Opinion:
¶ “Electric Vehicle Sales Continue to Grow, Despite What Some Automakers Are Saying” • The future of cars is electric, a fact that many of the world’s automakers have publicly stated. But over the last month several automakers have said the transition from gasoline to EVs needs to slow down, partly due to low demand. That is a tactic. [CleanTechnica]
EV (Hyundai Motor Group, Pexels)
Science and Technology:
¶ “How Floating Solar Panels In Reservoirs Could Revolutionise Global Power” • Floating solar PVs on reservoirs could produce three times as much electricity as the entire EU, a study shows. Innovative schemes have seen solar panels attached to car parks, trash heaps, and farms. Now, researchers are urging governments to invest in floating solar. [Euronews]
¶ “Solar-Powered Device Produces Clean Water And Clean Fuel At The Same Time” • A floating, solar-powered device that can turn contaminated water or seawater into hydrogen fuel and purified water has been developed by University of Cambridge researchers. It could be useful in resource-limited or off-grid environments. [CleanTechnica]
Solar device (Chanon Pornrungroj, UC, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
World:
¶ “Tiny Caribbean Nation Creates World’s First Marine Protected Area For Sperm Whale” • The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica is creating the world’s first marine protected area for one of earth’s largest animals: the endangered sperm whale. Scientists say the reserve not only will protect the animals, but it will also help fight climate change. [ABC News]
¶ “Volkswagen Will Produce Electric Cars In Mexico” • Tesla may have postponed its plans to produce electric cars in Mexico, but Volkswagen is stepping in to fill that hole. Volkswagen is now saying that it will build electric cars down in Mexico. Naturally, it could end up that Tesla and Volkswagen start EV production at around the same time. [CleanTechnica]
Interior of VW EV (Courtesy of Volkswagen)
¶ “Global Wind Power Market To Record Robust Growth At 13.67% CAGR, Accounting For $278.43 Billion By 2030” • A recent report published by Kings Research shows that the global Wind Power Market size reached $112.23 billion in 2022 and projects it to register $278.43 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.67% from 2023 to 2030. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Volvo Makes Longest Ever All-Electric Truck Journey In Australia” • Just as Australian states and territories are reviewing trucking regulations, Volvo is announcing that it has finished the longest all-electric heavy-duty truck trip in Australian history. A Volvo FH Electric traveled from Queensland to the Australian Capital Territory for the milestone. [CleanTechnica]
Longest journey (Volvo image)
¶ “RWE Renewable-Electricity Generation Helps Drive Earnings Growth” • For RWE, adjusted earnings before depreciation and amortization reached €6.150 billion compared with €3.39 billion in the first nine months of last year. EBITDA from the wind, solar, and hydro businesses rose, while the coal and nuclear were lower than last year’s figures. [Morningstar]
¶ “Support For COP28 Pledge For Tripling Renewable Energy Is Historic, REN21 Chief Says” • Think tank REN21 has seen a move in response to the COP28 president’s call to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030, according to its executive director. The increase is expected to be 90% solar and windpower. [The National]
Windpower (Anna Jiménez Calaf, Unsplash)
¶ “UK Wind Power Still A Better Deal Than Gas” • Analysis by independent think tank New Green Alliance has revealed even if the UK government sets prices for offshore wind power at double the level paid in the last successful Contracts for Difference auction, it will still be cheaper than gas power, and prices will be less volatile. [reNews]
US:
¶ “Drenching Rain On Its Way To Quench Louisiana’s Worst Drought On Record” • The Gulf Coast’s most significant rainfall in months will bring much-needed relief this week to portions of the Gulf Coast, helping to alleviate Louisiana’s worst drought on record, which fueled unprecedented wildfires and helped trigger a saltwater intrusion into the Mississippi River. [CNN]
Yazoo River Diversion Canal (Justin Wilkens, Unsplash)
¶ “Nearly Half Of US Vehicle Classes Has One Or More Vehicles With 100 MPGe Fuel Economy Or Greater” • Six of the thirteen EPA size classes had at least one vehicle with EPA-rated fuel economy greater than 100 miles per gallon equivalent for model year 2023. Midsize and large EVs had the highest fuel economy, tying at 140 MPGe. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “AEP To Spend $9.4 Billion On Regulated Renewables” • The American Electric Power Company plans to invest $9.4 billion in regulated renewables over the next five years as part of its plan to add 21.5 GW of diverse generation in the period 2024-2033. This is according to AEP chair, president, and CEO Julie Sloat, as she discussed AEP’s five-year plan. [Renewables Now]
Traverse Wind Energy Center (American Electric Power image)
¶ “$10 Billion Renewable Energy Project Paused Over Concerns For Native American Historic Sites” • Work on a $10 billion transmission project has come to a halt in southwestern Arizona, with Native American tribes saying the federal government has ignored concerns about effects that the SunZia transmission line will have on religious and cultural sites. [PBS]
¶ “Smaller Utah Towns Were Banking On The Promise Of Nuclear Replacing Coal. Now What?” • An energy project that was slated to help many Utah communities transition from fossil fuels to nuclear power has been canceled. That means they’ve got to find other ways to fill that gap in their long-term plans for transitioning to carbon-free electricity. [KUER]
Have a simply majestic day.
geoharvey 