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Opinion:

¶ “Vehicle-To-Grid Solutions Could Open Fast Lane To Net-Zero Future” • MIT Research published in Energy Advances shows that as the number of EVs rises, the collective fleet’s batteries might function as a cost-effective, large-scale energy source. This could have significant effects on the energy transition, both for EVs and for the grid. [CleanTechnica]

V2G charging site (Nuuve image)

¶ “No Kidding: The Tesla Semi Launch Is About To Change Everything” • The Tesla Semi, with its 500 mile range, is the proof-of-concept that a business needs to have. It will prove that it’s time to start to the transition to fully electric deliveries, since it will prove that anything in the fleet can be electrified. More importantly, it will save money. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Alpine Villages Producing Their Own Power” • There are about 1,000 hydropower plants in South Tyrol, and the vast majority of them are small or medium-sized, ranging from tiny ones powering a single farm, to clusters of more sizeable ones covering an entire valley’s supply. With Europe in an energy crisis, they are getting a lot of attention. [BBC]

South Tyrol, Italy (Lukas Leitner, Unsplash)

¶ “Airbus Designed A Cold Heart For Its New Zero-Emission Plane In Record Time” • One challenge for fueling aircraft with liquid hydrogen to power aircraft is that it has to be kept at -253°C (-423.4°F). But Airbus is serious about doing that. It took an empty warehouse in Nantes, and in a little over a year built its first cryogenic hydrogen tank. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “London Mayor Unveils New Charging Strategy Towards Net Zero 2030 At Plug It In Summit” • At the Evening Standard’s Plug It In Summit at the Design Museum, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, outlined his plans to keep London in front of the EV revolution and his commitment to making London a cleaner, greener, and healthier city. [CleanTechnica]

London (Nomadic Julien, Unsplash)

¶ “More Utility Scale Battery Projects For The UK To Help With Wind Curtailment Issues” • When a grid can’t manage excess electricity from wind farms, they are curtailed. Technological advancements and price reductions for battery storage are now making batteries more useful to avoid curtailment. The result of this is some exciting news. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ACWA Power To Develop 2060-MW Solar Project” • Saudi renewables developer ACWA Power is to build a 2060-MW solar plant in Saudi Arabia. In partnership with Water and Electricity Holding Company, the project is expected to be the largest facility of its kind in the Middle East to date. It is expected to be in commercial operation by Q4 2025. [reNews]

Solar panels (ACWA Power image)

¶ “Rio Invests Further In Renewable Energy” • Diversified major Rio Tinto will invest a further A$600 million ($404 million) in renewable energy assets in the Pilbara as it works to decarbonise its Western Australian iron-ore operations. Rio Tinto will fund construction of two 100-MW solar power facilities and 200 MWh of on-grid battery storage by 2026. [Mining Weekly]

¶ “Community Battery A First Step For Renewable Energy In Docklands” • The government of Victoria has announced a new community battery for Docklands. It will give locals and small businesses owners without roof access the chance to benefit from renewable energy. The battery will be charged by rooftop solar and windpower. [Docklands News]

Docklands area of Melbourne (Liamdavies, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Urgent Need For Mandates Around Home Based Renewable Energy” • A New Zealand solar energy installer is warning that electrifying New Zealand – EVs, trains, and digital technologies – while building thousands of homes that can’t generate their own renewable energy is foolhardy, given Transpower’s warnings of strain on the national power grid. [Scoop NZ]

¶ “UK’s Nuclear Dreams Face Obstacle As Hinkley Point C Plant At Risk Of 11-Year Delay” • According to a new contract between the UK Government and EDF, Hinkley will still be funded even if it does not start operating a decade after its original deadline of 2025. This contract sparked fears that the delay could become a reality. [Daily Express]

Rendering of Hinkley C (gov.uk, public domain)

US:

¶ “US Rail Strike 2022: What Would Be Affected If It Happens?” • President Biden asked Congress to prevent a looming rail strike. If the workers walk out, that would knock roughly 7,000 freight trains per day out of service, wreaking havoc on supply chains across the country, driving up prices, and causing a political mess just before Christmas. [BBC]

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Highland Project Aims To Reduce Complexity And Boost Profitability” • Tesla insiders claim the company has been working behind the scenes to improve the Model 3 by simplifying the production process, Reuters reports. The changes will reduce the cost of manufacturing, which could lead to lower prices or higher profits. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model S interior design (Courtesy of Tesla)

¶ “Green Jobs Are Flourishing And Winning Over The Hearts Of Conservative Workers” • At least $25.7 billion in new US clean energy factories are in the works, thanks in part to the subsidies in Biden-Harris administration’s landmark climate law. Most of these projects – and the jobs they create – are in traditionally conservative states. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Company Decommissioning Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station May Dump Water Without Permit” • Activists on the South Shore are angry over the latest message from Holtec, the company decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. Holtec wants to dump radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay, which it insists is safe and legal. [CBS News]

Have a pleasantly fantastic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Want Your Mercedes EV To Accelerate Faster? Get Your Credit Card!” • Automakers can get a little sneaky. Instead of leaving bells and whistles out of the car unless you buy them as original equipment, they decided to put them in the car and charge a monthly fee to use them. We can see examples of the practice by BMW and Mercedes. [CleanTechnica]

Mercedes-Benz EQS (Courtesy of Mercedes)

¶ “Small Modular Reactors Will Not Save The Day” • Wind and solar are much cheaper than new nuclear plants even when storage is added. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated the cost of unsubsidized utility-scale solar plus battery storage in 2021 was $77/MWh, about half the cost Lazard has estimated for new nuclear. [Utility Dive]

World:

¶ “Great Barrier Reef Should Be Placed On The ‘In Danger’ List, UN-Backed Report Shows” • The Great Barrier Reef should be added to the list of world heritage sites that are “in danger,” a team of scientists concluded after conducting a mission to the world’s largest coral reef system. The scientists said action to save it is needed “with upmost urgency.” [CNN]

Clown Anemonefish (David Clode, Unsplash)

¶ “Canada Ups Pollution Pricing” • The Canadian government is increasing the costs of polluting under a policy that guarantees it no longer costs nothing to pollute the country’s air. Under the new rules, eight out of ten Canadian families who get Climate Action Incentive payments will actually see some extra money deposited into their accounts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “South Africa Turns To Solar To Help Stop Power Cuts” • To try to help solve the problem of frequent power cuts and boost its environmental credentials, the South African government is undertaking efforts to boost its solar power generation capacity. To do this it is encouraging firms in the solar sector to tender for contracts. [BBC]

Solar array in South Africa (Art Solar image)

¶ “Renewable Boom Saves India From String Of Mass Blackouts” • India’s power grid has been more resilient over the past weeks than it was at the same time last year, when a coal shortage led to widespread blackouts. Part of the reason for the enhanced resilience was the surging renewable capacity which has reduced the stress on coal-fired generators. [Oil Price]

¶ “Europe’s First All-Season EV Tire” • The Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV, Europe’s first all-season EV tire developed specifically for battery EVs and hybrids, was unveiled by Apollo Tyres, Apollo Vredestein BV’s Indian parent company. It was touted as setting new norms for grip, efficiency, noise, and environmental impact in its hot new market. [CleanTechnica]

Apollo Tyres tire (Apollo Tyres)

UK:

¶ “Nottingham To Receive 78 New Electric Buses” • The city of Nottingham will get 78 zero-emission electric buses to electrify its fleet as part of a Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas fund. The Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Transport were able to secure £15.2 million of funding to help achieve the city’s goal of carbon-neutrality by 2028. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Boom Power Secures Planning For 50 MW Of Solar” • Boom Power secured planning permission for a 50-MW solar project in Yorkshire. The developer plans to construct Kenley Solar Farm on approximately 94 hectares of land, near Hull, East Yorkshire. The wind project will generate electricity for distribution to the national grid. [reNews]

Solar array (Andres Siimon, Unsplash)

¶ “Octopus Identifies 2.3 GW Of UK Wind Potential” • Octopus Energy Generation has identified 2.3 GW of potential new British onshore wind energy. Developing all this onshore wind energy would be the equivalent of building a large nuclear power plant. It wouldprovide enough home-grown, cheap, green energy for 1.85 million homes. [reNews]

¶ “Maple, Mainstream Partner For Celtic Sea Floater Tender” • Maple Power and Mainstream Renewable Power have teamed up to explore the Crown Estate’s tender for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, which will be launched in 2023. The tender for floating wind is expected to deliver a total of 4 GW of renewable energy by 2035. [reNews]

Floating offshore turbines (Principle Power image)

US:

¶ “Hyundai Plans Three Battery Factories With Annual Capacity Of 90 GWh” • Motivated by the Inflation Reduction Act, Hyundai broke ground on a $5 billion electric car factory near Savannah, Georgia. Also, with partners SK On and LG Energy Solution, it is building three battery factories there, with a total capacity of 90 GWh annually. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Caterpillar Makes One Gigantic Electric Truck To Rule Them All” • The latest electric truck from Caterpillar is a zero-emission version of the company’s massive diesel-powered 793 mining truck. It will help push EVs for heavy duty use, as it demonstrates a battery-powered electric drive that can tackle some of the toughest jobs on Earth. [CleanTechnica]

Caterpillar 793 truck (Courtesy of Caterpillar)

¶ “Environmental Groups Propose A Cleaner Power Generation Plan In Iowa” • MidAmerican’s Wind PRIME project would add 2,042 MW of wind power and 50 MW of solar, but the company plans to keep operating five large coal plants in Iowa. The plan would make MidAmerican the state’s largest carbon polluter. A plan for cleaner power is cheaper. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Study Projects Health Benefits Of Rapid Renewables And EV Adoption” • The journal Nature Communications has published a study showing that a rapid transition to EVs and heat pumps for buildings would dramatically reduce hazardous air pollutants in the US. One reviewer pointed out that the benefits to our health would be tremendous. [Environment America]

Have a splendidly comfortable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Vermont’s Climate Plan Is Built On A Foundation Made Of Paper” • Vermont has a plan to combat climate change. But the plan rests on a foundation of paper because Vermont’s most consequential energy policy papers over our region’s fossil use and does not move the needle when it comes to making our region’s power supply more renewable. [VTDigger]

Vermont State House (Decumanus, CC-BU-SA 3.0)

World:

¶ “Russian Attacks On Energy Grid Amount To Genocide, Says Ukraine” • Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure amount to genocide, the Ukrainian prosecutor-general told the BBC. Millions of Ukrainian people face power cuts in freezing weather, following sustained Russian attacks. Strikes on key facilities targeted “the full Ukrainian nation.” [BBC]

¶ “Rolls-Royce Tests A Jet Engine Running On Hydrogen” • Rolls-Royce is putting a small aircraft jet engine through tests that could one day lead to huge changes within the aviation industry. The engine itself is almost completely conventional. But this is the first time a modern aircraft engine has ever been run on hydrogen. [BBC]

Engine test (Rolls-Royce image)

¶ “UK Government Supports Energy Storage With Over £32 Million Funding” • Five projects based across the UK will benefit from a share of over £32 million in phase two of the Longer Duration Energy Storage competition, to develop technologies to store energy as heat, electricity, or a low-carbon energy carrier like hydrogen. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “$90 Million To Set Up Net-Zero Energy Solutions Platform For South Africa” • African Infrastructure Investment Managers will provide the initial equity of up to $90 million to establish a new renewable energy platform for net-zero energy solutions for Africa. The platform will provide energy for the commercial and industrial sectors. [ESI Africa]

Johannesburg (NJR ZA, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Ireland Mulling Mandatory Renewables Quota For Heat Sector By 2024” • The Irish government wants to introduce an unspecified renewable energy quota for the heating sector by 2024. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland recently predicted that heat pumps could cover 20% of the country’s heating demand in 2030. [PV Magazine]

¶ “Ukraine’s Nuclear Chief Says He Sees Signs Russia May Be Leaving Occupied Nuclear Plant” • The head of Ukraine’s state-run nuclear energy firm said on Sunday there were signs that Russian forces might be preparing to leave the vast Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which they seized in March soon after their invasion. [Reuters]

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (Ralf1969, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

Australia and New Zealand:

¶ “Electric Trucks Take The Load On The Road In New Zealand” • Reliance Transport, a last-mile cartage specialist based in South Auckland, New Zealand, commissioned two battery-powered Scania electric trucks, with the help of the Low Emission Transport Fund managed by Australia’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Queensland Windfarm To Provide Enough Power For 1.4 Million Homes With New $2 BIllion Investment” • With an investment of A$2 billion ($1.34 billion), one of Australia’s biggest windfarms will double its capacity to 2,000 MW, providing power for 1.4 million homes and accelerating Queensland’s exit from fossil fuels. [The Guardian]

Wind farm in Queensland (Carole Mackinney, Copyleft)

¶ “Councils Commit To Solar-Driven Renewable Energy Power Plan” • Seven New South Wales local councils united to buy electricity from the 115 MW Metz Solar Farm under a long-term power purchase agreement. They will buy enough renewable energy to allow their facilities and assets to transition eventually to 100% renewables. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Demonstrating The Micro Power Of Hydrogen” • Denham, a small coastal town in Western Australia, 820 km north of Perth, has the attention of the country as it trials a renewable hydrogen microgrid. The microgrid, believed to be one of the first of its kind worldwide, this month began producing hydrogen in the community. [Cosmos Magazine]

Denham, Western Australia (W Bulach, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Prince William And Kate To Visit US For Climate Change Prize” • In their first trip abroad since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine will visit the US this week for an environmental prize. They will show their support for finding ways to tackle climate change, at the second annual Earthshot Prize awards in Boston. [BBC]

¶ “Renewables Providing Nearly A Quarter Of US Electricity In 2022” • US renewable energy sources provided almost 23% of the nation’s electrical generation during the first three-quarters of 2022, according to a report by the SUN DAY Campaign, which reviewed data released the day before Thanksgiving by the US Energy Information Administration. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Trygve Finkelsen, Pexels)

¶ “Ford Keeps Top Human Rights Ranking” • Ford has been named the top automotive brand in the World Benchmarking Alliance’s 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark for the second consecutive year. Ford came in at number one on a list of 29 automotive companies. The benchmark examines corporate policies, processes, and practices. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “State Of Colorado Launches First EV Education Campaign” • The Colorado Energy Office and the Colorado Department of Transportation started an EV education campaign. They did this to raise awareness of state and federal EV tax credits and state EV infrastructure investments. They also did it to help first-time EV buyers prepare for EV ownership. [CleanTechnica]

Have a fundamentally superior day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Could Centuries-Old Wheat Help Feed The Planet?” • Could the key to feeding the world with a changing climate be hiding in a 300-year-old museum collection? That’s a hope of scientists combing through 12,000 specimens of wheat and its relatives archived at the Natural History Museum, as Climate change, pests, and diseases pressure wheat crops. [BBC]

Wheat (Pixabay, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “MIT Researchers Solve Dendrites Mystery To Creating Smaller And Lighter Batteries” • A breakthrough on dendrites by MIT researchers may lead to building a new type of rechargeable lithium battery that is safer, lighter, and more compact than existing models. It’s a concept that has been pursued by labs all over the world for years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solving The Hydrogen Transportation Conundrum” • The dream of a global economy powered by renewable hydrogen is coming into sharper focus, except for one key sticking point: Transporting it adds costs. An inexpensive, efficient, and sustainable transportation medium would help, and apparently green ammonia is first in line. [CleanTechnica]

Green ammonia project (Courtesy of GeoPura)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Wave Energy: The Potential Of Wave Power Plants To Power Our Future” • Though solar and wind energy has been receiving the most attention in recent years, wave energy has the potential to be a bigger and more reliable form of renewable energy. Here, we will explore the potential of wave power plants and how they could help power our future. [Greener Ideal]

World:

¶ “How Much Damage Has Russia Done To Power Supplies?” • After facing setbacks on the battlefield, Russian forces have been concentrating on attacking Ukrainian power facilities, fuel depots and water works. Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national power company, says damage to electricity installations is so great that 50% of the demand cannot be met. [BBC]

Kyiv (Viktor Talashuk, Unsplash)

¶ “The Better Car Company” • The Good Car Company is getting better. With A$200 million ($135 million) in financial backing from Boundless Earth, which was founded and funded by Mike Cannon-Brookes, the Good Car Company is now able to increase its imports to Australia tenfold. They are rising from 200 cars per year to 2000. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Don’t Forget The 2-Wheel Electric Revolution In Southeast Asia” • The summit season has kicked off big time in Southeast Asia, and green vehicles are in the spotlight. Local police are even riding electric motorcycles to escort delegates. Southeast Asia’s cities are crowded, and smaller, more nimble vehicles make more sense. [CleanTechnica]

Electric motorcycles (Courtesy of Business Wire/Zero Motorcycles)

¶ “Rural Properties Going Off-Grid With Renewables For Energy Security And To Reduce Costs” • The Queensland Farmers’ Federation said a number of its members were considering a move to operating off-grid. Their reasons ranging from wanting to be energy independent, to saving money or reducing their farm’s operating emissions. [ABC]

¶ “Lake District’s National Trust Adds New Power Unit” • The National Trust welcomed a new power unit in Barrowdale as part of an ongoing multi-million pound project. The installation of this hydro, and a biomass boiler at Sizergh, have helped the Trust generate 50% of its own energy in an ambition to become net carbon neutral by 2030. [Westmorland Gazette]

Lake District (imagenation.jpeg, Unsplash)

¶ “Two Major UK Renewable Energy Projects Delayed Due To Red Tape” • The UK could add enough renewable energy to power a million homes by channelling water from the Scottish Highlands, yet two large projects aiming to do that will be tied up in government red tape until at least 2024. The stations could generate as much as 2 GW. [The National]

¶ “‘Goodbye to them:’ Victoria votes to end coal and make radical shift to renewables” • Labor Party faithful gathered on Saturday night to celebrate their stunning win of Victoria’s government, and the near complete evisceration of the Liberal Party’s belief that promises of a gas led recovery could somehow lead to salvation at the polls. [Renew Economy]

