Opinion:
¶ “COP28 – The End Of The 1.5°C Fantasy” • For all the happy talk in 2015 to mean anything, CO₂ levels should have been falling since then. But they have been rising, and this means the promise of the Paris climate accords was a mirage. Pessimists at the time suggested the good news was an illusion and sadly, they have been proven correct. [CleanTechnica]
John Kerry speaking (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “These Hot Rocks Can Glow Brighter Than The Sun. They Could Also Help Spell The End Of Fossil Fuels” •“[The rocks] in the box right now are about 1,600°C,” Andrew Ponec said, as he stood next to a thermal battery the size of a small building. That is nearly 3,000°F. “Hotter than the melting point of steel.” His company stores energy as heat in rocks. [CNN]
World:
¶ “Nations Begin Tightening The Screws On Chinese Electric Car Imports” • China today has dozens of electric car makers who crank out EVs at an astonishing rate. But as China gets closer to meeting its own electric car needs, its car makers are looking to export markets. For some countries, China is seen as a threat to local industry, and they are reacting. [CleanTechnica]
Volvo shipping (Courtesy Volvo Cars)
¶ “Lightsource BP Propels Renewable Energy Expansion in APAC with A$813 Million Solar Project Sale” • In a strategic move to fuel the expansion of renewable assets across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Lightsource BP has recycled capital through the sale of five solar PV projects with an equity value totaling A$813 million ($545 million). [SolarQuarter]
¶ “Energy Shift In Action: Brown Coal Hits New Low In Victoria, Renewables Hit New High In NSW” • As the Australian Energy Market Operator unveiled its draft 2024 Integrated System Plan, Victoria and New South Wales set energy generation records, showing rapid shifts in Australia’s energy landscape. In Victoria, brown coal use hit a record low. [Renew Economy]
Wind farm in NSW (Grahamec, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Zera Projects A Surge In Renewable Energy Investments” • The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority projected a surge in renewable energy projects as local companies move to protect themselves from power shortages that are expected to worsen. The Kariba hydropower station is expected to operate at subdued levels due to drought. [NewsDay Zimbabwe]
¶ “Empowering Bangladesh’s Energy Landscape: Germany’s Support For Sustainable Development” • Germany committed to providing financial aid totaling $208 million to Bangladesh. The aid is for thirteen projects in energy transition, sustainable urban development, enhancing supply chains, empowering women, and biodiversity conservation. [Eurasia Review]
Scene in Bangladesh (Amjad rana, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Russia Intensifying Pressure On Captured Nuclear Plant’s Staff” • The Russian invasion forces are increasing pressure on Ukrainian personnel of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the facility held by the Russians since March 2022, forcing them to get Russian passports and sign contracts with Russia’s nuclear generation operator Rosatom. [Ukrinform]
US:
¶ “Here’s How Wind Farms In The US Impact Nearby Home Values” • A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab examined a dataset of 500,000 home sales near 428 wind farms in 34 states. It found home sale prices within a mile of a wind farm tend to dip post-announcement, but they bounce back to what they were within three to five years of project completion. [Electrek]
Wind Turbines on a Farm (KSRE Photo, CC BY 2.0)
¶ “Federal Employees: It’s Time To Commute By EV Or Public Transit” • Federal employees, your days of driving a gas-guzzler to work solo are soon to become a thing of the past. The Biden administration is directing all federal employees to use more environmentally friendly options when traveling locally and for federal business. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Solar Rooftops Gain Traction As Electric Vehicles Owners Look To Skip Paying For Electricity Or Gasoline” • When Jim Selgo moved to his home in Arizona in 2019, he had rooftop PVs installed. Less than a year later, taking more action to address climate change, he bought his first EV, a Nissan Leaf. He hasn’t paid for electricity or gasoline since. [Fortune]
Have a simply grand day.
geoharvey 