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.
geoharvey 