World:
¶ “European Made Batteries Could Be 60% Less Carbon Intensive Than Chinese: Analysis” • Onshoring the EV supply chain to Europe would cut the emissions of producing a battery by 37% compared to a China-controlled supply chain, analysis by T&E shows. This carbon saving rises to over 60% when renewable electricity is used. [CleanTechnica]
EV battery production (Image from SKODA)
¶ “An Industrial Blueprint For Batteries In Europe” • A year ago, as T&E estimated that two-thirds of Europe’s announced battery plans were at risk, the EU announced a raft of measures it would take in response to the US Inflation Reduction Act. Now, T&E has a report that shows progress. Europe can become self-sufficient in battery cells by 2026. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “47% Of New Cars Sold In Netherlands Now Plugin Cars!” • In a negative month in the overall Dutch automobile market (down 4% to 28,432 units), April saw plugin registrations increase by 11% YOY, to 13,274 units. So the Dutch plugin EV market reached 47% last month, in line with the year-to-date average. Pure electrics took 32% of new vehicle sales. [CleanTechnica]
Volvo EX30 (Alexander-93, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “ReNew Signs 5 PPAs; Expands Portfolio To 15.6 GW” • ReNew, a renewable energy company in India, announced that it signed five PPAs totaling about 2.2 GW of renewable capacity. This expands its fully contracted renewable energy portfolio to 15.6 GW. ReNew also received additional Letters of Award for 5.8 GW of renewable capacity. [Construction World]
¶ “Volkswagen Group Africa Emphasises Commitment To Renewable Energy” • Recognising the effect of fossil fuels on climate change, VWGA is striving to minimise dependence on them. As South Africa celebrates Energy Month in May, VWGA highlights its commitment to become carbon neutral in vehicle and component production by 2030. [ArriveAlive]
Cape Town (Tobias Reich, Unsplash)
¶ “Australia Risks Being ‘World’s Nuclear Waste Dump’ Unless Aukus Laws Changed, Critics Say” • Australia risks becoming the “world’s nuclear waste dump” unless the Albanese government moves to rewrite its proposed Aukus laws, critics say. An inquiry called for the legislative safeguard to rule out taking high-level nuclear waste from the US and UK. [The Guardian]
¶ “’Hugely Expensive’ Nuclear A ‘Trojan Horse’ For Coal, NSW Liberal Says, Exposing Energy Policy Rift” • A senior New South Wales Liberal Party figure says nuclear power is too expensive and a “Trojan horse” for the coal industry in his state, prompting the former state government to reject it. He is at odds with his federal colleagues pushing the technology. [ABC]
Nuclear plant in Belgium (Jonas Denil, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “US Is Experiencing More Tornado Outbreaks, Despite Fewer Tornado Days Overall, Researchers Say” • The number of days there is a tornado in the US is decreasing, but the average annual number of tornadoes has remained roughly the same. So there are more of them on the days they happen. Climate change may be affecting tornado behavior. [ABC News]
¶ “The General Motors 2023 Sustainability Report With Mixed Results, Disappointments” • GM released its 2023 Sustainability Report, showing its initiatives to accelerate EV adoption, forge strategic supply chain partnerships, and support development of a future-ready, renewably powered grid. Its message sounds nice, but the meat’s not there. [CleanTechnica]
Image from GM 2023 Sustainability Report
¶ “Nearly $55 Million to Clean Up Legacy Oil & Gas Pollution in North Dakota And West Virginia” • The Interior Department gave $54.2 million to North Dakota and West Virginia for polluted site cleanup. ND will get $25 million to plug 46 orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaim polluted sites. WV own $29.2 million to plug about 200 oil and gas wells. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Cape Cod Canal Site Gets Federal OK To Test Water-Powered Turbines” • Cape Codders and Islanders know about harnessing offshore windpower to create renewable energy. Now Cape Cod may be on the cusp of being a national trail blazer for another green technology, one that uses the power of the ocean tides to make electricity. [Cape Cod Times]
Cape Cod Canal Train Bridge (Astoddard73, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Scientists Engage Moms To Help Fight Climate Change On Behalf Of Kids” • Moms in a nonpartisan climate science group are gearing up for summer, getting the word out to Pennsylvania families on how more frequent and extreme weather events can affect children. Last year, the US experienced 28 weather and climate disasters. [Public News Service]
¶ “Landmark Transmission Reform Could Dramatically Speed US Energy Transition” • FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, issued a sweeping reform to transmission grid planning, one that proponents say is a major, much-needed win for the effort to transition the country’s power sector away from fossil fuels. [Canary Media]
Transmission lines (Ernest Brillo, Unsplash)
¶ “Meta Signs Deal For 210 MW Of Renewable Energy From New Solar Projects In Indiana” • Renewables developer Solarpack has announced energy purchase agreements with Meta, enabling the construction of two new solar projects in Indiana, totalling 210 MW. Meta has set a target to reach net zero emissions across its value chain by 2030. [ESG Today]
¶ “US Bans Russian Uranium Imports, Crucial For Nuclear Fuel Supply” • President Joe Biden has signed a ban on imports of Russian enriched uranium to US, the White House announced. The move is being touted as Washington’s endeavor to disrupt President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but waivers could make the law toothless. [WION]
Have a graciously civil day.
geoharvey 