Yallourn power station (Marcus Wong, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Fears For All Ukraine’s Nuclear Plants After Emergency Shutdowns” • There are growing fears that Russia’s relentless targeting of Ukraine’s electricity grid will threaten the safety of the country’s nuclear power plants, after of an unprecedented emergency shutdown on Wednesday, in which all of Ukraine’s nuclear plants were forced to go offline. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “VinFast To Deliver First 999 EVs In USA” • VinFast just marked a major milestone in its global expansion, with a ceremony for the first batch of its EVs being exported to the US. The first batch includes 999 VF 8 SUVs. They are expected to arrive in a port in California in about 20 days after departing from MPC Port in Haiphong, Vietnam. [CleanTechnica]

VinFast VF 8 loading in Haiphong (VinFast image)

¶ “Aptera Officially Announces It Will Use The Tesla Charging Connector” • In some ways, this is hardly news at all. Since Aptera re-emerged in 2019-2020, all of the vehicle’s prototypes have had a Tesla plug behind the small license plate. The whole vehicle’s aerodynamic design would be compromised by trying to use a larger plug. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Florida Leaders to Avoid Saying ‘Climate Change’” • Following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, Florida’s new House Speaker and Senate President have pledged to do more to strengthen the state’s coastlines. Republican lawmakers, environmental groups say, are omitting a crucial element of the puzzle. They can’t say “climate change.” [NewsBreak Original]

Have a magnificently cozy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “A Conservative Recalibration on Climate Is Inevitable” • Given the Democratic Party’s stronger-than-expected performance in the recent midterm elections, and given climate as an apparent factor in a stronger-than-expected youth vote, we may see more Republican politicians rethinking their positions on climate change. [Treehugger]

Climate protest sign (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Vanadium Flow Batteries Could Leapfrog Over Pumped Hydro For Long Duration Energy Storage” • Russia’s murderous war in Ukraine makes the importance of energy storage more clear. A German firm, CellCube, has a Strategic Manufacturing Cooperation Agreement with the Australian firm North Harbour Clean Energy for flow batteries. CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “BYD To Build 20-GWh Battery Factory In Wenzhou, China” • Yesterday, a CleanTechnica article looked into whether BYD might start making sodium-ion batteries. BYD denied it. But today, BYD announced it will build a new battery factory in Wenzhou, China, that will produce 20 GWh of batteries per year by the time it is finished in 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Wenzhou-kean University (Roderick Hou, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “East Africa Breweries PLC To Increase The Use Of Solar PV At Its Production Facilities” • East Africa Breweries PLC contributes about 1% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product and engages over 60,000 farmers across its supply chain. It is switching to biomass to help reduce its carbon emissions by 95%, saving 34,000 tonnes of emissions per year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Europe’s Biggest Battery Storage System Goes Online Four Months Early” • Renewable power company Harmony Energy Limited has completed work on Europe’s biggest battery four months early because energy demands are expected to rise due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The system can store up to 196 MWh of electricity. [TechSpot]

Europe’s biggest battery (Harmony Energy image)

¶ “World’s Largest Isolated System Achieves A New Record For Renewable Energy” • In Western Australia, the instantaneous renewable energy share reached a new peak of 81% on November 12, at about 12:30 PM. This is considered outstanding for the world’s largest isolated system. The previous record of 79% was set in September 2021. [Energy Matters]

Ukraine:

¶ “Ukraine War: Six Million Without Power As Winter Bites” • Ukraine’s president says six million Ukrainian households are still without power, after massive missile strikes hit the country this week. The number of affected households has reduced by half since Wednesday, but millions have been left without light, water or heat as winter sets in. [BBC]

Power line repair (Антон Дмитриев, Unsplash)

¶ “Ukraine’s Battle To Restore Power Slowed By Sub-Zero (C) Weather Conditions” • The race to restore power to homes in Ukraine is being slowed by “strong winds, rain and sub-zero temperatures,” the state energy supply company said in a statement. It is the second day since a brutal Russian assault on Ukrain’s power infrastructure. [CNN]

¶ “Ukraine Restores Power To Millions As Nuclear Plants Come Back Online Following Russian Missile Strikes” • Ukrainian authorities yesterday gradually restored power to millions of people left in the dark after the most devastating Russian air strikes so far. They reconnected four nuclear plants. Millions of people still have no power. [Independent.ie]

Rivne nuclear plant (Дьяков Владимир Леонидович, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Vantem Offers Energy Efficient Factory-Made Modular Dwellings” • Vantem manufactures energy efficient modular dwelling units. Now, thanks to a Series A investment round led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Quadrant Management, and TEM Capital, the company plans to build 15 factories in the US over the next seven years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Sunrun Is Adding Ford F-150 Lightnings To Its Fleet” • Sunrun has entered into an exciting partnership with Ford, teaming up to make vehicle-to-home technology available to people who buy F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. Sunrun also offers electric vehicle chargers and has a goal of having half of its fleet electric or hybrid by the end of 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Sunrun F-150 Lightnings (Sunrun image)

¶ “General Motors Vows To Avoid ‘Opportunistic’ EV Prices” • At the General Motors Investors Day event earlier this month, GM president Mark Reuss told those in attendance that the company wants to avoid “opportunistic” pricing of its upcoming electric vehicles, several of which are scheduled to appear in showrooms next year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What Higher Natural Gas Prices Mean For CT’s Clean Energy Push” • United Illuminating and Eversource, Connecticut’s two largest power utilities, announced last week that electric bills for most customers would increase between $79 and $85 a month as a result of the global natural gas shortage precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [CT Insider]

Have a totally ducky day.

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Opinion:

¶ “‘Africa’s COP’ Made Some Big Promises. Here Is How To Deliver” • COP27, called the “African COP,” put the continent center stage in the global effort to fight the causes and effects of climate change. The African Development Bank says climate change costs Africa up to $15 billion per year and will cost the continent up to $50 billion per year by 2050. [CNN]

Baobab trees at sunrise (Yasmine Arfaoui, Unsplash)

¶ “Reminder: You Can Donate Solar Panels To Ukraine” • Russia is bombing Ukrainian power stations to make people miserable as winter cold sets in. Simply put, this is terrorism. If you want to help more Ukrainians get power via solar PVs, here’s a reminder that you can donate to organizations getting Ukrainians such technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Long Does A Tesla Battery Last In Australia?” • The warranty on a Tesla battery is 160,000 km (100,000 miles). But I am fast coming to the conclusion that this figure is no longer relevant. I read recently that some battery recyclers in the US are complaining that the batteries are not degrading fast enough and they need more stock. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Vlad Tchompalov, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “BYD May Begin Sodium-Ion Battery Production In 2023” • Rumors flying about in China claim BYD plans to be producing sodium-ion battery cells in the second quarter of 2023 and use them to power some of its own EVs. The company claims those rumors are false, but they come to us from a source generally regarded as reliable. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Ukraine Battles To Restore Power After Russian Strikes Leave ‘Vast Majority’ Of People Without Electricity” • Ukraine raced to restore power across the country, a day after Russia sent a new barrage of missiles to target critical infrastructure, resulting in the temporary shutdown of most power plants, leaving the “vast majority” of people without electricity. [CNN]

Slovakians showing support for Ukraine (Patrik Velich, Unsplash)

¶ “New Floating Offshore Wind Project Aims For 999 MW” • The world’s largest floating offshore wind array clocked in at 88 MW just last week, and now here comes another one more than ten times its size. If all goes according to plan, the proposed Nao Victoria offshore wind farm will bring 999 MW of floating wind turbines to Spain. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Germany Plans ‘Windfall Tax’ On Wind And Solar Generators” • Germany is to table a €130 per megawatt hour cap on the earnings of wind, solar and nuclear generators, according to a draft law seen by Bloomberg News. The law is scheduled to pass the upper house of the German Parliament on December 16 and go into effect on January 1. [reNews]

Wind turbine (BayWa image)

¶ “Ridge Clean Energy Seeks Permit For UK hybrid Project” • Ridge Clean Energy submitted a planning application for a 49.9 MW hybrid renewable energy project in East Cambridgeshire. Through an array of ecological enhancements, the site aims to deliver a net gain of 66% to local biodiversity. Existing hedgerows are to be built up for increased screening. [reNews]

¶ “EirGrid And RTE Sign Key Celtic Interconnector Contracts” • Ireland’s electricity grid operator, EirGrid, and Reseau de Transport d’Electricite, its French counterpart, have signed key technical and financial agreements for the Celtic Interconnector. The 700 MW power line will be 575 km (357 miles) long, running between Ireland and France. [reNews]

Cable (NKT image)

¶ “Renewable Power Capital And Eelpower Agree On 1-GW Storage Venture” • Renewable Power Capital has announced its entry into the battery storage market in Great Britain, working with Eelpower to acquire, build, and operate utility scale projects. The venture will target up to 1 GW of storage, with a near-term pipeline of 240 MW. [Energy Global]

¶ “Google Signs PPA For Renewable Energy From Offshore Wind Farm In Scotland” • Google has signed a major power purchase agreement that will see it offtake renewable electricity from the Moray West offshore wind farm from 2025, as it works towards zero-carbon energy globally by 2030. Google will take 100 MW of the 882-MW wind farm. [edie]

Artist’s image of offshore wind farm (Moray West image)

¶ “Russian Attacks Risked Nuclear ‘Catastrophe,’ Says Ukraine’s Nuclear Energy Chief” • Russia risked causing a “nuclear and radioactive catastrophe” by launching attacks in which all of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants were disconnected from the power grid for the first time in 40 years, Ukraine’s nuclear energy chief said on Thursday. [Euronews]

US:

¶ “Ford Invests Further In Wellbeing At Blue Oval City. Tesla Should Probably Take Note” • Ford and SK On have invested $5.6 billion to build an electric truck and batteries plant in West Tennessee. By 2025, about 6,000 jobs will be created. But Ford is not just about building vehicles. The company also invests in communities and people. [CleanTechnica]

Brownsville, Tenn (Thomas R Machnitzki, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Ecogy Begins New York 34-MW Community Solar Plan” • A Brooklyn-based solar development company announced the start of development of a set community solar projects in New York’s Westchester County. Ecogy Energy was chosen for the project after an RFP was issued by the New York Power Authority and Westchester County. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Hawaiian Electric Selects Seven Solar And Storage Projects For LMI Program” • Hawaiian Electric has selected seven distributed generation solar projects on the islands of Hawaii Island, Oahu and Maui that will offer clean energy procurement to low-to-moderate income households. The projects are to be operating in 2025. [pv magazine USA]

Have an undeniably fortunate day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Ignoring Climate Change Is Getting Really, Really Expensive” • The message from COP27 is loud and clear: Climate change is no longer tomorrow’s problem. It’s happening now, with serious impact to our infrastructure, and it is going to get worse before it gets better. We can’t afford to continue building things the way we always have. [The Globe and Mail]

Earth (NASA, Unsplash)

¶ “UN Climate Summit Outcomes May Cause Larger Conflicts At COP28 In UAE Next Year” • The recently-concluded COP27 will go down in history for the decision to set up a Loss and Damage Fund, something that environmental activists and vulnerable communities had been demanding for over 30 years. But it exposed worrisome rifts. [Hindustan Times]

Science and Technology:

¶ “NREL Talks Solar Hydrogen Splitting Best Practices For Efficiency” • A press release from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory explains photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting to make hydrogen. Instead of using electricity, PEC uses energy directly from the sun to produce hydrogen. It is an attractive way to generate hydrogen. [CleanTechnica]

Testing PEC water splitting (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

World:

¶ “Etihad’s ‘Greenliner’ Shows A Glimpse Of A More Sustainable Future For Aviation” • Whereas renewable energy and electric vehicles offer clear pathways to decarbonize sectors like power and road transport, it is less straightforward for the aviation industry. That’s why sustainable aviation fuel is one of the key elements of the “Greenliner” program. [CNN]

¶ “Urban Rewilding Is Bringing Wildlife To The Heart Of Cities” • One vision of the futures of cities foresees a return to what they were once built upon, the wilderness complete with forests and wild animals that were lost long ago. That vision is beginning to be realized in major cities around the world in the shape of the urban rewilding movement. [CNN]

Tiny forest (IVN Natuureducatie image)

¶ “BYD Partners With Auto Nejma To Bring Its EVs To Morocco” • The automotive industry accounted for 27.6% of Morocco’s exports in 2019. Keeping up with key trends in the global auto industry will ensure that such a pillar of Morocco’s economy will keep growing. Now, a Moroccan company is partnering with EV giant BYD. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ib Vogt turns Sod On 150-MW Spanish Solar” • Ib Vogt has started construction of a 150-MW solar plant in the province of Zamora in Spain. Construction of the PV plant is expected to continue through 2023 with commercial operation planned by October 2023. Ib Vogt’s total investment in the project is €118 million ($123 milliion). [reNews]

Solar farm (Ib Vogt image)

¶ “German JV Targets ‘Multi-GW Solar Pipeline’” • European solar developers Galileo and Enviria have formed a joint venture to develop utility-scale ground-mounted solar plants across Germany targeting a multi-GW pipeline in the next five years. The objective of the JV is to add approximately 1 GW of solar power projects to its pipeline every year. [reNews]

¶ “Renewables Spark Closure Of Torrens Island Gas Power Plant” • Energy giant AGL disclosed it will shutter its gas-fired Torrens Island B power station in South Australia within four years, citing the impending completion of a transmission project linking power grids in three Australian states, unlocking new wind, solar PV, and storage projects. [pv magazine Australia]

Torrens Island plant (ARENA image)

¶ “Voltalia, Renault Sign 350-MW Solar PPA” • Voltalia has signed a power purchase agreement with Renault Group in France for 350 MW of solar PV capacity to be installed at the carmaker’s sites. The agreement with Voltalia will enable Renault Group to cover up to 50% of the electricity consumption of its production activities in France from 2027. [reNews]

¶ “Saint Nazaire Reaches Commercial Operation” • EDF Renewables, Enbridge, and CPP Investments have brought the 480-MW Saint Nazaire offshore wind farm, off France’s west coast, into full commercial operation. About one hundred people will continue to be employed at the site to ensure the operation and maintenance of the wind farm. [reNews]

Saint Nazaire offshore wind farm (C Beyssier, EDF image)

¶ “Russian Strikes Force Ukraine To Shut Nuclear Power Plants” • Russia rained down missiles across Ukraine, forcing shutdowns of nuclear power plants and killing civilians, as Moscow pursues a campaign to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold as winter sets in. Russia fired “around 70 cruise missiles” at targets across Ukraine. [RTE]

US:

¶ “Dandelion Energy Ready To Expand Ground Source Heat Pumps” • The Inflation Reduction Act has given the heat pump industry a lift. Reportedly, Dandelion Energy raised $70 million more to expand its business from a group of investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Lennar, one of the largest homebuilders in America. [CleanTechnica]

Drilling for heat (Dandelion Energy image)

¶ “Tesla Co-Founder Now Processing EV Battery Minerals” • EV batteries are becoming one of the most important commodities in the US. Mineral processing operations are largely happening overseas, but Redwood Materials, a US company created by a Tesla founder and previous CTO, is now delving into cathode and anode processing. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Contemplates Ban On Diesel Trucks” • The California Air Resources Board is proposing a plan to phase out diesel trucks. The proposed regulations would prohibit the use of new diesel trucks in and around busy railways and ports by 2024 one report says. A goal is  to remove every diesel truck and bus fleet from California roads by 2045. [CleanTechnica]

Have a memorably delightful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Thousands Of Very High Quality Tesla Employees Are Why Tesla Is A Success” • It’s the people who create the products and come up with the specific innovations. Over the years, Elon Musk has given much credit to the thousands of Tesla employees as the real source of Tesla’s success, but I think that has typically been under-acknowledged. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla factory floor (Steve Jurvetson, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “Panasonic Strikes Battery Minerals Deal In Canada” • As it works to ramp up its US production of EV batteries, Panasonic Energy announced that it has an MOU with Canadian integrated graphite producer Nouveau Monde Graphite to establish a North American supply chain for graphite, an anode material used in lithium-ion batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Australia Will See More Extreme Weather Events, Putting Strain On Economy, Report Shows” • Australia will continue to see increased extreme rainfall, heat, and more dangerous fires, its government agencies warned. The changes are happening more rapidly and will put further pressure on Australia to transition its economy away from fossil fuels. [CNN]

Koala up a tree (David Clode, Unsplash)

¶ “Floating Wind Power Market Size Worth $15.64 Billion, Globally, by 2029 at 56.5% CAGR” • The global floating wind power market size is expected to be $680 million in 2022. It is projected to reach $15.64 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 56.5% during the forecast period from 2022-2029, according to Fortune Business Insights. [One News Page]

¶ “Ukraine War: How Germany Ended Reliance On Russian Gas” • After a scramble to secure alternative supplies, lights sparkle in German Christmas markets. Germany’s hastily assembled system to manage without Russian gas appears to be working for now. And engineers have finished building the country’s first liquified natural gas terminal in record time. [BBC]

Gas terminal (Uniper image)

¶ “UK Could Add 1 GW OF Hydropower Capacity” • Hydropower can realistically provide an additional 1GW of energy in the UK under the right policy framework, according to a report. The Energy Informatics Group at the University of Birmingham was commissioned by the British Hydropower Association to assess the future of UK hydropower. [reNews]

¶ “Geely Holding And ElectroMobility Poland Sign Agreement To License Pure Electric SEA Architecture” • Geely Holding Group, the largest privately held auto maker in China, agreed to provide ElectroMobility Poland, a Polish government-backed EV manufacturer, a license for its all-electric Sustainable Experience Architecture. [CleanTechnica]

Geely Zeekr 001 (Zotyefan, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “How Will Scotland’s Space Sustainability Roadmap Tackle Climate Change?” • Scotland’s Space Sustainability Roadmap was launched on the international stage to produce partnerships to fight climate change. The roadmap offers short, medium, and long term packages to help negate the space industry’s carbon footprint and advance climate change science. [DIGIT]

¶ “Energia And Microsoft Sign Irish Renewables Deal” • Energia Group will supply Microsoft with electricity from new renewable wind and solar assets for the software company’s Irish operations under a corporate power purchase agreement. Microsoft said that it will add more than 900 MW of wind and solar energy to Ireland’s electricity grid by 2025. [reNews]

