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Opinion:

¶ “Don’t Be Fooled By The ‘Complain Then Comply’ Strategy Of The Car Industry” • The overall story of emobility in Europe is positive. Electric car sales are seven times what they were in 2019, and the number of fast chargers increased twenty times. Yet automakers make exaggerated claims about a “crisis” and potential fines, blaming everyone else. [CleanTechnica]

Electric car charging (Michael Fousert, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Long Periods Of Extreme Heat Can Accelerate Biological Age, Scientists Say” • Longer periods of extreme heat has been found to accelerate biological age in older adults by up to two years, according to new research. More heat days over time correlated with deterioration at the molecular and cellular level in adults 56 years or older. [ABC News]

¶ “Nations Salvage Funding Deal To Reverse Wildlife Decline” • At UN talks in Rome, agreement was reached on a funding plan  for reversing the decline of nature. The nations overcame deep divisions that had led to a breakdown of negotiations last year. The deal will help countries reach a goal of raising $200 billion for biodiversity action by 2030. [BBC]

Zebras (sutirta budiman, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EU Plans to Boost Green Aviation And Shipping Fuels, But Sends Worrying Signal on 2040 Climate Goal” • EU plans to cut energy costs by doubling down on renewable electricity, and to activate more investment to scale clean-tech, were welcomed by T&E. But a decision to delay proposing a 2040 climate target is very worrisome. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Leapting’s AI-Powered Robot Is Transforming Solar Panel Installation In Australia” • Chinese company Leapting reported that its Intelligent Automatic Navigation PV Module Installation Robot will be deployed at a large solar farm in Australia. The robots are expected to speed up installation times, reduce labor costs, and improve safety on-site. [CleanTechnica]

Leapting solar installation robot (Leapting image)

¶ “In Europe, 17% Of January’s New Car Sales Are 100% Electric Vehicles” • The European passenger plugin vehicle market had 244,000 registrations in January, up 18% year over year. Battery EVs (168,000 units, up 37%) continued to grow despite the drop in EV incentives in certain markets. Plugin hybrids were down, dropping by 5%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “AGEL Tops 12 GW Of Renewable Energy Capacity” • Indian renewables group Adani Green Energy Limited has a 12-GW of capacity portfolio, as it has added 275 MW of solar at the Khavda plant in Kutch, Gujarat. The 30-GW plant  is being built on barren waste land and covers 538 square kilometres, making it five times the size of Paris. [reNews]

Adani Green Energy works (Adani image)

¶ “Wärtsilä Nets 350-MW Oz Battery Contract” • Wärtsilä won a contract to provide a 350-MW, 1474-MWh battery energy storage system in Australia. EnergyAustralia contracted Wärtsilä for the Wooreen Energy Storage System in Victoria. The scope of the contract includes engineering design, supply, commissioning, and a 15-year service agreement. [reNews]

¶ “Plan To Power Oxfordshire Using Local Renewable Energy” • Six Oxfordshire councils have come together in a bid to ensure the county has clean and reliable energy as it moves away from fossil fuels. The Future Oxfordshire Partnership, comprising all six of the district councils, will deliver local area energy plans for the county. [Yahoo News UK]

Small solar system (Oxfordshire County Council)

¶ “Government Revels In Record Renewable Investment And Declining Emissions” • Recent reports show in 2024, Australia produced more renewable electricity than ever before, with 92,700 GWh of renewable energy going into grids across the country, a record 46% of the electricity in the grid renewable in the last quarter of 2024. [pv magazine Australia]

US:

¶ “Which Comes First, The Tariff Or The Egg?” • Dumb Donald declared a national egg emergency to go along with his mythical national energy emergency. According to the New York Times, he plans to import eggs from Turkey, so America can once again exercise their God given right to eat cheep cheap eggs. So fear not, America. [CleanTechnica]

Chickens (Artem Beliaikin, Unsplash)

¶ “Most States Flunk Community Power Scorecard” • The Institute of Local Self-Reliance conducts an annual survey to determine where the states are in regard to a list of priorities. For 2025, its Community Power Scorecard shows that most states could do far more to provide their residents with affordable, reliable, clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cadeler Vessel Wins Gig At Offshore Wind Farm” • Cadeler signed a firm contract with an undisclosed client to deploy one of its newbuild vessels at an offshore wind farm in the US. This will be the first time Cadeler’s second P-Class newbuild vessel, Wind Pace, will be sent out. The value of the contract to Cadeler is estimated at up to €75 million ($78 million). [reNews]

Wind Pace (Cadeler image)

¶ “US Cultural Revolution: Bonfire of NASA, NOAA, EPA, CDC, And USDA Climate Programs” • The Trump administration’s attacks on scientific funding and research freedoms and the Maoist Cultural Revolution share a common thread of political interference in academia, though they differ in severity and execution. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Last Energy Plans Texan Microreactor Plant” • Microreactor developer Last Energy has announced plans to construct thirty microreactors in Haskell County in northwest Texas to serve the state’s data center customers. Last Energy’s reactor technology is based on pressurized water reactors, each with a capacity of 20 MW, to be built off-site. [World Nuclear News]

Have a tolerably impeccable day.

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World:

¶ “XPENG Enters Poland And Thailand” • XPENG is expanding significantly, worldwide. In the past few days, it has taken steps to enter Poland and Thailand, after bringing its cars to several other new markets in the past year. The Chinese smart EV startup is setting up infrastructure and partnerships around the world, as it intends to become a global brand. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG EV (EPENG image)

¶ “Lynk & Co Brings Plugin Hybrid with 200 km of Range And DC Fast Charging to Europe” • Lynk & Co is opening up a hole new market in Europe, by introducing its 08 there. It is a plugin hybrid with 200 km (124 miles) of all-electric range and DC fast charging capability. That is well beyond the electric range of any other plugin hybrids in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Flotation, Vargronn File Permit Papers For 1.4-GW Cenos” • Developers of the 1350-MW Cenos floating offshore wind project submitted a consent application to the Marine Directorate in Scotland. The developers, Flotation Energy and Vargronn, will provide renewable power to the UK grid and to offshore oil and gas platforms in the UK North Sea. [reNews]

Floating offshore turbine (Flotation Energy image)

¶ “Europe Builds 16.4 GW Of Wind In 2024” • Europe built 16,400 MW of wind energy, 13,000 MW in the EU, less than half of what the EU needs to deliver on its energy security targets, according to WindEurope’s 2024 Statistics. Poor permitting, slow grid build-out and insufficient electrification are holding back the expansion of wind. [reNews]

¶ “European Energy Powers Up Oz PV Site” • European Energy has successfully commissioned its first PV project in Australia, its 58-MW Mokoan solar park in Victoria. Construction began in the first half of 2024. The park will generate approximately 113 GWh of electricity annually – enough to power more than 18,000 Australian households. [reNews]

Mokoan solar park (European Energy image)

¶ “Elements Green Signs £71.5 Million Deal With Mitie To Design And Build European BESS” • Solar and energy storage developer Elements Green signed a £71.5 million deal with G2 Energy, a Mitie Power & Grid subsidiary, to design and build its Staythorpe Battery Energy Storage System project and 400-kV grid connection. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “How To Make Sure Big Batteries Focus On Helping The Grid, Not Lining Their Owner’s Profits” • “Battery storage systems generally act in a way that serves the market, not the grid,” said Paulina Asbeck, battery manager at Vattenfall. She said battery systems based on electricity market prices do not necessarily relieve the load on power grids. [RenewEconomy]

Neoen BESS (Neoen image)

¶ “Distributed Renewables Help Power Security” • China’s efforts to develop and use distributed renewable energy in rural areas will further enhance their energy security while promoting the use of clean power across the country, according to industry experts. Such systems are small-scale solar energy systems that generate electricity locally. [China Daily]

¶ “Serbia Awards 645 MW In Second Renewables Auction” • In its second renewables auction, Serbia allocated 645 MW in ten wind and solar projects. Average prices are €0.0509/kWh (5.33¢/kWh) for solar and €0.0535/kWh for wind. The government said the rates are well below market levels, and the amount, exceeds the initial 424.8-MW quota. [pv magazine International]

Western Serbia (goxy bgd, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “After A Month Of Trump’s Pro-Oil And Gas Moves, Dems Target His Energy Emergency” • Pres Trump began dismantling his predecessor’s climate change and renewable energy policies on his first day in office, declaring a national energy emergency to speed up fossil fuel development, saying “drill, baby, drill.” Democrats say it’s a sham. [AP News]

¶ “Yes, NOAA Adjusts Its Historical Weather Data: Here’s Why” • We are seeing the weather warm, with rising temperatures. But is the data adjusted? ABC News’ chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent Ginger Zee was able to confirm that it is, but the adjustments to records are routine, public actions that happen for good reason. [ABC News]

Park in Brooklyn (Andre Carrotflower, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “States Are Pursuing Buy Clean Policies And Programs” • Now New York, Washington, and other states are forming Buy Clean coalitions to cut carbon emissions from transportation and building materials even as the federal government bows out. And that goes beyond embracing EVs and equipping homes and offices with heat pumps. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Wants To Kill NY Congestion Pricing That Raised $48.6 Million In Tolls During Its First Month” • Who would have thought that New York’s congestion pricing plan would raise $48.6 million in its first month? Not Pres Trump, who ordered the Department of Transportation to revoke New York’s federal congestion pricing authorization. [CleanTechnica]

Traffic jam (joiseyshowaa, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Arizona Solar Advocates Challenge APS “Grid Access Charge” In Court: A Fight For Fair Energy Policy” • In a significant legal development, a coalition of advocacy organizations filed an appeal challenging the Arizona Corporation Commission’s decision to uphold a fee imposed on Arizona Public Service customers with rooftop solar PVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Palisades Nuclear Plant Getting Closer To Restart” • Holtec President Kelly Trice said the efforts to reactivate the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant remain on budget and on track to reopen later this year. He also said Palisades will serve as a launching point for the new small modular reactors, which will facilitate the training and licensing of operators. [WSJM]

Have a quiescently serene day.

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World:

¶ “Three Tropical Cyclones Are Swirling In The South Pacific” • There are three tropical cyclones in the South Pacific. Scientists say this is very unusual. Tropical cyclones Rae, Seru and Alfred are all churning as the region is in the peak of a season that starts in November and ends in April. Scientists say there is extremely active weather for this time of year. [ABC News]

Three South Pacific cyclones (NOAA-21, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Half Of Homes Need Heat Pump By 2040” • Four in five cars should be EVs and half of homes should have heat pumps within fifteen years, say the Climate Change Committee, government’s independent climate advisers. By law the UK must reach ‘net zero,’ no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, by 2050. [BBC]

¶ “Bad News For Oil: Digital Twin Optimizes Wind Power To Decarbonize Cargo Ships” • The global cargo shipping industry has been looking at wind power to help push dirty bunker fuel oil out of the way. The question is how much fuel could be offset by equipping a ship with wind devices. An AI-enabled digital twin has the answers. [CleanTechnica]

Wind power on a cargo ship (Courtesy of Norsepower)

¶ “BP Set To Cut Renewable Investment And Boost Oil And Gas Production” • BP is set to reduce renewable energy investments so it can focus on increasing oil and gas production, according to reports. US President Donald Trump’s “drill baby drill” ethos has placed a renewed focus on fossil fuel and a move away from low carbon projects. [MSN]

¶ “CIP Swoops To Acquire 480-MW Morecambe” • Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has signed a deal to acquire the proposed 480-MW Morecambe offshore wind farm off north-west England from Cobra and Flotation Energy. The financial terms have not been disclosed. Closing of the transaction will follow customary approvals and conditions being met. [reNews]

Offshore installation (BOWL image)

¶ “Tata Power And Assam Government Sign MOU To Develop Renewable Energy Projects” • Tata Power signed a memorandum of understanding with the Assam government backing renewable energy and sustainable development. Over the next five years, the company will support up to 5,000 MW of renewable energy projects with a $344 million investment. [Asian Power]

¶ “Greening To Build Uniper PV Project” • Greening has been awarded an EPC contract to develop a solar park in the ash dump of the former Wilhelmshaven thermal power plant, owned by Uniper, in the federal state of Lower Saxony. The project will have an installed capacity of 17 MW and will house more than 28,500 solar modules. [reNews]

Solar farm (Greening image)

¶ “$5,000 Battery Rebate In WA: How Labor’s Plan Could Power Your Home And Cut Energy Costs” • Western Australia’s Labor government has pledged a substantial $5,000 rebate for home battery installations. This initiative aims to empower households to store excess solar energy, reduce electricity bills, and move toward a greener future. [Energy Matters]

¶ “Sonnedix Acquires Two Solar-BESS Projects” • Sonnedix has acquired two renewable energy projects in Portugal, taking its total capacity in the country to almost 500 MW. The two ready-to-build solar and battery energy storage projects will generate nearly 120 GWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of powering almost 40,000 households. [reNews]

Renewable energy (Sonnedix image)

¶ “New Report Skewers Coalition’s Contentious Nuclear Plan” • A federal parliamentary inquiry issued a report on deployment of nuclear power in Australia. It found that nuclear power would be far more expensive than shifting to mostly renewable energy. And delivering nuclear generation before the mid-2040s will be extremely challenging. [The Conversation]

US:

¶ “Electric Trucks Launched Into 2025 With A Bang” • The outlook for sales of electric passenger cars in 2025 looks pretty good considering the circumstances. The picture for electric trucks is more complicated, but the movement to electrify fleets has already gathered a head of steam that could help it outlast temporary setbacks. [CleanTechnica]

Electric truck (Courtesy of California Energy Commission)

¶ “Texas Pipeline Company’s $300 Million Lawsuit Against Greenpeace Heads To Trial” • A lawsuit of a Texas pipeline firm, which is seeking potentially hundreds of millions of dollars from Greenpeace, was set to advance with opening statements in a trial the environmental organization calls an effort to silence critics of the oil industry. [ABC News]

¶ “Planned Retirements Of US Coal-Fired Electric-Generating Capacity To Increase In 2025” • Electricity generators plan to retire 12.3 GW of capacity in 2025, a 65% increase in retirements from 2024. Last year, 7.5 GW was retired from the US grid, the least generation retired since 2011. Coal-burning makes up 66% of planned retirements. [CleanTechnica]

Retirements (US Energy Information Administration image)

¶ “Companies Seek Relief From Coal Clean-Up Rules” • Now that fossil fuel interests have hijacked all three branches of the US government, twelve utility companies want the EPA to relieve them of their obligation to prevent coal ash from contaminating groundwater. They sent a letter to Lee Zeldin, exhorting him to take “immediate action” on the matter. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US PV Firm Picks Up 121 MW Of Contracts” • US construction company Louth Callan Renewables continued its geographical expansion into the Midwest with the recent awarding of 121 MW of solar contracts for three projects in Illinois. The planning, construction, and development phases of these solar projects will create over 400 jobs. [reNews]

Have a generally goofy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Data Centers Imperil The Electrical Grid And Climate Action” • Data centers may see an investment of nearly $1 trillion in the US in the next four years as “hyperscalers” with aggressive AI goals, companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla, build computing facilities in a frenzy to keep one step ahead of the competition. [CleanTechnica]

Supercomputer (Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL)

World:

¶ “How Many Vehicles Will Tesla Sell In Europe In 2025?” • Tesla sales dropped significantly in California and certain European markets, recent reports indicate. Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s manic sprint into right-wing politics in the US and Europe seems to be a key influence here. And other automakers keep rolling out new model after new model. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “In Rome, Talks To Protect Earth’s Biodiversity Resume With Money Topping The Agenda” • An annual UN conference on biodiversity will resume its work in Rome after it ran out of time last year. How to spend the money that’s been pledged so far is at the top of the agenda, along with how to raise a lot more to help preserve plant and animal life. [ABC News]

Striped Tiger Butterfly (Sonika Agarwal, Unsplash)

¶ “NTPC Green Energy Shares Rise On Deal To Build 20 GW Of Projects” • Shares of NTPC Green Energy Ltd were yo 4% after it announced that Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company signed an MOU for it to develope solar, wind, and renewable hybrid projects, possibly with storage, to generate at least 20 GW of electricity in Madhya Pradesh. [Equitypandit]

