Opinion:
¶ “Billionaires Battle Over Sun Cable: David Waterworth” • Disagreements about management of Sun Cable, the world’s biggest renewable energy export project, led to numerous conflicting headlines. I was hoping that after four days, the dust might have settled and the situation might be clearer. I’m not sure, but here’s what I can make of it. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it (Sun Cable image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “To Integrate Renewables, Energy Storage Is A Cost-Effective Alternative: Study” • Energy storage is a cost-effective alternative to transmission lines for integrating renewable energy, supporing reliability, and modernizing the grid, according to a recent study. Storage would typically have a lighter impact on the land and shorter development time. [Utility Dive]
¶ “The Rich Should Pay Higher Fares To Clean Up Aviation, Says Heathrow Boss” • Rich travelers will have to pay more to fly if the aviation industry is to transition to greener fuels, the boss of one of the world’s biggest airports said. Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said that wealthy individuals and companies should pay extra to fly with sustainable aviation fuel. [CNN]
Plane at Heathrow (Isaac Struna, Unsplash)
¶ “Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Detained By Police In Germany At Coal Mine Protest” • Greta Thunberg was detained by German police at a protest over the expansion of a coal mine in the west German village of Lützerath. She was part of a large group of protesters that broke through a police barrier and encroached on a coal pit. [CNN]
¶ “Geely Group Sales Of Electrified And Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicles Doubled To Over 675,000 Units, 29% Of Sales” • There are over a dozen auto brands in Zhejiang Geely Holding Group’s portfolio, Volvo Cars, Polestar, and Lotus are a few. Electrified and clean alternative fuel vehicle sales of its brands have doubled to over 675,000 units. [CleanTechnica]
Zeekr 001 (Courtesy of Geely)
¶ “51% Plugin Vehicle Share In The Netherlands! Tesla Model Y #1 Overall!” • December was another strong month in the Dutch market for plugin vehicle sales, with 15,757 plugin registrations. That result translated into a brilliant 51% plugin vehicle market share, with 44% share from just full battery EVs. The market for plugin EVs has had steady growth. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “IFC To Help Kyrgyz Republic Develop Renewable Energy Through Public-Private Partnership” • IFC and the government of the Kyrgyz Republic announced a partnership under the World Bank Group’s Scaling Solar program to develop up to 150 MW of solar power, increasing the Kyrgyz renewable capacity and diversifying its energy mix. [IFC Press Releases]
Nomad games village, Kyrgyzstan (Dastan Suiuntbekov, Unsplash)
¶ “Masdar Signs 1-GW Kazakhstan Wind Deal” • Masdar has signed an agreement related to the development of a 1-GW wind power plant in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The move would mark Masdar’s first investment in Kazakhstan, though it has already developed a strong presence in other countries of Central Asia. [reNews]
¶ “China Sets Another Solar Power Installation Record While Putting The Brakes On Fossil Fuel Capacity” • The installation of solar farms in China hit a record in 2022, while the amount of new fossil fuel-powered capacity fell for a second consecutive year. China continues to reduce its reliance on coal to generate electricity. [South China Morning Post]
PVs and wind turbines in Xinjiang (w0zny, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “‘Big Oil Peddled The Big Lie’: UN Chief Slams Energy Giants” • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned fossil fuel giants for ignoring their own climate science, accusing the oil and gas industry of seeking to expand production despite their knowing “full well” that their business model is incompatible with human survival. [CNBC]
¶ “Assessing The Cost And Feasibility Of France’s Nuclear Future” • A French government proposal to shorten the process of approving new nuclear energy projects is being considered by the Senate. The government says the law is necessary and cost effective, but climate activists including Greenpeace say it’s a waste of time and money. [RFI]
Saint Laurent nuclear plant (Nitot, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “Locally Caught Fish Are Full Of Dangerous Chemicals Called PFAS, Study Finds” • Fish caught in the fresh waters of the US’s streams and rivers and the Great Lakes contain dangerously high levels of the “forever chemical” PFAS. The EPA is reducing the permissable amount of PFAS in water to 0.02 parts per trillion. Fish can have 8,000 parts per trillion. [CNN]
¶ “$2.9 Billion Approved For California Zero-Emission Vehicles Infrastructure” • The California Energy Commission approved $2.9 billion for zero-emission transportation infrastructure in the state. The funds will be used for the installation of more EV chargers, zero-emission trucks, school and transit buses, and hydrogen refueling technology. [CleanTechnica]
Electric bus in Washington, DC (Mario Sessions, Unsplash)
¶ “Microgrid Boosts San Pasqual Band’s Energy Sovereignty And Security” • The San Pasqual Reservation basks in the abundant sunshine of San Diego County all through the year. In June 2022, the Tribe commissioned a hybrid solar-storage-liquid propane microgrid system to boost energy reliability and resilience on the Reservation. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Entergy Texas Helps Customers Reduce Carbon Footprint” • Entergy Texas launched its Green Select program, which allows residential and business customers to match some or all of their electricity with clean, renewable energy generated in state. The program offers affordable options to help achieve environmental sustainability goals. [Entergy Newsroom]
Have a wonderfully relaxing day.
geoharvey 