the Entergy Arkansas Driver Solar Project. The 250-MW AC solar plant was developed by Lightsource bp. Its site is about 2,100 acres near Osceola in Mississippi County. Driver Solar will supply power to over 40,000 homes. [Entergy Newsroom]

Have a manifestly resplendent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Trains, E-Bikes, And Blimps: Bill McKibben Envisions Slower, Cleaner Transportation” • Years ago, a group of people in France founded a “slow food” movement, celebrating the joy of dining rather than downing a burger with fries and dashing back into life’s fray. Could we be ready for a “slow travel” movement? McKibben certainly thinks so. [CleanTechnica]

Inside an Airlander 10 blimp (Hybrid Air Vehicles image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Microgrids For Anyone” • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory published a description of the improvised controls that saved NREL during its own outage. It describes a microgrid approach that sidesteps the central controller, an expensive and complicated component, to make microgrids easy and low cost where they are needed most. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Can Agrivoltaics Fuel The Growth Of Sustainable Farming?” • The Inflation Reduction Act, lauded as the largest climate change investment in US history, features a $369 billion investment in clean energy. It includes more than $20 billion for climate-smart agricultural practices, and that will likely produce more grants or subsidies for agrivoltaic projects. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (Image courtesy SolarEdge)

World:

¶ “Bad News For Fossil Fuels: Barbados Seeks Green Hydrogen With Sheep, Too” • A new green hydrogen project in the tiny island nation of Barbados is providing a glimpse of the future that awaits after the global economy wakes up from its collective fossil energy nightmare. Unless, of course, sheep give you nightmares. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tata Tiago EV Is A $10,000 Electric Car For India” • Tata Motors, one of India’s largest vehicle manufacturers, announced a new made-in-India electric car called the Tiago EV, a 5-door hatchback based on the the company’s Ziptron electric car platform, which is optimized for driving conditions in India. The Tiago EV starts at around $10,000. [CleanTechnica]

Tata Tiago EV (courtesy of Tata Motors)

¶ “German Measures To Support Renewable Energy Production Granted EU Approval” • The European Commission approved three additional measures for Germany to support production of electricity from renewable energy sources. The approval is in the context of EEG 2021, which aims to increase climate protection and expand renewable energy. [Energy Live News]

¶ “372-MW Bjornberget Wind Farm Generates First Power” • Enlight Renewable Energy’s Bjornberget onshore wind farm has achieved all necessary regulatory requirements to start moving to commercial operation. Bjornberget is in Sweden. It is one of the largest wind farms in Europe, at 372 MW, and it is Enlight’s largest operational project to date. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Image by Emil Serrgel)

¶ “Head Of Russian-Held Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Freed: UN Watchdog” • The detained chief of Ukraine’s Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been released, according to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Ihor Murashov had been detained by a “Russian patrol” on Friday. [Kyiv Post]

Australia:

¶ “Kaban Wind Farm Powers Up And Connects To Queensland’s Renewable ‘Supergrid’” • Neoen Australia’s 157-MW Kaban wind farm has connected to Queensland’s “SuperGrid,” the state’s grand name for the beefed up electricity network that will need to accommodate 80% renewables by 2035. The wind farm has 16 of its 28 turbines fully installed. [Renew Economy]

Transporting masts (CleanCo image)

¶ “Queensland Seeks Local Manufacturers To Build The State’s Renewable Energy ‘Supergrid’” • Queensland is looking for local manufacturers to build its “supergrid” and ambitious renewable energy rollout, with a plan to set up new local clean technologies supply chains. It is aiming to switch its energy supply from coal to 80% renewables by 2035. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Telstra Dials Up Wind Power Generation” • Ark Energy announced it would supply Telstra, the telecommunications giant, with renewable electricity from the 923.4-MW MacIntyre Wind Farm, now under construction. Telstra has bankrolled over $1 billion of renewable energy projects in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. [The Canberra Times]

Wind turbine construction (PR handout image)

US:

¶ “Death Toll From Hurricane Ian Surpasses 100 As The Search For Survivors Continues In Florida” • The number of people killed in Florida by Hurricane Ian rose to at least 101 on Monday, days after the Category 4 storm made landfall, wrecking coastal areas and leaving rescue crews searching for survivors while residents face the daunting task of rebuilding. [CNN]

¶ “Babcock Ranch Was Designed To Be Resilient. Hurricane Ian Was Its First Real Test” • Florida Power & Light is invested in building community solar facilities. It installed battery storage as part of the solar plant at Babcock Ranch, creating a microgrid. But compliance with a strong building code was an important factor in keeping BR safe. [CleanTechnica]

Babcock Ranch solar array (Babcock Ranch image)

