Science and Technology:
¶ “Bronze Age Technology Makes Renewable Energy Shift Cheaper” • Firebricks emerged in the early Bronze Age, around 4000-3000 BCE. They were first used to line kilns, and have been used in furnaces since. They are more efficient and cheaper for storing heat for industrial processes like steel, cement, and glass making, researchers say. [Cosmos Magazine]
Glass blowing (Carey Moulton, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “New Analytical Model Makes Groundbreaking Discovery About Potential Of Solar Power And Thin-Film Cells” • Scientists in Wales and Finland developed a new model for understanding how thin-film PV cells work, Phys.org reported. The breakthrough could have major implications in developing more efficient ways to harvest solar energy. [The Cool Down]
World:
¶ “The Great Salt Lake Is Drying, Antarctica Is Sweltering – The Knock-On Effects Of Climate Change Are Everywhere” • As the Great Salt Lake shrinks, the newly exposed former lake bottom puts out millions of tons of greenhouse gases. And researchers are reporting that in Antarctica it is as much as 50°F hotter this year than normal. [CleanTechnica]
Great Salt Lake (Urvish Oza, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “EVs Take 20.8% Share In France – Citroën E-C3 Delayed” • In July, auto sales saw plugin EVs take 20.8% share in France, a drop from 23.3% year-on-year. Battery EV share was roughly flat YOY, while plugin hybrid EV share fell. Overall new auto volume was 126,037 units, down by some 2% YOY. The Renault Megane took the lead in the battery EV rankings. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “UK To Ease Solar And Onshore Wind Planning Rules” • The UK Government plans to make it easier to build solar and wind farms. Currently, if a project generates over 50 MW, it needs the Secretary of State’s approval. But new technology means solar panels and wind turbines are more efficient, making the 50-MW limit outdated. [Energy Live News]
UK solar farm (N Chadwick, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “ENEOS Inks PPA To Supply Renewable Energy To Amazon” • ENEOS Renewable Energy Corporation has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with Amazon to provide clean energy from a 9.5-MW solar power plant in Japan. The plant is currently under development, with operations expected to commence by November 2025. [Asian Power]
¶ “Xinjiang New Energy Power Capacity Soars By 103% In H1” • Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is rich in wind and solar resources, saw a 103% increase YOY in new installed energy capacity in the first half of this year. The new generating capacity in Xinjiang includes 9.8 GW of solar power and 4.28 GW of wind. [China Daily]
Wind turbines in China (Chris Lim, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Highest Wind Power Generation, Storage Project Starts Building In Xizang” • Construction of the world highest wind power generation and energy storage project started in Nagqu City of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet). Some 100 MW of wind turbines will be built at an average altitude of 5,000 meters. [Bastille Post Global]
Australia:
¶ “Massive Wind Farm To Power One In Four Capital City Homes” • A massive wind farm approved northwest of Brisbane could power almost a quarter of homes in Queensland’s capital when fully operational. The 436.5-MW Tarong West Wind Farm was granted approval by the state and awaits federal approval of its environmental impact plan. [Real Commercial]
Brisbane (Brisbane Local Marketing, Unsplash)
¶ “SBS Becomes Australia’s First 100% Renewable Broadcaster” • SBS, Australia’s most diverse broadcaster, is now also Australia’s first 100% renewable media organisation thanks to a deal struck with ZEN Energy. ZEN Energy will supply SBS’s operations in New South Wales and Victoria with 100% renewable energy over the next 10 years. [Energy Source & Distribution]
¶ “Free Speech Fears After Aussie Group Suspended By Elon Musk’s X” • Australian anti-nuclear campaigners have been suspended from billionaire Elon Musk’s privately-owned social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The decision has sparked fears about US-based companies limiting free speech by environmental campaigners. [Yahoo]
Elon Musk (Ministério das Comunicações, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
US:
¶ “Be Prepared: New Resource Readies States And Utilities For Grid Resilience Events” • Electricity grids must be resilient to natural and human-caused hazards: storms, floods, droughts, extreme heat, freezes, sea level rise, wildfires, seismic events, and cyber and physical attacks. More billion-dollar disasters took place in 2023 than ever before. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “How Much Money Can I Save With Solar Energy?” • This US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office blog post will walk you through calculating the solar payback period, or how long it takes for a rooftop solar system to pay for itself. When calculating the amount of potential savings, there are several factors to consider, and they are listed here. [CleanTechnica]
Residential solar PV installation (Joe DelNero, NREL)
¶ “Wendy’s Makes Electrifying Changes To Over 100 Of Its US Stores With New Community Solar Partnership” • News website Electrek reported that more than 130 Wendy’s restaurants now use community solar to source between 30% and 100% of their energy. The restaurants are located in Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York state. [The Cool Down]
¶ “Manhattan Project Nuclear Site To Become Solar Farm” • As the demand for solar energy continues to grow, the US DOE has stayed on top of potential expansion opportunities. It recently kickstarted negotiations to transform an old Manhattan project site in Washington state into a solar farm, repurposing what was once a secret nuclear site. [Thomasnet]
Have an expansively joyous day.
geoharvey 