Wind farm in Ireland (Energia image)

¶ “UN Steps Up Its Efforts To Create A Protection Zone Around The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant” • Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, is intensifying his consultations on setting up a protection zone around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine following renewed shelling that struck the plant over the weekend. [Oil Price]

US:

¶ “Maryland Transit System Gets Solar+Storage Microgrid For Charging Its Electric Buses” • The Mobility House announced the completion of Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot in Maryland. The site has a 6.5-MW microgrid for electric bus charging using on-site solar panels, battery storage, and natural gas generators to support 70 electric buses. [CleanTechnica]

Recharging at a bus depot (The Mobility House image)

¶ “New York Governor Signs First-Of-Its-Kind Law Cracking Down On Bitcoin Mining” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law banning certain bitcoin mining operations that run on carbon-based power sources. Bitcoin mining companies must use 100% renewable energy, or they will not be allowed to expand or renew permits. [CNBC]

¶ “Enel Launches US Renewables Retail Arm” • Enel North America has launched a new retail energy business in the US to provide commercial and industrial customers with clean energy straight from the company’s renewable energy plants. In Texas, Enel already has over 4 GW of renewable projects operational or under construction. [reNews]

Wind farm (Enel image)

¶ “US Renewable Energy Will Surge Past Coal And Nuclear By Year’s End” • Renewables are on track to generate more power than coal in the US this year. But the question is whether they can grow fast enough to meet the country’s climate goals. Supply chain constraints and trade disputes have slowed wind and solar installations. [Scientific American]

¶ “First Comprehensive Plan To Deal With Climate Change In Greater Tampa Bay Area Released” • The Tampa Bay region’s first comprehensive plan to prepare for the effects of climate change has been released. It has 72 pages of recommendations on how the community can adapt to extreme heat, rising seas and other effects of climate change. [WUSF News]

Have a beautifully beneficial day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Have Some Meat, Muscle, And A Screaming Yellow E-Bike With Your Daily Commute” • The big, brassy Nomad 1 fat tire e-bike is the latest creation of the California startup Velotric. It may be new on the scene, but Velotric knows its bike riders. And zero emission e-bikes make commuting more do-able for people who can’t walk or use mass transit. [CleanTechnica]

Nomad 1 e-bike (Courtesy of Velotric)

¶ “Renewable Energy Transition Is Only Half The Climate Story” • The trasition to renewable energy is urgent, but it’s only half the story. We need a radical shift in how we design, manufacture and use the plastics, metals, fibres, chemicals, food, and building materials that are produced and sold every day to power a global population of 8 billion. [Renew Economy]

Science and Technology:

¶ “ESA Mulls Solaris Plan To Beam Solar Energy From Space” • The European Space Agency will this week likely approve a three-year study to see if having huge solar farms in space could work and be cost effective. The eventual aim is to have giant satellites in orbit, each able to generate the same amount of electricity as a power station. [BBC]

Beaming electricity to Earth (ESA image)

World:

¶ “A Rural Town’s River Vanished. Is Chile’s Constitution To Blame? ” • Petorca is a rural town in central Chile with more than 10,500 inhabitants. The country’s current constitution and the water code that was derived from it granted water rights for free and in perpetuity. It allowed water rights bearers to trade and sell them. Now, Petorca’s river is dry. [CNN]

¶ “Taxes On EVs Cut, Incentives Added In Australia” • Given the cut in taxes on electric vehicles and added incentives, the future looks bright for EVs in Australia. Import tariffs and the Fringe Benefits Tax will be cut on EVs costing below A$84,000 ($55,700). Also, all of the states in Australia now offer cash incentives to the purchasers of EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Martin Katler, Unsplash)

¶ “Fellten Launches As Classic Vehicle Electric Conversion Systems Provider” • Fellten is a combination of two leading firms transforming conventional gasoline and diesel cars into electric vehicles. With operations on three continents, the new business has emerged as the industry leader in the production of electric conversion systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Atlas Powers Up 300-MW Mexico Solar” • In Mexico, Atlas Renewable Energy’s 300-MW La Pimienta solar plant is now fully operational. According to Atlas, it is the second largest operational solar plant in Mexico. The plant will supply power to the Yucatan peninsula. It has over a million solar panels, which are spread across 651 hectares. [reNews]

Solar plant in Mexico (Atlas Renewable Energy image)

¶ “Punjab Government Announces It Is To Install 300 MW Of Solar Power Projects” • The Punjab government has decided to install solar PV projects with a total capacity of 300 MW. These projects include 200 MW of canal-top solar PV projects and 100 MW of floating solar PV projects on the reservoirs and lakes, an official statement says. [Business Standard]

¶ “Enel Unveils 21-GW Green Capacity Goal For 2025” • Enel expects to add around 21 GW of installed renewable capacity by 2025, mostly in its core markets. This puts it on track to reach its decarbonisation targets in line with the Paris Agreement. The group plans to develop its renewables capacity supported by a pipeline of around 425 GW. [reNews]

Solar array (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Ukraine’s Zelenskiy: Nuclear Plants Need Protection From Russian Sabotage” • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged NATO members to guarantee the protection of Ukraine’s nuclear plants from Russian sabotage. He made the appeal a day after the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia plant was rocked by heavy shelling. [ThePrint]

¶ “Nuclear Power No Solution For The NWT, Some Experts Suggest” • Experts disagree on questions of nuclear power. But for Canada’s North, two academics on different sides of the debate agree: small modular reactors are not an economically feasible way of getting remote northern communities off of diesel-generated power. [CBC]

NuScale small modular power module (NuScale image)

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Will Give PG&E $1.1 Billion To Help Keep California Nuclear Plant Online” • Nuclear energy in California got financial support from the Biden administration as the US DOE awarded a $1.1 billion grant to Pacific Gas & Electric to help extend the life of its Diablo Canyon Power Plant on the central California coast. [CNN]

¶ “LG Chem To Build $3 Billion Battery Cathode Factory In Tennessee” • The Inflation Reduction Act continues to drive new investment in America. LG Chem announced that it will build a new $3 billion cathode manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee. When complete, it will be the largest factory of its kind in the US. [CleanTechnica]

Artist’s concept of Tennessee LG Chem factory (LG Chem image)

¶ “Pilot Company And Volvo Group Partner To Build National Public Heavy-Duty Charging Network” • The Volvo Group and Pilot Company, the biggest North American travel center, signed a Letter of Intent to partner on a nationwide public charging network to support the expansion of the battery-powered Volvo VNR Electric trucks. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Campbell Enters Into Renewable Energy Agreement With Enel North America” • Campbell Soup Company and Enel North America announced a 12-year virtual renewable power purchase agreement. Campbell will buy electricity and energy credits from a 115-MW wind project in Oklahoma to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [Campbell Soup Company]

Have a luxuriously lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “World Still ‘On Brink Of Climate Catastrophe’ After COP27 Deal” • COP27 ended with a historic deal providing assistance to poor countries. But the outcome was widely judged a failure on efforts to cut CO₂, after oil producers and big emitters weakened and removed key commitments on phasing out fossil fuels and greenhouse gases. [The Guardian]

Polluting infrastructure (Patrick Hendry, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Africa’s Climate Crisis: Global Warming Made Niger, Nigeria Floods 80 Times More Likely, Says Study” • The torrential rains and floods that killed 600 and 200 people Nigeria and Niger respectively from June to October 2022 were made 80 times more likely because of climate change, according to a report by World Weather Attribution. [Down To Earth]

World:

¶ “Ukraine War: Germany Looks To Renewables After Russian Invasion” • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked an energy crisis in Germany, and many communities there are looking urgently at ways to wean themselves off gas and oil. Abensberg, a Bavarian town of 15,000 people, has ambitions to use solar power be self-sufficient in electricity by 2030. [BBC]

Stadtplatz mit Rathaus (Gunterius, public domain)

¶ “Google Maps Adds Custom EV Fast Chargers To Search Results” • An updated version of Google Maps for Android and iPhone is rolling out with the option to search for EV stations with fast chargers, according to CNBC. Google says that the update is available in all countries where EV charging stations are available. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Not Just The Safest – Tesla Model 3 Is Greenest Car On Highway In Europe” • With each passing day, Tesla’s electric cars are proving to be safer. It’s a similar story for sustainability. The Tesla Model 3 just recently won 5 stars in Europe’s Green New Car Assessment Program, with the highest rating ever in one of the program’s categories. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Bram Van Oost, Unsplash)

¶ “Australian Renewable Energy Storage Target Push Continues” • Australia’s Climate Council says A$42 billion of investment and about 100,000 jobs in renewable energy could be created by implementing a Renewable Energy Storage Target. ACC and other organizations will have representatives lobby the Albanese Government on REST. [SolarQuotes]

¶ “Sono Motors And Bosch Car Service Partner In Europe For Sion Solar-Powered EV Repair” • Two German companies, Sono Motors and Bosch, are working together to create a network of auto repair shops that spans all of Europe. All maintenance and repair services will be provided within the scope of the Bosch Car Service workshop concept. [CleanTechnica]

Sono Sion (Sono Motors image)

¶ “Solar, Wind To Lead Philippine Clean Power Expansion In Next Decade” • The Philippine wind and solar energy sectors are forecast to drive clean power growth in the country in the next ten years with foreign investments and strong government support. Fitch Solutions expects 6.8 GW of non-hydropower renewable projects to 2031. [Philippine Star]

¶ “Consenting delays threaten UK’s renewable energy targets” • Legal experts have warned that the UK’s push for net zero and energy security may be undermined as thousands of renewables projects are stuck in protracted planning and consenting work. Onerous paperwork, legal challenges and a lack of talent may be hindering progress. [Energy Voice]

Equinor’s Dogger Bank (Equinor image)

¶ “China Reveals Ambition To Bankroll Renewable Energy Transition In Africa” • As the World discusses Energy for All, the African continent is looking at development partners to spur its energy transition towards the net Zero goal. China is home to 90% of the global renewable energy technology, and China has an ambition to guide development. [Vanguard News]

¶ “Explainer: ‘Close Call’ At Ukrainian Nuclear Plant” • Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control, was rocked by shelling, drawing condemnation from the UN nuclear watchdog which said such attacks risked a major disaster. IAEA experts reported damage in several areas of the nuclear power plant. [Reuters]

Russian artillery (© Vitaly V Kuzmin, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Tesla Starts Sending Invites To Semi Delivery Event” • Earlier this week, Tesla announced that an entire event will be held at its Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada, to celebrate the first deliveries of its class-8 semi truck, the Tesla Semi. Now that the event is all set to happen, Tesla has started sending invitations to retail investors to RSVP. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BrightDrop On Track For Fastest Company In History To Reach $1 Billion In Revenue” • BrightDrop, a GM subsidiary that makes delivery EVs, told investors it expects to have $1 billion in sales in 2023, showing historically fast growth. By the end of the decade, the company expects to reach 20% profit margins and up to $10 billion in revenue. [CleanTechnica]

Brightdrop delivery vehicle (GM image)

¶ “Waymo: New Robotaxi Platform, And Expanded Service In Phoenix” • After a couple of years operating in a small portion of Phoenix, Waymo is expanding into busier areas. The company is operating its driverless robotaxi services in downtown Phoenix. Waymo recently announced it will soon operate robotaxis in San Francisco and Los Angeles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “KB Home Offers Energy Efficient, Connected Homes In California” • KB Home is building a new community in the Golden State with a difference. All 78 homes are designed to be energy efficient and resilient, so they will use about 40% less electricity than others. They will also be built to for a microgrid powered by solar PVs. [CleanTechnica]

Have a radiantly resplendent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Are There Enough Materials To Manufacture All The EVs Needed?” • Research shows there are enough explored or prospective reserves to electrify the global transportation sector using current technology if a high amount of battery recycling occurs. In this scenario, global demand in 2100 will amount to about 50% of lithium reserves. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an EV (Jenny Ueberberg, Unsplash)

¶ “It Is Not All Sunshine: Middle East Invests Big In Wind Power” • The story of renewable energy across the Middle East and North Africa is usually told from one viewpoint: the sun that beats down relentlessly on the region’s deserts. But wind also blows across the Middle East’s plains, hills, and seas. And it has megaprojects harnessing it. [Jordan News]

World:

¶ “COP27 Summit Agrees On Landmark Climate ‘Loss And Damage’ Fund, But Does Little To Encourage Rapid Cuts To Fossil Fuel Use” • Delegates from nearly 200 counties at COP27 agreed to set up a “loss and damage” fund to help vulnerable countries cope with climate disasters. But the final text lacks new language on cutting emissions, [CNN]

Israeli delegate Isaac Herzog and King Abdullah II of Jordan
(Haim Zach, Government Press Office of Israel, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Ford Has #1 Plugin Vehicle In Germany In October!” • It seems the German automotive market has bottomed out and is back on a growth path. October brought a solid 17% increase in sales. But plugin hybrids jumped 35%, its highest growth rate since August 2021. Surprisingly, the Ford Kuga PHEV won the best seller title in October! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Food Security And Solutions At COP27” • COP27, the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, addressed many dimensions of the climate crisis, including food security and solutions. If a just transition within the food system is to take place, a cultural shift in how we value food is needed. [CleanTechnica]

Food (Dan Gold, Unsplash)

¶ “Tradie Shortage Could Cripple Governments Emissions Reduction Targets, Say Researchers” • Electricians are emerging one of the most crucial professions in Australia’s transition to renewable energy. Researchers warn crippling workforce gaps may prevent the Federal Government from meeting its targets for emissions reduction. [ABC]

¶ “New Zealand Targets 100% Renewable Electricity By 2030” • New Zealand has some of the cheapest electricity in the world. More than 80% of New Zealand’s power comes from renewable sources like hydro and geothermal generation. Now, the government has set the target to make electricity 100% clean within the next decade. [CGTN]

Wairakei Geothermal Power Plant (Ingolfson, public domain)

¶ “Putin’s Nuclear Grip On Europe Could Spark Another Energy Crisis, Expert Warns” • An expert told Expess.co.uk that countries hedging bets on nuclear power to gain energy independence may not actually be able to escape Putin’s clutches. The Kremlin has dominance over nuclear fuel supplies, which could potentially trigger another price crisis. [Daily Express]

US:

¶ “Some General Motors Dealers Are Repairing Tesla Cars” • At the company’s Investor Day 2022, General Motors president Mark Reuss said that GM service departments have now repaired more than 11,000 Teslas. “That’s a growing business for us. I gotta say it’s a new business,” Reuss said. Most Americans have a GM delearship close by. Not so with Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

GM dealership (Courtesy of GM Certified)

¶ “Archer Aviation Selects Georgia For Manufacturing Facility Next To Covington Municipal Airport” • Archer Aviation Inc, an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft pioneer, announced plans to build its manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia, next to the Covington Municipal Airport. Archer has partnered with Molicel for battery cells. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Fiat 500e To Return To America In 2024” • In Europe, the diminutive Fiat 500e, with a range of 199 miles WLTP from a 37.3-kWh battery, has been a runaway sales success, but it was withdrawn from the US market. At the Los Angeles auto show, Fiat CEO Olivier Francois told the press it will be reintroduced to America in 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Fiat 500e (Image courtesy of Fiat)

¶ “Local Renewable Energy Jobs Can Fully Replace US Coal Jobs” • A recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan finds that local wind and solar jobs can fully replace the jobs lost at coal plants across the United States as the country’s power-generation system transitions away from fossil fuels in the coming decades. [Intelligent Living]

¶ “California Drought: New Research Ties Specific Extreme Weather Events To Climate Change” • The rapidly advancing field of attribution science allows scientists to analyze the role climate change plays in extreme weather events. In California, the severity of both wildfires and droughts have been directly linked to climate change. [ABC10]

Have an elegantly exquisite day.

