Opinion:
¶ “Why Is China Upping Coal Power Despite Green Energy Boom?” • The world pledged to wean itself off coal to slow the pace of climate change, so why is China, already the world’s top producer and consumer of coal, upping its output? China mined a record 4.7 billion tonnes of coal in 2023 and is opening mines to produce a billion tonnes more. [Context News]
Coal-fired power plant (Kristoferb, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “Nuclear Is Not the Solution: The Folly Of Atomic Power In The Age Of Climate Change – Book Review” • Nuclear is Not the Solution is an important book that clearly presents the arguments why nuclear power is not the solution to climate change. The book’s author, MV Ramana, sets out a succinct and convincing case against nuclear power. [Counterfire]
World:
¶ “As Summers Get Hotter, Greece’s Seasonal Firefighters Demand Permanent Jobs” • Seasonal firefighters clashed with police in Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry during a protest to demand permanent positions after their contracts expire after a grueling wildfire season. They staged a sit-in protest lasting hours and refused to leave. [ABC News]
Smoke from Greek wildfire (C messier, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “China: Land of Dragons And Electric Vehicles” • The author went to see what “’53% of new cars sales in China are plugins” looked like in the flesh, so to speak. The short answer is: spectacular! ‘What do all the green number plates mean?’ the tour guide was asked repeatedly by our group. ‘Green number plates means the car is electric!’” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Xpeng Enters Ireland” • Like a number of other Chinese EV producers, Xpeng is quickly entering one new market after another. Its latest market entrance is into Ireland. The company noted, “XPENG strengthens its European commitment with an official entry into the Irish market, another key right-hand drive market.” [CleanTechnica]
Xpeng G6 (Xpeng image)
¶ “Why Has The Term ‘Nature-Based’ Been Crucial At COP16 Convention On Biological Diversity?” • The 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is well underway. The key question is how countries intend to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and water and restore 30% of the degraded ecosystems by 2030. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Voltalia Secures Funds For 126-MW PV Project” • Voltalia has signed a document with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the financing of the 126-MW Sarimay solar power plant in Uzbekistan. EBRD’s financing package of up to $54.6 million will consist of a senior loan of up to $44.8 million and a special VAT facility. [reNews]
Solar Power Plant (Voltalia image)
¶ “EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fell Over 8% In 2023, Driven By Growth In Renewable Energy” • The European Commission published the 2024 Climate Action Progress Report. It shows that net greenhouse gas emissions from the EU fell 8.3% in 2023 from the previous year. It is the largest annual drop in decades, except the COVID-19 year of 2020. [Azərtac]
¶ “SANY India Solidifies Presence In India’s Wind Power Market With 1.6-GW Contract Wins” • SANY India rapidly established itself in the wind energy market of India, with wind turbine sales agreements totaling 1.6 GW. These include one of 1,324 MW with subsidiaries of the JSW Group and another of 300 MW with Sembcorp Limited. [Business News This Week]
Wind farm (SuyogJoshiPhotography, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “As Catastrophic Floods Hit Spain, Deadlier Weather Clearly Linked To Climate Change” • From drought that killed a quarter million in the Horn of Africa and heatwaves in Europe that cost 90,000 lives to the deadliest floods in Spain’s modern history, analyses draw a clear link between ever more frequent extreme weather and climate change. [Euronews.com]
US:
¶ “The World’s Largest Electric Vehicle Is Ready For Its Closeup” • EV sightings are getting to be dime a dozen in many parts of the US. It’s time for other, bigger pieces of the transportation electrification puzzle to fall into place. That includes powerful locomotives, the monstrous pieces of machinery that pull trains as long as a mile or more. [CleanTechnica]
Biggest EV (Courtesy of Progress Rail)
¶ “Evoy Vita Introduces The World’s Most Powerful Electric Outboard Motor To The US” • Evoy Vita has partnered with Axopar to launch the AX/E electric boat sub-brand in the US recreational market, beginning in 2025. This launch includes the Evoy Storm 300+ HP, the most powerful electric outboard motor in the world. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “RWE And Rivian Sign Texas Wind PPA” • RWE signed a power purchase agreement with EV maker Rivian for power from an upgraded wind project in Texas. The 15-year PPA has electricity from RWE’s 127-MW Champion Wind facility in Nolan and Mitchell Counties supply Rivian’s fast-charging network with some of the renewable energy it will use. [reNews]
Champion Wind project (RWE image)
¶ “Ford EV Plans Falter As GM EV Deliveries Surge” • The New York Times compares Ford and GM to the childhood fable of the tortoise and the hare. Ford got off to a fast start but GM has spent the last few years perfecting its EV platforms and harmonizing its battery supply. GM uses one battery architecture for many vehicles. Ford doesn’t. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Kauaʻi Achieves 60% Renewable Energy Production In 2023, Aiming For 100% With Advanced Inverter Technology” • A statement on the Governor of Hawaii’s website says about 60% of the energy produced on Kauaʻi in 2023 was from renewable sources, and the island’s utility company operated on 100% renewables for hours each day. [Hoodline]
Have an appropriately superior day.
geoharvey 