Science and Technology:
¶ “The People Living Ultra Low-Carbon Lifestyles” • Surveys show that many people want to participate in climate actions, but putting a very low-carbon life into practice can mean be tricky: it can mean changing several aspects of daily life, particularly for the richer parts of society. What do truly low-carbon lifestyles look like, and how can they be achieved? [BBC]
Cyclist (Margaux d’Arbeloff, Unsplash)
¶ “Northvolt And Cuberg Unveil Batteries Designed For Electric Aircraft” • The Cuberg battery offers a significantly higher charge density than a conventional lithium-ion battery. The Cuberg battery has an energy density that is 40% greater than most conventional lithium-ion batteries, which means range can be extended by that amount. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Dark Earth: Scientists Unveil New ‘Secret Weapon’ To Combat Deforestation And Climate Change” • Transformed from poor soil by centuries of deposits from Indigenous peoples, dark earth could now be the ‘secret weapon’ we need to restore forests across the globe, according to a new study from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. [BBC Science Focus]
Amazon forest (Nate Johnston, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Enphase Energy Launches New Home Energy Systems In Australia With IQ Battery 5P & IQ8 Microinverters” • Enphase Energy recently announced the launch of its Enphase Energy System, featuring the new IQ Battery 5P and IQ8 Microinverters. The system has been available in the US, but now it is being brought to Australia. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Volvo CE Introduces Battery-Electric 23-Ton Excavator” • Volvo Construction Equipment is moving rapidly on plans to offer battery-powered heavy duty machines. Earlier this year, it announced it was investing millions of dollars into expanding its manufacturing site in South Korea, so it can make the battery packs for those heavy duty machines. [CleanTechnica]
Volvo CE excavator (Volvo CE image)
¶ “Enel Receives Authorization To Start Commercial Operation Of Its Valle Del Sol Photovoltaic Farm” • Enel Chile, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power received authorization from the National Electricity Coordinator to begin commercial operation of the 162.8-MW Valle Del Sol PV farm afterpassing all the tests related to its operations. [Enel Green Power]
¶ “Luvly 0 Electric Car From Sweden Is Basic Transportation. Very Basic” • Is there a place in the world for an electric city car that is simple, efficient, and low cost? Sweden’s Håkan Lutz thinks so. He has started Luvly, a company that will make a car so basic that it will have only one function: transporting up to two people in a 4-wheel weatherproof cocoon. [CleanTechnica]
Luvly 0 Electric Car (Luvly image)
¶ “Hontiveros: Nuclear Energy A Terrible, False Solution To Philippinw Power Woes” • Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned Malacañang’s move to pursue private investments for nuclear energy projects in the Philippines. Hontiveros reiterated her belief that nuclear energy would be a horrific answer to the country’s power problem. [Manila Bulletin]
US:
¶ “It’s Time To Retire Those Gas-Powered Lawnmowers And Leafblowers” • Spring has come, and it’s time tend to lawns and gardens. It is also time to switch to electric lawn tools. Those gas-powered lawnmowers and leafblowers have got to go! According to the EPA, gas-burning lawn tools account for 4% of US carbon dioxide emissions. [CleanTechnica]
Lawn mower (Courtesy of Husqvarna)
¶ “US Senate Solar Tariff Vote Threatens 30,000 American Jobs” • The US Senate has passed legislation to repeal the June 2022 proclamation of the Biden administration to provide a two-year moratorium for new solar tariffs. The resolution, which is said to threaten 30,000 jobs, moves to the president’s desk where it is expected to be vetoed. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Invenergy Completes New York Wind Farm” • Invenergy and its Clean Path NY partners announced that it completed the 104-MW Number Three Wind Energy Center. Number Three Wind, developed and constructed by Invenergy, is one of over 20 new wind and solar assets in Clean Path NY’s 3800-MW renewable power portfolio. [Enel Green Power]
Wind farm (JOHANNA MONTOYA, Unsplash)
¶ “NYPA Gets New Authority To Develop, Own And Operate Renewable Energy Projects” • The New York Power Authority has new authority to develop, own, and operate renewable energy generating projects, either alone or in collaboration with other entities, under a recently enacted state budget, NYPA said on May 3. [American Public Power Association]
¶ “CSU Partners In $20 Million AI Institute Focusing On Climate-Smart Agriculture And Forestry” • Colorado State University researchers will play a key role in the new National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, which will leverage artificial intelligence to create more sustainable farms and forests. [Colorado State University News]
Discussion of a map made by AI (Rich Ryan, University of Minnesota)
¶ “ERCOT Concerned Electricity Demand Will Outpace Supply In Summer” • The Texas power grid is ready to operate this summer, but recent population growth has officials concerned energy demand will be greater than supplies. The population has increased quickly, but Texas’ on-demand dispatchable power supply has not. [Beaumont Enterprise]
¶ “Westinghouse Unveils Small Modular Nuclear Reactor” • US company Westinghouse unveiled plans or a small modular reactor to generate virtually emissions-free electricity that could replace coal plants or power water desalinization and other industries. The AP300 reactor, with a 300 MW capacity, will not use special fuels or liquid metal coolants. [MSN]
Have a totally copacetic day.
geoharvey 