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.
geoharvey 