Science and Technology:
¶ “New Study Definitively Confirms Gulf Stream Weakening” • The Gulf Stream transport of water through the Florida Straits has slowed by 4% over the past four decades, according to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The study says there is a 99% certainty that this weakening is more than expected from random chance. [CleanTechnica]
Gulf Stream (NOAA SciJinks)
World:
¶ “How Renewable Energy Is Transforming Global Electricity” • Two senior NREL researchers recently published an article in the Journal of Photovoltaics tracking changes to the world’s electricity supply over the past several years. They show that a majority of electricity is still generated using fossil fuels, but new capacity is dominated by renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nissan: No New ICE Cars For Europe, All-EV By 2030” • In a recent press release, Nissan announced that starting now, there will be no new combustion-powered vehicle models for the market, and by 2030, the company wants all new Nissans to be “100% electric.” We can take a quick look at the announcement and review what it means. [CleanTechnica]
Nissan concept car (Nissan image)
¶ “Fuel cell power for electric vehicle charging” • Hydrogen and fuel cells represent an opportunity for EV charging. Hydrogen can store and release energy efficiently, and by use of highly efficient PEM fuel cells, it offers a constant and sustainable hydrogen-powered EV charging solution while reducing the strain on the grid. [Ballard Power Systems]
¶ “Sterling And Wilson Renewable Energy Wins Order Worth ₹1,535 Crore” • Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Ltd has received an award from NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd for the 300-MW EPC project at Khavda RE Power Park, Rann of Kutch, in Gujarat, a company statement said. The order is worth ₹1,535 Crore ($184.76 million). [BQ Prime]
Solar and storage (Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy)
¶ “‘Deep Concern’: Shell Employees Urge CEO To Rethink Shift From Renewables In Rare Letter” • After Shell CEO Wael Sawan announced plans to scale back investments in renewable energy, Shell employees sent him an open letter stating they are “deeply concerned” by the turn the fossil fuel giant is taking away from renewables. [Euronews.com]
¶ “Rise Of Wooden Towers: A Green Solution For Wind Turbines” • Swedish startup Modvion AB is revolutionizing the wind turbine industry by building towers made of wood instead of steel. This innovative approach aims to reduce the carbon footprint of wind power by over 90%. The world’s tallest wooden turbine tower is currently under construction. [EnergyPortal.eu]
Construction of wind turbine (Modvion AB)
US:
¶ “Warren Buffett Plans To Invest $3.9 Billion In Wind And Solar Power Projects” • Warren Buffett, the renowned chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, is set to make a substantial commitment to allocating $3.9 billion toward wind and solar power projects. And two promising startups share similar trajectories of innovation and potential. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Hualapai Indian Tribe: Solar-Plus-Storage Equals Savings Of $450,000 Per Year At Grand Canyon West” • At Grand Canyon West, the Hualapai Indian Tribe installed a solar photovoltaic array and battery system to help withstand short-term outages and rising energy costs. The system is capable of providing 50% of the annual energy for GCW. [CleanTechnica]
Hualapai Tribe PVs (Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs)
¶ “Updated Report And Data Illustrate Distributed Solar Pricing And Design Trends” • The US DOE released the latest edition of Berkeley Lab’s Tracking the Sun annual report. It describes price and design trends for grid-connected, distributed solar PV and PV-plus-storage systems, based on data from roughly 3.2 million systems in the US in 2022. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Six Massachusetts School Districts To Acquire Electric School Buses” • The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center awarded grants to six Massachusetts school districts to electrify their school bus fleets. The grants are up to $2 million per fleet. They include funds for new buses and technical assistance to make them operational. [CleanTechnica]
GreenPower electric school bus (GreenPower Motor Company)
¶ “Ørsted Completes 200-MW Wind Farm In Kansas” • Ørsted announced the start of operations for Sunflower Wind, a wind farm in Marion County, Kansas. To celebrate this achievement in clean energy development, Ørsted hosted a gathering attended by partners, landowners, community members, and local and state elected officials. [PR Newswire]
¶ “US Solar Power Soars, Chases Wind And Beats Hydropower” • In July, solar power in the US showed strong growth, according to data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Energy Information Administration. FERC reported that solar accounted for 67.2% of new US capacity in July, bringing its share of total capacity to 7.12%. [Energy Live News]
Solar panels over a canal (Solar AquaGrid)
¶ “Governor McKee Announces Opportunity To Bring 1200 MW Of New Offshore Wind to Rhode Island” • Governor Dan McKee announced that Rhode Island Energy, the state’s leading energy utility, will be issuing a new Request for Proposals to solicit about 1200 MW of new offshore wind to help power the state’s clean energy needs. [Governor Dan McKee]
¶ “New Legislation Aims To Expand US Nuclear Fuel Programs” • US Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH) and Jim Clyburn (D-SC) this week reintroduced the Nuclear Fuel Security Act, HR 5718, hoping to drive new investments in domestic energy production. The bill, seeks to create a Nuclear Fuel Security Program under the US DOE. [Daily Energy Insider]
Have a beneficially consequential day.
geoharvey 