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World:

¶ “COP27 Climate Summit Runs Over As Talks Hit Gridlock” • A promise from the developed world to foot more of the climate bill has raised fresh hopes of breakthrough at the UN climate summit COP27. The European Union has suggested a new fund to help poor nations deal with climate disaster. But rich nations are worried about signing a blank check. [BBC]

Fetching water in a poor country (Gyan Shahane, Unsplash)

¶ “Zero-Emission Vehicle Adoption Is Accelerating, But Stronger Push Is Needed” • In Egypt, at COP27, BloombergNEF released its study for the 2022 Zero-Emission Vehicles Factbook. The study shows that the adoption of zero-emission vehicles has accelerated over the past year across almost all markets and vehicle segments. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electreon And Eurovia To Demonstrate Dynamic Electric Vehicle Charging On The German Autobahn” • Eurovia and Electreon announced their second joint project, E|MPOWER, on the Autobahn. The partnership will provide a 1-km section of the Autobahn in Northern Bavaria with Electreon’s wireless Electric Road System technology. [CleanTechnica]

Technology test in Gotland, Sweden (Electreon image)

¶ “In France, 14% Of New Cars Now Fully Electric” • Battery EVs continue to rise in France, with last month’s registrations ending at 16,866 units, or 14% of the total market. That means it was another two-digit growth month for battery EVs in France (12% growth). The overall market is still down a significant 34% from what it was in October 2019. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK Offshore Oil And Gas, Renewable Energy Groups React To Steep Tax Increases” • Britain’s North Sea oil and gas and offshore wind sectors will have to pay higher taxes on profits, under changes announced by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his budget statement. Offshore Energies UK fears that the taxes may discourage investment. [Offshore Magazine]

Offshore oil platform (Zachary Theodore, Unsplash)

¶ “Ontario Teachers’ To Invest $805 Million In Part To Support Nextera Energy Partners’ Acquisition Of 2-GW Renewable Energy Portfolio” • The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board announced that it signed an agreement to invest about US$805 million in a convertible equity portfolio financing with NextEra Energy Partners. [Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan]

Wind farm (Peter Beukema, Unsplash)

¶ “Ian Blackford Rubbishes Case For Sizewell C On Question Time” • The SNP Westminster leader told the BBC Question Time audience in Suffolk – where the new Sizewell C nuclear plant will be built – he was “delighted” to assist them in objecting to the project. He said: “We can produce safe, green energy; we don’t need nuclear.” [The National]

US:

¶ “BYD Unleashes ‘Achiever’ in Texas, As San Francisco Receives Its Third Electric School Bus” • Just after San Francisco got its third electric school bus, BYD showed its Achiever electric school bus at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference in Frisco, Texas. And the Achiever has V2G technology. [CleanTechnica]

Achiever in Texas (BYD image)

¶ “Enel Announces PV Cell And Solar Panel Factory In The US” • Companies are rushing to manufacture PV cells and panels in the US as a result of the incentives made available by Congress and the Biden administration. Enel, Italy’s largest utility company, said it plans to construct a factory in the US to manufacture PV cells and solar panels. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hyundai Debuts Ioniq 6 And Hyundai Home V2H For US” • Hyundai used the LA auto show to debut the Ioniq 6 sedan while sharing some of the details about the US spec car. The Ioniq 6 has ultra-slippery styling that gives the car an aerodynamic drag coefficient of just 0.22, to help the car go as much as 340 miles on a single charge. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Hyundai image)

¶ “New Kauai CC PV System Cuts Electricity Costs” • Kauai Community College celebrated the dedication of a new PV system on its campus. The solar system is part of the University of Hawaii’s ongoing commitment to increasing energy efficiency across its 10 campuses and moving toward its goal of net-zero energy by 2035. [University of Hawaii System]

¶ “Mainers Pay More For Power As Experts Look To Renewable Energy” • Electricity prices are expected to go up for Mainers in January by an average of $32 per month, due to the war in Ukraine. PUC commissioner Patrick Scully said the bill would have gone down if New England Energy Corridor were up and running. But that was voted down. [WMTW]

Buildings in Maine (Skyler Ewing, Pexels)

¶ “Federal Legislation To Increase Renewable Energy Incentives For Nevada Homeowners, Including Solar” • Nevada is showing itself as a leader in generating electricity from solar energy. For residential Clark County homeowners, especially those folks who are considering installing rooftop panels to generate household electricity, that’s good news. [Las Vegas Now]

¶ “US Rejects Funding To Re-Open Michigan Nuclear Plant” • The DOE rejected Holtec International’s application for funding to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, a Holtec spokesperson said. Holtec bought the 805-MW plant to decommission it, after it could no longer compete with gas-fired plants and renewable energy. [Reuters]

Have a singularly superb day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Power Is Not The Answer To The Earth’s Energy Crisis” • Nuclear power is falling behind wind and solar. But now, for the first time, the 2022 World Nuclear Industry Status Report assesses the risks of nuclear power and war. Ukraine’s nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhia provides an example of the problem of nuclear power and war. [Daily Trust]

Cooling towers (Kelly, Pexels)

World:

¶ “Activists Hoped Egypt’s COP27 Would Bring A Focus On Africa. They Were Disappointed” • Philip Osano, director of the Africa Center at the Stockholm Environment Institute, told CNN, “Africa contributes less than 4.8% of emissions, but the impacts have now become very serious, that’s why this is a priority item.” It was never even put on the agenda at COP27. [CNN]

¶ “The Floating Solar Panels That Track The Sun” • A 73-kW array of solar panels floats in Oostvoornse Meer, a lake in the south-west Netherlands. SolarisFloat, the Portuguese company that built it, believes this small installation could be scaled up to generate large amounts of clean electricity – and, crucially, without taking up valuable land. [BBC]

Floating solar array (SolarisFloat image)

¶ “Deep Rift Over Climate Cash Clouds End Of COP27” • The nations at COP27 are deeply divided over cash to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change. The Egyptian hosts are trying to broker an agreement among almost 200 countries after two weeks of negotiations. Given the scale of division, the talks may overrun into the weekend. [BBC]

¶ “Mauritius’ Light Rail Transit (LRT) System, The Metro Express” • Metro Express is the first investment in train travel in Mauritius since the old train lines were closed in the 1960s. The service offers cutting edge technology, and provides the public with a significant time-saving alternative, reducing pollution and greatly reducing costs. [CleanTechnica]

Metro Express (Metro Express Limited image)

¶ “Global Electric Vehicle Sales Up 62% (Overall Auto Sales Down 8%)” • Electric vehicle sales were up 62% globally in the first half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021. That includes both fully electric vehicles and plugin hybrids. The plugin vehicles reached 4.3 million sales in the first half of 2022. Overall, global automobile sales were down 8%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Geely’s Radar Brand Officially Launches The RD6 Electric Pickup Truck” • The Geely Group’s new brand Radar Auto has officially released its new RD6 electric pickup for sale in China with a starting price of RMB 178,800, the equivalent of $24,600. The announcement comes after a preview of the RD6 electric pickup was given back in July. [CleanTechnica]

Geely RD6 (GZrex, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Gas Well Methane Leaks Are A ‘Huge’ Environmental And Economic Issue, BP CEO Says” • In a wide-ranging interview with the ABC, Bernard Looney, CEO of oil and gas supermajor BP, said methane leakage from gas wells in Australia and across the globe was a “huge issue” that needed to be fixed on economic and environmental grounds. [ABC]

¶ “Rooftop Solar Powers Western Australia To Renewable Energy Record” • The Australian Energy Market Operator confirmed a record for instantaneous renewable energy share at about 12:30 local time on Nov 12, with rooftop solar contributing more than 61% of the electricity generated in WA’s main grid, the South West Integrated System. [pv magazine Australia]

Rooftop solar systems (ARENA image)

¶ “UK To Impose 45% Windfall Tax On Renewables Generators” • Renewable electricity generators in the UK will be hit with a 45% windfall tax effective from January 1. The Electricity Generator Levy will tax extraordinary revenues above a pre-crisis price baseline of £75/MWh, applying to certain renewable, nuclear, and biomass electricity generators. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Proposed HVDC ‘Macrogrid’ To Transmit Renewable Power At Low Cost In US” • Modeling specialist Vibrant Clean Energy has proposed a transmission “overlay” for the contiguous US, with about 210 underground high-voltage DC transmission lines, 70 nodes, and underwater lines. HVDC can deliver power over long distances very efficiently. [PV Magazine]

Macrogrid (Vibrant Clean Energy image)

¶ “First Solar Commits To $1 Billion Solar Panel Factory In Alabama” • First Solar announced that it has selected a site in northern Alabama for its fourth US PV module manufacturing facility. The new factory is part of a previously announced investment in scaling First Solar’s American manufacturing footprint to over 10 GW DC by 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Burns & McDonnell Signs Offshore Substation Partnership” • Burns & McDonnell and Bay Ltd have announced a partnership to provide US-based engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction of offshore substations. Burns & McDonnell will lead engineering. Fabrication and construction will take place in existing Bay Ltd facilities in Texas. [reNews]

Substation (RES image)

¶ “Electric Helicopter Makes Historic Flight” • A fully electric conversion of the popular Robinson R44 helicopter reportedly was the first electric helicopter to go from one city to another or from one airport to another. It flew along the Coachella Valley of California from Jacqueline Cochran Airport, 24 miles to Palm Springs International Airport. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Archer Partners With Molicel To Supply Battery Cells For Archer Midnight Aircraft” • Archer Aviation has chosen Molicel to provide the battery cells for its new Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft. E-One Moli Energy Corp is an industry-leading supplier of lithium-ion battery cells. Archer Aviation has been a leader in eVTOL aircraft. [CleanTechnica]

Have an enchantingly exquisite day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Europe, China, And US Could Decarbonise 84% Of Global Shipping Emissions” • A Transport & Environment study shows that 84% of shipping traffic goes through Europe, China, and the US. T&E points out that if these economies were to regulate ships calling at their ports, they could decarbonise the lion’s share of the industry. [CleanTechnica]

Ship with modern sails (Image courtesy of Norsepower)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Melting Glaciers Could Release Tonnes Of Bacteria” • Vast amounts of bacteria could be released as the world’s glaciers melt due to climate change, researchers at Aberystwyth University warn. In a recent study, they showed that potentially harmful pathogens are among the 100,000 tonnes of microbes that could leak into rivers and lakes. [BBC]

World:

¶ “As Scientists Warn Brazil’s Rainforest Is Nearing A Point Of Irreversible Decline, Lula Makes Ambitious Deforestation Pledge” • When he was president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva’s government was able to reduce deforestation dramatically. As president-elect, his promise on the rainforest goes further: to reach zero deforestation in Brazil. [CNN]

Amazon (CIAT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Formal Climate Talks Between US And China Have Resumed At UN Summit” • US climate envoy John Kerry told CNN that formal climate talks with China restarted at the UN’s COP27 summit, lifting a freeze on negotiations and showing an early sign of concrete results from a meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. [CNN]

¶ “How Colombia Plans To Keep Its Fossil Fuels In The Ground” • Gustavo Petro, an economist and former guerilla who was elected as Colombia’s first ever left-wing president in June 2022, said the world needs an “immediate withdrawal from the oil and gas industry.” But as a country that produces oil, Columbia faces an uphill struggle to do this in practice. [BBC]

Bogotá, Colombia (Daniel Sarmiento, Pexels)

¶ “China Electric Car Market Report For October – Hot And Getting Hotter” • Norway leads the EV revolution, but China is gaining ground rapidly. According to Bloomberg Hyperdrive, a total of 722,000 passenger cars and commercial vehicles with plugs were sold in China in the month of October. BYD is at the top of the leaderboard in sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables To Supply Half Of PH Power Needs By 2040, Marcos Tells APEC Leaders” • Renewable sources will supply half of the Philippines’ energy needs by 2040, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders and delegates. The Philippines wants renewable energy to have a 35% share in its energy mix by 2030. [ABS-CBN News]

Pililla wind farm (LFIntalanV2, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “No More Renewable Energy Foreign Equity Limit In PH” • Foreign investors wanting full ownership of renewable energy projects in the Philippines are now free to do so, as the country’s Department of Energy has revised the playbook on investments in renewables. The move follows the legal opinion provided by the Department of Justice. [Inquirer Business]

¶ “NTR Acquires Essex Solar Farm” • Irish investor NTR has acquired the 70-MW Medebridge Solar Farm in Essex, England, from the management team of REG Power Management and other shareholders. Medebridge is a large-scale ready to build solar farm with full planning consent, grid connection, and land agreements in place. [reNews]

Solar array (Chelsea, Unsplash)

¶ “Germany Backs Security Zone Around Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant” • Germany supports the establishment of a security zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said after talks with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi. The plant is occupied by the Russian army. [Euronews]

US:

¶ “Ford CEO: 40% Less Labor To Build Electric Vehicles” • Ford CEO Jim Farley made a blockbuster of a statement this week. According to the somewhat jovial and optimistic cousin of late comedic actor Chris Farley, producing electric vehicles requires about 40% less labor than producing the same number of fossil-powered cars. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)

¶ “Redwood Materials To Supply Cathode Materials To New Panasonic Battery Factory” • Panasonic Energy announced it has agreed to purchase cathode active materials and copper foil for lithium-ion batteries from Redwood Materials. RM will use recycled materials manufacture copper foil for batteries in De Soto, Kansas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ABB Investment In EV Charger Manufacturing Will Help Drive US Adoption” • In support of the growing US e-mobility economy, ABB has announced plans to expand EV charger manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina. The expansion will create over 100 jobs and increase production by up to 10,000 chargers per year. [CleanTechnica]

ABB charging facility (ABB image)

¶ “US Wind-Storage Set To Surge After Tax Credits Unlock Income” • Wood Mackenzie forecasts US energy storage capacity will surge to 59.2 GW by 2026, up from 4.6 GW at the end of 2021. Solar developers have been turning to batteries to increase revenues, and Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives mean that wind developers could follow suit. [Reuters]

¶ “MCCC Presents Recommendations” • Recommendations in the annucal report Maryland Commission On Climate Change guide state agency leaders, elected officials, legislators, and other stakeholders in pursuit of Maryland’s climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2031 and achieving net zero emissions economy wide by 2045. [Maryland]

Have a magically mirthful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Who Will Pay For Indonesia’s Clean Energy Bill?” • Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest coal producers, and environmental activists worry that many vested business interests are limiting the government’s ambitions for a clean energy transition. The country’s coal-burning power plants are mostly not old, and it is building more. This raises questions. [BBC]

Bali landscape (Geio Tischler, Unsplash)

¶ “The 2022 CleanTechnica Car Of The Year Is …” • It’s been one month since the 2022 CleanTechnica Car of the Year award was announced, and it’s time to reveal the winner! I’m going to go through all of the finalists once more, starting with the model with the lowest percentage of the votes and going to the one with the highest. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Getting Renewable Energy Connected” • There are about 1,300 GW of new energy resources, primarily renewables and storage, waiting to connect to power grids across the US. That’s more than the combined output of all power plants operating in the country today. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission blames the backlog on old rules. [NRDC]

Wind turbines (Filipe Resmini, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “E-Diesel Truck Costs 47% More Than Electric Truck, Counting Operation” • A study compares the price of e-fuels with battery-electric trucks in various scenarios. Even in the most optimistic for e-fuels, they are 15% more expensive. In a more reasonable estimate, they would cost 47% more than buying and operating a battery-electric truck. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Scientists Have Used Mushrooms To Make Biodegradable Computer Chips” • Research at the Johannes Kepler University in Austria has shown that mushroom skins could be used to provide a biodegradable alternative to some plastics used in batteries and computer chips, making them easier to recycle. The research was published in the journal Science Advances. [CNN]

Mushrooms (Külli Kittus, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Rich Countries Are Trying To Hit Pause On Climate Summit’s Key Issue” • At the UN’s COP27 climate summit, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom are united against establishing a new fund this year to help the world’s developing nations – which have contributed little to the climate crisis – recover from climate disasters. [CNN]

¶ “Solaris Sells 18 More Electric Buses To Cracow” • Electric bus manufacturer Solaris recently sold another 18 articulated electric vehicles to public transport operator Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne in Cracow. The contract was worth over PLN 98 million ($21.6 million) and the delivery of the buses is to be completed next fall. [CleanTechnica]

Solaris Urbino 18 (Mirko Riemer, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Maritime Sector And Green Hydrogen Leaders Agree On Ambitious Targets” • Leading organizations and initiatives across the shipping value chain, joined by the largest green hydrogen producers, signed a statement committing to rapid production and use of low-carbon fuels based on green hydrogen for global shipping decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “European Energy Powers Up Swedish Wind Project” • European Energy has now completed the construction of the 37-MW Kingebol wind farm in the municipality of Åmål, Sweden with first power now being generated. European Energy has also revealed plans to build a 37-MW solar park adjacent to the wind park in Åmål. [reNews]

Wind farm (European Energy image)

¶ “Wealthy Nations Ink $20 Billion Deal To Move Indonesia Off Coal” • A group of wealthy countries secured an agreement with Indonesia to shift the major emitter’s power generation from coal to clean energy. The $20 billion deal financed by financial institutions and governments would be one of the largest public investments to close fossil fuel plants. [E&E News]

¶ “Anglo American Finds Renewable Sources For Queensland Coal Operations” • Mining major Anglo American has struck a deal with Queensland-owned energy generator Stanwell to power its steelmaking coal business solely through the use of renewable energy from 2025 onward, as part of a ten-year power supply deal. [Mining Weekly]

Wind turbines (Quang Nguyen Vinh, Pexels)

¶ “As Europe Quits Russian Gas, Half Of France’s Nuclear Plants Are Offline” • As Europe braces for a winter without Russian gas, France is hurrying to repair problems plaguing its atomic fleet. A record 26 of its 56 reactors are offline for maintenance or repairs after the worrisome discovery of cracks and corrosion in some pipes used to cool reactor cores. [Moneycontrol]

US:

¶ “Small Firms Have A Big Role Fighting Climate Change” • In the US, small businesses make up 99% companies. They employ nearly half of the American workforce. But their sheer numbers make it tough to regulate them. Focusing on supply chains can make it easier to engage with small businesses, unlocking billions in emissions savings. [BBC]

Main Street in Logan, Utah (Michael Hart, Unsplash)

¶ “GM Strikes Battery Separator Deal” • When we talk about EV batteries, minerals like lithium and cobalt tend to get most of the attention. But, a little polymer part of each cell, the battery separator, plays a vitally important role. In a press release, GM announced that it has struck a deal to keep improving separators and build them in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Regulatory Approval For SunZia Transmission Paves The Way For A Southwest Renewable Energy Corridor” • Pattern Energy Group announced its SunZia Transmission project received the approval of the Arizona Corporation Commission to build a 550-mile high voltage DC transmission line from New Mexico to Arizona. [pv magazine USA]

Have a justifiably jolly day.

