Opinion:
¶ “Year In Review: The State of Biodiversity 2024” • The state of biodiversity is at a critical crossroads as 2024 ends. Nature in all its gifts provides the basic elements on which all life depends: clean air, temperature control, fertile soil, and clean water. But too few people seem to grasp the centrality of protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity. [CleanTechnica]
Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings (USFWS, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
World:
¶ “The Great Solar Wall Of China” • As of June 2024, China led the world in operating solar farm capacity with 386,875 MW, representing about 51% of the global total, according to Global Energy Monitor’s Global Solar Power Tracker. The US ranked second with 79,364 MW, about 11%, followed by India with 53,114 MW, about 7%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD Became The Second Best Selling Automaker In World In November!” • According to reporting out of China, BYD passed Volkswagen in November and trailed only Toyota in global auto sales. Toyota sold 667,900 vehicles in November, but BYD sold 417,000 vehicles, which surpassed Volkswagen and made it rank second in global auto sales. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Seal (Tiago Ferreira, Unsplash)
¶ “Foreign Investment Is Fueling Colombia’s Green Energy Revolution” • Colombia, a major oil and gas producer, is even so developing its renewable energy. It is working to diversify its energy mix, supported by national policies aiming for a move away from a reliance on fossil fuels in favor of a green transition. It is accepting investments to do this. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “NTPC Allocates 1.2 GW Wind-Solar Hybrid Capacity At 4.0¢/kWh” • State-owned NTPC has concluded its auction for 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid capacity at an average price of ₹3.43/kWh (4.0¢/kWh). JSP Green won 350 MW with the lowest price of ₹3.38. Out of the other bidders, Adani Renewable Energy won 350 MW at ₹3.44. [pv magazine India]
Adani Green hybrid wind-solar plant in Rajasthan (AGEL image)
¶ “Saudi Group Announces 1 GW Of Renewables As Part Of $50 Billion China Investment” • ACWA Power announced that it is developing over 1 GW of renewable energy projects in China. The company said the portfolio includes solar and wind power projects that will be owned jointly by ACWA Power and Chinese renewable energy developers. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Swiss Trains Switch To 100% Renewable Electricity” • Swiss Federal Railways trains are 100% renewably powered. Up to January 1, around 90% of SBB’s electricity needs were met by hydropower and the remaining 10% from nuclear. The nuclear power is now being sold, as SBB buys an equivalent amount of certified renewables. [Railway Gazette International]
Swiss train (SBB CFF FFS image)
¶ “Scientists Uncover Natural Phenomenon That Significantly Exacerbated Last Year’s Record-High Temperatures” • There was record-breaking heat in 2023, and GHGs and El Niño played a role. But they were not enough to explain it alone. Now, a study in the journal Science shows that fewer low-lying clouds over our oceans supercharged the warming. [The Cool Down]
US:
¶ “Power Slowly Being Restored In Puerto Rico After More Than 1 Million Left In Dark In New Year’s Eve Blackout” • An island-wide blackout in Puerto Rico left more than a million residents without power on New Year’s Eve. Crews worked through the day and by 11:00 PM restored power to roughly 700,000 customers, about 47.8% of them. [ABC News]
Coast of Puerto Rico (Briana Tozour, Unsplash)
¶ “It’s A Wrap – Sprucing Up Tesla Vehicles” • Tesla promised to sell 50% more cars each year than it sold the year before, through 2030, at least on average. But it’s not happening. The company is pulling every sales lever possible to try to sell more cars in the fourth quarter of 2024 than it sold in the fourth quarter of 2023. Why is this sales lag happening? [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Green Energy Firms’ Pitch To Trump: You’re Going To Need A Lot Of Power” • After being a favorite punching bag of the Trump campaign, green energy companies are reaching out to incoming cabinet appointees, hunting for friendly people in the transition team, and visiting Republican members of Congress with a message: We need a lot of power. [MSN]
Wind turbines (Emily Allen, (CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Chicago To Power All City-Owned Buildings With Renewable Energy Starting January 1” • Starting January 1, all 411 city-owned buildings in Chicago will run entirely on renewable energy. It is a major milestone in the city’s sustainability efforts. The transition will eliminate 290,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. [Chicago Construction News]
¶ “An Inside Look At Work To Restart Palisades Nuclear Plant” • The Palisades plant has been closed since May of 2022. Holtec, the owner, hopes to have it back up and running sometime next year. During a tour, the NRC showed News 8 where work stands to reopen the plant, including a steam generator, which is still to be tested and repaired. [AOL.com]
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