Opinion:
¶ “What In The World Is Going On In The World Of Tesla?” • If Tesla is committed to ending the fossil fuel madness, we are all for it. But if it is just a way for a 52-year-old man-child to throw big tantrums, then we should be prepared to see it go. Sadly, the tea leaves seem to be pointing to a downward spiral and possible collapse of Tesla as a leading EV maker. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model Y (Tesla image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “How Do Scientists Know How Much Climate Change Affects A Hurricane, A Heat Wave, A Drought, And More?” • Scientists can tell with increased certainty how much climate change influences the severity and intensity of weather events, by comparing data from weather in the real world to a modeled world that has not had climate change. [Yale Climate Connections]
¶ “Fusion Record Set For Tungsten Tokamak WEST” • Scientists at the US DOE’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory measured a new record for a fusion device internally clad in tungsten. The device sustained a hot fusion plasma of roughly 50 million degrees Celsius for a record six minutes with 1.15 gigajoules of power injected. [Phys.org]
Interior of Tokamak WEST (CEA-IRFM)
World:
¶ “Italy Curbs Installation Of Solar Panels On Agricultural Land” • Italy’s rightwing coalition passed rules curbing the installation of solar panels on agricultural land, ministers said, in a move that triggered criticism as it could impair Rome’s decarbonisation goals. The new rules, part of a broader package of measures to protect farming and fisheries. [Reuters]
¶ “European Commission Sharpens Inquiry Into Chinese EV Subsidies” • Last October, the European Commission opened an inquiry to find whether China is giving its automakers unfair subsidies. With no responses to questions sent to carmakers in China, it is now proceeding with action based on the assumption that unfair subsidies do exist. [CleanTechnica]
BYD roll-on-roll-off shipping vessel (BYD image)
¶ “Mobile Hydrogen Generator Launched In Victoria” • Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, launched the H2PowerBox, which has solar panels, an electrolyser, and a fuel cell, which allows it to power to remote communities. The plan is to have a network of them in the state as an alternative to diesel generators. [Energy Magazine]
¶ “Irish Wind Fleet ‘Delivered Stellar April’” • The latest figures show Irish wind farms generated 1,076 GWh of power in April 2024, slightly less than the previous record of 1,112 GWh in April 2023. Wind energy provided 32% of Ireland’s electricity last month while the report also shows its average wholesale price in April 2024 was €88.52, down 30% YOY. [reNews]
Wind turbines (Waldemar, Unsplash)
¶ “Microsoft Signs Record Corporate PPA For Green Energy” • Microsoft signed a $10 billion agreement for over 10.5 GW of renewable energy capacity, to be developed by Brookfield Asset Management and Brookfield Renewable Partners. The deal is almost eight times as big as the largest single corporate PPA ever signed, Brookfield said. [Balkan Green Energy News]
¶ “Renewable Energy Set To Overtake Coal As Largest Source Of Power Globally” • The IEA found that a massive move towards clean energy, largely driven by Russia invading Ukraine, will see the world add as much renewable capacity in the next five years as it did in the last two decades. As a result, coal is falling behind renewables. [Yahoo Lifestyle Canada]
Solar panels (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)
¶ “Exus Snaps Up 51-MW Spanish Wind Project” • Exus Renewables has acquired a 51-MW wind farm project in the north of Spain, from independent Spanish company Enhol Group. The scheme is ready to build and is expected to be in operation in the third quarter of 2025. It includes the potential for solar hybridisation and co-located battery storage. [reNews]
US:
¶ “Alaska Tidal Energy: New Study Shows Alaska’s Cook Inlet Could Power 70,000 Homes” • An NREL study funded by the US DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office examines how much value the new but fast-growing tidal energy industry could bring to Alaska’s Railbelt grid. Cook Inlet contains some of the largest tidal energy resources on Earth. [CleanTechnica]
Cook Inlet (Brendan McMurrer, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
¶ “US DOE Provides $26 Million To Support Energy Saving Projects” • The US DOE announced over $26.9 million to nine states, 27 local governments and one Tribe for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. In most cases, applications for the next round are due in October. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Texas Goes Big On Solar + Storage That Can Power Over 41,000 Homes” • A 208-MW solar farm with 80 MWh of storage has come online west of San Antonio, Texas. Developers Cypress Creek Renewables brought the Zier Solar + Storage facility online in Brackettville, Texas, on May 2, 2024. Zier can provide annual electricity needs of 41,600 homes. [Electrek]
Solar farm in Texas (Cypress Creek Renewables)
¶ “Adams Electric Cooperative Receives Renewable Energy Grant” • In Illinois, the Adams Electric Cooperative has received a $5 million grant from the US DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstration. Money will be used to install a 1-MW wind turbine and 1-MW solar array in Schuyler County near their Sugar Grove substation. [WGEM]
¶ “How bp Turns Landfill Waste Into Renewable Natural Gas” • Among the waste decomposing at farms and landfills across the US, bp saw something it liked: an abundant source of energy, one that could provide the company with a new revenue stream and another way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So it acquired Archaea Energy in 2022. [BP]
Have a surprisingly simple day.
geoharvey 
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