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Opinion:

¶ “‘Everything Has Changed, Nothing Has Changed’” • The CEO of ScottishPower has said, “We have a cost of living crisis, energy is being weaponised and the discourse is now around energy independence. And how do you solve energy independence? You invest in renewables, which can be controlled, and built at speed.” But the task is not straightforward. [The Guardian]

Wind turbines (Abby Anaday, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Deep Geothermal – One Renewable Energy Source To Rule Them All?” • Imagine a supply of steam at the right temperature and pressure to make turbines spin – steam heated without any carbon emissions by geothermal energy. Science fiction? Not according to Paul Woskov, a research engineer at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hydrogen House” Deploys Rooftop Solar Panels, But Don’t Call Them Solar Panels” • The idea of a house that can produce its own hydrogen has been tossed around for a while now. We might expect solar panels to be involved, but Belgian researchers mapped out a different pathway. Their panels generate hydrogen gas instead of electricity. [CleanTechnica]

House with rooftop H₂ panels (Courtesy of Solhyd)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

World:

¶ “War Causing Huge Release Of Climate Warming Gas, Claims Ukraine” • The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a large amount of warming gases to be released into the atmosphere, Ukraine claimed at the UN COP27 climate summit in Egypt. The amount is the equivalent of adding nearly 16 million cars to the UK’s roads for two years. [BBC]

¶ “Biggest Rainforest Nations Form Triple Alliance To Save Jungle” • The world’s three largest rainforest nations, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia, have launched a partnership to cooperate on forest preservation after a decade of on-off talks on a trilateral alliance. They will pressure the rich world to finance forest conservation. [CNN]

Macaws in a rain forest (Christina Victoria Craft, Unsplash)

¶ “Uganda’s President Slams ‘Western Double Standards’ Over Coal Mine Plans” • Uganda’s President Museveni slammed Western countries over what he calls a “reprehensible double standard” in their response to the energy crisis. He criticized prioritizing coal for energy security over the climate crisis, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [CNN]

¶ “As Rich Nations Haggle Over Climate Solutions, The Storm-Ravaged Caribbean Is Taking Matters Into Its Own Hands” • The Caribbean leaders, residents, and even utility companies say they are tired of waiting for world leaders to save them. Experts and residents tell CNN that the islands are now eagerly phasing out fossil fuels and building microgrids. [CNN]

Solar power (RMI image)

¶ “22% Of New Car Sales Now Electric In The Netherlands!” • The Dutch auto market is fast recovering from a slow first half of the year. It grew 20% in October, to almost 29,000 units. That could mean that the easing of the chip crisis is making itself noticed in the overall market. Pure electrics, which grew 12% YOY, took 22% of all new vehicle sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electric Vehicles Are Duty Free In Mauritius!” • Mauritius has one of the world’s most generous tax regimes. Personal and corporate tax are harmonized at a low 15%. Mauritius has now moved to extend its tax policies to include electric mobility. From the 1st of July 2022, all hybrid and electric vehicles are now duty-free in the country. [CleanTechnica]

Mauritius (Ritesh Innovador, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewables key part of solution to end coal” •A massive scale up of renewable energy generation, system-wide improvements in energy efficiency and incentives is needed to reduce coal emissions, says a new report from the International Energy Agency, “Coal in Net Zero Transitions: Strategies for Rapid, Secure and People-Centred Change.” [reNews]

US:

¶ “NET Power Natural Gas Generating Plant Captures Its Own Emissions” • NET Power developed technology for generating electricity by burning natural gas that it says is cheaper than conventionally methods. But the real benefit of the technology is that it captures its own CO₂ emissions, which can then be sold or sequestered. [CleanTechnica]

NET Power demonstration facility (NET Power image)

¶ “Did Elon Musk Revive Hopes For A $25,000 Tesla?” • Tesla is working on a vehicle platform that could cost Tesla about half as much to build as its other vehicles, according to a statement by Musk in Tesla’s Q3 earnings call. This has many wondering if this could eventually become a rumored $25,000 car to which Tesla has referred in the past. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Avangrid Affirms Commitment To Commonwealth PPA” • In Massachusetts, Avangrid told authorities that it wants to keep a power purchase agreement for its 1200-MW Commonwealth project. Commonwealth had called for a one-month suspension of the approval process to address the impact of the current global economic conditions. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Pixabay image)

¶ “Solar Array In Amherst Puts Renewable Energy On Electric Grid” • Over 15,000 panels have been put up and are now online in Amherst, Massachusetts, and they are generating enough to power the electricity of over half of the town’s municipal buildings. The project features a 4-MW system that spreads across the north landfill. [WWLP]

¶ “DOE Teaming With Utilities To Support Four Hydrogen Demo Projects At Nuclear Power Plants” • The US DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and the Office of Nuclear Energy are teaming up with utilities to support four hydrogen demonstration projects that are to be built at nuclear power plants. [Green Car Congress]

Have a singularly pleasant day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Degrowth: Dangerous Idea Or Answer To The World’s Biggest Crisis?” • Conventional economic logic has a core assumption: Bigger economies are better, and maintaining or boosting growth is paramount to improving society. But what if growth is doing little to fix our problems, or even fostering the destruction of the planet and jeopardizing its future? [CNN]

Building construction (Priss Enri, Unsplash)

¶ “An Electric Car Can Be Your Best Friend When The Lights Go Out” • The electric car, coupled with more rooftop solar systems, is shifting the paradigm from getting all one’s electricity from a utility company to making more of it ourselves and using it right there at home. So it might be possible to be comfortable at home when bad weather makes the grid fail. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Dirty Tricks To Save The Amazon” • Preserving the Amazon should be considered one of our generation’s greatest priorities, if we are to ward off the worst effects of climate change. One man just played a tremendous role in moving that preservation a giant leap forward, and … I have mixed feelings about it, or at least, how he did it. [CleanTechnica]

Amazon forest (Neil Palmer, CIAT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Stop Funding Russia’s Nuclear Weapons” • As Washington and the commentariat wring their hands about Vladimir Putin’s nuclear sword rattling, the US and the EU continue to shovel hundreds of millions of dollars to Rosatom, a Russian nuclear firm that maintains Moscow’s nuclear weapons complex and just filched a $60-billion Ukrainian nuclear plant. [The Hill]

Science and Technology:

¶ “The World Will Probably Warm Beyond The 1.5°C Limit. But Peak Warming Can Be Curbed.” • The world’s current climate pledges are insufficient to maintain the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Global warming will likely surpass the 1.5°C limit. But researchers chart several potential courses in which the overshoot period is shortened. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (NASA, public domain)

World:

¶ “Fears Of Compromise On Key 1.5°C Global Temperature Issue” • A key target to stop climate change raising global temperatures is now in doubt at a UN summit. Climate change talks have been trying to limit the average rise in temperatures to 1.5°C. But senior figures here in Egypt worry about backsliding on efforts to keep the 1.5°C goal. [BBC]

¶ “Hywind Tampen Floating Wind Farm Delivers First Power” • The Hywind Tampen floating wind farm in the North Sea has begun producing power from its first turbine. Owned by the partners developing the Gullfaks and Snorre oilfields, the Hywind Tampen wind farm is expected to meet about 35% of the electricity demand of the two fields. [reNews]

Floating wind turbines (Equinor image)

¶ “Top Africa Renewable Firm Sees South Africa Power Woes Persisting” • Africa’s biggest renewable power company said it will take years for South Africa’s electricity supply woes to ease after the government’s bias toward coal led to the collapse of wind and solar energy manufacturers. The country still relies on coal for over 80% of its power. [Engineering News]

¶ “Scathing Report Accuses Electricity Providers Of Delaying New Zealand’s Shift To Renewable Energy” • A scathing report accuses electricity providers of delaying New Zealand ‘s shift to renewable energy sources. The report says the power companies are purposely putting off building key infrastructure so they can keep hiking the cost of power. [Newshub]

Geothermal plant (Herman Darnel Ibrahi …, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Green Hydrogen To Help Power Western Australia’s Town Of Denham In Australian Renewable Energy First” • Hydrogen made with renewable energy will be used to help power an Australian town for the first time as part of a landmark trial. The hydrogen will be used to power a fuel cell capable of generating enough electricity to supply about 100 homes. [MSN]

¶ “Forrest Unveils 10-GW Renewable ‘Super Hub’ To Power Grid And Green Hydrogen” • Queensland’s push to be a hydrogen superpower gained serious momentum with the announcement of a renewable energy “super hub” that will host more than 10 GW of wind and solar projects to produce green hydrogen at an industrial scale. [RenewEconomy]

Solar power (Supplied image)

US:

¶ “NREL And SMUD Launch Groundbreaking Automation Tool For Interconnecting Customer Solar To The Grid” • NREL has developed software that helps utilities identify optimal inverter modes and settings for distributed solar. The standalone system allows utility engineers to seamlessly interconnect PV generation, cutting wait times and costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Fossil Vehicle Bans Are Likely To Hit Mom-And-Pop Gas Stations The Hardest” • The California Air Resources Board’s decision to phase out fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035 was an important step to address air quality and climate change. But there will be winners and losers. Mom-and-pop gas station owners seem likely to be losers. [CleanTechnica]

Gas station (Mehluli Hikwa, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “US Stakeholders Make Their Moves As Race For Global Green Hydrogen Takes Shape” • The falling cost of wind and solar energy has opened the door to a more equitable distribution of energy resources worldwide. That trend is taking hold in the US, where a new green hydrogen industry is beginning to leverage growth in the wind and solar power. [TriplePundit]

¶ “Baker Vetoes Nuclear Decommissioning Group” • Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts vetoed the creation of a special commission to study the economic and environmental effects of decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. He said the comission would “be duplicative of, and would interfere with” work already under way. [CapeCod.com]

Have a plainly grand day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Millions Of US Homes Are Installing Heat Pumps. Will It Be Enough?” • Across the United States, over 15 states and roughly 100 cities have begun to shift policies to encourage or require electrification of homes, workplaces, schools, and government buildings. Nevertheless, we are falling woefully short on climate pledges. We have to do better. [CleanTechnica]

Heat pump water heater (Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance)

¶ “A just transition depends on energy systems that work for everyone” • The West’s dash for African gas has become a rallying point at Cop27. Climate justice activists are calling out the hypocrisy of rich polluting nations who are scrambling to keep energy prices down by pushing for more fossil fuel projects in Africa. [The Guardian]

¶ “Poland’s Sad Love For These US Nuclear Lemons” • With breathtaking myopia, the Polish government has signed a deal to partner with the US company Westinghouse in the construction of three nuclear reactors. A look at history shows that Poland won’t get energy security from Westinghouse reactors. It might not even get the reactors. [IOL]

Westinghouse AP1000 (Westinghouse image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “‘Artificial Leaf’ To Produce Green Hydrogen” • The green hydrogen market has been taking off, thanks mainly to the availability of low-cost wind and solar power for electrolysis. The race is on to mimic nature’s high-efficiency hydrogen production system. It has been a long road, but the dream of an “artificial leaf” may finally take shape. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Belching Lakes, Mystery Craters, ‘Zombie Fires’: How The Climate Crisis Is Transforming Permafrost” • Nunapitchuk, Alaska, used to be in the middle of grassy tundra. Now, it sits in bogland. People who used to walk on grass now use 8-foot-wide boardwalks to get around. The Arctic is warming fast, and that brings many unexpected problems. [CNN]

Sinking building (Sue Natali, Woodwell Climate Research Center)

¶ “New Rear Axle Design Creates More Range For Smaller EVs” • A new rear axle concept for small EVs has been developed by scientists at the Chair of Lightweight Vehicle Construction at the University of Siegen. It can increase the range of a small EV by 35%. The new rear axle concept increases the available space for the battery in the body. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Uncovering The Dirty Secret Behind BP’s Bumper Profits” • Far removed from the world leaders making climate pledges at COP, are people like Ali Hussein Julood, a young leukaemia survivor living on an Iraqi oil field co-managed by BP. When the BBC discovered BP was not declaring the field’s gas flaring, Ali helped us to reveal the truth. [BBC]

Gas flaring (Celeda, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “BMW Neue Klasse Electric Cars Will Feature Up To 1341 Horsepower” • BMW recently held a splashy press event for its Neue Klasse vehicles, and CAR Magazine was on hand to report on the festivities. Chief technology officer Frank Weber began by announcing, “With the New Class lineup, we are going to make a huge technology leap.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Research: Economic Viability Of EVs Is Strong And Improving In Developing Countries” • A World Bank report says that in many developing markets, low fuel and maintenance costs over the life of an EV more than offsets the relatively high purchase price. Environmental and health benefits make the case for EVs even stronger. [CleanTechnica]

Tata Nano (Vengolis, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “PepsiCo Commit To Use 100% Renewables” • The climate crisis may be the greatest, truly global challenge humankind has ever faced. PepsiCo is committed to doing its part to address the impacts of climate change. The company is aiming to source and generate 100% of its electricity needs through renewable energy by 2030. [The Global Herald]

¶ “Brisbane Airport Secures Renewable Energy Future” • BAC, Brisbane Airport Corporation, has entered into a six-year agreement to secure renewable energy from Queensland’s Clarke Creek Wind Farm & Blue Grass Solar projects. The deal is part of BAC’s commitment to be net zero for scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025. [Newsroom Brisbane Airport Corporation]

A terminal at Brisbane Airport (Kgbo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Tesla Megafactory Lathrop Went From Groundbreaking To Megapack Production In Just A Year” • CleanTechnica reported the groundbreaking ceremony of the Tesla Megafactory Lathrop in September 2021. And it took just around a year for Tesla to move from the start of construction to commissioning and production start. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Big News! Tesla Proposes North American Charging Standard” • One of the most frequently heard complaints from people considering the purchase of an electric car is that there is no common charging standard. Now North American EV owners can rejoice. Tesla is suggesting its charging equipment should be the standard for North America. [CleanTechnica]

Charging connections (Courtesy of Tesla)

¶ “Iowa Leads In Homegrown, Reliable, Renewable Energy” • Iowa is a clean energy leader, attracting almost $23 billion in capital investments and generating over $58 million in tax revenue. The Hawkeye state is the largest producer of renewable energy, with 59.5% of its power generated by its own renewable energy resources. [The Gazette]

¶ “Climate Change Prompts Pennsylvania Farmers To Adapt Crops And Businesses” • As the climate changes and brings more risks to the traditional farming schedule, farmers are looking for ways to make sure their crops survive. That means you might see different options at local farm markets or new events popping up on farms. [WHYY]

Have a simply marvelous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Large Scale Solar Roofs Getting The Respect They Deserve” • The notion of distributed renewables is starting to gain currency at the highest levels. It may be cheaper to build large solar arrays, but they need power lines. When you run all the numbers, there can be significant economic advantages to producing solar power close to where it will be used. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array over parking (Courtesy of the French Senate)

¶ “Can Africa Power With Renewables As It Grows?” • Africa has 60% of the world’s best solar resources and a potential for wind to meet its electricity demand 250 times over. But half of those who live in sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to electricity. The question is whether they can skip fossil fuel development and go straight to solar and wind. [DW]

World:

¶ “Biden Says US Is Back As A Leader On Fighting Climate Change As He Urges All Nations To Step Up Their Ambitions” • President Joe Biden used a short visit to the UN climate change summit in Egypt to tell the world the US was ready to take back its leadership role on fighting a warming planet after the passage of one of the president’s key priorities. [CNN]

Sign of the climate (Kelly Sikkemak, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Africa Pursues Green Hydrogen For Fossil-Free Economic Growth” • Fossil fuels have been getting high prices, but their age is ending. Green hydrogen is an alternative energy source getting ready for the market. The new hydrogen hotspot is Africa, where two massive, integrated green hydrogen and ammonia projects are taking shape. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Model Y Dominated European Car Sales In September” • Automotive market intelligence company JATO posted the results of the September 2022 car sales data for Europe. The data show that in September the Tesla Model Y topped the sales chart for all cars for the first time since it was launched in Europe in August of 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Fusion Fuel And Ballard Power Commission H2Évora Green Hydrogen Plant” • Fusion Fuel has announced it has completed the interconnection of its H2Évora plant to the Portuguese electric grid and has successfully commissioned the facility. The demonstration project will produce 15 tons of green hydrogen per year. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Egypt And Norway To Build 100-MW Green Hydrogen Plant” • President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt’s President, and Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Prime Minister, launched the first phase of a green hydrogen project in Egypt’s Ain Sokhna region, on the Red Sea. Norway’s energy giant, Scatec, will also take part in the project. [Energy Digital Magazine]

Ain Sokhna (Kaŕeem Saleh, Unsplash)

¶ “Billionaire Gautam Adani Lands In The Middle Of India-China Fight In Sri Lanka” • Pooneryn is an impoverished area in northern Sri Lanka, not far from India’s southern tip. It’s where Gautam Adani, Asia’s richest man, plans to build renewable power plants, thrusting him into the heart of an international political clash. [NDTV.com]

¶ “German Parliament Extends The Use Of Three Nuclear Power Plants Until April In View Of The Gas Crisis” • Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, approved keeping three of the country’s nuclear power plants in operation at least until mid-April to guarantee electricity supply in the midst of the energy crisis. [MSN]

Emsland nuclear plant (Corradox, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Over 11 Years, Close To 9 Million People Sign Drive Against N-Power” • An anti-nuclear petition drive that began 11 and a half years ago has an impressive 8,831,163 signatures, with the most recent delivered to the economy ministry on November 11. One of the campaign founders, Journalist Satoshi Kamata, said now it is reaching out to other groups. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ “Florida Picks Up After Nicole Kills At Least 5 And Leaves ‘Unprecedented’ Damage To Daytona-Area Coastline” • As Nicole moved north, Floridians are picking up the pieces. It killed at least five people and ripped apart buildings with its dangerous storm surge and powerful winds. Many were still recovering from Hurricane Ian when Nicole hit. [CNN]

Flooding after Hurricane Ian (US CBP, public domain)

¶ “Vermont Officials Poised To Review Renewable Energy Policy” • Advocates of net metering want Vermont to consider raising compensation for solar producers. In contrast to this, utilities say the current compensation rates are not sustainable. The Vermont Department of Public Service is about to embark on a review of net metering. [WCAX]

¶ “First Global Estimates For Road Transportation GHG Leveraging AI And Satellite Images” • Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, have leveraged artificial intelligence and machine learning to produce accurate estimates for road transportation emissions of the top 500 emitting cities worldwide. [CleanTechnica]

Using AI to track emissions (JHU Applied Physics Laboratory)

¶ “City Of Columbia To Study Feasibility Of 100% Renewable Energy Production By 2030” • City staff in Columbia, Missouri, are starting to explore the possibility of sourcing the city’s energy production from 100% renewable sources. An ardent community push for this started about six months ago with a demonstration at city hall. [Columbia Daily Tribune]

¶ “Biden Administration Proposes Climate Change Reporting Requirement for Federal Contractors” • To address and mitigate climate risks, the Biden administration is proposing a rule requiring government contractors to publish their greenhouse gas emissions and reduction goals as well as financial risks from climate change. [ExecutiveGov]

Have a fascinatingly amusing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How To Donate Solar Panels And Wind Turbines To Ukraine” • The Global 100% Renewable Energy Platform Global100RE and the World Wind Energy Association initially made the call for support buying and deploying solar panels and wind turbines to help the people of Ukraine back in March. Here’s how you can reach out to WWEA. [CleanTechnica]

Kyiv, Ukraine (Ilya Cher, Unsplash)