¶ “Ulstein Launches News CSOV For BS Offshore” • Ulstein Verft launched a “state-of-the-art” Commissioning Service Operation Vessel for BS Offshore. The new Yno 320 can accommodate up to 132 crew members and clients. Its diesel-electric propulsion system and substantial battery energy storage will “significantly reduce” its environmental impact. [reNews]

Yno 320 (Image by Ulstein Group)

¶ “UN Warns Nations At Climate Science Meeting ‘Time Is Not On Our Side'” • Tense negotiations on the timing and content of the UN’s next blockbuster assessment of global warming opened in China, with US scientists reportedly absent. The meeting in Hangzhou comes on the heels of the hottest year on record and rising alarm over the pace of warming. [Phys.org]

¶ “RWE Starts Up Italian Solar Park” • RWE has commissioned its first solar plant in Italy. The 8.3-MW Bosco ground-mounted solar plant has roughly 15,000 bifacial modules on a 16-hectare site in the municipality of Partinico near Palermo, Sicily. RWE was able to achieve ready-to-build in less than 18 months, and construction took around 10 months. [reNews]

Solar farm in Italy (RWE image)

¶ “Former PM ‘Sceptical’ About Nuclear, Keen On Hydropower” • Australia needs more investment in pumped hydropower projects to support its transition to renewable energy, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has told a conference, as the nation cannot rely on batteries alone. Turnbull also poured cold water on the nuclear power for its cost. [Yahoo]

US:

¶ “Prediction: Solar Energy Beats Natural Gas By A Mile In 2025” • Pres Trump wants coal, oil, and natural gas to dominate the US energy profile, but he’s already lost the battle. Red and blue states alike are racing to add generating capacity, and solar energy is by far the fuel of choice, with energy storage chipping in a generous share, and wind still coming. [CleanTechnica]

Solar energy and tractor (Courtesy of NREL)

¶ “A Powerful Tool Is Tracking The Electrification Of Industry In The US” • Industries across the US are making a big shift toward cleaner, more efficient energy solutions, and an interactive map from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is making it easier than ever to track their progress. It’s a tool that provides a visual representation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Police Probe Fatalities At Nebraska Wind Farm” • Local police are investigating the deaths of two turbine maintenance workers at a wind farm in Nebraska. The police said the maintenance crew experienced an “equipment failure,” which resulted in both men falling from the turbine south of Winside. The accident is being investigated. [reNews]

Generic wind farm (SXC image)

¶ “Juneau’s Push To Expand Renewable Power Could Boost The Region’s Mines – Or Cost Them” • Juneau’s elected officials and a local entrepreneur have been pushing two major power projects that could reduce carbon pollution. One of them could help a mine reduce pollution and save money. The other could have a different effect on another mine. [Alaska Beacon]

¶ “California High-Speed Rail Seeks Public Input On Renewable Energy Sites” • The California High-Speed Rail Authority is to start the public scoping process for the Environmental Impact Report of the Central Valley Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System Project. Members of the public and agencies can give input related to the project. [Railway-News]

California High-Speed Rail (© State of California)

¶ “Kansas Army Base Now Powered By 16-MW Solar Portfolio” • Onyx Renewables completed Phase 3 of its onsite solar energy project at US Army Garrison Fort Riley in Kansas. This latest phase of development will generate an additional 4.23 MW of clean energy, bringing the total installed solar capacity at the base now to 16 MW. [Solar Power World]

¶ “Amazon Signs 15-Year PPA With EDP For 100 MW Of Power In Mississippi” • Amazon has signed a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with EDP Renewables North America for the entire capacity of the 100-MW Ragsdale Solar Park in Madison County, Mississippi. The project reached commercial operations in Q4 of last year. [Data Center Dynamics]

Have an enjoyably lively day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “New New Perovskite Solar Treatment Cuts The Cost Of Solar Power By 10%” • Despite Pres Trump’s views, falling costs are keeping renewables head toward domination of the global economy. Most recently, the US startup BlueDot Photonics has created a perovskite solar formula that allows a 16% increase in the solar conversion efficiency. [CleanTechnica]

UbiQD solar panel (UbiQD image)

World:

¶ “Omoda & Jaecoo Finally Launches Its EVs In The Philippines” • “Finally.” That was the feeling when Omoda & Jaecoo, an old “newcomer” to the Philippine automotive scene, finally launched its operations and first models in the country at a posh venue in Manila. For the past two years, the brand has been teasing the local market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Efficiency Gains Will Give BMW Neue Klasse Electric Cars 30% More Range” • BMW claims its Neue Klasse electric cars, which will go on sale this year, will be 20% more efficient than its existing EVs and will have longer range for that reason. That is important to some people because gasoline is so much more energy dense than batteries. [CleanTechnica]

BMW Neue Klasse EV (BMW image)

¶ “Wind Turbine Market To $235.22 Billion By 2030, Demand For Renewable Energy Is Surging” • The Wind Turbine Market size was valued at $138.14 billion in 2023 and the total revenue is expected to grow at 7.9 % through 2024 to 2030, reaching nearly $235.22 billion. As investments continue to rise, these factors are fueling strong growth. [openPR.com]

¶ “UK Net Zero Growth Outstrips Overall Economy” • The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit shows. The net zero economy grew by 10% in 2024 and generated £83 billion in gross value added, with £28.8 billion directly from net zero businesses. [reNews]

Solar array (EDF image)

¶ “NTPC And EDF To Collaborate On Renewable Energy And Pumped Storage Projects” • NTPC Ltd and EDF India are to collaborate to develop, construct, own, operate, and maintain pumped storage projects and hydro power projects bundled with other renewable energy projects and explore opportunities in the distribution business. [pv magazine India]

¶ “EU Support To Boost Ukraine Renewables Expansion” • The European Commission offered a support package to Ukraine to secure its energy system and enable its full integration within the European energy market. This package will allow for the full coupling of Ukraine’s electricity market, together with Moldova’s, with the EU by early 2027. [reNews]

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (EC image)

¶ “Construction Kicks Off On Landmark NSW BESS” • New South Wales’ New England region is transforming its energy, and one part of that is its first large battery system. The 200-MW, two-hour battery is the first of two planned systems to be built by Energy Vault. It is to be sited at ACEN Australia’s 720-MW New England Solar project. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “Scotland’s Renewable Share Is The Best In Europe – So Why Are Energy Bills So High?” • Scotland’s renewable technologies covered 113% of its overall electricity demand in 2022, according to statistics from the Scottish Government. The reason is that bills are so high is that energy is a reserved matter, Scotland cannot create its own market. [inkl]

Whitelee wind farm (Rosser1954, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Adani Green Powers Up 250-MW Solar Project In Rajasthan” • Adani Green Energy Limited announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary has increased its operating renewable capacity in Rajasthan. In a bourse filing, the company said Adani Green Energy Twenty Four Limited has operationalized its solar power project of 250-MW in Jaisalmer. [Asian Power]

¶ “Nuclear Plan May Miss Nation’s Energy Goal By A Decade” • Australia could miss its zero-emission energy target by more than a decade if it pursues nuclear power, according to a Climate Change Authority report, and could add two billion tonnes of carbon emissions to the environment by 2050. It could help increase the speed of climate change. [Yahoo]

Wind turbines (Dan Meyers, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Big Oil Must Deliver The Goods Under Landmark Climate Litigation Ruling” • A federal magistrate judge has ruled that a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Shell, and other leading oil firms can proceed to the discovery stage, opening a window into a decades-old curtain of industry efforts to keep the public in the dark about climate change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Manufacturers Continue To Move To Renewable-Powered Production” • The US is making renewables. Domestic solar module manufacturing grew in 2024 to over 50 GW, enough to meet all US demand, with five manufacturing facilities in Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Ohio. And the US is making solar cells for the first time since 2019. [CleanTechnica]

Making solar panels (Courtesy of First Solar)

¶ “Texas Lawmakers Scramble To Stop Solar Energy But It Just Keeps Coming” • Last year was another banner year for solar energy in Texas, and 2025 is heading for more of the same, in spite of the threat of anti-renewable legislation. Texas lawmakers tried and failed to pass an anti-renewable bill in the last session. Now they are trying again. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Dreams Dim: Why NuScale Power’s Descent Matters” • Once a promising beacon in the nuclear energy landscape, NuScale now stands as a testament to how swiftly fortunes can change on the market floor. Its stock price has fallen 17.5%, as news came that the US DOE has reduced its budget by $124 million, stifling investments. [Jomfruland.net]

Have a finely fashioned day.

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World:

¶ “Canada Plants A Big Wet Kiss On Oil Pipelines” • Canadians largely agree Canada needs to take Trump’s threats seriously, DeSmog suggests. That doesn’t mean the country should write another blank check for an oil industry. The government of Canada is contemplating contributing funding to build pipelines to ports for exporting oil. [CleanTechnica]

Pipeline right of way (jasonwoodhead23, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Can Auto Dealerships Survive the Squeeze?” • Like it or not, auto dealerships are a vital part of the distribution network for both new and used cars. At the moment, they are being squeezed by the adoption of EVs requiring less servicing and a price war in Australia. Can they survive? Should they survive? What might that look like? [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Toyota’s Late Shift to BEVs Evident in Latest Financials Report” • Toyota sold a bit more than 27,000 fuel-cell Mirai in ten years. It sold nearly ten times as many battery EVs, but it may not be blasting this from the rooftops. Its recent financial report for investors makes clear in various places that the future is indeed battery EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota bZ3 (User3204, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Energy Targets Could Be Missed Due To Renewable Energy Being Unused” • Almost 40% of Northern Ireland’s wind energy in December, 2024 went unused due to restrictions in the power grid, a forecast from Cornwall Insight says. Unused and wasted renewable energy will cause Northern Ireland to miss its 2030 power emissions target by more than 20%. [BBC]

¶ “Are Golf Courses Being Prioritized Over Renewable Energy?” • At a time when countries race to build more solar panels and wind turbines to fight climate change, a study from Institute Jülich Systems Analysis in Germany reveals a striking fact: In many nations, golf courses take up more land than all their renewable energy projects combined. [Study Finds]

Golf course (Matthew McBrayer, Unsplash)

¶ “Peter Dutton’s Nuclear Accounting Trick #4: Assume Climate Change Has No Cost” • The Coalition’s preferred plan for the electricity system involves slowing the replacement of coal with renewable energy over the next decade and instead waiting until the 2040’s to undertake a concerted replacement of coal with nuclear power. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “California Governor Asks Congress For Nearly $40 Billion For La Wildfire Relief” • California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires. He said those fires could become the costliest natural disaster in the history of the US. [ABC News]

Palisades fire destruction (SFC Jon Soucy, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “From Baywatch To Toxic Waste – LA’s Iconic Beaches Are Unrecognizable After Fires” • Will Rogers State Beach is one of the most recognizable stretches of sand in the world thanks to the global cult classic “Baywatch.” But the Palisades and Eaton fires generated a staggering amount of debris, estimated to be 4.5 million tonnes. [BBC]

¶ “Xcel Energy Is Keeping Its Renewable Energy Train On The Rails” • US President Donald Trump practically snuffed out the entire US offshore wind industry upon taking office. Nevertheless, activity still keeps bubbling up onshore as illustrated by the new Upper Midwest Energy Plan presented by the gigantic utility Xcel Energy. [CleanTechnica]

Renewable energy (Courtesy of Xcel Energy)

¶ “Executive Order Deletes Social Cost Of Carbon From Official US Policy Considerations” • ProPublica reported that failing to consider the social cost of carbon will upend environmental and energy regulations meant to address climate change and could have the effect of shifting costs from polluting industries directly onto the shoulders of Americans. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Impact of Renewable Energy On The US Economy” • Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy resources are abundant and sustainable. In recent years, the US has made significant strides in harnessing renewable energy, driven by both environmental concerns and economic benefits. Its impact on the US economy is more significant now than ever before. [MSN]

Have a plainly spectacular day.

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World:

¶ “New Volvo Electric Car Models To Propel Volvo To Full Electrification Faster” • Volvo has one of the most ambitious electrification targets of legacy automakers. It may not be the biggest automaker in the world, but its ambitions to become a 100% electric car company are notable, and its progress is commendable. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 Cross Country (Volvo image)

¶ “Airbus’ Hydrogen Plane Crash: Time for a Reality Check” • Airbus’s quiet admission that they are delaying their hydrogen dream is in stark contrast to the gushing press releases of previous years. After lulling us with stories of aviation at the cutting edge of innovation, Airbus is just another company guided by profit maximization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK Plans CfD Reforms To Boost Offshore Wind” • The UK government is seeking to clear the way for more offshore wind projects as it launched a consultation on proposed reforms to this year’s AR7 Contracts for Difference auction. The UK is home to the world’s three largest operational offshore wind farms but needs more for clean power by 2030. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (RWE image)

¶ “Going Green: Taking Control Of Your Energy Consumption” • Have you ever thought about who’s in charge of our electricity and how it gets to our homes? The answer is usually large energy companies who then charge an growing price for the service. An alternative is community energy projects, and they are getting popular in the UK. [The Southern Reporter]

¶ “P2X Solutions Commissions Green Hydrogen Plant” • P2X Solutions began commercial operations at a green hydrogen plant in Finland. The 20-MW Harjavalta facility uses a Sunfire electrolyzer and is Finland’s first industrial site for commercial production of green hydrogen. Finland is emerging as a leader for the production of green hydrogen. [reNews]

Harjavalta green hydrogen plant (P2X Solutions image)

¶ “How Canadian Manufacturers Transition To Renewable Energy Sources” • Canadian manufacturers are making a lot of progress adopting renewable energy. Embracing the challenges of this transition is essential to reap the benefits of sustainability, from environmental aspects to corporate resilience, increased revenue, and customer loyalty. [Canadian Manufacturing]

¶ “Chernobyl Expert Warns Nuclear Disaster In Ukraine ‘Only Matter Of Time’ Due To Russian Recklessness” • Nuclear disaster in Ukraine is only a “matter of time” away as the international community fails to take tougher action. Historian Serhii Plokhy has warned of Russian carelessness and the weak international community response. [Yahoo News Canada]

Abandoned Chernobyl Ferris wheel (Kato Blackmore, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Trump Bars Federal Scientists From Working On Pivotal Global Climate Report” • The Trump administration told US government scientists working on a vital global climate report to stop their work, according to a scientist involved in the report. This move is just the latest to withdraw the US from global climate action and research. [CNN]

¶ “GAF Energy Unveils Its Next-Gen Nailable Solar Shingle, Now 23% More Powerful” • GAF Energy, a leading solar roofing manufacturer and a subsidiary of Standard Industries, launched the next generation of its groundbreaking Timberline Solar® Energy Shingle. GAF Energy will manufacture the PV shingles in California and Texas. [CleanTechnica]

Timberline Solar® ES 2 solar shingle (GAF Energy image)

¶ “Heads Explode As Virtual Power Plants Meet Self-Defending Grids” • MIT researchers developed a “local electricity market” grid emergency response concept that enables grid managers to communicate instantly with such devices as solar panels, home appliances, EVs, batteries, and smart thermostats in case of a grid disruption or cyberattack. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Popular Energy Efficiency Program Lives To See Another Day” • The popular Energy Star energy efficiency certification program has survived many shifts in the political winds since launching in 1992, because it is, well, popular. Energy Star is a valuable marketing tool for US appliance manufacturers and builders, among other stakeholders. [CleanTechnica]

Energy Star efficiency (courtesy of Energy Star)

¶ “Report Reveals How Unorthodox Power Market Drastically Lowered Utility Bills” • In California, solar power was up 31%, wind energy grew 8%, and battery storage more than doubled since 2023. Some people feared renewables were unreliable and costly, but there were no blackouts, and electricity prices fell by over 50% from the previous year. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Duke Energy Florida Files Plans For Four New Solar Energy Sites” • Duke Energy Florida is investing over $521 million to establish solar sites in four counties. These sites are expected to save customers a total of $843 million over their lifetimes. Each of the four 74.9-MW solar sites will generate enough electricity to power about 23,000 homes. [Duke Energy]

Solar panels (Duke Energy image)

¶ “OCI Energy And Arava Power Announce Joint Venture For 260-MW Solar Project In Texas” • Clean energy developer OCI Energy, based in San Antonio, agreed to enter a joint venture with Israeli solar energy company Arava Power to develop a 260-MW (AC) solar farm, Project SunRoper, in Wharton County, Texas. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “FERC’s Approval For Gas Plant Queue-Jumping Sparks Outrage” • When the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved PJM Interconnection’s plan to let fifty power projects, including nuclear and gas-fired plants, cut the line and connect to the grid ahead of hundreds of renewable energy projects, it ignited a fierce backlash. [Inside Climate News]

Have an impressively positive day.

