Science and Technology:
¶ “New Tools Make Early Detection Of Forest Fires Possible” • Dryad is a German startup whose mission is to use internet of things technology to sniff out small fires so they can be put out quickly and easily before they grow. The sensors are mounted throughout a forest and are capable of detecting smoke long before most humans ever could. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it. (Dryad image)
World:
¶ “China Hits Its EV Target Ten Years Early, But Still Hasn’t Hit Its 2020 Nuclear Target ” • The China Society of Automotive Engineers laid out a roadmap in 2020 for how the country was going to get to 50% of all cars sold in 2035 being fully electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen. It will it that target this year. But it’s still shy of its nuclear target for 2020. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Lilium Lives!” • A couple of months ago, the EVTOL company Lilium ran out of money. It seemed the dream had died. After nine years and nearly 1,000 “preorders,” Lilium couldn’t make it financially. Now, a deal with Mobile Uplift Corporation GmbH will rescue the innovative startup from insolvency and keep it alive. [CleanTechnica]
Lilium EVTOL (Lilium image)
¶ “Vestas To Supply 315-MW Japanese Wind Farm” • Vestas has confirmed it has received an order to supply V236-15.0 MW turbines to the Jera-led 315-MW Oga Katagami Akita offshore wind project in Japan. It will deliver 21 machines to the project off the coast of the Akita prefecture in 2026. Commissioning is planned for 2027. [reNews]
¶ “OX2 Bags 205 MW Of Solar And Wind Deals In Poland” • OX2 has won contracts in a Polish government auction for the sale of electricity from a 165-MW solar park and 40-MW wind farm. The sites are to be in the south-west and south-east of the country, respectively. The solar array will the second to be built by the developer in Poland. [reNews]
Wind turbine (OX2 image)
¶ “JSW Energy Acquires O2 Power” • JSW Neo Energy signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 4,696 MW renewable energy platform from O2 Power for around INR 12,468 crore ($1.47 billion). O2 Power has a RE portfolio of 4,696 MW, of which 2,259 MW will be operational by June 2025 and the rest to be commissioned by June 2027. [pv magazine India]
¶ “Singapore had 122 more dangerous heat days in 2024 due to climate change” • Without climate change, Singapore would have four days of dangerous heat per year, according to a climate report from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central. Scientists estimate that the Republic experienced 122 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024. [The Straits Times]
Singapore (Mike Enerio, Unsplash)
¶ “Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Secretly Receives Eight Critical Reactor Drives From Czech Firm” • Czech company Škoda JS has successfully delivered eight new drives for two VVER 440 reactors to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Moreover, the whole exercise was kept a secret until the reactor drives safely reached their destination. [MSN]
US:
¶ “New York Becomes Second State To Pass Superfund Pollution Law” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Superfund legislation bolstering the state’s efforts to protect and restore the environment by requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for critical projects that protect the citizens of New York. Bloomberg expects them to pay $75 billion by 2050. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “You Can Now Get Free Tesla Supercharging Adapters from Hyundai” • Among the companies offering Tesla Supercharging adapters, some are charging their customers for them and others provide them for free. Hyundai has taken what may turn out to be the smarter route, since it boosts their brand boost. It offers NACS adapters for free. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Bill McKibben Celebrates 2024: Climate Successes Can Motivate Us In 2025” • Bill McKibben is celebrating 2024 by assessing successes in the transition to clean energy. He reminds us that, when we go state by state and city by city, we’re “making gains everywhere we still can.” He says that Texas and California are making real headway. [CleanTechnica]
Bill McKibben in 2012 (Dave Brenner, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
¶ “Solar Installations Are Exploding In Popularity In A Part Of The US That May Surprise You” • Florida had the second-highest number of solar installations in the country in 2024 after Texas, the Florida Phoenix reported. The state installed nearly as much as in 2023, a record-breaking 3.2 GW of solar power capacity, in the first three quarters of 2024. [The Cool Down]
¶ “GE Vernova Partners With NREL For Wind Turbine Research On Green Hydrogen” • GE Vernova’s Advanced Research Center has supplied a 3.4-MW wind turbine to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in a partnership for wind energy research. The wind turbine will serve them as a research platform for their collaboration. [WindInsider]
Have a vastly contented day.
geoharvey 