Opinion:
¶ “UK Has £10 Billion Per Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning Bottomless Pit” • The costs for nuclear power are coming home to roost in the UK. Despite the very high costs of new nuclear reactors, the rising costs of clean up, and the availability of much cheaper alternatives, the UK’s current administration remains committed to the technology. [CleanTechnica]
Model of Hinkley Point C (UK government, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “$18 Trillion Capital Gap Is Threatening The Green Energy Transition” • Closing the $18 trillion gap to fund the transition to green energy through 2030 is slowed due to negative investment conditions. Challenges include inflation, supply chain pressures, and higher costs of capital. But the energy sector has responded proactively. [PR Newswire]
¶ “The Future Of Energy Is Community Energy, And 100% Renewable” • Our governments, energy market bodies, and energy corporates may not be getting the energy transition right. They are struggle to get the social approval they need for the big expensive decisions that they are making. Community energy is the answer to a fast transition. [Renew Economy]
People of a community (Natalie Pedigo, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Extreme Weather And Falling Demand Are Pushing Wineries Into The Red” • According to the International Organisation for Vine and Wine, an industry group, global wine production is set to fall to its lowest level since 1961 this year, hit by scorching heat and extraordinary flooding. Italy is expecting a 12% drop in its output, and Spain could see 14 %. [CNN]
¶ “The World Briefly Smashed Through The 2-Degree Warming Limit For The First Time Ever” • The Earth’s temperature briefly rose above a crucial threshold that scientists have been warning for decades could have catastrophic and irreversible impacts on the planet and its ecosystems, according to data shared by a prominent climate scientist. [CNN]
Ice (Melissa Bradley, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “China’s Growing EV Influence Around Asia Highlighted At San Francisco’s APEC Summit” • The 2023 APEC Summit held in San Francisco last week marked a pivotal moment in the region’s transition to sustainable transportation. Representatives from China engaged in updating already existing bilateral agreements to promote EV cooperation. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Electric Delivery Trucks Growing In Australia” • Just as the Australian state and federal regulations are being adapted to the transition to electric semi trucks, local councils are being urged to examine their regulations to allow quiet, less polluting electric delivery trucks to operate at night. These trucks could charge during the day, using cheap solar. [CleanTechnica]
Electric truck (Volvo Group image)
¶ “UK Gov Raises Maximum Price for Offshore Wind Projects” • In a release posted on its website recently, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said that the government has “increased the maximum price for offshore wind projects in its flagship renewables scheme to further cement the UK as a world leader in clean energy.” [Rigzone]
¶ “EWEC Commissions 2-GW Solar Plant In Abu Dhabi” • Abu Dhabi officials inaugurated the 2-GW Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project. It is said to be the largest single-site solar PV plant. It is managed by UAE-based Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, French energy giant EDF, and Jinko Power, a Chinese solar developer. [PV Magazine]
Dhafra solar project (EWEC)
¶ “Replacing Oil Shale With Renewables In The Power System Can Help Estonia Achieve Its Energy And Climate Ambitions” • A quicker phase out of oil shale use in electricity generation and streamlining permitting for renewable energy projects are crucial to realise Estonia’s goals while maintaining energy security, an IEA policy review shows. [International Energy Agency]
US:
¶ “Those With Smaller Farming Operations Often Pay The Price Of Extreme Weather” • Kentucky farmers were not used to the distances they’ve had to drive the past couple years, the result of bad weather that’s closed nearby market sites. As the damage increases, a trip that used to take ten minutes got get produce to market can take an hour or more. [ABC News]
Farm (Timothy Eberly, Unsplash)
¶ “Hyundai Teams With Amazon For New Car Sales And Web Services” • Amazon would dearly love to get into selling new cars. In a joint press release at the Los Angeles auto show, Hyundai and Amazon announced a partnership that will offer Hyundai automobiles, both conventional and electric, online through Amazon starting early next year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Air Force Approves New Green Aircraft Demonstrator Project” • The US Air Force conferred X-plane status on a green aircraft demonstration project aimed at reducing fuel use by 30%. Spearheaded by Boeing and NASA, the it is the first Air Force designated X-plane to focus on sustainability since the program began in the 1940s. [CleanTechnica]
Transonic Truss-Braced Wing X-66A (Boeing image)
¶ “A Year After Devastating Winter Storm, Power Plant Problems ‘Still Likely’ In Extreme Weather” • As the anniversary of Winter Storm Elliott approaches, a pair of reports released last week reveal how much worse the situation could have become and how the continued vulnerability of the US energy grid to frigid weather continues. [Virginia Mercury]
¶ “Congress Looks To Boost Job Training For Offshore Wind Industry” • Congress is considering federal help to address the labor shortage in the fledging offshore wind industry. Senator Edward J Markey (D-Mass) introduced the Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act, that would boost workforce needed for offshore windpower development. [WorkBoat]
Have a highly beneficial day.
geoharvey 