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World:

¶ “Home Wind Turbines Could Be Part Of Energy Plan” • Home wind turbines could form part of Guernsey’s renewable energy future, according to a local green energy firm. According to the Little Green Energy Company, the turbines could be part of the island’s “renewable ecosystem” alongside offshore wind farms and solar panels. [BBC]

Home wind turbine (Little Green Energy Company)

¶ “The UK Village Seeking Clean Underground Heat” • For years, deep boreholes had yielded gas, but that gas is now depleted. Their owners even made attempts to to squeeze some more gas out of the site. Now, that firm, acquired in 2024 by renewables company CeraPhi Energy, says it has a new and very different idea: geothermal energy. [BBC]

¶ “High Integrity Finance Council To Facilitate UK Transition To Net Zero” • Donald J Trump can champion Big Oil, but across the pond, the City of London Corporation and HM Government have co-launched the Transition Finance Council. The UK sees the global transition to a low carbon economy as an opportunity for sustainable growth. [CleanTechnica]

Big Benn (Heidi Fin, Unsplash)

¶ “BYD Earns Contract For ‘World’s Largest Grid-Scale Battery Storage Projects’ In Saudi Arabia” • The Chinese tech giant BYD announced this week that it had “signed the world’s largest grid-scale energy storage projects contracts” with the Saudi Electricity Company. The contracts combine for an energy storage capacity of 12.5 GWh. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Dacia Plans To Introduce An €18,000 Electric Car In 2026” • According to Autocar, Dacia is developing a new electric city car for Europe. Designed as a successor to the Dacia Spring, it will be closely related to the upcoming next-generation Renault Twingo. According to Renault CEO Luca de Meo, the new car is to be manufactured in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

Dacia Spring EV (Courtesy of Dacia)

¶ “Acwa Power To Build Major Wind Power Plant In Egypt In $2.3 Billion Deal” • Acwa Power, the Saudi renewable energy giant, announced this week that it plans to build, own, and operate a 2-GW wind power plant in South Hurghada, Egypt. This facility is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly 2 million homes. [The North Africa Post]

¶ “Step change needed in distribution grid investment” • A “step change” in investment in the UK’s local electricity networks is essential to achieve the government’s growth mission and lower long term energy costs for consumers, the British government’s independent infrastructure advisor says. Demand is set to double by 2050 and the grid is growing too slowly. [reNews]

Local transmission (SSEN Distribution image)

¶ “EU Wants More US Gas And Renewable Energy To Replace Russian Supplies” • The EU will seek to more gas from other countries, including the US, to replace Russian supplies and will expand use of renewables faster to reduce its overall dependence on gas, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said, according to Reuters. [Baltic News Network]

¶ “Salzgitter, Andritz Turn Sod On 100-MW Green Hydrogen Site” • The cornerstone has been laid for one of the largest green hydrogen production plants in Europe. Starting from 2026, the plant at the Salzgitter Flachstahl site in Germany will generate around 9000 tons of green hydrogen a year to be used for the production of carbon-reduced steel. [reNews]

Starting out (Salzgitter AG image)

¶ “Greenpeace Intentionally Crashes Drone Into French Nuclear Plant To Reveal Security Vulnerability” • Greenpeace France crashed a drone that looks like Superman into a French nuclear plant to demonstrate its vulnerability. The environmental organization published a video on its Twitter page showing the drone slam into the plant. [ABC News]

US:

¶ “Unleashing American Renewable Energy Dominance” • US fossil energy producers are finding a dream come true in the Trump administration, but “American Energy Dominance” is a day late and a dollar short. That’s the takeaway from a new market report by BNEF titled “Sustainable Energy in America 2025 Factbook.” [CleanTechnica]

Renewable energy (US DOE image)

¶ “BP Pauses New York Offshore Project” • BP has withdrawn its application for transmission connection for the 2500-MW Beacon Wind project off New York. “This decision was made to allow for more time in the evaluation of the project’s design and configuration,” the company said in a statement. BP still supports another NY project. [reNews]

¶ “CIP Subsidiary Eliminates Fifty Jobs” • Vineyard Offshore, the US subsidiary of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, will cut fifty positions. A Vineyard Offshore spokesperson said: “In an effort to position our projects for sustainable long-term success we have made the difficult decision to reduce our current team size in light of recent market uncertainties.” [reNews]

Wind turbine (Vineyard Wind image)

¶ “DOE Report: Offshore Wind Could Power 33 GW On West Coast” • A report from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that floating offshore wind could supply 33 GW of energy that is required by 2050. It will “bolster the resilience of coastal communities,” according to the summary. That energy also leads to billions of dollars in savings. [WorkBoat]

¶ “Record-Breaking Rates Of Solar Connected To The Power Grid In 2024” • Some 49 GW of new solar generating capacity was connected to the US grid in 2024, per the 2025 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The record-breaking installations help address rising energy demand and replace the capacity of decommissioned thermal assets. [pv magazine USA]

Have a resiliently energetic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “We Need To Keep Our Eye On The Ball To Save The Planet” • Air pollution, global warming, and energy security are three of our biggest problems. We need to keep our eye on the ball to solve them. Poor technologies include carbon capture, synthetic direct air carbon capture, blue hydrogen, electro-fuels, new small and large nuclear reactors, and bioenergy. [CleanTechnica]

Close up of Jerry Jaramillo’s “Mother Earth” mural
(a_flash_frame, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

World:

¶ “Fog Harvesting Could Provide Water For Arid Cities” • Large scale capturing of water from fog could supply drinking water to some of the driest cities on Earth, researchers in Chile found. They studied the potential of fog harvesting in the desert city of Alto Hospicio in the north of the country. Average rainfall in the region is less than 0.19 in (5 mm) per year. [BBC]

¶ “World’s Glaciers Melting Faster Than Ever Recorded” • The world’s glaciers are melting faster than ever recorded under the impact of climate change, according to the most comprehensive scientific analysis to date. And the pace of melting is increasing. Over the past decade or so, glacier losses were more than a third higher than during the period 2000-2011. [BBC]

Aletsch Glacier (Meizhi Lang, Unsplash)

¶ “Canadian Government Pledges Billions For High-Speed Rail Network Linking Quebec City And Toronto” • The Canadian government said it is moving ahead with a multibillion-dollar plan to build a high-speed rail network between Quebec City and Toronto. The rail network will be 100% electric, and reach speeds of up to 300 kph (187 mph). [ABC News]

¶ “UK Takes Off The Clean Energy Gloves, Claps Back At US” • US Energy Secretary Wright said the UK would no longer make energy-intensive products, but would displace them somewhere else. He called this “lunacy.” As if on cue, Energy Systems came back in a press release, outlining its plan for peppering the globe with vanadium flow batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Invinity flow batteries (courtesy of Invinity)

¶ “Geely And Xiaomi Shine In China – January EV Sales Report” • After a December EV sales peak in China, the year started with an expected sales slump, but smaller than anticipated. Year on year, while the overall market dropped 12% to close to 1.8 million units, plugins started 2025 with a 11% rise, to some 774,000 new passenger EV registrations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Dominates Global EV Industry” • BYD founder and CEO Wang Chuanfu said that Chinese new energy vehicles are three to five years ahead of the rest of the world. He called for less restrictive trade policies to allow more people to experience them. He called for openness and innovation, so the world see how good Chinese products are. [CleanTechnica]

BYD E6 (S5A-0043, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Power Ministry Mandates Co-Locating Energy Storage With Solar Projects” • India’s Ministry of Power has mandated that all renewable energy implementing agencies and State utilities must incorporate a minimum of two-hour co-located energy storage systems, equivalent to 10% of the installed solar project capacity, in future solar tenders. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Collett Delivers Limekiln Components” • Collett & Sons has successfully delivered 216 wind turbine components to the 108-MW Limekiln Wind Farm, a project featuring 24 Vestas V136 turbines. Located on the Limekiln Estate, just south of Reay Caithness in the Scottish Highlands, the wind farm is currently under construction by Boralex. [reNews]

Turning (Collett & Sons image)

US:

¶ “Electric Truck Startup Nikola Files For Bankruptcy” • Nikola, a startup that sought to build fleets of electric heavy-duty trucks, has filed for bankruptcy and plans to shut down. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It expects to sell all or most of its assets in order to maximize value for shareholders and ensure an “orderly wind down of its businesses.” [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “How US Federal Spending Reductions Threaten Our Food, Water, And Health” • Recent freezes and cuts in government spending threaten our food, water, and health as they open up trillions of dollars in tax breaks for corporations and billionaires. Food, water, and health may lose federal regulation, as basic government functions are cut. [CleanTechnica]

Blood research (FDA, public domain)

¶ “Ørsted Agreement Helps US Manufacturer Cut Emissions” • Four US sites owned by polymer supplier Covestro have reached net-zero Scope 2 electricity emissions thanks to a 90-MW virtual Power Purchase Agreement with Ørsted. The sites are Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, South Deerfield, Massachusetts, New Martinsville, West Virginia, and Channelview, Texas. [reNews]

¶ “Avangrid Passes 10-GW Generation Capacity Milestone” • The Iberdrola subsidiary Avangrid passed 10 GW of installed energy generating capacity in the US. The company owns and operates a mix of generation resources in 24 states that contribute to its 10.5 GW of installed capacity, including onshore wind, solar, natural gas, hydropower, and fuel cells. [reNews]

Wind farm (Avangrid image)

¶ “Duke Energy Florida Celebrates Delivering On Nearly 750-MW Solar Commitment In Florida” • All ten of Duke Energy Florida’s Clean Energy Connection solar energy sites are now fully operational, and Duke is celebrating. It had committed to deliver nearly 750 MW of solar generation capacity in Florida from 2022 to 2024. [CSRwire]

¶ “Fearing Trump Cuts, NOAA Workers In Washington State Hold ‘Save Our Science’ Rally” • Students, scientists, and neighbors in raincoats and boots were among the dozens waving signs outside the NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center. All were worried about budget cuts affecting the quality of American science. [The Seattle Times]

Have an agreeably funny day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Let’s Talk About EV Range” • Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson recently commented to CleanTechnica about a 30-kWh midsize family car with 180 miles of range in 10 years. Zach Shahan followed with an article about the benefits of building cars with less range. Both are thinking of typical average use cases, and most people are not average. [CleanTechnica]

Electric car (myenergi, Unsplash)

¶ “New Basic Energy Plan Too Focused On Errant ‘Return To Nuclear Power'” • Japan’s Seventh Basic Energy Plan indicates next to no qualms about a “return to nuclear power.” This policy switch is tantamount to throwing the lessons of the Fukushima disaster out the window, when we don’t even have a way to do their decommissioning. [Asahi Shimbun]

World:

¶ “Investments In Green Steel & Ammonia Plummeted In 2024” • Money to clean up steel, ammonia, chemicals, and some other sectors dropped by more than half in 2024 compared with 2023, according to a report by Canary Media. Global investment in efforts to decarbonize heavy industries totaled just $31 billion in 2024, making it a tough year. [CleanTechnica]

Making green iron (Electra image)

¶ “Japan To Rely More On Nuclear Energy In Post-Fukushima Shift” • Japan says it will increase its reliance on nuclear energy in a major policy shift as it seeks to meet growing demand from power-hungry sectors like AI and semiconductors. The energy plan says that by 2040, nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s grid supply in 2040. [BBC]

¶ “UN Shipping Body’s Green Fuels Law Could Worsen The Sector’s Climate Impact” • Nearly a third of global shipping could run on biofuels in 2030, T&E analysis shows, up from less than 1% now. But the International Maritime Organization’s draft of the green fuels law could make climate change worse and put pressure on global food supplies. [CleanTechnica]

Container ship (Courtesy Volvo Car Group)

¶ “Assembly Plant Or Battery Powerhouse? A Look At Battery Investments In The EU” • Europe’s hope to build a world-leading battery industry faces headwinds. Over 90% of EU-made EV and storage batteries come from plants owned by South Korean and Chinese companies. And the same companies are behind 40% of announced battery gigafactories. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Grenergy Unveils $2.6 Billion Investment Plan” • Grenergy unveiled a multi-billion dollar investment plan with a strong focus on energy storage and its new brand identity. Grenergy plans to invest $2.3 billion in a storage project, the 2-GW Oasis de Atacama in Chile. The company plans to replicate that model, expanding to Latam, Europe, and the US. [reNews]

Grenergy office building (Grenergy image)

¶ “Mitsubishi Electric Teams Up With HD Renewable Energy For Carbon Neutrality” • Mitsubishi Electric Corporation signed an agreement with HD Renewable Energy to collaborate on carbon neutrality for Mitsubishi. They will establish a joint venture for solar power and battery storage system development, along with other things. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Confidence High In Renewable Energy Sector” • An annual survey of the renewable energy sector found that almost 94% of respondents have high levels of confidence in the industry, with storage systems and solar power identified as key growth areas. Despite the overall optimism, grid instability is perceived as the biggest challenge for the renewables sector. [reNews]

Renewable energy (Solarpraxis image)

¶ “Solar A Beacon Of Hope As Ukrainians Yearn For Peace” • Nearly three years of war has taken its toll on Ukraine’s solar industry. Almost 13% of the country’s pre-war solar generation capacity wasin territories now controlled by Russia, according to Olga Sukhopara, formerly a director at the Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Windward Offshore Secures Loan Facility” • Windward Offshore secured senior loan financing of up to €182 million for four Commissioning Service Operation Vessels. Construction of the CSOVs is underway at Vard, and the first of them has already been completed. That first vessel, the Windward Athens, was launched last week. [reNews]

Windward Athens (Windward Offshore image)

US:

¶ “Shocker! US Could Lead On Compressed Air Energy Storage Project” • Some clean energy investors still seem to think the US is a worthwhile investment. The latest example is a $200 million bet on a Canadian firm, Hydrostor, supporting it’s plans to bring advanced compressed air energy storage to the US, Canada, and other parts of the world. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Geothermal Energy Vs Fossil Fuels: Be Careful What You Wish For” • Fossil fuel stakeholders thought it was a win-win when they boosted President Trump back into office. Guess again. Geothermal energy is extending its reach across the US, but with a particular focus that will push natural gas out of the power generation industry. [CleanTechnica]

EGS technology (US DOE image)

¶ “State Official: Renewable Investments ‘Best Thing’ To Lower Energy Costs” • Illinois faces potential decreases in generating capacity just as demand is increasing. Commerce Commission Executive Director Jonathan Feipel noted that the state can meet its clean energy targets by quickly developing renewable energy and efficiency. [Capitol News Illinois]

¶ “Alabama Power Plans To Discontinue Third-Party Power Fee” • Alabama Power said in filing with the Alabama Public Service Commission that it will not charge a fee for third-party energy sellers to tie into its system. The utility plans to discontinue a fee on third-party power projects that could discourage renewable power development. [www.newsbreak.com]

Have an altogether productive day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Impulse Putting The Green Hydrogen Aircraft Pieces Together” • The green hydrogen market has been slow on the uptake, as the industry is relatively new and costs are stubbornly high. The Climate Pulse aims to change that image with a non-stop, nine-day flight around the Equator in an electric aircraft powered by green hydrogen. [CleanTechnica]

Work on Climate Impulse (Courtesy of Climate Impulse)

World:

¶ “Taiwan, Indonesia, And Vietnam Green Energy Companies Invest In Southeast Asia” • V-GREEN, a subsidiary of VinFast, is investing to support EVs. It recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with eTreego, a green energy company in Taiwan, to install 100,000 EV charging portals in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines by 2030. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UPD Partners With Everlectric To Launch 42 Electric Vans Featuring South Africa’s First Solar-Powered Refrigeration EV Fleet” • The Clicks Group and UPD partnered with Everlectric and Investec Sustainable Solutions to introduce South Africa’s first fleet of zero-emission, pharma-compliant EVs with solar-powered refrigeration. [CleanTechnica]

