Science and Technology:
¶ “‘Simply Mind-Boggling’: World Record Temperature Jump In Antarctic Raises Fears Of Catastrophe” • Scientists at Concordia research station on the east Antarctic plateau documented a remarkable event. They recorded the largest temperature jump ever measured at a meteorological center on Earth, 38.5°C above its seasonal average. [The Guardian]
Penguins (Eamonn Maguire, Unsplash)
¶ “WMO Issues Bright Red Alert” • The World Meteorological Organization’s annual report says, “Scientific knowledge of climate change has existed for more than five decades, and yet we’ve missed an entire generation of opportunity. We must base today’s decisions upon future generations rather than short-term economic interests.” [Pressenza]
World:
¶ “Volvo Sets All-Time Sales Record Thanks To EV Sales Surge” • Volvo sold 78,970 vehicles worldwide in March, a 25% increase YOY. Sales of fully electric cars were up 43% and made up 23% of all Volvo March global sales. Volvo sales in Europe, the firm’s top market, rose 33% in March. Even better, sales of its fully electric cars rose 66% over last year’s total. [CleanTechnica]
Volvo EX30 Cloud (Volvo image)
¶ “EVs Take 22.9% Share Of The UK – Laggards Exposed” • March saw plugin EVs take 22.9% share of the UK auto market, barely up from 22.4% year on year. Full electric share fell, while the plugin hybrid share grew. Overall auto volume was 317,786 units, up 10% YOY, though still far below pre-2020 norms. The UK’s leading battery EV brand was Tesla. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Government To Electrify Small Isolated Villages With Solar Power” • The Sindh Chief Minister said that according to the Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman’s election manifesto, the provincial government would provide solar power systems to energise small isolated villages under the Village Electrification Programme. [The News International]
Rural Pakistan (Jahanzeb Ahsan, Unsplash)
¶ “Globeleq Says R5.7-Billion Red Sands Will Be Africa’s Largest Standalone Battery Storage Project” • Globeleq, Africa’s largest independent power producer, says the 153-MW, 612-MWh Red Sands project will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system in Africa and will carry an investment value of R5.7 billion ($304 million). [Engineering News]
¶ “Good News For The Citizens Of Karachi Low Cost Renewable Will Be Added In The K Electric System” • K Electric has given good news to the citizens of Karachi who are suffering from expensive electricity. 640 MW will be added from wind energy. Solar and wind power will significantly reduce the production cost of electricity. [CustomNews.pk]
Karachi (Muhammad Jawaid Shamshad, Unsplash)
¶ “PH Needs 53 GW By 2040 Under Higher Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard” • The Philippines would need 52.83 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040 after the Department of Energy hiked the RPS, an official said. DOE Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol said the new required RE capacity in 2040 is seven times the current level. [Philippine News Agency]
¶ “Power Engineers Repair Backup Power Line To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • A statement from Ukrainian energy company Ukrenergo said, “Ukrenergo repair crews have fixed and put back into operation a 330 kV high-voltage overhead line that provides a backup power supply to ZNPP. It was damaged during the Russian attack on 4 April.” [Українська правда]
Power line in Ukraine (Валерий Дед, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “NM Air Quality Decision-Makers Vote To Continue New Clean Car Standards” • The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board voted 4-1 to reject a challenge to newly enacted clean car standards. Also, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board voted unanimouslyto reject the challenge. These standards will bring the state more EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Solar Beats Coal In Fossil-Friendly Texas, Despite Fossil Friends” • The renewable energy juggernaut keeps rolling on in Texas, even though public officials bend over backwards to keep fossil energy interests safe. Coal’s market share fell below 10% for the first time ever, to just over 9%. And solar’s market share rose above 10% in the same month. [CleanTechnica]
Solar pavilion at Fair Park, Dallas (Michael Barera, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Alternus Clean Energy, Acadia Energy Form JV To Develop Microgrids In New York” • Alternus Clean Energy said it formed a joint venture with renewable energy developer Acadia Energy to co-develop 200 MW of microgrid projects in New York State. The JV will focus on developing and operating the microgrids over the next two to three years. [Reuters]
¶ “Interest In Virtual Power Plants Grows” • A virtual power plant is seen as a cost-effective way to help electric grids caught up in changing times. Retirements of aging power plants come along with difficulties building cleaner generating plants along with the transmission lines they need, just when demand for electricity is projected to be huge. [Louisiana Illuminator]
Have a nicely endowed day.
geoharvey 