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World:

¶ “The Swedish City Fined For Missing An Environmental Target” • In 2022, the City of Gothenburg became what may be the first local government on Earth to take out a “sustainability linked loan.” For each of four categories, meet agreed annual improvement levels Gothenburg gets a discount on the yearly fee it pays for the loan. Miss, and pay a fine. [BBC]

Gothenburg (Miguel Bernardo, Unsplash)

¶ “Firm Trials Sustainable Algae Fertilizer For Crops” • NouriSol creates sustainable fertilizers from microalgae already present in farm fields. Its trials suggest it has led to a 21% increase in yield compared to a chemical fertilizer. Making it does not generate carbon emissions, while conventional fertilizers are the source of 3% of greenhouse gas emissions. [BBC]

¶ “Shell Discontinues Solar, Wind Projects In Brazil” • Shell has confirmed it is discontinuing its centralized solar and onshore wind energy projects in Brazil. The decision was taken as part of a portfolio adjustment, the company said. The firm said it will continue to operate Prime Energy, which has smaller solar power assets in Brazil. [reNews]

Solar farm in Brazil (CoyoteBR, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Geely Says Riddara Will Enter A New Phase Of Expansion In 2025, Including South Africa!” • At a conference held by Geely Riddara, distributor representatives from over fifty countries gathered to review the achievements of last year and witness the launch of the 2025 Geely Riddara global strategy. The brand is pushing global expansion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Pollution Hurts Solar Power Efficiency In India” • While India has made significant strides in adopting solar energy, it also has a severe air pollution. Smog and dust particles in the atmosphere scatter sunlight, directly reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching panels. Some solar installations in northern India have reported output losses of up to 30%. [Wion]

Burning rice straw (Neil Palmer, CIAT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “CKPower Expands RECs Operations To Accelerate Global Clean Energy Adoption” • CK Power Public Company Limited, one of Southeast Asia’s largest producers of renewable electricity, is expanding its Renewable Energy Certificates business for the accelerating global transition toward clean energy and greater sustainability commitments. [The Manila Times]

¶ “Mexico Announces Battery Storage Mandate For Renewable Energy Plants” • A month after India introduced an energy storage mandate for renewable energy plants and China ended its own, Mexico has stepped forward with an ambitious 30% capacity requirement, alongside plans to add a further 574 MW of batteries by 2028. [pv magazine International]

Mexico (Andrés Sanz, Unsplash)

¶ “Infrastructure Investment Megatrends Eye Renewable Energy And Data Centers” • The integration of renewable energy and digital infrastructure is a growing area attracting investors, an IMF Investors report found. Its survey shows 80% of respondents plan to increase their infrastructure equity in renewable energy and environmental options. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Leaders Play Power Games In Election Skirmish Over Gas” • Campaigning on opposite sides of Australia, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton spent the third day of the election lead-up bolstering their credentials in bringing down energy bills with the use of gas. Peter Dutton called for a reservation of gas ahead of planned nuclear reactors. [MSN]

Peter Dutton (M Chan, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Insurance Industry Predicts More Future Losses – Now Tariffs Add To The Impact Of Climate Claims ” • It’s more than climate claims that have upended what it means to have insurance. The Trump administration’s insistence on radical tariffs has caused insurers to boost the expected costs of climate claims, which is further upsetting just about everyone. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Aptera Takes Its First Road Trip: Jennifer Sensiba” • Recently, Aptera’s people did something I’ve said they should do for years: take the show on the road! In a YouTube video, the company showed a road trip from Flagstaff, Arizona, back to California in the latest version of the solar-charging two-seater. This is the production-intent build of the vehicle. [CleanTechnica]

Aptera on the road (Aptera image)

¶ “From Phoenix to Vegas on Solar Power (Mostly)” • E-bikes are great for local commuting in decent weather and great for fun rides, but they’re not great at all for road trips. Limited battery range, low speeds, and exposure to the elements can make for a not-so-great experience. However, in a YouTube video, at least one of these problems was tackled. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Waves System Taps Into $30 Million Californian Canal Canopy Trial” • Green Energy Systems, based in Sydney, was selected to trial its “Solar Waves” system with Project Nexus, which aims to install solar canopies over its extensive network of irrigation canals in California. Green Energy Systems will put up 120 kW for approval. [pv magazine Australia]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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World:

¶ “More Beavers Set To Be Released” • A breeding pair of beavers will be released into a new 6.5-hectare (16-acre) enclosure in the Shropshire Hills in the headwaters of the River Clun. The river and its tributaries are a “critical and fragile ecosystem,” and the species within them, like Atlantic Salmon, benefit from beaver dams, which create sediment-free water. [BBC]

Beaver (Dušan veverkolog, Unsplash)

¶ “Uruguay EV Sales Report: 300% Growth In A Record February Brings BEV Market Share Over 15%” • Uruguay has consistently been the second most advanced country in Latin America as far as electrification goes, behind Costa Rica. As far as the auto sales go, EVs and plugin hybrids had a combined market share of 15.4% in February. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Norway’s New Industrial Policy Pivots Away From Hydrogen For Energy” • In 2020, Norway jumped into hydrogen like it was the next North Sea oil rush. The government released a national hydrogen strategy full of ambitions and buzzwords. A problem with such an approach is that physics and economics refuse to read the press releases. [CleanTechnica]

Bergen (Ignacio Ceballos, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Reconsidering Tesla Subsidies After Trump Tariffs” • US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on imported cars (again), and one reaction from the UK is to reconsider its policy on EV subsidies, especially since it is providing so much money to Tesla buyers. The subsidies have come to £188 million in the last nine years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Researchers Reveal Surprising Financial Twist Tied To New Energy Rollout” • Your electric bill might be more stable in the future than you think. A study from the University of Cambridge predicts that meeting green energy goals could have a surprising benefit: fewer price spikes and more predictable costs for homes across Europe. [The Cool Down]

Solar panels (yue chan, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Russia Could Offer Nuclear Power Plant For Mars Mission Of ‘Great Visionary’ Elon Musk, Says Putin’s Envoy” • Russia may provide a small nuclear power plant for a Mars mission planned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, said Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for international cooperation. He said Moscow could discuss the offer with Musk via video conference. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Anonymous Survey Of Oil & Gas Executives Says Geopolitical Uncertainty Clouds Their Outlook” • Out of all the constituent groups in the US, wouldn’t you think that oil and gas executives would be supporting President Donald J. Trump’s policies? Well, an anonymous survey released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says otherwise. [CleanTechnica]

Meeting in the Oval Office (White House, public domain)

¶ “‘Range Anxiety Will Go Away’: How The Mercedes CLA Sedan Could Upend Americans’ Views On EVs” • Americans have two demands when buying an EV: long range and rapid charging. German automaker Mercedes-Benz may have a solution: the upcoming electric CLA sedan. It has a 500-mile range and adds 200 miles in ten minutes of charging. [ABC News]

¶ “Florida Surpasses California In New Solar Installations” • Last May, Florida enacted a law deleting any reference to climate change from most of its state policies. It was a move Republican Governor Ron DeSantis described as ​“restoring sanity …” Oddly enough, against this backdrop of ignorance, Florida has become a national leader in solar power. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array with batteries (NextEra Energy image)

¶ “Major Electric Company Secures Loan To Make A Shift That Could Save Its Customers Money” • Arizona Public Service Company secured a conditional $1.81 billion loan that will help the shift toward renewable energy. The utility company hopes to source 45% of its energy from renewables by 2030 and cease coal-fired generating by 2031. [The Cool Down]

¶ “RWE Expands Renewable Energy In West Texas To Power The Oilfield” • Rising power demand encouraged RWE to expand its renewable energy capacity in West Texas. RWE and GE Vernova are partnering on 109 2.82-MW wind turbines for two projects that, combined, will provide 308 MW of new and upgraded power capacity. [Midland Reporter-Telegram]

Have a superbly relaxing day.

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World:

¶ “Renewable Energy Provided More Than 50% Of UK Electricity In 2024” • Renewable’s share of electricity generation was 50.8% in 2024, the first time that over half of the electricity came from renewables. It was the result of growth in renewable generation and a fall in nonrenewable generation. In 2024, a total 4.2 GW of renewable capacity was added. [CleanTechnica]

Dorenell wind farm (EDF Renewables image)

¶ “VinFast: The EV Revolution Needs More Than Cars” • VinFast isn’t just manufacturing EVs. It is also investing in EV support infrastructure. Across its home market of Vietnam, VinFast has set up charging stations every 3.5 km in cities, far denser than typical urban targets elsewhere. On highways, VinFast stations appear every 65 km. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Confirms 495-MW Fengmiao 1 Deal” • Vestas has taken a 495-MW order from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners for the Fengmiao 1 offshore wind project off the coast of Taiwan. The deal covers 33 turbines, each of 15 MW, and a long-term service agreement designed to ensure optimized performance of the assets, the OEM said. [reNews]

Vestas wind turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “Eolus And Hydro Rein Complete 260 M W Swedish Wind Farm” • Eolus and Hydro Rein have completed construction of the 260-MW Stor-Skälsjön onshore wind farm in Sweden. The wind farm is in Sundsvall and Timrå municipalities in northern Sweden. It has 42 Siemens Gamesa turbines and a total capacity of 260 MW. [reNews]

¶ “Adani Green Energy’ Subsidiary Starts 37.5-MW Solar Power Project In Gujarat’s Khavda” • Adani Green Energy Ltd said in a regulatory filing that a subsidiary, Adani Renewable Energy Fifty Seven Ltd, has commissioned a 37.5-MW solar power project at Khavda in Gujarat. Adani’s total renewable energy capacity has risen to 13,737.8 MW. [TradingView]

