Science and Technology:
¶ “Car Fires By Vehicle Type” • If you believe the memes from people who try to deter you from driving an EV, fires in EVs might seem like a big deal. Data from federal recalls, the Federal Transportation Safety Board, and the Bureau of Traffic Statistics don’t show that. It turns out that fires are thousands of times more likely in gas-powered cars than in EVs. [CleanTechnica]
Burning car (Riley Edwards, Unsplash)
¶ “New Sodium-Ion Battery Could Charge An Electric Vehicle In Seconds, Not Minutes” • EV charging goalposts are moving. New research indicates that sodium-ion EV batteries could charge up in seconds, not minutes. Not only does that beat today’s best lithium-ion technology, it even beats gas and diesel fuels at their own game. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “At Least 37 Dead As Southern Brazil Hit By The Worst Floods In 80 Years” • Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people, with another 68 still missing, the state civil defense agency said. Record-breaking floods laid waste to cities and forced thousands to leave their homes. Records have been kept for 150 years. [ABC News]
Home in Brazil’s rainforest (Daniel Granja, Unsplash)
¶ “EVs Take 56.9% Share In Sweden” • April saw plugin EVs take a 56.9% share in Sweden, up modestly YOY from 55.7%. The battery EV share fell slightly YoY, while plugin hybrid EV share climbed higher. Overall auto volume was 21,977 units, up some 7% YOY. The new Volvo EX30 was March’s bestselling battery EV, its first time in the top spot. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Fossil Fuel Companies Build Structures To Hide Methane Flaring From Satellites” • There are two ways to dispose of excess methane at the wellhead: release it directly into the atmosphere or burn it by flaring. Methane detecting satellites detect releases, and burning has a heat signature. Companies have found ways to hide the heat signature. [CleanTechnica]
MethaneSAT (Image from the Environmental Defense Fund)
¶ “EDF Renewables Is Building 1.2 GW Of Power Generation Capacity In SA” • EDF Renewables in South Africa is leading the construction of almost 1.2 GW of low-carbon generating capacity in the country. The capacity includes 763 MW wind power, 355 MW solar PV, and 75 MW of battery storage at eight sites in the Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces. [IOL]
¶ “This Small German Town Took Back The Power And Went Fully Renewable” • With 100% and more of its electricity coming from renewable sources, the German town of Wolfhagen shows particularly well what can be achieved when municipalities adopt innovative approaches to the ownership and governance of key infrastructure. [Yahoo News UK]
Wolfhagen (Dirk Schmidt, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power Signs $4.85 Billion Deal for Central Asia’s Largest Wind Farm” • Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power signed a Power Purchase Agreement with the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan for Central Asia’s largest wind farm, the Aral 5-GW Wind Independent Power Producer project, located in the Karakalpakstan region. [Asharq Al-awsat]
¶ “Renewables reached 64.6% in April in Spain” • In April of 2024, renewables generated 13,515 GWh, 21% more than in April 2023, and reached a share of the total of 64.6%. This past April was the first month in history in which three renewable technologies led the Spanish mix: wind (22.2% of the total), hydropower (19.7%) and solar PV (18.8%). [evwind.es]
Wind turbines in Spain (John Cameron, Unsplash)
¶ “Australia Says Coal To Nuclear Switch Would Cost $249 Billion” • Replacing Australia’s coal-fired power stations with small modular nuclear power reactors would cost A$387 billion ($249 billion), according to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. The high cost makes such a transition a “unicorn and a fantasy,” Bowen said. [Yahoo Movies UK]
US:
¶ “US Loosens Some EV Battery Rules, Potentially Increasing Tax Credit Eligibility” • The US government has loosened some rules governing EV tax credits, potentially making more EVs eligible for credits of up to $7,500 but leading critics to accuse the Biden administration of helping China. The credits range from $3,750 to $7,500 for new EVs. [ABC News]
BYD Dolphin (Michael Förtsch, Unsplash)
¶ “Wind Turbine Blades Made Of Wood Can Outperform Those Made Of Composites” • Wind turbines are mostly recyclable, but not usually the turbine blades. There is a race on to find more sustainable materials to make them, with wood among those in the running. Wood can offer better performance and contribute to a circular economy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Extremely Active Hurricane Forecast Highlights Importance Of Resilient Solar Power” • Colorado State University forecasters issued a dire prediction for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season: it is expected to be “extremely active,” with the highest number of hurricanes ever forecasted since the team released predictions in 1995. [Environment+Energy Leader]
Hurricane (NASA, Unsplash, rotated)
¶ “Gov Green Establishes Climate Advisory Team To Develop Resilience Policy” • Hawaii Governor Josh Green, MD announced inauguration of the Climate Advisory Team. This newly formed committee, comprising experts and stakeholders, is dedicated to tackling the challenges of climate disasters and giving guidance for Hawaii’s strategy for resilience. [Maui Now]
¶ “Georgia Residents Will See Higher Power Bills As Second Nuclear Reactor Comes Online At Plant Vogtle” • Unit 4 at Plant Vogtle is operating commercially. The project was estimated at $14 billion, but the cost is nearly $35 billion. Regulators approved a 6% rate increase to cover the increased cost, so Georgia Power customers will pay for it. [WABE]
Have a totally copacetic day.
geoharvey 