Opinion:
¶ “Shoveling Money Into Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Make Their Electricity Cheap” • Data on the current costs of small modular nuclear reactors is starting to roll in. As a result, it’s now possible to make some projections of how long it would take for their costs to drop to the level of renewables today. The results aren’t good for SMRs. [CleanTechnica]
Proposed NuScale plant (NuScale image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Research Team Supports Isostatic Pressing For Solid-State Battery Manufacturing” • Following months of promising test results, battery researchers at the US DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory recommend that the solid-state battery industry focus on isostatic pressing as it looks to bring next-generation batteries to market. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Swiss Court Case Ties Human Rights To Climate Change” • More than 2,000 women are taking the Swiss government to court claiming its policy on climate change is violating their right to life and health. The Swiss women – who have an average age of 73 – say climate change is putting their human rights, their health, and even their lives at risk. [BBC]
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland (Tim Trad, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Push For Decision At World’s Top Court” • Four years after students in Fiji first proposed the idea of taking their concerns on climate change to court, the International Court of Justice is about to be asked to decide on a country’s obligations to fight global warming. The UN has to approve the request for the legal opinion, but 120 countries say they support it. [BBC]
¶ “Oil Tankers Already Sailing Into The Sunset Of Peak Oil Demand” • A global shipping logistics contact reached out to share a very interesting data point and article with me. It seems no one is ordering new oil tankers these days. No one in the shipping industry appears to be interested in investing in assets that will soon be stranded. [CleanTechnica]
Stranded asset (Pixy.org, CC0)
¶ “NTPC To Supply 1.3 GW Of Renewable Power To Greenko’s Green Ammonia Plant” • NTPC Renewable Energy said it would supply 1.3 GW of round-the-clock renewable energy to Greenko’s upcoming green ammonia plant in Andhra Pradesh, India. The facility is to produce up to 1 million tons of green ammonia annually by 2027. [Mercom India]
¶ “CSIRO Says Australia’s Storage Capacity Must Grow Tenfold, Urges Alternative Technologies” • In a report on energy storage, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation estimates the country could require a 10 to 14-fold increase in its electricity storage capacity by 2050. CSIRO calls for support of new technology. [pv magazine Australia]
Pumped storage plant (Cmh, CC-BY-SA 3,0, cropped)
¶ “Australian Technology May Help Generate Power From Defunct Gold Mines In Kolar Gold Fields” • An Australian renewable energy company’s unique scheme to generate electricity may resuscitate the fortunes of one of India’s iconic but defunct gold mines, namely the Kolar Gold Fields, in the state of Karnataka. [The Hindu]
¶ “Iberdrola In Global Wind, Solar Power Play With Amazon” • Iberdrola signed its largest-ever global PPA to develop renewable projects with Amazon. Baltic Eagle and Windanker offshore wind farms will provide Amazon with a total of 1.1 TWh of energy each year, which is equivalent to the annual electricity needs of more than 314,000 European homes. [reNews]
Solar power plant (Pixy.org, CC0)
¶ “Latest In Ukraine: IAEA Chief Says Deal To Protect Nuclear Plant Could Be ‘Close’” • A deal to secure the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine could be “close,” although final details have yet to be agreed upon by Russian and Ukrainian officials, said Rafael Mariano Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency. [VOA News]
US:
¶ “Youth Versus The State Of Montana: Support For Fossil Fuel Companies Is Unconstitutional” • Sixteen young Montanans have sued their state, arguing that its support of fossil fuels violates their due as citizens. In their complaint, they cited the Montana Constitution, which guarantees residents “the right to a clean and healthful environment.” [CleanTechnica]
Montana (Amparo Ryburn, Pixy.org, CC0)
¶ “LG Energy Solutions Announces Major Investment In Arizona” • LG Energy Solution announced a historic investment of $5.5 billion into building a battery manufacturing complex in Queen Creek, Arizona. This new facility will be the single largest investment in a standalone battery manufacturing complex in US history. [Chamber Business News]
¶ “Genesis Announces EV Sales Expansion Into More US States” • Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, has announced an expansion of EV sales in the US. The brand offers its EV lineup of cars at select retailers in 15 states, providing customers with more choice and access to sustainable transportation options. Genesis aims for an all-electric lineup by 2030. [CleanTechnica]
Genesis charging (Courtesy of Genesis and Electrify America)
¶ “Xcel: Monticello Leak Fixed, Nuclear Plant Will Restart In Next Week” • Xcel Energy officials said crews have repaired a leak at the Monticello nuclear plant, and it will resume producing power in the next week. The plant fully powered down early Saturday morning and will power down again in mid April for a scheduled refueling outage. [MPR News]
¶ “Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Accident Happened 44 Years Ago” • While most people were still asleep just before 4 am on Wednesday, March 28, 1979, a malfunctioning valve, design issues, and human failure set off what some people would call “the most serious accident in US commercial nuclear power plant operating history.” [Penn Live]
Have a superbly jolly day.
geoharvey 
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