Refrigeration EV Fleet (Courtesy of Everlectric and UPD)

¶ “Siemens Gamesa To Expand French Blade Factory” • Siemens Gamesa confirmed it will invest €200 million to expand its Le Havre offshore wind blade manufacturing facility in northern France. The factory will focus on making 115-meter-long blades for 14-MW turbines. Siemens Gamesa says it has more than 16 GW worth of firm orders. [reNews]

¶ “Ofgem Grants Seagreen Phase 1 OFTO License” • Ofgem is to give Seagreen Phase 1 Offshore Electricity Transmission (OFTO) Project Limited an offshore transmission license. The Seagreen offshore project is a proposed UK licensee of a UK consortium of Equitix Investment Management, Kyuden T&D Global, and Kyuden International Corporation. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Seagreen image)

¶ “Wind Energy Just Had A Record Year In Germany, But The Federal Election Could Shake Things Up” • In Germany, 2024 was a strong year for aeolian energy, with permit awards for onshore wind turbines accelerating, but the upcoming February 23 election brings uncertainty for the sector, amid skepticism from the two parties leading in the polls. [CNBC]

¶ “‘Grid-Forming’ Battery Goes Online In Australia” • Edify Energy said the 185-MW, 370-MWh Koorangie battery system in northwest Victoria is exporting to the grid with hold point testing now underway as it works towards full generation. The Koorangie battery features Tesla Megapacks with grid-forming inverter technology. [pv magazine International]

Battery storage (Sosteneo Infrastructure Partners)

¶ “BYD Inks World’s Largest Grid-Scale Battery Contracts” • BYD Energy Storage and Saudi Electricity Company have signed the world’s largest grid-scale energy storage project contracts with a capacity of 12.5 GWh. Whe this is combined with the previously delivered 2.6-GWh project, the total contracts amount to a huge amount, 15.1 GWh. [Energy Source & Distribution]

¶ “Victorian Government Fast-Tracks Two Green Energy Projects Via New Program” • The Victorian Government announced that two renewable energy projects, the Brewster Wind Farm and the Baranduda Battery Energy Storage System, were fast-tracked through a system designed to reduce red tape, the Development Facilitation Program. [PS News]

Wind turbine (RE Future image)

¶ “Energycloud And Electric Ireland Tackle Energy Poverty With Surplus Renewable Energy” • Electric Ireland and EnergyCloud Ireland partnered to use surplus renewable electricity to provide free hot water for households in energy poverty. The initiative will see smart technology installed in homes to heat immersion tanks using excess renewable energy. [4C Offshore]

¶ “Ørsted Starts Offshore Build At 920-MW Changhua 2b&4” • Ørsted started the offshore construction of the 920-MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan. Ørsted was awarded the offshore wind farms in 2018. It signed a 20-year fixed-price corporate power purchase agreement in 2020 for a corporate customer for all production. [reNews]

Offshore foundations (Ørsted image)

¶ “UN Nuclear Chief To View Soil Removed From Fukushima” • The UN nuclear watchdog chief arrived in Japan for a trip that will include his first visit to storage facilities for vast quantities of soil contaminated in the 2011 Fukushima disaster. It is the fifth official visit to the country by Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency. [Digital Journal]

US:

¶ “CNBC: GM EV Effort Better Prepared Than Ford For Tariffs” • CNBC ran a story about GM’s confidence in the face of the threat of tariffs on Mexico and Canada, countries where US domestic automakers have a sizable footprint. If the numbers are correct, GM is in a better position to weather tariffs than Ford is, despite a significant presence in Mexico. [CleanTechnica]

Chevrolet Silverado EV (Chevrolet image)

¶ “Scout Motors Reveals Specs For BEV And EREV Models” • Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh shared some specs for the upcoming Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup trucks. One of the main things that sets Scout apart from the others is that it plans to offer both pure electric and extended range versions of its vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “National Renewable Energy Laboratory Working With GA Drilling To Commercialize Geothermal Technology” • GA Drilling, a geothermal drilling company specializing in deep geothermal drilling technology, partnered with NREL on a high-temperature downhole generator designed for geothermal technology applications. [EnergyTech]

Have an absolutely happy day.

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World:

¶ “Major Test Case For New Geothermal Technology Launches In Small German Town” • Geothermal companies are using techniques developed in the oil and gas industry to drill deep and extract heat from dry, hot rock. One of them, Eavor, is starting up its first commercial power plant in the town of Geretsried, turning it into a proving ground. [ABC News]

Geretsreid (Martinus KE, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “How Trump’s ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Pledge Is Affecting Other Countries” • US President Donald Trump’s “national energy emergency”, embracing fossil fuels and ditching clean energy policies, is already influencing other countries. In response to his “drill, baby, drill” slogan and withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, some countries may follow suit. [BBC]

¶ “Canadian Know-How: EVs Aren’t Useless In The Cold” • There are lots of people who make this dumb claim: “EVs don’t work in the cold! I’ll never be able to buy one because I don’t live in sunny southern California.” But there’s just one problem: it’s 100% false. The Canadian Automobile Association did the tests and gave us the proof. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an EV in snow (JUICE, Unsplash)

¶ “UK’s National Grid Does Some Mythbusting” • The grid can get overloaded as it is. Common sense dictates that adding any more load, such as EVs, would be a disaster that leaves us all freezing or frying to death. Right? There’s just one problem with this: It’s not true. At all. And now we have more proof from the UK’s National Grid! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Irish Wind Displaces Gas Spending Of €1.2 Billion” • Wind generation in Ireland and Northern Ireland displaced almost €1.2 billion worth of gas and carbon credits in the wholesale market in 2024, according to Baringa. The analysis, commissioned by Wind Energy Ireland, shows a total of 13.2 TWh of electricity was generated by wind turbines. [reNews]

Irish wind farm (SSE image)

¶ “GreenGo To Develop 6-GW Electrolyser In Mauritania” • GreenGo Energy has signed its first African agreement, for the development of a green hydrogen project in Mauritania. With this agreement signed, GreenGo Energy has started the  early development for 6 GW of electrolysis, 6.8 GW of onshore windpower, and 6.3 GW of solar PVs. [reNews]

¶ “Kinergy Advancement Partners With Perak State Agency To Develop 29 Renewable Energy Projects” • Kinergy Advancement Bhd’s subsidiary KAB Energy Holdings Sdn Bhd is working with Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak to develop 29 potential renewable energy projects in the Maylasian state of Perak. Their total capacity is over 1,800 MW. [The Edge Malaysia]

Countryside in Perak (Photo Dharma, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Philippines Banks On Solar” • Given the limited scale of solar in the Philippines, it is perhaps surprising that Solar Philippines New Energy Corp will build a 3.5-GW solar and 4.5-GWh battery Terra Solar project on the island of Luzon. Some 2.5 GW of solar and a 3.3 GWh of battery storage will be in the first phase, to be built by April, 2026. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Solar Energy Project Expands To Sixty New Sites In West Sussex” • More schools and buildings in West Sussex will soon generate their own renewable energy. This is because the West Sussex County Council is expanding its Solar PV and Battery Storage program. It plans to install renewable energy systems at sixty more sites in the county. [The Argus]

Solar farm in Sussex (Ian Cunliffe, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Renewable Energy Projects That Kowtow To King Trump And King Musk Get Funded” • Renewable energy companies have started to kowtow to King Trump, King Musk, and their lackeys in order to keep their renewable energy projects viable in the state of flux that is now the US government in all its branches. Montana Renewables is an example. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NASCAR Blows Off Trump’s Attack On EV Charging Stations” • If all goes to plan, President Trump will take time out from wrecking things to enjoy the Daytona 500 stock car race. There, the North American Stock Car Racing Association is showing off the new ABB NASCAR EV prototype race car, along with thirty new EV charging stations. [CleanTechnica]

ABB NASCAR EV prototype (Courtesy of ABB)

¶ “Nearly Half Of School District’s Bus Fleet Will Run On A Renewable Energy Source: Cow Poop” •In Colorado, the Eagle County School District will soon have nearly half its school bus fleet running on a renewable energy source. The school board approved converting an additional eight buses to a system that burns renewable natural gas. [VailDaily.com]

¶ “Trump Orders Threaten US Wind Projects” • According to recent analysis by financial data firm FactSet, up to 89% of US undeveloped wind projects are at risk as a result of Trump’s Day One directive, which paused offshore wind lease sales in federal waters as well as approval, loan, and permit issuance for onshore and offshore projects. [Newsweek]

Power County Wind Farm (energy.gov, public domain)

¶ “Three TVA Nuclear Reactors Are Shut Down At Once, Pushing Utility To Ramp Up Fossil Fuels” • Six of the 94 commercial nuclear reactors in the US were not generating electricity as of Feruary 14, according to the US NRC. Three of those are owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority. All three outages are due to unplanned generator trips. [Knoxville News Sentinel]

¶ “Iowa Nuclear Plant Seeks Unprecedented Restart” • Shuttered nuclear power plants have never been restarted in the US, but the Duane Arnold Energy Center near Palo is poised to be among the few that try. Its owner, NextEra Energy, hopes to finish its restoration of the facility that closed in 2020 in about three years, according to an NRC filing. [The Gazette]

Have a memorably lovely day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “New Study: Carbon Capture Is A Waste Of Money And Is Counterproductive” • The lead author of the new study, Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson, said, “If you spend $1 on carbon capture instead of on wind, water, and solar, you are increasing CO2, air pollution, energy requirements, energy costs, pipelines, and total social costs.” [CleanTechnica]

Carbon capture (PutTheKettleOn, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “Council Approves Plans For 5,000 Panel Solar Farm” • A plan to build a 5,000-panel solar farm near Hayle has been approved, despite concerns about flooding. A Cornwall Council planning committee agreed to allow the facility, on 3.75 acres (1.5 hectares) of land next to the A30 off Loggans Road, at the entrance to the town. The vote was six to four. [BBC]

¶ “‘Now Is The Time’ For Giant UK Offshore Wind Farm” • A Norwegian renewable energy firm says the time is right for a large wind farm off the Devon and Dorset coast. Source Galileo is planning a 2-GW project involving at least 100 turbines, which it said could power over three million homes. It announced a deal with Portland Port for service. [BBC]

PortWind project (Source Galileo image)

¶ “Laos To Build $1.9 Billion Wind Power Plant To Export Electricity To Vietnam” • The Lao Government and Lao builder Chitchareune Construction will build the 1,200-MW Nong wind plant, with an investment of $1.9 billion, to export electricity to Vietnam. Vietnam imports 3 billion kWh of electricity yearly from China and Laos. [Theinvestor]

¶ “Tesla Troubles Mount As Musk Goes Full Rogue” • Elon Musk’s worst offense may appear for Europeans to be a Nazi salute at the inauguration. The ketamine addict is losing sales as people react to his antics. Last month, Norway recorded a 37.9% slump. Tesla sales in France fell by 63.4%; in Spain, Tesla sales plummeted by 75.4%. [CleanTechnica]

Heil (Image by Led By Donkeys)

Post on X by Musk

¶ “Ethio Telecom Launches Ultra-Fast EV Charging Hub in Addis Ababa” • Ethio Telecom is a telecoms provider in Ethiopia with over 81 million subscribers. Now, in a major boost to Ethiopia’s growing EV system, Ethio Telecom has opened an ultra-fast EV charging station on both sides of the Bole to Megenagna road in Addis Ababa. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Installed Wind Power Capacity Exceeds 13,000 MW” • The total installed power in Turkey reached 13,043 MW, according to official data. Energy is generated from around 280 wind plants and more than 4,360 turbines in the country’s seven regions. The share of wind energy in daily electricity production has risen to about 14%. [Hürriyet Daily News]

Wind turbine in Turkey (sinanaydinnet, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Scientists Are Racing To Discover The Depth Of Ocean Damage Sparked By LA Wildfires” • As crews work to remove what could be hundreds of thousands of tons of hazardous materials from the Los Angeles wildfires that sit on the ocean’s edge, researchers and officials are trying to understand how the fires on land have impacted the sea. [ABC News]

¶ “Trump Attacks Electric Vehicles; GM Claps Back With Blazer EV.R” • Amidst the backdrop of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s real-life coup of the US, signs are emerging that EVs are a battleground on which some titans of big business are willing to fight. Exhibit A is GM using the backdrop of NASCAR’s Indy 500 race to show off its new EV lineup. [CleanTechnica]

Blazer EV.R prototype (Courtesy of Chevrolet)

¶ “Maryland Environmental Leaders Slam Legislative Push For Gas-Powered Plants, Split Over Nuclear Energy” • Maryland’s top environmental groups are pushing back against a proposal that endorses gas-fired power plants as a solution to the state’s predicted energy shortfall. Prioritizing gas generation is a big step backward, they say. [Inside Climate News]

¶ “DOGE Layoffs: Nuclear Energy Experts Who Were Fired By Mistake Are Set To Be Rehired” • The US DOE is reportedly scrambling to reinstate nuclear energy specialists after hundreds were let go. Between 300 and 400 personnel from the National Nuclear Security Administration were dismissed, to the alarm of national security experts. [People Matters Global]

Have a sensibly great day.

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Opinion:

¶ “EPA Trying To Claw Back $20 Billion in Green Grants – This Is Not Normal Politics” • While the Trump administration was supposedly going to focus on lowering costs for Americans, that’s not at all what it’s been doing. Instead, it is attacking programs and agencies that help and protect working class people, poor people, and small businesses. [CleanTechnica]

EPA Chief Lee Zeldin (Gage Skidmore, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Trump Fritters Massive Wave Energy Opportunity Away” • Global renewable energy investors are now far more active than fossil energy stakeholders, and in some cases they are one and the same, with governments in cahoots. If the US is really going to achieve “energy dominance,” President Trump better start unfreezing some federal dollars. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “World’s Sea-Ice Falls To Record Low” • The world’s frozen oceans currently have less ice than ever previously recorded, satellite data shows. Sea-ice around the north and south poles acts like a giant mirror by reflecting much of the Sun’s energy back into space, but as the ice shrinks, the dark ocean below can absorb more heat. [BBC]

Penguins (Danielle Barnes, Unsplash)

¶ “EU Policymakers Urged to Stick with Ambitious Targets for Recycled Plastics in New Cars” • T&E and other organizations are concerned by a weakening of the recycled content targets for plastics in new cars that have been introduced in the European Parliament’s draft report. They released a joint statement calling to preserve the stricter targets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tamil Nadu ‘Key To Indian Offshore Wind Expansion'” • A study by Ocean Energy Pathway, supported by GWEC and COWI, claims that Tamil Nadu holds the key to delivering up to ₹6,500 billion (€72 billion, $75 billion) of economic growth and an additional 805,000 jobs from the supply chain for offshore wind manufacturing by 2030. [reNews]

Installing an offshore turbine (RWE image)

¶ “RWE Commissions 220-MW German BESS” • RWE has commissioned one of Germany’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems, with a total capacity of 220 MW. The BESS at the group’s Hamm and Neurath sites can reach its nominal capacity within seconds and has a storage capacity of 235 MWh. RWE has more battery systems planned. [reNews]

¶ “EU Plans Simpler State-Aid Rules To Boost Clean Tech” • The EU is reportedly planning simpler state-aid rules to boost clean tech investments and improve its industrial competitiveness against the US and China. A report from Bloomberg said that the European Commission is due to unveil the Clean Industrial Deal on 26 February. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Greencoat Renewables image)

¶ “World’s Highest Altitude Solar Facility Now Generating Power In Tibet” • The world’s highest-altitude solar facility, situated at an elevation of over 17,000 feet, has begun generating electricity in Tibet. The facility is designed to supply local communities with power, particularly during winter and spring, when there are energy shortages. [Straight Arrow News]

¶ “Russian Drone Pierced Chernobyl Nuclear Plant’s Radiation Shield, Says Zelensky” • A drone armed with a warhead hit the protective outer shell of Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear plant early on Friday, punching a hole in the structure and briefly starting a fire, in an attack Kyiv has blamed on Russia. The Kremlin denied it was responsible. [Yahoo News New Zealand]

Safe confinement at Chernobyl (Mattias Hill, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Republicans In Congress Want To Put $1,000 Tax On EVs, And Kill The EV Tax Credit” • Republican senators have introduced a bill to kill the US EV tax credits. In addition Senator Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) has introduced a companion bill to put a $1,000 extra tax on EVs at the point of sale. We might wonder how Elon Musk feels about this. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford, GM, And Other Automakers Pushing To Keep US EV Tax Credits, Especially Leasing One” • The wheels are now in motion to kill the US EV tax credits. However, Ford, GM, and other car makers are reportedly trying to stop Republicans from killing them. One compromise would be to phase the credits out over a period of three years. [CleanTechnica]

Home solar charging (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “New York Approves Empire Wind Transmission Plan” • The New York State Public Service Commission has approved the construction of an interconnection cable for Equinor’s 816-MW Empire Wind 1 project. This phase involves construction activities within Con Edison’s Gowanus substation property in New York City. [reNews]

¶ “Michigan Residents Push For An Environmental Impact Statement Before Restarting The Palisades Nuclear Plant” • An assessment by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found that reopening the plant would have “no significant impact” on the local environment. But local residents and activist groups want a more thorough review. [Inside Climate News]

Have a precisely ordered day.

