geoharvey

Opinion:

¶ “Rise of Batteries in Six Charts And Not Too Many Numbers” • Battery demand is growing exponentially, driven by a domino effect that cascades from country to country and from sector to sector. This effect is set to enable the rapid phaseout of half of global fossil fuel demand and be instrumental in abating power and transport emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Battery (Jakob Owens, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Instant Offshore Floating Wind Turbine: Just Remove The Tower” • There is a way that floating turbines can be configured like strange, seagoing carousels, with blades that circle around a vertical axis. The vertical axis is the key that allows for radical new design strategies, and it enables a wind turbine that doesn’t have a tower at all. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Projected Zero-Carbon Electricity Growth Highly Dependent On Cost In Parts of Asia” • In its International Energy Outlook 2023, the US EIA projects low zero-carbon technology costs will drive major growth in zero-carbon electricity capacity and generation and limit growth in fossil fuel-fired generation in parts of Asia between 2030 and 2050. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Toyota’s CFAO Group Brings BYD Dealership To Rwanda, Launches Atto 3, Dolphin, And Seagull Next” • CFAO Mobility in Rwanda has just launched East Africa’s first BYD car dealership in Kigali. The Atto 3 electric SUV will be available in the Rwanda market immediately, with the Dolphin and Dolphin Mini (BYD Seagull) models soon to follow. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Has Reached 188 GW: President Murmu” • India’s installed renewable energy capacity has increased to about 188 GW, up from 81 GW a decade ago, President Droupadi Murmu said in an address. She noted that solar power capacity has increased 26-fold, wind power capacity has doubled in the last ten years. [Swarajya]

Harabhangi Dam (সন্দীপ সরকার, CC0 1.0)

¶ “More Green Energy Powers Coal-Rich Shanxi” • China’s major coal-producing region of Shanxi stepped up renewable energy growth as it seeks low-carbon and greener development. Its renewable energy capacity reached 53.09 GW at the end of 2023, up 22.6% year-on-year, data from the Shanxi provincial statistics bureau shows. [China Daily]

¶ “Greece’s Renewable Energy Output Soars, Aims To Become Green Energy Exporter” • According to its power grid operator, Greece witnessed a remarkable surge in its hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy production last year, reaching a record high. This aligns with Greece’s ambitions to become a major exporter of renewable energy. [EnergyPortal.eu]

Fishing boat with solar panels (Jebulon, CC0 1.0)

¶ “H&M Group Expands Its Renewable Energy Portfolio With Three New Solar Parks in Sweden” • Global fashion retailer H&M Group is to bolster its renewable energy efforts by adding three ground-mounted solar parks in Sweden. The parks, in Blekinge, Södermanland, and Halland, will have capacities of 13 MW, 6 MW, and 4 MW, respectively. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Europe Signs PPAS For 16.2 GW Of Renewables In 2023, Including 10.5 GW Of Solar” • Swiss financial analyst Pexapark has published its latest report on the European renewable power purchase agreement sector, European PPA Market Outlook 2024. It found that European buyers struck deals for a record 16.2GW of clean power in 2023. [PV Tech]

Wind turbines (Mark König, Unsplash)

¶ “Ford Government Wants To Refurbish Pickering Nuclear Reactors But Can’t Say How Much It Will Cost” • Ontario will seek approval to refurbish four aging 1980s Candu nuclear reactors at Pickering. Energy Minister Todd Smith admitted there is no precise cost estimate for the nuclear refurbishment, at least not one he is willing to reveal. [Toronto Star]

US:

¶ “Western Monarch Butterflies Overwintering In California Dropped 30% In 2023” • The number of western monarch butterflies overwintering in California dropped by 30% last year, likely due to how wet it was, researchers said. Other causes of the decline are destruction of habitat due to housing, pesticides, herbicides, and climate change. [ABC News]

Monarch butterfly (Melissa Burovac, Unsplash)

¶ “State Energy Policy in a Land of New Federal Opportunity” • New and expanded federal programs have radically shifted the landscape of what’s economically and politically feasible for state policymakers, giving states a chance to unlock wide-ranging benefits and attract billions in federal and private funding for residents and businesses. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Historic Funding to Plug Orphaned Oil & Gas Wells” • The Department of the Interior awarded nearly $5 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Missouri to clean up legacy pollution. Missouri has nearly 5,000 orphaned oil and gas wells documented that need to be plugged, many of which have emit methane. [CleanTechnica]

Abandoned gas well (Steve Hillebrand, US FWS, public domain)

¶ “New Analysis Reveals Implications Of Plummeting Usage Of Coal In The US” • A report from research firm Rhodium Group found that the United States’ planet-overheating gas emissions dropped by 1.9% in 2023, largely thanks to the phaseout of coal burning. Coal produced 17% of US energy last year, according to the report. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Report: Palisades Getting Federal Loan To Reopen” • A report from Bloomberg says Holtec International Corporation will get a $1.5 billion loan from the US DOE to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan. The facility was shut down in May 2022 to be decommissioned, but Holtec pitched the restart idea after purchasing the plant. [WKZO]

Have a superbly guided day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Global Warming Could Increase Risk Of Human-Elephant Conflict, Researchers Say” • The risks for conflict between elephants and humans could increase in the future due to climate change and other human-caused environmental factors, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [ABC News]

Elephant (Nam Anh, Unsplash)

¶ “Suzlon Secures 642-MW Wind Power Project Order From Evren’s ABC Cleantech” • Suzlon Group, the largest renewable energy equipment provider in India, announced winning an order for wind turbines for a 642-MW wind power project from Evren Company. Evren is a joint venture in India between Axis Energy and Brookfield. [Free Press Journal]

¶ “Amazon To Source 473 MW Of Clean Power From Scottish Offshore Wind Farm” • Amazon has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with developers of the 882-MW Moray West offshore wind farm in Scotland, securing more than half of its capacity to power its UK operations. The wind farm is in the Moray Firth. [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

Offshore substation platform (Ocean Winds image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Sector Is Ramping Up” • The Indian Central Government launched the National Solar Mission in January 2010, with capacity target of 20 GW by 2022. In 2015, the target increased to 100 GW. Then it increased the target to 300 GW for 2030. Now India aims at the target of installed renewable capacity of 500 GW by 2030. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Tasmanian Government Continuing Rewards Of Renewable Energy” • A plan to streamline approvals for renewable energy projects was unveiled by the Tasmanian Government. It will ensure Tasmania continues to be the powerhouse for Australia’s renewable energy. A dedicated approvals pathway will help the rollout of major projects. [Manufacturers’ Monthly]

Tasmania (Tim Hart, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “BP Attacked By Investor Over ‘Irrational’ Switch To Clean Energy” • BP is facing new demands to scrap the “irrational” net zero commitments by former chief executive Bernard Looney. An activist investor, Bluebell Capital Partners, said the strategy is unrealistic and claimed that it has left shareholders £40 billion poorer. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “North Macedonia Posts 160% Growth In New Renewables Capacity In 2023” • Renewable electricity capacity in North Macedonia increased by 551.2 MW over the last two years. Of that, 399 MW was installed in 2023, two and a half times more than the year before. The increase was spurred by a combination of legal reforms. [Balkan Green Energy News]

Ohrid, North Macedonia (Ljupco Dzambazovski, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Move Toward Electrification Is ‘Inexorable,’ Energy Secretary Says” • EVs are proliferating across the nation, yet so many Americans still have questions about these battery-powered trucks and cars: Where do I charge them? What if I run out of range? Can I afford one? Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm answered questions for ABC News. [ABC News]

¶ “US Department of Transportation Announces $31.4 Million Loan To Upgrade Critical Rail Lines In California” • The US Department of Transportation announced provision of a $31.4 million loan to the Sierra Northern Railway and Mendocino Railway to expand and rehabilitate rail systems in the Central Valley and Mendocino County. [CleanTechnica]

Sierra Northern (Drew Jacksich, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “DOE Announces Funding Opportunity To Advance Domestic Manufacturing Of Next Generation Batteries” • The US DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office said it has released a $15.7 million funding opportunity to advance the domestic manufacturing of next generation batteries and energy storage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Light-Duty Plugin Vehicle Sales Topped 1 Million for First Time In 2023” • Annual sales of electric vehicles more than quadrupled from 2020 to 2023, culminating in more than one million EV sales for the first time in calendar year 2023. In that year, cumulative sales of new light-duty plug-in EVs since 2010 reached 4.7 million. [CleanTechnica]

Electric car (Jp Valery, Unsplash)

¶ “EV Sales Rise to 7.2% of US Auto Sales, With Tesla At 4.3%” • In 2019, full EV sales were 1.4% of US auto sales. In 2020, they had risen to 1.7%, and in 2021, they had risen to 3%. In the past two years, things have changed much faster. In 2022, US EV sales accounted for 5.5% of the auto market, and last year (in 2023), EV sales rose to 7.2%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Shoppers Set To See Meat Prices Fall Thanks To Renewable Energy” • As it becomes more popular to produce sustainable fuel from processing soybeans, a massive amount of soymeal is produced as a co-product. Soymeal is the main ingredient in some animal feed, and its abundance makes the feed cheaper for meat purveyors, Bloomberg says. [New York Post]

Beefsteak (Sergey Kotenev, Unsplash)

¶ “Levittown Engineer Faked Nuclear Reactor Safety Paperwork For 11 Years, Feds Say” • Two men who pleaded guilty to giving false reports related to nuclear plant safety attended sentencing hearings in a federal court, the US Justice Department said. Both worked for a company that provided acoustic emissions testing for nuclear plants. [Daily Voice]

¶ “Studies To Examine Health Risks Of New England Nuclear Power Plants” • Petros Koutrakis, professor of environmental sciences at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, is leading two studies to investigate the health impacts of New England nuclear power plants on nearby residents. He spoke about his research on Vermont Public. [hsph.harvard.edu]

Have a magnificently productive day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The Answer Is Blowing In The Wind And Shining From The Sun: Not Small Modular Reactors” • There is plenty of hype about small modular reactors. But SMR technology is unproven and risky. SMRs have the same problems as their big ancestors: high cost, long-lasting nuclear waste, and mining operations that leave piles of toxic waste. [Sierra Club]

Rolls Royce SMR (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US DOE)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Separating Critical Materials From Dissolved Batteries” • A simple way to separate metal ions from a simulated battery electrode mixture was exhibited by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers. Their process relies on basic chemical principles and requires no specialty chemicals, binding agents, membranes, or toxic solvents. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “52 Killed In Clashes In The Disputed Oil-Rich African Region Of Abyei” • Gunmen attacked villagers in the oil-rich region of Abyei claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, leaving at least 52 people dead, including a UN peacekeeper, an official said. The attackers were armed youth who migrated to the state last year because of flooding in their areas. [ABC News]

Abyei dwelling (Sudan Envoy, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “French Towns Left Uninsured As Climate Change Increases Risks” • Some 2,000 towns and cities across France found they were uninsured at the start of the year after insurance companies raised rates or ended contracts due to costs relating to storms and flooding. Climate change is forcing a rethinking of the whole insurance industry. [Yahoo News UK]

¶ “New Electric Buses For Waterloo” • In 2020, the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, discontinued purchases of diesel-only buses, switching to hybrid and electric options. The first of Grand River Transit’s electric buses will begin service next month as part of its zero-emission bus pilot project. Ten additional electric buses are expected this year. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus at charging station (ConceptConcentric Electric Bus)

¶ “Statkraft Aims To Build 3 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects By 2030” • Renewable energy firm Statkraft announced plans to roll out 3 GW of renewable energy projects in Ireland by 2030, which will include its 500-MW North Irish Sea Array offshore wind project. This would make a significant contribution to the State’s reaching its renewable energy target. [RTE]

Australia:

¶ “Origin Energy Invests $400 Million In Battery At Mortlake Power Station” • Origin Energy has signalled the construction of a substantial battery at the Mortlake Power Station in south-west Victoria, with an investment commitment of about $400 million. The Mortlake battery is to have capacities of 300 MW and up to 650 MWh. [Australian Manufacturing]

Mortlake Power Station (Origin Energy image)

¶ “Milestone For Hydrogen Generation In NT” • Hydrogen has been produced in the Northern Territory for the first time at Charles Darwin University, a step towards founding a hydrogen generation industry in the Territory. CDU said it will use its facility to train the skilled workers needed for a successful green hydrogen industry. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “New South Wales Council Turns To Solar To Power Water And Sewer Sites” • The MidCoast Council in the Hunter region of New South Wales has made the shift to solar to help power its water and sewer infrastructure as part of a broader commitment to powering all council operations with 100% renewable energy by 2040. [pv magazine Australia]

Water treatment plant (MidCoast Council image)

US:

¶ “States Remain In The Lead On Addressing Transportation Emissions” • Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, and there can be no successful climate action absent progress in reducing emissions from this sector. Unfortunately, litigation may delay federal rulemaking, but states can continue to act. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Financials Deep Dive – Massive Growth” • Elon Musk and Tesla’s top executives conducted the year 2023 and Q4 2023 earnings call last week. 2023 was Tesla’s best year yet. In addition to delivering a record 1.8 million vehicles last year, Tesla’s energy storage and solar business grew to more than double last year compared to 2022. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Taun Stewart, Unsplash)

¶ “US Auto Industry Rose 8% In Fourth Quarter, While EV Industry Grew 29%” • The US auto industry continues to grow in its long recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic and economic shutdown of 2020–2021. In the 4th quarter of 2023, US auto sales rose 8% compared to the 4th quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, pure battery EV sales rose by 29%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Equinor And BP Rebid Empire Wind 1” • Equinor and BP have rebid their 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project into New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation. If awarded, Empire Wind 1 is expected to provide first power in 2026. The Empire Wind 1 bid into the solicitation follows the announcement of a swap deal between Equinor and BP. [reNews]

Have an outrageously easy day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Geothermal Heat Pumps Key Opportunity In Switch To Clean Energy” • Analysis from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that, coupled with building envelope improvements, installing geothermal heat pumps in around 70% of US buildings could save as much as 593 TWh of electricity annually. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it (US DOE
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy)

¶ “Perovskite Solar Cells: A Turning Point In Renewable Energy Or Just Hype?” • The world of solar energy is on the brink of a potential revolution, thanks to a new contender in the market: perovskite solar cells. These cells have impressive efficiency and promise to address many of the limitations of traditional silicon solar cells. [The Business Standard]

¶ “Coastal Chemistry Improves Methane Modeling” • Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using a new modeling framework in conjunction with data collected from marshes in the Mississippi Delta to improve predictions of climate-warming methane and nitrous oxide emissions from soils in coastal ecosystems. [CleanTechnica]

Mississippi Delta marsh (Matthew Berens, ORNL, US DOE)

World:

¶ “Alberta Tar Sands Pollution 64 Times Worse Than Reported” • The Canadian tar sands, a huge site of oil extraction in Alberta, cover an area larger than England. Researchers used airplanes to measure the total emissions from the Alberta tar sands. Their research showed that those emissions are 20 to 64 times worse than previously reported. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hundreds Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vans To Flood The Streets” • The debate over hydrogen fuel cell EVs rages on, and Renault Group just added some fuel to the fire. The auto maker’s Hyvia electric vehicle venture is kicking into high gear with an initial delivery of 50 hydrogen fuel cell vans to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. [CleanTechnica]

Renault Master Van H2 Tech (Renault Group via YouTube)

¶ “Chinese Foreign Ministry Calls For Greater Cooperation Worldwide To Address Climate Challenges” • China has made remarkable progress in clean energy in recent years, providing practical solutions for tackling climate change globally. This will accelerate the international transition towards renewable power, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry. [MSN]

¶ “Booming Renewable Energy Generation Halves Wholesale Power Prices Across National Grid” • Rapid growth in renewable generation reduced the wholesale cost of power in Australia’s energy grid late last year, and it greatly reduced reliance on coal. Prices were down more than half in the final three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. [MSN]

Solar farm (Merallisolar image)

¶ “Major Power Companies Break Ground On First-Of-Its-Kind Power Plant” • Reuters reported that Uzbekistan broke ground on the region’s first plant making green hydrogen from wind power, a major milestone in the fight to reverse the effects of climate change. The plant will ultimately produce 3,000 metric tons of green hydrogen per year. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Korea’s Imports Of Japanese Seafood Post Biggest On-Year Drop Last Year Since 2012” • Korea’s imports of Japanese seafood posted the biggest on-year decrease last year since 2012, a year after the Fukushima nuclear accident, data show. In 2023, Korea imports of Japanese fish and shellfish were down 12.8% from a year earlier. [The Korea Times]

Grilled fish (CA Creative, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “First-Ever Regional Offshore Wind And Wildlife Science Plan Released” • Tapping offshore wind is critical to address climate change. A landmark research plan to guide that effort was released by the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind, a unique entity of academics, government, industry, and nonprofits. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Icon Of The Seas: World’s Largest Cruise Ship Sets Sail From Miami” • The world’s largest cruise ship has set sail from Miami on its maiden voyage, but there are concerns about the vessel’s methane emissions, as it is powered by LNG. The 365m-long (1,197 ft) Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and can house a maximum of 7,600 passengers. [BBC]

Icon of the Seas (Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group)

¶ “School Solar Tax Credit Advances, Renewable Energy Tax Fails” • A New Mexico bill to make it easier for schools to access solar energy passed the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee on a 7-4 vote. The bill provides a tax credit to those who install solar arrays on school property. A bill to tax renewable energy producers failed. [NM Political Report]

¶ “This Issue Could Cost Donald Trump The 2024 Election, New US Study Shows” • Could former US President Donald Trump’s attempt to minimize the threat of climate change have cost him the 2020 election? Research shows that opinions on climate change are important enough to settle the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden. [The Jerusalem Post]

Have a notably droll day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Copper Is King, But It Is Time for a Metal Meritocracy” • As the world scrambles to slow climate change by electrifying everything (and decarbonizing everything), demand for copper is soaring. The US DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office launched a new prize in 2021 to develop alternatives. Four are detailed here. [CleanTechnica]

Transmission lines (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Plagues In Roman Italy Linked To Climate Change, Scientists Say” • The Justinian Plague, a wave of bubonic plague, is thought to have begun in the year 541, and it raged until 590. It followed the Antonine Plague of 165 to 180 CE and the Plague of Cyprian from 251 to 266. Scientists have linked all three to climate change events. [Newsweek]

¶ “AI Is Increasingly Being Used To Deal With Climate Change, But It Has Its Own Emissions Problem” • As the climate changes, farmers are facing more challenges than ever before. Floods, droughts, disease, and shifts within the growing and harvesting seasons mean the agriculture business is rapidly changing. AI can help, but it has its own problems. [CBC]

