Science and Technology:
¶ “Giant Underground ‘Batteries’ Are Shaping The Future Of Renewable Energy Storage” • A study from several universities and national labs in the US and Canada shows that large-scale deployment of long-duration energy storage isn’t just feasible but essential for renewables to reach their full potential, and would even cut utility bills. [Gizmodo]
Hydrostor energy storage (© Hydrostor image)
World:
¶ “EVs Take 35.3% Share Of The UK – Laggards Rush To Meet ZEV Mandate” • November saw plugin EVs take 35.3% share of the UK auto market, up from 25.7% year on year. Battery EVs grew volume by 58%, year over year, and took a quarter of the market, while plugin hybrids remained flat. Overall auto volume was 153,610 units, down 2% YOY. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “European Auto Industry Turmoil At Volkswagen And Stellantis Likely To Accelerate In 2025” • The European auto industry is facing a “perfect storm” in 2025. Analysts predict a tumultuous year for Volkswagen and Stellantis as declining sales, increasing emissions restrictions, and labor unrest beset the companies. [CleanTechnica]
Auto manufacture (Volkswagen image)
¶ “Three-Fold Rise In Rooftop Solar In Island City In Two Years” • Despite space constraints, the island city of Mumbai does not lag when it comes to rooftop solar installations. With most of the installations being put on schools, hospitals, and government buildings, the capacity has risen threefold, to 17,679 kW, over a period of just two years. [Times of India]
¶ “Madhya Pradesh’s Renewable Energy Output Grows 14 Times: CM Mohan” • Power generation from the renewable sources in Madhya Pradesh increased by fourteen times to 7,000 MW in the last twelve years. The feat is part of the move to generate clean energy to combat the challenge of climate change, chief minister Mohan Yadav said. [Deccan Chronicle]
Madhya Pradesh (Shruti Singh, Unsplash)
¶ “Iran’s Nuclear Leap ‘Extremely Serious,’ Western Source Says” • Iran’s acceleration in its enrichment of uranium to close to bomb grade is “extremely serious,” has no civilian justification and contradicts Tehran’s assertions on wanting serious nuclear negotiations, a Western diplomatic source said. Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons. [DFA]
US:
¶ “Renewable Energy-On-Rails Scheme To Cure Transmission Line Blues” • If you’re thinking some clever soul has proposed loading large batteries onto freight cars, stuffing them full of renewable energy, and shipping them out to energy-thirsty locations, run right out and buy yourself a cigar. The US startup SunTrain is doing just that. [CleanTechnica]
SunTrain energy storage system (courtesy of SunTrain)
¶ “ConnectDER Will Expand Distributed Energy Products Business” • To be able to use the electricity from your solar panels during an outage, you need a switch installed in your electrical panel that disconnects your system from the electrical grid until repairs are completed. That switch is expensive, but ConnectDER offers an alternative. [CleanTechnica]
8**** ConnectDER system (ConnectDER image)
¶ “Wisconsin School Project Gives Kids A Solar Plus Storage Microgrid Learning Environment” • A Wisconsin school is getting a solar plus storage microgrid project that will save the district significant money on energy. Eaton, an intelligent power management company, will provide the microgrid for affordable and sustainable power. [CleanTechnica]
School in Menasha (Courtesy of Menasha, WI School District)
¶ “Alaska’s Utilities Forced To Shift To Different Energy Sources As Fuel Costs Soar: ‘We Have A Very Old And Outdated Grid'” • In Alaska, renewable projects are proving more cost-effective than traditional power sources. As Alaska’s natural gas supplies dwindle, utilities are facing the prospect of importing expensive liquefied natural gas by 2027. [The Cool Down]
¶ “Andrews Backing Legislation To Encourage Development Of Nuclear Energy In Michigan” • Legislation intended to boost Michigan’s nuclear industry could come up for a vote in Lansing in the next week. State Representative Joey Andrews says the bills he has worked on with multiple colleagues would attract nuclear energy providers to the state. [WSJM]
Have a simply marvelous day.
geoharvey 
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