Owl on a solar panel (Erik Karits, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewables Capacity Hits 2 Billion kW Mark” • China’s non-fossil fuel power generation capacity reached a historic 2 billion kW (2,000 GW) milestone by the end of February, solidifying the country’s global leadership in the transition away from fossil fuels and marking a pivotal step toward its ambitious climate goals, said industry experts. [China Daily]

US:

¶ “Three Dead After Storms Bring Record-Breaking Texas Floods” • At least three people have died after heavy rain brought record-breaking flooding to South Texas, according to officials. The deaths occurred in Hidalgo County, where officials issued a disaster declaration as a result of the flooding due to rain that fell over the last 24 hours. [ABC News]

Flood (Wade Austin Ellis, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Carolina Wildfires: High Winds, Low Humidity Significantly Increase Threat” • Strong winds and low humidity made big problems for firefighters in the Carolinas, as wildfires have raged in both states. Red flag warnings were up in the western regions of the states, with wind gusts of 30 mph and relative humidity as low as 20%, officials said. [ABC News]

¶ “PG&E Advancing $43 Million For Nine New Community Microgrids In Northern California” • Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced its intent to award up to $43 million in Microgrid Incentive Program grant funding for the development of nine new community microgrids in its Northern and Central California service area. [CleanTechnica]

Sacramento (Basil D Soufi, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “New Long-Duration Energy Storage System To Challenge Tesla Megapack” • Lithium-ion battery systems are usually made to discharge for a few hours at full capacity. The DOE has been scouting for energy storage technologies that can keep going for days, weeks, or even whole seasons. And battery innovators have been responding to the call. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Annapolis Gets Battery Electric Buses From RIDE/BYD” • At a cermony, city officials in Annapolis, Maryland, unveiled two new RIDE battery electric buses. Based in Lancaster, California, RIDE, which was founded in 2023, is the US spinoff of BYD and builds heavy-duty vehicles including school buses, coaches, and trucks for the US market. [CleanTechnica]

BYD electric bus in Chile (Carlos Figueroa Rojas, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Philadelphia Gas Works Looking At Geothermal Energy To Heat And Cool Schools ” • Philadelphia Gas Works is looking at geothermal energy to help keep kids cool in school. The utility issued a Request for Proposals for a firm to conduct a geothermal site survey and feasibility study in conjunction with the School District of Philadelphia. [The Well News]

¶ “US States Race To Attract Smaller, Cheaper Nuclear Reactors For AI Development” • With the promise of newer, cheaper nuclear power on the horizon, U.S. states are vying to position themselves to build and supply the industry’s next generation as policymakers consider expanding subsidies and paving over regulatory obstacles. [NBC New York]

Have an interestingly contemplative day.

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World:

¶ “Fears 19th Century Canal Could Start To Run Dry In Days” • There are fears one of Wales’ most popular canals could start to dry up within a week, prompting calls for the Welsh government to intervene. Operators of the 225-year-old Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal have warned of an “urgent” water shortage without the prospect of imminent rainfall. [BBC]

The Wharf, Brecon (Philip Pankhurst, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Tesla FSD Banned In UK, Trial Ends In China After One Week” • Tesla continues to bang the drum for its misleadingly named Full Self Driving technology package. The problem is that it is not even close to offering full self driving capability. That convinced the UK’s Department for Transport to disallow most Tesla driver-assist features. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPENG Prioritizes AI-Powered Experience-First Strategy at Bangkok International Motorshow” • XPENG, a high-tech car maker, strengthens Thailand premium smart EV leadership with AI-powered experience-first strategy, cutting edge supercharging networks, and better value proposition at the 46th Bangkok International Motorshow. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG showroom (YEING Luwem Hai Wangs, public domain)

¶ “China Announces Controversial Plan To Address Its Massive Power Needs: ‘New Energy Bases'” • While some renewable energy projects go in the right direction, other proposed plans spark controversy. One is a hydropower facility in Tibet. Experts point out it would have the potential to “impact on downstream water flows,” Reuters reported. [The Cool Down]

¶ “First Turbine Installed At 1.4-GW Sofia Wind Farm” • Cadeler successfully installed the first of 100 turbines at RWE’s 1.4-GW Sofia wind farm off east England. Jack-up Wind Peak arrived at the site on 22 March after being loaded out with the first batch of six Siemens Gamesa 14-MW machines at the turbine maker’s blade factory in Hull. [reNews]

Wind Peak (Cadeler image)

¶ “Even As New Clean Energy Breaks Records, Energy Emissions Rise” • Over 700 GW of clean energy capacity were installed last year worldwide, a March International Energy Agency report says. That’s more than double the amount built in 2022. Despite the growth of carbon-free power, emissions from the energy sector rose by nearly 1%. [Canary Media]

¶ “CDWE Installs Hai Long OSS Topside” • CDWE installed the HL3 OSS topside on the jacket for the 1-GW Hai Long offshore wind project, off Taiwan. This marks completion of two offshore substations (OSS) following the OSS installation campaign from last year for the offshore wind farm. The installation was carried out by the vessel Green Jade. [reNews]

OSS installation (CDWE image)

¶ “Scotland Generated Record Amount Of Renewable Electricity In 2024” • Scotland generated a record amount of energy from renewables last year. Data shows the electricity generated north of the Border helped power the rest of the UK. The majority of energy was produced by wind turbines, with 30.1 TWh coming from wind projects. [The National Scot]

¶ “Vindr To Deliver 600-MW Latvian High-Five” • Renewable energy company Vindr has secured five new wind park development areas in Latvia. The Nordic developer plans to invest up to €600m in the wind farms, with the total capacity exceeding 600 MW. The five development areas are Cēsis, Jēkabpils, Līvāni, Saldus, and Valmiera. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Abby Anaday, Unsplash)

¶ “Why a Diesel Tank Failure at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Is a Global Threat” • The latest incident – the failure of an emergency diesel tank at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – threatens the stability of the plant’s operation and could lead to a catastrophe similar to the accident at the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi NPP. [Fakti.bg]

US:

¶ “US Geothermal Energy Startup Pre-Qualified By US Air Force, Eyes Scaleup” • The geothermal energy startup XGS Energy is a Texas-based firm is part of a cohort of geothermal innovators pre-qualified to bid on Department of of Defense contracts. It just secured another $13 million to help speed its way to commercialization. [CleanTechnica]

Geothermal energy innovation (XGS Energy image)

¶ “New York City Indoor Pollution Law Upheld By Federal Court” • A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by plumbing and building trade groups against the New York City ban on methane gas in new buildings. Legal experts say the decision is a strong legal footing for all types of local policies to phase out gas in buildings. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hyundai, Kia, And Genesis Plant That Can Produce 500,000 Electric And Hybrid Vehicles Opens In Georgia” • Hyundai Motor Group invested $12.6 billion to build the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. Now it’s open. Hyundai says it will produce up to 500,000 Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric and hybrid vehicles per year. [CleanTechnica]

Metaplant America (Hyundai Motor America image)

¶ “Southwest Power Pool Can Hit 90% Renewables By 2050, Says Brattle Group” • High shares of renewable generation could enable the grid operator Southwest Power Pool to serve its customers with no increase in inflation-adjusted costs per megawatt-hour of electricity through 2050, a Brattle Group study has found. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Farmers In Trump Country Were Counting On Clean Energy Grants. Then The Goalposts Were Moved” • The Department of Agriculture announced it will release previously authorized grant funds to farmers and rural business owners to build renewable energy projects, but only if they rewrite applications to comply with the president’s priorities. [The Allegheny Front]

Have a decidedly goodly day.

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World:

¶ “Climate Change And Overfishing Threaten Vietnam’s Ancient Tradition” • Fish sauce is recognized by Vietnam as a central part of the country’s heritage. But that heritage is in danger. Climate change and overfishing make it harder to catch the anchovies essential to the condiment that underlies so much of Vietnam and southeast Asia’s food. [ABC News]

Anchovies (engin akyurt, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “How China’s Sinopec Is Escaping The Gas Utility Death Spiral” • When Sinopec, China’s petroleum giant, decided to start drilling geothermal wells instead of oil wells, it was initially greeted with skepticism. Renewable energy? Surely not the first place you’d expect an oil-and-gas colossus to stake its future. But Sinopec wasn’t dabbling. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “92.5% of New Power Capacity Added Worldwide in 2024 Was from Renewables” • Some 92.5% of new power capacity added to the grid in 2024 came from renewable energy sources. This is not even a competition anymore. And that’s great, because we’re still running behind schedule when it comes to decarbonizing the world. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it (IRENA image)

¶ “Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Makes 2.3-GW Italian BESS Pact” • CIP, through its Flagship Fund CI V, entered into a partnership with Italian developer GC Storage Services for a 2,300-MW pipeline of large-scale batteries in Italy. The projects are in Northern and Southern Italy, with the first expected to be in a ready-to-build in 2025. [reNews]

¶ “Biggest Solar Project in the World Gets UK Investment Boost” • In the Philippines, what is set to become the world’s largest solar and battery storage facility, the Meralco Terra Solar Project got a boost to hasten its completion when UK-based global investment firm Actis closed a 348 billion peso ($600 million) investment recently. [CleanTechnica]

Solar project in the Philippines (Solar Philippines image)

¶ “Vattenfall Gets Nod For Ourack Wind Farm” • Vattenfall’s Ourack wind farm in the Scottish Highlands was granted consent by Scottish Ministers. The Ourack wind farm will consist of seventeen wind turbines and have a capacity of around 100 MW, generating enough electricity to meet the requirements of about 64,000 households. [reNews]