AgriRobot at work (University of Prince Edward Island)

World:

¶ “Morocco Expects An Increase In Green Energy Investments In The Coming Years” • Morocco is consolidating its position as a key player in the field of renewable energy at regional and global level. The Moroccan Minister of Energy, Leila Benali, said the Kingdom is heading towards an era of “unprecedented” growth in renewable energy investments. [Atalayar]

¶ “Porsche Takes The Wraps Off The Battery Electric Macan” • The Macan is a highly important car for Porsche. After it was first introduced in 2013, it quickly became the best selling model in the Porsche lineup. Porsche certainly doesn’t want to mess with the success of its most popular car. But now, it has introduced a full battery EV version. [CleanTechnica]

Full battery Macan (Porsche image)

¶ “TotalEnergies And European Energy To Develop Three Nordic Offshore Wind Projects” • As part of its integrated development in electricity, TotalEnergies has signed a new agreement with European Energy to develop offshore wind projects in three Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. [Energy Industry Review]

¶ “Innergex Sees 400-MW Quebec Solicitation Success” • Two Innergex Renewable Energy onshore wind projects have been selected in Hydro-Quebec’s request for proposals. One is the 300-MW Manicouagan wind farm, set to operate in 2029. The other is the 100-MW Lotbinieree project, which is to be in commercial operations in 2028. [ERR News]

Wind turbine (Innergex image)

¶ “Ukraine to start building four new nuclear reactors this year” • In an exclusive report, Reuters revealed that Ukraine expects to construct four nuclear power reactors in the upcoming summer or autumn, according to Energy Minister German Galushchenko. The country aims to offset the loss of energy capacity resulting from the war in Ukraine. [Al Mayadeen English]

¶ “Boralex Wins 365 MW Of Canadian Wind Contracts” • Two Boralex wind power projects totalling 365 MW were selected in Hydro-Quebec’s call for tenders. The first project is the 265-MW Arthabaska development, which will use between 37 and 44 wind turbines. The second is the Monnoir project, which will use 15-20 turbines for a capacity of 100MW. [reNews]

Wind farm (Boralex image)

¶ “Still No End In Sight For Decommissioning Work On The Fukushima Nuke Plant” • Nearly thirteen years since the triple-meltdown following the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, it is still unclear when decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station’s reactors will be completed. [The Mainichi]

US:

¶ “Insect Populations Flourish in the Restored Habitats of Solar Energy Facilities” • Bumblebees buzz from flower to flower, stopping for a moment under a clear blue Minnesota sky. Birds chirp, and tall grasses blow in the breeze. This isn’t a scene from a nature preserve or national park. It sits between PV solar arrays on rehabilitated farmland. [CleanTechnica]

Argonne scientist (Lee Walston, Argonne National Laboratory)

¶ “Redwood Materials Building Huge Cathode Factory” • The US has not been the home of much of the world’s EV battery or battery component production. One thing that needs to be built up is cathode production. Redwood Materials, a battery recycling startup created by Tesla cofounder and former CTO JB Straubel, is ready to change that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Dearborn Commits To 100% Renewable Energy At City Buildings” • In Michigan, the city of Dearborn is opting into DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program to get municipal buildings to 100% renewable energy by 2026. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says it’s one of the ways the city is taking a lead in becoming more green. [WDET 101.9 FM]

Solar array at Dearborn (Courtesy of City of Dearborn)

¶ “$18 Million Going Into Renewable Energy And Fertilizer Projects Across Iowa” • The USDA is making millions of dollars available for renewable energy and fertilizer projects with Iowa getting a big share. Former Iowa governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the money could help stem the loss of family farms and farmland. [KTIV]

¶ “Maps And Data Show How Climate Change Could Affect Some Major US Ports” • With experts predicting an average sea level rise of 2 feet by 2100, flooding is a reality that most seaports and beach communities will soon have to contend with. Now, a new climate study shows that some parts of the coast are likely to change even sooner. [Yahoo News]

Have a totally copacetic day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Over 50 Solar + Storage Companies Take Action on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Justice” • America’s solar and storage industry is quickly transforming our energy system, creating new opportunities in every corner of the country. This rapid growth cannot be haphazard if we want to ensure equitable growth as part of this transition. [CleanTechnica]

Solar + storage (Sungrow EMEA, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “LNG Stakeholders Have Something New To Worry About Now” • Ammonia could pull the rug out from under the LNG export market because of hydrogen, which is efficient to ship as atoms within ammonia molecules. Ammonia can easily be made from hydrogen and liquified. It is efficient to transport ammonia and take hydrogen from it as needed. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “EAV 2Cubed 4-Wheeled E-Cargo Bikes Could Replace Urban Delivery Vans” • Vehicles that deliver goods and services create quite a bit of traffic congestion and air pollution urban areas, as well as carbon emissions. EAV, a company based in the UK, has an option that could be a great addition to delivery fleets. It is the EAV 2Cubed. [CleanTechnica]

EAV 2Cubed (Screenshot from EAV website)

¶ “Glow-In-The-Dark Red Herrings And Dead Whales” • During 2023, Australia made steady progress towards its 82% renewable energy for the grid by 2030. Some would say that we are halfway there! Progress is being hindered a bit by new naysayers, some of whom are promoting nuclear power. That is a glow-in-the dark red herring! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Added More Solar Panels In 2023 Than US Did In Its Entire History” • China installed more solar panels in 2023 than any other nation has built in total, adding to a massive renewable energy fleet that’s already leading the world by a wide margin. China added 216.9 GW of solar capacity last year, blowing away its previous record of 87.4 GW. [Financial Post]

Dual axis trackers in China (Vinaykumar8687, CC-BU-SA 4.0)

¶ “Scotland Generates Record Amount Of Renewable Energy, Figures Show” • The latest data show that renewable technologies generated the equivalent of 113% of Scotland’s overall energy consumption in 2022. This is the highest level of renewables recorded to date, and it marks an increase of 26 percentage points compared to 2021. [The National]

¶ “North Macedonia Sees 160% Year Over Year Growth In 2023 Renewable Energy Licences” • The energy regulator for North Macedonia said that it issued licences for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources with a total installed capacity of nearly 399 MW in 2023, up by 160% compared to a year before. [SeeNews]

GE wind turbine (Borja Fasi Fernandez, GE Renewable Energy)

¶ “Energy Vault Expands Its Global Footprint For Gravity Energy Storage With License Covering South Africa” • Energy Vault, a grid-scale energy storage provider, announced that it signed a new licensing and royalty agreement in the Southern African Development Community region with Gravity Energy Storage Solutions Ltd. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

US:

¶ “North America Experienced An Unprecedented ‘Hot Drought’ In The Last Century, Research Shows” • Western North America has experienced an unprecedented “hot drought” over the last century, according to research that shows the amplification of heat in the region over recent decades. The paper was published in Science Advances. [ABC News]

Lake Mead (ricardo frantz, Unsplash)

¶ “Bid To Overhaul New Mexico Oil And Gas Regulations Clears First Hurdle Amid Litigation” • An effort to modernize oversight of the petroleum industry in New Mexico advanced past its first committee vetting at the state legislature. The bill would rewrite parts of the state’s 1930s-era Oil and Gas Act so regulators can keep pace with the industry’s growth. [ABC News]

¶ “US DOE Is Helping NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory Get To Net-Zero” • The US DOE awarded NOAA $5 million to support converting the Mauna Loa atmospheric baseline observatory in Hawaii to be a net-zero carbon facility. Among other things, the Mauna Loa Observatory monitors the global increase in levels of greenhouse gases. [CleanTechnica]

Mauna Loa Observatory (Christine Smith, NOAA)

¶ “Infographic Shows What Electrify America Did In 2023” • Electrify America’s chargers enabled many people to consider an EV, and road trips that had once been impractical are now totally doable. Reliability problems, however, have been a major drag. This mixed story continued in 2023, An infographic from the company lets us how it’s going. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “USPS Charging Stations Begin Arriving At Sorting And Delivery Centers” • The US Postal Service unveiled its first set of EV charging stations at an event, which it held at its Sorting and Delivery Center in South Atlanta. USPS charging stations like these will be installed at hundreds of S&DCs across the country throughout 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Canoo delivery truck (Canoo image)

¶ “Ørsted Withdraws from Maryland Offshore Wind Power Deals” • Following consultation with the State of Maryland, Ørsted has withdrawn from the Maryland Public Service Commission Orders approving the Skipjack 1 and 2 offshore wind projects. The projects are not viable due to changing economic conditions. [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

¶ “A Bill To Designate Nuclear Energy As Clean Energy Dies In Committee” • A Colorado Senate bill that would have defined nuclear energy as clean energy died in committee. SB24-039 would have included nuclear energy in the statutory definition of clean energy sources. Opponents said such a designation would have a negative environmental impact. [Colorado Politics]

Have a concepturally dreamy day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “NYU Tandon Researchers Unlock Energy-Efficient Solution to Global Water Crisis” • Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have achieved a major breakthrough in Redox Flow Desalination, an emerging electrochemical technique that can turn seawater into potable drinking water and store affordable renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Impacts And Benefits of Hosting Large Solar – Stakeholder Perceptions” • Despite national polls showing broad support for large-scale solar among rural Americans, opposition from local residents and elected officials around proposed LSS projects is on the rise. But a lack of data on community perceptions remains, and with it a lack of analysis. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Amazon’s Record Drought Driven By Climate Change” • One of our planet’s most vital defences against global warming is itself being ravaged by climate change. Often described as the “lungs of the planet”, the Amazon plays a key role in removing warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But rapid deforestation has left it more vulnerable to weather extremes. [BBC]

Drought in an Amazon tributary (Copernicus Sentinel)

¶ “Global Warming Was Primary Cause Of Unprecedented Amazon Drought, Study Find” • Global warming caused by humans, and not El Niño, was the primary driver of last year’s severe drought in the Amazon that sent rivers to record lows, required deliveries of food and drinking water to hundreds of river communitie, researchers said. [ABC News]

¶ “Electric Cargo Bikes Are Twice As Efficient And Ten Times Cheaper Than A Delivery Van, Study Finds” • A recent study found that an electric cargo bike, specifically a Bullitt cargo bike, is twice as efficient and over ten times cheaper to operate than a van in urban areas. Ten times cheaper is not chump change by any means. [CleanTechnica]

eBullitt cargo bike (Courtesy of Larry vs Harry)

¶ “EU Sees Significant Drop in Carbon Emissions Amidst Growth Of Renewable Energy” • The EU saw a remarkable 8% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels last year. It was the second-largest annual drop recorded thus far. This decline was primarily due to the rapid growth of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. [EnergyPortal.eu]

¶ “Resolv Secures Grid Connection For 600-MW Romanian Wind Farm” • Rezolv Energy has signed a grid connection agreement for the Dunarea East & West wind farms, a 600-MW project in Constanța county, Romania. Work will commence in line with the Dunarea project timeline, with a view to the power coming onstream from 2026. [reNews]

Wind farm (Wolfgang Hasselmann, Unsplash)

¶ “Greece Breaks Records In Renewables, Energy Efficiency In 2023” • The share of renewable electricity production including large hydropower plants reached a record high of 57% in Greece in 2023. The sector covered more than half of demand for the first time. Gas consumption declined 10.1%. Wind power capacity topped 5 GW. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “Reports: France To Push UK Government For Additional Support For Faltering Nuclear Projects” • The fallout from EDF’s confirmation its flagship Hinkley Point nuclear project is facing further delays continues, with reports that French Ministers are getting set to call on their UK counterparts to help shoulder some of the ballooning costs. [Business Green]

Nuclear plant construction (EDF image)

US:

¶ “Historic California Rain Could Foreshadow More Extreme Rainfall In Coming Weeks” • More than a month’s worth of rain fell in a span of three hours in San Diego on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The city saw its wettest January day on record and wettest overall day in nearly 100 years with 2.73 inches of rain. [ABC News]

¶ “US Offshore Wind Industry Comes Roaring Back To The Tune Of 3.7 GW” • The US offshore wind industry suffered one blow after another last year, and two projects totalling 2.2 GW, planned for the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Jersey, were cancelled. But the state’s Board of Public Utilities just approved two projects with 3.7 GW of capacity. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbine (Courtesy of energyRE)

¶ “Biden Set To Withhold Approval Of LNG Terminals In Gulf Of Mexico” • The White House is directing the DOE to expand its evaluation of new LNG terminals in the Gulf of Mexico to consider its impact on climate change, as well as on the economy and national security, people in the Biden administration told the New York Times. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A Sustainable Skyscraper Grows In Brooklyn Thanks To Alloy” • Alloy is an architectural and design firm that focus on property in New York City, especially Brooklyn. Its most recent project is a 44 story residential building in downtown Brooklyn. Everything in the building, from ovens to elevators, operates on electricity from renewable sources. [CleanTechnica]

Skyscraper in Brooklyn (Courtesy of Alloy)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Achieves Major Milestones In Advancing Solar Energy Development In The Western US” • The Interior Department released its latest roadmap for solar energy development, and the Bureau of Land Management announced progress on 1,7 GW of solar projects and 1.3 GW of batteries in Arizona, California, and Nevada. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Renewable Power Facility Coming To Ouachita Parish” • The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved an Entergy Louisiana solar facility in Ouachita Parish. Entergy LA said that Black & Veatch will provide full engineering, procurement and construction services to the Sterlington project. It and another facility will add 225 MW in the parish. [KNOE]

Have a famously gratifying day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Brighter, Whiter Snow Could Help Offset Global Warming. PNNL Scientists Study Why” • While research has shown that global warming is leading to a decline in snowpacks, a study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory suggests the news may not be as grim as originally thought. Expectations for cleaner snow is one reason. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning in snow (Ford image)

¶ “Electric Aircraft Offer Major Climate Benefits” • Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, did the world’s first life cycle assessment of an existing, two-seat, all-electric aircraft, comparing it to an equivalent plane powered by fossil fuel. After just one quarter of the expected lifespan of the electric aircraft, its climate impact is lower. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “New Coffee Genetic Map Promises Better Brews” • The most complete genetic map yet of Arabica coffee was pieced together by researchers in Italy. Arabica coffee is the world’s most popular drink. The new insights into the plant’s genetic code will help in breeding new coffee crops. And they may lead to coffee plants that can cope better in a warming world. [BBC]

Coffee beans (Michael Burrows, Pexels)

¶ “Extreme Waves That Hit Marshall Islands Highlight Dangers Of Climate Change” • A series of extreme waves that wreaked havoc on a US military base in the Marshall Islands could be indicative of more dangerous coastal behavior in the future, according to experts. The Marshall Islands are considered at the very front lines of climate change. [BBC]

¶ “Even More Bad News For Fossil Fuels: Solid State Battery Gigafactories Are Here” • Solid state batteries were not supposed to happen until the end of the decade, but it looks like they are here already. Solid state offers more range, fast charging, long lifecycle, improved safety, less supply chain risk, and enhanced recycling opportunities. [CleanTechnica]

Solid state battery manufacturing (Courtesy of Prologium)

¶ “Fewer Markets Are Importing Russia’s Coal” • Russia’s reliance on four countries to import its coal has increased since some countries implemented sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine, according to Global Trade Tracker data. This trade shift corresponds with increased coal exports from the US to Europe and EU sanctions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “European Energy Signs 1.3-GW Oz Solar PPA” • European Energy has taken a significant step towards realizing Australia’s largest solar farm by signing a PPA with global mining and materials company Rio Tinto. This agreement ensures that all energy generated from the 1-300-MW Upper Calliope Solar Farm will be supplied to Rio Tinto. [reNews]

Solar farm (European Energy image)

¶ “Nuclear Power Output Expected To Break Global Records In 2025” • Nuclear power generation is likely to break records in 2025 as more countries invest in reactors to fuel the shift to a low-carbon economy, according to an International Energy Agency report. Also, renewable energy is likely to overtake coal as a power source early next year. [The Guardian]

¶ “UK Government Approves Planning Application For BECCS At Drax Power Station” • Claire Coutinho, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, approved the Development Consent Order for Drax Power Limited’s plans to convert two of its biomass units at Drax Power Station to bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Drax power station (Courtesy of Drax)

¶ “DTEK Toasts First Power At Romanian Renewables Projects” • DTEK Group achieved first power at its debut projects outside Ukraine. The two Romanian projects, one wind and one solar, are the first in a portfolio spanning Italy, Poland, Romania and Croatia. These are being developed by a DTEK subsidiary, DTEK Renewables International. [reNews]

¶ “Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant Costs Could Rise To £46 Billion, Delayed To End Of Decade” • In 2022, the cost of the plant in Somerset was estimated at £26 billion in 2015 prices. Now EDF, which is developing the plant, has raised its estimate to £31-35 billion in 2015 prices, which could be as much as £46 billion in today’s prices. [Construction Briefing]

Lifting a 245-tonne roof into place (EDF image)

¶ “Sizewell Opponents Apply To Supreme Court As Government Commits £1 Billion” • The government announced an additional £1.3 billion to support Sizewell C nuclear plant. Opponents of the power plant are applying to the UK Supreme Court for the right to appeal against the dismissal of their legal challenge, which is based on the plant’s water supply. [BBC]

US:

¶ “More Internet Access From Elon Musk’s Starlink Can Enhance Sustainable Agritech” • The rise of precision agriculture could boost yields and profit margins while reducing reliance on fertilizer and other inputs, among other benefits. A hitch is that 30% of farm acreage in the US does not possess reliable WiFi access. Starlink can handle that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Cybertruck Towing Range Updates – Range Issues? Misleading Concerns?” • Tesla Cybertrucks are rolling out quite quickly at the moment, per reports from the Tesla gigafactory in Texas and even based on local delivery info here in Southwest Florida. As it starts to get out to market, we’re getting a better sense of how the truck operates. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “High-Speed Rail Project Will Create Thousands Of Jobs And Provide An Efficient Way To Travel Between Los Angeles And Las Vegas” • A new high-speed train that can whisk travelers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas will get $3 billion in federal funding, the Biden administration announced. It is expected to take half as much time as a trip by car. [CleanTechnica]

Have a excitingly lovely day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “More Bad News For Fossil Fuels: Green Hydrogen Is Making Green Steel Happen” • Steelmaking was thought to be difficult if not impossible to decarbonize, with a key step in the process fully dependent on coal or natural gas. Well, that was then. The world’s first full-scale green steel plant is taking shape in Sweden, with help from green hydrogen. [CleanTechnica]

