World:
¶ “The Planet Endures Its Hottest Summer On Record, For The Second Straight Year” • Summer broke global heat records for the second straight year, putting 2024 firmly on track to be the hottest year in since records began in 1940, according to data from Copernicus, Europe’s climate change service. This summer passed the previous record by 0.03°C. [CNN]
Sunset (Yevhenii Aihubov, Unsplash)
¶ “Highest Court In South Korea Rules In Favor Of Climate Activists” • According to Reuters, South Korea has been kicking the can down the road on climate action. The Constitutional Court of South Korea ruled recently that the country’s climate change law did not protect basic human rights and lacks targets to shield future generations. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “China Ramping Renewables And Slamming Brakes On Coal Could Mean Massive CO₂ Reductions By 2030” • China is still building coal-burning plants, but it only permitted 10 GW of new coal capacity in the first half of 2024, a drop of 83%. And capacity factors for its coal plants keep falling, as deployment of wind and solar set records each year. [CleanTechnica]
Chuanshan wind farm (Siyuwj, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Industry Hails Approval Of ‘UK’s Largest’ Solar Farm” • The UK gave the green light to its largest solar project, the 600-MW Cottam solar farm. The Cottam solar farm will be in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and is projected to supply power to around 180,000 homes annually. The decision was positively received by the solar industry. [Energy Live News]
¶ “Consultancy Unveils Maintenance Jack-Up” • Knud E Hansen designed an offshore turbine maintenance platform. The vessel is designed for all kinds of maintenance work on machines up to 20 MW, including replacement of nacelles weighing as much as 1000 tonnes at a hub height of 175 metres and managing blades up to 130 metres long. [reNews]
Jack-up vessel (Knud E Hansen image)
¶ “Poland Targets 56% Renewables In Its Energy Mix By 2030” • Poland is aiming for 56% renewable energy in its electricity by 2030, with an investment of 792 billion zlotys ($205.76 billion), according to the draft national plan submitted to the EU. Before going to the European Commission, the plan must be approved by the government cabinet. [energynews.pro]
¶ “Iberdrola Begins 556-MW Oz Hybrid Build” • Iberdrola Australia announced that construction is underway at the 556-MW Broadsound Solar and Battery, the company’s first project in Queensland. The 376-MW Broadsound solar farm is co-located with a 180-MW battery system at Clarke Creek. It is expected power 145,000 homes. [reNews]
Solar panels (Iberdrola image)
¶ “IAEA Warns About The Safety Of Nuclear Power Plants In Conflict Zones” • The safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, at Zaporizhzhia and Kursk, is a major concern as fighting intensifies in these regions. The conflict in Ukraine is putting the security of nuclear facilities under severe strain, heightening the risk of serious incidents. [energynews.pro]
US:
¶ “Phoenix Set To Break Record For 110-Degree Days” • Phoenix has surpassed 110°F 55 times this summer, tying the record set just last year. Phoenix is expected to break that all-time record again as temperatures are forecast to reach near 114°F. Over the last 30 years, Phoenix has seen an average of just 21 days a year over 110°F. [ABC News]
Downtown Phoenix (Gabriel Valdez, Unsplash)
¶ “Persistent Power Outages In Puerto Rico Spark Outrage” • A growing number of Puerto Rican government officials demanded answers from two private electric companies as the US territory struggles with persistent power outages. Tens of thousands of customers were left without electricity this week amid selective power cuts. [ABC News]
¶ “Batteries Plus And Green Bay Packers Partner To Launch Battery Recycling Initiative” • The Green Bay Packers, with the winningest record in NFL history, has a devoted fanbase and a huge stadium, so it’s kind of a no-brainer for another Green Bay organization to parter with the team. Batteries Plus opened its first store in Green Bay in 1988. [CleanTechnica]
Packers playing Patriots (gjbender1, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Solar Power Meets Hydropower On Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Ancestral Land” • A network of innovative 115-kW, fish-safe hydropower systems is under construction on irrigated farmland owned by a Ute Tribe in Colorado. That’s just the tip of the clean energy iceberg for the sovereign nation, which is also planing a solar project topping 900 MW. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Berkeley Plans New Strategy To Eliminate Methane” • The city of Berkeley, California had pursued a plan to ban methane, but the idea was found illegal by the courts. Now the city has seen the power of a taxation plan it agreed on with Chevron for a refinery, and it intends to use a similar plan to deal with the problem of methane gas. [CleanTechnica]
UC Berkeley (Georg Eiermann, Unsplash)
¶ “US Adds 11 GW Of Renewables In Q2” • In a record-breaking second quarter, US developers added 11 GW of clean power capacity, marking a 91% increase on Q2 2023. The American Clean Power Association released its “Clean Power Quarterly Market Report, Q2 2024,” revealing “extraordinary growth and milestones” across the US. [reNews]
¶ “Sixteen Electric Cooperatives Will Leverage $7.3 Billion In Federal Funding To Deliver More Affordable, Reliable Electricity To Their Members” • The sixteen rural electric co-ops selected to receive the USDA’s ERA funding are planning to leverage their awards to deploy carbon-free energy to help power five million homes across 23 states. [RMI]
Have an inconceivably beautiful day.
geoharvey 