¶ “Software Empowering Farmers To Reap Renewable Benefits” • A project partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency is set to help landowners make best use of their land for renewable energy. The $500,000 investment will help RELA Australia improve software that helps assess the land’s potential for wind and solar capacity. [Energy Magazine]

Wind turbine (Grahame Jenkins, Unsplash)

¶ “‘Cheapest Domestic Energy There’s Ever Been:’ How Rooftop Solar Has Reduced Bills For All” • A report released last week to showcase the downward impact of renewables on power prices contained a stunning and timely reminder: Nothing has crushed household energy bills quite like rooftop solar, and not just for solar households. [One Step Off The Grid]

US:

¶ “Honey Bee Colonies Could Face 70% Losses In 2025” • Honey bee colonies across the US are facing record-breaking losses in 2025. Scientists warn there could be an impact on agricultural production. Washington State University entomologists project that commercial honey bee colony losses are to be between 60% and 70% this year. [ABC News]

Honey bee (Gaurav Kumar, Unsplash)

¶ “These Are The Impacts Some Scientists Fear Most From EPA Deregulation” • Several of the environmental freedoms that Americans experience today – clean air, clean water and clean rain among them – could soon be in jeopardy from the plans to deregulate the Environmental Protection Agency, several experts told ABC News. [ABC News]

¶ “Solar Canals Are Coming For Your Fossil Fuels” • The US is ripe with opportunities to establish itself as a leader in the solar canal movement, which opens up sites to develop solar power on existing water infrastructure. In California, researchers are hot on the trail of best cases for site selection among the state’s 4,000 miles of irrigation canals. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels over a canal (TID Water and Power)

¶ “NYS Takes Over Solar Energy Project In Fort Edward” • A renewable energy project will soon be underway in Washington County, New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced. The project will reportedly create more than 100 jobs. The New York Power Authority has acquired full ownership of the Somers Solar Project in the town of Fort Edward. [NEWS10 ABC]

¶ “Fast Track For One New Agrivoltaic Project In California, More To Follow” • Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he fast tracked the Cornucopia Hybrid Project for construction under the California Environmental Quality Act. It consists of a 300-MW solar array and a 300-MW battery energy storage, with provisions for solar grazing. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaic project in California (Courtesy of Baywa RE)

¶ “DOE Reissues $900 Million Nuclear SMR Opportunity, Scraps Community Criteria To Focus On Technical Merit” • The US DOE reissued a $900 million funding opportunity to accelerate deployment of Generation III+ small modular reactors. It is removing community benefit requirements and shifting the focus solely to technical merit. [POWER Magazine]

¶ “Palisades Nuclear Plant Revival Sparks Industry Interest” • Last year, Holtec International, the private owner of the Palisades Power Plant in Covert, Michigan, announced plans to reopen the facility after it closed in 2022. If it is successful, the Palisades Nuclear Plant could provide a blueprint that other energy companies could follow. [OilPrice.com]

Have a curiously inspirational day.

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World:

¶ “BYD Advances Its ‘All EVs Great And Small’ Strategy” • BYD is having a breakout year. In 2024, it sold $107 billion worth of automobiles, trucks, and buses, up 29% from the prior year. People who make their living guessing about such things had estimated the company’s revenue would be less by about 11 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). [CleanTechnica]

BYD EV (BYD image)

¶ “Tesla Sales Fall By 49% In Europe Even As The Electric Vehicle Market Grows” • European sales of Tesla EVs tumbled 49% in the first two months of the year compared with a year earlier even as overall sales of EVs grew, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. As Tesla sales are down, BYD’s EV and hybrid sales are up 40%. [ABC News]

¶ “Vattenfall Makes FID On The 1.6-GW Nordlicht Cluster” • Vattenfall made the final investment decision on the 1600-MW Nordlicht cluster in Germany, with BASF securing long-term access to renewable electricity. Construction of the Nordlicht 1 and 2 wind farms in the North Sea is due to begin in 2026 and they are expected to be operational in 2028. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbine (Vattenfall image)

¶ “Solar Becomes Spain’s Top Source Of New Power In 2024” • Spain generated 148,999 GWh of renewable energy in 2024, which is 56.8% of total electricity production, according to grid operator Red Eléctrica de España. Wind power accounted for 23.2% of total generation, followed by nuclear at 20%. Solar, at 17%, grew the most. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Repsol Invests In 400-MW Spanish Portfolio” • Repsol has joined forces with Schroders Greencoat as a 49% partner in a 400-MW wind and solar portfolio, valued at €580 million. The portfolio includes eight wind farms, totaling 300 MW, in the northern Spain. The agreement also includes two solar plants, totaling 100 MW. [reNews]

Wind farm (Repsol image)

¶ “Renewables Surged Globally In 2024, New Data Shows” • Renewable energy capacity around the world surged last year, particularly in the US and China, according to a report. The data shows that renewables, including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro power sources are growing far faster than traditional power, but not fast enough. [Axios]

¶ “Quanta To Build Solar Farms For Stellantis” • Quanta Energy will build almost 58 MW of solar farms for Stellantis. The car company, owner of such brands as Citroën, Fiat, and Peugeot, chose Quanta Energy to support decarbonizeation of its facilities in Poland. The first of the solar farms is already operating, three months ahead of schedule. [reNews]

Quanta solar farm (Quanta image)

¶ “BluPine Energy Gets ₹1,787 Crore From NaBFID To Increase Renewable Energy Portfolio” • BluPine Energy closed a deal of ₹1,787 crore ($287 million) with the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development. The funding will allow BluPine to optimize financial structuring, enhance operational efficiency, and fuel portfolio expansion. [pv magazine India]

¶ “CEFC Commitment Of $2 Billion Banks On Future Clean Energy Investments” • The Clean Energy Finance Corporation was allocated A$2 billion ($1.2 billion) in the 2025-26 Federal Budget to invest in renewable power and storage, efficiency, and other low emissions technology. The sum will support further private sector investment. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar system (Potentia Energy image)

¶ “Moscow Says Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Part Of Russia – Rules Out Return To Ukraine” • The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Moscow “does not consider it possible” to transfer the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine or any other country, and joint operation with another country is unacceptable. [Kyiv Post]

US:

¶ “How Americans Could Suffer If The National Weather Service Is Privatized” • The NWS provides basic, integral information with the aim to protect the public rather than make a profit, said ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee. The NWS costs each American about $4 per year. One meteorology professor said the return on investment is about 73 to 1. [ABC News]

Weather (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “In 50 Of 82 Days in 2025, Solar, Wind, And Water Surpass 100% Of Electric Demand In California For Part Of Day” • Prof Mark Z Jacobson, of Stanford University, shared on BlueSky that in 50 of the first 82 days of 2025, wind, water, and solar power supplied over 100% of California’s electricity demand for at least part of the day. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kia Protecting Freshwater In USA” • When we talk and write about cleantech, we often refer to technologies that help prevent global heating and climate crisis. However, there are other things to protect too, like water. Kia America has teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to help with freshwater conservation around the US. [CleanTechnica]

Freshwater (Robin Nguyen, Unsplash)

¶ “Waymo DC” • Waymo has been expanding faster and faster in the past couple of years, and it seemed certain that the company would bring its robotaxis to a new major market in 2025. In fact, Waymo could expand into more than one city, but the big news has come of its latest expansion. Waymo One is going to start working in Washington, DC. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Power Is Now The Fastest-Growing Source Of Electricity In The US” • The Energy Information Administration confirmed the exciting news in a 2024 “Electric Power Monthly” report, which showed that the combination of utility-scale and rooftop solar increased by roughly 27% compared to the same period in 2023, according to Electrek. [The Cool Down]

Have an entirely enjoyable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Actual Problem with Airplane Contrails” • Conspiracy theories around airplane contrails have been around for years, saying nefarious hidden forces are spraying slow-killing poison on us via “chemtrails.” Unfortunately, aviation contrails add to climate change, significantly. It’s just not the conspiracy theory some would like to believe. [CleanTechnica]

Contrail (Fr Daniel Ciucci, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “3D Nanotech Blankets Offer New Path To Clean Drinking Water” • Researchers developed a material that can use sunlight to clear water of dangerous pollutants. Created by combining soft chemistry gels and electrospinning the team constructed thin fiber-like strips of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), which is often used for self-cleaning technologies. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “BESS + Solar Farm + Blueberries = Energy Resilience In New Zealand” • Meridian Energy announced that it is about to begin construction of the 130-MW Ruakākā Solar Farm, to the south of Whangārei. This will be the company’s first solar farm in New Zealand. Whangarei is the northernmost city in the country, situated on the North Island. [CleanTechnica]

Ruakākā (Courtesy of Meridian Energy)

¶ “Trump Says Countries That Buy Venezuelan Oil Will Face 25% Tariff” • President Donald Trump said he would be placing a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela as well as imposing new tariffs on the South American country itself. In a Truth Social post, he said said Venezuela has been “very hostile” to the US. [ABC News]

¶ “Kent Wins Contract To Aid UK Energy Transition” • Kent, an engineering and project services company, has won a framework contract to support the UK government’s energy transition. Kent was awarded a place on the UK’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero ENZPS framework to provide strategic expertise and management advice. [reNews]

Offshore infrastructure (Kent image)