¶ “Vermont’s New ‘Replace Your Ride’ Funds Cleaner Options For Transportation” • Under the Replace Your Ride program, incentives of $3,000 are available on a first-come, first-served basis to income-eligible Vermont residents who retire a working high-polluting vehicle that is at least 10 years old and switch to a new or used plug-in EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Youngkin Plan Calls For Reevaluating Major Clean Energy Law” • On Monday, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin called for expanding nuclear power generation in Virginia, reevaluating a recent clean energy law celebrated by environmentalists, and restoring greater authority to state regulators who oversee the state’s powerful utilities. [AP News]

Have a rather flawless day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Hurricane Ian Amplifies Urgent Need For Resilient, Renewable And Just Energy Grid” • Climate change is fueling more intense storms, with power outages that can be lethal. But distributed renewable energy – generated at or near the place where it will be used – can keep the power flowing to homes, hospitals, and businesses when disasters hit. [The Hill]

Solar array (Jason Blackeye, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Tesla Powerwalls Survive Hours Underwater In Hurricane Ian” • Kelly Roofing, a licensed Tesla Solar Roof installer in Southwest Florida where Ian made landfall, says a solar roof it installed has no damage, apart from a small amount it got when a 30-foot boat landed on it. And two Powerwalls that were under water for hours are doing fine. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Renewable Energy Sector Excluded From Philippine Foreign Investment Cap” • Foreign ownership in the renewable energy market is not covered by the so-called 60-40 investment rule, according to the Department of Justice. The legal opinion stated that the investment cap seeks to “preserve for Filipinos limited and exhaustible resources.” [CNN Philippines]

Philippine wind farm (Froi Rivera, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Revenge Of The ICE Car In Italy As Plug-Ins Down To 7% In August” • There is no sign of relief for the ongoing EV crisis in Europe’s fourth largest auto market. As the rest of the continent continues to enjoy an increasing share of plug-in vehicles across all major countries, Italy is showing a worrying pullback, with causes that are political. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Iran To Produce 10 GW Of Nuclear Power ‘With Or Without Foreign Help’” • Iran’s nuclear  generating capacity is planned to hit 10 GW, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization said, noting that the target does not rely on international partnership. The target will be achieved with national self-sufficiency and local technologies. [Eurasia Review]

Tehran (Sajad Nori, Unsplash)

¶ “Uttar Pradesh To Start Solar Rooftop Projects” • The Uttar Pradesh government decided to develop solar rooftop projects on government and semi-government buildings and offices as part of its new renewable energy initiative. It plans to have twenty-five 2-MW solar PV projects on government buildings and offices. [The Economic Times]

UK:

¶ “Owner Of UK Power Station Drax Cuts Down Primary Forests In Canada” • Drax, which got billions of pounds in green energy subsidies from UK taxpayers, is cutting down environmentally important forests, a BBC investigation found. Drax says it only uses sawdust and waste wood. The BBC discovered some of the wood comes from primary forests in Canada. [BBC]

Canadian forest (Eelco Böhtlingk, Unsplash)

¶ “Equinor Hits The Construction Start Button On UK Storage Project” • Equinor has approved the final investment decision on its Blandford Road battery storage project in the south of the UK. This is Equinor’s the first commercial battery storage asset. The Blandford Road project is a 25-MW, 50-MWh battery storage asset in Dorset. [reNews]

¶ “Siemens And Aker Sign Norfolk Boreas EPCI Grid Contract” • Siemens Energy and Aker Solutions, both preferred bidders to provide the power system to the full 3.6-GW Norfolk zone, have signed a contract with Vattenfall to deliver infrastructure for grid connection for Vattenfall’s 1800-MW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm off England’s east coast. [reNews]

Offshore living quarters platform (Vattenfall image)

US:

¶ “Death Toll Soars To 76 In Florida After Entire Communities Are Demolished By Hurricane Ian” • Newly homeless Floridians are struggling to restart their lives while rescuers scramble to find any remaining signs of life in the wreckage left by Hurricane Ian. In some cases, there are emergency workers who juggle both unimaginable tasks. [CNN]

¶ “This 100% Solar Community Endured Hurricane Ian With No Loss Of Power And Minimal Damage” • Babcock Ranch says it’s “America’s first solar-powered town.” Its solar array makes more electricity than the 2,000-home town uses. When Hurricane Ian came barreling through southwest Florida this week, the lights in Babcock Ranch stayed on. [CNN]

Babcock Ranch solar array (From babcockranch.com)

¶ “Ford F-150 Lightning Powers Florida Man’s Cooking, Lights, Fridge, Entertainment During Hurricane Ian” • A Ford F-150 Lightning helped one Florida man and his family ride out the storm. They used their electric Ford pickup truck to power their refrigerator, lights, fans, TV, electric stove burner, record player, speakers, and probably more. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Achieves Record 343,830 Deliveries In 3rd Quarter” • Tesla published its 3rd quarter production and delivery totals. The company produced a record 365,923 vehicles and delivered a record 343,830 vehicles to customers. The deliveries could have been higher, but there were delays, with more cars in transit at the end of the quarter. [CleanTechnica]

Have an enjoyably reflective day.

