Science and Technology:
¶ “Lithium-Air EV Batteries Tapped For Net Zero Economy Of The Future” • Recently, lithium-air batteries seemed destined for the dustbin of automotive history. But the US DOE tapped four different Li-air projects in a funding round aimed at developing batteries powerful enough to move locomotives, ships, and full-sized airplanes. [CleanTechnica]
How a lithium-air battery works
¶ “A Generative AI Tool for Power Grid Visualization” • Every minute of every day, operators monitor the grid to make sure that the supply of electricity matches the demand. Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory built an AI program that allows a grid operator to ask a question about the grid and get an easy-to-interpret answer. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “UN Member States Are Meeting To Plan How To Tackle The World’s Environmental Crises” • The world’s top environmental body for decision making, the UN Environment Assembly, is meeting in Nairobi to discuss how countries can work together to tackle environmental crises like climate change, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. [ABC News]
Nairobi (Amani Nation, Unsplash)
¶ “Renewable Energy Gains in Australia” • Australia’s federal government has declared three offshore wind zones off the coast of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Three more are being considered. It also began the consultation process for a zone for wind energy development off the southern coast of Western Australia. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Cenergi And GDS Sign Malaysian VPPA” • Asian data center operator GDS signed a 21-year renewable energy Virtual Power Purchase Agreement with Malaysian solar power producer Cenergi SEA Berhad. The CGPP allows for a total of 800 MW of solar power to be developed by PV producers and secured by corporate offtakers in Peninsular Malaysia. [reNews]
Kuala Lumpur (Sadie Teper, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Andrew Forrest Slams Fossil Fuel Industry And Coalition For Nuclear Energy ‘Bulldust’” • The Federal Coalition of Liberal and National parties is planning a pro-nuclear platform for the next federal election. Mining and renewable energy magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest accused the National Party of “betraying the bush” in its pro-nuclear stand. [ABC]
¶ “Proposal To Build Nuclear Power Plants At Former Coal Sites In Latrobe Valley Draws Criticism” • Victoria’s Latrobe Valley was the home of the state’s coal-fired electricity sector for decades. Now it’s being touted as a possible home of an Australian nuclear industry. Community group Voices of the Valley says few people support nuclear power. [MSN]
Yallourn W Power Station (CSIRO, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Russia’s ‘Energy Terror’ Cuts Power To Ukraine’s Nuclear Plants” • Russia has faced condemnation for its latest wave of missile strikes targeting Ukraine’s power grid. The barrage of missiles has plunged much of the capital city of Kyiv into frigid darkness, and has killed at least ten people across the country according to Ukrainian officials. [AOL.com]
¶ “Iberdola And O2 Telefónica Seal Baltic Eagle PPA” • Iberdrola Deutschland and O2 Telefónica have signed a long-term power purchase agreement covering energy from the 476-MW Baltic Eagle wind farm in the German North Sea. The agreement provides for the supply of 3,000 GWh of renewable energy to O2 Telefónica for a term of 15 years. [reNews]
Offshore wind farm (Iberdrola Deutschland image)
Ireland:
¶ “Ireland’s Leap Towards Renewable Future” • In the serene expanse of County Meath, near the modest town of Duleek, an ambitious project is taking shape, signaling a pivotal shift in the journey toward renewable energy. The Gaskinstown PV plant, a 93-MW solar power venture, secured a €65 million debt facility to finance the project. [BNN Breaking]
¶ “1 GW Of Solar Energised On Irish Grid” • ESB Networks has confirmed it has 1GW of solar generation connected to Ireland’s grid. This includes 500 MW of utility-scale solar connections, 369 MW of which is from larger projects that are managed by EirGrid. The peak demand on Ireland’s electricity system is approximately 5.5 GW. [reNews]
Solar array inspection (ESB Networks image)
¶ “Ireland’s Energy Shift: Prepay Power And Pinergy Announce Price Cuts Amidst Renewable Push” • Amidst the ongoing debate on Ireland’s energy sustainability and volatile electricity market, two prominent electricity providers, Prepay Power and Pinergy, made headlines with their decisive steps towards making energy more affordable for their customers. [BNN Breaking]
US:
¶ “Electrify America Plans A Fully Renewable 75-MW Facility” • The future is here! At least that’s what Electrify America’s new 100% renewable energy-sourced EV charging network looks like. Teaming up with energy provider Terra-Gen, Electrify America announced plans for a solar powered energy generation project in San Bernardino County, California. [AOL.com]
Solar array (Electrify America image)
¶ “Electric School Buses Finally Make Headway, But Hurdles Still Stand” • The first electric school buses in the US began running a decade ago. Yet despite the availability of the technology all these years, fewer than 1% of the 489,000 school buses in the US were electric at the end of 2023. So over 99% of school buses burn fuel. But that may be changing. [ABC News]
¶ “AAM Calls Cheap Chinese EVs Built In Mexico ‘An Extinction Level Event’” • The Alliance for American Manufacturing is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of major US manufacturers and the United Steelworkers. It issued a report warning that cheap Chinese electric cars made in Mexico could be the death knell for US automakers. [CleanTechnica]
Have an obviously amusing day.
geoharvey 