Opinion:
¶ “China’s Chance To Step Up, With A Void On Climate Change Left By Trump” • A Chinese ‘Green Marshall Plan’ could ease the developing world’s energy transition, stabilize China’s domestic economy, and rally support for the multilateral trading system. But for it to be successfully executed, it will need to be grounded in a multilateral endeavor. [East Asia Forum]
Great Wall (Hanson Lu, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Vanadium Opens The Door To Low-Cost EV Batteries Made From Salt” • Sodium-ion EV batteries deploy inexpensive salt to replace the expensive inputs of lithium-ion batteries. One issue has been performance, but sodium battery researchers hope to surpass the energy density of lithium batteries. Vanadium has emerged as a key ingredient. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Whistleblower Is Blacklisted By Tata Over VinFast Safety Concerns ” • Tata Technologies was hired by VinFast for design work. A chassis design engineer told the BBC recently that he identified improperly designed components in the suspension systems designed by Tata Technologies that could fail, putting people at risk. He was blacklisted. [CleanTechnica]
VinFast EVs (VinFast image)
¶ “Volkswagen Reaches A Deal To End Labor Dispute” • The IG Metall Union reached a compromise with Volkswagen, ending a labor dispute that went on for months. The two sides agreed to cut 35,000 jobs by 2030 and to reduce the German production capacity by over 700,000 vehicles. According to Electrive, the production cuts include EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hitachi Energy Bags Hornsea 4 Order” • Hitachi Energy has an order from Ørsted for equipment to integrate 2,400 MW of electricity from the Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm into the UK grid. Subject to Ørsted’s final investment decision on the project, Hitachi Energy is to supply power electronics to manage grid frequency variations and system voltage. [reNews]
Offshore windfarm (Ørsted image)
¶ “Avaada Group Announces $12 Billion Investment In Rajasthan, India” • Avaada Group has announced a $12 billion investment in Rajasthan, India, to drive green energy transition and establish the region as a global renewable energy leader. The investment will focus on green industrial manufacturing and creating millions of jobs. [GreentechLead]
¶ “European Energy Connects 54-MW Polish Solar” • European Energy has connected a 54-MW solar park in West Pomerania to the grid. Construction of the solar park was completed on 21 December. European Energy is driving renewable energy in Poland with nearly 4 GW of projects in the pipeline, including wind, solar, and battery technologies. [reNews]
Solar farm (European Energy image)
¶ “Pakistan Joins A Fossil-Fuel Non-Proliferation Coalition To Embrace Renewable Future” • Pakistan has joined a coalition of climate-vulnerable countries advocating for a global fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty, which seeks an equitable transition away from coal, oil, and gas. The proposed treaty is designed to complement the Paris Agreement. [The Nation]
¶ “The Windsor Area Is Losing Two Weeks Of Snowy, Wintry Days Each Winter” • In the past decade, Canadian cities have lost weeks’ worth of winter snow days each year because of climate change, according to analysis by Climate Central, a climate research non-profit. Instead of snow, there are days of rain, melt, and mud. [Yahoo News Canada]
Windsor, Ontario (Michael Barera, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Punjab Goes Green: 66 Solar Power Plants To Reduce Reliance On Fossil Fuels” • With an aim to make Punjab a leading state in clean energy production and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the Punjab Government will set up 66 solar power plants, each with a 4 MW capacity, Aman Arora, Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister, announced. [Babushahi]
US:
¶ “The US Government Takes A Step Forward With Self-Driving Vehicle Rules, But Will They Last?” • New regulations and big regulatory changes take a long time to develop and roll out in the US government. The Verge notes there is one “twist” with the new rules. The NHTSA wants these companies to share more data. But will the rules survive? [CleanTechnica]
Uber WeRide robotaxi in Abu Dhabi (Uber image)
¶ “How Has One US State Cut Food Waste When The Others Continue To Struggle?” • Of all states with food waste bans, “Massachusetts alone has reduced landfill waste,” according to a recent study in the journal Science. By contrast, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont have not had the same results that Massachusetts has had. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BOEM Approves 2.4-GW SouthCoast Wind” • The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the SouthCoast Wind Project, expected to generate up to 2.4 GW of offshore wind energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The project is the eleventh offshore wind project approved under the Joe Biden administration. [reNews]
Offshore windfarm and substation (Gary Norton, US DOE)
¶ “CleanChoice Connects Pennsylvania PV Park” • The US solar operator CleanChoice Energy has connected its first fully owned and operated solar project, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. The 26-MW Blairs Valley solar farm is the first completed project in the company’s pipeline. Blair Valley includes more than 30,000 bifacial solar panels. [reNews]
¶ “A Power Company Is Planning To Restart Three Mile Island’s Remaining Nuclear Reactor” • Constellation Energy announced it planned to bring the Unit 1 reactor at Three Mile Island back into operation and keep it running for decades. Microsoft has signed a 20-year agreement to buy power from Constellation’s operation for its data centers. [AOL.com]
Have a triumphantly cozy day.
geoharvey 