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Opinion:

¶ “IEA Head Fatih Birol: Electric Cars Are Transforming The Auto Industry. That’s Good News For The Climate” • The global energy crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing hardship around the world and shining a spotlight on the flaws in today’s energy system. But the current crisis can be a turning point for clean energy. [CNN]

Fatih Birol (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Queensland’s Renewable Energy Plan Confirms The Politics Of Coal Have Changed For Good” • Four years ago, Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson wasn’t convinced by renewable energy. Recently, Williamson went to the Mackay steelworks and said green energy would be “the future saver, the job protection” for regional Queensland. [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Noru Became A Super Typhoon In Six Hours. Scientists Say Powerful Storms Are Becoming Harder To Forecast” • While Noru didn’t inflict as much damage or loss of life as other recent typhoons in the Philippines, it stood out from the others because it gained strength so quickly. It went from being a typhoon to a super typhoon in just six hours. [CNN]

Noru from space in false colors (Earth Observatory, NASA)

¶ “What Is Blue Carbon?” • Blue carbon refers to carbon dioxide that is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean. “Blue” refers to the watery nature of this storage. Most, by far, of blue carbon is CO₂ that has dissolved directly into the ocean. Much smaller amounts are stored in underwater sediments, soils, and coastal vegetation. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “100% Electric Vehicles Are 11% Of New Vehicle Sales Globally!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 60% in August 2022 compared to August 2021, reaching 847,000 units. September could be the first month when the world reaches one million plugin vehicle registrations, making the third quarter of 2022 the best ever for plugins. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song Plus interior (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Climate Change At ‘Point Of No Return’: Jane Goodall” • The Earth’s climate is changing so quickly that humanity is running out of chances to fix it, primatologist Jane Goodall has warned in an interview. Goodall, whose activism has spanned decades, said time was rapidly running out. “We are literally approaching a point of no return,” she said. [Malay Mail]

¶ “RWE Agrees To Acquire Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc” • German renewable energy company RWE AG signed a purchase agreement with Con Edison to acquire all shares in Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses. Con Edison CEB has about 3 GW of capacity operating in the US and another 7 GW in its development pipeline. [RWE]

Wind farm near Madison, New York (Russell Lovrin, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “IAEA Head Seeks Release Of Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Head” • Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, called for the release of the director-general of Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying his detention posed a threat to safety and security. [Reuters]

Russian wind turbine (kallerna, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Rosatom Keen To Offer Renewable Energy Solutions To Bangladesh” • Amid the fossil fuel price volatility, Rosatom, the Russian nuclear power company is offering renewables to foreign partners, said a top official. Rosatom is Russia’s biggest wind operator, at 600 MW. (So Rosatom has four times as much wind capacity as Vermont does.) [The Business Standard]

US:

¶ “Behind The Blackout Triggered By Hurricane Fiona Is A Long-Embattled History Of Puerto Rico’s Weak And Outdated Electrical Grid” • Less than two weeks ago, Hurricane Fiona made landfall on Puerto Rico. It triggered an islandwide blackout for 1.5 million customers. Power has been restored to 84% of residents, officials said. [CNN]

¶ “Lack Of Flood Disclosure Laws Is Putting Home Buyers At Risk As Extreme Storms Become More Frequent” • According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, most states either have inadequate flood disclosure laws or none at all. This means that homebuyers completely in the dark about the history of flood damage at a property, unless they ask. [CNN]

Fort Lauderdale neighborhood (Luiz Cent, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Power In Parts Of Florida Could Be Out For Over A Week As Flooding Lingers In Ian’s Wake” • It could be over a week before power lines are fully restored in some parts of Florida. And many residents are still dealing with major flooding. Deadly Hurricane Ian is expected to be the most expensive storm in the Sunshine State’s history. [CNN]

¶ “US Commercial Buildings Continued To Increase Energy Efficiency Through 2018” • According to the Energy Information Administration’s recently released 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, the total floorspace in commercial buildings has increased but energy consumption has not, since the previous survey, of 2012. [CleanTechnica]

Have an actually dreamy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Australia’s Great Energy Transition Reaches A ‘Tipping Point’ As Clock Winds Forward For Coal” • Bruce Mountain from the Victoria Energy Policy Centre may have summed up a big week for Australia’s energy industry best. “I think it’s a tipping point,” he said. His comment was about AGL deciding to close the Loy Yang A early. There were other similar events. [ABC]

