World:
¶ “Faster Than Predicted: Heatwave Hotspots Defy Climate Models” • A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that the hottest regions on Earth are experiencing extreme heat trends that far exceed the projections of state-of-the-art climate models. It raises questions about how we can deal with climate change. [Environment+Energy Leader]
Dust devil (NASA, public domain, cropped)
¶ “EVs At 61.7% Share In Sweden – BEVs Still Floundering” • Auto sales in November saw Swedish plugin EVs at 61.7% share, up slightly year over year from 60.6% in November 2023. Battery EVs share fell back, while the plugin hybrid share increased. Overall auto volume was down 2% YOY. The Tesla Model Y was again the best selling battery EV. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Extreme H Tests The Limits Of Fuel Cells” • Formula E racing burst upon the scene in 2015, aimed at testing the limits of battery EVs. Now the series founder, Alejandro Agag, is giving fuel cells an opportunity to show off. His latest project is the hydrogen fuel cell-only racing series Extreme H, all set to hit the track in 2025. [CleanTechnica]
Pioneer 25 Extreme H race car (Courtesy of Extreme E)
¶ “European Energy Plans 250-MW Oz Project” • European Energy and the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and a First Nations development corporation announced that they will develop a 250-MW wind farm together in Queensland. The development corporation is to ensure traditional custodians share in the area’s economic prosperity. [reNews]
¶ “Australian Utility Switches On Solar Farm Built For Cyclonic Conditions” • Australian gas and electricity company APA Group said that construction of its 45-MW Port Hedland solar farm and battery project in Western Australia is complete and it is being commissioned. Commercial operations are expected to begin in January 2025. [pv magazine International]
Solar farm (APA Group)
¶ “Big Battery Powering Melbourne’s South-East” • Melbourne’s south east will be powered by one of Victoria’s biggest batteries, boosting the state’s energy reliability, supporting the transition to renewable energy and sending cheap electricity to local homes and businesses. The Rangebank battery has capacities of 200 MW and 400 MWh. [Premier of Victoria]
¶ “CrossBoundary Energy Has Secured $140 Million To Scale Renewable Energy Portfolio Across Africa” • Renewable energy solutions provider CrossBoundary Energy, which is focused on Africa, secured $140 million of debt from the Standard Bank of South Africa on a fully underwritten basis to scale its renewable energy portfolio across Africa. [MSN]
Wind turbines in Kenya (Andrew Owuor, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Women Strongly Opposed To Nuclear Power, Just One In Three Men Willing To Live Near A Plant” • In Australia, Women are strongly opposed to nuclear energy and are most concerned that the controversial power source will delay the switch to renewables, polling shows. Men favor nuclear by a small margin, but don’t want to live near a plant. [RenewEconomy]
US:
¶ “Hyundai IONIQ 5 Sales Soar 110% In The USA!” • Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 started out a bit quietly when it hit the US market. Zachary Shahan liked the Kia EV6 a bit more, but he says the IONIQ 5 has grown on him, and it would now be his #1 choice for a new electric car if he were ready to buy one. Other people have said similar things. [CleanTechnica]
Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Hyundai image)
¶ “Madison, Wisconsin’s Transit Goes Electric Again After 100 Years” • In the 1920s, Madison had a fully functioning overhead electric pantograph steel rail streetcar system. In those days, the efficiency of running on steel rails with electric motors trumped any other way to transport the public. Now, after 100 years of burning gas, it is back to electric. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Postal Workers Love Their New Electric Mail Trucks!” • New electric mail trucks have been spotted all across the US. It’s been all smiles for carriers since the US Postal Service launched its new fleet of electric mail trucks. What’s changed with the new USPS electric mail trucks? Nearly everything, with some changes suggested by workers. [CleanTechnica]
US electric postal truck (USPS image)
¶ “New York Contracts 2.3 GW Of Land-Based Projects” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced contracts for 23 large land-based renewable energy projects that will provide over 2300 MW of clean energy. The projects are expected to create more than 2,500 near-term jobs and generate more than $4.7 billion in private investment. [reNews]
¶ “BOEM Approves US Wind Construction Plan” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the construction and operations plan for US Wind’s wind farm of up to 2-GW off the coast of Maryland. The approval marks the agency’s final permit on US Wind’s federal permitting application. The COP allows for up to 114 wind turbines of up to 18 MW. [reNews]
Jeff Grybowski (Image via LinkedIn)
¶ “NYSERDA, Clean Path NY Developers Terminate Contracts Underpinning 175-Mile Transmission Line” • The state of New York and developers of the Clean Path NY transmission line agreed to terminate contracts relating to the project, which was to come online in 2027. The Clean Path project was billed as “critical” to New York’s climate goals. [Utility Dive]
¶ “Meta Joins Race For Nuclear Power” • Meta, the owner of Facebook, has joined the race for nuclear power generation to secure the energy supply for artificial intelligence. The company said it was looking to contract developers to build up to 4 GW of nuclear generating capacity in the US, to be completed by the early 2030s. [OilPrice.com]
Have an understandably awesome day.
geoharvey 
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