¶ “New-Build Nuclear Must Face Down Industry’s Costly Past” • EDF’s 1.65-GW Flamanville plant, under construction in northwestern France, is 10 years behind schedule and is set to cost €12.7 billion, four times more than first estimated in 2004, Reuters reported. It is just one example of many nuclear plants that came in late and over budget. [S&P Global]

World:

¶ “Solar-Powered Trains For France” • SNCF Voyageurs is a state-owned subsidiary of the French National Railway Company. It is in charge of operating France’s passenger train network. SNCF Voyageurs is now aiming to have 40% to 50% of the rail network’s electricity coming from solar power by 2026. What’s better than solar-powered train travel? [CleanTechnica]

SNCF train (Didier Duforest, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “How Australia Has Become The World’s Greatest Lithium Supplier” • As demand soars for EVs and clean energy storage, Australia is meeting much of the world’s demand for lithium. It supplied roughly half the world’s lithium in 2021. While this helps reduce the need for fossil fuels, it raises another question – how can we source lithium sustainably? [BBC]

¶ “Gogoro And Zypp Electric Announce Strategic Partnership To Accelerate The Electric Transformation Of 2-Wheel Last Mile Deliveries” • In Delhi, Gogoro Inc and Zypp Electric announced a strategic B2B initiative and partnership to accelerate the urban shift of logistics fleets and last-mile deliveries to electric using battery swapping. [CleanTechnica]

Gogoro (Gogoro image)

¶ “Kenya And The UK Agree To Fast-Track £3.6 Billion In British Investment To Support Kenya’s Leadership On Climate Change” • Kenya has an installed electricity generation capacity of 3,077 MW. Renewables provided 89% of Kenya’s electricity generation in 2021. Building on this, six projects worth $4.1 billion will be fast-tracked with UK financial help. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Chile’s QB2 Copper Mine Will Be Fully Powered By Clean Energy” • The Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 copper project, in Chile, will be fully powered by renewable energy, according to Teck Resources. The company announced a 17-year power purchase agreement with AES Andes for 1,069 GWh/year of energy from renewable sources. [Mining Weekly]

Chalcopyrite copper ore (Didier Descouens, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Renewable Power Negates Need For 27 TWh Of Gas” • Gas consumption data taken from the Digest of UK Energy Statistics showed that in the first 40 days of the winter period (beginning in October), the level of renewable power generated in the UK has displaced the equivalent of 3% of UK annual gas demand and 6% of UK net gas imports. [Current News]

¶ “10-GW Wind Farm To Be Built In Egypt” • Masdar, Infinity Power, and Hassan Allam Utilities have signed an agreement to develop a 10 GW onshore wind project in Egypt – one of the world’s largest wind farms. The project will reduce Egypt’s carbon emissions by 9% and save the country an estimated $5 billion each year. [Energy Digital Magazine]

Wind turbine in Egypt (Hatem Moushir, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Floridians Are Picking Up The Pieces After Hurricane Nicole Pummeled The State, Killing At Least 4 And Collapsing Homes As It Moves North” • Nicole hit Florida’s coast as a Category 1 hurricane, just as the state was still reeling from catastrophic Hurricane Ian. Nicole was the first hurricane to hit the US during November in nearly 40 years. [CNN]

¶ “Homes Are Collapsing Into The Ocean In Florida. Here’s What’s Behind The Dangerous Situation” • Homes and buildings are collapsing into the ocean as Tropical Storm Nicole pushes a huge volume of ocean water onshore in southeast Florida. The storm surge came at an exceptionally high tide, and the sea has risen a foot in the last hundred years. [CNN]

Wave (lucas andreatta, Pexels)

¶ “New Report Paints Dire Picture Of America’s Future As The Climate Crisis Accelerates” • A new draft of the National Climate Assessment has been released. It paints a dire picture of what life is now like in America amid the climate crisis, and the incredible changes in store in the future. It outlines some painful truths we must confront, but so far have not. [CNN]

¶ “Argonne And Oak Ridge National Laboratories Collaborate With Wabtec On Hydrogen-Powered Trains” • Scientists at the Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories are exploring options for emissions-free trains. The research focuses on hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels as viable alternatives to diesel for the rail industry. [CleanTechnica]

Locomotive (Wabtec image)

¶ “Tesla To Boost Fremont Production With Some Help From Shanghai” • Recent production upgrades to Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai boosted the company’s weekly output in China. Now the automaker may be looking to draw on this expertise for its plant in California. The help is expected to boost the Fremont plant’s production significantly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “State Approves Minnesota Power Plan To Exit Coal By 2035, Add More Renewables” • Minnesota utility regulators Thursday unanimously approved Minnesota Power’s plan to close its two Cohasset coal generators by 2035 and add significant amounts of renewable power. The utility also plans to build its first grid-scale storage batteries. [Star Tribune]

Have a comfortably successful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Investors Have Trillions To Fight Climate Change. Developing Nations Get Little Of It” • Many investors see big opportunities to propel – and profit from – the fight against climate change. Yet little of their money is going to poorer nations, which already bear the brunt of extreme weather despite contributing little of the pollution that fuels climate change. [KCCU]

Wind turbines (Fabian Wiktor, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Ceramics That Breathe Oxygen At Lower Temperatures Help Us Breathe Cleaner Air” • Ceramics with oxygen storage capacity are crucial for automotive catalytic converters. They help reduce noxious gases and prevent the precious metals from degrading. A group of researchers at Tohoku University have improved their performance. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “2-Battery NIU BQi-C3 E-Bike Offers More Range, Power” • The new NIU BQi-C3 e-bike features a pair of 920 watt-hour LG batteries with a 48V, 19.2Ah capacity and the ability to push out 500w of continuous power. With two batteries instead of one, the BQi-C3 Pro delivers nearly twice the range of “competitor brands.” [CleanTechnica]

NIU BQi-C3 e-bike (NIU image)

World:

¶ “Energy Security Trumps The Climate? London’s Biggest IPO Of The Year Is An Oil Company” • The listing of about 10% of Ithaca Energy, a North Sea oil and gas producer, is the biggest in London so far this year. It struggled out of the gate, however. It was last trading at about 230 pence ($2.62), more than 7% below its IPO price. [CNN]

¶ “China Is ‘Committed To Net Zero,’ Head Of Top Asian Development Bank Says At COP27” • China and the other 104 members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are “deeply committed” to their net-zero targets, says the chief of the continent’s largest multilateral development bank. China is the world’s largest carbon emitter of fossil fuels. [CNN]

Wind turbines in Xinjiang (Chris Lim, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Europe Still Can’t Live Without This Russian Energy Export” • Europe has raced to replenish its stocks of natural gas this year ahead of winter as Russia dramatically cut its flows of pipeline gas, including all shipments through the vital Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Global supplies of LNG that proved a vital alternative include large amounts from Russia. [CNN]

¶ “Sharp Rise In Fossil Fuel Industry Delegates At The COP27 Climate Summit” • The number of delegates with links to fossil fuels at the UN climate summit has jumped 25% from the last meeting, analysis shared with the BBC shows. Campaign group Global Witness found more than 600 people at the talks in Egypt are linked to fossil fuels. [BBC]

Oil rigs (Ben Wicks, Unsplash)

¶ “The Audi E-Tron Q8 Arrives Next Spring, Comes In 3 Flavors” • Over the past 10 years, Audi has been making huge strides toward becoming a fully electric car company. The culmination of all that dedication and hard work will arrive in showrooms next year when the new e-tron Q8 crossover SUV and its twin, the Sportback version, go on sale. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Israeli Green Hydrogen Firm Picks Up Moroccan Job” • Gaia, a Moroccan renewable energy developer, will use electrolyzer technology from Israeli company H2Pro for a green hydrogen demo project in Morocco. The announcement came at COP27, where the topic of green hydrogen and its role in the net-zero transition is much discussed. [reNews]

H2Pro electrolyzer (H2Pro image)

¶ “Solar Dominates Renewable Corporate PPAs In Asia Pacific, Says WoodMac” • Corporations in the Asia-Pacific region are set to contract a record 7 GW of renewable capacity in 2022, a report published by Wood Mackenzie says. Solar accounts for 57% of the Asia-Pacific region’s contracted corporate renewable power purchase agreements. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Sweden’s Largest Nuclear Power Reactor Suffers A Fault” • The largest nuclear reactor in Sweden has been disconnected from the national grid after a fault with one of its turbines. The plant, Oskarshamn 3, is 140 miles south of Stockholm on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is not clear exactly what the fault is, according to a spokesman for the plant. [MSN]

Oskarshamns nuclear plant (Daniel Kihlgren, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Biden Promises Billions For ‘Nature-Based Solutions’ To Climate Change” • The Biden administration said it will direct billions of dollars toward “nature-based” solutions for climate change, including “bringing the power of nature to maximize the value and resilience of military bases.” The action follows an executive order signed on Earth Day. [WFIN]

¶ “Hurricane Nicole, A Large Category 1 Storm, Is Closing In On The East Coast Of Florida” • Massive Hurricane Nicole was dumping rain on Florida Wednesday night as the storm bore down on the east coast of the Sunshine State, threatening to bring damaging winds and heavy precipitation to some places still recovering from Hurricane Ian. [CNN]

Hurricane (George Desipris, Pexels)

¶ “US Department Of Energy Accelerates National Affordable Housing Upgrades” • The need to provide a whole lot more affordable housing solutions for disadvantaged communities is imperative but daunting. The DOE’s Building Technologies Office launched a funding effort to reinvent the “ABCs” of construction and renovation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Work To Begin Soon On ‘Renewable Energy’ Plant” • Work on a gas-fired power plant that the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved earlier this year could begin in the first quarter of next year, Iberville Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso said. The plant was designed to use a fuel made of up to 50% hydrogen from its first operation. [West Side Journal]

Have an exceptionally placid day.

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World:

¶ “Former NBA Champion Is Changing ‘How The World Builds’ To Fight The Climate Crisis” • In 2019, a hurricane devastated the Bahamas. Today, the country is building what it claims to be the world’s first carbon-negative housing community to reduce the likelihood of future climate disasters and to ease the shortage of homes caused by the storm. [CNN]

Partanna home prototype (Partanna image)

¶ “Egypt Faces An Acute Water Crisis, But It’s Building A ‘Green River’ In The Desert” • On the easternmost outskirts of Cairo, the Egyptian government is building a giant belt of lakes and parks in the desert. Creators call it the “Green River” and say that the ornamental ribbon is to go through Egypt’s new, ultra-modern metropolis: its New Administrative Capital. [CNN]

¶ “Once A Comfort, Rain Is Now Ruining Australia’s Mood” • The city of Sydney has seen around 170 days of rain so far in 2022. There have been more rainy days than dry ones. And with almost a quarter of the year still to go, Sydney broke its annual rainfall record last month. More than 2.3 meters (90 inches) of rain has fallen on the city. [BBC]

Flood in Western Sydney (Wes Warren, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Kenya Is Turning To Genetically Modified Crops To Help With Drought” • Kenya is facing a severe water shortage caused by four failed rainy seasons in a row, amid one of the harshest droughts the East African region has seen in four decades. Kenya has reversed a ban on genetically modifiedd crops so drought resistant maize can be planted. [BBC]

¶ “Electric Bus Boom: Northern Ireland Buying 100 Electric Buses” • The UK’s Department for Infrastructure is providing £88 million in funding to Translink to buy 100 zero-emission electric buses as well as EV charging infrastructure to support them. The buses are to be used in Northern Ireland. They will be built by Wrightbus. [CleanTechnica]

Northern Ireland (Wrightbus image)

¶ “Wiener Linien Orders 60 Mercedes-Benz ECitaro Buses For Vienna” • The Wiener Linien transport company has ordered 60 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric buses to run in Vienna. This purchase will help the Austrian city reduce its local emissions with low-floor buses that produce zero emissions. Deliveries will start next year and run through 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “France To Reap $31 Billion Windfall From Renewable Energy Firms” • France will reap €30.9 billion from renewable-power producers over two years as the energy crisis boosts wholesale prices. Onshore wind producers will be the biggest contributor to the government’s coffers over the two years through 2023, with revenues of €21.7 billion. [Energy Voice]

Solar farm, northeast of Gien (Supplied by TotalEnergies)

¶ “World Bank Group Announces Major Initiative To Electrify Sub-Saharan Africa With Distributed Renewable Energy” • The World Bank Group announced an initiative to accelerate the pace of electrification in Africa to achieve universal access by 2030. To accomplish this, it will promote private investment in distributed renewable energy systems. [Mirage News]

¶ “These Two Energy Giants Are Joining Forces To Ramp Up Renewable Power” • Global sustainable energy giants Hitachi Energy and Equinor today announced that they have signed a strategic collaboration agreement. They’re going to join forces on global electrification, renewable power generation, and low-carbon initiatives. [Electrek]

Solar panels (Mariana Proença, Unsplash)

¶ “Finnish Offshore Wind Pipeline Nudges 14 GW” • Finland’s offshore wind pipeline has almost reach 14 GW, according to the Finnish Wind Power Association’s half-yearly report. At present, 13 offshore wind projects with a total output of almost 13,500 MW are planned. Over 3,200 MW more offshore wind power is under development than in the spring. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Average US Construction Costs Drop For Solar, Rise For Wind And Natural Gas Generators” • Construction costs for solar PVs continued to fall in the US in 2020; the capacity-weighted average fell 8% compared with 2019, the latest data shows. By contrast, construction costs for both wind turbines and natural gas-fired generators increased. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Ford Is #2 Electric Vehicle Seller In USA” • Tesla has been dominating US electric vehicle sales for years, though other automakers are getting more serious. Ford has risen quickly from No Man’s Land to become the second best seller of EV in the country. In October 2022, sales of Ford’s EVs were 119.8% higher than in October 2021. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Lucid Sues Texas Over Direct Sales Ban” • Lucid Group has filed suit in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas (Austin division) claiming that the state’s rules on auto dealerships are a form “economic protectionism,” according to Bloomberg. Tesla has been embroiled in similar legal skirmishes in several states. [CleanTechnica]

Lucid EV (Lucid image)

¶ “US Renewable Growth Puts Them On Par With Nuclear” • The Energy Information Agency released its annual figures for how the US generated electrical power during 2021. Wind, which only started outproducing hydro three years ago, has developed a commanding lead. And solar has gone from a rounding error to 4% of annual production. [Ars Technica]

¶ “Vestas Picks Up 300-MW US Order” • Vestas has received a 300-MW order from Apex Clean Energy to power the Goose Creek Wind project in Illinois. The order consists of 50 V162-6.2 MW turbines delivered in 6.0-MW operating mode. The order includes supply, delivery, and commissioning of the turbines, as well as a 10-year service agreement. [reNews]

Have a fantastically sensible day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The World Needs India To Avert Climate Catastrophe. Can Modi Deliver?” • In the past, India has defended its use of planet-warming fossil fuels in the name of development – a stance that has seen it criticized at international climate talks. By 2030, Modi wants half of India’s energy to come from renewables. But it is still building coal-fired generating plants. [CNN]

Solar plant in India (Thomas Lloyd Group, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How This School In The Indian Desert Stays Cool Even In Extreme Heat” • The Indian desert town of Jaisalmer is called “The Golden City” for yellow sandstone architecture. It can get to 120°F (49°C) in the heat of summer, but the buildings provide cooling without using energy. New York architect Diana Kellogg used that tradition for a girls’ school. [CNN]

World:

¶ “This Has Quickly Become The Key Issue At COP27 – And The Most Difficult To Resolve” • Some countries are fighting for a so-called “loss and damage” fund. The concept is that countries that have contributed the most to climate change with their planet-warming emissions should pay poorer countries to recover from the resulting disasters. [CNN]

Village of Telly, Mali (Ferdinand Reus, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Billionaires Emit A Million Times More Greenhouse Gases Than The Average Person, Study Finds” • A report published by the British-founded charity Oxfam found that the wealthiest individuals’ investments account for up to 70% of their emissions. Their carbon emissions are more than a million times higher than those of an average person. [CNN]

¶ “VikingBus Orders 31 Mercedes-Benz ECitaro Buses As Long-Distance Runners In Denmark” • Vikingbus, a Danish bus company, has ordered 31 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro all-electric vehicles. These are to be primarily operated in the municipality of Køge, a port city located south of Copenhagen in the east of the island of Sjӕlland. [CleanTechnica]

Mercedes-Benz eCitaro (Courtesy of Daimler Truck)

¶ “UK BEV Volume Up YOY Despite Tesla’s Mid-Quarter Restocking” • The UK auto market saw plugin electric vehicles take 21.5% share in October, with growing year on year volumes. October market volume was still at the lowest seasonal level since 2010. BMW’s full electrics led the category in October, with Tesla in shipping mode. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Asia Pacific Corporate PPA Demand To Hit 7 GW” • In the Asia Pacific region, corporations are set to contract a record 7 GW of renewable capacity in 2022, an 80% increase on 2021, according to analysis from Wood Mackenzie. Corporate renewable power purchase agreements are becoming increasingly attractive as prices have come down. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Rabih Shasha, Unsplash)

¶ “Commerz Real And Hydro Rein Are To Buy A Danish Solar Portfolio” • Commerz Real and Hydro Rein are to buy a 362-MW solar portfolio in Denmark from developer GreenGo Energy. They include a 170-MW project located on Denmark’s west coast and another project in the south of the country. Commissioning is scheduled for 2026. [reNews]

¶ “World Must Double Renewable Power Targets To Achieve Net Zero: IRENA” • The world needs to double its renewable power targets for 2030 to achieve net zero emissions, the International Renewable Energy Agency said. Countries aim to reach 5.4 TW of installed renewable capacity by the end of the decade, about half of the 10.8 TW required. [The National]

Solar panels (Mariana Proença, Unsplash)

¶ “Microsoft Agrees To Purchase Wind Power From Alberta Project” • Microsoft will buy 543 GWh worth of energy a year from an Alberta wind power project in a recently announced deal. The energy will be from the Paintearth Wind Project, which began construction in September. It is expected to be finished by the end of 2023. [Calgary Herald]

¶ “France Electricity Prices Surge Past €1,000/MWh As More Nuclear Reactors Close For Winter” • Wholesale electricity prices in France for the middle of winter surged above €1,000/MWh ($1.00/kWh, wholesale), after EDF revealed more problems, and more outages at its reactors. EDF is the operator of the world’s biggest nuclear fleet. [Renew Economy]

Nuclear power plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Florida’s East Coast Is Under A Hurricane Watch As The State Grapples With Hurricane Ian’s Devastation” • A rare November hurricane could batter Florida’s east coast this week as residents try to recover from Hurricane Ian. Subtropical Storm Nicole is nearing the state over waters that are warmer than normal, which will allow the storm to strengthen. [CNN]

¶ “South Dakota Cures The Renewable Energy Blues” • The political knives are still out when the topic turns to climate change, but it looks like the energy transition is going to happen anyway. A case in point is the “red” state of South Dakota, which has now amassed enough renewable energy to fulfill its own electricity needs, and then some. [CleanTechnica]

South Dakota wind energy resources (Courtesy of US DOE)

¶ “Ohio State To Develop New Bus Technology Testing Center With $26.5 Million Federal Investment” • Ohio State University will establish and operate a testing center to support deployment of zero-emission and low-emission buses, supported by a $26.5 million investment from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Minnesota Power Plans For More Renewable Energy Over Next 15 Years” • A Duluth-based utility, Minnesota Power, said it will add up to 700 MW of renewable energy – 400 MW of wind and 300 MW of solar. This is a big increase over the 300 MW of solar and wind it proposed when it announced its plan almost two years ago. [Duluth News Tribune]

Have a marvelously convenient day.

