Science and Technology:
¶ “Why Is Making EV Fast Chargers Reliable So Hard?” • For many EV drivers, charging away from home is often a nightmare, fraught with chargers that either are not working or that won’t turn on because of payment issues. The problems can originate with faulty installations, substandard maintenance, or improper management of software updates. [CleanTechnica]
Charging a Tesla (alex, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “EV Rentals Can Lead The Way To Increased EV Adoption” • A transition from cars with combustion engines to EVs will help to move the world toward reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality. Consumer confidence and affordability are barriers to the widespread adoption of EVs, so rentals have an important role to play in the success of EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Why China Didn’t Sign Global Pledge To Triple Renewables” • China Dialogue asked experts why China, despite being a world leader in renewables, has not signed a global commitment to triple renewable power capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. They said tripling renewables is achievable, but doubling efficiency is a sticking point. [Eco-Business]
Technician (WorldSkills, Flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “UAE’s Taqa Explores Stake In $2.1bn Subsea Cable Project Connecting Greece And Cyprus” • Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, known as Taqa, has signed an initial agreement to explore the prospect of becoming a shareholder in a project involving a high-voltage direct current subsea power cable between Greece and Cyprus. [The National]
¶ “First Batch Of Wind Power Projects In Inner Mongolia’s Gobi Desert Come On Stream” • The first batch of four wind power projects in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region’s Gobi Desert have come on stream. The area is rich in solar and wind energy resources. The installed capacity of the four projects is to be 3.1 million kW (3.1 GW). [Yicai Global]
Inner Mongolia (Audrius Sutkus, Unsplash)
¶ “Construction Of 216-MW Solar, 500-MWh Battery Plant Starts” • The construction of a hybrid renewables project in South Africa, with a 216-MW solar plant and a 500-MWh battery storage system to manage the intermittency of solar production, has been launched by diversified energy company TotalEnergies and its partners. [Engineering News]
¶ “Vestas Secures 186-MW Wind Turbine Order In Finland” • Danish wind turbine maker Vestas has secured a contract for 186 MW of wind turbines from the Finnish energy company Ilmatar. The order was placed by Ilmatar after reaching a final investment decision for the project, which is in Pahkakosk, 60 km north-east of Oulu, Finland. [Power Technology]
Transporting masts sections (Santeri Viinamäki, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Deploying Renewables Will Lower Africa’s Power Costs By 30%, Emissions By 90%, Says Former Nigeria VP Osinbajo” • Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s former Vice President, has argued that with focus on renewable energy resources, Nigeria and the rest of Africa could reduce energy costs by 30% and reduce carbon emissions by 90%. [Arise News]
¶ “All turbines Installed At Saint-Brieuc” • Iberdrola-owned Ailes Marines announced the complete installation of the 62 turbines at the 496-MW Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France. The jack-up vessel Brave Tern of the Norwegian company Fred Olsen Windcarrier installed the last 8-MW machine on position SB49 on December 17, 2023. [reNews]
Offshore wind farm (Iberdrola image)
¶ “South Africa Launches Bids For 5,000 MW Renewable And 615 MW Battery Capacity To Beat The Country’s Power Deficit” • The Government of South Africa has launched bidding rounds for 5,000 MW of new power generation capacity from renewable sources and 615 MW of battery storage, as the country fights to overcome power outages. [ETN News]
US:
¶ “US Auto Sales Down 8% In Q3 2023 Vs. Q3 2019” • The US auto industry is bouncing back, but it’s still below its pre-COVID days. Sales in the 3rd quarter of 2023 were 16% higher than sales in the 3rd quarter of 2022. But they were 8% below Q3 2019 sales. But battery EV sales in the US were up 44% from Q3 2022 and up 143% compared to Q3 2021. [CleanTechnica]
Rivian Pickup (Wes Hicks, Unsplash)
¶ “USDA Grows Solar Power In Rural Oregon Despite Limited Transmission, Assistance” • More farmland across the US will need to host power-generating solar panels for the country to decarbonize the electric grid and meet targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the US Departments of Energy and Agriculture. [Cannon Beach Gazette]
¶ “Form Energy To Supply Storage Batteries For California Solar Project” • A Form Energy plant in Weirton, West Virginia, will supply iron oxide batteries for a PG&E energy storage project in Mendocino County. The $30 million project will use Form iron-air batteries to store electricity that it can discharge at 10 MW for 100 hours, to deliver 1,000 GWh. [WV News]
Form Energy battery installation (Form Energy image)
¶ “The Clean Energy Backlog Barely Budged This Year. What’s The Way Forward?” • Across the country, the amount of wind, solar and battery projects seeking connection to the grid has swelled to more than 2,000 GW. That far outpaces the total 1,250 GW of electricity generation capacity of all existing power plants on the US grid today. [Canary Media]
¶ “Georgia Residents Fear Rising Rates As Plant Vogtle Costs Soar” • Georgia residents are expressing their concerns about the potential rate hike that could result from the escalating costs of Plant Vogtle’s nuclear reactors. The Georgia PUC recently held a hearing to address how the expenses of the project should be divided. [TickerTV News]
Have an inexpressibly worthwhile day.
geoharvey 