Opinion and Review:
¶ “New Nuclear Plants Have Turned Into Money Pits” • Oops sorry. That two-reactor nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C you thought would cost $19 billion? It’s going to cost $26 billion. Actually, make that $35 billion. Wait, no, actually it’s closer to $40 billion. And those two Westinghouse reactors in Georgia at the Plant Vogtle 3 and 4 site? Well … [Counterpunch]
Pressure vessel arriving at Hinkley Point C (EDF image)
¶ “‘Atomic Bamboozle’ Probes False Hopes For The Future Of Nuclear Power” • Documentarian Jan Haaken explores what she calls a “repackaging” of nuclear power in the form of small modular reactors, or SMRs, in a 46-minute film Atomic Bamboozle. The filmmaker said she was “agnostic” about SMRs before she made the film. [Willamette Week]
World:
¶ “Europe Is Trying To Ditch Planes For Trains. Here’s How That’s Going” • Ever since the “flight shame” movement began encouraging travelers to seek greener alternatives to jet planes, many in Europe have been looking to the continent’s extensive rail network to replace short-haul air travel. There’s definitely been progress. [CNN]
Rail station (Ryan Lu, Unsplash)
¶ “China’s Energy Transition Sees ‘Staggering’ Progress On Renewables – And A Coal Power Boom” • China is making rapid progress in scaling up clean energy, boosting hopes that it could soon start to curb greenhouse gas pollution. But a massive wave of permits for new coal-fired capacity poses a serious challenge to the country’s climate goals. [CNBC]
¶ “Threat Of Rising Seas To Asian Megacities Could Be Way Worse Than We Thought, Study Warns” • Parts of Asia’s largest cities could be under water by 2100 thanks to rising sea levels, according to a study that combines both the impact of climate change with natural oceanic fluctuations. The report appeared in the journal Nature Climate Change. [CNN]
Manila (Paolo Syiaco, Unsplash)
¶ “Germany’s BEVs Up, PHEVs Down” • Germany, Europe’s single largest auto market, saw plugin electric vehicles take 21.5% share of sales in February 2023, a drop from 24.9% year on year. Full electric share grew, but plugin hybrid share almost halved. Overall auto volume was still some 18% down from pre-2020 seasonal norms. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “More Mining Companies Are Now Adding Renewable Energy To Their Energy Mix, Says JUWI” • Mining companies often depend on fossil fueled generators for power at mines. Progress in the integration of solar PV, battery storage, grid, and fossil fuel generators are giving mining companies the confidence to adopt solar PVs in their operations. [CleanTechnica]
Elikhulu solar plant (Courtesy of JUWI)
¶ “OX Is Working To Cut Post-Harvest Food Losses In Africa With Its Transport-As-A-Service Model” • The total post-harvest food loss in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 37%. OX Delivers wants to help with a more sustainable solution to this problem, in a manner that allows people to afford modern, dependable transport services. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Canadian Solar Powers Up Japanese Projects” • Canadian Solar has announced that three of its solar power projects in Japan totalling 42 MW reached commercial operation in the first quarter of 2023. These projects together are set to produce circa 53,000 MWh of renewable energy, which will power about 15,000 households. [reNews]
Solar array (Canadian Solar image)
¶ “China Announces Financial Support For Ukraine’s Nuclear Safety Program” • China announced over $210,000 in assistance to Ukraine for its nuclear safety program. Earlier, Kyiv said talks between Ukraine and Russia on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had reached a “dead end,” as fighting around the plant has continued for over a year. [Anadolu Agency]
US:
¶ “Shifted Energy Uses Energy Control Strategies To Stabilize The Grid In Hawaii” • Shifted Energy has equipped over 3,000 households in condos and apartment buildings on the islands of Oahu and Maui with its internet connected water heater control modules. That gives Hawaiian Electric a resource as reliable as a power plant for flexibility and control. [CleanTechnica]
Oahu (mar1865, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “Have No Fear: Electric Vehicles Will Get You Where You Need To Go” • A study in the journal Energies, analyzes data recorded from gasoline-fueled cars over one to three years and models the ability of EVs with differing battery sizes, recharging power, and charging locations to handle the same trips. The results may help dispel range anxiety. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Heat Pumps For Every Home” • Beyond saving the planet, heat pumps provide a better heating experience, using a gentler and more constant type of heat than the on/off blast of a natural gas furnace. Heat pumps run constantly without temperature swings and filter and move more air throughout a house. And they do this inexpensively. [CleanTechnica]
Ductless variable speed heat pump (Mitsubishi image)
¶ “Solar Takes Centre Stage As Renewables And Batteries Dominate New Power Capacity In US” • According to the latest data from the US DOE’s Energy Information Administration, 2023 is set to be a blockbuster year for wind, solar, and batteries. The EIA expects nearly all new generating capacity in the US to be solar, wind, or storage this year. [Renew Economy]
¶ “Copper Labs Partners With NREL To Advance Community Energy Resiliency” • Copper Labs, in partnership with the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is participating in a $3 million grant from the DOE for their combined work on a project focused on automation strategies for rapid energy restoration. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Have a terrifically serene day.
geoharvey 
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