Aurora and green hydrogen (courtesy of H2 Green Steel)

¶ “Cobalt-Free Batteries Could Power Cars Of The Future” • Many EVs are powered by batteries that contain cobalt, a metal with high financial, environmental, and social costs. Researchers at MIT have now designed a battery material that could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars, with a cathode based free of cobalt or nickel. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Euro 2024 E-Mobility Partner Is … BYD!” • Europe has a huge legacy auto industry, and many of these new electric cars come from those German, French, and other European auto brands. But the automotive company sponsoring UEFA’s Euro 2024, set to be its official e-mobility partner, is Chinese. BYD is the largest EV maker in the world. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seal

¶ “The $1.6 Trillion Future Of The Auto Tech Opportunity” • The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with autonomous driving, EVs, connected and software-defined vehicles, and in-cabin monitoring at the forefront. Such changes are expected to create a market opportunity some estimate to be worth $1.6 trillion by 2034. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BEV Sales Shoot Past All Expectations in Brazil In December, Rise 700%!” • Not long ago, Brazil’s battery EV sales were just symbolic: a fraction of a fraction. But the second half of 2023 has broken record after record, breaking all expectations and closing in on 3% battery EV share of the overall automobile in December, 700% growth YOY. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID. Buzz in Brazil (Courtesy of Volkswagen AG)

¶ “Romania’s Ministry Of Energy Is Putting €17.6 Billion Of EU Funds To Work” • Scheduled to be launched on March 1, two public calls in Romania will enable companies to get a total of €815 million in grants for renewable electricity projects. Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja said that the subsidies would cover 2 GW of capacity. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “Libra’s Greenwood To Build Massive Solar Power Facility In Canada” • Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure LLC, one of the renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group, announced the construction of a 100-MW (AC) solar facility in Saskatchewan. The Iyuhána Solar will be the largest built with a PPA from a Canadian utility since 2015. [GreekReporter.com]

Solar facility (Greek Reporter file photo, public domain)

¶ “EnergyAustralia Announces New 50-MW BESS” • Plans to develop a new Battery Energy Storage System next to the Hallett Power Station in Canowie, 210 km north of Adelaide, have been announced by EnergyAustralia. The Hallett BESS would have an initial power capacity of 50 MW with a total discharge capacity of up to 200 MWh. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “NI Saves £243 Million From Wind Power In 2023” • Wind Energy Ireland, with the help of energy specialists Baringa, reported that Northern Irish wind farms saved £243 million in 2023. The Irish renewable energy organisation confirmed in its annual report that 35% of the whole island’s electricity was provided by wind farms. [Current News]

Wind turbines (RTG, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “UK Government To Plow An Extra £1.3 Billion Into A Nuclear Plant” • The UK government says it will make £1.3 billion ($1.9 billion) of additional funding available to build the Sizewell C nuclear reactor project with EDF. Opponents of the project criticised the additional government funding, saying it lacked transparency. [Yahoo Finance]

US:

¶ “Lowering Energy Costs And Emissions In Rural America” • Updates are needed with climate change. So the NRDC endorsed the REAP Modernization Act, introduced by Senators Tina Smith and Ben Ray Luján and Representatives Abigail Spanberger and David Valadao, and the Rural Energy Equity Act, introduced by Senator Peter Welch. [CleanTechnica]

Sheep and solar panels (Courtesy of Lightsource bp)

¶ “Amazon Solidifies Global Leadership In Renewable Energy With Over 500 Solar And Wind Projects” • Amazon has been the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for four year in a row. With a portfolio of more than 500 solar and wind projects globally, Amazon’s renewable energy could power yearly needs of 7.2 million US homes. [Energetica India]

¶ “The Largest Electric Vehicle Fleet In The US Will Belong To…The US Postal Service” • EV advocates have been pressuring the US Postal Service to come up with a meaty decarbonization plan, and things are finally starting to cook. The latest news is about Ford Motor Company’s E-Transit electric delivery van, which can deliver the zero emission goods. [CleanTechnica]

Ford E-Transit EV for the USPS (Ford Motor Company)

¶ “Kansas Renewable Energy Projects Announced” • The USDA’s Rural Development Kansas Director Christy Davis announced that Rural Development is investing $2.8 million in renewable energy projects in the state. The funds are intended to reduce energy bills, boost energy production, and create jobs. A dozen Kansas projects are to receive grants. [Fort Scott Biz]

¶ “Bloomberg Signs A 15-Year Renewable Energy Deal With Ørsted” • Bloomberg has committed to get 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025, as a part of its commitment as a member of global corporate initiative RE100. It has just signed a 15-year agreement with Ørsted for electricity from the 471-MW Mockingbird project in Texas. [ESG Today]

Have a brilliantly successful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The Energy Transition Has Reached A Critical Inflection Point” • The transition to net zero is a complex process that requires significant changes in the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy. Many countries and companies have set net zero targets for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or earlier. But the transition has its challenges. [CleanTechnica]

Energy (Arteum.ro, Unsplash)

¶ “Military Interests Are Pushing New Nuclear Power, And The UK Government Has Finally Admitted It” • Even before wind and solar power costs plummeted, nuclear power was recognized as “unattractive.” Documents poblished to show official UK energy policy fail to justify nuclear power, but on the military side, the picture is clear. [Phys.org]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Space Solar Is Coming And Perovskites Are Hitching A Ride” • Space solar, beaming energy down to Earth, seemed like a nutty idea back in the early 2000’s, but researchers at the California Institute of Technology just wrapped up a months-long, in-orbit test of three key space solar technologies, including a batch of 32 different kinds of solar cells. [CleanTechnica]

Launch (SpaceX, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “New Nonprofit To Utilize AI To Alleviate The Global Water Crisis” • A new nonprofit has become the latest organization to use artificial intelligence to help solve the world’s environmental issues. Earth05, a Barcelona-based nonprofit launched at the World Economic Forum, will use AI to discover solutions to the worsening global water crisis. [ABC News]

¶ “Swiss Post Accelerates The Transition To Electric Delivery Vehicles” • Swiss Post has been working to transition to using only electric delivery vehicles since 2010. Today, its fleet consists of more than 7,000 electric vehicles, the largest fleet of zero emissions vehicles in Switzerland. Today, every Swiss Post site has EV delivery vehicles in use. [CleanTechnica]

Swiss Post (Courtesy of Swiss Post)

¶ “Equinor Powers Up UK Battery” • Equinor’s 25-MW Blandford Road battery storage asset in the UK is operating. The project was developed, and will be operated, by UK battery storage company Noriker Power, in which Equinor owns a 45% equity share. The battery system is in Dorset, connected to the Southern Electric Power Distribution network. [reNews]

¶ “Giant Green Hydrogen Energy Islands To Host 100 GW Of Offshore Wind” • The offshore wind industry is expected to pick up steam over the next 25 years with 500 GW by 2050. Where will all those gigawatts will go? A new venture has an ambitious proposal to uncork the looming bottleneck with a network of ten offshore green hydrogen plants. [CleanTechnica]

Energy island (Copenhagen Energy Islands)

¶ “Lhyfe, Source Galileo sign hydrogen MoU” • Source Galileo and Lhyfe have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop commercial-scale green hydrogen production units in the UK and Ireland. Under the agreement, Lhyfe and Source Galileo will combine their expertise to generate and supply the gas to a variety of customers. [reNews]

¶ “Bangladesh Solar Power Surge Set To Unlock Thousands Of Green Jobs” • After years of slack progress, renewable energy in Bangladesh has recently seen a strong turnaround on the back of more affordable solar power. Over 3 GW are now in operation. That momentum is expected to create 3,000 to 4,000 new green jobs in the next few years. [Eco-Business]

Off-grid system in Bangladesh (IMF, Flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Japan Launches Major Offshore Wind Power Auctions In Push For Renewable Energy” • The Japanese government has initiated a third robust round of auctions, with the objective of selecting developers for two new offshore wind power areas in Japan’s northern region. Together, these areas have a combined capacity of 1.05 GW. [BNN Breaking]

¶ “A Mostly Renewable Electricity Grid Is Highly Feasible” • Australia’s electricity could be over 95% renewable by 2035, according to the latest release of Australia’s electricity market operator’s Integrated System Plan. Many people are sceptical, firmly believing that 24×7 baseload generators are essential. But experiments say they’re wrong. [Cosmos Magazine]

Weather (Neda Astani, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Storm Isha Forces Sellafield Nuclear Site Closure” • As Storm Isha swept across the UK, the Sellafield nuclear site took a step to close operations as a precaution. The decision, described as a safety measure in response to severe weather warnings, involved the suspension of activities related to nuclear waste processing, storage, and decommissioning. [Energy Live News]

US:

¶ “Electric Truck Manufacturers Select Mississippi (!) For New Battery Factory” • According to a press release, Accelera will build a factory to make commercial EV battery cells in Mississippi. It is expected to create more than 2,000 manufacturing jobs. The initial factory capacity will be 21 GWh annually with production scheduled to begin in 2027. [CleanTechnica]

Daimler Ekectric Truck

¶ “ExxonMobil Sues Investors To Block Climate Petition” • Oil giant ExxonMobil has sued climate activist investors in a bid to prevent their climate proposal from going to a vote at its annual investor meeting. The complaint is against Follow This and Arjuna Capital, which have called on Exxon to step up the pace of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. [BBC]

¶ “New Climate Projections: NYC Will Keep Getting Hotter And Wetter” • What does climate change have in store for New York City? New projections from the New York City Panel on Climate Change confirm that the city will be hotter, rainier, and wetter in the coming years, with major shifts hitting the city in the 2030s, less than a decade away. [THE CITY – NYC News]

Have a grandly delightful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Renewable Energy And Environmental Protection Is Not An Either/Or” • There are roughly 2,050 GW of new projects, 94.4% of this compromised of renewables and energy storage, waiting for authorization from grid regulators to connect. The National Environmental Policy Act isn’t the problem. The problems and solutions are simpler than that. [CleanTechnica]

High voltange (Nikola Johnny Mirkovic, Unsplash)

¶ “A Nuclear Power Plant In A Hurry: For Whose Benefit?” • New media reports say Sri Lanka’s interim Government hurried to approve a Russian-backed Nuclear Power Plant. We are trying desperately to reduce our fossil fuel consumption to conserve our limited dollar reserves, and a nuclear plant completely contradicts this strategy. [The Island.lk]

¶ “Old Forests, Critically Important For Slowing Climate Change, Merit Immediate Protection From Logging” • Forests are an essential part of Earth’s operating system. In the U.S., forests take up 12% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions annually and store the carbon long term in trees and soils. They should be protected as soon as possible. [Phys.org]

Old growth forest (Jenny Walsh, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “25% Of New Vehicle Sales Plugin Sales In Germany In 2023” • The German plugin market had a rather chaotic year in 2023, due to subsidy cuts. Battery EVs scored an okay 23% share of the auto market in December, leading to a 30% plugin share for the month. The full-year 2023 numbers ended at 25%, a drop from the 2022 numbers (31% share). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Laos Is To Grow Its EV Market, Fuelled By Renewable Energy Ambitions” • In Laos, EVs marked significant growth in 2023, as a total of 4,631 EVs were sold. Of these, 2,592 were cars and 2,039 were motorbikes. But EV adoption in Laos is not being matched well by the needed infrastructure. Currently, the country boasts only 41 charging stations. [The Star]

Laos (Colin Roe, Unsplash)

¶ “India Set To Be Renewable Energy Hub With Hundreds Of Billions Earmarked For Projects” • India is fast becoming a focal point for renewable energy deals, with a series of recently signed multibillion-dollar agreements highlighting the “favourable investment climate” that has attracted domestic and global firms in the last few years. [South China Morning Post]

¶ “Southern Western Australia Gears Up For Major Renewable Energy Projects” • In the southern region of Western Australia, the landscape of renewable energy is witnessing a transformation with two major projects nearing completion. One is the 76-MW Flat Rocks Windfarm. The other is a groundbreaking pumped hydro project in Walpole. [BNN Breaking]

Wind farm in Western Australia (Harry Cunningham, Unsplash)

¶ “India’s Power Shortage Reduced To Less Than 1%: RK Singh” • Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, RK Singh, said India has made substantial strides in reducing its power shortage from about 4.5% in 2014 to less than 1%. India is well on its way to see 65% of its power capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources by 2030. [menafn]

¶ “Nuclear Goes Backwards, Again, As Wind And Solar Enjoy Another Year Of Record Growth” • The nuclear renaissance of the late-2000s was a bust due to the Fukushima disaster and catastrophic cost overruns with reactor projects. The latest renaissance is heading the same way, ie nowhere. Nuclear power went backwards last year. [Renew Economy]

Solar PVs and sheep (Courtesy of NextTracker)

¶ “Renewable Energy Capacity Overtakes Coal In Central China’s Henan” • By the end of 2023, the installed renewable energy power generation capacity in central China’s Henan Province had surpassed 67 million kW, overtaking coal power for the first time, according to the latest data from the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company. [Xinhua]

US:

¶ “Canoo Delivers First Of 9300 Electric Vans To Kingbee” • Canoo makes groundbreaking EVs in Oklahoma. For now, it is focusing all its energy on building vans that can be used by tradespeople and delivery services. Walmart is a prime customer. Another is Kingbee, which just placed an order 9,300 Canoo LTV 130 delivery vans. [CleanTechnica]

Canoo delivery van (Courtesy of Canoo)

¶ “Realigning Utility Incentives for Today’s Priorities” • PIMs, performance incentive mechanisms, are designed to motivate improved utility performance in specific areas that may not be adequately encouraged by traditional cost-of-service regulatory frameworks. To help people learn about them, RMI has launched a new PIMs Database. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “States With Big Climate Goals Strip Local Power To Block Green Projects” • Local restrictions in Michigan derailed more than two dozen utility-scale renewable energy projects as of last May, a study at Columbia University says. Some 228 restrictions in 35 states were imposed to stop green energy projects, and now states are retaking power. [niagara-gazette.com]

Have a fabulously cozy day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Rural Drivers vs Disinformation: Three Facts About Electric Vehicles To Set The Record Straight” • EV demand is on a clear upward trajectory, but false claims about EV demand, reliability, and performance are made widely, making it more challenging for rural drivers to separate fact from fiction as they consider purchasing an EV. [CleanTechnica]

Rural charger (Image courtesy of FreeWire)

¶ “Nuclear Fission Is Anything But Clean” • Vermont’s PSD has proposed an additional standard for energy production allowable under the Renewable Energy Standard, which is not “renewable” but “clean.” It says it needs the change because “Vermont utilities have embedded contracts for … nuclear power.” But nuclear is not clean. [Brattleboro Reformer]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Why Cold Air Outbreaks Are Still Happening Amid Global Warming” • It may be counterintuitive, but extreme cold blasts like much of the US is now having will continue to occur even as global temperatures soar to record levels. Research shows that climate change may bring more frequent and intense heat waves, but freeze events will still happen. [ABC News]

Snow (Annie Nyle, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “In 2023, Electric Cars Outsold Diesel Cars In Europe” • According to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association data, a total of 1,538,621 battery electric cars were registered in the EU last year. Compared to the 1,123,444 battery electric cars sold in 2022, this represents an increase of 37%. Diesel deliveries came in at 13.6%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gravity Energy Storage Has A Secret Weapon Up Its Sleeve” • The idea of deploying abandoned mines shafts to store energy is relatively recent. ABB a leader in the engineering field, sees a win-win potential for using abandoned mine shafts to deploy gravity storage systems, because mine owners are thirsty for storage solutions, too. [CleanTechnica]

Gravity storage in abandoned mine shaft (Courtesy of ABB)

¶ “Despite Russia, A Monster Offshore Wind Farm Is To Be Unleashed In Baltic Sea” • Neptunus, a 3.1-GW wind farm, is putting the high profile brand IKEA front and center in effort to cut Europe free from Russian fossil energy imports. Neptunus pairs the Swedish renewable energy developer OX2 with IKEA retail franchisee, Ingka Group. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU Reaches Deal On Near Phaseout of Diesel Trucks” • In the EU, lawmakers agreed to CO₂ emissions targets for heavy-duty vehicles that will phase out almost all sales of new diesel trucks by 2040. Under the new guidelines, manufacturers will have to cut the average emissions of new trucks by 45% in 2030, 65% in 2035 and 90% in 2040. [CleanTechnica]

Super-sized electric truck (Courtesy of Scania)

¶ “In Davos, An Australian Mining Boss Presses Industries To Go Green” • Andrew Forrest, a blunt Australian billionaire who made his fortune in iron ore mining, stood out among the heads of industries at the meeting of global elites in Davos. He has been called a “climate evangelist” who presses fellow industrialists to also stop burning fossil fuels. [Bilyonaryo]

US:

¶ “Federal Transit Operations Funding Can Foster Healthy, Thriving, Sustainable Communities” • Rep Hank Johnson (D-GA) introduced transit funding legislation that could greatly improve transit across the country. The Union of Concerned Scientists has been watching and supported a similar bill sponsored by Rep Johnson in the last Congress. [CleanTechnica]

Electric buses in the Burlington Link-Transit fleet (BYD image)

¶ “FEMA Overhauls Disaster Assistance Program As Climate Crisis Fuels More Destructive Extreme Weather” • The Federal Emergency Management Agency is changing its responce to more extreme weather causing more destruction to people’s homes. For example, it is giving wider access to an immediate $750 per person hit by extreme weather. [CNN]

¶ “Appalachian Power Plans For Solar Energy” • Appalachian Power is seeking state approval to buy power from three solar plants being developed in Southwest and Southside Virginia. They are the 150-MW County Line plant in Charlotte County, the 80-MW 7 Bridges plant in Mecklenburg County and the 5-MW Elliot plant in Tazewell County. [Cardinal News]

A 15-MW solar plant in Campbell County (Appalachian Power)

¶ “The Legal Battle to Preserve the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule” • California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule combats toxic freight pollution in the state. The California Trucking Association sued in federal court to block implementation of ACF, threatening to deny Californians and fleet operators its important public health and economic benefits. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Largest Solar And Storage Project In US Activated” • Terra-Gen and its contractor, Mortenson, announced activation of the Edwards & Sanborn Solar + Energy Storage project, the largest solar and storage project in the US. It has a solar capacity of 875 MW (DC) and nearly 3.3 GWh of energy storage. It has a 1.3 GW interconnection capacity. [pv magazine USA]

Solar + storage system (Mortenson image)

