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.
geoharvey 