Science and Technology:
¶ “Scientists Generate 1832°F Heat With Solar Power To Cook Cement And Steel” • Researchers at ETH Zurich demonstrated the use of solar energy to reach temperatures of 1,832°F (1000°C), a feat formerly achieved using fossil fuels. The approach paves the way for using solar energy for applications that have been carbon-intensive. [Interesting Engineering]
Old-style blast furnace (yasin hemmati, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “As Zambia Schools Take On Climate Change, One Teen Is Spreading The Word In Sign Language” • Bridget Chanda, 18, is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf people about climate change. As the southern African nation suffers from increasingly frequent extreme weather, its government has more education on climate change in its schools. [ABC News]
¶ “Wildfire Smoke Could Impact US Again As Canada Braces For Another Summer Of Fires” • With numerous wildfires burning across Canada, including about forty that remain out of control, meteorologists said conditions are getting set for a replay of last year’s fire season, when thick smoke wafted to the US, making air hazardous as far as New York City. [ABC News]
Wildfire in Alberta (Government of Alberta)
¶ “EV Charging Emissions Reduced By Up To 89% By New Technology” • The level of emissions from charging an EV depends on the carbon intensity of the electricity of the grid. New technology optimises the time at which an EV is charged, reducing the average EV emissions figure of 81g CO₂e per mile to as low as 9g CO₂e per mile. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD’s New Shark PHEV Pickup Could Be A Good Option For Some African Markets” • The BYD Shark launched in Mexico is an interesting addition to the plug-in hybrid pickup segment in Africa. The BYD Shark pickup has a 1.5 liter engine paired with two electric motors. Energy is stored in a 29.58-kWh battery for an all-electric range of 100 km. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Shark PHEV pickup (Courtesy of BYD)
¶ “UK Police May Get Portable EMP Device To Shut Down E-Bikes And Scooters” • To take a bite out of crimes committed on e-bikes or electric scooters, a device is being developed for UK police that can shut down electric motors. The Guardian reports that the Defence Science and Technology Lab is putting it in a “Ghostbusters-style” backpack. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Views Sought On 740-MW UK PV Giant” • Ørsted and PS Renewables have presented updated proposals for a 740-MW solar project in central England. The developer partnership is bringing forward proposals for One Earth Solar Farm, which also includes associated battery storage and infrastructure, located primarily in Nottinghamshire. [reNews]
Solar array (Sungrow EMEA, Unsplash)
¶ “Fecamp Hits Full Power” • The 500-MW Fecamp offshore wind farm off the coast of Normandy is now fully operational. The developer consortium of the wind farm commissioned the asset as the Minister Delegate for Industry and Energy Roland Lescure watched. Turbines in the wind farm were connected to the national grid as they were added. [reNews]
¶ “UK Plans For Nuclear Reactor In Scotland … After The SNP Are Voted Out!” • Plans are being drawn up for a nuclear reactor in Scotland, once the SNP government is ousted. The Government of the UK wants to build one of its eight small reactors north of the Border and is including Scotland in their plans with hopes the SNP will lose power in 2026. [MSN]
Closed Scottish plant (James T M Towill, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “DeSantis Signs Florida Bill Making Climate Change A Lesser State Priority” • Climate change will be given a lesser priority in Florida, and it will largely disappear from state statutes, under legislation signed into law by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. The law also bans power-generating wind turbines offshore or near the state’s lengthy coastline. [ABC News]
¶ “Sixty New Electric Buses to Operate in Queens, Staten Island, And Brooklyn” • Governor Kathy Hochul introduced sixty new electric buses o operate in routes in Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Power Authority are building critical infrastructure to power a zero-emissions bus fleet. [CleanTechnica]
MTA worker (Marc A Hermann, MTA)
¶ “New Hope Lifts US Offshore Wind Sector Out Of Doldrums” • Resolution is in sight for the service vessel shortfall and other issues, and the curse of the mid-Atlantic is already beginning to become an old memory. Maryland is a case in point. In January, it seemed to be on the point of losing from the 966-MW Skipjack project, but no longer. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “First Steel In The Water For Ørsted At Revolution” • Ørsted has reached the “steel in the water” milestone on its 704-MW Revolution Wind project off the coasts of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The company announced that it has installed the first turbine foundation, a few weeks after a judge rejected a last minute effort to delay the project. [reNews]
Wind tower base (Ørsted image)
¶ “Chevrolet Is Releasing Silverado EV RST Soon, The First Legacy Electric Pickup Designed From Scratch As An EV” • The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST offers a 450-mile range and 10.2-kW onboard power. It competes with other electric pickups like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T, with hopes to make an impact on the EV market. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “JEA Announces Three Solar Energy Sites For Florida” • Solar sites with a combined available output of 200 MW will be built in Jacksonville, officials said. They could provide power for more than 37,000 households. JEA said it’s the equivalent of avoiding nearly 200,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions yearly or removing nearly 47,000 passenger vehicles. [News4JAX]
Have an intensely soothing day.
geoharvey 