¶ “State Board OKs Petition To Repeal Michigan Renewable Energy Siting Law” • The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved summary language for a proposed ballot initiative that aims to repeal a law allowing the state to override local rejections of large wind and solar projects. Farmers are among the people opposing the ballot initiative. [Bridge Michigan]

¶ “Solar United Neighbors Survey Shows Statewide Support For Solar Power And Net Metering” • As the West Virginia PSC looks at a Mon Power/Potomac Edison proposal to decrease the credits for home solar customers, Solar United Neighbors has released results of a survey that shows the widespead popularity of solar power, including home solar. [Dominion Post]

Have a gorgeously warm day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Can Your On-Demand Deliveries Be Emissions Free?” • The global on-demand last-mile delivery service is worth over $150 billion, and it’s growing. What are the climate impacts of these deliveries? And how can we help the sector transition to zero-emissions vehicles and reduce its climate impacts? RMI looks at these issues. [CleanTechnica]

Delivery (Rowan Freeman, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “The Volvo XC40 Leads The Way In South Africa As Battery EV Sales Show Good Progress in 2023” • The annual sales of full battery EVs came close to 1,000 units in South Africa for the first time in 2023. Last year, 931 battery EVs were sold in South Africa, almost doubling from 502 in 2022 and more than quadrupling from 218 in 2021. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Northvolt Secures $5 Billion in Financing For Circular Battery Factory” • Northvolt has a goal of making the most sustainable batteries in the world. It recently chose Quebec as the site of its first battery factory in North America because of the availability of its hydroelectric power. The electricity the factory uses will be nearly 100% emissions free. [CleanTechnica]

Northvolt Ett factory (Northvolt image)

¶ “Indian Tycoon Adani Bets Big On Vast Solar And Wind Plant” • In the desert along the border with Pakistan, Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is building the world’s largest renewable energy park as he races to future-proof his coal-linked fortune. The $2.3-billion Khavda Renewable Energy Park will have 30 GW of solar and wind capacity. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Panama Launching 500-MW Renewable Energy And Energy Storage Scheme” • Panama has launched a 500-MW tender auction for renewables and energy storage, the first in Central America to include storage. Winning bidders are to have projects operational by 1 September 2026, for existing renewable projects and new solar PV plants. [Energy-Storage.News]

Panama City (Mattias Hill, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Bangladesh Solar Power Surge Set To Unlock Thousands Of Green Jobs” • After years of slack progress, renewable energy in Bangladesh has seen a strong turnaround on the back of more affordable solar power. It is expected to create 3,000 to 4,000 new jobs in the next few years. Rooftop solar alone accounted for a record 42 MW added in 2023. [The Hindu]

¶ “Europe Celebrates 4.2-GW Record Offshore Wind Haul” • The European offshore wind industry brought online a record 4,200 MW of offshore wind capacity in 2023. The amount was up 40% from the 1.7 GW installed in 2022, according to figures published by trade association WindEurope. Of the 4.2 GW total, 3 GW was installed in the EU. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Van Oord image)

US:

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $104 Million To Advance Net-Zero Projects At Federal Facilities” • The US DOE announced $104 million for energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 Federal facilities. It is the latest step in President Biden’s strategy to reestablish the Federal Government as a sustainability leader. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “People Who Drive Trucks For A Living Really Like Driving Electric Trucks” • Work trucks account for only 4% of the vehicles on the road but produce 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from the US transportation sector. That’s why increasing the number of electric trucks is so important for reducing the US emissions from transportation. [CleanTechnica]

Ford EVs (Ford image)

¶ “Regulators, Pentagon, Student Activists Push Back On Georgia Power’s Energy Plans” • Georgia Power wants to generate and buy more energy to meet growth in demand. Commissioners, staff, and interveners questioned not just the forecasts but the choice of energy sources and the utility’s claim that the changes would drive power rates down. [WABE]

¶ “BLM Analysis Aims to Optimize Solar Energy Development Throughout the US West” • The Bureau of Land Management announced an updated roadmap for solar energy development in the West. The change is to expand solar energy production in more Western states and make renewable energy permitting on public lands more efficient. [CleanTechnica]

Solar energy (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “AES Announces Addition Of 3.5 GW Of Renewables” • AES Corp, based in Virginia, said it added 3.5 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity to its global portfolio in 2023, which is nearly double what it built in the previous year. The projects include solar power, wind power, and energy storage in several locations worldwide. [POWER Magazine]

¶ “Insects Thrive In Restored Habitats Near US Solar Energy Facilities” • Researchers from the Argonne National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory went on a mission to explore the ecological impact of PV solar energy sites, especially those restored with native grasses and wildflowers. The result is buzzing with life. [Earth.com]

Community solar garden (ItaliaCalcio2008, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Strata Breaks Ground On Arizona Battery Project” • Strata Clean Energy has broken ground on a 255-MW, 1020-MWh Scatter Wash battery storage complex in Phoenix. The facility is expected to be operational in April 2025. The project’s batteries can store enough electricity to power more than 250,000 homes for four hours daily. [reNews]

¶ “Biden Administration Approves $1.1 Billion Aid Package To Extend Diablo Canyon Operation” • The Biden Administration announced a $1.1 billion aid package to keep California’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant operating until 2030. The nuclear plant is the last one still in operation in the state. PG&E also submitted a 20-year license extention to the NRC. [KEYT]

Have a wholly gratifying day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “A Cash Crop That Never Runs Out” • The 7,000-acre Ferrell Ranch in Beaumont, Kansas, has 50 wind turbines. The ranch had survived years when drought dried up income by relying on oil revenues, but today the wind turbines are providing a reliable cash crop for the ranch. Yale Climate Connections spoke with Pete Ferrell. [Yale Climate Connections]

Bison don’t mind wind turbines (Credit to Pete Ferrell)

Science and Technology:

¶ “A Critical Climate Goal May Be ‘Deader Than A Doornail,’ And Scientists Are Bitterly Divided Over It” • Ever since countries agreed in 2015 to try to restrict global warming to 1.5°C, that number has been our goal. Some prominent scientists argue we can’t meet it, and it’s irresponsible to act like we can. Others say that is wrong and even dangerous. [CNN]

¶ “Agrivoltaics In Action: Evidence Shows Solar Panels Nurture Habitats And Farms, Too” • An organized effort to stop rural solar development is still sputtering along, but the case for converting marginal farmlands into clean energy powerhouses is getting stronger. The key element is the emerging science of agrivoltaics, which nurtures farms. [CleanTechnica]

Caterpillar on milkweed (Lee Walston, ANL)

¶ “Extremely Fast EV Charging Delivers 100 Miles In Five Minutes” • The dream of an EV that can repower as fast as a gasmobile is edging closer to to reality. The Israeli startup StoreDot is reaching for the the brass ring of extremely fast EV charging, and they have the attention of BP, Daimler, VinFast, Volvo Cars, Polestar, and others. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Radioactivity Not Invited! Argonne Uses Heavy Ions To Safely And Quickly Produce Degradation in Nuclear Materials” • The DOE Office of Science user facility is well known to physicists for its ability to study nuclei. Now, its high energies are also rapidly providing new information about what happens to a material inside a nuclear reactor. [CleanTechnica]

Argonne National Laboratory scientists (ANL)

World:

¶ “A Climate Conspiracy Theorist Said The Government Deliberately Lit Wildfires. He Just Pleaded Guilty To Starting 14 Himself” • A Canadian man who posted conspiracy theories on social media claiming the government was deliberately starting wildfires pleaded guilty to starting 14 blazes, forcing hundreds of people from their homes. [CNN]

¶ “Shell Faces Calls For Climate Action By Institutional Investors” • Oil companies are used to individual shareholders pressing their boards of directors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but this year, 27 institutional investors are challenging the board of directors of Shell to align its activities with the goals of the 2015 Paris climate accords. [CleanTechnica]

Follow This demonstration (Follow This image)

¶ “Prince George Teralta Hydrogen For Energy Initiative Actually Makes Sense” • It’s incredibly rare that any hydrogen for energy play pencils out compared to alternatives. But there’s a place in the African country of Mali where geological hydrogen vents up through the ground and is burned to generate electricity for a 4,000 person village. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Traffic Through The Panama Canal Is Being Reduced Because Of Drought, Disrupting Global Trade” • A severe drought that began last year has forced authorities to reduce ship crossings by 36% in the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes. The drought is one of the most severe ever to hit the Central American nation. [ABC News]

Panama Canal (Rikin Katyal, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “The EU Got Its First Climate Report Card. It’s Not Good” • Now is not the time for Green Deal fatigue. In fact, Europe must accelerate its efforts. That’s the blunt conclusion in an important, first-of-its-kind assessment from the EU’s top climate science advisory body. Another conclusion is that nuclear energy is not as useful as other types. [POLITICO.eu]

US:

¶ “Montana Supreme Court Upholds Climate Ruling That Said Emissions Can’t Be Ignored” • Montana’s Supreme Court has rejected an attempt by the state’s Republican governor to block a landmark climate ruling that said regulators must consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing permits for fossil fuel development. [ABC News]

Montana (Matthew Lancaster, Unsplash)

¶ “Could Hybrid Cars Push Reluctant Drivers To EVs?” • After a year of slowed EV adoption in the US, such auto giants as Ford had billions of dollars in losses. Some car makers are rethinking their business strategies. Instead of pushing an all-electric future onto consumers worried about range, many are embracing an older approach: the hybrid. [BBC]

¶ “Rough-And-Tumble Ford Electric Pickup Truck Goes Up Against Gasmobiles” • Ford launched the F-150 Lightening EV in 2022 to great acclaim from MotorTrend, among others, but it is not resting on its laurels. The company has come just up with an attention-getting off-road racing version of the Lightening, and it’s ready to roll. [CleanTechnica]

F-150 Lighting Switchgear Demonstrator (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Hawaii Used Rooftop Solar To Shore Up The Grid. New Rules Threaten That” • With the 2022 shutdown of Oahu’s major coal plant looming, Hawaii utilities assembled the most powerful US network of homes with solar and batteries, to send electricity to the grid as needed. But state regulators approved a program that removes the incentives. [Canary Media]

¶ “What’s Stopping Climate Policies From Working Effectively?” • To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb global warming, the US enacted such laws as the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. A paper in Nature Climate Change explains why they don’t work as planned. [University of Colorado Boulder]

Have a jolly good day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Next-Generation EV Batteries Could Have Something In Common With The US Army: Silicon” • Silicon battery science has been slowly creeping out of the laboratory and into the market, with the promise of lower costs and higher performance than regular lithium-ion batteries. The trickle may turn into a flood, with help from the US Army. [CleanTechnica]

Polycrystalline silicon (Warut Roonguthai, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “India Must Leapfrog To Renewables And Hydrogen, Avoid Fossil Fuels: Adani” • India must leapfrog to renewable power and renewable hydrogen as an equitable solution and not replace one fossil fuel with another, Gautam Adani said. The Chairman of Adani Group, he published this thought in a World Economic Forum blog post. [S&P Global]

¶ “Five Ways Power Sectors Worldwide Can Drive Down Their Emissions” • For the first time, the IEA projects declining global coal demand over its forecast period.This builds on actions from last year, ranging from the release of coal transition-enabling investment plans in Asia to the actual transition away from coal in much of the world. [CleanTechnica]

NASA map of the world (Public Domain)

¶ “Battery Bonanza To Charge Queensland’s Renewables Future” • Premier Steven Miles announced a $179 million investment in the next stages of its successful local network connected batteries program. The funding, sourced from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, will see twelve local network-connected batteries installed. [Media Statements]

¶ “Octopus Project Combines Direct Air Capture With Water Recovery” • Capture6 is developing Project Octopus, a system that will be installed as part of a new water treatment facility in Korea. It is billed as “the world’s first fully integrated water management and carbon dioxide removal facility using a seawater desalination plant.” [CleanTechnica]

Planned K-water treatment plant (Courtesy of Capture6)

¶ “Iberdrola Strikes 1.3-GW Iberian Pact” • Iberdrola and the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, managed by a Norges Bank group, are to add 1,300 MW of new renewable energy capacity to unlock a joint investment worth more than €2 billion over the next three years. The 674 MW of wind and solar they have will be increased to 2,600 MW. [reNews]

¶ “Azerbaijan Makes Smooth Shift To Renewables From Fossil Fuels” • Azerbaijan’s economy has seen a significant change in the last several months, especially in the non-oil sector, where the renewable energy industry has led to a rise in exports. In November 2023, it was made public that electric energy had become Azerbaijan’s top export. [AzerNews]

Street in Baku, Azerbaijan (Azar Kazzimli, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Eby Announces $36 Billion For BC Hydro Infrastructure Over Next 10 Years” • Premier David Eby stated that British Columbia Hydro plans to spend $36 billion on community and regional capital projects during the decade starting 2024-2025. This figure represents “significant” funding for electrification and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [Boundary Creek Times]

¶ “Africa’s Chance For Green Electricity” • A study published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment by the University of Tübingen and other institutions found that 80% of the energy needed in Africa could come from renewable sources by 2040, if the capacity of existing power plants is fully put to use and all the plants on the drawing-board are built. [Tech Xplore]

Wind turbine in South Africa (NJR ZA, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “German Onshore Wind Power Expansion Gets Significant Push In 2023 But Auctions Miss Target” • Onshore wind power was expanded in Germany last year by over 3.5 GW.  Almost 50% more turbines were installed than were in the previous year, bringing the country’s total onshore wind capacity to 61 GW. But auctions did not meet expectations. [Clean Energy Wire]

¶ “Nuclear Power Expansion Plans Highlight Fuel Bottlenecks” • Nuclear energy was highlighted at the COP28  meeting with a declared hope of seeing its capacity triple. The declaration was based on the idea that nuclear energy could help achieve global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Yet many industry watchers remain in doubt. [Chemistry World]

Nuclear plant (Stefan Kühn, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Now You Can Claim Your Tesla EV Federal Tax Rebate Online” • Tesla has no dealers to help you get the EV Federal Tax Rebate online. So how does it do with that? When you order your shiny new Tesla online, the company asks if you would like to get your rebate upfront. If you say yes, all it takes is a click of the mouse. Tesla takes care of all the rest. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar And Wind To Lead Growth Of US Power Generation In Next Two Years” • As a result of new solar projects coming on line this year, the EIA forecast that US solar generation will grow 75% from 163 billion kWh in 2023 to 286 billion kWh in 2025. It expects that wind generation will grow 11% from 430 billion kWh in 2023 to 476 billion kWh in 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Why Texas’ Grid Isn’t Failing During This Year’s Extreme Cold” • Three years ago, when extreme cold took out the power for millions of people in Texas for days. Texas now has around 25% more wind power than it did in 2021, it has three times as much solar power, and there is nearly three times as much battery storage. [Fast Company]

¶ “Los Angeles’ Renewable Energy Plan Won’t Tank The Economy, Study Finds” • The City of Los Angeles’ plan to rely entirely on renewable electricity sources by 2035 won’t have a significant effect on the local economy, says research from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. The study examines nine ways to make the transition. [Tech Xplore]

Have an unqualifiedly fine day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Small Wind Guidebook” • Although wind turbines large enough to provide a significant portion of the electricity needed by the average US home generally require an acre of property or more, approximately 19.3% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas and may own land parcels large enough to accommodate a wind energy system. [CleanTechnica]

Small turbine (Cultivate Photography Multimedia Design, NREL)

World:

¶ “More CEOs Fear Their Companies Won’t Survive As AI And Climate Challenges Grow” • More executives are feeling better about the global economy, but a growing number don’t think their companies will survive the coming decade without a major overhaul, due to pressure from climate change and technology like artificial intelligence. [ABC News]

¶ “Brazil’s Rio De Janeiro State Confronts Flood Damage After Heavy Rain Kills At Least 12” • In Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state heavy rain wreaked havoc last weekend, flooding people’s homes, a hospital, the Rio metro line, and a main section of freeway. Scientists say extreme weather is more frequent due to climate change brought on by human action. [ABC News]

Rio De Janeiro (Joshua Woroniecki, Unsplash)

¶ “2023 Volkswagen Group Electric Car Deliveries Up 34% Over 2022” • The press is full of stories about how the EV revolution is slowing down, but don’t believe it. Reports from the actual world show what is happening in the real world. Volkswagen Group has announced that its deliveries of EVs increased by a healthy 34% in 2023 compared to 2022. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Starts Shipping EVs On Explorer No 1” • BYD’s first ocean vessel is on its first journey. Explorer No 1, which is apparently the name of BYD’s first vessel, has sailed from Shenzhen, China. Explorer No 1 departed from Xiaomo International Logistics Port, after being delivered to Yantai Port in Shandong Province just days ago, on January 10. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Explorer No 1

¶ “Enel To Acquire 1-GW Hybrid Renewables Project At Mine In Australia” • Enel Green Power Australia, a subsidiary of Italian energy company Enel, agreed to acquire the 1-GW Julia Creek renewables project from QEM. The project is sited next to the QEM Julia Creek vanadium and oil shale project in north-west Queensland. [Power Technology]

¶ “Vestas Introduces Low-Emission Steel Offering For Wind Turbines” • Vestas established a partnership with ArcelorMittal to launch a low-emission steel offering that significantly reduces lifetime carbon dioxide emissions from the production of wind turbine masts. Vestas’s sustainability strategy includes addressing the materials it uses. [Cision News]

Vestas turbines (Dario De corso, Unsplash)

¶ “Ireland Sets New Wind Record In 2023” • Wind farms provided 35% of the island of Ireland’s electricity and set a new record for power production in 2023. This is according to Wind Energy Ireland’s Annual Report, Cutting Carbon, Cutting Bills: Analysis, which examines savings in gas consumption delivered by wind farms in 2023. [reNews]

¶ “Albania Kicks Off Qualifications For 300 MW Solar Power Auction” • Albania invited investors to qualify their PV projects for a tender for 15-year contracts for difference. The quota is 300 MW. The highest acceptable price is €59.97/MWh. Developers with the lowest bids will be selected in turn until their projects total 300 MW. [Balkan Green Energy News]

Berat Albania (Johnny Africa, Unsplash)

¶ “Fossil Lobby Claims Voters Want Nuclear. Grid Simulation Shows It’s The Last Thing Australia Needs” • Polls show support for nuclear power, but critiques published by physical and social scientists and engineers show its weaknesses. They argue that, in the real world, nuclear energy is too expensive, too dangerous, and too slow to plan and build. [Renew Economy]

US:

