World:
¶ “How Is The World Doing On Tackling Climate Change?” • Last year, at the COP28 meeting, countries agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.” Nevertheless, fossil fuel use is still rising, despite positive steps by some countries including the UK and by the EU to wean themselves off the energy sources that do most to heat up our planet. [BBC]
Wind farm in Greece (Feri & Tasos, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Trump Might Nix America As A Climate Tech Leader. Five Charts Show China Winning That Race” • China is installing wind and solar power projects faster than any other country on the planet. As President-elect Donald Trump is likely to roll back on the US’ role as a global climate leader, experts say China will have to lead the charge. [CNN]
¶ “New Autonomous Air Taxi Trial In Thailand” • A while back, EHang’s EH216-S aircraft became the first autonomous electric aircraft in the world to be approved for commercial flight. Now, it has conducted its first pilot-free test flights, in Bangkok. The company has more test flights planned for the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui in 2025. [CleanTechnica]
EHang EH216-S EVTOL
¶ “CATL Will Put Its Second-Generation Sodium-Ion Batteries Into Production In 2025” • Battery technology is advancing so fast that by the time you get it home, it’s close to being obsolete. CATL announced its second-generation sodium battery. Chief scientist Wu Kai announced development of the battery and said it would be launched in 2025. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Financial Investments In Smallholder Farmers Are Big Talk At UN Climate Change Conference” • An estimated 28-31% of world crop production and 30-34% of the food are produced by 600 million smallholder farmers, who work less than two hectares of land each, combining to 24% of the farm land. Their finances are being considered at COP29. [CleanTechnica]
Rooster (David Brooke Martin, Unsplash)
¶ “Italy’s Enel Unveils €43 Billion Plan To Increase Renewable Energy Production” • Italian energy group Enel announced a plan to spend around €43 billion ($45.6 billion) over the next three years, mostly to improve energy grid efficiency and boost renewable energy production. Enel said €26 billion is to improve and expand its grids, mostly in Europe. [Daijiworld]
¶ “COP’s 96-MW South Korean Project Achieves First Power” • Copenhagen Offshore Partners has announced that the 96-MW Jeonnam 1 Offshore Wind Project in Korea achieved first power, advancing Korea on its path towards energy independence. The project’s owner is a JV of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and SK Innovation E&S. [reNews]
Wind turbines (Herztier Kang, Unsplash)
¶ “Quebec Plans To Achieve 100% Renewable Energy In Its Buildings” • The Government of Quebec is aiming to remove fossil fuels from all buildings, except those in the industrial sector, by 2040. The Environment Minister and the Energy Minister announced “a plan to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040.” [CityNews Montreal]
¶ “Sany’s 15-MW Onshore Turbine Powers Up” • Sany Renewable Energy’s independently designed SI-270150, a 15-MW onshore wind turbine, has successfully achieved operation at rated power. As a flagship product in the 12.X–16.X MW onshore and offshore platform, the SI-270150 boasts a rotor diameter of 270 meters and a lifespan of 25–30 years. [reNews]
Wind turbine (Sany image)
¶ “Nuclear Plant Operator Rejects Ideas To Restart Germany’s Reactors On Economical Grounds” • Restarting decommissioned German nuclear plants is not viable, former plant operator E.ON said. The company insisted that its plans to fully dismantle all plants remain unchanged. A return to nuclear power production would not be economical. [Reccessary]
¶ “Enel To Invest €12 Billion In Renewables” • Enel Group plans to invest about €12 billion in renewable capacity with flexible capital allocation and a selective approach aimed at maximizing returns while minimizing risks. It is also seizing on brownfield opportunities with the aim for greater profitability. The group plans to add around 12 GW of capacity. [reNews]
Wind farm (Enel image)
US:
¶ “NYC Issues First Drought Warning In 22 Years And Pauses Aqueduct Repairs To Bring In More Water” • New York City issued its first drought warning in 22 years. It will restart the flow of drinking water from an out-of-service aqueduct as supplies run low. With the drought, city and state officials implemented water-conservation protocols, as well. [ABC News]
¶ “American Petroleum Institute Submits Its Christmas Wish List” • Just one week after the US presidential election, the American Petroleum Institute released its wish list for the incoming administration. The 5-point plan would eliminate many of the Biden administration’s most far reaching efforts to limit the global heating. [CleanTechnica]
Pump jacks (Arne Hückelheim, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “House Republicans Take A Victory Lap In Baku” • As reported by Jake Bittle for Grist, at a swaggering press conference just a few hundred feet from where international negotiators had spent a week hashing out a transition away from fossil fuels, the GOP delegation delivered an aggressive message in support of oil, gas, and even coal. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Green Hydrogen And Energy Storage Makeover Planned For Colossal Superfund Site” • In New Mexico there was a massive environmental disaster until it closed in 2014. Now an intricate, decades-long remediation effort is under way, and plans are in the works to produce green hydrogen at the site, advancing the Kit Carson Energy Coop goals. [CleanTechnica]
Have a punctiliously moving day.
geoharvey 