World:
¶ “Atmospheric Rivers Aren’t Just A Problem For California. They’re Changing The Arctic, Too” • The Arctic is seeing a rapid decline in sea ice even during the cold winter months when it should be recovering from the summer melt. Scientists say that one often-overlooked factor plays a bigger role than they had thought: Atmospheric rivers. [CNN]
Aurora Borealis (Sami Takarautio, Unsplash)
¶ “South Africa’s Power Cuts Hit Vineyards” • South Africans are struggling with crippling power cuts daily, and they impose huge costs on business. As the country’s grape harvest gets under way, there are fears about the impact on the wine industry. This is a crucial time of year, and it coincides with the worst rolling power blackouts the country has ever had. [BCC]
¶ “2022 Indian EV Market Share – Start Of Evolution Of The S Curve” • 2022 was an exciting year for the Indian EV market, so it makes sense to take stock of where we are and what the road ahead looks like. Tremendous growth in EV sales resulted from causes ranging from generous subsidies to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [CleanTechnica]
Tata Motors EV (Tata Motors image)
¶ “Renewables In China Trend Upward While Nuclear Trends Flat” • In China, the combination of wind and solar, and usually both individually, outstrips new nuclear generation, both in raw nameplate capacity and in additional TWh of annual generation. Hydropower adds even more. China’s nuclear power is barely growing, compared to renewables. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BMW Advancing Fuel Cell Vehicle Trials” • The big drawback to using hydrogen as a power source for automobiles is that the refueling network is virtually non-existent in the US and sparse at best in Europe. This week, Bloomberg reports that BMW chief executive, Oliver Zipse, is a firm believer in fuel cell powered passenger cars. [CleanTechnica]
Fueling a car with hydrogen (Courtesy of BMW Group)
¶ “Indian Steel Companies Begin Transitioning To Green Steel” • With Kalyani Steels Ltd becoming the first Green Steel producer of India, all major Indian steel manufacturers are now beginning to transition towards Green Steel. They are in need of cheap supplies of Green Power and Green Hydrogen so the transition can be financially viable. [Solar Quarter]
¶ “Pacific Forum And Japan Going Head-To-Head Over Planned Nuclear Wastewater Dump” • There are hopes that a meeting will address issues about the looming release of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The Government of Japan, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown are to meet in Japan. [RNZ]
TEPCO installing discharge outlet caisson (TEPCO image)
¶ “Russia Says Protection Structures At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Near Completion” • Construction of protective structures for key facilities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine is nearing completion, Russia’s state TASS news agency reported, citing an adviser to the head of Russia’s nuclear plants operator. [Business Recorder]
US:
¶ “Leader Of Neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Group Charged With Baltimore Power Grid Plot” • Two people, one of whom founded a neo-Nazi group, were arrested after allegedly plotting to shut down power to the Baltimore area. Authorities say the couple planned to shoot five electricity substations in Maryland. They face up to 20 years in prison. [BBC]
Substation (Daryana Vasson, Pexels)
¶ “Freight Train Derailment In Ohio Puts US Infrastructure Back In A Bruising Spotlight” • On the eve of the President’s State of the Union address, American infrastructure is back in a grim spotlight. The fiery derailment of train cars carrying hazardous chemicals on the eastern edge of Ohio has led to an evacuation zone in Ohio and Pennsylvania. [CNN]
¶ “New Study Links EVs With Real-World Reductions In Air Pollution And Respiratory Problems” • A study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, has found a link between the increased use of zero-emission vehicles and improved air quality and public health in California. [CleanTechnica]
Cleaner air for San Francisco (Joonyeop Baek, Unsplash)
¶ “Tesla Stock Rebounded Big In January, Surging 41%” • After hitting a low on January 6, there was an impressive rebound for Tesla’s stock. Many investors are seeing profits as a nice change of pace after a tough year of 2022. Tesla’s shares jumped by 41% in January, according to Dow Jones Market Data, as detailed by a report in Barron’s. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “NREL Removes Initial Barrier To Distributed Wind Turbine Certification” • By funding the International Code Council’s Small Wind Certification Council to cover costs of preliminary reviews for certification applicants, NREL is helping ensure that turbine designs are ready to successfully complete the process of certification. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbine (Anton B, Unsplash)
¶ “Maine PUC Moves Forward With Transmission Line To Deliver Renewable Energy From Northern Maine” • The Maine Public Utilities Commission has issued an order to move forward with LS Power Grid Maine’s transmission line. It will deliver renewable energy from Aroostook County, Maine into the New England grid. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “US Solar Developer Secures Funds For 5-GW Rollout” • US solar developer Pristine Sun Corporation has secured financing to develop up to 5 GW of PV projects. The $250 million capital commitment from comes from strategic private equity and family office investors. It will allow Pristine Sun to develop, finance, and build solar projects. [reNews]
Have a marvelously productive day.
geoharvey 