Opinion:
¶ “The EV Revolution Has Passed A Tipping Point” • By the end of last year, sales of electric cars reached 5% or more of the new car market in 31 countries. The trajectory laid out by countries that had reached that point in the past shows that EVs sales can grow from 5% to 25% of new cars in under four years, according to Bloomberg. [CleanTechnica]
Togg T10X, made in Turkey (Togg image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Extreme Temperatures Hold Untapped Potential For Solar And Wind Energy” • Conditions that come with the intense hot and cold weather that strains power grids may provide greater opportunities to capture solar and wind energy, according to a study led by Washington State University. The intense weather has more energy. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “QuantumScape Brushes Off Solid-State Battery Skeptics” • QuantumScape is readying a solid state battery. QuantumScape’s battery is not solid throughout. The key to the technology is an anode-free manufacturing process, in which the cell is fabricated in a discharged state. The anode assembles itself during its first charging cycle. [CleanTechnica]
Mock-up of a QuantumScape QSE-5 (QuantumScape image)
World:
¶ “UK Records ‘Highest Ever Share Of Electricity Generation By Renewables’” • The UK saw its highest ever share of electricity generation by renewables last year, at 51.5%, Government figures show. In energy trend data just released, the Energy Department said this came as fossil fuel electricity generation saw its lowest share on record. [Evening Standard]
¶ “China Files WTO Complaint Over US EV Incentives” • From the time President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, it was inevitable. The Chinese empire struck back by initiating dispute settlement proceedings against the US at the World Trade Organization to safeguard its interests in the EV industry, the Chinese mission said. [CleanTechnica]
BYD’s first cargo ship (BYD image)
¶ “Yellen Plans To Confront China For ‘Unfair’ Clean Energy Subsidies” • US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen revealed that she intends to warn Beijing that its national underwriting for energy and other companies is creating oversupply and distorting global markets, when she pays the country an official visit. China filed a complaint at the WTO against the US. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “Canada Continues Massive Financial Support For Fossil Fuels” • Environmental Defence, a Canadian non-profit, published a report taking the country’s government to task for its continued financial support of fossil fuels. The group claims that in 2023, Canada gave over $18.5 billion in financial support to fossil fuel and petrochemical companies. [CleanTechnica]
Canada’s Fossil Fuel Subsidies (Environmental Defense)
¶ “Australia Can Reach 94% Renewable Power By End Of Decade: Climate Council CEO” • Amanda McKenzie, the Climate Council CEO, says Australia is at “40% renewable power” and can get to “94%” during this decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $1 billion investment to boost the manufacturing of solar panels in Australia. [Gold Coast Bulletin]
¶ “Eolus Made Investment Decision For Three Onshore Wind Projects In Sweden” • Eolus made an investment decision for wind power projects Fågelås, Boarp, and Dållebo totaling 88 MW. It signed an agreement for turbines with Vestas, and will start construction immediately. The projects are going into an area in need of electricity resources. [Energy Central]
Wind turbine (Raychel Sanner, Unsplash, cropped)
US:
¶ “More Than Half Of Water From Colorado River Used For Agriculture Industry, Report Finds” • More than half of the Colorado River’s total annual water flow is being used to irrigate agricultural land, a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment states. And all of the water is being used; none of it makes it to the ocean. [ABC News]
¶ “Governor Proposes Alternative Plan For Reducing Carbon Emissions” • Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro has proposed a plan aimed at reducing power plant carbon emissions while requiring more electricity to come from renewable sources. Pennsylvania would become the first state to adopt its own carbon-pricing program, if the plan passes. [Bay Journal]
Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro (Commonwealth Media Services)
¶ “Biden–Harris Administration Announces $62 Million To Cut US Battery Recycling Costs” • The DOE announced $62 million for seventeen projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to increase consumer participation in consumer electronics battery recycling as well as improving the economics of battery recycling. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Iowa Farm Is Running On Renewable Energy All-Year Round. Here’s How” • Jason Russell’s hog barn finished construction two decades ago, but the way it functions has changed since then, because the way farmers use energy is evolving. A wind turbine supplies 75% of the farm’s electricity, and a solar array on a third of an acre supplies the rest. [weareiowa.com]
Iowa (Tim Willis, Unsplash)
¶ “New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Regulator’s Denial Of Renewable Energy Incentive For Electric Utility” • The New Mexico Supreme Court rejected a utility’s appeal for a financial incentive under a law requiring greater production of electricity from renewable energy sources. The opinion by the court was unanimous. [Los Alamos Daily Post]
¶ “‘Swarm’ Of UFOs Buzzed US Air Force Base As ‘Mystery Drones’ Spotted Near Nuclear Assets” • A “swarm” of mysterious drones has been spotted around a US Air Force base that is known to house nuclear assets. The objects are thought to have been controlled by a foreign power trying to gather information on America’s most important defence sites. [Irish Star]
Have an unequivocably beneficial day.
geoharvey 