Opinion:
¶ “Yikes! USA Has Only Major Power Grid Without A Plan” • The US electric grid is often referred to as the greatest machine in the world. But in the aftermath of winter storm Elliott, we need to ask ourselves: is this machine a match for the extreme weather events that are blanketing the country with ever increasing frequency and ferocity? [CleanTechnica]
Icy transmission lines (Jerry Zhang, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Contrails Are A Problem For Aviation – But There Could Be An Easy Solution” • Environmentally, contrails are surprisingly bad. A study looked at aviation’s contribution to climate change and concluded that contrails create 57% of the sector’s warming impact by trapping heat that would otherwise be released into space. Fortunately, there is a solution. [CNN]
¶ “Scientists Claim Carbon Capture Is Viable And Fossil Fuel Producers Should Bear The Costs” • Scientists in the UK, the US, and the Netherlands published a study that says carbon capture is now a viable technology and fossil fuel companies should pay to remove the CO₂ attributable to their activities as a condition of being allowed to operate. [CleanTechnica]
Pumpjack (Zbynek Burival, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Huge Rare Earth Metals Discovery In Arctic Sweden” • The EU’s largest deposit of rare earths has been found in Sweden. No rare earths are currently mined in Europe, and 98% of rare earths used in the EU in 2021 came from China. The deposit’s discovery is seen as “decisive” for the green transition, as demand for EVs and wind turbines increases. [BBC]
¶ “Hitachi And Petrofac Win Early Works Deal For 2-GW Dutch Grid Hubs” • TenneT has entered into early works agreements with Hitachi Energy and Petrofac to support the group’s 2-GW Dutch program. The three companies will start working on the first two offshore converter stations for TenneT’s HVDC offshore wind grid expansion. [reNews]
Wind turbines (Waldemar Brandt, Unsplash)
¶ “Ecuador Accepts 511 MW In Renewable Energy Bids” • After all bids opened so far came in below required price caps, Ecuador plans to award contracts for 511 MW in ten solar, wind, and hydro projects worth about $800 million in February, the electricity vice minister said. The price caps ranged by technology from 5.24¢/kWh to 6.78¢/kWh. [Argus Media]
¶ “Finland: Wind Power Increased By 75% Last Year, Boosting Energy Security And Climate Goals” • Finland’s wind capacity increased by 75% last year, according to the Finnish Wind Energy Association. Almost half of Finland’s windpower is domestically owned, and the renewable energy source is providing a lifeline during the current energy crisis. [Euronews]
Wind turbines (Thomas Galler, Unsplash)
¶ “Japan Eyes Delay Of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Water Release: Report” • Japan revised the timing of a planned release to the sea of radioactive wastewater at Fukushima Daiichi to possibly summer, indicating a delay from the initial target of this spring, after factoring in the progress of a release tunnel and the need to gain public support. [Business Standard]
¶ “Total Eren And Ecopetrol Partner On 100-MW Columbian PV” • Total Eren has partnered with Columbian energy company Ecopetrol to implement a 100-MW solar project in the Latin American country. The Rubiales solar park will be built on the site of Ecopetrol’s Rubiales field, located in the municipality of Puerto Gaitan, in the Meta Province. [reNews]
Solar array (Total image)
US:
¶ “Exxon Accurately Predicted Global Warming From 1970s But Continued To Cast Doubt On Climate Science” • Exxon’s own scientists accurately predicted future global warming in reports dating back to the late 1970s, but for years the company publicly cast doubt on climate science while lobbying against climate action, new analysis shows. [CNN]
¶ “More Than 30 Tornadoes Reportedly Hit Several States As Severe Weather Swept Across The South” • Severe storms swept across the South on Thursday. Ferocious winds sent residents running for cover, blew roofs off homes, and killed at least six people in Alabama. At least 34 preliminary tornado reports were recorded as of Thursday evening. [CNN]
Tornado (Ralph W lambrecht, Pexels)
¶ “US Interior Department Takes Steps To Strengthen Offshore Clean Energy Development” • The Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will publish a proposed rule to update and simplify regulations for clean energy development on the US Outer Continental Shelf to facilitate project approvals. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hawaii’s First Two Community-Owned Solar Projects Coming To Molokai” • Hawaiian Electric and Hoāhu Energy Cooperative Molokai are moving ahead with the state’s first two community solar plus battery projects. These projects could meet over 20% of Molokai’s energy needs and serve an estimated 1,500 households on the island. [Maui Now]
Molokai (Courtesy Hawaiian Electric, cropped)
¶ “Governor Hochul Announces Completion Of Plug Power’s $125 Million Manufacturing Facility In Albany County” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a Plug Power manufacturing plant in Albany County. Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cell systems are used to power electric motors in the electric mobility market. [Governor Kathy Hochul]
¶ “Interactive Mapping Tool For Siting Renewable Energy Projects” • Argonne National Laboratory released an online geospatial mapping tool to aid siting decisions and identify areas that are suitable for solar, wind, and other clean energy projects. It is a free, open resource to identify suitable locations for siting renewable energy projects. [pv magazine USA]
Have an excitingly comfortable day.
geoharvey 
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