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.
geoharvey 