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World:

¶ “Well-Managed Solar Farms Can Boost Wildlife – Study” • A study from the RSPB and the University of Cambridge found that well-managed solar farms can contribute to nature as well as “provide relief from the effects of agricultural intensification.” Scientists found that solar farms had a greater number of species and individual birds per hectare. [BBC]

Goldfinch (Patrice Bouchard, Unsplash)

¶ “T&E Joins Shipping And Aviation Industries In Call for Urgent Action to Ramp Up Clean Fuel Production” • T&E and the two industry associations highlight that meeting the targets of the European Green Deal and ensuring that these industries remain competitive requires immense investments will require around €100 billion in investments. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ofgem Unveils Plans To Fast-Track UK Grid Connections” • Radical reform to fast-track cheaper, cleaner power plugging into the electricity grid is one step closer to becoming a reality, UK energy regulator Ofgem announced. Some clean energy generation or storage projects have waited a decade or more to get plugged in. That is to change. [reNews]

Grid (Andrey Metelev, Unsplash)

¶ “Global Investment In The Clean Energy Transition Surpassed $2.1 Trillion In 2024, But More Is Needed” • Global investment in the low-carbon energy transition surged to a record $2.1 trillion in 2024, marking an 11% increase from the previous year, says the BloombergNEF report, “Energy Transition Investment Trends 2025.” But more is needed. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SeAH Wind Confirms March Start For Teesworks” • SeAH Wind has confirmed it will commence commercial production at its £900 million monopile manufacturing facility at Teesworks in the UK from next month. The company rolled the first 7.5-meter diameter steel can in pre-production trials at the factory late last year. [reNews]

SeAH Wind factory (SeAH Wind image)

¶ “Cyprus Curtails 29% Of Renewable Energy In 2024” • Cyprus curtailed a record 29% of its renewable energy in 2024. This was not a surprise. The grid operator had predicted that Cyprus would need to curtail 28% of its renewable energy generation in 2024 due to low seasonal demand and the need to keep the network stable. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Dragados To Open Spanish Yard For TenneT Platforms” • A new production yard was added in Spain by Dragados to carry out fabrication of TenneT’s 2-GW offshore converter stations. The production site, with 400,000 sq m of space, is being built in the southern Spanish coastal town of Algeciras for production of converter platforms in the 2-GW class. [reNews]

Production site (Dragados image)

¶ “In Modi-Trump Statement, Climate And Renewable Energy Find No Mention” • Climate mitigation, renewable energy, and clean energy supply chains were missing from the Indo-US joint statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump’s first bilateral meeting in Trump’s second term. The focus was fossil fuels. [The Indian Express]

¶ “Australians Want Renewables To Replace Coal, But Don’t Realize How Soon This Needs To Happen” • An Essential poll of of 1,200 voting age Australians found a majority reject nuclear energy (81%) or fossil fuel options (70%) to provide on-demand or back-up energy. Few are aware of how soon the coal plants are scheduled to shut down. [RenewEconomy]

Cooling tower (Brice Cooper, Unsplash)

¶ “Chernobyl Nuclear Plant’s Protective Shield Torn Open By Russian Drone” • The protective cover encasing the leaking Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been damaged by a Russian drone, CCTV appears to show.The drone destroyed the plant’s fourth power unit during an overnight attack, according to Ukraine president Zelensky. [AOL.com]

US:

¶ “Green Ammonia Fertilizer Plot Bubbles Up To Threaten Fossil Fuels” • The latest development comes from Trump-voting Iowa, where two US firms have hatched a green ammonia scheme to help farmers cut their fertilizer costs. Funding farmers expected was cut off, and they can’t sell in markets supported by USAID, but they have this. [CleanTechnica]

Solar green ammonia system (Image from businesswire.com)

¶ “SEIA Sets Ambitious Goal Of 700 GWh Of US Energy Storage By 2030” • The Solar Energy Industries Association  announced a major goal: 700 GWh of energy storage installed in the US by 2030, in 10 million distributed storage installations. That’s over eight times our current storage capacity, and it redefines how we generate and use electricity. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nature Conservancy Announces Seventeen New Solar Energy Projects In Appalachia” • The Nature Conservancy announced that it’s partnering with Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership, Sun Tribe Development, and ENGIE to develop fourteen solar energy and three battery storage projects on 360 acres of former coal mines in the Appalachians. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Nature Conservancy image)

¶ “Heavy Rain Pounds Fire-Ravaged Los Angeles As Severe Storms Barrel Through” • A heavy storm struck fire-ravaged Los Angeles with heavy rain, sending streams of mud and debris over roadways and sweeping a fire department vehicle off a Malibu road into the ocean, authorities said. A Fire Department member who was in it escaped. [ABC News]

¶ “As Power Demand Surges, Virginia Lawmakers Seem Ready To Add More Energy Storage To The Grid” • Virginia lawmakers want to more than triple the amount of energy storage capacity Virginia’s two public utility companies,  Appalachian Power and Dominion, must procure under the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which was passed in 2020. [Virginia Mercury]

Have a clearly flawless day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Lucid And BMW Execs Claim Efficiency More Important Than Range For Electric Cars” • Peter Rawlinson, CEO of Lucid, and Frank Weber, the head of development at BMW, agree on a smaller battery with efficiency. “Then we can make a battery pack for about $2,500 – maybe $2,000 – instead of $20,000 or $25,000 today,” Rawlings said. [CleanTechnica]

Lucid Gravity (Lucid image)

¶ “Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries Offers Benefits Over Mining Virgin Metals” • According to a Stanford University lifecycle analysis published in Nature Communications, we should recycle lithium-ion batteries because recovering critical metals from used lithium-ion batteries has much less environmental impact than mining the metals. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “VinFast Aggressively Pursues The Micro-EV Market” • VinFast has unveiled the Minio Green, a highly anticipated model that captured the attention of Vietnamese consumers. VinFast says the Minio Green, with its high economic efficiency and agile performance, is an ideal choice to replace motorcycles for intra-city commuting. [CleanTechnica]

VinFast Minio Green (Courtesy of VinFast VN)

¶ “New Coal Power Plant Projects In China Hit The Highest Level In Nearly Ten Years, Report Says” • China’s power industry began construction on nearly 100 GW of new coal plant capacity last year, the most in nearly a decade, a report from two clean-energy groups said. They are concerned about China’s ability to meet its carbon reduction goals. [ABC News]

¶ “OX2 Submits EIA For 2.4-GW Halla Offshore Wind Farm” • OX2 has submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment for the 2400-MW Halla offshore wind farm. OX2 said it is the first EIA carried out for an offshore wind power project in Finland’s economic zone. The project was designed for a maximum of 160 wind turbines. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Nicholas Doherty , Unsplash)

¶ “Eastern Green Link 1 Enters Construction” • Eastern Green Link 1 will transport green electricity for two million homes along over 190 km of predominantly undersea cable linking the south-east of Scotland with the north-east of England. The £2.5 billion project was given the green light by Ofgem last year and works are now underway. [reNews]

¶ “Cheaper Solar Panels, Batteries To Expand Renewables’ Role In Power Market, Scatec CEO Says” • Cheaper solar power and battery storage are expanding the technologies’ role in stabilizing energy systems and thus offering increased opportunities for renewables, according to Terje Pilskog, the CEO of renewables developer Scatec. [Yahoo]

Solar panels (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)

¶ “Adani Green Energy Withdraws From $442 Million Wind Power Project In Sri Lanka” • After the political climate in Sri Lanka changed and the government revoked a power purchase agreement, Adani Green Energy, which is a part of the Indian conglomerate Adani Group, decided to withdraw from its $442 million wind energy project in Sri Lanka. [Newsx]

¶ “Australia’s Residential Battery Installations Rise 30% In 2024” • Residential battery installations have grown 30% in Australia since 2023, according to the CEC Momentum Monitor. Its latest figures show that 121,551 household battery systems have been installed in Australia, a figure that includes the 28,262 units put in over 2024. [pv magazine International]

Home battery system (Sonnen image)

¶ “Nuclear Plants Could Use Three Times More Water Than Current Coal Plants” • A 2018 Australian National University study found that only hydropower consumes more water than nuclear. The Coalition’s promised nuclear plants could consume three times as much water as existing coal sites. Where could that water come from?  [MSN]

¶ “No Coal, Gas Or Nuclear: Greens Cut Deals To “Dutton-Proof” Labor’s Flagship Renewable Policies” • The Australian Greens have had a busy week “Dutton-proofing” the federal Labor’s flagship renewable energy policies to prevent them being used to support coal, gas, or nuclear power in the event of a Coalition election victory this year. [RenewEconomy]

Windmill and nuclear plant (Boudewijn Huysmans, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “New EV Charging Station Schemes Thwart Trump’s National EV Infrastructure Squeeze” • President Trump froze a $5 billion federal program aimed to install EV fast charging stations. The funds have largely already been awarded, however. Also, plenty of other EV charging station plans are in the works through other channels already. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Charybdis Begins Sea Trials” • The first US-made offshore wind turbine installation vessel has begun sea trials, and is to be ready for this year’s construction schedule. Dominion Energy’s Charybdis began sea trials this month off of Brownsville, Texas. It is contracted to Dominion Energy’s 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind array. [reNews]

Charybdis (Dominion Energy image)

¶ “Red States Plot Judicial Takeover Of New York” • Late last year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to bolster New York’s environmental efforts by requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for critical projects protecting the state’s people. This week 22 Republican-led states sued, claiming the law is unconstitutional. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Great Disappearing Data Center Demand Crisis” • A Duke University research team has developed “curtailment-enabled headroom,” a more accessible and potentially less expensive way to address data centers’ energy demands. It’s one of a growing list of solutions to the data center demand crisis, which turns out to be not much of a crisis after all. [CleanTechnica]

Have a gracefully progressing day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Terravis Energy Unveals a Heat Pump That Defies Freezing! Down to -57°F Below” • Terravis’ AetherLux heat pump system stands out from all others. This new groundbreaking system operates from -57°F to 131°F, eliminates defrost cycles, and paves the way for a new era in energy efficiency. It has no competition in its temperature range. [CleanTechnica]

Trane heat pump test (Watkins Heating & Cooling)

World:

¶ “Nearly Everyone Breathes Bad Air. This Is What You Can Do To Lower Your Risk” • While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world – about 99% of the global population – is exposed to air at some point that doesn’t meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization, the agency reported. [ABC News]

¶ “The BYD News Is Cool, But Not What Headlines Claim” • BYD is will put a new ADAS (advanced driver assist system), “God’s Eye,” into every single one of its new models by default. That means even the low-cost BYD Seagull (about $9,600) will have advanced driver-assist capabilities. But that does not mean is that BYDs will drive themselves. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull production (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “EVs Take 30.3% Share of The UK” • January saw plugin EVs take 30.3% share of the UK auto market, up from 23.0% year-on-year. Battery EVs grew volume by 42% YoY, while plugin hybrid EVs grew 5.5%. Plugin growth comes despite overall auto volume down 2.5% year-on-year, at 139,345 units. Volkswagen was the leading battery EV brand. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Transporting Cargo Across The Atlantic With Wind Power: Grain De Sail” • Some CleanTechnica readers have written in article comments that they wonder why we can’t go back to wind-dominant cargo shipping, at least in part. We have seen one company doing that. Now, Grain de Sail is another company to add to a short but growing list. [CleanTechnica]

Sailing cargo ship (Grain de Sail image)

¶ “Gold Fields Awards Contract For Another Wind Farm At Remote WA Gold Mine” • South African gold mining company Gold Fields has awarded a wind turbine supply contract to Chinese manufacturer Goldwind for a 42-MW wind farm to be built at its St Ives gold mine in Western Australia, just south of Kalgoorlie. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Ampyr And Rockwool Sign 10-Year Solar PPA” • Ampyr Solar Europe and Rockwool have signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement for electric energy from a 96-MW solar park in the Netherlands. Under the deal, Ampyr will supply more than 50 GWh annually from its new Noordoostpolder solar facility in Flevoland, starting in 2026. [reNews]

Noordoostpolder solar facility (Ampyr image)

¶ “Biggest Coal Generator Has Zero Appetite For Nuclear In A Market Where Grid Flexibility Is King” • AGL Energy, Australia’s biggest baseload electricity generator, confirmed it has no plans to branch into nuclear power, but instead remains focused on replacing its coal generation fleet with assets underpinned by big investments in big batteries. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “California’s Insurer For People Without Private Coverage Needs $1 Billion More For LA Fires Claims” • The FAIR Plan, California’s plan that provides insurance to homeowners who can’t get private coverage, needs $1 billion more to pay out claims related to the Los Angeles wildfires, according to the state Insurance Department. [ABC News]

Eaton Fire (USDA, public domain)

¶ “Trump EPA Guts Environmental Justice” • Environmental protection is hardly Donald Trump’s cup of tea, or Elon Musk’s for that matter. Unsurprisingly, the Trump EPA announced a gutting of its environmental justice arm today, but more focused on the smaller DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) arm, which was also gutted. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Promised to ‘Drill, Baby, Drill.’ Big Oil Won’t Let Him” • “Drill, Baby, Drill” was supposed to create an abundance of oil, bringing its price down. But it seems the realities on the ground were far different from what Trump expected, and his promises of “unleashing America’s energy” will not go far. Big Oil will drill, but only if the price is right. [CleanTechnica]

Nodding donkey (David Thielen, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Automakers Lay Low And Watch The Trump Tide Ebb And Flow” • Automakers seem to have blocked their news feeds from headlines about EVs. A common sentiment is they will likely cut production capacity in 2025 as they face emissions targets and tariffs. Meanwhile, China’s EV dominance increases due to its edge in software and electrification. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Tariffs Could Spur 7% Rise In Onshore Wind Costs” • A report from Wood Mackenzie, ‘Trade war hits US onshore wind power’, warns that tariffs could threaten project viability and potentially slow growth in the wind industry. It finds that US proposed tariffs could increase US onshore wind turbine costs by 7% and overall project costs by 5%. [reNews]

Wind farm (Ørsted image)

¶ “Why The ‘Redheaded Stepchild’ Of Renewable Energy Is Poised To Rise Under Trump” • President Trump’s call to “drill, baby, drill” may be intended to benefit the Oil & Gas industry, but Secretary of Energy Chris Wright named geothermal energy, which uses underground heat to generate clean electricity and heat, as a prime area for R&D. [The Hill]

¶ “Louisiana Lawmakers Look To Nuclear To Meet Energy Needs” • Louisiana’s two nuclear power plants support about 20% of the state’s energy demands. With the advent of data centers, AI, bitcoin mining, and other advancements in big tech, the energy needs are increasing and lawmakers seek to position the state as an energy leader. [WAFB]

Have a wholly enchanting day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “TUM Examines Thirteen Residential Heating Sources And Finds A Winner: Heat Pumps” • Researchers at the Technical University of Munich found in a study that heat pumps are often the best choice for homeowners when finances and ecology are taken into account. The findings were published in the Journal of Building Engineering. [CleanTechnica]

Heat pump (Mitsubishi image)

World:

