World:
¶ “Gridworks To Invest $50 Million In Virunga Power To Ramp Up Run-Of-River Hydro Projects In African Countries” • A UK government-backed investor in Africa’s electricity networks, Gridworks, says that its focus is to create development impact by connecting Africa’s people and businesses to reliable, affordable, clean power. [CleanTechnica]
Small hydro project (Microhydro image)
¶ “25% Of New Car Sales Now Electric In The Netherlands!” • The Dutch auto market grew 2% in November, to almost 28,000 registrations, but the local plugin vehiclemarket was down by 8% year over year. Pure electrics, which were down 9% year over year, represented 25% of all new vehicle sales. Plugin hybrids were down 6% in November. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “It’s For Real: Wireless EV Charging For Germany’s Famous Autobahn” • Germany’s Autobahn public roadway system is to get its first wireless EV charging system. The first vehicle to use the system will be an electric bus ferrying passengers into the city of Balingen, in the southwest of Germany. The system is to reduce the need for large batteries. [CleanTechnica]
Embedding a wireless EV charging system (Courtesy of Electreon)
¶ “Egypt’s Renewable Energy Production Put At 10.08 GW” • The Egyptian renewable energy production peaked at nearly 10.08 GW in 2022, accounting for around 29.6% of the total energy mix, official data shows. Total electricity output is estimated at 33.8 GW and output is set to rise sharply as projects signed over the past months are completed. [Zawya]
¶ “Charting Singapore’s Energy Transition” • The surging prices for natural gas led to six electricity retailers exiting the Singapore market. To help tide over the volatile energy prices, the Energy Market Authority, a public agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, responsible for the energy supply of Singapore, was quick to intervene. [Earth.Org]
Singapore (Peter Nguyen, Unsplash)
¶ “Non-Fossil Energy Capacity To Touch 500 GW By 2030” • The installed electricity capacity of India includes 172.72 GW from non-fossil fuel sources as on October 31, 2022, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It added that it is working towards achieving 500 GW of capacity from these sources by 2030. [The Financial Express]
¶ “Governments Strike $7.8 Billion Deal To Connect Snowy 2.0 And NSW Renewable Zones To The Grid” • New South Wales’s renewable energy zones and the Snowy 2.0 hydro project will be plugged into the grid under a A$7.8 billion agreement between the federal and NSW governments. The federal government has committed A$4.7 billion to the plan. [The Guardian]
Tumut Hydroelectric Power Station (Cmh, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “Developing Renewable Energy In Ukraine” • There are two principles that should guide efforts to rebuild Ukraine’s energy system: ensuring energy security and deepening the connection and economic relationship between Ukraine and the European Union. To accomplish both, Ukraine should develop its potential renewable energy resources. [SPE JPT]
¶ “Renewables To Overtake Coal As World’s Top Source Of Electricity, With Natural Gas To Endure, Says IEA” • Renewable sources of energy are collectively on track to eclipse coal as the world’s leading source of electricity, with growth forecast to nearly double in the next five years, the International Energy Agency said in a report. [Natural Gas Intelligence]
Wind turbines (Pixabay, Pexels)
US:
¶ “EPA Finalizes Tougher Pollution Standards For Large Vehicles Like Trucks And Buses” • The Biden administration finalized tougher pollution standards for large trucks, delivery vans and buses starting with model year 2027. It will cut down on the smog from heavy-duty trucks by requiring them to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by nearly 50% by 2045. [CNN]
¶ “USPS Fulfills Top Biden Climate Goal With Deployment Of 66,000 Electric Delivery Trucks” • The US Postal Service has announced it plans to deploy at least 66,000 electric delivery trucks by 2028, meeting a key goal for the Biden administration’s climate agenda. By 2026, the USPS plans to buy zero-emissions delivery trucks almost exclusively. [CNN]
Electric postal delivery truck (USPS image)
¶ “Crunch Time For Colorado River As Federal Government Ponders Mandatory Cuts” • According to the Washington Post, state and federal authorities say that years of overconsumption of water are colliding with the stark realities of climate change. They may create a “complete doomsday scenario” for the Colorado River. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Putting The RICO In Puerto Rico” • Sixteen communities in Puerto Rico filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Shell, Conoco, Chevron, Occidental, and other oil and coal companies. It claims, among other things, that they are no different than mobsters, so they are subject to the provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. [CleanTechnica]
Puerto Rico National Guard (National Guard, CC BY 2.0)
¶ “Stellantis Strikes Big Solar Energy Deal In Michigan” • In an effort to go green without on-site renewables, Stellantis and DTE Energy have committed to adding 400 MW of new solar projects in Michigan. This will be enough clean energy to power annual needs of 130,000 homes and avoid over 670,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Nuclear Energy Chief Details Plans To Find Disposal Site For Spent Connecticut Nuclear Waste” • The top US nuclear energy regulator assured local industry and government that her office has reinvigorated its search for a storage solution for spent nuclear fuel, a daunting issue that threatens country’s near term energy goals. [Hartford Courant]
Have a majestically useful day.
geoharvey 