¶ “Copperbelt To Invest $500 Million In Solar Power And Transmission Line Upgrades” • Zambia-based Copperbelt Energy Corporation plans to invest $500 million up to 2026 to boost solar power generation and increase the capacity of its power transmission line link to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Reuters. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Offshore Substation Installed For Changhua 2b&4” • The offshore substation for Ørsted’s 920-MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 wind farms in Taiwan has been installed. The company hailed the installation as a “landmark milestone” for the construction of the offshore wind project. Ørsted also did the first export cable selection for the project. [reNews]

Substation (Ørsted via LinkedIn)

¶ “Research Shows Germany’s Investments In Renewables Are ‘Paying Back’” • In a recently published study, researchers at the Brandenburg University of Technology in Germany reported that the “majority of subsidies” required to reach the costs associated with the Renewable Energy Sources Act have already been covered. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Nexans Secures €1 Billion Framework Deal With RTE” • Cable manufacturer Nexans secured a framework agreement with RTE, the French transmission system operator, to help connect three offshore wind farms to the grid. The agreement covers supply, installation, and commissioning of 450 km of HVDC subsea cables and 280 km of HVDC onshore cables. [reNews]

Nexans ship (Nexans image)

¶ “Climate-Related Heatwaves Pushed Up The Energy Sector’s Emissions In 2024, Despite Record Wind And Solar” • Climate change-created heat waves were behind a rise in energy-related carbon emissions last year, according to an International Energy Agency report. The need for cooling was one of the key drivers of final energy demand in 2024. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Texas Senate Votes To Shred Renewable Energy Rules” • The Texas senate, obeying the demands of the fossil fuel industries, passed SB 388, which sets a target for 50% of new power plant capacity to be ​“sourced from dispatchable generation other than battery energy storage.” Companies that invest their money any other way will have to buy credits. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Octopus Energy image)

¶ “Deep Geothermal Energy Production Progress in Utah” • The University of Utah, with support of the US DOE, is conducting the FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) experiment in Utah. For the project, wells are drilled deep into the Earth so geothermal energy can be extracted. This can be done nearly anywhere. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Dumps On Heat Pumps, But They’re Coming” • Pres Trump withdrew heat pumps from federal support through the Defense Production Act. It is intended to stimulate key domestic manufacturing sectors vital to the national interest. So, will the DPA revocation stop the heat pump revolution? Probably not (note the emphasis). [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (US DOE image)

¶ “Washington DC’s Iconic Cherry Blossoms Are Days Away From Peak Bloom” • Extreme warm or cool temperatures have caused the DC blooms to occur as early as March 15 and as late as April 18, the NPS said. In 2024, peak bloom occurred on March 17, the second-earliest peak bloom on record, due to climate change and warmer temperatures. [ABC News]

¶ “Environmental Groups Urge Governor Polis To Veto Bill That Would Define Nuclear Energy As ‘Clean’” • Environmental groups are asking Colorado Governor Jared Polis to veto a bill approved by the state legislature to classify nuclear power as a clean energy source. It is the third attempt in three years by lawmakers to pass such a bill. [AspenTimes.com]

Have an honestly ideal day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Power Will Be The Radioactive Cousin Of The Fossil Fuel Industry” • With the threat of climate change becoming a more widely acknowledged reality, lobbyists persuade decision makers and the public that nuclear reactors can help us. Sadly, nuclear power will just prove to be the radioactive cousin of the fossil fuel industry. [Colorado Newsline]

Nuclear plant in France (Jametlene Reskp, Unsplash)

¶ “Human Contribution To Climate Change” • The fact that climate change is driven by human activities is an established scientific reality. Journalists need to be aware of the scientific facts and ensure that they don’t try to ‘balance’ coverage by treating differing views in the global warming debate as having equal credibility. [Media Helping Media]

World:

¶ “Can Underground Thermal Batteries Warm Northern Cities in Deep Winter?” • Seasonal thermal energy storage with ground-source geothermal captures summer heat, whether from solar thermal panels, surplus renewable electricity, or waste industrial heat, and stores it underground, retrieving it months later when temperatures plunge. [CleanTechnica]

Calgary (Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash)

¶ “Great British Energy Is Bringing Renewables To Schools, Hospitals, And Local Governments” • The first project for the UK’s new state-owned Great British Energy will be to invest £200 million to put rooftop solar panels on schools and hospitals all over the county to help save hundreds of millions of pounds on their energy bills. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Stardust’s Creating Geoengineering Technology” • According to Wired, Israeli startup Stardust is developing geoengineering technology that would help block the sun’s rays from reaching the Earth. The theory is that the Earth would be cooled a bit by the new technology, just as the awnings and window shades kept houses cooler in times past. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.
(courtesy of Union of Concerned Scientists)

¶ “Equis Starts Construction Of 250-MW Australian BESS” • Equis Australia started building a 250-MW, 500-MWh energy storage facility in New South Wales after it reached financial close. The Calala battery energy storage system is expected to be fully operational by 2027 and will have enough power to supply electricity for up to 115,000 homes. [reNews]

¶ “SFE Installs First Jacket At 300-MW Offshore Wind Farm” • Shinfox Far East Energy has installed the first jacket foundation for a 300-MW offshore wind farm in Taiwan. The jacket, which is taller than a 20-storey building, is now standing on the seabed of the wind farm. The foundations are being installed by the crane vessel SFE Hercules. [reNews]

SFE Hercules (Image via LinkedIn)

¶ “Bangladesh Launches 2.65-GW Solar Tender” • A tender for 2.65 GW of solar capacity was issued by the Bangladesh Power Development Board, as the country’s government aims to develop fourteen solar plants, each between 105 MW and 250 MW. BPDB will award selected developers 20-year power purchase agreements. [pv magazine International]

¶ “European Energy Inaugurates Oz Solar Park” • European Energy inaugurated its first operational Australian solar project after completing it ahead of schedule. The 58-MW Mokoan Solar Park in Winton, Victoria marks the opening step in European Energy’s 9-GW pipeline in Australia. Commercial operation is due to begin in June 2025. [reNews]

Australian solar park (European Energy image)

¶ “RPower Inks First Long-Term PPA in Romania” • RPower has signed its first long-term Power Purchase Agreement in Romania for the supply of 357-GWh of green energy with a local trading company. RPower, based in Poland, said the 2026-2036 contract marks an important step in its expansion into the European renewable energy market. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Monsanto Parent Ordered To Pay Nearly $2.1 Billion In Roundup Weedkiller Lawsuit” • A jury in Georgia ordered Bayer, the parent of Monsanto, to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who says the company’s Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, according to attorneys representing the plaintiff. In is just the latest verdict against Monsanto. [ABC News]

Corn field (Stefano Marinelli, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “‘Fun On The Road Or Trail’: Why Rugged EVs Are Now In Demand” • Automakers are now targeting niche markets to boost sales. Instead of highlighting such things as range, selling points include an EV’s off-road capability and weekend warrior cred. Plus, the latest electrics have the brawny, boxlike styling that consumers seek. [ABC News]

¶ “ORPC Files Draft License For Alaska Tidal Energy Project” • US-based Ocean Renewable Power Company has submitted a draft pilot license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its East Foreland Tidal Energy Project in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The site is recognized as having the highest tidal energy potential in the US. [Offshore-Energy.biz]

Cook Inlet (Meg von Haartman, Unsplash)

¶ “A $7.50 Monthly Credit For Off-Peak EV Charging, Imagine Doing That With Your Gasmobile” • In Florida, 3,000 EV owners decided that $7.50 was enough for them to rush into an off-peak pilot project Duke Energy created. The test program was quickly oversubscribed and now Duke is offering it to everyone in their Florida territory. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy To Reach 37.4% Of US Generating Capacity By 2028” • By February 1, 2028, renewable energy sources are projected to make up 37.4% of the total installed utility-scale generating capacity in the US, trailing only natural gas at 40.2%, according to the latest data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. [Softonic]

Have an exquisitely fine day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Trump Is Powerless To Stop The Community Solar Movement From Spreading” • Trump eliminated federal funding allocated for cleantech through the Defense Production Act. The sweeping gesture generated a few headlines for the attention-seeking 47th President of the US, but the reality behind the headlines tells a different story. [CleanTechnica]

Community solar project (Courtesy of Dimension Energy)

¶ “Building Nuclear Involves Killing More People” • In Australia, building nuclear power plants requires keeping air-polluting coal power going for an extra 25 years, which would kill 3000-10,000 people. Nuclear plants are considered too expensive, too slow, too risky, too little expertise and not necessary when there are better alternatives. [Pearls and Irritations]

World:

¶ “Plans For New Marine Nature Reserve Revealed” • There are plans to establish a marine nature reserve off the east coast of the Isle of Man to protect newly discovered eelgrass beds. Under the Manx Wildlife Act, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is obliged to protect eelgrass by creating marine nature reserves and conservation zones. [BBC]

Eelgrass (Olivier Dugornay, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Trees Felled By Storm ‘Helping Support Nature'” • Exmoor National Park Authority said in December Storm Darragh, which brought winds of up to 88 mph (142 km/h), caused “significant damage and disruption” to the park. Trees thay fell at the national park in Devon during the storm are helping support insects, conservationists have said. [BBC]

¶ “Europe’s Electricity Crisis: From Heathrow’s Blackout To A Continental Wake-Up Call” • A fire that shut down Heathrow Airpor didn’t just cancel flights. A single substation failure near a busy transport hub brought European air traffic to a standstill, just because a complex of hardware that links transmission to distribution at a single site failed. [CleanTechnica]

Jet (John McArthur, Unsplash)

¶ “The Share Of Renewable Energy In The EU Increased To 46.9% In 2024” • In 2024, 46.9% of all electricity in the EU was generated from renewable sources. A Eurostat press release says Denmark is the leader in the share of green electricity among EU countries, with 88.4% of its electricity generation coming from wind farms. [GMK Center]