¶ “How Off-Road Electric Equipment Impacts Green Movement” • We often hear about electric cars, buses and trucks reducing, or even eliminating, emissions. But important changes are under way off-road as well, on construction sites, on farms, and in a variety of similar applications that require big machines to get the job done. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo L25 Electric Compact Wheel Loader (Volvo image)

¶ “US EV Market Grows, Still Just 11% Of Global EV Market” • In 2023, US EV sales saw a notable increase, reaching 1.6 million units, up from the 1.1 million sold in 2022. This uptrend seems resilient and is expected to persist into 2024, with sales projected to hit 1.9 million units, representing a significant 13% of the new car market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Protecting And Empowering American Solar Customers” • The Solar Energy Industries Association is supporting customers by not only providing them with informational resources but also working to develop national standards that promote fair sales practices to ensure the safe and uniform installation of solar and storage systems. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar system (Giorgio Trovato, Unsplash)

¶ “Surging Electricity Demand Increases the Risk of Blackouts in the US” • The Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued a call to Texans for electricity conservation on Monday morning to avoid a shortage. This is due to a spike in demand resulting from winter weather combined with low wind speeds for the state’s massive wind capacity. [Oil Price]

¶ “Canada Energy Giant Wants To Build One Of Wyoming’s Largest Solar Farms” • Despite an Arctic blast and heavy snowfall blanketing Laramie County, a Canada pipeline and energy firm wants to build a sprawling solar power farm that could power Wyoming industry. Enbridge Inc wants to build a solar farm of nearly 4,000 acres. [Cowboy State Daily]

Have an impartially nurturing day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The EV Revolution In The US Is Just Getting Started” • This year is expected to set another EV sales record both for volume and total market share. Colin McKerracher of BloombergNEF projects EV sales in the US this year will total about 1.9 million units or 13% of new car purchases. This year should also see fewer of the supply constraints. [CleanTechnica]

Electric Porsche (Bob Osias, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Can The Dream Of Fusion Power Be Realized?” • For the better part of a century, astronomers and physicists have known that a process called thermonuclear fusion has kept the Sun and the stars shining for millions or even billions of years. And ever since that discovery, they’ve dreamed of using that energy source to power the modern world. [Canary Media]

¶ “Sodium Batteries Challenge Lithium-Ion On Cost, Supply Chain” • One key area of interest for a low-cost alternative to lithium is sodium. But compared to lithium, sodium is heavy. Nevertheless, sodium batteries are relatively inexpensive and free from thorny supply chain issues, and they are starting to bust into the mainstream market. [CleanTechnica]

Sodium-ion battery schematic (Courtesy of PNNL)

World:

¶ “Conflict, Climate Change And AI Get Top Billing For Meeting In Davos” • With the climate crisis, wars upon us, and AI, climate, conflict, a divided world and the rise of artificial intelligence round out a to-do list of global priorities at this year’s edition the World Economic Forum’s gabfest of business, political and other elites in Davos, Switzerland. [ABC News]

¶ “Is Seabed Mining An Economic Necessity Or A Hazard?” • The Metals Company, uses remote-controlled machines the size of trucks “to scoop up rocks sitting on the sea floor.” Testing is going on, but the Canadian business hopes to get authorisation to start commercial mining in international waters in the north Pacific as early as the end of 2025. [BBC]

Subsea Collector (The Metals Company image)

¶ “EU Built Record New Wind Farms Last Year But Lags Behind Green Energy Goal” • European Union countries built 17 GW of new wind power farms in 2023, the most for any year so far, but still not enough to reach the renewable energy goal, industry data showed. The EU goal for 2030 requires at least 37 GW of new wind power be added per year. [Reuters]

¶ “Ten-Fold Solar Growth Needed In Climate Fight, Says PV ‘Godfather’” • Nations at COP28 may have agreed to help triple renewable energy capacity globally in seven years, but a pioneer of PV technology wants the solar industry to focus on a larger goal: increase the yearly installed capacity by 10 times, in the next 10 years. [Eco-Business]

Perovskite solar cells (National University of Singapore image)

¶ “Dutch Renewable Energy Production Surges, Reaching New Highs” • During the last year, 13% more renewable energy was generated in the Netherlands than in 2022. Wind and solar energy are the main sources, with biomass also producing a share. This aligns with the goals set by the Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth of 2013. [Innovation Origins]

¶ “China’s State Grid Spending To Match Renewables” • State Grid Corp of China will maintain its annual investment budget at over 500 billion yuan ($70 billion) in 2024, after spending hit a record last year in a bid to keep up with the nation’s expansion of clean energy. The annual figure is in line with the company’s five-year plan. [Yahoo Finance]

Great Wall (Bruce Röttgers, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Iconic Fishing Shacks In Portland, Maine, Destroyed As Coast Sees Historic Water Levels” • Iconic fishing shacks in Portland, Maine, were washed away when the coast saw record water levels, as storms sweep across the country. Water levels at the Portland tide gauge set a new record on Saturday, surpassing the previous record set in 1978. [ABC News]

¶ “What I Learned At Himiway’s Booth At CES 2024, Plus Its Eight New Models!” • Himiway Bikes, based in Brea, California, announced several exciting new products and innovations in the e-bike industry at CES 2024. The company unveiled four new series and a total of eight new electric bike models that are set to launch in 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Himiway Rambler Upgraded (Himiway image)

¶ “US EV Market Grows 29% In 4th Quarter, Tesla Holds 56% Market Share” • The US electric vehicle market continues to grow, despite many headlines implying the contrary. In the 4th quarter, sales of full battery EVs were up 29% compared to sales in the 4th quarter of 2022. Compared to the 4th quarter of 2021, sales were up 122%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bills Would Bring Shared Solar To Appalachian Power Territory, Expand Program For Dominion Customers” • Two Virginia lawmakers are seeking to expand the availability of shared solar, or community solar, in Virginia. Such a program allows a customer to buy electricity from a solar company and receive credit for it on their electric bill. [Cardinal News]

Solar farm being built (Dimension Renewable Energy image)

¶ “Top Range for 2023 EVs Was 516 Miles on a Single Charge in USA” • In model year 2023, the highest top range for an EV was 516 miles on a single charge, while the median range for all EV models rose to a new high of 270 miles. This is quite an increase from 2011, when four models were available with ranges from 63 to 94 miles per charge. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Delegate Mike Jones Proposes Halting New Fossil Fuel Projects In Virginia” • A first-time Democratic delegate proposed a bill to halt all new fossil fuel-related projects in Virginia. House Bill 28 would put a pause on approving new natural gas or coal-fired power plants, pipelines, oil refineries, and even import or export terminals used for fossil fuels. [VPM News]

Have a imaginatively planned day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Bill McKibben On Global Heating, Capitalism, Insurance, And Social Friction” • In his latest Substack post, Bill McKibben delves into the insurance crisis brought on by a warmer climate. He says that insurance is the lubricant that makes commerce possible. He warns that without it, we will lose important parts of our local, national, and global economies. [CleanTechnica]

Destructive fire (Daniel Tausis, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “PNNL Kicks Off Multi-Year Energy Storage, Scientific Discovery Collaboration with Microsoft” • To meet the call for faster clean energy solutions, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has teamed with Microsoft to use high-performance computing in the cloud and advanced artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Turbines Are Friendlier To Birds Than Oil and Gas Drilling” • No one doubts that wind turbines do indeed kill at least some birds. But a new analysis of American data, published in Environmental Science & Technology, suggests the numbers are negligible, and have little impact on bird populations. Drilling for oil and gas is another matter. [Yahoo Finance]

Wind turbines (Thomas Reaubourg, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Kenya’s Geothermal Sector Gets A Boost From Indonesia, UAE” • Kenya’s geothermal sector got a shot in the arm during the Green Industrialisation Initiative in Dubai. Kenya’s energy sector faces many challenges, with the high costs of generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as a lack of investment in renewable energy sources. [Daily Nation]

¶ “Honda Zero – The Future Of Mobility Is About To Arrive” • The cars Honda brought to CES 2024 are not electric versions of the Hondas we often see. In fact, the two show cars, the Saloon and Space-Hub, look like no other vehicles Honda has ever produced. Actually, they don’t look much like any production cars anyone ever made. [CleanTechnica]

Honda Zero (Honda image)

¶ “Thai Government Facilitates Solar Rooftop Expansion To Drive Sustainable Business” • Thailand is fast-tracking rooftop solar installations without formal permission. The secretary of the Industry Ministry said the private sector’s interest in solar rooftops is expected to rise exponentially, due to rising power prices and reduced PV costs. [Nation Thailand]

¶ “Analysis: World Will Add Enough Renewables In Five Years To Power US And Canada” • Rapid growth has pushed the IEA to upgrade the renewables forecast it made, adding 728 GW of capacity to a five-year estimate it made just a year ago. It expectes enough renewables added over the next five years to power the equivalent of the US and Canada. [Eco-Business]

Utility worker (Asian Development Bank, Flickr)

¶ “Why Eskom Can’t Do Proper Maintenance On Its Power Stations” • Civil nuclear engineer Hugo Kruger said that South Africans should expect load-shedding to persist for another six months, as Eskom has not done proper maintenance in over a decade. It does not have plants to keep the grid going while others are having maintenance done. [MyBroadband]

US:

¶ “New Database of Federal Grants for Food Waste” • About 38% of food in our country goes unsold or uneaten, and most of this ends up as waste in landfills or incinerators. The good news is there are many waste reduction solutions that span the food supply chain. The catch is that making many of these changes will take investment. [CleanTechnica]

Compost (allispossible.org.uk, Flikr)

¶ “The First-Ever Climate Museum In The US Is Welcoming Visitors In NYC’s Soho Neighborhood” • New York’s new Climate Museum may call some of the most famous fashion brands as neighbors, but the emergence of this pop-up art exhibit in the heart of Soho, advocating through art, proves climate activism is much more than a trend. [ABC News]

¶ “John Kerry To Step Down As Us Climate Envoy” • US climate envoy John Kerry plans to step down from his post by this spring, a source close to Kerry confirmed to CNN. The 80-year-old former secretary of state and Democratic nominee for president led US negotiations at three international climate summits, most recently in Dubai. [CNN]

John Kerry and Han Zheng (Office of US Climate Envoy)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Announces $623 Million in Grants to Continue Building Out EV Charging Network” • The Biden–Harris Administration announced $623 million in grants to help build out the US EV charging network. This will create American jobs and ensure more drivers can find nearby EV chargers, wherever they are. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Cities Can Scale Up Onsite Solar Power With New Federal Incentives” • Last year, San Antonio set a record of 75 days at or above 100°F. This year, the City of San Antonio made history by approving a major deal with local solar developer Big Sun Solar to put an estimated 13 MW of solar on 42 city-owned facilities and parking lots. [CleanTechnica]

Have a wonderfully nifty day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “ETH Zurich Process Uses Sunlight To Remove Carbon Dioxide From The Atmosphere” • Researchers at ETH Zurich have found a solution that captures carbon dioxide when it is in the dark and releases it when it is in the light. The sun can be used to drive the process instead of heat energy that is used in conventional processes. [CleanTechnica]

Capturing and releasing carbon dioxide (ETH Zurich image)

¶ “Human ‘Behavioural Crisis’ At Root Of Climate Breakdown, Say Scientists” • Record heat, record emissions, record fossil fuel consumption. One month out from COP28, the world is further than ever from reaching its climate goals. At the root of these problems is a human “behavioural crisis,” a term coined by an interdisciplinary team of scientists. [The Guardian]

World:

¶ “Amazon Rainforest: Deforestation Rate Halved In 2023” • The rate of deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon fell by nearly 50% in 2023 compared to 2022, space agency data suggests. Brazil’s environment ministry said it was the lowest deforestation rate recorded in the last five years. Nevertheless, the deforested area is over six times the size of New York City. [BBC]

Amazon deforestation (Andre Dib, WWF)

¶ “What The US Attack In Yemen Means For Oil Prices, Inflation” • US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen escalated a long conflict over a shipping route that holds significant implications for oil prices and inflation. The military operation, in which the US partnered with the UK, came in response to ongoing attacks on freight ships in the Red Sea. [ABC News]

¶ “Pumped Hydro Accelerating Into Grid Storage Future” • A lot of great pumped hydro news has come along from around the world in the past month, so a bit of a round up is in order. As a reminder, pumped hydro is the gravity storage solution that has actually been put to common use, unlike concrete blocks, hillside rail systems, and elevators. [CleanTechnica]

Pumped hydro reservoir (Lukas Marek, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuclear Continues To Lag Far Behind Renewables In China Deployments” • The modularity and ease of manufacturing of wind and solar means that it is easy for facilities made of them to scale up massively. Tracking capacity growth in China for scaling nuclear capacity vs renewables since 2014 shows that nuclear power lags far behind. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Snow-Capped Mountains at Risk from Climate Change” • Humans rely on those natural water storage just as much if not more than what we build. When the spring rains and summer sun melt this snowpack, it flows downhill to thirsty landscapes. About a quarter of the world relies on the water stored as snowpack in mountains. [CleanTechnica]

Ansel Adams Wilderness (Alan Rhoades, LBNL)

¶ “Agreeing On Green Hydrogen” • Green hydrogen and wind or solar PVs will be intricately connected, as early green hydrogen projects show. Most of the first green hydrogen plants could give a second export option to existing renewables projects. Also, legislation strengthens the case for co-location, because costs are cut in that case. [PV Magazine]

US:

¶ “Advancing Puerto Rico’s Grid Recovery And Modernization in 2023” • In response to the crisis reignited by Hurricane Fiona, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm created the DOE’s Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team. Funding will incentivize up to 40,000 residential solar PV and battery systems for vulnerable households. [CleanTechnica]

Energy Secretary Granholm announcing funding (PR-ERF)

¶ “$80 Million From Investing In America Agenda To Address Legacy Pollution By Plugging Orphaned Wells In Texas” • The Interior Department announced a nearly $80 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Texas to continue plugging, capping, and reclaiming orphaned oil and gas wells across the state. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plus Power Activates 185-MW, 565-MWh Battery System In Hawaii” • Plug Power has activated a large battery storage system that can deliver 185 MW for 565 MWh near Honolulu. Though it is not widely recognized, Plug Power is involved in sixty energy storage projects either already operating or under development across the US and Canada. [CleanTechnica]

Big battery in Hawaii (Courtesy of Plus Power)

¶ “Michigan Lawmakers Have More Energy Priorities In 2024” • Michigan entered 2024 with a host of new laws to transform how the state gets its electricity, from a mandate for 100% clean energy by 2040 to a new permitting system for large-scale wind and solar projects. But energy policy ideas are on the table, and people on both sides feel frustrated. [Bridge Michigan]

¶ “NASA Nixes Solar Power From Space (At Least For Now)” • A study from NASA evaluated whether Space Based Solar Power could compete with terrestrial electricity and reduce emissions. The authors concluded that the technology won’t be ready for prime time by 2050. They did, however, offer a roadmap for those who wish to pursue the idea. [Payload Space]

Sun (NASA Goddard SDO)

¶ “Biofuels Leader Warns ‘EVs Are Coming’” • Monte Shaw, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, warned that ethanol makers must reduce carbon intensity scores of their fuels or face less demand for their products, caused by a combination of the rise of EVs and increased ethanol production in Brazil. [Iowa Capital Dispatch]

¶ “Block Island Is Now 100% Renewable” • Block Island started 2024 by ending dependance on fossil fuels and switching to 100% renewably generated electricity. This follows a decision by the State of Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers to grant a permit for the Block Island Utility District’s plan for 100% renewable procurement. [Block Island Times]

Have an inspiringly considered day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Solar Energy’s Vital Role In Climate Change Mitigation” • The current wave of global actions against climate change may not be as urgent as needed, but is a step in the right direction. Going by recent events, it is right to say that the world may be hanging by a thread, as Mother Nature continues to react violently to human’s irresponsible behaviour. [pv magazine India]

Solar panels on a confusing-looking building (Danist Soh, Unsplash)

¶ “Australia’s Renewable Energy Goals Can’t Come At The Cost Of Biodiversity – We Need A Strategy” • Humanity faces two existential crises. We know well the climate crisis, but the second, less appreciated threat to humanity is biodiversity loss. We are only just beginning to appreciate its effects on our economy, agriculture, health, and culture. [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Nanofibers Pulled From Captured Carbon, With A Green Hydrogen Bonus” • In a sustainability twofer, scientists have figured out how to process captured carbon dioxide and water into green hydrogen and carbon nanofibers, which can be used as an additive for cement and other products that can do carbon sequestering for a long term. [CleanTechnica]

Cement (Daniela Paola Alchapar, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Gigantic Solar Farms Might Impact How Much Solar Power Is Generated On The Other Side Of The World” • Solar farms can be made large enough to affect the weather around them and even the climate as a whole. In our new research we looked at the effect such climate-altering solar farms might have on solar power elsewhere. [Sustainability Times]

World:

¶ “BYD Pickup Will Come In Two Flavors – PHEV And BEV” • Before the end of this year, the BYD pickup truck should go on sale in Australia, Asia, and several other countries, though not the US. BYD seems intent on offering electric cars and trucks in just about every market segment, so it is no wonder that it has its eye on the pickup truck space. [CleanTechnica]

BYD pickup (From Car News China via YouTube)

¶ “Porsche Readies Self For Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car…Maybe!” • Rumors of a Porsche hydrogen fuel cell car have begun swirling around the automotive press, following a new scoop from Car Buzz. If it does pan out, Porsche’s new hydrogen fuel cell car will most likely be unaffordable to all but the privileged few, but that’s okay. [CleanTechnica] (That’s okay‽)

¶ “BYD Electric Buses For Mexico City Bus Rapid Transit” • BYD has been selling electric buses around the world for years, and it just delivered another big order in Mexico. The Mexico City Metrobús, a bus rapid transit system that is getting to be nearly 20 years old (having been started in 2005), has taken delivery of twenty electric BYD buses. [CleanTechnica]

BYD electric bus (BYD image)

¶ “Drop In Nuclear Power Production In 2022” • Thirteen EU countries with nuclear electricity production generated 609,255 GWh of electricity in 2022, down 16.7% from 2021. This is the lowest level registered since 1990. The decrease is largely due to reactor maintenance in France, the EU’s largest producer of nuclear power. [European Commission]

¶ “Mexico Forecast To Add 10 GW Of Renewable Capacity By 2028” • Despite the current government’s regulatory restrictions, Mexico is expected to add 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2028, positioning it as one of the top four markets in Latin America. Latin America is expected to add over 165 GW in renewable capacity during the period. [BNamericas]

Wind turbine (Enel Green Power)

US:

