Opinion:
¶ “Spent Nuclear Fuel Mismanagement Poses A Major Threat To The United States. Here’s How” • The dangers of nuclear reactor meltdowns are well known. But spent fuel can also overheat and burn in a storage pool if its coolant water is lost. If this happens, there is a potential for releasing large amounts of radioactive material into the air. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]
Nuclear power plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Researchers In China Propose Non-Aqueous Manganese Metal Batteries” • Researchers in China say they may have found how to make manganese batteries that have higher energy density and cost less than any based on lithium. Manganese is far more abundant in the Earth’s crust, so batteries that use it can cost less than those made with lithium. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “One In Four EVs Sold In Europe This Year Will Be Made In China” • Almost a fifth (19.5%) of EVs sold in Europe last year were made in China, and this is on track to reach a quarter (25%) in 2024, according to new analysis by Transport & Environment. The EU is considering import tariffs to counter China’s subsidies for its EV industry. [CleanTechnica]
Xiaomi SU7 EV (Xiaomi image)
¶ “UK Energy Production Hits Record Low – Biggest Drop Since 1948” • In 2023, UK energy production declined 9%, reaching its lowest level since records began in 1948. Government data show that production was down by 36% from 2010 and 66% from its peak in 1999. Oil production hit a record low, while production of gas hit its second lowest level. [Energy Live News]
¶ “Imminent Insect Demise Means Global Food Web Is On Verge Of Collapse” • Buried in the late Friday afternoon news cycle, the most recent annual assessment from the World Entomology Body on the health of insects indicates that loss of whole insect communities is imminent. This would have disastrous effects for the global food web. [CleanTechnica]
Lavender Bee (Bennilover, CC BY-ND 2.0, cropped)
¶ “China Could Drive Africa’s Renewable Energy Revolution, Report” • China is Africa’s biggest bilateral trading partner after financing billions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects. It has an opportunity to drive an energy revolution in Africa but must reverse nearly two decades of neglect of green investments there, a report shows. [SABC News]
¶ “SJVN Launches 1.2-GW Renewables-Plus-Storage Tender” • SJVN invited bids to supply 600 MW of firm and dispatchable power from renewable energy projects with energy storage, with an option of additional capacity up to 600 MW. The projects can be located anywhere in India but must connect to the interstate transmission system. [pv magazine India]
Solar-plus-storage (Tesla image)
¶ “Lightyears Lands New Funds For Trio Of Community-Scale Solar Farms” • Lightyears Solar said NZ$6 million ($3.6 million) of new capital will help ramp up the pace of its program to build three solar farms totaling 18 MW of capacity in the Wairarapa and Canterbury regions on New Zealand’s North and South islands respectively. [pv magazine Australia]
¶ “India Hydropower Output Records Steepest Fall In Nearly Four Decades” • India’s hydroelectricity output fell at the steepest pace in at least 38 years over the year ending March 31, a Reuters analysis of government data showed. Erratic rainfall and high demand forced further dependence on coal-fired power, a major water consumer. [The Globe and Mail]
Jalhaput Dam (zskm10, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “US DOE Expands Support for Community-Led Clean Energy Transitions” • The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory released the first Clean Energy to Communities annual report. It highlights more than 200 US communities that benefited from the program as it gave them support through the transition to clean energy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “60% Of EVs Are Expected To Be In Suburban Areas In 2030” • Sixty percent of the 33 million EVs expected in the US by 2030 are projected to be in suburban areas, according to a report from the NREL. Of the remainder, 20% will be in rural locations and another 20% in urban areas. The charging network needs for EVs will differ by area. [CleanTechnica]
Bidirectional EV charging (Image courtesy of GM)
¶ “Virginia Greenlights 764 MW Of Solar Sites” • The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved more than a dozen solar projects, with 764 MW of capacity. The projects will output enough energy to power nearly 200,000 homes at peak output. Four projects will belong to Dominion Energy Virginia, which will buy the output of and the others. [reNews]
¶ “New Texas Fuel Cell Gigafactory Pours More Cold Water On Clean Power Foes” • In Texas, public officials have been pulling out all the stops to obstruct clean energy investment, but the hits just keep on coming. In the latest development, Ballard Power Systems is moving forward with plans to set up a 3-GW fuel cell factory in Rockwell. [CleanTechnica]
Fuel cell electric bus (Photo courtesy of Ballard)
¶ “Hawaiian Electric Launches New Rooftop Solar And Energy Storage Programs” • Hawaiian Electric, which serves all of the islands except Kauai, is making major changes to its rooftop solar and storage programs. The new program was approved by the Public Utilities Commission. It replaces all previous rooftop solar programs except Net Metering. [Spectrum News]
¶ “Roadmap To achieving Puerto Rico’s Goal Of 100% Renewable Energy By 2050” • NREL reported that Puerto Rico has 20 GW of utility-scale solar potential, mostly along the coasts, and 20 GW of distributed solar potential. Just 10 GW of solar could meet Puerto Rico’s needs, Solar + Energy Storage Association president PJ Wilson estimated. [pv magazine USA]
Have a justifiably delighted day.
geoharvey 
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