Opinion:
¶ “Is GM Making An EV Comeback?” • GM made a press release announcing end of quarter sales numbers finally had what we’ve all hoped to see: recovering EV sales figures! But, numbers are never anything without context. So, in this article, we will cover what GM revealed and then discuss whether this means GM’s EV effort is back on track or not. [CleanTechnica]
Chevrolet Equinox EV (GM image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Peaches, Grapes, And The Agrivoltaic Farm Of The Future” • The emerging field of agrivoltaics has come a long way in just a few years. From a focus on pollinator habitats and grazing lands, agrivoltaic stakeholders are expanding their ambitions to raise peaches, grapes, and more within the arrays of ground-mounted solar panels. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “The Absurd “Sin Tax” On Electric Vehicles In Brazil” • In an unexpected move, Brazil recently proposed a “sin tax” on EVs. The introduction of this tax has been met with mixed reactions. Environmental groups have expressed concern, arguing that such a tax could slow the adoption of EVs and undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbines in Brazil (Vitor Paladini, Unsplash)
¶ “Scientists Want The Paris Olympics To Dump Toyota’s Mirai As An Official Car. Here’s Why” • A group of 120 scientists, engineers and academics penned an open letter calling on the Paris Olympics’ organizers to ditch Toyota’s Mirai as the official vehicle of the Games. They say the hydrogen-powered car erodes the event’s green credentials. [CNN]
¶ “Essar Unveils 125-MW UK Hydrogen Plant” • Essar Energy Transition has announced the launch of the 125-MW EET Hydrogen Power, Europe’s first hydrogen-ready combined heat and power plant. It is to be built at its Stanlow refinery, aiming to complete construction in 2027. EET Hydrogen Power will be an independent vertical under EET. [reNews]
Hydrogen plant (Essar Energy Transition image)
¶ “Microsoft 365’s Chinese Host Uses Just 4.35% Renewable Energy: Greenpeace” • China’s major cloud computing and datacenter players aren’t going green in a hurry, according to a Greenpeace study. The group found that just eight companies in the field have announced plans to operate entirely on renewable energy by 2030. [The Register]
¶ “SSE And Equinor Establish Terms Of Dogger D Seabed Lease” • SSE Renewables and Equinor, the developers of the proposed Dogger Bank D fourth phase of 3600-MW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, established commercial terms with The Crown Estate for an amendment to the Dogger Bank C seabed lease. Dogger Bank could have 2 GW of capacity. [reNews]
Dogger Bank (SSE Renewables image)
¶ “South Australia’s Renewable Triumph Is Stunning Proof That Dutton’s Nuclear Plans Are A Folly ” • When the federal and state governments were deciding on a location to announce a funding deal that will underwrite South Australia’s final leap to its goal of 100% net renewables within the next three years, Port Augusta was the obvious choice. [RenewEconomy]
¶ “Over Half Of Turbines At Taiwan’s 640-MW Wind Project Start Producing Energy” • Skyborn Renewables announced that 42 wind turbine generators (WTG) at the Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm have been connected to the grid. In a statement, it also said the installation of all 80 monopiles of the 640-MW project has been completed. [Asian Power]
Wind turbine (Expect Best, Pexels)
¶ “UN General Assembly Demands Russia Withdraw From Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant In Ukraine” • The United Nations General Assembly demanded that Russia “urgently withdraw its military and other unauthorized personnel” from Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and return it to the full control of Ukrainian authorities. [MSN]
¶ “German Coal Power Production Drops To Record Low In Q2 As Renewables Soar To 65% Share” • Electricity generation from coal dropped to a record low in Germany in the spring, while renewables produced more electricity than ever. Lignite feed-in fell more than 18% YOY, while hard coal production dropped more than 38% YOY. [RenewEconomy]
Wind farm (BWE image)
US:
¶ “Devastated By Record Flooding And Tornadoes, Iowa Tallies Over $130 Million In Storm Damage” • Record flooding and powerful tornadoes ravaged parts of Iowa for weeks this spring, destroying or damaging thousands of homes, closing roads and bridges and costing over $130 million in infrastructure damage, officials said Thursday. [ABC News]
¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $2 Billion to Support American Auto Workers, Convert Facilities For Electric Vehicles” • The US DOE announced $1.7 billion to support the conversion of eleven shuttered or at-risk auto manufacturing and assembly facilities across eight states to manufacture electric vehicles and their supply chain. [CleanTechnica]
Grant selectees (US DOE image)
¶ “Tesla’s Cybertruck Defies The Naysayers And Becomes Best-Selling Electric Truck” • It’s official — Tesla’s Cybertruck was the the best selling EV pickup truck in the US during Q2, and is among the fastest production ramps in Tesla’s history. The Cybertruck is also the best selling vehicle of any kind priced above $100,000. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Solar And Wind Power Generation Tops Nuclear For First Time” • For the first time ever, US electricity generation from utility-scale solar and wind exceeded nuclear power plants’ power output in the first half of 2024, according to data from energy think tank Ember and quoted by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire. [OilPrice.com]
Have an abundantly cool day.
geoharvey 