¶ “Subsidies Halved For Controversial Drax Power Station” • The government has agreed a new funding arrangement with the controversial wood-burning Drax power station that it says will cut subsidies in half. The power station, which once burned coal, now burns wood pellets, which is considered renewable. But emissions are unabated. [BBC]

¶ “The Unavoidable Demise Of The Western Car Industry In China” • The Chinese car market is about as large as the USA and EU markets combined. At first, Western and Japanese car makers dominated that market. However, as China’s own car makers gained the ability to build quality into their cars, buyers took to their products increasingly. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai (China News Service, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Intellihub Completes Installation Of Fifty EV Chargers On Power Poles” • Where can you charge your EV when you have no off-street parking? What is a simple cost-effective way to increase access to EV charging? Intellihub is one of several companies in Australia working to solve these problems with the innovative use of existing power poles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Van Oord Installs Emissions-Cutting Tech On Nexus” • Van Oord is taking a next step to further reduce emissions on its fleet. Five selective catalytic reduction systems has been installed on cable-laying vessel Nexus by Damen Shipyards Group, one for each engine. SCR is an advanced emissions control technology that reduces NOₓ emissions. [reNews]

Nexus (Van Oord image)

¶ “Tidal And Wave Can Deliver £8 Billion Boost To Scotland” • Tidal stream and wave energy projects in the UK have potential to deliver more than £8 billion in economic benefits to the Scottish economy by 2050, according to a report published by the University of Edinburgh, The Future Economic Potential of Tidal Stream and Wave Energy in Scotland. [reNews]

¶ “Aker Wins BalWin 1&2 Foundations Deal” • Aker Solutions has won a deal to deliver the foundations for the 2-GW BalWin1 and 2 HVDC converter stations in the German North Sea. The value of the contract from Spanish fabricator Dragados Offshore is between €130 million and €216 million. At its peak, the project will employ over 500 people. [reNews]

Converter station (Aker image)

¶ “Port And Energy Firm Team Up On Wind Farms” • Portland Port and a renewable energy firm have agreed to work together on plans to build a wind farm off the Devon and Dorset coast. Norwegian firm Source Galileo, claims the PortWind project, with 132 turbines, would be able to produce enough electricity for over three million homes. [BBC]

¶ “Partners Plan Floating Solar Projects In Australia” • Renewable energy engineering company Canopy Power and Ocean Sun partnered to bring new floating solar technology to Australia. Ocean Sun’s patented circular floating solar system has a 70 meter buoyancy ring covered by a reinforced membrane to support solar modules. [pv magazine International]

Floating solar project (Ocean Sun image)

¶ “By 2030, India Wants To Add 500 GW Renewable Energy Capacity: PM Modi” • India is set to add 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his virtual address at Indian Energy Week 2025. He emphasized that the next two decades would be crucial for the goal of developing India. [Business Standard]

US:

¶ “Utah’s Clean Solar Energy And Storage Boom” • There has been a boom in solar power production in Utah. What’s driving it? Meta’s (Facebook’s) huge data processing center is one thing. Meta has guaranteed powering its data centers entirely with renewable energy, and a massive new green energy project is nearly ready to go online. [CleanTechnica]

Arches National Park (Moriah Wolfe, Unsplash)

¶ “Bovine Methane Emissions Solution Spearheaded By US Firm” • Methane emissions from livestock make up a significant contribution to global warming. Nevada-based startup CH4 Global has been pursuing a seaweed-based solution for reducing methane emissions from livestock, and it is launching its first scale-up at a facility Australia. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hawaiian Electric Surges To 36% Renewable Energy On Grids” • Boosted by new utility-scale and rooftop solar capacity in 2024, utility Hawaiian Electric achieved a 36% consolidated Renewable Portfolio Standard, accelerating progress toward the 2030 RPS milestone of 40%. The RPS increased by three percentage points from 2023. [Maui Now]

Solar power in Hawaii (Reegan Moen, US DOE)

¶ “EDP Renewables Signs Virtual Power Purchase Agreement With Microsoft” • EDP Renewables North America said it has delivered three utility-scale solar projects and signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement with tech giant Microsoft. The projects generate about 400 MW, out of which Microsoft will purchase about 389 MW. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Environmentalists Raise Concerns, But Utah Nuclear Power Bills Advancing” • Members of the Healthy Environmental Alliance for Utah and the Sierra Club came to lobby lawmakers against bills dramatically expanding nuclear power in the state. It has been a top priority of Governor Spencer Cox and House and Senate leadership. [www.newsbreak.com]

Have an excitingly creative day.

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World:

¶ “US Is Losing The Solid-State EV Battery Race, Bigly” • Now that President Trump throttled back on clean tech innovation in the US, the field is wide open for other nations to leap in. And they are. The latest example is the UK firm Ilika. Known for its micro-batteries, Ilika is heading towards commercial production of a solid-state EV battery. [CleanTechnica]

Solid-state EV battery system (Courtesy of Ilika)

¶ “EVs Take 96.9% Share In Norway – Toyota BZ4X Best-Seller” • January saw plugin EVs take 96.9% share of car sales in Norway, up from 93.9% year on year. BEVs alone took almost 96% of the market. Overall auto volume was strongly up on seasonal norms, at 9,343 units, up 82% YOY. The Toyota BZ4X battery electric was the best-selling EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Malaysian Automaker Proton Launches Its First EV” • Last December, Malaysian automaker Proton launched the e.MAS 7 — the first battery EV in its lineup. Two months after the launch of the e.MAS 7, it has gained significant traction in the Southeast Asian country, where fuel prices are among the cheapest in the world, at $1.66 per gallon. [CleanTechnica]

Proton eMAS-7 (From Proton press handout)

¶ “Group’s Bid To Use Water To Power Nearby Firms” • In Derby, a community group wants to install a specialist turbine using a river’s energy to provide power to nearby businesses. Darley Abbey Community Energy is seeking funds for an Archimedes screw turbine to provides renewable electricity on the River Derwent at Darley Abbey Mills. [BBC]

¶ “Juniper Green Raises $1 Billion In Debt Financing To Expand Its Clean Energy Portfolio” • Juniper Green Energy, based in India, announced that it has received $1 billion in phased debt financing. The funding will support the growth of Juniper Green Energy and its subsidiaries for wind-solar hybrid and projects for firm renewable energy. [pv magazine India]

Solar array (Juniper Green Energy image)

¶ “Confused About Nuclear Energy? The Fossil Fuel Industry Is Trying To Mislead Women” • The Climate Council analyzed nuclear ads. The evidence, including CSIRO’s, shows that nuclear power is the most expensive form of new power. On top of that, the Coalition’s policy would see Australia remain reliant on fossil fuels until at least 2036. [Women’s Agenda]

¶ “China Accelerates Reform Of Renewable Power Pricing To Promote Sustainable Development” • China is accelerating the market-oriented reform of its renewable power pricing system, in a bid to build a new power system and promote sustainable development of renewable capacity. Industry experts believe this reform is essential for sustainable growth. [Xinhua]

Wind turbines (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Experts Anticipate Renewable Energy Will Overrun Trump’s Dopey ‘Energy Dominance’ Policy” • The US EIA summarized its short term energy outlook on January 24 of this year: “We expect that US renewable capacity additions – especially solar – will continue to drive the growth of US power generation over the next two years.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tiny House From Mesocore Comes Complete With Solar, A Battery, And A Heat Pump ” • Mesocore, which is Florida-based, specializes in factory-built homes that are assembled on-site. Its latest offering is what it calls an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, which it describes as a dwelling that exists on a lot with another house. [CleanTechnica]

Tiny House (Mesocore image)

¶ “Trump To Hit Steel Imports With 25% Tariffs” • US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to impose 25% tariffs on all steel as well as aluminium imports, a move that will likely impact the country’s offshore wind sector. Trump announced the tariff during a briefing with reporters as he flew from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. [reNews]

¶ “Despite Chilly Climate, It’s Business As Usual For Wind And Solar Energy In Wyoming“ • The climate for wind and solar power has been getting chilly in the Cowboy State, but no one in that sector appears to be freaking out yet. And that’s despite the executive orders by President Trump calling for a moratorium and review of wind leases. [Cowboy State Daily]

Have a sublimely tranquil day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “New LMFP EV Battery Passes Critical Test” • Integrals Power emailed the news of its lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate EV battery formula to CleanTechnica, after receiving validation of its LMFP EV battery cathode active material from QinetiQ. The tests were conducted on pouch cells with graphite anodes and a liquid electrolyte. [CleanTechnica]

LMFP Battery (Integrals Power, via email to CleanTechnica)

World:

¶ “Grab And BYD Partner To Shift EV Ride-Hailing In Southeast Asia” • Super-app Grab, the equivalent of Uber in Southeast Asia, and Chinese EV manufacturer BYD have forged a major regional partnership to electrify the region’s transportation landscape. The ambitious agreement aims to deploy up to 50,000 BYD EVs across Grab’s network. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Cuts Renewable Energy Subsidies Amid Record Solar Boom” • China’s top economic planning agency announced plans to scale back subsidies for renewable energy projects after a record surge in solar and wind power installations. In 2024, China’s installed solar capacity soared by 45%, reaching 887 GW, over six times that of the US. [EconoTimes]

Solar array (Makoto Lin, Office of the President, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Power Station’s Further Reporting Failure Exposed By BBC” • A UK power station that gets billions in government subsidies failed repeatedly to report it burned wood from primary forests, BBC News found. Drax Power Station is required to report where it sources its wood pellets and whether they come from forests that are previously untouched. [BBC]

¶ “Equinor Prioritizes Oil And Gas, Cuts Renewable Goals” • Norway’s Equinor is the latest energy company to stem its green growth plans as the backlash against renewables continues. The company said it is reducing its ambition for installed capacity by 20% to 33%, from 12-16 GW by 2030 to 10-12 GW. The higher target range was set in 2021. [OilPrice.com]

Equinor offshore station (Ryan Hodnett, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Nuclear Power Plant ‘Blocked Due To Concerns For The Welsh Language’” • A nuclear power station was blocked after officials raised concerns over the impact it would have on the Welsh language. Government planning inspectors rejected the multibillion-pound project in Wales on grounds including the negative impacts on its community. [The Times]

US:

¶ “As He Helps Fight DEI, Musk’s Spacex Has A Huge Contract To Send First Woman And Person Of Color To The Moon” • As Elon Musk works to reduce government spending by cutting diversity programs and waste, his SpaceX corporation has a multibillion dollar contract to help NASA land a woman and a person of color on the moon. [ABC News]

Launch (SpaceX, Unsplash)

¶ “How Environmental Groups Are Battling The First Actions Of The Trump Administration” • Environmental nonprofits are gearing up to challenge some of the executive orders President Donald Trump since taking office. A majority of the the ones he has signed so far that affect the environment, conservation, and decarbonizing are being challenged. [ABC News]

¶ “Brooklyn’s All-Electric Skyscraper To Be Fully Powered By Renewable Energy” • Alloy Development selected Radial Power and MaxSolar to supply 100% renewable energy to 505 State St, New York City’s first all-electric residential skyscraper. The agreement will help the tower achieve its goal of becoming the city’s first carbon-free high-rise. [BKReader]

505 State Street (Supplied, Alloy Development)

¶ “Study Highlights Challenges To The Electrification Of Homes In The US” • Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey studied how the electrification of homes can create issues for some homeowners and how adding solar and storage affects the equation. Their report was published in the journal Smart Cities And Society. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump’s Energy Policies Cast Shadow Over The US Wind Industry” • President Trump has been emphatic about support for oil and gas while campaigning and since coming into office. While many US energy leaders believe the green transition is unstoppable, Trump appears set on restricting renewable energy expansion in favor of fossil fuels. [OilPrice.com]

Have an abundantly luminous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “We Need Solar And Battery Storage To Address The Energy Emergency” • President Trump declared an energy emergency. Over the past decade, electricity supply has not kept up with demand. Currently, the fastest and least expensive way to meet the goal is with solar and energy storage projects that are under development already. [CleanTechnica]

Building a solar array (Courtesy of Silicon Ranch)

World:

¶ “Forget Saving The Planet. Clean Energy Leaders Sharpen A New Message: Money And Jobs” • Clean energy leaders across the globe are now tailoring their messages to emphasize the greener side of green: wealth-building. It’s an idea that sells far better in the new world of nationalism and tycoon leaders. The case isn’t new, but the emphasis is. [ABC News]

¶ “Powerful New Offshore Wind Turbine Trumps The Trump “Energy Dominance” Plan” • Trump might not like windpower, but global stakeholders can take their business elsewhere. One significant example is the HIPPOW turbine prototype under Siemens Gamesa development, supported by a European Union Innovation Fund grant. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore windpower (掬茶, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “EVs At 51.6% Share In Sweden” • In January, plugin EVs took 51.6% of auto sales in Sweden, down slightly year over year from 52.5% in January 2024. The Battery EV share was up a bit, while plugin hybrid share was slightly down. Overall auto volume was 19,632 units, up some 14% YOY. The Volkswagen ID.7 was the best selling Battery EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “JUWI To Build 340 MW Of Solar Projects For South African Mining, Energy, And Data Center Leaders This Year” • In an exciting development, JUWI Renewable Energies and its partners will add about 340 MW of solar capacity to South Africa’s grid. JUWI RE announced plans to begin construction on three major private solar projects in 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Solar field (JUWI image)

¶ “RWE Offshore Wind Farm ‘To Help Balance German Grid'” • RWE has set out plans to help balance the German power grid via its 302-MW offshore wind farm, Amrumbank West. RWE plans to offer an automatic frequency restoration reserve. The transmission system operator TenneT granted the necessary pre-qualification for a capacity of 60 MW. [reNews]

¶ “Global Cost Of Renewables To Continue Falling” • A report by BloombergNEF says new wind and solar farms are undercutting new coal and gas plants on production cost already in almost every market globally. Trade barriers could temporarily stall cost declines, but BNEF still expects the levelized cost of electricity for clean technologies to fall 22-49% by 2035. [reNews]

Rooftop solar array (AleSpa, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Grossi Says Zaporizhzhia Safety Talks ‘More Critical Than Ever'” • IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi held talks on safety and security issues for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant with Rosatom’s Director General in Moscow. He said, “After three years of talks on ZNPP nuclear safety and security, these are more critical than ever.” [World Nuclear News]

US:

¶ “USA Surpasses 50 Gigawatts Of Solar Module Manufacturing Capacity” • The US reached a historic manufacturing milestone, with 50 GW of domestic solar module production capacity. At full capacity, US factories can produce enough solar to meet all of its demand. This is a critical step toward building a US-based solar supply chain. [CleanTechnica]

Qcells Solar Factory In Georgia (Qcells image)

¶ “Energy Companies And Investors Mobilize Lobbying” • A broad coalition of energy groups and their member companies are joining forces to hold over 100 meetings with members of Congress and staff from both parties about the critical role of clean energy tax credits for supporting a robust American energy and manufacturing economy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ReVolt Says Its Hybrid Powertrain For Class 8 Trucks Can Save 40% On Fuel Costs” • ReVolt created a replacement powertrain for Class 8 trucks. Its battery can be recharged from an external power source just like any battery EV. But a Class 8 truck needs to go farther than a battery can take it, so it’s a hybrid. ReVolt says it can save 40% in fuel costs. [CleanTechnica]

ReVolt system (ReVolt image)

¶ “Enel Switches On Hybrid Solar-BESS In Texas” • Enel North America has switched on a hybrid solar and energy storage plant in Texas. The project, Estonian Solar, combines a 202-MW PV facility with a 104-MW Battery Energy Storage System. Enel has the plant in operation. It has power purchase agreements with BXP and Capri Holdings. [reNews]

¶ “Solar Accounts For 81.5% Of New Electricity Sources Added To US Grid In 2024” • Over 90% of new generating capacity added in the US in 2024 was renewable. Of all new capacity, solar came first, with 30,816 MW, and wind was second, with 3,128 MW. In third place, natural gas added 2,428 MW, and nuclear was fourth, with 1,100 MW. [Solar Power World]

Solar farm (Raphael Cruz, Unsplash)