¶ “NREL Releases The 2023 Standard Scenarios” • NREL, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, just released its 2023 Standard Scenarios, which shows how the US electricity sector might change through 2050. The scenarios can guide power system planning and enable dialogue using a common set of assumptions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Removes Model 3 From The Referral Program; Model Y, S And X Still Eligible” • Until yesterday, all four of the Tesla cars in wide production (Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y) were eligible for these referral bonuses. But with the launch of the new “Highland” edition of the Model 3, the Model 3 is no longer part of the referral program. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Tesla image)

¶ “Dearborn To Shift All City Buildings To 100% Renewable Energy Sources By 2026” • Dearborn, Michigan, is switching all of its city buildings to 100% renewable energy sources by the year 2026 through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program. The city hopes this will not only help the environment but save taxpayer dollars as well. [WXYZ]

¶ “Pennsylvania Can Power All Homes In A City The Size Of Pittsburgh With In-State Solar” • The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announced that the Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards program has surpassed 1 GW or 1,000 MW of solar energy. [Farm and Dairy]

Farm in Pennsylvania (Daniel Bernard, Unsplash)

¶ “US Federal Grid Spending Boosts Prospects In High Wind, Solar Regions” • The growth of wind and solar activity has been threatened by dwindling grid capacity. To address this, the DOE will provide $1.3 billion to three long-distance transmission lines connecting renewable power generation to load centers in the West and Northeast. [Reuters]

¶ “US Releases Draft Bill To Drive Offshore Wind” • A draft version of a new bill aims to improve permitting, coordination, and cooperation between agencies and with developers and stakeholders, establish a holistic process for offshore wind transmission, and boost support for fisheries and other likely affected stakeholders. [reNews]

Have a charmingly excellent day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Renewables Grew Rapidly In 2023, But Must Grow Faster To Meet Climate Change Goals” • The world’s renewable energy grew at a record pace in 2023, the International Energy Agency reported in its first assessment since nations agreed in December on ambitious new targets to slow dangerous climate change. The world added nearly 510 GW. [ABC News]

Wind farm (Anastasia Palagutina, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Massive Amounts Of Tiny Plastics Found In Bottled Drinking Water, Study Finds” • Researchers from Columbia University and Rutgers University published the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which reveals an average of 240,000 detachable plastic fragments were found in a standard liter of bottled water. [ABC News]

¶ “How Passenger Electric Planes Could Become A Reality Within The Next Decade” • The race to decarbonize aviation is heating up, with researchers finding a way to make passenger airplanes operate on 100% electric power. One new plane will be able to hold 90 people and fly up to 500 miles without having to stop to recharge. [ABC News]

Aviation startup Elysian’s E9X (Elysian image)

¶ “Membrane-Free Green Hydrogen To Chase The Fossil Fuel Blues Away” • Fossil fuel stakeholders plan on petrochemicals staying afloat as renewable energy takes over power generation, but new green hydrogen technology is beginning to pull the rug out from under their feet. A membrane-free electrolysis system could make green hydrogen cheap. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Seven Stunning BYD Stats From 2023” • BYD has released the news that it sold more than 3 million plugin vehicles in 2023, the first company to make that achievement. In that sales update, BYD included several other stats that jumped out as well. For one thing, BYD’s exports rose 334.2% to 242,765 units! And there are a lot more stats to consider. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Atto 3 getting ruined by salt water

¶ “Renewable Additions Up 50% To New Record In 2023” • Global renewable power additions rose by almost 50% on the year to an estimated 507 GW in 2023, spurred by “continuous policy support,” energy watchdog the IEA said. The additions, three-quarters of which were solar power, set a record high for a 22nd consecutive year. [Argus Media]

¶ “Solar Energy Claims Around 55% Share In Indian Renewable Capacity As Of December 2023” • India has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the global shift towards renewable energy, with solar power spearheading the journey. As of December 2023, solar energy claims 54.76% share of the country’s total renewable installed capacity, with 73.31 GW. [SolarQuarter]

Solar water heater in India (Kushagra Dhall, Unsplash)

¶ “Australia’s Forrest Promises Investments For 14 GW Of Clean Energy” • Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has committed to launch projects helping to deliver 14 GW of clean energy in the country by the end of the decade. That is a third of the government’s renewable energy target. The additions will be wind, solar, and battery projects. [Reuters]

¶ “Europe’s Largest Renewable Energy Generator To Invest $6.6 Billion In Norwegian Hydro, Wind” • Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy generator, is investing nearly $6.6 billion into its Norwegian hydro and wind power facilities and construction of new onshore wind farms. The investment includes upgrades at older facilities. [Environment+Energy Leader]

Dam in Norway (Bjørn Kamfjord, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Government Plans Further Nuclear Power Expansion” • The government hopes to boost the nuclear power industry with the biggest expansion of the sector in 70 years. The government claims that this would lower bills and improve energy security. [Really‽] Many of the UK’s reactors are scheduled to be retired over the next decade. [BBC]

US:

¶ “California Governor Newsom Proposes Some Housing And Climate Cuts To Balance $38 Billion Budget Deficit” • Gov Gavin Newsom released details of a new $291 billion state spending plan for the 2024-25 budget year that accounts for an estimated $37.9 billion deficit. Newsom proposes to cut $2.9 billion from spending for climate change. [ABC News]

Governor Gavin Newsom (TechCrunch, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “NREL Analysis Unveils The Connection Between Electric Vehicles And Photovoltaics” • People who own EVs are more likely to add solar panels to their home, analysis by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows. The impact of owning solar panels also has a bearing on whether a homeowner buys an EV, but not as strongly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “More And More US Homes Facing Flood Risk” • The list of the nation’s most flood-prone homes is growing longer. NRDC’s updated Losing Ground dashboard now includes data on severe repetitive loss properties from the inception of the National Flood Insurance Program through late 2022. With a changing climate, the trends are worrying. [CleanTechnica]

Flood (Pixabay)

¶ “Clean Electricity Is Driving Down US Emissions” • America’s electrical grid is increasingly powered by renewable energy, and this helped slash the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions last year, even as the wider economy grew, according to new estimates by Rhodium Group. The report says that US emissions dropped by 8% in 2023. [Canary Media]

¶ “Thousands Of Vermonters Remain Without Power Following Gusty Winter Storm” • Fierce wind gusts of nearly 70 mph in some places targeted the western part of the state in the predawn hours, damaging barns, felling trees, closing roads and leaving utilities scrambling to restore power to thousands of people. There were nearly 30,000 outages. [VTDigger]

Have an essentially fabulous day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “How Aggregated PPAs Create Clean Energy Options For SMEs” • The World Bank says that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 90% of businesses globally. Mid-sized companies are the engine of the global economy. So, it’s safe to say that if we don’t get mid-sized companies on board, the energy transition won’t happen. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Courtesy of Schneider Electric)

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Material Found By AI Could Reduce Lithium Use In Batteries” • A new substance that could reduce lithium use in batteries has been discovered using artificial intelligence and supercomputing. It was found by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Microsoft. Scientists say the material potentially could reduce lithium use by up to 70%. [BBC]

World:

¶ “2023 Confirmed As World’s Hottest Year On Record” • The year 2023 has been confirmed as the warmest on record, driven by human-caused climate change and boosted by the natural El Niño weather event. Last year was about 1.48°C warmer than the long-term average before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels, the EU’s climate service says. [BBC]

Signal (Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EVs Take 30.1% Share In France” • December saw plugin EVs take 30.1% share of the French auto market, an increase from 25.0% share, year on year. Full battery electric sales volume grew 50% YoY, while plugin hybrids grew 17%. December’s overall auto volume was 181,013 units, up 14.5% YoY, though still slightly below 2017-2019 norms. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volkswagen BEV Sales Increase 21.1% In 2023” • Volkswagen continues its rise up the EV revolution ladder. Volkswagen’s full battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales rose 21.1% in 2023, compared to the previous year. Overall, Volkswagen automotive sales were up 6.7%, so it is clear that BEV sales grew much more strongly than non-BEV sales. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.7 (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Wind Turbines Beat Gas Plants To Grab Record Share Of UK Power” • Britain’s thousands of wind turbines grabbed their biggest slice of the electricity mix ever in December, sending output from gas-fired plants to their lowest in almost four years. Windpower accounted for 41% of the output last month, and the share for gas was 26%. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Egypt Signs Agreement For The Middle East’s Largest Wind Power Project” • A consortium led by Saudi-listed ACWA Power and including Hassan Allam Utilities, which is the investment and development arm of Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding, signed a 25-year land usufruct agreement to build a 1.1-GW wind power project in Egypt. [ZAWYA]

Wind farm in Egypt (Hatem Moushir, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Egypt To Invest $83 Billion In Renewable Energy Projects” • Egypt plans to invest nearly $83 billion in solar energy and other renewables projects in the next few years as part of an effort to expand its renewable sources, according to a government report. The country’s renewable sourcess are expected to provide nearly 42% of its energy in 2030. [ZAWYA]

¶ “400-MW PV Plant Powers Up In Uzbekistan” • The first 400-MW phase of China Energy Engineering Group’s 1-GW solar project has been connected to the grid in Uzbekistan. The project uses Arctech’s trackers tailored to survive Uzbekistan’s frequent sandstorms and dry climate. The 1-GW project is expected to generate 2,400 GWh annually. [reNews]

Solar array (Antonio Garcia)

¶ “Germany Adds Record 14 GW Of Solar In 2023 – Half Is On Households” • Renewable energy capacity in Germany grew by more than 17 GW or 12% in 2023 to a total of around 170 GW. The increase is driven by solar (14.1 GW) and wind power (3.2 GW). Half of the country’s new solar capacity installations were in the home segment. [Balkan Green Energy News]

US:

¶ “First 100% American Made Electric Fire Truck Enters Service In Mesa, Arizona” • E-One, based in Florida, is a full spectrum builder of fire apparatus and is a pioneer and recognized leader in extruded aluminum and stainless steel construction. Recently, the company has introduced Vector, the first American-made all-electric fire truck. [CleanTechnica]

Electric fire truck (Courtesy of REV Group)

¶ “US Saw A Historic Number Of Billion-Dollar Disasters In 2023” • Last year proved to be one of the costliest in the US due to extreme weather disasters, according to a report by the NOAA. The US was hit with more billion-dollar disasters in 2023 than any other year on record, highlighting the increased risk arising from a changing climate. [ABC News]

¶ “US Battery Storage Capacity Expected To Nearly Double In 2024” • Planned and currently operational US large-scale battery capacity totaled around 16 GW at the end of 2023. Developers plan to add another 15 GW in 2024 and around 9 GW in 2025, according to data in the EIA’s latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (EIA image)

¶ “US EIA: Solar Will Supply Almost All Growth In US Electricity Generation Through 2025” • The EIA expects solar generation will be the leading source of growth in the US electric power sector. In its January Short-Term Energy Outlook, it forecasts new capacity will boost the solar share of total generation to 7.0% in 2025, up from 4.0% in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Expert Blasts NuScale Amid Investor Suit Arising From Cancelled Idaho Project” • Nuclear expert Mycle Schneider weighed in on NuScale’s announcement last November that it was cancelling its partnership with Utah power systems on a project to develop of six NuScale reactors at the US DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory. [InvestorsObserver]

Have a gloriously effortless day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The Price Of Durable Carbon Removal Is The Price Of Carbon” • We lack a carbon market that effectively incentivizes emissions reductions at the scale needed to limit global warming to below 1.5°C. Tethering the carbon price to the cost of carbon dioxide removal provides a pathway to effectively determine the value of carbon emission reductions. [CleanTechnica]

Wind and coal (Tim van der Kuip, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Bold Predictions in AgTech and Cellular Agriculture for 2024” • Agricultural technologies (AgTech) is an arena of the clean tech ecosystem that can address a good chunk of our global climate changing emissions. Estimates range widely depending on how things are measured, but suffice to say, I think we can leave it at “a good chunk.” [CleanTechnica]

New solid state battery (Courtesy of Adden Energy)

¶ “Harvard Spinoff Lobs A Solid-State Battery Bomb At Fossil Fuels” • New energy storage technology is driving fossil fuels out of the global economy, and Adden Energy, a Harvard University spinoff, is adding fuel to the fire. Their new solid state battery can last for 6,000 cycles and takes about the same amount of time to charge as it takes to fill a tank of gas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bosch Press Conference is All About Energy | CES 2024” • At the Consumer Electronics Show, the Bosch room was mobbed with journalists, and we can presume that a lot of them, like me, are here on Bosch’s dime to cover whatever exciting new thing they could unveil. Bosch believes hydrogen will be central in meeting future energy needs. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “EVs Take 30% Share In Germany – Policy Chaos From Traffic Light Coalition” • December saw plugin EVs take 30% share of the German auto market, down YOY from a huge pull-forward in December 2022, when incentives for plug-in hybrids ended. Full year 2023 BEV volumes were up 11.4% over 2022. Volkswagen was December’s best EV seller. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.4 (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Wind Overtakes Coal For Electricity Generation In Europe” • Europe’s power producers generated more electricity from wind than from coal for the first time in the last quarter of 2023. Europe’s utilities generated a record 193 TWh of electricity from wind sites in the quarter compared to 184 TWh from coal-fired power plants, data from Ember shows. [Reuters]

¶ “Ilmatar Starts Up Finnish Wind Farm” • All of the 36 wind turbines at Ilmatar’s 221-MW wind farm in South Ostrobothnia, Finland, have been brought into operation. The site forms part of the developer’s first hybrid renewable energy park, which eventually will also include a 150-MW solar farm and a 25-MW battery. [reNews]

Wind farm (Ilmatar image)

¶ “France Drops Renewables Targets, Prioritises Nuclear In New Energy Bill” • The proposed text, which is slated to go before the cabinet early next month and then be submitted to lawmakers, reaffirms France’s commitment to nuclear power to ensure “energy sovereignty.” But the proposed text does not commit to building renewable capacity. [France 24]

US:

¶ “Possible Gas Explosion At Downtown Fort Worth Hotel Injures 21” • An explosion at a building in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, the Sandman Signature Hotel, may have been caused by a gas leak. It injured 21 people, sent heavy debris across a block, and forced nearby employees to evacuate. Officials said one person is in critical condition. [ABC News]

Sandman Signature Hotel (Sandman Signature image)

¶ “$32.5 Million to Advance Transportation Electrification in the USA” • The US DOE announced selection of sixteen projects totaling $32.5 million to advance technology integration in areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. The selected projects were in nine states and Washington, DC. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Leading Heat Pump Manufacturers Successfully Develop Next-Generation Prototypes” • The US DOE announced that four more heat pump makers successfully produced heat pump prototypes as part of the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge, a DOE initiative supporting transition to cold-climate heat pumps. [CleanTechnica]

Daikin heat pump (Daikin image)

¶ “Duke Energy To Build Solar Farm In Upstate” • A new solar farm is coming to South Carolina as part of an investment of $61 million by Duke Energy. The Laurens County Council approved the final reading of a Fee in Lieu Tax Agreement by the county and Duke Energy unanimously. The Beaverdam Solar Center, will have a capacity of 41 MW. [FOX Carolina]

¶ “Alaska Lawmakers Eye Bills On Neighborhood Solar, Green Bank And Renewable Energy Benchmarks” • Alaska lawmakers are set to take up several renewable energy policy proposals, including for neighborhood solar projects, loans for sustainable energy programs, and setting standards for utilities’ clean power generation. [Alaska Public Media]

Solar array in Ft Yukon, Alaska (US DOE, public domain)

¶ “BOEM Consults On Six New York Bight Lease Areas” • The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has launched a public consultation on the potential development of six wind lease areas offshore New York and New Jersey, in an area known as the New York Bight. BOEM estimates that the area could create up to 7 GWs of offshore wind energy. [reNews]

¶ “EIA Says 40% Of US Electricity Is Now Emission-Free For The First Time” • The pace of the green energy transition has sped up greatly in recent years. Figures released at the end of 2023 show roughly 40% of US electricity production is now emission-free. Emission-free electricity is that generated renewably or by nuclear reactions. [Singularity Hub]

Have an enthusiastically considerate day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Cities Should Prioritize Electric Vehicle Adoption in 2024” • Without easy access to charging, many apartment dwellers are skeptical about EVs. They need local leaders who can explain reasons why transportation should be electrified: economic development, workforce expansion, health benefits, climate pollution, and more. [CleanTechnica]

Neighborhood in New York City (Franz Boccalatte, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “New Zealand Exceeds 50% Electric Vehicle Penetration In December 2023!” • With the threat of loss of subsidies, New Zealanders have bought electric vehicles at an unprecedented rate, achieving 50% penetration in December 2023. Changes in government regulations and decreased the prices of EVs led to what may be a short-term rush. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Honda Mulls $14 Billion Plan To Build Electric Cars In Canada” • US media say Americans don’t like EVs. But it seems the companies who make electric cars didn’t get the memo. Japanese media source Nikkei announced that Honda is thinking about a $14 billion investment to manufacture batteries and electric cars in Canada. [CleanTechnica]

Honda EV (Honda image)

¶ “BYD Building Sodium-Ion Battery Gigafactory (30 GWh)” • At CleanTechnica we have had numerous articles about sodium-ion batteries over the years. Now things are getting real, though. BYD has begun construction on a 30 GWh sodium-ion battery factory in China. The company is investing 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) into the new factory. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kenya Joins Consortium To Develop Battery Systems For Renewable Energy” • Kenya is one of the nine African countries forming a consortium to lead the world in developing battery systems to enable renewable energy. They intend to develop innovative battery storage under the Battery Energy Storage Systems Consortium. [Business Daily]

Wind power in Kenya (Andrew Owuor, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “India Welcomes First Fully Renewable-Powered Container Terminal” • Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals, operated by Singapore’s PSA International at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, made its status as India’s first container terminal powered by renewable energy public. The energy comes from a 7.8 MW solar farm, developed by O2 Power. [Construction World]

¶ “Australia Nears Half-Way Mark To 82% Renewables” • Nearly 40% of electricity demand in Australia was supplied by renewable sources over the course of 2023, data from OpenNEM shows, edging the nation closer to the halfway mark on its target of 82% renewables by 2030. The average share of solar and wind power on the grid was 38.4%. [Renew Economy]

Australian rooftop solar power (Western Power image)

