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 