US:

¶ “Experts Say US Weather Forecasts Will Worsen As DOGE Cuts Balloon Launches” • With massive job cuts, the National Weather Service is eliminating or reducing vital weather balloon launches in eight northern locations, which meteorologists and former agency leaders said will degrade the accuracy of forecasts just as severe weather season kicks in. [ABC News]

Weather balloon launch (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Tariff Anxiety Makes Honda And Toyota Strange Bedfellows” • Toyota is building a $14 billion battery factory in North Carolina, but it won’t need all those batteries for its own vehicles until sometime in the middle future. Honda, in an unexpected move as it navigates US tariff rules, will buy batteries from Toyota for its hybrid offerings . [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Big Oil Lobbying Congress For Immunity From Climate Lawsuits” • Big Oil, along with its conjoined methane producers, is lobbying Congress to shield it from liability for destroying the environment. Pay attention to this: The fossil fuel industry is asking to be let off the hook for decades of lying and cheating that cost thousands of lives. [CleanTechnica]

Sign in Maryland Statehouse (Daniel Huizinga, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Solar Manufacturing Accelerates In Texas … With Freyr Battery In The Mix (‽)” • Texas has been growing its solar manufacturing profile even as state lawmakers try to obstruct the Texas energy transition. Among the news makers is Freyr Battery, which had ditched plans for a $2.6 billion battery factory in Georgia just a few weeks ago. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The 28 States Where Clean Energy Beats Coal” • The US hit a major energy-transition milestone last year: For the first time ever, it produced more electricity from wind and solar than from coal. Over half of U.S. states get more power from wind turbines and solar panels than they do from polluting, planet-warming coal, an Ember report says. [Canary Media]

Have a magnificently tranquil day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “BlueShift Electro-Chemical Process Extracts Critical Minerals From Industrial Waste And Seawater” • There are many minerals and other valuable components in wastewater. But extraction can be  costly and have negative environmental impacts. BlueShift, a startup, says it has answers to those problems and has landed $2.1 million in seed money for a pilot project. [CleanTechnica]

BlueShift cell (BlueShift image)

World:

¶ “Ocean Dumping – Or Climate Solution? An Industry Bets On The Ocean To Capture Carbon” • From the grounds of a gas-fired power plant on the eastern shores of Canada, a little-known company is pumping a mixture of water and magnesium oxide into the ocean in the name of stopping climate change. Whether it’s pollution or a silver bullet that will save the planet may depend on whom you ask. [ABC News]

¶ “Konect: Transforming Australian Service Stations into Multi-Fuel Convenience Hubs” • Gilbarco Veeder-Root introduced Konect, a fully integrated EV charging ecosystem for Australian fuel retailers. GVR describes Konect as an end-to-end offering for electrification, calling it a “golden opportunity to deliver the EV charging experience Australians crave.” [CleanTechnica]

Multi fuel servo future (Courtesy of Konect)

¶ “Brazil EV Sales Report: In February, For Five Months In A Row, EV Sales Surpassed 10,000” • EV sales in February grew by 55% YOY in Brazil. The country broke record after record. It sold over 100,000 EVs in 2024, making it one of the few countries worldwide to reach that number. In February 2025, it sold over 10,000 EVs for the fifth month in a row. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Is Scaling Geothermal District Heating And The World Should Pay Attention” • When China starts scaling a technology at massive levels, the rest of the world should take notice. That’s not a geopolitical statement, it’s a thermodynamic and logistical one. China doesn’t mess around when it comes to heat, power, and infrastructure. [CleanTechnica]

Village in China (Diem Nhi Nguyen, Unsplash)

¶ “Subsea7 Renewables Unit Sees 2024 Earnings Rise” • In 2024, Subsea7’s renewables business unit saw its adjusted earnings rise to $185 million, up from $103 million in the previous year. Revenue increased by 29% to $1.2 billion in 2024, while net operating income was $53 million, up from a prior year loss of $74 million. [reNews]
Subsea7 at work (Subsea7 image)

¶ “Adani Wins $325 Million Green Hydrogen Transmission Gig” • Indian company Adani Energy Solutions has won a $325 million (₹2800 crore) power transmission project in the state of Gujarat. The project will supply green electricity for manufacturing green hydrogen and green ammonia in Mundra and will be completed in three years. [reNews]

Transmission lines (Adani Energy Solutions image)

¶ “Red Tape Hinders Global Clean Energy Goals” • Analyses from Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the International Energy Agency find that the goal of tripling renewable capacity by the end of the decade is feasible if governments cut down on lengthy permitting processes. For example, the US has overlapping state and federal requirements. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Robots To Retrieve Radioactive Sandbags At Fukushima Plant” • Robots will begin moving sandbags that were used to absorb radiation-contaminated water at Fukushima as soon as next week, a spokesman said. Radiation levels on the sandbags’ surface are as high as 4.4 sieverts per hour, which means “humans can die if they approach” them. [The Peninsula Qatar]

Fukushima, before the disaster (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Bill McKibben Sees Trouble Ahead For Tesla And Big Oil” • Bill McKibben, in a Substack post, suggested that Tesla and Big Oil have a common weakness. He says both are way behind the technological curve. The proof? BYD announced a few days ago that it has developed a battery for an electric car that can be recharged in just five minutes. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy To Beat Gas For Three More Years (Or More)” • Fossil fuels were already losing ground in the power generation industry during the first Trump administration. They are set to fall further behind as renewable energy dominates grid capacity additions over the next three years, according to the latest data compiled by FERC. [CleanTechnica]

Solar farm with sheep (Courtesy of NREL)

¶ “Electric Car Options Have Exploded In Number In The USA” • Many of us have been following the EV market for several years. We’ve seen the market go from just a few options (and none of them great) to dozens of options today. The electric car options on the market have exploded in number, especially in the past few years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Exceeds 10% Of US Electric Generating Capacity” • Solar currently represents 10.53% of total available installed generating capacity in the US, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Solar capacity is approaching that of its renewable energy counterpart in wind, which is now 11.77% of available capacity. [pv magazine USA]

Solar panels (Moritz Kindler, Unsplash)

¶ “Nofar And Qcells Agree To Develop 350-MW Of Texan BESS Projects” • Nofar and Qcells have signed an agreement to develop two Texas energy storage projects featuring a combined capacity of 350 MW. The battery energy storage systems (BESS), which will have a two-hour duration (700 MWh), are targeted to come online in 2027. [reNews]

¶ “Government Announces $1.2 Billion Investment For Key Region To Modernize Grid” • The US DOE plans to replace dirty fuel plants in Puerto Rico with solar power and battery storage. The Loan Programs Office granted one loan and conditionally granted two to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. They total over $1.2 billion. [The Cool Down]

Have a certifiably gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “AI Bubble?” • Huge tech companies are going after AI. It is going to solve countless problems at it gets smarter and more useful. We just need to build bigger and bigger datacenters. But Futurism just referenced a survey of AI researchers. It shows that 76% of experts said the brute force approach to general AI was ‘unlikely’ or ‘very unlikely’ to succeed. [CleanTechnica]

Turing Test weakness (CharlesTGillingham, public domain)

¶ “Will Tesla’s Pivot To MAGA Crash The Company? Has Musk’s Reach Exceeded His Grasp?” • Musk’s public profile and his talk about Tesla’s innovations, excellence, and exceptionalism were key ingredients for investors and car buyers alike. No more. Musk is clear: he doesn’t like them who brought him to the dance. And he’s still at it. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Lidar’s Wicked Cost Drop” • An article from China Daily on the growing autonomous driving market and dropping costs, says this: “A LiDAR unit, for instance, used to cost 30,000 yuan (about $4,100), but now it costs only around 1,000 yuan (about $138).” The extra cost is minimal now if it provides much better safety and results in fewer accidents. [CleanTechnica]

Hesai lidar unit (Courtesy of Hesai Technology)

¶ “Schools And Hospitals Get £180 Million Solar Investment” • Hundreds of schools and hospitals in the UK are to receive £180 million for solar panels from the government’s state-owned energy company. The first major investment from Great British Energy was announced as part of government efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions. [BBC]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa To Deliver Egyptian Wind Farm” • Siemens Gamesa entered into an agreement to deliver a large wind farm in Egypt. Under the agreement with the Egyptian government, the turbine maker will build, finance, and operate a 500-MW wind farm to help the country achieve clean energy targets. The wind farm will be built near the Gulf of Suez. [reNews]

Wind farm (Siemens Gamesa image)

¶ “Zelestra To Build 500-MW Hybrid Plant In India” • Zelestra has signed a contract to supply dispatchable renewable energy in India, enabling the construction of a portfolio of 500 MW of wind, solar and battery capacity. The hybrid multi-technology project will deliver 24/7 clean energy generation with wind, solar, and battery storage technology. [reNews]

¶ “Schroders Greencoat Hits 2-GW UK Solar Milestone” • The firm Schroders Greencoat hit a landmark 2 GW in operating UK solar capacity, equivalent to supplying annual needs of around 730,000 homes. With over 200 solar projects operating in the UK, Schroders Greencoat’s portfolio has around one fifth of the UK’s total ground mount solar capacity. [reNews]

Solar panels in Devon (Partonez, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Solar To Take Lead As India Targets 500 GW Of Renewables By 2030” • India’s goal is to have 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, which aligns with its pledge at COP26 to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. Among various renewable energy sources, solar power is poised to play a leading role in realizing this target. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Why Solar And Batteries Are Now The Engine Room Of The Energy Transition” • Quinbrook Infrastructure Investors,one of the world’s biggest investors in renewable energy systems, says the falling cost of solar and batteries is pushing the green energy transition to a “tipping point.” It will underpin massive new green metals industries. [RenewEconomy]