¶ “Company Takes Strategic Approach To Solve Energy Crisis In Vulnerable Areas Across The US” • Recognizing that some areas are transitioning quickly while others are stuck on dirty energy, climate tech company Clearloop is taking a strategic approach to solar development. It builds renewable energy projects in the areas where the grid is dirtiest. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Coalfield Solar Fund Invests In PV Arrays For Coal Region School Districts In Virginia And West Virginia” • School districts in historic coal-heavy regions of Virginia and West Virginia are now tapping into solar power arrays built on-site. The Coalfield Solar Fund is an initiative comprising several renewable energy development partners. [EnergyTech]

Have a really pleasant day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Which Is Worse For Wildlife, Wind Farms Or Oil Drilling?” • While wind farms can have some adverse effects on wildlife in the habitats where they are sited, including by noise, scientists who specialize in the environmental impact of wind farms challenge the claim that wind power is more damaging to wildlife than fossil fuel extraction. [BBC]

Gulls (Samantha Kennedy, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “India Achieves Historic Milestone Of 100 GW Of Installed Solar Power Capacity” • India has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 100 GW of installed solar power capacity, again showing its position as a global leader in renewable energy, according to the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi. [The Statesman]

¶ “€20,000 Volkswagen Electric Car – The Next VW Beetle? ” • Not many cars are able to compare with the Volkswagen Beetle. It was special. Volkswagen may now be working on a 2020s Beetle, an electric one. The company is looking into a €20,000 super affordable EV, and it wrote about that in a news release on the matter. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen EV (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Volvo Plugin Vehicle Sales Increased 17% In January” • Volvo Cars sold 50,820 cars in January,almost half of which coming with a plug. Plugin model sales were also up significantly from a year prior, growing 17% compared to January 2024. In total, 44% of the company’s January 2025 vehicle sales – 22,398 out of 50,820 – were plugins. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ARENA Community Based Battery Rollout” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is funding about 370 “community based batteries” to the tune of A$143 million ($90 million) to be built in Australia, benefitting communities. Expected outcomes include reducing local network constraints, reducing emissions, and reducing electricity costs. [CleanTechnica]

Community-based battery (Courtesy of Ergon Energy)

¶ “Taaleri SolarWind 3 Fund Invests In Finnish PV Site” • The Taaleri SolarWind 3 Fund has invested in the 129-MW Finnish solar park Hallanvahti. The project, located in Joroinen, about 300 km northeast of Helsinki, has reached ready-to-build status, with construction ongoing and full operations expected by the middle of 2026. [reNews]

¶ “CIP Starts Construction On 960-MWh Oz Battery Site” • CIP, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is starting construction of its first large-scale battery energy storage site in Australia, the 240-MW, 960-MWh Summerfield project in the state of South Australia. It comes after a financial investment decision was taken in September 2024. [reNews]

Battery storage site (CIP image)

¶ “Amazon Announces Three New Renewable Energy Projects In India” • Amazon announced investments in three wind projects in India, emphasizing the company’s broader commitment to matching the electricity consumed by our operations with renewable energy and advancing progress toward its Climate Pledge goals. [The Covai Mail]

¶ “‘Build Baby Build’, Says Pm As He Sets Out Nuclear Plan” • Sir Keir Starmer pledged to “build baby build”, as he announced plans to make it easier to construct mini nuclear power stations in England and Wales. The prime minister told the BBC that the government will “take on the blockers” and change rules so new reactors could be built in more places. [BBC]

Keir Starmer (Kirsty O’Connor, No 10 Downing Street)

US:

¶ “How Nonprofit Change Reaction Gets Money To Households Impacted By Wildfires So Fast” • As Angelenos reel from the wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and killed at least 29 people, an LA-based nonprofit is handing out cash payments of as much as $5,000 to provide fast, unrestricted help to some of those impacted. [ABC News]

¶ “Tesla Cybertruck Reservations Go Poof – Now Free Wraps For Q1 Orders” • Tesla is rolling out discounts to get people to buy a new Model 3 or Cybertruck. It seems a bit early in the quarter for Tesla to be doing this. It seems to indicate consumer demand challenges after the first year of decreasing sales since the Model S was launched in 2012. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Cybertruck (Mr.choppers, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “EV Maker Scout Motors Wants To Sell Directly To Buyers But Can’t Do It In Its Home State” • Scout Motors is making a big bet in the electric SUV market with a crafted experience that will allow some customers to buy the company’s vehicle in minutes online. But they can’t in South Carolina, where the company is pouring billions into a new auto plant. [ABC News]

¶ “Wireless Charging Is Coming To Port Of Long Beach” • It was recently announced that wireless charging pads will soon be installed at the Port of Long Beach to be used by electric cargo vehicles. John F. Rizzo, President and CEO of InductEV, has answered some questions about the port’s wireless charging technology for CleanTechnica. [CleanTechnica]

Port Of Long Beach (Courtesy of ITS Terminal POLB)

¶ “Democratic Governors Prepared To Keep The EV Revolution Moving Forward” • Colorado is an example of a movement by states. Residents of Colorado are eligible for up to $6,000 in state incentives, regardless of where a vehicle is made. Trade in a gas guzzler, and the state will add another $6,000. The incentives can add up quickly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “$485M Grant Benefits Rural Residents” • The US Department of Agriculture has announced a $485 million award to Arizona Electric Power Cooperative through its New Empowering Rural America Program. The funds will be used for large-scale solar and battery systems projects benefitting rural cooperatives and public power utilities. [Inside Tucson Business]

Have a awesomely relaxing day.

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World:

¶ “Earth Just Experienced Its Warmest January On Record” • Despite a record snowfall in the south, cold temperatures across the northeast and an emerging La Niña event, which is supposed to cool things down, January 2025 was still warmer than any previous start to the year in the organization’s dataset going back to 1940. [ABC News]

Cardinal in Central Park (Sergio Mena Ferreira, Unsplash)

¶ “Fleets Electrification Law Could Deliver 2 Million EV Sales In EU” • An EU law to electrify company fleets could guarantee demand for over 2 million electric cars for European carmakers in 2030, according to analysis by green group T&E. T&E is calling for an EU target for all fleets with over 100 cars to buy only electric as of 2030. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “News On Tesla’s New Factories In Mexico, Netherlands And IndiaTo Build 4 Million Cars Per Year” • In 2022, Elon Musk said Tesla could probably eventually build 10–12 gigafactories around the world. It currently has one in China, one in Germany, one in Texas, and one in Nevada. Its sales are in decline, so news about gigafactories? Nada. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai (Tesla image)

¶ “The Automakers Selling the Most EVs in the World” • If we gather plugin vehicle sales by automotive group, BYD (24.7% share of the plugin vehicle market) repeated the 2023 title win, with a mammoth 14.3% share (or over 2.4 million unit) advantage over Tesla (10.4%, down from 13.2% share in 2023). BYD gained 2.7% points compared to a year ago. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Secures Certificate For 21.5-MW Turbine” • Siemens Gamesa was granted a certificate to develop a prototype wind turbine with a capacity of 21.5 MW and a 276 meter rotor. The prototype structure has been certified by DNV and has until 2027 to develop the model, according to the Danish wind turbine certification authority. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)

¶ “UK Policies ‘Put Post 2030 PV And Storage At Risk'” • Policies solar and storage is putting £26 billion of investment at risk and could lead to higher energy bills, according to trade association Solar Energy UK. Putting the brakes on deployment of solar farms and grid-scale energy storage early in the next decade poses a risk to the wider economy. [reNews]

¶ “Can Rooftop Solar Power India’s Cities?” • India is seeing a resurgence in residential rooftop solar deployment. The national government’s flagship program was launched in February 2024 to solarize 1 crore (10 million) households by 2027. The objective of the scheme is to provide low-cost electricity to the consumers via rooftop solar. [RMI]

Delhi (Anish Kumar, Unsplash)

¶ “Greece Installs 2.6 GW Of PV Capacity In 2024” • Greece installed a record 2.572 GW of PV capacity in 2024, about 1 GW more than in 2023, when the country added 1.59 GW of PV capacity. Self-consumption net-metered systems added 400 MW of PV capacity, with another 500 MW expected from small solar projects. [pv magazine International]

¶ “A Recent Report Finds Climate Change Is Accelerating Faster Than Predicted. Some Experts Disagree” • If a study in the journal Environment led by iconic climate scientist Dr. James Hansen is correct, things are even worse than all of the latest news would make one believe: He claims Earth is about to blow past 2º C above pre-industrial levels. [Salon.com]

Forested mountainside (Guy Bowden, Unsplash)

¶ “PM Unveils Plans To Make It Easier To Build New Nuclear Reactors” • The Prime Minister announced that more nuclear plants will be approved in England and Wales as red tape is reduced. The reforms will enable small modular reactors to be built in the UK. Ministers said SMRs would deliver clean, secure. and more affordable energy. [MSN] (Affordable? – ghh)

US:

¶ “Musk Plays President While Tesla Misses Electric Truck Boat” • Auto industry observers are wondering if Elon Musk still wants to sell Tesla EVs, now that he’s a Trump advisor. The company suffered a sales drop last year, and the Tesla Semi Class 8 electric truck is heading for stiff competition when it finally goes into full production in 2026. [CleanTechnica]

ZO Motors’ electric truck (ZM Trucks image)

¶ “New Flow Battery Venture Joins Red States And Blue States In Common Cause” • Another twist in the tangled web of red–blue state relations has come up. Two companies, one in Georgia and one in Massachusetts announced a joint venture called Storion Energy. It will lease the electrolyte they need to US vanadium flow battery makers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “500-MW New York PV Project Gets Nod” • The New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Transmission approved construction of Hecate Energy and Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company’s 500-MW Cider Solar Farm. Greenbacker acquired the Cider Solar Farm project from Hecate in 2024, becoming its long-term owner and operator. [reNews]

Solar farm (Hecate Energy image)

¶ “Study Looks At Whether US Farmland Is Better Used For Corn Ethanol Or Solar Power” • A study found that solar panels generate 12 times more energy and 13 times more revenue per acre than corn. Still, without subsidies (which corn gets – ghh), solar projects would have financial losses due to their costs of construction and operation. [Straight Arrow News]

¶ “The Transition To Electric Vehicles And Renewable Power In America” • The recent surge in EV sales in the US has been remarkable. With an ambitious goal set to have 50% of new cars sold be EVs by 2030, consumers are increasingly drawn to the benefits these vehicles offer. The growing popularity is driven in part by practical advantages. [MSN]

Have a just grand day.

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World:

¶ “Herding Cats – ORA Meetup in Western Australia” • The Great Wall ORA (called an ORA Cat in China) sells for about A$36,000 ($22,500) in Australia. Australia now has three cars that are about the same price as a Corolla hybrid in Australia: the GWM ORA, the MG4 in the low $30,000s, and the BYD Dolphin in the high $30,000s. [CleanTechnica]

ORA Cat (Alexander-93, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Tesla Sales Plummet In Europe And California” • Tesla stock continues to trade at about a bazillion times earnings, but there are warning signs flashing for those who are thinking about what lies ahead for the company. Bloomberg Hyperdrive reports that Tesla sales plummeted 63% in January 2025 in France. Tesla sales were also down in California. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Act Fast To Support German Offshore Wind Expansion” • The new German government must act fast to support the expansion of offshore wind, industry leaders said. The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation and others published the figures for 2024. They show that a total of 73 offshore wind turbines were installed in Germany during 2024. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Carbon Trust image)

¶ “China Responds To Trump Tariffs” • China has responded to the Trump regime imposing new tariffs on Chinese goods. For now, China’s tariffs are relatively small, but China supplies such critical materials as tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, and indium in large quantities. Cutting them off could do the US a lot of damage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Let BESS Sites Integrate With Offshore Wind” • Aiming to address developers’ challenges, a report from RenewableUK sets out the case for reforming the planning system to encourage more battery energy storage systems (BESS) and green hydrogen projects to “co-locate” with offshore wind farms, sharing existing grid infrastructure. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Merkur image)

¶ “Amazon Continues Renewable Energy Spree With 476-MW Purchase” • Renewables notched another win as Amazon signed contracts to buy 476 MW of wind and solar on the Iberian Peninsula. The power purchase agreements with multinational utility Iberdrola should help Amazon feed new data centers it has planned in the region. [Yahoo]

¶ “Spain Deploys 6.46 GW Of New Solar In 2024” • In 2024, Spain installed 6.64 GW of PV systems, a slight increase from 5.59 GW in 2023, according to the grid operator. The country’s total installed PV capacity reached 32 GW by the end of 2024. The authorities also permitted of thirteen storage projects in the year. [pv magazine International]

Valle Solar Power Station (Arvydas Cetyrkovskis, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “IAEA Postpones Mission Rotation At Zaporizhzhia NPP Over Lack Of Security Guarantees From Russia” • IAEA has postponed mission rotation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant due to lack of security guarantees from Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is calling on the international community to support the Agency. [Ukrinform]

US:

¶ “LA Wildfires Highlight US’ Insurance Crisis As Homeowners Try To Recover Lost Homes” • A growing crisis in US home insurance is in the spotlight as Californians begin the long road to rebuilding from wildfires. The number of residential policies issued under the state’s FAIR plan doubled between 2020 and 2024, but it is bare-bones coverage. [ABC News]

Palisades Fire wreckage (Calfire via Flickr)

¶ “Renewables + Storage Make Billions Of Dollars In Texas” • Texas has an extensive gas and oil history. But it is also most important wind power state in the US, and it is quickly building more solar power installations. Despite having a very strong Republican party, the state of Texas is advancing steadily with renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Reducing Data Center Peak Cooling Demand And Energy Costs With Underground Thermal Energy Storage ” • As much as 9% of US electricity is projected to be used by data centers by the year 2030. But as much as 40% of data center total annual energy use is related to the cooling systems. Geothermal systems could address that. [CleanTechnica]

TTC data center (TTC, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “$156 Million Solar Power Grant For Washington In Limbo After Trump Order” • Washington was locked out of about $150 million in federal funding for solar projects focused on low-income communities last week as the Trump administration paused clean energy grants. The funds had been awarded by the EPA last April. [Washington State Standard]

¶ “How Solar And Sheep Can Support Each Other” • Grazing sheep with solar panels, which helps ensure plant growth doesn’t block solar panels, is the latest example of how solar power can deliver significant financial benefits to farmers. A study out of Western University shows how solar is good for farmland and local ecosystems. [Environment America]

Sheep with solar (AgriSolar Clearinghouse, CC-BY-2.0)

¶ “Aleut Expands Into Energy And Retail Sectors” • The Aleut Corporation has stepped further into the energy and retail sectors by acquiring Fairbanks-based Richards Distributing, Inc. The company is the parent of three established business lines: Renewable Energy Systems, Arctic Home Living, and Alaska EcoWater Systems. [Alaska Business Magazine]

¶ “Texas A&M University System Offers Land For Companies To Build Nuclear Reactors” • Chancellor John Sharp announced that the Texas A&M University System offered land to four nuclear reactor companies to build small nuclear reactors. Land could be “the missing element needed to bring more nuclear power to the state’s electric grid.” [KCENTV.com]

Have an auspiciously active day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Donald Trump Handing The World To China” • The rest of the world is being aggressively push into China’s arms by Donald Trump. As a result of actions in the first ten days of his term, not to mention whatever is to come, many countries are deciding that there’s question who to follow, who to ally with, and who to treat as the world leaders. [CleanTechnica]

Trump in a fog (wes lewis, Unsplash)

¶ “They Won’t Tell You These Truths About Nuclear Energy” • Today, there is a battle between scientists on the one hand and the nuclear industry, the politicians it lobbies and gullible media on the other. Currently, scientists are being drowned out. Despite reams of peer-reviewed studies and books showing radiation’s harmful effects, the denialism persists. [The Hill]

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Problem And Potential Of Hydropower” • What about hydropower? Some 6% of US electricity comes from hydropower, and it accounted for about 27% of electricity generated from utility-scale renewable sources in 2023. What environmental impact did the Grand Coulee Dam have when it first blocked off the Columbia River in 1938? [CleanTechnica]

Grand Coulee Dam (US Bureau of Reclamation)

¶ “Senvion Partners With Wooden Blade Outfit” • Indian turbine maker Senvion has joined forces with Germany’s Voodin Blade Technology to develop and manufacture wooden wind turbine blades starting with Senvion’s 4.2-MW wind turbine platform. The partnership builds on Voodin’s success with prototype wooden blades in Germany in 2024. [reNews]

