Opinion:
¶ “Europe’s Warm Winter Is Robbing Putin Of A Trump Card” • The threat of cutting Russian gas supplies was Putin’s trump card, if the war he started dragged into a long winter. But the winter has been milder than expected, and Western and Central Europe have coordinated gas consumption. taking one of Putin’s largest bargaining chips out of his hands. [CNN]
Mild winter weather (Dominik Dombrowski, Unsplash)
¶ “Why The Oil And Gas Companies Are Considering Green Hydrogen” • As interest in green hydrogen picks up, energy firms are using renewable energy to power hydrogen production. But one reason for the interest in green hydrogen by some energy companies is to support longer-term oil and gas production by helping to decarbonize operations. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Solar Energy For Household Consumption: Its Financial Feasibility” • Solar energy in Nepal is abundant and cheap. There is more than enough solar energy for every Nepali to enjoy the same energy consumption as in the developed countries. A solar power plant generates clean, environment-friendly and reliable electricity. [The Himalayan Times]
Solar water pump in Nepal (Prabuddha Raj, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Earth Is 1.1°C Warmer Than In The 19th Century” • Since the early 1900s, the Earth has warmed up by about 1.1°C as climate change becomes the biggest destabilising factor across the world. The latest assessment by scientists at the American space agency, NASA, reveals how the planet is losing its coolness as years become warmer and warmer. [India Today]
World:
¶ “Lützerath: German Police Oust Climate Activists After Clashes Near Coal Mine” • German police say they have removed almost all climate activists from a German village that will be destroyed to allow the expansion of a coal mine. Hundreds of police cleared around 300 activists from Lützerath. There were two people still holding out in a tunnel at the site. [BBC]
Lützerath (Bodoklecksel, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “Tevva Plans On Fuel Cells For New Electric Truck” • Last summer, Tevva was talking up a 7.5-tonne electric truck for the European market powered primarily by batteries, with a fuel cell on board to function as a range extender. Tevva has unveiled a 19-tonne electric truck. The truck is expected to have a range of up to 500 km (310 miles). [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ørsted Applies For Four Permits For Swedish Offshore Wind Farms” • Ørsted has applied for permits to build four additional large offshore wind farms in Sweden. Pending permit approvals and a plan for offshore grid build-out, Ørsted aims to deliver the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in Sweden, Skane Offshore Wind Farm, by 2029. [reNews]
Baltic Sea at Gotland (Michal Lawrenin, Unsplash)
¶ “2,000 MW Of RE Projects In Mindanao Pipeline” • Around 2,000 MW of renewable energy projects are under development in Mindanao, a government representative said. Projects with a combined capacity of 400 MW are already committed, implying that they have financial backing and are in the process of getting necessary permissions. [Power Philippines]
¶ “Nigeria Launches Renewable Energy Roadmap With IRENA Collaboration” • The Nigerian government and the International Renewable Energy Agency have launched a Renewable Energy Roadmap to help meet Nigeria’s energy demands. Nearly 60% of Nigeria’s energy demand in 2050 could be met with renewable energy sources. [ESI Africa]
Lagos, Nigeria (Namnso Ukpanah, Unsplash)
¶ “Shell’s 500-MW, 1,000-MWh Battery Storage Project To Be At Former Coal Power Station” • Shell Energy has announced plans to build, own, and operate the Wallerawang 9 Battery, a 500-MW, 1,000-MWh battery facility in New South Wales. The project is to be sited at a former coal power station. It will help integrate renewable generating capacity. [Energy Matters]
¶ “Global Leaders And Climate Activists Gather In Snowless Davos Ahead Of World Economic Forum 2023” • At the Swiss resort of Davos, where World Economic Forum 2023 is meeting, snowpack remains meagre on the lower slopes due to a massive heatwave bringing high temperatures to Europe and forcing ski resorts to shut down operations. [Earth.Org]
Davos looking green (Marvin Meyer, Unsplash)
¶ “Bataan Bishop Opposes Nuclear Plant: ‘We Don’t Want To Put Life On The Brink Of Danger’” • Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos has expressed opposition to reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant amid the dangers it poses to people’s lives and to the the environment. Some people think the plant will save money, but it will add burdens. [POLITIKO]
US:
¶ “Nikola And Allison Collaborate On Next-Gen Electric Semi” • It looks like the wild world of over-the-road trucking is about to get a little bit wilder. Allison Transmission has teamed up with Nikola. Together, they’re putting their Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell EVs through the wringer at Allison’s state-of-the-art testing center. [CleanTechnica]
Testing an electric semi (Allison image)
¶ “Wholesale US Electricity Prices Were Volatile in 2022” • The average wholesale electricity prices at major trading hubs in the US rose throughout much of 2022 and were, at times, volatile as a result of extreme weather events. The limited availability of coal to substitute for higher-priced natural gas also contributed to higher electricity prices. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Boskalis Wins US Offshore Wind Farm Contract” • Boskalis has acquired the contract to construct a large offshore windfarm off the US coastline. The Boskalis project scope includes the transportation and installation of the wind turbine foundations and power cables. Two crane vessels and several transport and cable-laying vessels will be deployed. [reNews]
Have an upliftingly convenient day.
geoharvey 