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Opinion:

¶ “If Renewables Are So Cheap, Why Electricity So Expensive In South Australia?” • SA went from zero to 70% renewable energy in 16 years, and the price of electricity went up. One factor is a lack of competition pushing up prices, but the main influence is the rising cost of natural gas. Its price began to increase in 2015 and recently hit record highs. [SolarQuotes]

Gas-fired power plant (Peripitus, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “The Psychology Tricks That Can Dispel Climate Change Denial” • Looking at the psychology underlying climate change denial, it is apparent that we are dealing with black-and-white thinking in which possibilities are simplified and polarized into pairs of opposites. Shades of gray are missed; everything appears to be either true or false, right or wrong. [Yahoo]

Science and Technology:

¶ “First Self-Flying, 4-Seat, All-Electric, Vertical Takeoff And Landing Air Taxi” • Wisk Aero claims it has developed the first self-flying, fully electric, 4-seat air taxi. This is its 6th generation air taxi, reportedly “designed to meet and exceed rigorous commercial safety standards, making it one of the safest systems in aviation,” Wisk Aero says. [CleanTechnica]

Wisk Aero (Wisk Aero image)

¶ “Climate Change Fuels Malaria Infection” • Malaria and climate change are closely related, scientists say. The climate change seen in places around the world contributes to vector-borne diseases, including malaria, which is highly endemic in Africa. Growth of both the mosquitoes and the malaria parasites depend upon sufficiently warm weather. [The Standard]

¶ “Past Eight Years Eight Hottest On Record, UN Report Warns” • As the past eight years are on track to be the eight hottest on record, the World Meteorological Organization released its annual state of the global climate report with another warning that the target to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C (2.7°F) was “barely within reach.” [Al Jazeera]

Hot weather (Scott Goodwill, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “COP27: ‘Climate Chaos’ Warning As UN Summit Begins” • The UN’s climate change summit has opened in Egypt with a warning that our planet is “sending a distress signal.” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was responding to a UN report released on Sunday pointing out that the past eight years were on track to be the warmest on record. [BCC]

¶ “COP27: Rishi Sunak Urges Global Push On ‘Clean Growth’” • At the COP27 summit, Rishi Sunak will tell world leaders The fight against climate change can become “a global mission for new jobs and clean growth.” The prime minister will also say it is essential nations stick to commitments made in Glasgow a year ago at COP26 . [BBC]

Rishi Sunak speaking (Rory Arnold, No10 Downing Street,
UK Open Government license v3.0)

¶ “Deutsche Telekom To Buy 100% Electric Company Cars From 2023” • Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile in the US) is focused on taking climate action. That translates into initiatives that include a plan to buy only 100% electric cars for its fleet starting in 2023. It also plans to achieve climate neutrality within its own business operations in 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Honda Exhibits World Premiere Of The ‘e:N2 Concept EV’” • Honda Brand introduced the the e:N2 Concept at the 5th China International Import Expo, an event that is being hosted in Shanghai. Honda released the concept for the second phase of its e:N Series of models – the EV model series they plan to market and sell in China. [CleanTechnica]

Honda e:N2 concept (Honda image)

¶ “United Nations Warns Climate Change Is Speeding Up” • Each of the last eight years, if projections for 2022 hold, will be hotter than any year prior to 2015, the UN said, detailing a dramatic increase in the rate of global warming. Sea level rise, glacier melt, torrential rains, heat waves – and the deadly disasters they cause – have all accelerated. [Tico Times]

¶ “Flow Power Enters Queensland Market With Clermont Solar Farm PPA” • Australian electricity retailer Flow Power has officially entered the Queensland market, signing an offtake deal with German-owned renewable energy developer Wirsol Energy for 30 MW of clean electricity generated at the 89 MW Clermont Solar Farm. [pv magazine Australia]

Clermont Solar Farm in Queensland (Wirsol Energy image)

US:

¶ “Wells Are Running Dry In Drought-Weary Southwest As Foreign-Owned Farms Guzzle Water To Feed Cattle Overseas” • Just as the Colorado River Basin is in crisis, aquifers are rapidly depleting from overuse, worsening drought, and rampant growth of agriculture. Huge, foreign-owned farms are growing thirsty crops like alfalfa to feed livestock overseas. [CNN]

¶ “GMC Hummer EV Pickup And SUV Sold Out For At Least Two Years” • It looks like there is some bad news if you want to purchase a 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup or SUV. They are sold out, and it seems the waiting list is two or more years long. GM cannot keep up with the high demand, so prospective buyers are being waitlisted. [CleanTechnica]

Hummer EV SUV and pickup (Courtesy of GM)

¶ “The Next Big US Offshore Wind Winners Are Texas And Louisiana” • The Interior Department has just tapped Texas and Louisiana for offshore wind development. This may seem like an exercise in futility, but as states without fossil resources jockey for position in the new hydrogen economy, both Louisiana and Texas will have keep up. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Rewiring America Wants To Educate Consumers About The Benefits Available In The IRA” • There are important incentives for American households to improve their energy efficiency and lower their utility bills in the Inflation Reduction Act. Rewiring America wants to get the word out to local individuals and communities. [CleanTechnica]

Have an especially fine day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Will We Ever … Live In City-Sized Buildings?” • Enclosed cities have become a narrative shorthand for futuristic settlements in science fiction. Many are self-contained habitats, incorporating all essential infrastructure, including energy generation, food production, waste management and water. Some have already been proposed for construction. [BBC]

The Line, a proposed city 105 miles long (Neom image)

¶ “How Does Russia Keep Signing Nuclear Power Contracts?” • Russia’s ability to sign nuclear contracts in the midst of massive sanctions over its illegal invasion of Ukraine is a complicated story. The way nuclear fuel supply chains work means that all thirty countries with nuclear generation are to some extent exposed to Russian supplies. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Climate Activists Block Private Jet Runway At Schiphol Airport In Amsterdam” • Hundreds of Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion activists breached a runway Saturday at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport to try to stop private jets from taking off, in the latest demonstration by protesters aimed at drawing attention to the climate crisis. [CNN]

Schiphol Airport (Aron Marinelli, Unsplash)

¶ “As Countries Convene At Climate Summit In Egypt, Reports Show The World Is Wildly Off Track. Here’s What To Watch At COP27” • As global leaders converge in Egypt for the UN’s annual climate summit, researchers, advocates, and the UN itself warn the world is still wildly off-track on its goal to prevent the worst consequences of the climate crisis. [CNN]

¶ “Volvo Australia To Sell Only Electric Cars By 2026” • Volvo Group is one of the car-manufacturing brands that has made a commitment to switch to EVs by 2030. But in Volvo Australia announced it has decided to step it up a notch, by vowing to sell EVs only in Australia by 2026, well ahead of the car company’s global commitment. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo XC40 (Volvo image)

¶ “Enel To Build Rock-Based Storage System For Renewable Energy” • Enel, Italy’s biggest utility, and Israel’s Brenmiller Energy joined hands up to build a rock-based storage system in Tuscany to test new technologies to increase flexibility in the use of renewable energy. The system stores excess solar or wind energy as heat. [GreentechLead]

¶ “EU Cutting €11 Billion In Gas Costs Via Record Growth In Wind And Solar” • The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sent one very clear message to Europe: Ween yourself off dependence on Russian fossil gas, and gas in general. That led to record growth in wind and solar power this year. And analysis shows that has led to €11 billion in gas cost savings. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it

¶ “Sunak Claims Role As ‘Clean Energy Champion’ On Eve Of Cop27” • Rishi Sunak attempted an extraordinary volte-face on green policy on the eve of the Cop27 climate summit, saying he would attend to “galvanise” world leaders to save the planet. He had been criticised for saying he was too busy with domestic commitments to attend. [The Guardian]

¶ “We Must Take Action To Save Agriculture From Climate Change – Peasant Farmers Association” • The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana made a six-point proposal for immediate action by the Government given the impact of climate change on food security worldwide. The proposals may serve as a backdrop to Ghana’s presence at COP 27. [News Ghana]

Farm workers (Peasant Farmers image)

¶ “External Power Restored To Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant – IAEA” • External power has been restored to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant two days after it was cut off from the power grid, the UN nuclear watchdog said. Russian shelling had damaged high voltage lines, and the plant requires electricity to prevent overheating. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Orders For Eviation Alice Electric Plane Pass $2 Billion” • On September 27, Eviation’s Alice electric plane conducted its first flight at Moses Lake Grant County International Airport, in Washington state. Now, Eviation Aircraft has announced that the order book for the all-electric Alice airplane has passed a total value of $2 billion. [CleanTechnica]

Alice (Image courtesy of Eviation/GlobalX)

¶ “Hacker-Craft Electric Boats To Use Electric Propulsion From Ingenity” • Two 100-year-old American companies, one building iconic mahogany speedboats, and the other making state-of-the-art electric drivetrains, are collaborating to deliver “the future of luxury boating.” Some Hacker-Craft Boats will be available with Ingenity Electric drivetrains. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Canoo’s New EV Battery Module Manufacturing Facility In Oklahoma” • Canoo has announced a new EV battery module manufacturing facility in MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, Oklahoma. Once it is fully operational, the new facility will be able to handle approximately 3200 MWh of battery module manufacturing capacity. [CleanTechnica]

Canoo facility (Canoo image)

¶ “Idahoans Testify Against Idaho Power Solar Study” • Based on a study it had done, Idaho Power is proposing cutting the export credit rate from 8¢ to 10¢/kWh to 2.8¢ to 4¢/kWh for people who have had solar panels installed after December 2019, Sierra Club analysis shows. A broad group of people spoke out against the study at an Idaho PUC meeting. [KTVB]

¶ “Some Climate Activists Aren’t Suing Over The Future – They Are Taking Aim At The Present” • Most climate lawsuits pitch climate change as a problem that has yet to unfold, but one lawsuit by young people is takes a new approach to try to force governments to reckon with climate change. They are suing over damage that has already been done. [Popular Science]

Have an absolutely perfect day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Cop27: Climate Anxiety Is Rising, And That Might Be A Good Thing” • Global leaders are set to meet for another UN climate summit, COP27 starting in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday. The reality of climate change can be overwhelming for many people. Experts and activists have told BBC News that these fears can actually be good news for the planet. [BBC]

Climate protest (Callum Shaw, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “New 50-Tonne Battery-Powered Electric Crane” • Just as in every other vehicle market, electric cranes are starting to arrive. The 653 E Electro Battery from SENNEBOGEN, developed with Dutch dealer Van den Heuvel, is a 50-tonne battery-powered electric crane. It answers a need for heavy equipment that meet the needs of quiet, clean cities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Enevate And Lightning Motorcycles Partnership Creates 5-Minute Fast Charge For Electric Motorcycles” • Enevate makes batteries with high energy density and extremely fast charging. Lightning Motorcycles makes electric motorcycles that set performance records. The two combined efforts on Lightning’s Strike Carbon motorcycle. [CleanTechnica]

Electric motorcycle (Image courtesy Lightning Motorcycles)

World:

¶ “US Trade Officials Open Talks With EU On IRA Incentives For Electric Cars” • To the surprise of no one, trade officials from the US and the EU plan to hold high level talks designed to defuse tensions over the tax credits for electric cars in the Inflation Reduction Act. The law sets requirements for electric cars to be eligible for the full $7,500 credit. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plugins 22.4% Share In France, BEVs Up, PHEVs Down” • In October, Plugin EVs took 22.4% share of France’s auto market. Full electrics grew share slightly, while plugin hybrids declined. Overall auto market volume was 124,981 units up 5.5% YOY. October’s best selling full electric was the Peugeot 208, with the Renault Megane the long term leader. [CleanTechnica]

Renault Megane (Vitali Adutskevich, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable energy will meet half of Karnataka’s energy needs by 2030, says Minister Sunil Kumar” • New renewable energy projects in Karnataka will add 12,340 MW of power capacity, helping the state to source half it’s energy needs from clean energy sources by 2030, according to Energy Minister Sunil Kumar Karkala. [The Economic Times]

¶ “XPENG Announces Vehicle Delivery Results For October 2022, Sees 56% Increase YOY” • So far, this has been a good year for the Chinese smart electric vehicle company XPeng Inc, and October was no exception. XPeng vehicle delivery results for October 2022 were released and showed some good numbers driving the company forward. [CleanTechnica]

Xpeng G3 taxi (Windmemories, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Canadian Government Recognizes Nuclear As Clean Energy” • The Canadian government’s inclusion of small modular reactors amongst clean energy technologies eligible for a new investment tax credit has been greeted by some as a signal that it considers nuclear power to be “clean energy” on a par with all other low-carbon technologies. [Eurasia Review]

¶ “Sizewell C Nuclear Plant Plans Have Not Been Scrapped, Says No 10” • Downing Street said plans to build a new nuclear power plant in Suffolk have not been scrapped as part of a drive for sweeping government spending cuts. When complete, the plant is expected to cost £30 billion, with taxpayers expected to foot about a fifth of that. [The Guardian]

Sizewell B reactor (Dave Croker, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “How Much Tesla Earned Per Car Delivered In Q3” • Year over year, Tesla’s net income more than doubled in the third quarter, and CEO Elon Musk seems to think the company could someday outpace some of the world’s largest companies. All automakers face high prices on raw materials, but Tesla is pulling in a good amount of money for each car it sells. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GreenPower Deploys First Purpose-Built ADA-Compliant Electric Type A School Bus In The US” • GreenPower Motor Company, a manufacturer and distributor of electric-powered medium and heavy-duty vehicles, deployed the first purpose-built Type A, all-electric, zero-emission, ADA-compliant school bus in Clay County, West Virginia. [CleanTechnica]

Clay County school bus (GreenPower Motor image)

¶ “Former Pennsylvania Coal Communities Receive Millions For Renewable Energy, Workforce Development” • Former coal communities will get nearly $47 million for renewable energy and workforce development projects. The Appalachian Regional Commission and Governor Tom Wolf announced grants for nine projects in Pennsylvania. [The Allegheny Front]

¶ “Outdoor Living Rooms And Renewable Power: How San Francisco Is Fighting Climate Change” • Air pollution and traffic congestion plague cities worldwide. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In San Francisco, a number of environmental initiatives encourage eco-friendly habits, increasing greenery, and creating better space for everyone. [Yahoo News UK]

Lombard Street (Braden Collum, Unsplash)

¶ “Ess Inc To Deliver Long-Duration Battery System To Burbank Water And Power” • In California, ESS Inc and Burbank Water and Power entered into an agreement for ESS to deliver a battery storage project to BWP. Under the agreement, a 75-kW, 500-kWh iron flow battery will be installed and connected to BWP’s 265-kW solar array. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Puerto Rico: A Massive Energy Transformation Is Within Reach” • President Joe Biden has taken an important step to advance an energy transformation in Puerto Rico. He recently gave Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm authority to supervise federal resources for the electric system while driving a plan for renewable energy transformation.  [The Hill]

Have a wonderfully tranquil day.