World:

¶ “A Major Climate Win In Italy” • At 4%, Italy’s EV uptake is one of the lowest in Europe and has been so for years. But we would be wrong to think that the country has entered the era of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), but the recently approved budget law has put in place a promising reform regarding salary cars (company cars as a benefit in kind). [CleanTechnica]

Fiat 500e (Damian B Oh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Can Poland Become An EV Powerhouse?” • While there are growing calls for the European Commission to kick start an EU-wide scheme to support the sale of electric cars, the Polish government has decided it can’t wait. This week it announced ambitious plans to relaunch its own national subsidy scheme for EVs, NaszEauto. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford UK Headquarters Embarks On A Major Solar Power Project” • Ford has worked on adding solar power arrays to many of its global plants, largely to reduce its emissions and become more environmentally friendly. Now, the headquarters of Ford UK is embarking on a major solar power project as well, with a new solar farm. [Ford Authority]

Covered parking (Ford image)

¶ “GridStor Snaps Up Texan BESS” • US energy storage player GridStor acquired a 150-MW, 300-MWh battery storage project in Texas from Balanced Rock Power. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas forecasts a 50% increase in the state’s peak load by 2030. Over 8 GW of battery energy storage has already been deployed on the ERCOT power system. [reNews]

¶ “Major Wind Farm Cleared For Construction In Queensland Coal Country” • A 70-turbine wind farm to be built in coal country in Central Queensland has won federal environmental approval, and the 462-MW project can go ahead. Irish-based renewable energy developer DP Energy had won Queensland’s development approval in 2023. [RenewEconomy]

Wind farm site (DP Energy image)

¶ “Amazon To Procure Renewable Energy From Co Derry Wind Farm” • Online retailer Amazon is set to procure renewable energy from a wind farm which is being developed in County Derry. The wind farm will consist of eleven turbines with a total capacity of 47 MW. It is projected to inject £2.5 million into the economy of Northern Ireland. [Ireland Live]

¶ “Electricity Prices Across Europe Will Stabilize If 2030 Targets For Renewable Energy Are Met, Study Suggests” • Hitting the current national 2030 quotas for solar and wind energy could reduce the volatility of electricity markets by an average of 20% across 29 European countries, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge. [Tech Xplore]

Wind turbines (Jason Mavrommatis, Unsplash)

¶ “Engie Wins 4.3 GW Of PPAs In 2024 Including 1.5 GW In The US” • In 2024, Engie won 4.3 gigawatts (GW) of power purchase agreement (PPA) deals globally, an increase from 2.7 GW in 2023. Of this total, 1.5 GW were signed in the US, covering eight different projects. ENGIE’s PPA deals represent total electricity supply of 136 TWh. [GreentechLead]

US:

¶ “Cost Of 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Project Rises By 9%” • The cost of the 176-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project has gone up by around 9%, Dominion Energy has revealed.The 2.6-GW, fully permitted project is now about 50% complete and is still on track for completion at the end of 2026. This is the first increase for the project. [reNews]

Offshore wind project (Dominion Energy image)

¶ “Honda Factory In Ohio To Be Global Manufacturing Hub” • A quiet revolution is taking place at Honda. It will soon begin using six new high pressure casting machines, each capable of 6000 pounds of pressure, to create castings for cars it makes. But the big news is that those machines will be installed at the Honda engine factory in Ohio. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy Lures New Lithium Venture To Deep Red State” • In yet another sign of an identity crisis among US states dominated by Republicans, a massive new lithium refinery is taking shape in Oklahoma. The new venture is a poke in the eye of the state’s powerful oil industry, considering that its target is the EV battery market. [CleanTechnica]

Have a warmly friendly day.

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World:

¶ “BYD Shark Takes a Bite Out of the Ute Market Down Under” • Facebook pages devoted to the BYD Shark in Australia are running over with stories of utes (pickups) being delivered and new drivers’ experiences. Most of the comments are coming from longtime 4×4 owners, showing that the BYD Sharks are going to real ute drivers. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Shark 6 (Agratsa, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “BYD Sales Increased 47.47% In January” • After 2024 made BYD Group the 7th best selling auto maker in the world, it is off to a great start in 2025. Its passenger vehicle sales jumped 47.47% in January 2025 compared to January 2024. As a reminder, all of those vehicles are plugins that can run on just electricity at least part of the time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tidal Transit To Boost Electric CTV Fleet” • UK crew transfer vessel owner Tidal Transit secured equity financing to expand its fleet with six new electric vessels. Maritime and logistics investor HICO has provided the financing, which will enable Tidal Transit to meet growing demand for zero-emission CTVs for offshore wind operations. [reNews]

Tidal Transit CTV (Tidal Transit image)

¶ “Electric Vehicles Go Further With Solar Power” • Research  teams from Germany and the Netherlands showed a major leap in EV technology. By integrating PVs, they increased the driving range of EVs by 30%. This four-month experiment highlights the viability of solar power in vehicles, pointing towards a greener future in transportation. [Microgrid Media]

¶ “Yunlin Reaches Full Power” • Skyborn Renewables and its partners in Yunneng Wind Power have achieved full power at the 640-MW Yunlin offshore wind farm off Taiwan. All 80 8-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines have been installed and are producing electricity. That is contributing to the country’s transition to a sustainable energy future. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Skyborn image)

¶ “How Burkina Faso Is Transforming Rural Villages With Solar Power” • Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation in West Africa, is turning its rural villages into solar-powered havens. The solar initiative goes beyond just providing electricity to remote areas; it’s about creating a sustainable future. And it is changing the lives of thousands. [NewsBytes]

¶ “Hunter REZ Powers Ahead” • Works for the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone of New South Wales have begun, as Ausgrid kicks off community consultations. The government of NSW said this will be the first REZ in Australia to upgrade existing distribution poles and wires. The proposal will enable over 1 GW of renewable capacity. [Utility Magazine]

Hunter Valley (David Baron, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “New UK Data Sends Nuclear Warning For Australia” • The UK’s Financial Times reported that the 3,260-MW Sizewell C project, which is expected to be the UK’s next nuclear power plant, is now likely to cost around £40 billion, or A$80 billion ($49.32 billion), to construct. That equates to A$24,540/kW ($15,100/kW) of capacity. [IEEFA]

US:

¶ “More Wind Energy Heading To The United States, One Way Or Another” • The US offshore wind industry is facing some serious blowback from the White House, but President Trump is powerless to stop another form of wind energy from arriving on American shores. The cargo shipping industry is rediscovering wind-assisted propulsion. [CleanTechnica]

Neoliner Ro-Ro  (Courtesy of Neoline)

¶ “EDF Starts Up US Solar-Storage Plant” • EDF Renewables North America and Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure have achieved commercial operation at a 300-MW solar-storage project in California. The Desert Quartzite project includes a 150-MW, four-hour battery system. It has been delivered to Clean Power Alliance. [reNews]

¶ “Tariffs Will Increase US Clean Power Prices” • The Trump regime’s plans to apply tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico will impact progress to reduce the cost of energy from US wind and solar farms. Jason Grumet, CEO of the trade body American Clean Power Association, said energy impacts prices of nearly all consumer goods. [reNews]

Have an incontrovertibly perfect day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “New Aluminum-Ion Battery Offers Promising Solution For Renewable Energy” • Researchers have developed an innovative aluminum-ion battery that not only offers enhanced safety and recyclability but also delivers exceptional longevity, through well over 10,000 charge-discharge cycles, making it a contender for large-scale energy storage applications. [i-hls.com]

Aluminum ingot (Romary, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

World:

¶ “How The EV Sector In Canada Can Thrive Even In The Era Of Tariffs” • Writing in The Conversation, Charles Conteh of Brock University in Ontario and Tia Henstra of Brock University argue that tariffs (assuming they ever actually go into effect) should not be seen as a detriment to Canada’ electric car industry but rather as a way to accelerate it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPENG Sales Up 238% In January” • XPENG had quite a good 2024, but 2025 is entering with fireworks that make the 2024 results look like sparklers. XPENG’s January 2025 sales were 238% higher than its January sales of the year before. With 30,350 deliveries, this was the third month in a row that XPENG were greater than 30,000 sales. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG Mona M03 (XPENG image)

¶ “Power Sector Crisis Will Deepen Without Urgent Reforms: Task Force Report” • Bangladesh’s power sector has long been dependent on a few companies, as weak government policies allow certain firms to win power project tenders repeatedly with no competition, according to a report by the Task Force on Economic Reforms. [The Business Standard]

¶ “China Hits Clean Energy Goal Six Years Ahead Of Schedule” • A record pace of installations of solar and wind power in recent years helped China achieve its 2030 renewable energy capacity target six years early. In 2020, China set a goal to have at least 1,200 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2030. China has already hit that target. [OilPrice.com]

Wind turbines in China (Paolo Dala, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

“Oil India Launches Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, OIL Green Energy Limited” • State-run Oil India Limited incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, OIL Green Energy Limited, to focus on the business of renewable and non-conventional energy. The announcement was made through a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. [Indianmasterminds]

¶ “Myanmar Implements Eleven Solar Power Plant Projects” • A total of eleven solar power plant projects are under construction and development across Myanmar, according to the Electricity and Energy Development Commission. They will have a total capacity of 1,026 MW. The government is expediting renewable energy projects. [Global New Light Of Myanmar]

Myanmar (Gerd Eichmann, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Budget 2025-26 Goes Big On Nuclear; Experts Question Move” • Union Minister for Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman made major announcements about nuclear energy in India. She spoke of private companies and nuclear energy’s role in the country’s energy mix. But experts warn of the safety risks of developing nuclear energy in the country. [Down To Earth]

US:

¶ “Joseph Stiglitz Asks Whether America Is Witnessing The End Of Progress” • Project Syndicate published an essay by Joseph Stiglitz that began, “Though the United States has long led the world in advancing basic science and technology, it is hard to see how this can continue under President Donald Trump and the country’s ascendant oligarchy.” [CleanTechnica]

Joseph Stiglitz (New America, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Unions Warn Members About Musk’s Masked Severance Promises” • The Trump regime has let go hundreds of federal employees, including several whose job is to do objective audits of federal agencies. The Washington Post reported that 2.3 million federal employees were offered a severance package. Unions said not to trust the offer. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “South Carolina Is Untapped Ground for Solar Energy” • As South Carolina anticipates a big increase in energy demand in the coming years, some utilities are turning to solar as a way to build out energy quickly and cheaply. Reagan Farr, co-founder and CEO at Silicon Ranch, said solar is the fastest and least costly way to get power to the grid. [Inside Climate News]

Installing a transformer (Courtesy of Silicon Ranch)

¶ “Lightsource Bp Brings 288-MW Solar Portfolio In Texas Online” • Lightsource bp announced two solar power projects in Texas with a combined 288 MW of generation capacity are now online, pushing the company’s operational fleet in that state to over 1 GW of power production. The projects are in Starr County and Brazoria County. [POWER Magazine]

¶ “Exxon Mobil’s Strong Fourth Quarter Fueled By Increasing Production” • Exxon Mobil posted strong fourth quarter profits as it increased production in the Permian basin at home, and in Guyana. The Texas company earned $7.61 billion, or $1.72 per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31. It earned $7.63 billion, or $1.91 per share, in Q4 of 2023. [ABC News]

Have a marvelously reflective day.

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World:

¶ “This Is How Much Climate Change Has Impacted Polar Bear Populations” • The melting of Arctic sea ice in the Hudson Bay is seriously impacting polar bears’ ability to hunt, sustain energy, and ensure the survival of cubs. This as lead to a 50% population decline since the mid-1990s, according to a paper published in the journal Science. [ABC News]

Polar Bear (Hans-Jurgen Mager, Unsplash)

¶ “BYD Becomes Fourth Best Selling Automaker in the World!” • Among automakers, in 2024, Toyota was the top seller with 10.82 million sales (down 3.7% from 2023). Volkswagen AG was second with 9.03 million sales (down 2%). Hyundai Motor Group was third with 7.23 sales (down 1.8%). And BYD was fourth with 4.27 million sales (up 41.3%). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Surpasses Coal For The First Time In The EU” • The Ember European Electricity Review for 2025 has some good news for renewable energy. It is is that solar generated more electricity in the EU last year, at 11%, than coal, which dropped to 10%. It is the first time solar has surpassed coal as the source of electricity in that region. [CleanTechnica]

Changes in generation (Ember image)

¶ “Polestar Arctic Circle Cars Showcase Swedish Performance DNA” • Polestar has created a new collection of unique ‘Arctic Circle’ cars that build onto the formula applied to the one-of-a-kind Polestar 2 Arctic Circle first shown in 2022. Now, additional Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 versions have been built to present a complete line-up of EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “First Major Components Arrive For 105-MW Wind Farm” • The first major components for the 105-MW Fasikan wind farm in Sweden have arrived at Sundsvall Harbor. Construction work at the wind farm project has been ongoing since last year. Arise, the construction manager, said the delivery of the components  marked “a key milestone.” [reNews]

Arival of first major components (Arise image)

¶ “Nigeria Seeks $1.1 Billion To Power Rural Communities With Renewable Mini-Grids” • Nigeria’s Federal Government is looking for $1.1 billion in funding to build renewable energy mini-grids. This ambitious project aims to bring electricity to underserved communities, a lifeline for many who have been living in darkness. [Okay.ng]

¶ “EIFO Finances 1.5-GW Polish Offshore Wind Farm” • The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark will provide a finance guarantee of €800 million for the 1500-MW Baltica 2 offshore wind farm. The project is being developed in the Baltic Sea by Ørsted and Polish energy company PGE. Baltica 2 is to be fully commissioned in 2027. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (Martina Nolte, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Australia Eyes Renewable Energy Investments Previously Meant For US” • As US President Donald Trump works to roll back many Biden-era clean energy policies, Australia’s renewable industry hopes to attract investments that had been allocated for the US. The opportunity comes as Australia seeks funding for its own climate goals. [Straight Arrow News]

¶ “Study Doubles EU Wind Power Potential” • The report found “substantially higher onshore wind potential” in Europe, as some countries’ potential doubles. France and Spain could generate enough electricity equivalent to the EU’s projected 2050 demand of around 4,000 TWh, the modelling by the bloc’s researchers at the JRC found. [Euractiv]

Wind turbine (Craig Wallace, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “USDA Orders Removal Of Climate Change Mentions From Public Websites” • The US Department of Agriculture directed agency officials to remove content related to climate change from its public websites, say internal emails obtained by ABC News. Web managers are to identify, archive, or excise materials mentioning climate change. [ABC News]

¶ “Shocker: Trump Tariffs Will Hurt Tesla” • Donald Trump is barely in office, and he’s already launching the US toward a tariff bonanza and trade wars. Elon Musk probably thinks that he and his allies can talk sense into Trump. But as reality dawns, we may start hearing that automakers like Tesla are not selling as many cars as they’d like. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Tesla Fans Schweiz, Unsplash)

¶ “State Farm And Other Insurance Companies Are Major Investors In Fossil Fuels” • Risalat Khan, a senior strategist with Insure Our Future, told Truthout recently, “The insurance industry has the option of cutting exposure to fossil fuel expansion overnight, but rather than doing that, they’re continuing to play both sides.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Offshore Wind Developer Set To Fight Trump” • Atlantic Shores began life as a 50-50 joint venture of EDF and Shell. Now Shell has dropped out. But EDF intends to forge ahead with 2.8 GW of offshore wind energy in New Jersey. And it may have the resources to wage a battle over the legal authority of Trump’s offshore wind shutdown. [CleanTechnica]

Atlantic Shores (Courtesy of Atlantic Shores, cropped)

¶ “Trump’s Orders Upend Green Transition For Co-ops And Condos” • Trump’s executive orders may get blocked by the courts, but they upended the calculus of many co-op and condo boards that invested to electrify their building systems. The orders are based on Trump’s claim that the nation is facing an energy emergency. [Habitat Magazine]

¶ “Lawmakers Say No To Storing Nuclear Waste In Wyoming” • Despite growing support for nuclear energy nationally and in Wyoming in particular, there are simply too many concerns to entertain the possibility of opening the state to the country’s growing stockpile of spent nuclear fuel waste, a number of  state lawmakers say. [Cap City News]

Have a nicely aligned day.

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