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.
geoharvey 
Leave a Reply