Solar plus batteries (blmcalifornia, public domain)

¶ “Zelenskyy: Nuclear Power Plants ‘Belong To The People Of Ukraine'” • A day after US President Donald Trump, in which Trump reportedly suggested that Ukraine consider transferring ownership of its power plants to the US for long-term security, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s nuclear plants are not a private but a national asset. [Yahoo News UK]

US:

¶ “Commercial Operations Begin At New US Green Hydrogen Plant” • The sudden shift in federal energy policy has not been good news for US hydrogen stakeholders, which were cut off when the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program was suspended. Still, fresh activity in the green hydrogen industry continues to crop up. [CleanTechnica]

Green hydrogen plant (Courtesy of Invenergy)

¶ “Nissan To Get US-Made Batteries From SK On” • The EV market is growing everywhere, even in the USA, and various dynamics are encouraging automakers to get batteries locally, wherever they are. So, it is no surprise at all to learn that Nissan and SK On have just announced a big battery supply agreement for Nissan in North America. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Sustainability Sparks Fly When Geothermal Energy, Orphan Wells, And CAES All Come Together” • In a new twist on geothermal energy, a research team at Penn State University has developed an economical model that leverages the natural heat in unused oil and gas wells for compressed air energy storage to support wind and solar. [CleanTechnica]

Wind and solar (Werner Slocum, NREL via PSU)

¶ “Cutting Clean Energy Won’t Lower New England Utility Bills, Advocates Say” • The are efforts from Maine to Massachusetts to cut clean energy programs to save money. Advocates for clean energy say the irony is that many of the threatened investments contribute relatively little to customers’ monthly bills and save everyone money in the long run. [Canary Media]

¶ “Green Investors Are Finding Bargains in Trump’s Big Oil Era” • Private infrastructure investors are snatching up green bargains in what seems to be a buyer’s market for wind, solar, and battery projects. Brookfield is among the asset managers betting that rising energy consumption and competitive economics will drive demand toward renewables. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a truly great day.

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World:

¶ “Low Carbon Farming ‘Essential’ For Climate Goals” • Low carbon farming practices are “essential” to meeting Northern Ireland’s climate goals, according to the Climate Change Committee. The CCC has recommended a 77% reduction in overall emissions by 2040 in its advice on Northern Ireland’s fourth carbon budget. [BBC]

Farm in Northern Ireland (Eric Jones, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “The Drought-Resistant ‘Zombie Plants’ That Come Back From The Dead” • To protect crops from rising droughts, scientists are looking to the genes of a small group of plants that can survive months of drought then regreen within hours. One hope is that genes can be transplanted into food crops. Another hope is that the transplant will not be necessary. [BBC]

¶ “Last Decade Was Earth’s Hottest Ever As CO₂ Levels Reach An 800,000-Year High” • In its annual State of the Climate report, the World Meteorological Organization revealed an increasingly warming world with oceans at record high temperatures, glaciers retreating at record speed, and sea levels rising. Atmospheric CO₂ levels are at an 800,000-year high. [ABC News]

Ocean (Silas Baisch, Unsplash)

¶ “Adani Green Energy Arm Commissions 250-MW Solar Power Project In Rajasthan” • Adani Green Energy Twenty Four, an Adani Green Energy subsidiary, commissioned a 250-MW solar power project in Rajasthan. With this plant, Adani Green’s total operational renewable generation capacity is 12,841.1 MW, the Adani group firm said. [MSN]

¶ “New Zealand Heads for 100% Renewables!” • According to the New Zealand Electricity Authority, “New Zealand is transitioning to a highly renewable electricity system.” New Zealand’s electric grid will be 100% renewable by 2040. The change will require more investment in new generating capacity and the retirement of thermal power plants. [CleanTechnica]

Waitaki Power Station (Courtesy of Meridian Energy)

¶ “February 2025 Sales Report: 50% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market, even in a month that is one of the slowest of the year due to the Chinese New Year celebrations. Plugins scored 686,000 sales in a 1.39-million-unit overall market. So plugin vehicles hit a 50% market share! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “British Columbia Turns Its Back On Tesla And Musk” • Elon Musk is a cheerleader for Trump’s threats to annex Canada. He wrote on his social media platform X that Canada is “not a real country.” British Columbia responded by eliminating subsidies for Tesla products. Tesla is also no longer on the list of exhibitors at the Vancouver Auto Show. [CleanTechnica]

Sunset at Vancouver (Mike Benna, Unsplash)

¶ “Big Oil Going Green At Even Faster Pace” • China’s national oil companies are accelerating their transition toward clean energy practices, focusing on the efficient use of fossil fuels and the integration of oil, gas, and renewable energy resources, company executives and industry experts have said. China’s goal is to be carbon neutral in 2060. [China Daily]

¶ “Pacific Green Closes 250-MW Oz Battery Sale” • Pacific Green Technologies has reached financial close and completed the sale of a 250-MW, 500-MWh, battery energy storage system project in South Australia. Pacific Green will continue its involvement as construction manager, directing Gransolar and Trina Storage. It is to be operational in February of 2027. [reNews]

Battery Storage System (Pacific Green image)

¶ “Abastible Signs A Long-Term Renewable Energy PPA With Zelestra In Chile” • Abastible, a Chilean electricity provider, and Zelestra, a global renewable energy company, signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the sale of electricity from a 100% renewable source. The plant has 220 MW of solar PVs, along with a 1-GWh battery system. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Mirova And Qualitas Energy Start JV For 250 MW Of Italian Renewable” • Mirova and Qualitas Energy signed an agreement to establish Italian Renewable Platform, a joint venture dedicated to owning, developing, building, and operating up to 250 MW of renewable energy projects in the country. The portfolio consists of 33 solar projects. [reNews]

Large solar farm (Qualitas Energy image)

¶ “Trump Floats A US Takeover Of Ukraine’s Nuclear Plants” • Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky that the US could own and run Ukraine’s nuclear power plants as part of his latest bid to secure a ceasefire in Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. The offer comes as military chiefs prepared for talks in Britain to discuss planning for a peacekeeping force. [Yahoo]

¶ “More ‘Beautiful, Clean Coal’ Power Coming To US Thanks To America’s Ayatollah” • Coal accounts for about 15% of electric generation in the US, down from over 50% in 2000, according to the US Energy Information Administration. But the Trump administration wants its return. He calls it “beautiful, clean coal.” It is neither beautiful nor clean. [CleanTechnica]

Coal-burner (Jason Mavrommatis, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Startup Introduces New Climate Change Tool For Rural Electric Cooperatives” • Climate change is not going away. And the climate data startup Rhizome is among those who anticipate that rural electricity providers are particularly keen to embrace affordable solutions, given their sparse ratepayer base relative to long distribution lines. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ten Electric Vehicles Beating Gas Competitors in California” • Tesla has about 50% of the EV sales in California, but there are several other electric cars that are performing exceptionally well in the Golden State. Let’s stroll through them here and see how they are doing. We will go in order, starting with the EVs with the highest volumes. [CleanTechnica]

Have a captivatingly lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The End Of The Gas-Powered Vehicle Era: Take A Look At The Numbers” • EV adoption has been underway for some years now. The adoption wave consists of two elements: the decline of internal combustion sales, and  the adoption of EVs. In the US, gas vehicle sales declines began in 2018 and are continuing, as EV sales growth is fully underway. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “Green Waste Biochar Plant Set To Be Approved” • A plan for a plant to make biochar from green waste has been recommended for approval. A Shropshire Council planning committee wants to turn a former anaerobic digester into a plant making the biochar. The biochar will be made from green waste, wood, and compost oversize materials. [BBC]

¶ “The European Towns That Give Away Free Chickens” • At around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents in an experimental scheme to reduce food waste. The project was started by the waste collection department in a small village in north eastern France, Colmar Agglomération. [BBC]

Colmar Agglomération (Aswathy N, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Could A BMW i3 Be The Last Car You Ever Own?” • Jennifer Sensiba: I recently came across an article at The Autopian about some aging EVs that are coming back from the dead. How? By getting new batteries! Aside from batteries, EVs really have very little that can go wrong with them. Most motors and electronics could easily go 500,000 or more miles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “More Than 150 ‘Unprecedented’ Climate Disasters Struck World In 2024, Says UN” • The devastating impacts of the climate crisis reached new heights in 2024, with scores of unprecedented heatwaves, floods, and storms across the globe, according to a report by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization. [The Guardian]

Flood (Chris Gallagher, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “India’s NTPC Allocates 1.2 GW Wind-Solar Hybrid Capacity At 3.9¢/kWh” • Indian state-owned power producer NTPC closed an auction of 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid capacity connected to the interstate transmission system at an average price of ₹3.35/kWh (3.9¢/kWh). The winning developers will build, own, and operate the projects. [pv magazine International]

US:

¶ “Trump Wants ‘Clean’ Coal, But There Is No Such Thing” • President Donald Trump has called for the expansion of US coal production. He claims that an increase of “clean” coal produced in the US will soon take place. He said that he is authorizing to begin producing energy with clean coal. The fact that no such thing exists seems not to be a problem. [ABC News]

Clean coal? (Bart van Dijk, Unsplash)