¶ “As Nuclear Debate Nears, French Minister Sees Potential For Fourteen New Reactors” • France requires more than the six new nuclear plants currently planned and possibly needs to build more than fourteen new plants, Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said just days before a parliamentary debate begins on the issue. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “Coal State Killing Coal With Solar Power, One Megawatt At A Time” • The coal state of West Virginia has been achingly slow to join the solar power revolution. It ranks a lowly 49th in a ranking of installed solar capacity by state. Nevertheless, three solar and energy storage projects are moving forward there, indicating that a change is in the wind. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power in West Virginia (Courtesy of FirstEnergy)

¶ “Microsoft, Qcells Strike Massive Supply Deal For US-Made Solar Panels” • South Korea’s Qcells said it will supply Microsoft with 12 GW of American-made solar panels through 2032 in what the companies called one of the largest ever deals of its kind. Qcells will make the solar panels for Microsoft at its new $2.5 billion Georgia factory. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Giant Subsea ‘Starfish’ To Help Push The Cost Of Floating Offshore Wind Down And Downer” • A majority of US offshore potential is in areas where the water is too deep for conventional turbines, and floating turbines are 50% more costly than those built in shallow waters. The US DOE is working to bring floating turbine costs down 70% by 2035. [CleanTechnica]

Cable layout for floating offshore wind farms (Aker Solutions)

¶ “PUC Scales Back Renewable Electricity, Adds New Natural-Gas Plants” • The Colorado PUC is adding more fossil fuel-generated power and scaling back Xcel Energy’s proposed investments in clean energy. High energy bills are largely due to volatile natural gas prices, and the PUC claims that increasing use of gas is a win for ratepayers. [Public News Service] (What‽)

¶ “Gorham To Be Home To Maine’s First Giant Battery Project” • Energy storage is needed to support renewable energy in Maine. This spring, one of New England’s largest battery storage projects will be built in Gorham, Maine. It presages other storage projects seen as critical for optimizing the region’s growing fleet of solar and wind power plants. [News Center Maine]

Battery project (Courtesy of Plus Power)

¶ “Future Of Xcel Energy’s Coal-Fired Power Plants? Oak Park Heights Options Include Solar, Batteries” • Recently, a coal-fired generator in Minnesota retired, the biggest to date. This marked a major milestone in Xcel Energy’s goal of delivering 100% carbon-free electricity in the state by 2040. Other plants will close soon. So what’s next? [Pioneer Press]

¶ “Massachusetts and New Hampshire Release Updated Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Guides” • Massachusetts and New Hampshire both released updated guides for residents in the event of an emergency at the Seabrook nuclear plant. Each state outlines its own communities and emergency plans for areas within ten miles of the plant. [WHAV]

Have an emphatically merry day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “One Month After COP28, Has Anything Changed?” • The world smiled when COP28 concluded its business by issuing a statement that called for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” But a month later, there is little evidence COP28 had any measurable impact on the world’s fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Clear statement of science (Image by 350.org)

¶ “Five Climate Tech Trends To Look Out For In 2024” • Data from PwC at the end of 2023 shows that climate tech now makes up 10% of all tech deals globally, a number that has crept up slowly, but surely, from 1.5% over the last decade. We are moving toward new solutions for old problems. Here are five trends that support that transition. [Energy Digital Magazine]

World:

¶ “Kenya’s Push To Make ‘Boda-Boda’ Motorbike Taxis Go Electric” • Motorbike taxis are everywhere in Kenya because they are cheaper than cars and can be better in the notorious traffic jams of Nairobi. Gas can cost about 1,000 Kenyan shillings a day, just over $6 (£5). One electric motorbike taxi driver says it costs no more than $1.42 a day for electricity. [BBC]

Boda-boda (Elkanah254, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Top Electric Vehicle Brands in the World – BYD And Tesla in a Different Universe” • In November, BYD continued at record levels, selling 289,000 units. Tesla went back to its normal self, with 174,000 sales. That was 14% above the same period in 2022. The competition for third place is tighter, with SAIC-GM-Wuling in the lead. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Norway Moves Aggressively To Curb Cruise Ship Emissions” • According to Transport and Environment, in 2017, Carnival Cruise Line emitted nearly ten times as much sulfur oxides along the coasts of Europe as all 260 million million cars on the Continent. Starting in 2026, only ships powered by alternative fuels will be allowed to visit Norway’s fjords. [CleanTechnica]

Fjord (Image by Visit Norway)

¶ “World EV Sales Now Are 19% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations for November broke their previous monthly sales record (1,291,000 units), which was just set in September 2023. They reached 1,385,000 units in November. In the end, plugins represented 19% share of the overall auto market (13% battery EV share alone)! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “South Africa Proposes Delaying Shutting Down Coal-Fired Power Plants Beyond 2030, Including Tutuka” • The government of South Africa has proposed delaying shutting down coal-fired power plants beyond 2030 where technically and commercially feasible, including Tutuka power station, in a bid to retain SA’s dispatchable electricity capacity. [MSN]

Coal-burning plant (Gerhard Roux, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Largest Energy Storage Station In Hong Kong Greater Bay Area Now Operational” • The Baotang energy storage station is now fully operational in the city of Foshan. The station is the largest of its kind throughout the Greater Bay Area. It’s also the country’s first lithium battery energy storage station, able to integrate multiple technical routes. [CGTN]

¶ “Germany’s Renewable Energy Progress: A Comprehensive Overview” • In 2023, Germany hit a big goal on its path to going green, as renewables powered up 55% of its electricity. That’s up 6.6 percentage points higher than last year. They’re working toward a clean future with plans to get 80% of their energy from green sources by 2030. [Microgrid Media]

Solar power (JUWI Group, CC BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “UK Invests In High-Tech Nuclear Fuel To Push Putin Out Of Global Energy Market” • The UK will become the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech high-assay low-enriched uranium nuclear fuel program to supply new nuclear projects. Most advanced reactors require HALEU fuel that is currently only commercially produced in Russia. [GOV.UK]

US:

¶ “Major US Shipping Port Gets 100% Clean Energy, But It’s Complicated” • The superbusy Port of Virginia is celebrating the achievement of 100% clean energy. That covers the port’s 116 electric stacking cranes, four electric rail cranes and 27 electric ship-to-shore cranes among other items. Diesel vehicles are not counted and are still in use. [CleanTechnica]

Port of Virginia (Courtesy of the Port Authority of Virginia)

¶ “States Need To Step Up Their EV Charging Infrastructure – Is 2024 The Year?” •The Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program has $7.5 billion available to the states for funding EV charging stations. As of December, 2023, no EV charging stations had been built using that funding. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “United Rentals Adds Solar Battery Generators To Its Fleet” • United Rentals, Stamford, Connecticut, has agreed to purchase the new HIPOWER EHR solar battery generator from HIPOWER SYSTEMS, Olathe, Kansas, for its rental fleet. United Rentals said it is the first equipment rental company to offer mobile microgrid systems for rent. [Rental Management]

Mobile microgrid

¶ “Solar Panel Savings Opportunities In Georgia” • In the sun-kissed state of Georgia, homeowners have opportunities to save with solar. With an average of 110 sunny days annually, residents in cities like Atlanta are in a good position to harness this natural resource, despite the lack of major statewide incentives for solar panel installations. [BNN Breaking]

¶ “ERCOT May Connect With Eastern Power Grid To Avoid Winter Emergency Conditions” • When Texas frooze three years ago, the power was out long enough in some places to do billions of dollars in damages. Former ERCOT monitor Beth Garza says there may be ways to connect to the eastern grid and keep the independence ERCOT has. [CBS News]

Have a generously rewarding day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “When Your Local Public Radio Station Advertises Fossil Fuels” • “My local public radio station, Oregon Public Broadcasting, which broadcasts throughout Oregon and southwest Washington, has been running advertisements for a fossil gas utility named Northwest Natural over the past year.” NPR also accepts fossil fuel ads. It is time to take action. [CleanTechnica]

Break free (Eelco Böhtlingk, Unsplash)

¶ “Wild Weather Ahead: How to Prep for 2024’s Climate Shifts” • Our climate is changing, growing warmer due to the emissions from burning fossil fuels, and our weather is changing with it. Instead of being a freak outlier, extreme heat is something we’ll need to be prepared to deal with on a much more regular basis, along with storms, floods and drought. [CNET]

Science and Technology:

¶ “An E-Bike Battery That Can’t Catch Fire, Even When Shot?” • Startup Nanotech Energy says its engineers have the answer to battery fires: 18650 cells that are not only fireproof, but won’t even catch fire if shot. These special cells are now available for purchase through the company’s US partner, Voltaplex. The cells are made in California. [CleanTechnica]

Nanotech 18650 cell (Nanotech)

World:

¶ “Former Oil Executive Mukhtar Babayev To Lead Cop29 Talks In Azerbaijan” • For the second year in a row, a minister with oil industry ties will preside over COP talks. Azerbaijan’s Mukhtar Babayev will lead the COP29 in Baku next November. He worked for decades at the national oil company before he become the environment minister in 2018. [BBC]

¶ “Green Investments Begin To Pay Off For Big Banks” • For the second year in a row, global banks made more from investments supporting environmentally friendly projects than they earned from financing oil, gas, and coal activities. While the difference is not large yet, it is an indicator that green energy is outpacing fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Green investment (Towfiqu barbhuiya, Unsplash)

¶ “Chile’s Renewables Sector Marches On As Spotlight Tightens On Congress” • Chile continues to decarbonize its electricity amid market headwinds and expectations for legislative progress in 2024. Last year, installed capacity climbed 2 GW to 35.4 GW, with renewable energy plants and storage systems accounting for almost all the growth. [BNamericas]

¶ “Integration Of NEVs, Power Grid Gets Fillip” • China unveiled a new guideline on strengthening the integration of new energy vehicles with the power grid. It is a strategic move giving robust support for constructing a new power system and promote high-quality development in the NEV sector. One important issue is battery charging. [China Daily]

Wind farm (Vista Wei, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe’s Natural Gas And Power Prices Jump As Cold Snap Begins” • Power prices in Finland jumped to record-high levels as a deep freeze in the Arctic parts of the Nordic countries is set to move south to northwest Europe in the weekend and next week, creating additional energy demand and leading to higher electricity and natural gas prices. [Oil Price]

¶ “Greece Turns To Wind, Sun Projects To Increase Renewable Energy Sources” • Forced by the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to go back to coal-fired plants to generate electricity, Greece is also moving more toward alternative and renewable sources, especially from the wind and sun. Projects coming to 240 MW have been awarded. [The National Herald]

Greece (Constantinos Kollias, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “US Energy Secretary Touts 75% Growth In Public EV Charging Stations Since Biden Took Office” • As a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EV charging infrastructure is growing. It will have more impact in years to come, but EV charging stations pop up every day already, and the Biden administration is eager to highlight them. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Don’t Worry If Your Favorite GM EV Doesn’t Qualify For A Federal Tax Credit” • General Motors announced it will provide incentives of $7,500 on its EVs to offset the loss of a US federal tax credit. GM told its dealers it would provide the equivalent EV tax credit amount “for any vehicles that became ineligible due to the new guidelines.” [CleanTechnica]

EV interior (GM image)

¶ “Inslee Praises Community Solar Project At Port Of Camas-Washougal As ‘A Personal Joy’” • Washington Governor Jay Inslee visited Clark County’s biggest solar array. He said it was integral to the state’s transition to clean energy. “This is a personal joy to me. It’s giving us optimism for our state,” Inslee said as he toured the Community Solar East project. [The Columbian]

¶ “Alliant Energy Deploys Six New Solar Projects In Wisconsin” • Alliant Energy has deployed six new solar projects in Wisconsin, collectively amounting to 514 MW and tripling the utility’s solar generation capacity. All six projects are online and operational, and are single-axis tracker systems, Tony Palese, a spokesperson for Alliant Energy, said. [pv magazine USA]

Solar project (Alliant Energy image)

¶ “Savings From Community Power Become Slimmer As NH Utilities Cut Electric Rates” • In New Hampshire, the Community Power Coalition announced a 26% drop in the base electric rate, to 8.1¢/kWh. But the financial benefit seen by those that are part of the Coalition will be reduced this year because all NH utilities cut their electric rates. [NHPR]

¶ “Constellation Energy’s Hydrogen Production Could Be Derailed By Shift In Federal Policy” • Plans by Baltimore-based Constellation Energy to mass produce carbon-free hydrogen could be jeopardized under proposed federal guidelines that exclude existing nuclear plants from tax subsidies designed to boost the clean hydrogen industry. [GMToday.com]

Have a beautifully easy day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Positive Climate Solutions To Celebrate In 2024” • In 2024, the numbers about fossil fuels, renewable energy transitions, and cleantech innovations are quite illuminating, and frequently they are contradictory, but, together, clean climate solutions offer a generally positive framework for the energy transition taking place around us. [CleanTechnica]

Storm with a microburst (NOAA, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Labour’s Energy Advisers Warn Against Watering Down £28 Billion Green Investmen” • Independent Labour energy advisers warned against watering down its £28 billion green spending plans in advance of its promise to create a zero carbon electricity system by 2030. The goals include 70% solar and wind, along with nuclear and other renewables. [The Guardian]

¶ “The Neglected Clean Heat We Flush Down The Drains” • The residents of False Creek, a recently redeveloped neighbourhood of Vancouver, get heat from an unusual renewable source, their sewage wastewater. Increasingly, municipalities around the globe harness this underground form of excess heat to decarbonise their energy networks. [BBC]

False Creek (Jhana Ellard, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs At 89.6% Share In Norway” • December saw plugin EVs at 89.6% share in Norway, up from 87.6% year on year amidst temporary incentives turbulence. Overall auto volume was 12,183 units, down from last year’s rush, but closer to seasonal norms. Norway’s best selling vehicle in December, and for the full year, was the Tesla Model Y. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Germany Reports Lowest Emissions In 70 Years But That’s Not The End Of The Story” • Last year, greenhouse gas emissions in Germany fell to 673 million tons of CO₂ equivalent (including CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide), Agora Energiewende said. That is down 46% from the reference year of 1990 and the lowest level since the 1950s. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines in Germany (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)

¶ “Germany Reached 55% Renewable Energy In 2023” • In 2023, 55% of Germany’s power came from renewables, according to energy regulator Bundesnetzagentur, Reuters reported. The year was the first that renewable resources provided more than 50% of the country’s electricity. Wind and solar provided 31.1% and 12.1% of the electricity, respectively. [EcoWatch]

¶ “Ireland’s Last Peat-Fuelled Power Plant Switches To 100% Biomass” • Bord na Móna’s Edenderry power plant in Ireland moved from peat-fired electricity to biomass, meaning it no longer harvests bogs for fuel, the Irish Independent reported. The plant is the last of Ireland’s peat-fuelled plants to adopt an alternative fuel source. [Bioenergy Insight]

Peat bog (Maksim Shutov, Unsplash)

¶ “Spain Generated Record 50% Of Power From Renewables In 2023” • Spain generated more than half of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar power in 2023 in a “historic” record, the national power grid, Red Electrica Espanola said. The renewably generated electricity was 50.4% of the overall national energy mix. [Tech Xplore]

US:

¶ “BrightNight Gets A $375 Million Renewable Energy Credit Line With A ‘Green Loan’ Twist” • The US startup BrightNight has become a renewable energy force to be reckoned with. It just nailed down a new $375 million line of credit that will enable it to push ahead with a portfolio of 31 GW worth of wind, solar, and energy storage projects. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Courtesy of BrightNight)

¶ “US Average Retail Gasoline Prices Were 40¢ Per Gallon Lower In 2023 Than 2022” • US retail gasoline prices in 2023 averaged 43¢/gal less than in 2022, data from the EIA’s Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. The decline was partly due to lower crude oil prices in 2023 compared with 2022 and higher gasoline inventories in the second half of 2023. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US DOE: $70 Million To Strengthen Energy Sector Against Physical And Cyber Hazards” • The US DOE announced up to $70 million in funding to support research intended to increase resilience and to reduce risks to energy delivery infrastructure from cyber and physical threats, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and other hazards. [CleanTechnica]

Power lines (Jerry Wang, Unsplash)

¶ “Governor Murphy Signs Legislation To Expand Community Solar Energy” • Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill to strengthen New Jersey’s community solar program. The Community Solar Energy Program gives individuals, who have no ability to install solar on their rooftops, access the benefits of solar energy, with significant energy savings. [NJ.gov]

¶ “Solar Energy Is On The Rise In Tennessee” • Tennessee has only begun to scratch the surface of its solar potential. According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and compiled in the Environment America Research & Policy Center report, We Have the Power, solar energy could meet 24 times the state’s use for 2020. [Environment America]

Tennessee (nathan kosmak, Unsplash)

¶ “Superior’s Mayor Wants Utility Regulators To Revisit Their Approval Of A $700 Million Gas Plant” • The mayor of Superior asked Wisconsin utility regulators to revisit approval of a roughly $700 million natural gas plant planned for the city. A group of utilities wants to build the 625-MW plant as part of plans to shift away from coal. [Wisconsin Public Radio]

¶ “First Conventional Uranium Mining In The US In Eight Years Has Begun In Utah And Arizona” • For the first in eight years, conventional uranium mining is underway in the US at three mines in Utah and Arizona. Energy Fuels Resources says that it plans to stockpile and eventually process the uranium at its White Mesa mill facility in Utah. [KSJD]

Have a thoroughly fine day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The 360-GW Reason To Boost Finance For Energy Storage Now” • Storage is indispensable to the green energy revolution. Energy storage technologies are also the key to lowering energy costs and integrating more renewable power into our grids, fast. If we can get this right, we can hold on to ever-rising quantities of renewable energy we harness. [CleanTechnica]

Battery bank, 2011 (Primary-master, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Graphene-Based 18650 Battery Cells Promise To ‘End E-Bike Fires’” • A recent press release from Nanotech Energy makes a bold promise. It says that its new 18650 cell will “end e-bike fires.” Granted, many press releases tend to exaggerate, so it’s probably best to take this news with a pinch of salt, but it could be very good news. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “PowerCo Tests QuantumScape’s New Solid State Battery For Volkswagen, And Likes What It Sees” • Volkswagen leveled up its EV battery business in 2022 with its PowerCo branch. PowerCo put a solid state battery from QuantumScape through its paces. It passed with flying colors, bringing the solid state battery of the future one step closer. [CleanTechnica]

Solid state battery for EVs (Courtesy of Quantumscape)

World:

