Science and Technology:
¶ “Baseload Power Stations Not Needed For Secure Renewable Electricity Supply” • An energy system dominated by solar and wind energy does not require baseload power for security, say German researchers. They showed that baseload plants could become part of future energy systems if they save costs, but they consider this unlikely. [Clean Energy Wire]
Nuclear power plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Volvo Plugin Vehicle Sales Grow 40%, Equal 48% Of Volvo Sales Globally!” • Since Volvo took a lead on the competition and said it would be 100% electric by 2030, several years ago, the company has gradually moved toward that goal. Plugins took 48% of the company’s global sales last month, and fully electric cars alone accounted for 21%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD Philippines, Completing Its EV Lineup, Introduces Latest Sedan” • BYD Cars Philippines launched the BYD Seal 5 DM-i sedan, starting at P948,000 ($16,400). The sedan is specifically targeted towards first-time car buyers. This entry completes the segment lineup, with one EV in each category of Philippine automobiles. [CleanTechnica]
The BYD Tech Tour (Courtesy of BYD)
¶ “What Falling Sales? Plugin Vehicles Grew To A Record 1.74 Million Units In October!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 36% in October 2024 over October 2023. There were 1.74 million registrations, which is a new record. BEVs were up by 23%, year over year, to over one million units. Plugin hybrids did even better, jumping 65%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Wärtsilä Bags Oz Battery Order” • Wärtsilä has been chosen to deliver one of Australia’s largest energy storage systems, as part of the third stage of Origin’s Eraring battery project in New South Wales. Wartsila will install 700 MWh of additional battery capacity directly to the Eraring Stage 1 system, making it the largest battery project in Australia. [reNews]
Wärtsilä battery system (Wärtsilä image)
¶ “ARENA Funds Decarbonisation For Mining Vehicles” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will provide Fortescue with a $10 million grant to develop, build, and demonstrate a fast charger for heavy mine site vehicles. Fortescue’s $35.3 million project aims for a unit to charge a 240 ton battery electric truck in under 30 minutes. [Energy Magazine]
¶ “Irish Partners Outline 72-MW Ballyfasy Plan” • FuturEnergy Ireland and ART Generation have outlined plans for the 72-MW Ballyfasy wind farm in southern Ireland, the partners’ second joint development. They are planning the project in County Kilkenny, as reported in October. The site is expected to feature up to ten turbines. [reNews]
Wind turbine (FutureEnergy Ireland image)
¶ “Nuclear Power Plant Closures Are Delayed Amid Fears Over Net Zero” • The closure of four of Britain’s oldest nuclear power stations has been delayed over fears Labour’s net zero drive could trigger electricity costs to surge and lead to blackouts. The owner of the ageing plants, France’s EDF, has agreed to extend the lives of its reactors yet again. [MSN]
US:
¶ “How Climate Change Is Impacting This Iconic Florida Bird Species” • Populations of the Florida scrub-jay, a bird found only in the state, have been declining significantly since researchers began studying them in 1969. With warmer temperatures, it seems that snakes have more time during the spring season to feed on the nests. [ABC News]
Scrub-jay nest (FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute)
¶ “USA Adds Record Amount of Solar Manufacturing In Fourth Quarter” • Solar PVs are part of the growth of manufacturing in the US, and the US Solar Market Insight Q4 2024 report by the US Solar Energy Industries Association shows that well. A record 9.3 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity were added in the third quarter. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Duke Energy Will Replace A Coal Generating Station With Battery Storage” • Duke Energy may have seen the light on renewable energy at last. It will demolish the coal-fired Allen Steam Station west of Charlotte, North Carolina, that has been generating electricity since 1957. It will replace the plant partly with a 50-MW, 200-MWh battery. [CleanTechnica]
Allen Steam Station (Courtesy of Duke Energy)
¶ “Nissan ARIYA Drivers Getting Access To Tesla Superchargers” • The convenience of EV charging on road trips is going to get much better soon in the US for Nissan ARIYA drivers. Following EVs from some other auto brands gaining access to the Tesla Supercharger network in recent weeks, ARIYA drivers are the next in line. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Firm Reaches Financial Close On Arizona PV Project” • US developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close of Sun Pond, its 111-MW solar and 85-MWac, 340-MWh storage project Arizona. The output of the Sun Pond project will be purchased by the City of San Jose, California, and Ava Community Energy through long-term Power PPAs. [reNews]
PV project (Longroad Energy image)
¶ “City Of Chelsea, Massachusetts, Launches Solar-Powered Microgrid Project” • The City of Chelsea, Massachusetts, has launched a solar-powered, cloud-based microgrid project for city buildings. The first phase of it began on December 2 involving a three-day installation of hundreds of solar panels on the City Yard building. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Lawsuit Filed Against Owners Of Seabrook Nuclear Plant Over Alleged Project Sabotage” • In a lawsuit, energy company Avangrid is accusing NextEra Energy, owners of the Seabrook nuclear power plant, of sabotaging the development of a new transmission line meant to bring Canadian hydropower onto the New England grid. [Concord Monitor]
Have a relaxingly lazy day.
geoharvey 
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