World:
¶ “The Gulf Stream Is On The Verge Of COLLAPSING, Climate Scientists Warn” • It might have been science fiction twenty years ago, but the plot of the 2004 film ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ may be turning real. Some 44 of the world’s leading climate scientists warned that the Gulf Stream and other Atlantic Ocean currents are on the brink of failure. [MSN]
Atlantic Ocean (Jacob Buller, Unsplash)
¶ “Brazil Environmental Disaster Victims Take Case Against Mining Giant BHP To UK Court” • Victims of Brazil’s worst environmental disaster, the rupture of a tailings dam at an iron mine in 2015, took their case for compensation to a UK court. Toxic mining waste had run into a river, killing 19 people and devastating communities. [ABC News]
¶ “AI, Data Centers, Direct Air Capture, And Renewables” • Of the world’s electricity, 3% is used by data centers. That’s up from, well, zero, not too long ago. Doing a Google search uses 0.3 watts-hours, but a ChatGPT inquiry uses 10 times that, just for instance. Big tech companies are investing heavily in renewables for their data centers. [CleanTechnica]
Data center (Amazon image)
¶ “Hyundai To Build EVs And EV Components In India” • It’s no secret that India tries hard to force local manufacturing. This has been a barrier to Tesla entering India for a while. But it’s a giant vehicle market with a lot of potential, especially as we get to ever cheaper EVs. Well, Hyundai sees that India is an opportunity, and it’s jumping in. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Neoen Launches 79-MW Irish PV Project” • Neoen launched construction of the 79-MW Ballinknockane solar farm in Ireland. The developer has provided notice to proceed to Omexom and TLI Group, for the solar plant and the 110-kV onsite substation, respectively. Ballinknockane is scheduled to be commissioned in the first half of 2027. [reNews]
Solar farm with sheep (Neoen image)
¶ “A Wind Power Crisis Is Holding Back The World’s Green Energy Goal” • At the COP28 climate talks in Dubai last year, leaders from over 130 nations agreed to triple renewable power capacity by the decade’s end. While the target is achievable, the current rates of clean power deployment aren’t sufficient, and the rollout of wind turbines is lagging. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “SunCable Gets Conditional Approval For World’s Largest Renewable Energy Infrastructure Project” • SunCable has been granted conditional approval by Singapore’s Energy Market Authority to import energy via the Australia-Asia PowerLink. AAPowerLink is set to be the world’s largest solar farm and battery project. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Celebrating AAPowerLink progress (SunCable image)
¶ “Cost Of ACT’s 100% Renewable Energy Scheme Goes Negative – Again!” • The cost of the Australian Capital Territory’s 100% renewable scheme went negative again. The results for the June quarter this year are the fourth time that quarterly costs have gone negative. The scheme dramatically reduced electricity emissions and prices. [RenewEconomy]
¶ “Saudi Arabia’s 3.7-GW Solar Tender Attracts Lowest Bid Of 1.29¢/kWh” • For the 2000-MW Al-Sadawi Solar portion of the 3.7-GW project, the shortlisted groups offered bids of 1.29¢/kWh and 1.31¢/kWh. The rest of the solar tender got bids that were somewhat higher, at up to 1.89¢/kWh, though the bids were on smaller sections. [pv magazine International]
Solar power (ACWA Power)
¶ “Sellafield Nuclear Waste Dump Costs Surge To £136 Billion, Leaving Questions Over Value” • The costs of cleaning up the Sellafield nuclear waste dump are expected to surge to £136 billion. Britain’s public spending watchdog said efforts to fix buildings at the state-owned Cumbrian site had been gripped by delays and ballooning costs. [Proactive Investors]
US:
¶ “ChargePoint Pitches Affordable Level 2 EV Charger For Commercial Fleets” • Fleet vehicles are often parked for hours overnight, making them a good fit for the leisurely pace of a Level 2 EV charger. ChargePoint got the message, and it aims to motivate fleet managers with a new commercial-scale Level 2 charger for just $699. [CleanTechnica]
Cars at ChargePoint chargers (Courtesy of ChargePoint)
¶ “West Virginia Lobs An Energy Storage Brickbat At Fossil Fuel Stakeholders” • It’s a strange position to be in, but there it is. The Appalachian state of West Virginia, known for its deep roots in the coal industry, is hosting a long duration energy storage venture that will help squeeze fossil fuels out of the US power generation profile. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “$430 Million For US Clean Energy Manufacturing In Coal Communities” • Coal power declined in the US through the Trump presidency, and has declined since. Coal power just isn’t competitive. So, people living in coal communities need new jobs in new fields. The Biden-Harris Administration has dished out $430 million for this. [CleanTechnica]
Decline of coal, growth of wind (EIA image)
¶ “Flying Taxis Move Closer To Takeoff With Issuing Of FAA Rule” • Federal regulators gave a strong push to electric air taxis by issuing a final rule for operating the aircraft and how pilots will be trained to fly them. Many companies are working to get them to market, but they had been held back by a lack of clarity over regulations governing their use. [ABC News]
¶ “Republican Opposition Could Slow The Push Toward Electric Vehicles” • The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 offered a range of incentives for producing EVs, and it offered tax incentives to individuals who buy them, and federal rules have increased fuel efficiency requirements for car makers. Both moves got sharp Republican opposition. [ABC News]
Have an amusingly agile day.
geoharvey 