¶ “California Electric Vehicle Sales Rose To 22% Share In 2024, Dominated By (A Declining) Tesla” • California accounted for 31.1% of US EV sales in 2024. Unfortunately, EV market share in California just barely increased in 2024, from 21.7% to 22%. That is a little complicated, so we will get into the details here and see what’s happening. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Don’t Say ‘Climate Resilient’ If You Want US Federal Funding” • Farmers and ranchers are finding themselves in a battle over the way they choose words as they hope to keep federal funding. A USDA spreadsheet obtained by The Washington Post shows that over $400 million of climate resilient projects are under review for possible termination. [CleanTechnica]

Cattle Ranch in Winter (Rennett Stowe, Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

¶ “Another Leading US Bank Downgraded Tesla Stock” • JP Morgan made a big splash when it downgraded Tesla’s stock to $120. Other banks have done the same thing. In a less-reported move Wells Fargo also did some trimming around the edges to arrive at a price point of $130. And financial firms UBS and Redburn Atlantic piled on as well. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GE Vernova And RWE Agree On Texan Deal” • GE Vernova has entered into an agreement with RWE to provide 109 wind turbines to power the Honey Mesquite wind farm in Glasscock County, Texas and repower the Forest Creek Wind Farm near Big Spring, Texas. Deliveries of the 2.8-MW wind turbines for the two projects are to begin this year. [reNews]

Wind farm (GE Vernova image)

¶ “Solar Power Installations Are Trending Up, Hawaiian Electric Reports” • The number of private rooftop solar systems on the Hawaiian Electric grids continued to grow in 2024. Now, there are nearly 114,000 rooftop solar systems installed across the five islands, according to the utility. Most of the 7,976 solar systems in 2024 were residentia. [Maui Now]

¶ “US Firm Fires Up Mississippi PV Project” • Deriva Energy’s 100-MW Wildflower Solar project is online in Mississippi. The project employed close to 300 construction workers during installation and will continue to offer long-term employment while contributing to the local tax base and selling renewable power to Toyota Motor North America. [reNews]

Solar farm (Deriva Energy image)

¶ “North Tonawanda Votes To Restrict Nuclear Energy” • In a unanimous vote, the city council of North Tonawanda, New York restricted the use of nuclear energy for cryptocurrency mining. Rresidents said the move is a win for environmental protection and public health. The vote prohibits micro-nuclear energy facilities within city limits. [WKBW]

¶ “Indiana Utilities Want Ratepayers To Fork Out For Small Nuclear Reactors” • Indiana legislators are considering multiple bills to promote small modular nuclear reactors, including a controversial provision that would let utilities charge ratepayers for projects that may never be built. Critics argue that the technology is untested. [Canary Media]

Have an enchantingly engaging day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Don’t Worry, US Investors Can Still Make Offshore Wind Happen … Somewhere” • US President Donald Trump did the domestic offshore wind industry no favors when he abruptly suspended the federal offshore lease program upon taking office. But activity continues apace elsewhere around the globe. Wind investors can still invest abroad. [CleanTechnica]

Goldwind 16-MW turbine (Goldwind image)

World:

¶ “Disasters Spur Investment In Flood And Fire Risk Tech” • As climate change increases the likelihood and intensity of natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes, new tools are being developed to help people and companies assess climate risk. Government agencies and various firms are improving the tools they make available. [BBC]

¶ “Huge Ship Set To Carry Turbines To North Sea Farm” • The Wind Peak, a purpose-built vessel, has arrived in Hull to carry components across 80 miles (129 km) of the North Sea to the site on the Dogger Bank. Officials said the vessel, which is 162 meters (530 ft) long and 60 meters wide, was capable of transporting and installing seven turbine sets per load. [BBC]

The Wind Peak (Courtesy of RWE)

¶ “Europe Set To Save 20 Million Tonnes Of CO₂ This Year Thanks To Switch to EVs” • Europe is set to save 20 million tonnes of CO₂ this year thanks to more electric cars being on the road, according to T&E analysis. T&E’s latest State of European Transport reveals that transport emissions are structurally falling, despite growth in air travel. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Battery Recycling Process From China Recovers 99.99% Of Lithium” • A team of researchers in China developed a way to recover nearly all valuable materials from depleted lithium ion batteries. The eco-friendly process uses glycine, an amino acid, to extract 99.99% of lithium and significant percentages of other metals in just 15 minutes. [CleanTechnica]

Battery research (Marilyn Sargent, Berkeley Lab)

¶ “Oil Majors Are Still Going Green, Honest” • With renewables expected to make up over 40% of the energy mix by 2030, oil majors are setting themselves up to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving market. Despite such things as the ‘Trump effect,’ such companies as BP, Shell, and TotalEnergies are expanding their clean energy portfolios. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Acciona Closes Oz PV Plant Finance” • Acciona Energía has closed a syndicated loan worth A$453 million ($289 million) to finance the construction of the 408-MW Aldoga solar plant on the central coast of Queensland. Work on the plant had already begun at the end of 2023, and the plan is that it will come into operation in mid-2026. [reNews]

Solar farm (Acciona Energía image)

¶ “The Role Of Solar In India’s 500-GW Renewable Energy Target By 2030” • India has a goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, a commitment that aligns with its pledge at COP26 to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. Among various renewable energy sources, solar power is poised to play a leading role in realizing this target. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Study To Probe UK-Built Wind Ship Market” • The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is to work with a leading shipbuilder to analyze the future market opportunity for UK-built vessels in offshore wind. Over 850 GW of offshore windpower is expected to be installed globally by 2050, and operators need many more service operation vessels. [reNews]

Service operation vessel (Bibby Marine image)

¶ “Japan Begins Dismantling A Commercial Nuclear Reactor For First Time” • A Japanese power company began dismantling a nuclear reactor in Shizuoka Prefecture, local media reported. It is the first commercial reactor in the country to undergo the process. Disassembly began with by removing the top lid of the pressure vessel. [Yeni Şafak]

US:

¶ “NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center Facility Among Planned DOGE Cuts” • The Storm Prediction Center issues severe weather forecasts across the nation and identifies threat zones where dangerous thunderstorms and tornadoes could move through days in advance. There is considerable question as to whether DOGE will close it. [ABC News]

Tornado (Daphne Zaras, NOAA)

¶ “Potential Impacts Of Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Repeal On US Vehicle Market And Manufacturing” • President Trump intends to eliminate federal regulations aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, repeal subsidies for EV purchases, and halt or redirect federal grant programs for EV charging systems. The REPEAT project is analyzing this. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Pitches Home EV Charging As Tesla Stock Slithers Down” • There may be gloom and doom over Tesla’s falling EV sales, and Tesla stock keeps falling, but the competition sees Tesla’s woes as a ripe opportunity to sell more EVs. That competition includes General Motors, which is doubling down on its home EV charging pitch. [CleanTechnica]

Bidirectional charging at home (GM image)

¶ “California Has A Plan To Install 6 Million Heat Pumps By 2030” • The California Heat Pump Partnership announced the nation’s first statewide blueprint for deploying heat pumps, a critical technology for decarbonizing buildings and improving public health. California’s goal is to deploy 6 million heat pump units by 2030. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Atlantic Shores Permit Pulled Back For Review” • Shell and EDF joint venture Atlantic Shores has been dealt another blow, this time by the appeals division of the EPA. The appeals board, which reviews and adjudicates complaints to the EPA,  directed the EPA to review an air quality permit issued to the project, which has a capacity of up to 2.8 GW. [reNews]

Have a simply magnificent day.

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World:

¶ “Small Electric Cars Were Said To Be The Future, But SUVs Now Rule The Road” •  Globally, 54% of the cars sold in 2024 were SUVs. This is an increase of three percentage points from 2023, according to GlobalData. The UN we must inevitable pivot towards smaller vehicles because of the urgency of the climate crisis and the rising cost of living. [BBC]

SUV (Ryan, Unsplash)

¶ “Nordex Nets 94-MW Turbine Order In Canada” • Nordex Group received a wind turbine order totaling 94 MW in Canada. An energy project developer placed an order for the supply and installation of 16 N163/5.X turbines, each with a nominal 5.9-MW capacity, for a wind project in Novia Scotia. The Nordex Group will supply the turbines from mid-2026. [reNews]

¶ “Solar Farm Could Boost Wildlife And Reduce Bills” • An East Sussex village could soon have a solar farm that would generate clean energy and help residents reduce their bills, according to developers. Plans for a solar farm in Crowhurst would provide for annual needs of 2,500 homes a year, with surrounding land transformed into a nature reserve. [BBC]

Solar farm (John Feltwell, Energise Sussex Coast)

¶ “Quinbrook Closes Record Debt Financing For Cleve Hill” • Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has closed a record-breaking project financing for Cleve Hill Solar Park, the UK’s largest PV and battery storage project. Up to £238.5 million has been secured for the 373-MW solar and 150-MW battery energy storage system in Kent. [reNews]

¶ “Towngas Smart Energy’s Renewable Unit Boosts 2024 Profit” •Towngas subsidiary Towngas Smart Energy Company Limited has reported growth in 2024, thanks to its renewable energy business whose net profit jumped five-fold to $479 million. As of 31 December 2024, Towngas Smart Energy’s total PV capacity reached 2.3 GW. [Asian Power]

PVs on a Shenzhen auto plant (Towngas Smart energy)

Australia:

¶ “Edify Energy To Build Solar And Battery System For Rio Tinto” • Rio Tinto and Edify Energy signed two agreements to supply renewable energy to Rio Tinto’s Gladstone aluminium operations in Queensland. Two solar power stations will generate a total of 600 MW of solar power and provide 600 MW, 2,400 MWh, of battery storage. [Australian Manufacturing]

