Opinion:
¶ “Tripling Renewable Energy By 2030 Is Possible And Essential” • If we are serious about phasing out fossil fuels, we must replace them with renewable energy as soon as we can. At COP 28, some climate activists want to see an agreement to triple the amount of renewable energy in the world by 2030. That’s ambitious, but it’s entirely possible according to Bloomberg. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbines (Harry Cunningham, Pexels)
Science and Technology:
¶ “US DOE Analysis Highlights Geothermal Heat Pumps as a Pathway to a Decarbonized Energy Future” • The US DOE announced results of an analysis highlighting that, deployed at mass scale, geothermal heat pumps could decarbonize heating and cooling and save energy in US buildings while reducing the need for new grid transmission. [CleanTechnica]
COP28:
¶ “These Small Words Could Make Or Break The Global Climate Summit” • The thorniest issue at the global climate summit in Dubai is clear: Fossil fuels. As negotiators thrash out the terms of core agreements that will emerge from COP28, the big question is whether countries will ultimately agree to a phase-out of oil, gas and coal, a phase-down – or neither. [CNN]
Jaenschwalde lignite-fired power plant (A.Savin, WikiCommons)
¶ “At COP28, Net Zero World Showcases Progress Transforming Emerging Energy Economies” • During the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the US and its Net Zero World partner countries announced progress on building clean, secure energy systems in leading emerging economies. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Departments Of Energy And Transportation, Along With Transport Canada, Are Taking Action To Reduce Rail Sector Emissions” • On the margins of COP28, the US Secretaries of Energy and Transportation, and Canada’s Minister of Transport issued a statement saying the two countries have created a Rail Decarbonization Task Force. [CleanTechnica]
Bullet trains (wu yi, Unsplash)
¶ “At COP28, Countries Launch Declaration Of Intent On Clean Hydrogen” • More than thirty countries launched the COP28 Declaration of Intent on the Mutual Recognition of Certification Schemes for Renewable and Low-Carbon Hydrogen and Hydrogen Derivatives. Endorsers of the declaration seek to help facilitate a global market. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “UK EV Share At 25.7% – 2024 ZEV Mandate Already Shaping Market” • November saw the UK EV share at 25.7% of the auto market, down from 27.7% YOY. Plugin hybrid volumes grew by 56% YOY, whilst full electric volumes fell by 17%, potentially a hold-back ahead of incoming policy changes. Overall auto volume was up 9.5% YOY. [CleanTechnica]
EV (Hyundai Motor Group, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Renewable Energy Capacity To Reach 170 GW By March 2025 On Moderation In Module Prices: ICRA Analyst” • India will add 38 GW of renewable energy capacity by March 2025 to touch 170-GW mark, aided by moderation in solar module prices, an ICRA analyst said. The country’s installed renewable energy capacity was 130 GW in October 2023. [BQ Prime]
¶ “World Bank Unveils $5 Billion Renewable Energy Plan For Africa” • The World Bank will allocate $5 billion to deliver “reliable, affordable, renewable electricity” to 100 million Africans by the end of the decade, its president said. The World Bank estimates that around 600 million people in Africa do not have access to reliable electricity. [Macau Business]
African scene (Thomas Bennie, Unsplash)
¶ “Coal Power Generation Drops 47% In Germany In Q3 Of 2023” • Germany generated 47.3% less electricity from coal-fired power plants in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, the Federal Statistical Office announced. At 23.9%, the share of electricity from coal-fired power plants was less than that of wind power. [Clean Energy Wire]
¶ “Sellafield Nuclear Site Has Leak That Could Pose Risk To Public” • Sellafield, Europe’s most hazardous nuclear site, has a worsening leak from a huge silo of radioactive waste that could pose a risk to the public, the Guardian can reveal. The leak of radioactive liquid from a decaying building at the vast Cumbrian site is likely to continue to 2050. [The Guardian]
Aerial view Sellafield, Cumbria (Simon Ledingham, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Green Bond Framework Rules Out Nuclear Energy” • The Australian Treasury released the Green Bond Framework, which outlines how the government will issue green bonds. It has ruled out investment in nuclear energy in its new green bond program, which will focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change adaptation. [Banking Day]
US:
¶ “US Air Force Tests Electric Aircraft, Fuel Cells, and ‘FIERCE’ Jet Fuel For Decarbonization” • The US Air Force is on a mission to decarbonize. Electric aircraft and hydrogen fuel cells are in the mix, and it also appears that USAF could backshelf biofuel blends in favor of new drop-in sustainable aviation fuels made of captured carbon and water. [CleanTechnica]
ALIA electric aircraft by BETA Technologies (Courtesy of USAF)
¶ “Why US Drivers May Be Thinking About EVs All Wrong” • According to a July 2023 Pew Research Center survey, half of Americans say they’re unlikely to consider an EV, and 13% are sure they don’t want one. In fact, according to the report, the share of the public interested in purchasing an EV is down 4% from May 2022. [BBC]
¶ “Solar Poised For Record-Setting 2023 While Economic Challenges Mount” • The US solar industry added 6.5 GW of new electric generating capacity in Q3 2023, for a 35% increase, year-over-year, as federal clean energy policies begin to take hold. The United States is expected to add a record 33 GW of solar capacity in 2023. [Solar Energy Industries Association]
Have a magnificently easy day.
geoharvey 
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