Science and Technology:
¶ “Iridium Panic Soothed By New Green Hydrogen Systems” • A rare precious metal, iridium, is a key ingredient in the systems electrolyzers use to produce green hydrogen. Demand for electrolyzers is increasing, and iridium may come into short supply. Workarounds are already emerging and the US DOE is on the case. [CleanTechnica]
Chemicals firm Mattiq’s alternative system (Mattiq image)
¶ “A New Twist On Rechargeable Battery Performance” • A study led by researchers at the US DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, shows that the so-called solid electrolyte interphase in lithium batteries is not an electronic insulator, as previously thought, but instead behaves like a semiconductor. This has implications for battery designs. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Coffee Is In Danger. Starbucks Is Working On Solutions” • Coffee is a finicky crop, and arabica coffee, the most popular variety, is particularly so. And climate change poses a huge threat to the coffee business and to farmers. So Starbucks is developing new arabica varietals that are specifically cultivated to hold up better on a warming planet. [CNN]
Coffee tree (Joshua Trujillo, Starbucks)
¶ “From Potatoes To Quinoa, Many Of Our Favourite Foods Are At Risk From Threats Like Climate Change And Disease. The “Seed Guardians” Of Potato Park In The Andes Are Hoping To Change That.” • Asociación Andes is a non-profit organisation in Cusco, Peru, that works to protect biodiversity and indigenous rights in the region. [BBC]
¶ “Failure Of Wind Auctions In The UK Are A Lesson For The Global Offshore Wind Industry” • Last September, a round of the UK offshore wind auctions failed. Policy had created unworkable conditions for the industry. Experts at the Global Wind Energy Council believe that this should serve as a pivotal moment for the global offshore wind industry. [CleanTechnica]
Offshore wind turbines (Jesse De Meulenaere, Unsplash)
¶ “EVs Take 63.4% Share In Sweden” • September saw plugin EVs take 63.4% share in Sweden, up from 55.2% last year. Most of the plugin growth came from full electrics, which took 44.4% of the overall market. Auto sales was 28,130 units, up 28% YOY, and in line with pre-2020 seasonal norms. The Tesla Model Y was the country’s bestselling vehicle. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “DEWA And ACWA Power Ink Deals For Phase 1 Of World’s Largest Renewable Energy-Driven Desalination Plant” • The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority entered into a 30-year water purchase agreement with ACWA Power, of Saudi Arabia, for the inaugural phase of the Hassyan seawater desalination project, powered by solar energy. [SolarQuarter]
Desalination Plant in Dubai (Starsend, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Second Phase Of Treated Fukushima Water Dump Begins” • TEPCO, the operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, began the second phase of the discharge of contaminated and treated water from its facilities. It said it has confirmed that the first discharge was carried out within the established safety limits. [La Prensa Latina]
US:
¶ “’Miracle’ Water Year In California: Reservoirs Are At 128% Of Average” • California ended its “miracle” water year with enough rain and snow to fill the state’s reservoirs to 128% of the historical average. It was one of the wettest years on record in the state, and welcome news to a state that spent much of the past dozen years in a deep drought. [ABC News]
Oroville Dam (California Dept of Water Resources, public domain)
¶ “Biden–Harris Administration Investing $80 Million To Improve Flood Prediction” • Last month, the Department of Commerce and NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction awarded the contract for Next Generation Water Prediction Capability to Raytheon. The $80 million, four-year contract is expected to transform water prediction. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California Looks To Add Solar And Transmission Along Highways” • There’s a lot of empty land along California’s highways, and the state will soon be looking at how it can fill some of it up with solar panels, batteries and power lines to help meet its clean energy targets. A bill for the purpose is awaiting the governor’s signature. [Canary Media]
Solar array at a highway interchange (Maine DOT)
¶ “The Workhorse Of The Heat Pump Water Heater World: Bradford White’s Aerotherm” • A Heat pump water heater saves a ton of CO₂ emissions annually compared to gas, and it reduces an average household’s annual energy bill by $200-$500. There is also a 30% federal tax credit of up to $2,000 for buying and installing this efficient water heater. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nevada’s Largest Wind Farm Just Got 70,000 Acres From BLM” • The BLM has set aside public land for the Stagecoach Wind farm prevent new mining claims from interfering with the project’s review or development. BLM’s environmental analysis of the wind project is “in progress,” and estimated completion of that review and permitting is June 2026. [Electrek]
Spring Valley Wind Farm (Pattern Energy image)
¶ “Tucson Electric Power Plans $294 Million Battery Plant To Store Solar Energy” • Tucson Electric Power says it plans to turn on a large battery energy storage system in Tucson by summer 2025, to store solar energy for use after sundown. Roadrunner Reserve system would have a rated capacity of 200 MW and a storage capacity of 800 MWh. [Arizona Daily Star]
¶ “Avangrid Pulls Contract For Offshore Park City Wind Power Project” • Orange-based Avangrid, which is a subsidiary of Spain’s energy giant Iberdrola, is pulling out of its contract to provide electricity to Connecticut via the Park City Wind project. The project called for providing 804 MW of power through power purchase contracts. [CT Insider]
Have a magically happy day.
geoharvey 
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