Opinion:
¶ “Norwegian Researchers Show Us How To Avoid A Battery Crisis” • While there’s a lot of lithium around the world, some Norwegian researchers have figured out that there just won’t be enough to go around, even if we all chose LEAFs instead of Cybertrucks. “It seems very likely we’ll have a shortage. The key lies in the demand.” [CleanTechnica]
Batteries (Image courtesy of Aptera)
¶ “The Benefits Of Renewable Electricity Are Biggest Part Of The Story” • The benefits of adding wind and solar to power our electricity go deeper than fighting climate change; they include more affordable energy bills, healthier homes and cities and more good quality jobs. Renewable energy is also local, secure, stable energy. [David Suzuki Foundation]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Japan Is On A Mission To Beam Solar Power From Space By 2025” • Japan’s decades-long mission to transmit solar power collected in space back to Earth could move a step closer to reality in just a few years. A public-private partnership wants to start a trial sometime around 2025 using small satellites launched into orbit. [TechSpot]
SpaceX launch, SpaceX, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Tesla Model Y Rules Supreme In Europe!” • Some 197,000 plugin vehicles were registered in April in Europe – which is up 25% year over year. Unfortunately, the overall market grew 16%, getting close to 1 million sales as it is finally recovering from a couple of bad years. Full battery EVs grew at a faster rate than plugins in general, up 50% YOY. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “ARC Ride Launches The Corbett Electric Motorbike And Automated Battery Swap Stations In Nairobi” • ARC Ride designs and builds EVs, and it runs a battery-as-a-service business in Nairobi, Kenya. Last week, ARC Ride launched the Corbett, a practical and durable electric motorbike designed for deliveries or personal commuting. [CleanTechnica]
ARC Ride Corbett (ARC Ride image)
¶ “Green Light For 49.9-MW Of English Solar” • The appeal for Aura Power’s Hawthorn Pit Solar Farm in Durham, England, has been allowed, thereby granting planning permission for the project. The 49.9-MW Hawthorn Pit site will provide enough clean electricity to power over 17,000 homes each year, saving about 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. [reNews]
¶ “EDF And Simply Blue Ink Irish JV” • EDF Renewables Ireland has entered a partnership with Simply Blue Group to develop the Western Star and Emerald floating wind projects. One project will be off the west coast of Clare and have a total capacity of up to 1.35 GW. The other, off the south coast of Cork, will have a total capacity of up to 1.3 GW. [reNews]
Floating wind turbines (DCNS Energies – GE)
¶ “Oil Companies In Southeastern Europe Accelerate Renewable Energy Investments” • In Southeastern Europe, INA, Motor Oil, MOL, and OMV Petrom all reported progress in green energy investments and projects just a couple of days apart from one another. They are all pursuing growth in the share of renewables in their operations. [Balkan Green Energy News]
¶ “European Power Prices Go Negative As Renewables Soar” • Balmy springtime weather across Europe and growing renewable energy capacity has led to multiple days of negative wholesale power prices, highlighting the need for increased energy storage capacity. A number of factors have led to consistent negative wholesale power prices. [Renew Economy]
Wind turbine (Vestas image)
¶ “Russia And Ukraine Fail To Embrace IAEA Plan To Protect Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Neither Russia nor Ukraine committed to respect five principles laid out by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday to try to safeguard Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. [The Straits Times]
US:
¶ “What Is Permitting Reform? The Critical Energy Provision Buried In Debt-Ceiling Negotiations” • Tucked into a bipartisan debt ceiling deal is a critical energy provision that Democrats and Republicans in Washington both want, at least in theory. Energy permitting reform, which aims to cut down the time it takes for new projects to get approved. [CNN]
Transporting a wind turbine blade (Acroterion, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “State Farm Will No Longer Sell Insurance Coverage For New Homes In California” • State Farm is the largest home insurance company in California in terms of total premiums paid. State Farm recently announced it will no longer insure new homes in California due to the increased risk of catastrophes like wildfires and high construction costs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GM Launches New ‘Envolve’ Brand To Serve Business And Fleet EV Customers” • General Motors says it is entering a new phase of expansion, focusing on providing an array of solutions to corporate clients to minimize their ecological footprint, optimize fleet management, and enhance driver safety. GM is introducing “GM Envolve.” [CleanTechnica]
GM EV interior (GM image)
¶ “Georgia To Lead EV Revolution, ESG Or Not” • Georgia is among the US states where public officials rant against investing that follows environmental, social, and governance principles. But the latest clean tech investment for Georgia is a $4.3 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and battery maker LG Energy Solution. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Texas Sunset Bill Softens The Blow From Anti-Renewables Changes” • Under HB 1500, the ‘PUC Sunset’ bill, renewable energy projects will have to pay higher transmission fees and, starting in 2027, all renewable energy projects will be forced to subsidize fossil fuels through “firming” requirements. But that is an improvement. [pv magazine USA]
Have an incontestably gorgeous day.
geoharvey 