Science and Technology:
¶ “New UCF-Developed Battery Could Prevent Post-Hurricane Electric Vehicle Fires” • A researcher at the University of Central Florida has developed an aqueous battery that could prevent electric vehicle fires. The UCF-designed battery is fast charging, reaching full charge in three minutes, compared to the hours it takes lithium-ion batteries. [CleanTechnica]
Rivian in water (Rivian image)
World:
¶ “Global Experts Worry Simultaneous Crises Could Become The New Norm” • In a survey of risks, the World Economic Forum found that over 80% of respondents expected either “persistent crises” or “multiple shocks” over the next two years, at best leading to “divergent trajectories” for countries and at worst triggering “catastrophic outcomes.” [CNN]
¶ “Ocean Heat Hit Another Record High In 2022, Fueling Extreme Weather” • The world’s oceans were the warmest on record for the fourth year in row in 2022, according to a study published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. It is a troubling indication of the climate crisis caused by humans releasing heat-trapping gases. [CNN]
Stormy water (Nareeta Martin, Unsplash)
¶ “Toyota Hilux Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pickup Prototype Unveiled” • In much of the world, the Toyota Hilux pickup is one of the most popular vehicles. Toyota recently showcased its Toyota Hilux Revo Battery EV Concept. Toyota is not stopping there, but is looking to continue its work on hydrogen fuel cells. This time, it is focusing on the Hilux. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Siemens Energy Consortium Receives $4 Billion Wind Power Grid Contract” • Siemens Energy and Spain’s Dragados Offshore have been awarded a contract worth more than €4 billion ($4.29 billion) to build two converter systems for offshore wind energy grid connections in Germany, the German company said in a statement. [Offshore Magazine]
Offshore wind turbines (Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash)
¶ “India Could Potentially Add 45 GW Of Corporate Renewables By 2027” • Bridge to India says deployment of renewables by corporations will likely grow by 22% per year over the next few years, reaching 45 GW by 2027. Open-access PV and rooftop solar will remain the dominant sources of renewable power for corporate consumers. [PV Magazine]
¶ “Wind Power Sets New UK Record” • National Grid ESO has confirmed that wind provided more than half of the UK’s power at one time on the evening of January 10, 2023, setting a new record, according to RenewableUK. Wind generated 21.6 GW of electric power in the half-hour period between 6:00 and 6:30 pm, providing 50.4% of the UK’s power. [reNews]
Wind turbines (Master Wen, Unsplash)
¶ “Zimbabwe Looks To Public To Provide Solar Power Amid Energy Crisis” • As lingering droughts hit southern Africa’s hydropower dams, Zimbabwe faces growing electricity shortages, but connecting individuals and businesses that have installed private solar panels to the national grid could help fill some of the gap. [Devdiscourse]
¶ “Pacific Pleads With Japan Over Nuclear Waste Release” • In a few months, Japan will start dumping one million tonnes of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Japan must work with the Pacific to find a solution to its nuclear waste plan or we face disaster, the Pacific Islands Forum warned. [Stuff.co.nz]
Contaminated water (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “Storms Relentless As California Drenching Goes On” • The famously sunny southern coast of California has been hit by storm after storm since the December holidays, eroding roads, felling trees and causing landslides. As of Tuesday evening, at least 17 people had died in weather-related incidents since the storms began, Governor Newsom said. [BBC]
¶ “Ford EVs Made Up 4.5% Of Ford USA Sales In December” • Ford started to arrive on the EV scene in 2022. Ford has three compelling EVs, with the hot Ford Mustang Mach-E, the solid Ford F-150 Lightning, and the utilitarian Ford E-Transit. This doesn’t compare to the many fossil fuel vehicles it sells, but at least it’s off the blocks. [CleanTechnica]
Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)
¶ “NYC Set To Add 900 EVs To City Fleet” • New York City got a $10.1 million grant from the US Transportation Department and quickly announced plans to replace more than 900 city-owned, fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric ones and add 315 more EV charging stations. Nearly 20% of the city’s municipal fleet be fully electric by the end of this year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Duke Energy Begins Operating 207-MW Wind Farm In Iowa” • Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions has placed into operation a 207-MW wind farm in Iowa. The Ledyard Windpower project is the company’s first wind farm in the state, which accounts for 10% of US wind power. Amshore Renewable Energy was the project’s co-developer. [Power Engineering]
Wind technicians (Courtesy of Duke Energy)
¶ “Qcells Plans Largest Clean Energy Manufacturing Investment In US History” • The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Qcells, the solar panel manufacturing division of South Korea’s Hanwha, planned to invest in new factories in Georgia, saying it was “the largest clean energy manufacturing investment in US history.” Now it’s official. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Pipe Issue Delays Startup Of New Vogtle Nuclear Unit” • The startup of the first of two new reactors at the Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia is being pushed back to at least April, one month after officials with Georgia Power had planned to start generating electricity from the unit. The delay is due to a vibrating pipe in the cooling system. [POWER Magazine]
Have an emphatically worthwhile day.
geoharvey 