Science and Technology:
¶ “A Key Electric Aviation Technology Started Testing In 2023” • Militaries around the world use a LOT of fossil fuels, and planes are hard to electrify. Militaries need high-performance planes, and the power density just isn’t there for most types of planes to be able to use battery power effectively. That doesn’t mean they aren’t testing electric airplanes. [CleanTechnica]
Electric airplane (DARPA image)
¶ “Seismology’s Eerie Report Exposes The Recurrent Rumbling Of Climate Change” • Research conducted by Colorado State University, based out of New York, found that over 35 years’ worth of data indicates that ocean waves have significantly increased in strength, reflecting an increase in storm intensity caused by global warming. [List23]
World:
¶ “The Year’s Most Extreme Weather Shows What A Warming Planet Is Capable Of, And What’s To Come” • In the hottest year on record, the fingerprints of a changing climate in a warming world were all over dozens of extreme weather events. Too much heat in the system raises the limits of what is possible in weather and pushes it toward the extremes. [CNN]
Storm (Felix Mittermeier, Unsplash)
¶ “Bangladesh sees dramatic rise in lightning deaths linked to climate change” • Bangladesh, which is blighted by extreme weather and heavy storms, suffers an average of 300 deaths by lightning every year, according to the UN. That’s compared with fewer than twenty annually in the US, which has almost double the population. [BBC]
¶ “South Africa’s Darkest Year Yet” • In South Africa, there was no load shedding in 2017, then 14 days of load shedding in 2018, 30 days in 2019, 54 days in 2020 and 75 days in 2021. in 2022 when there were 205 days. The year 2023 was supposed to mark a turnaround, but it has had over 300 days. Government ministers meanwhile engage in a turf war. [Scrolla.Africa]
Old cooling towers used for bunjee (Michael Schofield, Unsplash)
¶ “Major Investments Propel Smart Grid Development Globally” • As more electricity grids worldwide are connected to renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar farms, suppliers are using the change as the opportunity to develop smart grids that are safer, can better respond to consumer needs, and can carry out real-time demand monitoring activities. [Oil Price]
¶ “World’s Highest-Altitude Solar Power Station Connected To Grid” • The world’s highest-altitude photovoltaic power station in Shannan Prefecture of Xizang Autonomous Region in China was connected to the grid. Located on a plateau at up to 5,100 meters plateau, the power station is blessed with abundant sunshine all year round. [CGTN]
Shannan Prefecture (李大毛 没有猫, Unsplash)
¶ “North Korea’s Kim Vows To Launch Three More Spy Satellites And Produce More Nuclear Materials In 2024” • North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to launch three additional military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials and introduce modern attack drones in 2024, as he called for “overwhelming” war readiness. [Action News 5]
US:
¶ “In Eight States: Tesla Model Y For $32,000 And Model 3 For $30,000 – This Weekend Only!” • Tesla has been sending out a lot of messages to try to move vehicles in the last few weeks of the year. The company is sending out emails and text messages, and it has been especially active pushing for more demand on social media. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model 3 (Martin Katler, Unsplash)
¶ “Fear Mongering About Range Anxiety Has To Stop – CT Governor Calls Out EV Opponents” • This month, Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut was fed up with unrestrained political opponents who were fear mongering about EV infrastructure. “They’re all gnashing their teeth about range anxiety,” Lamont told reporters. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Texas Is Going To Send Lots Of Solar Modules All Over The USA” • Public officials in Texas have been scrambling to protect oil and gas interests, but the rug keeps getting pulled out from under their feet. In the latest development, Texas will soon host a massive new factory that aims to produce 5 GW of solar modules every year. [CleanTechnica]
Photovoltaic array (Courtesy of Waaree Energies)
¶ “New Life For Old Coal: Minelands And Power Plants Are Hot Renewable Development Spots” • An AES Indiana generating plant will soon stop burning coal. Two of its four units will be switched to burn gas, an the others will be replaced by renewable resources. Other coal-burning plants are being replaced with batteries and renewables. [Michigan Advance]
¶ “Houston Becomes Hotspot For Clean Tech Startups” • While Silicon Valley may be known as the world’s biggest tech hub, Houston is quickly catching up when it comes to clean tech. The major Texan energy hub is rapidly branching out into the world of renewables, supported by a broad array of startups investing in innovative green technologies. [Oil Price]
Have a comfortingly relaxing day.
geoharvey 