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Opinion:

¶ “COP27: Why The Latest UN Climate Conference Matters” • COP27 is reckoned to be the world’s best hope of progress on the climate issue. The global effort to cut emissions is “woefully inadequate” and means the world is on track for “catastrophe”, the UN warned last week. But the meeting in Egypt is shaping up to be prickly and confrontational. [BBC]

Promenade at Sharm El-Sheikh (Marc Ryckaert, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Why High Temperatures Can Make Planes Too Heavy To Take Off” • Our planet’s rising temperatures are making it harder for planes to take off at certain airports, presenting yet another challenge to civil aviation. As heatwaves become more frequent, the problem could extend to more flights, forcing airlines to leave passengers on the ground. [CNN]

¶ “How A Sand Battery Could Transform Clean Energy” • In western Finland, four young engineers believe they may have an answer to the challenge of energy storage. They are working at the Vatajankoski power plant, 270 km (168 miles) north-west of Finland’s capital, Helsinki, on storage using a remarkably simple, abundant, and cheap medium: sand. [BBC]

Sand battery (Polar Night Energy image)

World:

¶ “Zelensky accuses Russia of ‘energy terrorism’” • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of resorting to “energy terrorism” as Russian troops make few gains on the battlefield and are likely to be forced to withdraw from Kherson. Mr Zelensky said 4.5 million people were without power after Russian attacks on its energy network. [BBC]

¶ “Norway’s BEVs Still Growing Well, Even While PHEVs Fall Away” • Norway’s auto market saw 86.4% plugin EV share in October, down year on year, from 89.3%. Full electrics grew by 7.5% YOY, but a drop in plugin hybrids outweighed that. Overall, 12,558 units sold, up 8.5% YOY, and above the pre-2020 seasonal norm of 11,635 units. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.4 (Ssu, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “COP27 Policy Brief Looks At How To Enable Southern Africa’s Transition To A Low-Carbon Electricity System” • The Southern African Power Pool operates four competitive electricity markets between 12 member countries. It has 40% of total electricity demand and about 40% of total carbon emissions in Africa. Here is a look at it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Plans New EV Startup Business Model For Europe” • Five years ago, General Motors sold its European operations to Stellantis. It looked at the time as though GM was through with Europe. Then earlier this year, GM CEO Mary Barra surprised the automotive world by announcing the company was planning to re-enter the European market. [CleanTechnica]

Cadillac LYRIQ (Courtesy of Cadillac)

¶ “NSW Officially Declares Its Third Renewable Energy Zone” • The New South Wales government has formally declared the state’s third Renewable Energy Zone. The South West REZ is in the state’s western Riverina region. Initial expressions of interest in the zone are set to attract generation proposals. The planned capacity is 2.5 GW. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Irish Wind Output For October Nudges 50%” • Wind Energy Ireland has released its October Wind Energy report, which shows that wind energy provided 47% per cent of Ireland’s electricity in October 2022. The latest figures mean that wind energy has supplied 33% of Ireland’s electricity demand this year to the end of October. [reNews]

Wind turbines in Ireland (Nordex image)

¶ “Sizewell C Nuclear Power Plant ‘Under Review’ As UK Seeks Spending Cuts” • Plans to build a new nuclear power plant in Suffolk are under review and could be delayed or scrapped as the government seeks to make sweeping spending cuts. The reactor is estimated to cost £30 billion and is expected to provide up to 7% of the UK’s total electricity needs. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “This Little Autonomous Vehicle Getting Use At New York’s JFK International Airport” • Navya, a little autonomous shuttle company, is not usable in nearly as many environments as the tech from other companies, but it is effective on various simple routes. The company’s latest contract is with New York City’s JFK International Airport. [CleanTechnica]

Autonomous vehicle (Navya image)

¶ “California To Spend Another $1.8 Billion On Electric School Buses” • California has spent $1.2 billion on electrifying school buses over the past 20 years. Another $1.8 billion is set to be spent in the next five years on zero-emissions school buses and associated charging infrastructure. A report includes guidance on how it should be spent. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Napa Valley’s Frank Family Vineyards Furthers “Green to Our Roots” Ethos With A 100% Renewable Energy-Powered Winery” • Frank Family Vineyards announced that it has enrolled in Marin Clean Energy’s Deep Green Program. The program allows the winery to source 100% renewable energy from locally produced wind and solar power. [Wine Industry Advisor]

Vineyard (Daniel Salgado, Unsplash)

¶ “DTE Energy Accelerates Schedule For Retiring Coal, But Not Enough To Please Environmental Groups” • DTE Energy filed a 20-year energy plan that includes a faster retirement of its coal plants along with other steps to reduce carbon emissions. It will close a number of coal-burning plants early. At least one is to be converted to a gas-fired peaker plant. [Michigan Radio]

¶ “What’s Driving Maine’s Surging Electricity Costs? Despite Campaign Rhetoric, Not Renewable Energy” • Electricity and energy prices are major issues in Maine’s gubernatorial race. Former Republican Gov Paul LePage blames Maine’s renewable energy policies, but the key cost driver within the New England regional power grid is natural gas. [Maine Public]

Have a thoroughly unworried day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Solar Panels Should Be Donated To Ukraine ASAP” • One consistent target of Russia’s war in Ukraine has been Ukraine’s electricity facilities. Power plants, substations, and transformers have been destroyed. In the cold Ukrainian winter, people need electricity to be warm. Solar PVs may not be the perfect solution, but they can be put up fast. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power in Ukraine (Activ Solar, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “‘Compostable Plastic’ Doesn’t Live Up To Its Environmental Claims. Here’s What You Can Focus On Instead” • A new study conducted in the UK found that 60% of products labeled as compostable do not fully break down in home compost. Unlike conventional plastics, these alternatives are largely unregulated, despite their advertised benefits. [CNN]

World:

¶ “These Glaciers Are On Track To Disappear Within The Next 30 Years, New Report Shows” • Recently, researchers at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization found that glaciers in one-third of the planet’s most beautiful parks and protected areas are set to disappear by 2050 – even if global warming is slowed. [CNN]

Mt Kilimanjaro (Sergey Pesterev, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe Has Warmed Faster Than Any Other Region In The Past 30 Years” • The climate crisis is warming Europe faster than any other region, according to the latest State of the Climate in Europe report from the World Meteorological Organization. The temperatures in Europe have increased at more than twice the global average over the past 30 years. [CNN]

¶ “Sweden’s Plugin EV Share At 59.4%, Volvo XC40 Back To Strength” • October saw Sweden’s plugin electric vehicle share reach 59.4% of the auto market, up from 50.1% year on year. Full electrics alone took 35.5% share, from 22.9% YOY. Overall auto volume was 22,383 units, 12% up YOY, though still some 25% down on pre-2020 seasonal norms. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo XC40 (George Sargiannidis, Unsplash)

¶ “Japan’s TEPCO And Scotland’s Flotation Energy Eye Offshore Wind Prospects” • TEPCO Renewable Power, a subsidiary of Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power Company, is teaming up with Flotation Energy to develop the offshore wind markets in Japan and Scotland. Flotation Energy has its headquarters in Edinburgh. [Power Engineering International]

¶ “Acwa Power To Build 10-GW Wind Farm In Egypt” • Acwa Power signed an initial agreement to build a 10-GW wind farm in Egypt. It could be the world’s second-largest wind farm. Acwa, a Saudi utility, signed the preliminary agreement with Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company. [The National]

Wind turbines (Raimond Klavins, Unsplash)

¶ “Neoen To Use Wind And Big Battery In ‘First Of Its Kind’ Baseload Renewables Contract With BHP” • French renewable energy developer Neoen says it has signed a “baseload” contract with mining giant BHP to supply power to its huge Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia. The power will come from wind and battery storage. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Marinus Link Will Unlock The Tasmanian Renewables Jobs Of The Future” • Through Marinus Link, Battery of the Nation, and Green Hydrogen, Tasmanians stand to benefit from a pipeline of projects that will provide jobs and opportunity over the next decade and beyond. It is one of the greatest opportunities for jobs in Tasmania’s history. [Premier of Tasmania]

Gordon dam and lake (Tangerineduel, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Cut Off From Grid By Russian Shelling, Says Ukraine” • Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was disconnected from the country’s grid after Russian shelling destroyed its last remaining high-voltage power lines, according to officials. The power plant only has 15 days’ worth of fuel for emergency generators, Energoatom said. [MSN]

US:

¶ “US To Deploy 550 GW Of New Renewables By 2030” • The American Clean Power Association projects that the US may deploy 550 GW of new renewable energy projects by 2030. Solar, wind, and energy storage capacity will help pave the way for the nation to cut economy-wide emissions by 40% below 2005 levels. The work will create 1 million jobs. [pv magazine USA]

Wind turbines (Quang Nguyen Vinh, Pexels)

¶ “America’s Largest Transit Bus Charging Station And Microgrid Opens In Maryland” • Montgomery County, Maryland, now has the largest transit bus charging station and microgrid in the US. It has the largest fleet of electric school buses in the nation and is planning for all 70 of the buses in its county transit system to be electric by 2026. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kentucky Emerges From Solar Energy Stealth Mode” • The state of Kentucky has been bumping around in the lower tier of states for installed PV capacity, but its solar energy wallflower days may be coming to an end. A new green hydrogen hub, one of the world’s largest indoor farms, and a giant water battery are all in the mix. [CleanTechnica]

Indoor farming in Kentucky (Courtesy of AppHarvest)

¶ “California’s Climate Crisis Is Intensifying Quickly And Taking A Heavy Toll On Residents, New Data Reveals” • California’s climate crisis is quickly intensifying, impacting every resident and “increasingly taking a toll on the health and well-being of its people and on its unique and diverse ecosystems,” data from the California EPA reveals. [CNN]

¶ “Burlington Electric Department Announces Partnership With Arc Industries” • The Burlington Electric Department announced a partnership with ARC Industries to pioneer ARC’s new, leading-edge wind turbine – The Orb – at Burlington International Airport in pursuit of Burlington’s goal of becoming a Net-Zero Energy City by 2030. [City of Burlington, VT]

Have an unpretentiously splendid day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Natural Gas Power Plants Begin Their Inevitable Decline” • Natural-gas-fired power plants are expected to provide 38% of the nation’s electricity in 2022, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Though nearly a net 6,900 MW of capacity will be added this year, natural gas is expected to be 36% of the power mix in 2023. [The Street]

Wisconsin gas-powered plant (Dual Freq, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Protein Evolution Recycles Plastics Quickly – ‘1 Million Years Of Evolution In 1 Day’” • Protein Evolution, a startup based in New Haven, Connecticut, emerged from stealth mode this week to announce it has created a process that can break down plastic waste into its component parts, which can then be reused to make new plastics. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar PV Module Design Has Wide-Ranging Impacts On Our Clean-Energy Future” • To achieve its decarbonization goals, the US must increase its PV production and installations rapidly, but installing more of the same is not the only solution. PV modules that last longer could reduce the manufacturing requirements and amounts of materials. [CleanTechnica]

Solar modules (Kelly, Pexels)

World:

¶ “How Pop Band A-Ha Inspired Norway’s EV Revolution” • Back in the 1980s, leaders in the Nordic environmental movement were pushing for EV technology but it just wasn’t being noticed. Then they recruited the country’s biggest pop group to help push the issue into the mainstream. The group, A-ha, used an EV to launch a campaign of civil disobedience. [BBC]

¶ “Ukrainians Are Dreading The ‘Darkest Winter’ As Russia Takes Aim At The Power Grid” • As the weather gets colder, millions of Ukrainians are trying to prepare for what they know will be an extremely difficult winter. The Ukrainian government said in July that over 800,000 homes had been damaged or destroyed in the war. Now Russia is bombing power plants. [CNN]

Bombed apartment building (Nick Tsybenko, Unsplash)

¶ “USA And UAE Team Up On Clean Energy – $100 Billion Investment” • Through a new Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy, the US and UAE will focus on the scalable development of low-emission energy sources, with the goal of deploying 100 GW of clean energy globally by 2035. This will be done with an investment of $100 billion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Mercedes – Last ICE Platform 2023, Midsize EV Sedan 2024” • The Mercedes E Class is due for an update next year, and Mercedes told Germany’s Automobil Woche this week that the new platform for the E Class will be the last internal combustion chassis it will develop. Autocar reports that an electric counterpart to the C Class will be out in 2024. [CleanTechnica]

2023 Mercedes E Class prototype (Courtesy of Mercedes)

¶ “Renewable Energy Records Tumble Around The Country As Rooftop Solar Power Soars” • Soaring power production from rooftop solar panels broke records across Australia as output from fossil fuels fell to all-time lows. “We have observed records being broken recently – I think we need to get used to that,” a former electricity system planner said. [ABC]

¶ “EDF Renewables Turns Sod For 50-MW Battery” • EDF Renewables UK has started construction of a 50-MW battery site at Energy Superhub Coventry. The 50-MW, 100-MWh battery will help to support the integration of renewables in the UK by storing energy when the supply is abundant and discharging it when the supply is lower. [reNews]

EDF battery (EDF image)

¶ “Poland To Build Three Nuclear Power Plants” • The Polish government unveiled plans to install six large pressurized water reactors by 2040 with a combined installed capacity of 6 GW to 9 GW. Poland signed an agreement with the US on cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy. Westinghouse offered its AP1000 technology. [Balkan Green Energy News]

US:

¶ “Navy Lays Out Plan To Shutter Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Nearly One Year After Leak Sickened Military Families” • A year after a fuel leak sickened families and forced the Pentagon to shut down the Red Hill fuel storage facility in Hawaii, the Navy laid out its nearly 5-year plan to permanently close the World War II-era facility. [CNN]

Red Hill fuel storage facility (US Navy image)

¶ “Almost 25% Of US Electrical Generation Was Renewable In The First Two-Thirds Of 2022” • Renewable electricity sources saw increases in the first two-thirds of 2022, Energy Information Administration data shows. In the first eight months of 2022, nearly a quarter of US electricity generation came from clean energy sources, Electrek reported. [EcoWatch]

¶ “Tritium And DC-America Join Forces To Provide Coast-To-Coast EV Charging” • Tritium DCFC Limited and DC-America joined forces to install DC fast chargers along America’s highway system as part of a coast-to-coast charging network. DC-America will offer its versatile charging stations equipped with Tritium’s fast chargers. [CleanTechnica]

EV charging stations

¶ “California Taco Bell Receives First EV Charging Stations” • Taco Bell opened its first ultra-fast charging station in South San Francisco, with help of ChargeNet Solutions. The partnership of ChargeNet Stations and Diversified Restaurant Group, a Taco Bell franchisee, will make EV charging easy at one of America’s most popular fast food chains. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “rPlus Energies Breaks Ground On 200-MW Solar Project” • Renewable energy developer rPlus Energies began construction of the 200-MWac Appaloosa Solar 1 project in Iron County, Utah. This project is the state’s largest. rPlus Energies, Greenbacker, and Sundt Construction hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on the project site. [Utah Business Magazine]

Have a serendipitously enjoyable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Industrial Agricultural Needs To Be Replaced By Agroecology – Soon” • The agricultural sector accounts for nearly 25% of all emissions. Agroecology is a method of farming with nature rather than against it, using ecological principles for agricultural systems. The method promotes diversity, resilience, circularity, social values, and cultural practices. [CleanTechnica]

Young plants (Elena Mozhvilo, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Russian Missiles Bombard Cities Across Ukraine, Hitting Power And Water Infrastructure” • Russia launched a barrage of missile strikes at Ukrainian cities as it ramped up its attacks on infrastructure facilities across the country. In Kyiv,  80% of the residents were left without water, and many lost electricity. Other cities had similar damage. [CNN]

¶ “Power And Water Hit As Grain Ships Call Russian Bluff” • Power and water supplies across Ukraine have been bombed, including the hydroelectric power plant in Zaporizhzhia. Also, twelve ships filled with grain left the country’s Black Sea ports despite Russia’s suspension of an agreement allowing exports to some of the most vulnerable countries. [BBC]

Dnieper Hydroelectric Station (A1, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Mullen Announces The I-GO – €12,111 Mini EV For Europe” • Mullen, an emerging EV maker in China, announced that it has secured exclusive sales, distribution, and branding rights to a new compact urban delivery electric vehicle. The vehicle is called the I-GO. It is fully EU-standard approved and certified for sale in select European markets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “European Parliament Moves To Mandate EVs By 2035” • The EU Parliament agreed to a set of rules that will see an increase in the number of recharging and alternative refueling stations for cars, trucks, trains, and planes. This is part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package” which plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% come 2030. [CleanTechnica]

EV recharging (Ed Harvey, Pexels)

¶ “Toyota Places Recycled EV Batteries On Grid” • JERA Co and Toyota created the world’s first large-capacity Sweep Energy Storage System using batteries from previously owned EVs. It is now connected to the consumer electrical power grid. They plan to store 100 MWh in grid batteries at JERA’s Yokkaichi Thermal Power Station. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kenya Eyes Renewable Energy Milestone With Blueprint” • Stakeholders in Kenya’s electricity sector have unveiled a new blueprint to enable it to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030. The announcement comes ahead of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. [The Standard]

Kenya (Thomas Bennie, Unsplash)

¶ “Warsaw, Seoul Ink Deal To Develop Nuclear Power Plant In Poland” • Seoul and Warsaw signed a deal to develop a nuclear power reactor in Poland, the two countries’ ministries have said. Poland’s ZE PAK and PGE will join with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to assess building a 1400-MW nuclear reactor in the city of Patnow in central Poland. [WION]

US:

¶ “How Tucson, Arizona Is Facing Up To A 1,200-Year Drought” • Tucson is a desert city where barely 12 inches (30 cm) of rain falls in an average year. Over the past 15 years or so thousands of its residents have turned to rainwater harvesting. They joined the city’s drive to embrace the practice as part of its suite of water conservation initiatives. [BBC]

Blue front door in Tucson (Sean Benesh, Unsplash)

¶ “This City Paid $1.1 Million To Keep Faucets Running Through March As The Price Of Water Skyrockets In California” • Miles of uprooted almond trees lie dead on parched farms in Coalinga, in the intensifying drought, as new water restrictions force farmers to sacrifice their crops. Officials turned to the open market to buy the water the city needs. [CNN]

¶ “US Airports Are Switching To Electric Buses With Help From Federal Grants” • While we are waiting for electric airplanes and green aviation fuels to arrive, airports all across the United States are beginning to switch to electric buses to shuttle passengers from terminal to terminal and from parking lots to terminals and back. [CleanTechnica]

Electric buses (Courtesy of Charlotte Douglas Airport)

¶ “Existing Water Infrastructure Holds Key To Generating More US Hydropower” • A study at the US DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory found great potential in all 50 states to produce clean conduit hydropower utilizing the existing infrastructure of pipelines and conduits. ORNL estimates that 1.41 GW of capacity could be added to grids. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Partnership Creates Wisconsin’s First Commercial Facility To Create Biofuel For Trucks, Aircraft” • The state’s first commercial facility to convert dairy farm waste into renewable biofuel for vehicles broke ground in Wisconsin, thanks to a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Agra Energy, a California company. [Wisconsin Public Radio]

Farm in Wisconsin (Preston Bousley, Unsplash)

¶ “NextEra Says FPL’s Speedy Hurricane Ian Recovery Could Cost Customers $1.1 Billion” • Florida Power & Light achieved the company’s best-ever service restoration time in response to Hurricane Ian in September, though the effort may ultimately cost customers a collective $1.1 billion, company leaders said during a third-quarter earnings call. [Utility Dive]

¶ “PG&E Takes First Big Step To Keep Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Running” • PG&E took its first big step to keeping Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operating past 2025. The utility company sent a request to the NRC essentially asking how it should proceed with an application to extend the life of the nuclear plant. [San Luis Obispo Tribune]

Have a happily developing day.

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