Loy Yang power station (Marcus Wong, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Effective Are Rooftop Solar Plus Storage Systems In A Blackout? Berkeley Lab Has The Answer” • How timely! Just as millions in Florida lost power due to Hurricane Ian, Berkeley Lab released a report that examines how effective rooftop solar plus storage systems can be at keeping the lights on for a 3-day period in every county in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Artemis Technologies Unveils Fast Electric Ferry Design” • A maritime design and applied technologies firm based in Belfast, Artemis Technologies, unveiled the design of its 100% electric EF-24 Passenger vessel for the global high-speed ferry market. This revolutionary ferry is one of several zero-emission vessels being created by the company. [CleanTechnica]

Electric ferry (Artemis Technologies image)

¶ “Study Finds That Climate Change Added 10% To Ian’s Rainfall” • Climate change added at least 10% more rain to Hurricane Ian, a study prepared immediately after the storm shows. “The real storm was 10% wetter than the storm that might have been,” said Lawrence Berkeley National Lab climatologist Michael Wehner, study co-author. [CBS19 News]

World:

¶ “Everrati Accelerates Global Production Of Classic Car EV Conversions Following Surging Demand” • Everrati has been working hard to ensure that timeless classics are also part of the transition to EVs. By converting legendary cars of yesteryear, Everrati is preserving them for a new generation to drive and enjoy without gas-guzzling guilt. [CleanTechnica]

Electrified classic (Everrati image)

¶ “EU Agrees To Tax Windfall Oil And Gas Profits Amid ‘Insane Race’ To Tame Energy Crisis” • EU governments agreed Friday to tax the windfall profits of oil and gas companies and to cap the revenues of some electricity generators as the cost of Europe’s energy crisis spirals higher. But they have not agreed to impose a price cap on imports of Russian natural gas. [CNN]

¶ “Sono Motors Debuts Solar Trailers, Solar Refrigeration For The World’s Current Diesel Fleet” • One promising way to cut some diesel usage in the existing fleet is to use solar retrofit kits on buses and large trailers for subsystems that ventilate, heat, air condition, or refrigerate. Sono Motors unveiled systems that cover those needs. [CleanTechnica]

Solar trailer (Sono Motors image)

¶ “Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone Takes Crucial Shape” • The New South Wales government has moved closer to opening up of one of the state’s most promising renewable energy zones, with the release of a draft declaration of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ. It is envisioned to have 40 GW of renewable energy and storage. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Costa Rican Future Is Focused On Renewable Energy And Reducing Dependence On Crude Oil” • Costa Rica has had great achievements in areas including electrical energy and even progress with renewable energy. The Central American country covered 99.92% of its electricity demand with renewable energies in 2021. [The Costa Rica News]

Pirrís Dam (Walter Camacho 5654, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Head Of Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant Was ‘Kidnapped By Russian Forces’” • Ukraine’s nuclear power provider has accused Russia of “kidnapping” the head of Europe’s largest nuclear plant, a facility occupied by Russian troops. Energoatom said Russian troops stopped Murashov’s car, blindfolded him, and took him to an undisclosed location. [TheJournal.ie]

¶ “GE Renewable Energy To Supply Turbines To Continuum Green” • GE Renewable Energy announced it will supply, install, and commission onshore wind turbines for Continuum Green Energy’s 218-MW wind power projects in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The orders have been placed by two Continuum subsidiaries. [Construction World]

GE wind turbines (Dietmar Rabich, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Ian expected to dissipate soon after striking Carolinas and killing at least 45 in Florida” • Ian made its second landfall in the US near Georgetown, South Carolina, Friday afternoon as a Category 1 hurricane. By Friday night, it was continuing to pack 60 mph winds, but it was expected to weaken overnight and dissipate over North Carolina or Virginia. [CNN]

¶ “Electric Cars And Politics – NY Follows California’s Lead, And Georgia Seeks Relief For Hyundai” • California announced it will prohibit the sale of passenger cars and light duty trucks with internal combustion engines by 2035. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week that her state is following the lead of California on this. [CleanTechnica]

Car on the road (Michelin image)

¶ “RE+ 2022: SEIA’s Vision For The Solar+ Decade” • “I simply can’t overstate how impactful the IRA is for the solar and storage industry,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA. “We are closer than ever to meeting our ambitious goals by 2030. By the end of this decade, we’ll be at least a $150 billion industry, we’ll employ over one million workers…” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SWEPCO Issues Requests For Proposals Renewable Energy Resources” • Southwestern Electric Power Co issued two RFPs for the purchase of wind and solar generation resources in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas or Missouri. The RFPs solicit bids for up to 1,900 MW of wind resources and up to 500 MW of solar power. [Shreveport Times]

Have a singularly superb day.

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