Opinion:
¶ “Is Nuclear The Answer To Australia’s Climate Crisis?” • Here are four arguments against nuclear power investments: Olkiluoto 3, Flamanville 3, Hinkley Point C, and Vogtle. They are major latest-generation plants completed or nearly so in Finland, the US, the UK, and France. Their cost overruns average over 300%, with more increases to come. [menafn]
Nuclear plant (Jonas Denil, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Argonne Scientists Use AI to Identify New Materials for Carbon Capture” • A suitable material for effective low-cost carbon capture has yet to be found. Metal-organic frameworks offer hope. Generative AI, machine learning, and simulations enable researchers to identify environmentally friendly metal-organic framework materials. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “HelioSea: A Revolutionary Floating Solar Power System Redefining Offshore Energy Production” • In an era where renewable energy has become the linchpin of sustainable development, scientists at the University of Oviedo, Spain, unveiled an innovative floating solar power system. HelioSea is not just another solar power system. [BNN Breaking]
Rendering of HelioSea
World:
¶ “VinFast Introduces Range of Right-Hand Drive EVs” • Taking a step in global expansion, VinFast Auto debuted its first range of right-hand drive EVs at the Indonesia International Motor Show 2024. Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo, made an appearance at the event and autographed the VinFast VF 5 showcased in VinFast’s booth. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Delivering Net-Zero Shipping By 2050: Introducing The Green Balance Mechanism” • The global shipping regulator, the UN International Maritime Organisation, set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 for the industry. Now it needs to develop climate regulations by 2025 that make it possible to reach that target. [CleanTechnica]
Container ship (Venti Views, Unsplash)
¶ “Vattenfall Strikes Solar PPA With A German Chemical Company” • Vattenfall will supply around 120 GWh of solar power per year to specialty chemicals company Evonik under a new long-term electricity supply contract. From 2025, two new Vattenfall solar farms in Schleswig-Holstein will supply power to Evonik. [reNews]
¶ “The Uruguay Way: Achieving Energy Sovereignty In The Developing World” • As it successfully transitions away from fossil fuels, Uruguay now generates up to 98% of its electricity from renewable sources. The country offers lessons in energy sovereignty and the importance of community engagement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [Earth.Org]
Wind turbines in Uruguay (Matias Contreras, Unsplash)
¶ “Ridge Clean Energy Files Scottish Hybrid Plan” • Ridge Clean Energy filed a planning application with the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government for the Ladyfield Renewable Energy Park. The project is about 5 km north of Inveraray in Argyll. It will pair thirteen onshore turbines with a capacity of 58.5 MW with a 40-MW battery system. [reNews]
US:
¶ “As Aquifers Are Depleted, Areas Along The East Coast Of The US Are Sinking” • A study by researchers at Virginia Tech and the US Geological Survey using the latest satellite data shows that parts of America’s east coast are subsiding. The culprit appears to be caused by withdrawing too much water from the aquifers beneath those coastal areas. [CleanTechnica]
Coastal Delaware (Gökhan Kara, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Minnesota Power Opens 400-MW Onshore Wind RFP” • A request for proposals for up to 400 MW of wind energy, to come online by the end of 2027, was issued by Minnesota Power. The procurement of wind through this RFP will increase Minnesota Power’s wind portfolio of approximately 870 MW of owned and contracted capacity by nearly 50%. [reNews]
¶ “Solar And Battery Storage To Make Up 81% Of New US Electric-Generating Capacity In 2024” • Developers and power plant owners plan to add 62.8 GW of electric-generating capacity in 2024, data in the EIA’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory shows. The largest share is solar, at 58%, followed by batteries, at 23%, and wind, at 13%. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “USDA Census of Agriculture Shows US Losing Small Farms to Factory Farming But Gaining in Renewable Energy” • The latest Census of Agriculture from the US Department of Agriculture raises concerns over a loss of small farms and a growth in larger farms, while also showing some promise with the growth of renewable energy in agriculture. [EcoWatch]
¶ “Empire Wind Secures Clean Air Permit” • The US EPA has issued a Clean Air Act permit for Equinor and BP’s 816-MW Empire Wind 1 project offshore New York. The EPA conducted an air quality analysis that showed the main air quality impacts of the project will occur during construction and will be offshore over the water area of the project. [reNews]
Offshore wind turbines (Equinor image)
¶ “BPU Pulls Plug On Unpopular Nuclear Subsidy” • A surcharge on every New Jersey utility customer’s monthly bill, amounting to $70 annually for the typical homeowner and much more for manufacturers, will end next year when the state eliminates a $300 million annual subsidy aimed to keep its three nuclear plants from closing. [NJ Spotlight News]
¶ “Georgia Power Announces Operators Reached Self-Sustaining Nuclear Fission Inside The Nuclear Reactor” • Georgia Power announced on Wednesday that operators reached self-sustaining nuclear fission inside the nuclear reactor. This means the heat produced in the reaction can create steam and power turbines which generate electricity. [WUGA]
Have a gloriously relaxing day.
geoharvey 