Opinion:
¶ “Pity The Poor Climate-Aware Billionaire Oligarchs” • As we mark the passing of another year with the rituals of our religions, families, and cultures, spare a thought for the poor benighted billionaires who are trying and failing miserably to address climate change. They have a place to stand, a lever long enough, yet cannot move the world. [CleanTechnica]
World view (Look Up Look Down Photography, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Elegant Solid State EV Battery To Be Unveiled At CES 2024 By Schaeffler…Who?” • The field of solid state energy storage is about to get a little more crowded next year, when the German automotive supplier Schaeffler will reportedly unveil its new solid state EV battery at CES 24. The 75-year-old company is known for ball bearings. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “New Technology Can Rejuvenate And Extend The Life Of Old Solar Panels” • EtaVolt, a new company spun off from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, developed a nifty device that can rejuvenate and extend the life of old PV panels. The technology can be used on around 90% of all existing PV panels available worldwide. [Interesting Engineering]
EtaVolt PV rejuvenation device (EtaVolt)
World:
¶ “Germany’s Traffic Light Coalition Unexpectedly Turns Red For EV Incentives” • Germany abruptly stopped all remaining EV incentives, a year in advance of what had been promised, due to the country’s economic woes. The eco-bonus incentive, which was to go until January 2025, was cancelled with immediate effect on 17th December 2023. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD Chooses Hungary As The Site Of Its First Electric Car Factory In Europe” • BYD announced it will build an electric car manufacturing facility in the Hungarian city of Szeged. Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó posted a statement on his Facebook page saying the BYD factory “will be one of the largest investments in Hungarian economic history.” [CleanTechnica]
BYD Seal (Photo from BYD Media Center)
¶ “Adani’s Wind Energy Project To Offer Lowest Unit Price In Sri Lanka” • Sri Lanka is grappling with rising electricity generation costs, lacking the benefits seen in neighbouring countries with Independent Power Producers. IPPs like Adani could offer a substantial 30% cost reduction, dropping unit costs below $0.10 giving a much-needed relief. [Colombo Gazett]
¶ “AMLO’s Oil-Heavy Energy Policies Face Scrutiny” • Mexico’s President Andres Lopez Manuel Obrador (AMLO) has bet big on oil and gas since his inauguration in 2018 but the sector is beset by poor standards and high levels of debt, leading many to question his choices. Meanwhile, the renewable energy industry has been swept aside. [Oil Price]
Mexican wind farm (Lynx Burgos, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “Mystery Green Hydrogen Investors Not A Mystery Any More” • Some investors just can’t resist the allure of clean power in the US. The latest example is a Danish company that bills itself as “a global leader in offshore wind.” They are aiming at the US green hydrogen market, with an assist from one of the largest private businesses in the country. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hybrid Sales Soar While EV Sales Plateau” • Americans bought more than one million hybrids so far in 2023, which is up 76% year over year. Sales of hybrids had been declining for several years. This turnabout comes as companies like GM and Ford are lowering the EV production targets. Consumers are still uneasy about charging away from home. [CleanTechnica]
Prius hybrid (Raivis Razgals, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “US Releases Rule Ensuring Only Green Hydrogen Gets $3/kg Tax Credit” • The US government unveiled its long-awaited proposed rules on clean hydrogen production. Green hydrogen projects will have to source power input from renewables assets on the same regional grid that have been installed within three years of H₂ production starting. [SolarPACES]
¶ “The Heavily Criticized “Aroostook Renewable Gateway” Suffers Another Setback” • The Public Utilities Commission of Maine has been forced to delay development of the Aroostook Renewable Energy Gateway because the developers can’t do the work for the agreed upon price. The line was to be connected to King Pine wind facility. [The Maine Wire]
Rendering of proposed transmission line (Courtesy of CMP)
¶ “South Dakota Rejects Opportunity To Use Federal Money To Expand Solar Power” • In another example of MAGAism stunting South Dakota’s growth, the Noem Administration has joined five other Republican-led states in refusing federal grants to boost clean energy. Non-profit and Indian groups have applied for the state’s allocation. [Dakota Free Press]
¶ “Georgia Power Ratepayers To Be On The Line For Another $7.6 Billion For Vogtle” • Reportedly, a financial agreement for the nuclear project boondoggle was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission. It calls for the utility to cover at least $2.6 billion of an expected $10 billion in construction and capital costs spent on the Vogtle project. [WNEG]
Have the proverbially quintessential day.
geoharvey 