Science and Technology:
¶ “Lightweight, Fast Charging Lithium Sulfur Batteries Unveiled” • Researchers at Monash University in Melbourne say they have developed lithium sulfur batteries that have twice the energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries. The Li-S batteries can charge and discharge faster than conventional batteries and are lighter and cost less to make. [CleanTechnica]
EVTOL (Hyundai Motor Group)
World:
¶ “Tesla Offers New Discount On Model Y In China” • Tesla has been offering to try to move more vehicles, the company is also trying to stimulate sales in China in a few ways. Those who take delivery of the either of the two cheaper Tesla Model Y options by December 31, can get a RMB 10,000 ($1,380) discount. The Model 3 also has incentives. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Zimbabwe Is To Reduce The Import Duty On EVs From 40% To 25% Starting January 1, 2025” • Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Professor Mhtuli Ncube, presented the 2025 National Budget with a number of new taxes. One thing stands out: The import duties on EVs are falling from 40%, the rate still paid on internal combustion vehicles, to 25%. [CleanTechnica]
Fuel line, Zimbabwe (Samwise Gamgee, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “LG Chem And ExxonMobil Sign Lithium Offtake Agreement” • After making huge sums extracting “black gold,” oil, through the last century, it’s only fitting that Exxon is planning to extract and sell some “white gold,” lithium. In a recent announcement, the oil company said it had signed a lithium offtake agreement with LG Chem. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Enercon Secures 120-MW Iceland Contract” • Enercon and state-owned energy supplier Landsvirkjun signed a contract for the first large-scale wind farm in Iceland. It is expected to have 28 of the E-138 EP3 turbines for a capacity of 120 MW. The wind farm will be built on an area of 17 sq km in the south of Iceland, about 130 km from Reykjavik. [reNews]
Iceland ponies (redcharlie, Unsplash)
¶ “Associated British Ports Completes £35 Million Lowestoft Port Facility” • ABP announced completion of its Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility. It is set to serve the offshore wind sector. Built to meet the growing needs of the offshore energy industry, LEEF will support operations and maintenance work and construction phase requirements. [reNews]
¶ “Petrovietnam Unit Building Substation Platforms For 1.5-GW Offshore Wind Power Project In Baltic Sea” • Petrovietnam Technical Services Corp started building substation platforms for the 1.5-GW Baltica 2 offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea. The 1.5-GW Baltica 2 project is to be finished in 2027, and the 1-GW Baltica 3 project in 2030. [Theinvestor.vn]
Baltic Sea (Aleksey Malinovski, Unsplash)
¶ “Powering The Future Of Wind Energy With Tech-Driven Efficiency” • The UK Government’s nine new offshore wind contracts highlight the global surge in renewable energy. The global wind industry added 117 GW of new capacity in 2023, marking a record year for wind energy growth. But wind power has to be kept efficient. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Some 60% Of Latin America’s Electricity Is Generated From Renewable Energy” • According to the analysis that collects data from the International Energy Agency, 60% of Latin America’s electricity is generated from renewable energy, making it one of the cleanest electricity networks in the world. Chile, Mexico, and Brazil are leading countries. [q costa rica]
Geothermal plant (President of Mexico, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Decommissioning Old Nuclear Sites To Cost £130 Billion” • UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband faces a bill of £128.8 billion ($164 billion) to clean up Britain’s eight operational nuclear sites, according to an investigation by the National Audit Office. That is £23.5 billion more than previously expected. Seven nuclear stations are due to shut down in 2028. [MSN]
US:
¶ “Eastport, Maine Is The Ideal Place For Solar, Tidal Power, And A Microgrid” • In January 2025, Eastport Community Solar’s 1-MW solar array will go online to supplement an existing 1.8-MW of distributed solar already operating. But solar alone will not meet all the city’s energy needs. That’s where tidal power and batteries will come in. [CleanTechnica]
Eastport, Maine (Dougtone, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
¶ “NJ’s Renewable Energy Goals In Jeopardy With Incoming Trump Presidency” • President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office could challenge New Jersey’s plan for 100% renewable energy by 2035. Trump criticizes renewable energy, vowing to cut funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and halt offshore wind projects. [New Jersey Digest]
¶ “US Sets Tariffs Up To 271% On SEA Solar Imports” • The US Department of Commerce announced preliminary duties of up to 271% on solar imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The decision targets crystalline silicon PV cells and modules. US solar panel makers see trade practices of the SEA area as unfair. [Tech in Asia]
Solar panels in Virginia (Virtue Solar, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Michigan’s Controversial Wind, Solar Energy Law Is In Effect. What To Know” • A controversial law allowing Michigan to approve large wind and solar farms over local objections went into effect on November 29. It was among the more contentious aspects of a suite of reforms enacted to speed Michigan’s clean energy transition. [Bridge Michigan]
¶ “Solar Power: A Bright Future For Fairfield Businesses” • Just imagine saving money on energy bills while making money and contributing to a cleaner planet! Solar power is on the rise in Fairfield, Iowa, as it’s getting to be a cornerstone of the local business landscape. In fact, the city is going through a surge in solar installations. [Southeast Iowa Union]
Have a totally okey-dokey day.
geoharvey 