World:
¶ “Serious Money – $43 Million – Behind 100% Wind Power For Cargo Ships” • The cargo shipping industry is finally returning to wind power after a long hiatus. Some maritime innovators even aim to bring back 100% wind power. One of them is the French startup VELA, which has just nailed a new $43 million round of funding to make it happen. [CleanTechnica]
Trimaran by French startup VELA (via businesswire.com)
¶ “As India Pursues Ambitious Renewable Energy Goals, Gujarat Paves The Way” • Gujarat has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, leading efforts toward a greener, more sustainable future. With a strong emphasis on solar power, the state plays a vital role in helping India reach its goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. [Chemical Industry Digest]
¶ “European EV Sales Are Up And Down, Ford Starts Electric Capri Production In Germany” • Battery EV Sales are down in some parts of Europe. The Center for Automotive Management put the data into a chart that shows at a glance what is going on with EV sales in European countries, and it shows some bright spots among the gloom. [CleanTechnica]
Battery EV registrations (Center for Automotive Management)
¶ “China Coal Hub Could Lead Its Energy Transition, According To Researchers” • China’s largest coal-mining hub is set to lead the country’s energy transition, a report says. Inner Mongolia, which produces more coal than any country outside of China itself, already has 88 GW of wind and solar capacity, with 170 GW more in the pipeline. [Energy Connects]
¶ “ACWA Power, Badeel, SAPCO Report Financial Close On Key Solar PV Projects” • Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, Badeel, and Saudi Aramco Power Company secured financial closure for the Haden, Muwayh, and Al Khushaybi solar PV projects. Valued at $3.2 billion, the projects aim for a combined capacity of 5.5 GW of solar power for Saudi Arabia. [Gulf Business]
Solar array (ACWA image, cropped)
¶ “GoldenPeaks Capital And CNBM Commit To Target A 1-GW Project Pipeline Annually in Europe ” • GoldenPeaks Capital Holding Ltd and China National Building Material Group have committed to further strengthen their strategic partnership to a 1-GW annual project pipeline, adding such new markets as Italy, Germany, and Greece. [Business Wire]
¶ “Britain To Become First G7 Country To End Coal Power As Last Plant Closes” • Britain will become the first G7 country to end coal-fired power production with the closure of its last plant, Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar in England’s Midlands. It will end over 140 years of coal power in Britain. Slmost 30% of the country’s electricity came from coal in 2015. [Reuters]
Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant (Vilmantas Bekesius, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Historic Coal Mining City Makes Switch To 100% Renewables” • Queensland state government-owned energy firm CleanCo has inked a long-term deal to supply Ipswich City Council with 100% renewable electricity. The power purchase agreement will enable the historic coal mining city to operate its major buildings and streetlights with renewables. [pv magazine Australia]
US:
¶ “How Floating Solar Is Carving Out Space In The Renewable Energy Landscape” • The idea of setting a solar panels out to float on top of reservoirs and other bodies of water seemed a bit exotic just a few years ago. But there are circumstances when a floating solar array is practical, even as conventional renewable energy could be developed. [CleanTechnica]
Floating solar system (Courtesy Mountain Regional Water)
¶ “One Storm, 95 Dead, And A 500-Mile Path Of Destruction. Now The Hard Work Of Recovering From Helene” • Short on supplies, short on power, and short on patience, the people who saw a massive storm upend their lives have come to a new week, facing the challenge of rebuilding while roads are closed and electricity could be a week away. [CNN]
¶ “Flood Fire Risk With EVs: At Least Some EV Packs Need Better Water Sealing” • In the wake of the recent hurricane that swept Florida and wrecked lower Appalachia, the author came across an interesting social media post from local government officials in Pinellas County, Florida. It shows the uncomfortable and dangerous death of a Tesla. [CleanTechnica]
Screenshot from the Pinellas County tweet (Fair use)
¶ “First Solar Inaugurates $1.1 Billion Solar Manufacturing Plant In Alabama” • First Solar started up a new $1.1 billion vertically integrated thin-film solar manufacturing facility in Alabama. It will add 3.5 GW of solar manufacturing capacity in the US and is expected to create over 800 energy technology manufacturing jobs in the state. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “TotalEnergies Starts 1.2-GW Texas PV Duo” • TotalEnergies started commercial operations of its 720-MW Danish Fields and 455-MW Cottonwood solar farms with battery storage in Texas. These new projects, with a combined capacity of 1.2 GW, are part of a portfolio of renewables assets totaling 4 GW in operation or under construction in Texas. [reNews]
Solar farm (TotalEnergies image)
¶ “US Closes $1.52 Billion Loan To Resurrect Michigan Nuclear Plant” • The US said it closed a $1.52 billion loan to resurrect the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan. A Biden administration official said it could take two years to reopen the plant, which is longer than the company predicted. The administration wants to triple US nuclear capacity. [MSN]
¶ “US Nuclear Plants Won’t Power Up Big Tech’s AI Ambitions Right Away” • Tech companies are scrambling to meet energy demand from data centers to power generative AI. But nuclear power involves regulatory hurdles, possible supply-chain snags, sometimes stiff local opposition, and scrutiny from various environmental authorities. [Cyprus Mail]
Have an unambiguously superb day.
geoharvey 