Science and Technology:
¶ “The Solid-State EV Battery Journey Has Only Just Begun” • The US startup QuantumScape just passed a key development milestone with its solid state EV battery. In a shareholder letter, QuantumScape announced that it is producing B Samples of its new QSE-5 solid state EV battery cells, and shipping them to customers for testing. [CleanTechnica]
QuantumScape solid state battery (QuantumScape image)
World:
¶ “UN Report Predicts 3.1°C Average Global Temperature Increase By 2100” • The 1.5°C target set in Paris in 2015 was only possible if the nations of the world all worked together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. But they didn’t. They focused instead on building weapons and extracting more oil and gas from more places. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Many Of The Planet’s Vital Signs Have Reached Record Levels Due To Climate Change” • Without new measures that will start delivering immediate reductions, the world is on course for increases of 2.6–3.1°C over the course of this century. “We are in the midst of a climate emergency,” says the UN, “and the window to act is closing fast.” [CleanTechnica]
New Hampshire weather (NOAA, Unsplash)
¶ “Renewable Energy Hits 147,000 Connections” • Doris Uboh, the Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Fund of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency announced that the country’s renewable energy initiatives have achieved 147,000 connections, benefiting 700,000 homes across the six zones of the country. [Punch Newspapers]
¶ “BYD Launching About Ten Models In A Year, While Tesla Launches One” • CleanTechnica’s resident expert, José Pontes, said BYD has launched nine models this year already, and six more will be released soon. Tesla introduced the Cybertruck nearly a year ago. In that year, BYD thus will have released nine to sixteen models. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Seal (BYD image)
¶ “Cuba’s Slow Solar Energy Expansion Contributes To Its Widespread Blackouts” • October’s blackouts affected 10 million Cubans and would have been less severe with more solar energy development. Experts point to the Cuban government’s outdated policies and reliance on fossil fuels despite international interest in solar investments. [The Daily Climate]
¶ “Serbia Signs Major Deal For 1-GW Solar Power Project With Hyundai Engineering And UGT Renewables” • The contract for construction of solar power plants in Serbia will add 1 GW of new solar power capacity. It was signed with the consortium of companies Hyundai Engineering and UGT Renewables in the presence of the president of Serbia. [ceenergynews]
Belgrade (Maria Ivanova, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “$474 Million For More Grid Resilience In The USA” • In some places, electricity came back within a few hours of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In others, it took a day or two. In places with poor grid resilience, it took a week or more! So, it’s heartening to see that another chunk of cash is being distributed by the DOE to improve US grid resilience. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “An Unprecedented Number Of Flood Emergencies Have Ravaged The US. It’s A Warning Of What’s To Come” • Flash flood emergencies are quite rare, accounting for around 1% of flash flood warnings since 2019. An unprecedented 91 flash flood emergencies have been issued by the National Weather Service this year, more than any other year. [CNN]
Flood (Chris Gallagher, Unsplash)
¶ “Yampa Valley Electric Association Selected For $50 Million In Federal Renewable Energy Funding” • The USDA is awarding six rural electric cooperatives, including YVEA, nearly $1 billion in funding through the New ERA, or Empowering Rural America. And Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association will get nearly $2.5 billion. [SteamboatToday.com]
¶ “Solar Tracker Project Supports Vermont College’s Renewable Energy Goals” • A 5-MW solar array providing power to a nearby college was commissioned in Middlebury, Vermont. With the help of Encore Renewable Energy and Greenbacker Renewable Energy, 40% of Middlebury College’s electricity is powered by solar PVs. [Solar Power World]
Kitchen House, Middlebury College (Chumash11, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Duke Energy Expands Its Green Tariff Program In North Carolina” • Duke Energy has received approval for Green Source Advantage Choice in North Carolina. GSAC is a program that allows large business customers to support renewable energy development by supplementing their power usage with 100% renewable generation. [POWERGRID International]
¶ “Pennsylvania’s Renewable Energy Growth Is ‘Abysmal’ For The Second Year In A Row” • Last year, Pennsylvania ranked 50th in the nation for solar, wind, and geothermal energy generation growth. Now, the state’s renewables are on the rise, but a report shows marginal improvement for Pennsylvania. Now it ranks 48th. [NEXTpittsburgh]
Pennsylvania (Lera Kogan, Unsplash)
¶ “DTE Energy Begins Operating Its Largest Solar Park, Sauk Solar” • Michigan’s largest renewable energy developer reported that its largest solar park, Sauk Solar, is now operational. Located in central Michigan’s Branch County, the 150-MW solar park has nearly 347,000 solar panels and generates enough clean energy to power roughly 40,000 homes. [GlobeNewswire]
¶ “Three Mile Island Owner Lays Out Reopening Timeline In Public Hearing” • The owner of the closed Three Mile Island nuclear plant hopes to have a new license – and a new name for the plant – to operate in three years. Constellation provided a timeline for restarting the plant during a public meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [NPR]
Have a totally copacetic day.
geoharvey 