¶ “27% BEV Share In China!” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in China. Plugins scored more than 872,000 sales last month, up 39% year over year, which is this market’s fourth record month in a row. And expect the last month of the year to continue this record streak. November sales pulled the year-to-date (YTD) tally to over 7.1 million units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPeng Sees 171% Growth In 4th Quarter” • XPeng is no BYD or Tesla. It’s far away from the million battery EV sales they reached this year. But XPeng is growing strongly and can certainly dream about reaching the million BEVs per year milestone one day. In terms of 2023, XPeng saw its sales rise to 141,601 units. That’s a 17% increase from 2022. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “JERA Starts Up Ishikari Offshore Wind Farm” • JERA and Green Power Investment Corporation have begun commercial operations at the 112-MW Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm 3 km off the coast of Hokkaido. The wind farm features fourteen 8-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines. The partners have retained ownership of the wind farm. [reNews]

¶ “Statkraft Seals Two PPAs For UK Solar Site” • Statkraft has signed PPAs with Gresham House and Workspace, for the Beavor Grange Solar Farm in Devon, England. The 20-MW PV site is managed by Gresham House. It is large enough to power the equivalent of 6000 homes, or two-thirds of Workspace’s total power demand, Statkraft said. [reNews]

Solar and wind site (Statkraft image)

¶ “Poland Produced Record 26% Of Electricity From Renewables In 2023” • Renewables generated 26% of Poland’s electricity in 2023, up from 19.3% the previous year, data show. However, coal continues to produce most of the country’s electricity. According to the Fraunhofer Society, Poland’s largest renewable source was onshore wind. [Notes From Poland]

¶ “Australian Homes Three Times More Likely To Have Solar Panels Than A Pool” • Quarterly installations of new solar panels reached a record at the end of 2023, with Australian households over three times as likely to have a PV system as a swimming pool. Households and businesses added 921 MW of solar capacity in the last quarter of 2023. [The Guardian]

Solar installation in Sydney (Damian Shaw, City of Sydney)

US:

¶ “Pennsylvania Lawmakers Debate Proposal To Raise State’s Renewable Energy Goal” • A bill in the state House would raise the amount of electricity Pennsylvania gets from renewables. The proposal would raise Pennsylvania’s renewable energy goals from 8% now to 30% by 2030, fulfilling one of Gov Josh Shapiro’s campaign pledges. [The Allegheny Front]

¶ “Two Large Offshore Wind Sites Are Sending Power To The US Grid For The First Time” • For the first time, turbines are sending electricity to the grid from the sites of two large offshore wind farms in the US. The first of 62 turbines at Vineyard Wind is operating, as is the first of 15 turbines 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York. [ABC News]

Offshore wind turbines (NOAA image)

¶ “These Industries Will See Growth In Hawaii Over The Next Decade, Economists Say” • Film, agriculture, and renewable energy are emerging industries that economists say will help diversify Hawaii’s economy in the next decade. A report says real estate, tourism, and the federal government provide the largest share of the state’s GDP. [Hawaii Public Radio]

¶ “Minnesota Dog Sled Competition Canceled Due To Lack Of Snow” • The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is a series of races run by dog sleds and mushers on a 300-mile course known for incorporating the extremes of northern Minnesota weather, as well as for rugged terrain. It was canceled due to lack of snow, organizers announced. [ABC News]

Sled dog race (Thomas Lipke, Unsplash)

¶ “Archdiocese Shifting To 100% Renewable Energy This Year” • The Archdiocese of Chicago will shift its entire electric energy purchase to 100% renewable sources this year. The renewable energy purchase is the equivalent of removing 15,000 cars from the road, or eliminating the carbon emissions generated by 8,500 homes each year. [Chicago Catholic]

¶ “New Mexico Regulators Reject Utility’s Effort To Recoup Some Investments In Coal And Nuclear Plants” • Regulators rejected an effort by New Mexico’s largest electric utility to recoup from customers millions of dollars of investments made in a coal-fired power plant in the northwestern corner of the state and a nuclear power plant in neighboring Arizona. [ABC News]

Have a passably superb day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “A Perovskite Makeover Could Help Make Green Hydrogen Happen” • The cost of green hydrogen has been dropping, but it still remains stubbornly high. The figure of $5.00 per kilogram for green hydrogen is commonly cited, compared to just $1.50 for hydrogen from natural gas. That may change with a new perovskite-based nanocatalyst. [CleanTechnica]

Perovskite (Edumol Molecular Visualizations, CC-BY-SA 2,0)

World:

¶ “EVs Take 63.1% Share In Sweden – ID.4 Best Seller” • This December saw plugin EVs take 63.1% share in Sweden, down YOY from the record 74.7% of December 2022, which was boosted by a pull forward ahead of January incentive cuts. Battery EV volumes in full year 2023 were up 17.9% compared to 2022, though plugin hybrid EV volumes fell. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Is The First Company To Sell Three Million Plugin Vehicles In A Year” • We note that BYD was targeting 3 million vehicle sales in 2023, and it just surpassed that target. It had 3,023,679 EV sales in the year, all of which are plugin vehicles. BYD’s EV sales were split in 2023, as 52% were full electrics and 48% were plugin hybrids. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song Plus (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Nordex Scores 553-MW Swedish Order” • Nordex has received orders for four wind farms in Sweden totaling 553 MW from Renewable Power Capital. A service contract is included. In spring 2025 the Nordex Group will start delivering and installing 80 machines, of which 74 are N163/6.X and six N149/5.X units, for the High Coast wind farm cluster. [reNews]

¶ “Aker To Supply Norwegian Transmission Tech” • Aker Solutions signed a FEED contract with the Marine Energy Test Centre in Norway to pilot new subsea power system technology which could reduce costs and complexity of offshore wind farms significantly. The project will see Aker Solutions provide new power transmission technology. [reNews]

Floating wind turbine in a storm (Aker image)

¶ “UK Use Of Gas And Coal For Electricity At Lowest Since 1957, Figures Show” • The amount of electricity generated by the UK’s gas and coal power plants fell by 20% last year, with consumption of fossil fuels at its lowest level since 1957. The UK’s gas power plants generated 31% of the UK’s electricity last year, and the UK’s last coal plant produced 1%. [The Guardian]

¶ “Bangladesh’s Solar Project Approvals Hit 2.1 GW In 2023” • In December, Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved tariffs for seven solar power plants totaling 630 MW. Approvals had been granted for 1,566 MW in the year to that point. Most of these projects secured a fixed tariff of around $0.10/kWh. [PV Magazine]

Solar array in Bangladesh (Parasol Energy image)

¶ “Prosumers In Romania Have Installed Capacity Larger Than Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant” • In Romania, there are over 100,000 prosumers with a total installed capacity estimated at 1,400 MW, and additions aren’t slowing down. There is more capacity of rooftop solar than at the country’s one nuclear power plant. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “Spain’s New Radwaste Plan Supports Nuclear Phase-Out” • Spain’s Council of Ministers approved the seventh General Plan for Radioactive Waste, which sets the roadmap for treatment of wastes from nuclear plants. The plan slightly extends nuclear plant operations. Spain plans to close all of its five nuclear plants by 2035. [Nuclear Engineering International]

Nuclear plant in Spain (Jorge Franganillo, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Price Cuts Boost Tesla 4Q Sales, Beating Estimates As EV Growth Rate Slows” • Tesla said that it sold 484,507 vehicles worldwide from October through December. That handily beat Wall Street estimates of 473,000 for the quarter, data provider FactSet said. Tesla said it sold just over 1.8 million vehicles in 2023, up 37.7% from 2022. [ABC News]

¶ “Heliostat Consortium Publishes Annual Report Highlighting Impactful Technical Projects, Partnerships With Industry” • The US DOE’s Heliostat Consortium, which is co-led by NREL, has announced publication of HelioCon Annual Report: 2023. The report provides detailed information on progress the HelioCon team has made. [CleanTechnica]

Ivanpah Solar Project (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “21 GW of US Coal to Retire in Next 3 Years; 88–211 GW of Solar to Join Grid” • Reports on electricity generation and new power capacity in the US clearly show strong trends toward more renewables and less coal. A report shows power capacity growth and retirements the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission expects in the next three years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Panels Meet Saffron In New Agrivoltaic Project” • The allure of raising a spice crop that retails for $5,000 a pound is enticing. In the unlikely state of Vermont, there is a agrivoltaic experiment under way. If all goes according to plan, it could pave the way for for a saffron boom in the US while it helps save the country’s small farms. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaic array and harvest (courtesy of Next2Sun)

¶ “Pennsylvania Hits Solar Energy Milestone; Advocates Say There’s Much More To Do” • Pennsylvania now has 1 GW of solar energy capacity, enough to power all the homes in Pittsburgh. The Shapiro Administration says it’s an important milestone, but solar industry backers point out that the state should do more to help the industry grow. [90.5 WESA]

¶ “Resilient Power Proves A “Lifesaver” For Mississippi Health Center After Catastrophic Tornado” • After a March 2023 tornado leveled a health center in Mississippi, the organization was able to run operations via a resilient power microgrid system for the better part of a year and continued serving patients, many of whom had lost everything. [Direct Relief]

Have a gleefully happy day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “We Need More Than Transmission Lines” • I want to start with a simple statement that some people think unbelievable: “We cannot power our grid with baseload power alone.” I will admit that it is theoretically possible to power the grid exclusively with baseload plants, but only for a very brief time, perhaps on the order of five minutes. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “The Rise Of Renewables Is A Reason To Be Hopeful In 2024” • Recently, Canary Media asked six of its regular contributors to talk about something that gives then hope for 2024. Eric Wesoff pointed out that BloombergNEF’s now forecasts 413 GW of solar power capacity will be installed worldwide in 2023. That’s up from 260 GW in 2022. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “China’s BYD Closer To Taking Tesla’s Electric Car Top Spot” • The Chinese company BYD has moved a step closer to toppling Elon Musk’s Tesla as the world’s biggest-selling manufacturer of electric vehicles. The firm announced that it had sold a record 526,000 battery-only EVs in the last three months of 2023. Tesla is about to release sales data. [BBC]

BYD EV (Jack1007, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Progress Made In The Solar & Battery Storage Industry Shows That The Future Is Going To Be Awesome!” • It is sad to see that we still have over six hundred million people in Africa without access to electricity. Distributed renewable energy can play a key role in increasing access to electricity in off-grid applications and offer crucial support for weak grids. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SAE Develops NACS J3400 Standard In Record Time” • SAE International is the primary standards setting body for electrical devices. The switch to NACS meant it had to move swiftly to get a new standard in place in time for companies to use it when they wanted. SAE released a Technical Information Report after only six months of work. [CleanTechnica]

NACS J3400 (Image from Charged EVs)

¶ “Egypt And China Electric Power Initiate Preliminary Studies For Ambitious 10-GW Solar Energy Project” • Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese firm to begin preliminary studies for a groundbreaking 10-GW solar energy project. The solar project aims to save roughly $1 billion per year in natural gas costs. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Vestas Wins 108-MW Order In South Africa” • Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has won a 108-MW order for the Witberg Wind Farm, placed by independent power producer Red Rocket, to be sited in Western Cape, South Africa, including supply and installation of 24 4.5-MW turbines and a 15-year management agreement. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Darling wind (Kalle Pihlajasaari, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “China Three Gorges Commissions 3.48-GW Of New Solar Capacity” • Three Gorges Energy switched on 3.48 GW of solar in the final week of December. One of the PV facilities, which is near Golmud in Qinghai province, has a capacity of 900 MW. Another, with 200 MW of concentrated solar power is part of a 100-GW wind-PV project. [PV Magazine]

¶ “Neoen Turns Sod On Italian Solar Trio” • Neoen has begun construction of its first three renewable energy projects in Italy. The three solar farms have a combined capacity of 24.7 MW. Two of them are located in Lombardy (8 MW and 7.6 MW) and one is in Marche (9.1 MW). Neoen has developed the projects and will retain 100% ownership. [reNews]

Solar farm (Neoen image)

¶ “Transmission Project for 20-GW Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone” • Indian state-owned Power Grid Corporation has secured a crucial inter-state power transmission project aimed to harness energy from a 20-GW Renewable Energy Zone in Rajasthan. The Letter of Intent for this significant venture was issued in the last month of 2023. [SolarQuarter]

US:

¶ “Electric Vehicle Sales Are Slowing. No Need For Panic Yet, Insiders Say” • The recent headlines for EVs have been brutal: Sales are dropping. Momentum is slipping, as consumers are souring on the technology. Experts say, however, that 2024 may be the year to finally pull the plug on gasoline-powered cars and trucks. [ABC News]

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Hyundai image)

¶ “Wind And Solar Power Provide More Electricity Than Coal In The USA” • Those who love to hate EVs are fond of saying that they are powered by coal. A decade or two ago that was much more likely to be the case. Today, coal has shrunk enormously as a US electricity source, and it doesn’t even provide as much as solar and wind power together. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Secures 135-MW Project In The US” • Vestas has received a 135-MW order to power an undisclosed wind project in the USA. The order consists of 30 V163-4.5 MW turbines, Vestas’ newest high-capacity factor turbine and the project has been developed by Steelhead Americas, Vestas’ North American development arm. [Energy Global]

Vestas turbines (Dario De corso, Unsplash)

¶ “Northeast States Double Down On Building America’s Wind Market, Despite Setbacks” • Over the decades, GE closed plants, and its sprawling campus of 45,000 workers plummeted to less than 4,000. Still, despite rising costs, with many macroeconomic challenges, GE and New York state are both pushing ahead with proposed projects. [Capital & Main]

¶ “Nuclear Expert Blasts NuScale Amid Investor Suit Arising From Cancelled Idaho Project” • Hagens Berman urges NuScale Power Corporation investors who suffered big losses to submit losses now. Nuclear expert Mycle Schneider pointed out that NuScale promised in 2008 to have a reactor running in 2015, but it has not started construction. [GlobeNewswire]

Have a constructively awesome day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Should AI’s Role In Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Be Greater?” • Scientists warn that damage from climate change will get much worse unless we change course. Could AI’s role in developing new climate models save us carbon emissions? AI’s role in the struggle against climate change is both prominent and controversial already. [CleanTechnica]

Computer processor (Roman Spiridonov, Unsplash)

¶ “Quebec Has All Conditions For Success To Be Green Fertilizer Giant” • Green ammonia fertilizer is a serious business, unlike green ammonia for energy. Quebec has all the conditions for success it needs to make it a reality. The province also has all the facilities it needs to send ammonia to Europe, where it is in demand as a chemical fertilizer. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Amtrak Has Big Plans For 2024, But Congress Wants To Derail A Big Advantage” • With funding and support for the railroad up in the last few years, some key upgrades and improvements are going into place that could help many more travelers take it seriously. But some members of Congress are pushing safety issues that are not realistic. [CleanTechnica]

Amtrak train (Amtrak image)

¶ “It’s A New Dawn For Solar Power In Scotland: Susan Law” • It is a commitment which adds even further breadth to the ways in which landowners could diversify by becoming involved in the renewable energy industry. It supports the national drive towards net zero. It also helps make enterprises financially sustainable, particularly farming. [The Scotsman]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Will Climate Change Affect Chocolate Production?” • People around the world are discussing the disastrous effects of climate change on our planet; glaciers will melt, sea levels will rise, new diseases will appear, droughts and floods will destroy our habitats and farmlands, it may become too hot or cold to farm. But what about cacao beans for chocolate? [ScienceABC]

Cacao bean (Pixabay, Pexels, CC0)

¶ “Sea Of Methane Sealed Beneath Arctic Permafrost Could Trigger A Climate Feedback Loop” • Thick permafrost forms a tight seal that has so far prevented millions of cubic feet of methane from wafting out, but there’s no guarantee that the potent greenhouse gas won’t escape some day, a study in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science says. [Space.com]

World:

¶ “Climate Scientists Agree: 2023 Was Bad But The Worst Is Yet To Come” • People look forward to a new year with hopes of a better life. But the mood is somber among climate scientists this year, where the consensus is that 2023 marked the end of the prelude to climate change and the start of a new reality of an overheated planet. [CleanTechnica]

Smoke stack (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Renewable Energy Share in EU Energy Use Hits 23% in 2022” • The EU has slightly increased the share of renewable energy it consumes, hitting 23% in 2022, Eurostat data shows. Compared with 2021, this represents an increase of 1.1 percentage points. The EU’s 2030 renewable energy target was raised from 32% to 42.5%, with an aim to increase it to 45%. [Rigzone]

¶ “China’s Solar Sector Steams Ahead Of EU And US” • Chinese manufacturers have a huge cost advantage over international rivals, a Horizons report from Wood Mackenzie says. China’s dominance is the result of economies of scale of large facilities, and Chinese companies have easy access to funding and less restrictive policies. [DW]

Solar panels (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Energy Bill Price Hike Takes Effect As Record Numbers Struggle With Debt” • A £94 increase to the average household energy bill has come into effect as a response to rising wholesale prices. Ofgem’s price cap rose 5%, driven largely by international wholesale energy market instability and global events, especially the conflict in Ukraine. [The Independent]

¶ “Magnitude 7.4 Quake Strikes Central Japan” • A powerful earthquake and tsunami struck central Japan and its western coast at 4:10 pm on Monday, triggering warnings for residents to evacuate, knocking out power to large areas, and disrupting flights and rail services. Nuclear regulators said there were no irregularities at nucle plants. [Japan Today]

Wave (Todd Turner, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Solar And Wind Are 71% of New Power Capacity in USA in October” • Looking at official figures from FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and adding in a CleanTechnica estimate for small-scale solar power additions, we conclude that 71% of new power capacity additions in the US came from solar and wind power as of October. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Flow Battery Electric Car To Be Made In The USA” • The crazy dream of a flow battery EV really is not so crazy after all. The European firm nanoFlowcell set up a US office to pitch its new QUANTiNO twentyfive electric car with new flow battery technology. Now the company is hatching plans for a whole US flow battery ecosystem. [CleanTechnica]

QUANTiNO twentyfive EV (Courtesy of nanoFlowcell)

¶ “Ram 1500 REV Electric Pickup Stays True To Its Roots” • Ram has introduced its actual version of an electric pickup truck, the Ram 1500 REV. It has some styling shown earlier in a concept, but it avoids any ground breaking changes. Eliminate some of the LED displays, and it looks like a slightly refreshed version of the current Ram 1500. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Illinois’ New Nuclear Bill Goes Dark Before It Can Spark” • Illinois ended its 36-year nuclear moratorium, but it’s a mistake to think that means more nuclear-powered electricity is coming to local homes. The legislation keeps the door shut on building traditional nuclear power plants. It ends the moratorium only for small modular reactors. [Illinois Policy]

Have a memorably inspired day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

(, CC-BY-SA 3.0) km² CO₂ NH₃ CH₄ ₹ NOₓ ‽ ♦♦♦♦♦