Opinion:
¶ “Did Gaia Punish Burning Man For Ignoring Climate Protests?” • Climate protesters blockaded the road to Burning Man prior to the festival’s kickoff a week ago. Burning Man polluts pretty badly. For last year’s Burn, Gaia created some of the worst dust storms the event has ever seen. She increased her objections with with floods this year. [CleanTechnica]
Celebrating by burning, 2014 (BLM Nevada, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “How Much Power Is 1 Gigawatt?” • At the end of 2022, there were over 144 GW of wind power and 110 GW of solar PVs in the US. To help put this number in perspective, it’s important to know just how big 1 GW is. We might envision 2.469 Million PV Panels, or 310 utility wind turbines, or 1.3 million horses, or even 2,000 Corvette Z06s. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “The World’s Highest Navigable Lake Is Drying Out” • Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest lake in South America. Its water levels are dropping precipitously after an unprecedented winter heat wave. The shocking decline is affecting tourism, fishing, and agriculture, which locals rely on to make a living. [CNN]
Lake Titicaca (Guille Álvarez, Unsplash)
¶ “UK’s Largest Lithium Deposit Is Being Developed” • A new business deal promises to help develop the UK’s largest deposit of lithium. This is good for cleantech business worldwide. At present, China is an important source, but so are Chile and Argentina. But lithium is found worldwide. (Please note: Lithium is not a rare earth element.) [CleanTechnica]
¶ “New Tech Boosts Dutch Drive For Sustainable Farming” • The Netherlands is the second biggest exporter of agricultural goods, but producing for such a large export market put pressure on the nation’s environment. The Farm of the Future was started at Wageningen University four years ago after biodiversity declines due to climate change were seen. [BBC]
Farm land in the Netherlands (Wageningen University)
¶ “EBRD Provides Funds For Building New Wind Power Plant In Zhambyl Region” • Aiming to support Kazakhstan in its efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provides financial support for building a new 100-MW wind power plant Shokpar in the Zhambyl Region. [The Astana Times]
¶ “Clean Energy Hub Coming In Queensland” • The 1,460-MW Stanwell Power Station is near the coast of Queensland, between two potential ‘renewable energy zones.’ Stanwell Corporation is repurposing the site and, is installing a 1-MW, 10-MWh iron flow battery at the site to pilot the technology for medium duration energy storage. [Power Engineering International]
Stanwell Power Station (Queensland Government)
¶ “Thailand’s Public Health Ministry Goes Green With Solar Power Adoption” • The Public Health Ministry of Thailand is moving toward sustainability by embracing solar power and EVs to reduce costs and address global warming. The ministry’s permanent secretary expects annual electricity savings of 904.35 million baht ($25.7 million). [SolarQuarter]
¶ “Singapore Expands Study Nationwide To Assess Geothermal Energy As Potential Power Source” • Singapore is expanding its study nationwide on geothermal energy, the Energy Market Authority said. The authority is seeking proposals for a scientific study to assess Singapore’s deep geothermal resource potential for power generation. [CNA]
Singapore (Kelvin Zyteng, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Set To Face Major Delay In Commissioning” • The deadline for commencing the operation of the 1200-MW first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is July 2024, but officials in the power sector are flagging concerns over severe lags in implementing the essential transmission infrastructure-related projects. [New Age]
¶ “China Makes A ‘Major Strategic Decision’ That Will Impact The Whole World: ‘Based On Our Sense Of Responsibility’” • The Good News Network reported that the government of China outlined its intention to install 100 GW of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind in the desert regions, by 2026 in its recent Five-Year Plan. [Yahoo News]
Renewable energy (Katie Moum, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “Roads Out Of Burning Man May Reopen Monday For The Tens Of Thousands Of People Still Trapped There After Rain Deluged The Area With Mud” • Roads out of the Burning Man festival may reopen Monday for the tens of thousands of people trapped for a third day in the Nevada desert after heavy rains covered the grounds with deep mud. [CNN]
¶ “These Tiny Creatures Are Losing Their Battle To Survive. Here’s What We Can Do To Save Them” • Rufous Hummingbirds are magical. The male’s iridescent throat glows brighter than a shiny copper penny and it whizzes through the air curiously hovering right in front of humans who ponder them. It has lost two-thirds of its population since 1970. [CNN]
Rufus hummingbird (VJAnderson, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Mapping Clean Energy In The US West” • The Southwest has an enormous opportunity to accelerate the shift from fossil to clean power. Utilities in the region can use new tax credit adders to make clean energy more affordable, especially in historically underserved communities whose workforce relies on extracting and burning fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nuclear Energy Touted At W Chamber Forum, But Key Cost, Oversight And Waste Management Questions Linger” • West Virginia political and business leaders made clear during the state Chamber of Commerce annual summit they see a big role for nuclear power in the state’s energy future. But key questions are still unanswered. [herald-dispatch.com]
Have a splendidly alluring day.
geoharvey 