¶ “Network Partners Sought To Build Poles, Wires, And Trust In Hotly Contested Renewable Zone” • The government of New South Wales is searching for the best network operator for one of the most hotly contested renewable energy zones in the state, in a move looks beyond the incumbent operators of the zone’s poles and wires. [RenewEconomy]

Power lines in Victoria (Marcus Wong, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Newcastle Coal To Power Facility With Solar” • Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group entered into a power purchase agreement with Lightsource BP for its Kooragang Island facility. The PPA enables the facility to run renewable electricity by 2030. The power will be supplied by a 585-MW solar project being built in the Upper Hunter region. [Sharecafe]

US:

¶ “China Will Help Build US Offshore Wind Farms” • China is sending an offshore wind construction vessel to the US, and work continues apace on a major project that escaped the Trump chopping block so far. But word is that the Clean Air Act permit for the massive Atlantic Shores project was sent back to the EPA for further review. [CleanTechnica]

Service ship Wind Pace (Cadeler image)

¶ “Private Equity Investment In US Solar Energy Declines While Global Inflows In The Sector Rebound” • Private equity and venture capital activity in the US solar industry is on track to reach its lowest level in the past four years. This contrasts with significant global private equity inflows into the sector during 2024, according to a report by S&P. [Funds Society]

¶ “NorthStar Closes California Nuclear Center Decommissioning Agreement” • NorthStar Group Services made an agreement to take ownership of the 1600-acre Vallecitos Nuclear Center from GE Vernova and GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas. The US NRC approved the transfer, and NorthStar can go ahead with the California site’s decontamination. [Power Technology]

Have an endearingly graceful day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Geothermal Has A Moment In The Sun, But Black Swans Are Casting Shade” • Geothermal energy is touted as the renewable savior, generating clean, reliable, and essential baseload power. But globally, its growth has been modest at best. In the current wave of enthusiasm, it’s prudent to ask: will geothermal revival actually deliver? [CleanTechnica]

Geothermal plant in Iceland (Tommy Kwak, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “BMW Spots An EV Sales Opportunity As Tesla Tumbles” • BMW expects to continue growing its sales this year, including EV sales. The competition will be stiff as other automakers also ramp up their EV offerings, but BMW’s top brass dropped a hint that at least one other competitor will likely be sidelined. Now, who could that be? [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Japanese Town Turning Cowpats Into Hydrogen Fuel” • Founded in 2015, a project on Hokkaido aims to convert local agricultural by-products into hydrogen. The manure and urine and collected from dairy farms and fed into a anaerobic digester. Bacteria use the waste to produce fertilizer and biogas, which is used to make hydrogen. [BBC]

Cows (Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash)

¶ “The UK’s Solar Revolution Mapped, With 3,500 Projects In The Pipeline” • The UK is in a new era for solar power with nearly 3,500 solar farms being planned, new figures show. With the sharply falling cost of solar panels over the past decade and rapid increases in efficiency, solar is now the cheapest way to produce electricity in the UK. [The i Paper]

¶ “The Future Of Nigeria’s Energy Sector Remains Unclear” • President Donald Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright pledged to support fossil fuel development across Africa, which could encourage countries such as Nigeria to continue exploiting their oil and gas resources. Wright included coal, which he said would provide energy security. [OilPrice.com]

Oil processing facility (—=XEON=—, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Essex’s Revolutionary Pay-As-You-Use Solar Energy Program” • The county of Essex rolled out a program that changes how people use and pay for solar energy. A Pay As You Use scheme allows households to install solar panels and batteries without paying all the cost upfront. Users pay a fixed rate of 16.8p/kWh for what they use. [Microgrid Media]

¶ “India Strives For 500 GW Non-Fossil Power by 2030“ • India has been courting investment in its clean energy industry in an effort to shore up energy security and meet the nation’s lofty decarbonization goals. But a report reveals that while India has offered up record-breaking clean energy tenders, they have been met with weak demand. [OilPrice.com]

Renewable energy in India (Thomas Lloyd Group, CC-BY-SA  4.0)

¶ “Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Part Of Peace Talks, Trump Says” • The US and Ukraine discussed control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as part of a potential peace deal, US President Donald Trump said. With six reactors, the Zaporizhzhia plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. [The Kyiv Independent]

US:

¶ “Critics Warn Cuts At Agencies Overseeing US Dams Could Put Public Safety At Risk” • Trump administration workforce cuts at federal agencies overseeing US dams are threatening their ability to provide electricity, supply farmers with water, and protect communities from floods, employees and industry experts warn. Nearly 400 people have lost their jobs. [ABC News]

Dam (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Forty Tornadoes Leave 34 Dead In Cross-Country Storm System” • Millions of Americans were put on alert for a severe weather outbreak as long-track tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail went across the Midwest and South in a cross-country storm. Overall, at least 34 deaths have been recorded from the cross-country storm system. [ABC News]

¶ “New Agrivoltaic Tool Optimizes Solar Generation And Crop Production” • Disaster was inflicted on US farmers when trade wars came during Trump’s first term in office. Now America has empowered him to do it all over again. But farmers elsewhere around the globe are pouncing on abandoned US markets, with help from agrivoltaics. [CleanTechnica]

Solar farm with hay production (Tobi Kellner, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “JP Morgan Reduces Tesla Sales Forecast, Predicts Stock Will Fall To $120 Per Share” • JP Morgan issued a strongly negative prediction for Tesla. It said Q1 deliveries will be the lowest the company has seen in three years. It also thinks that the free fall Tesla stock still has a long way to go, potentially hitting $120 per share, about half its current price. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “More Than Seventy Agencies Participating In Training Drill Simulating Nuclear Power Plant Accident” • An exercise called Cobalt Magnet 2025 is underway in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management, and Homeland Security. Over 3,000 individuals from seventy US and Canadian agencies are participating in the project. [MSN]

Have an objectively outstanding day.

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World:

¶ “Global Sea Level Rose Faster Than Expected In 2024, NASA Analysis Says” • Climate change was a major driver to an unexpected level of sea level rise in 2024, according to a new NASA analysis. Global sea levels rose 0.23 inches in 2024, satellite records show, compared to the predicted 0.17 inches expected for the year. [ABC News]

Pacific Ocean (NASA image)

¶ “Tesla Developing Lower Priced Model Y In China, ‘Market Response To Tesla’s Latest Model Y Is Not Optimistic'” • China is the first country to get the new Model Y. We can look there for some clues on how things are going. One clue suggests that demand for the Tesla Model Y isn’t great: Tesla is working on a low-priced version. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “France Prepares For 4ºC By 2100” • While Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, is telling people that global heating doesn’t even make his Top Ten list of things to worry about, but France unveiled a climate adaptation plan based on the assumption that that the average temperature of the Earth will spike by as much as 4° C by 2100. [CleanTechnica]

Arc de Triomphe (Rodrigo Kugnharski, Unsplash)

¶ “RWE To Build 600 MW Of Battery Parks” • RWE is to build three battery parks in Germany with a total installed capacity of around 600 MW. The new battery energy storage systems will be built on the site of the Westfalen power plant in Hamm. RWE has invested a multi-million euro sum to build the battery sites, which will store 1.2 GWh. [reNews]

¶ “First Foundations Arrive For 1.6-GW Nordseecluster” • RWE received the first foundations for the 1600-MW Nordseecluster offshore wind project in the German North Sea. The eight foundations have arrived and been offloaded in the Dutch base port Eemshaven. They are around 85 meters long on average and weigh about 1500 tonnes each. [reNews]

Foundations arriving (RWE image)

¶ “Goldwind Bags 242-MW Turbine Order” • Goldwind is to supply 242 MW of turbines for Red Rocket’s Overberg Wind Farm project in South Africa. As part of the deal, Goldwind will supply the wind farm with 39 units of its 6.2-MW medium-speed permanent magnet turbines. When it is finised, the wind farm will have a capacity of 380 MW. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Community Solar Gets Thumbs-Up From Global Investors” • Community solar started off slowly when the cost of solar energy was high. But costs are down, and community solar spread from individuals to include commercial and industrial stakeholders. The global investment community noticed the opportunity in the US energy transition. [CleanTechnica]

Community solar (Courtesy of Catalyze via businesswire.com)

¶ “Tesla Says Trump’s Tariffs May Have A Harmful Impact On Its Company And Other Automakers” • What a difference a day makes. Tesla now says that Trump’s tariffs are bad for business. How can this public statement make any sense at all, with the company’s CEO leading the federal dismemberment? Here is a look at illogical events. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Two-Tiered Resistance Hits Tesla” • Recent news from a Tesla retail and service location in Oregon is shocking. Not only are there protests, but bullets are flying. Literally. Pro-Elon people may tell us that Tesla is facing a violent intimidation campaign by evil leftists, but most people protesting against Elon Musk have nothing to do with violence. [CleanTechnica]

Sign at a protest (DanielGoldhorn, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “More Members Of Congress Join A Call To Defend Clean Energy Tax Credits” • Some 21 Republican congressmen and women released a letter requesting that the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits be preserved. They are supporting a comprehensive energy approach, including traditional and renewable energy sources. [Environment America]

¶ “Trump Plans To Shut Down A Climate Research Facility That Tracks Emissions” • The Trump administration plans to cancel its lease for a government laboratory in Hilo, Hawaii, crucial for tracking rising greenhouse gas levels. The Global Monitoring Laboratory helps maintain the Mauna Loa Observatory, a key site for monitoring CO₂ levels. [Ground Report]

Mauna Loa Observatory (Susan Cobb, NOAA)

¶ “Massachusetts Company’s Program To Fund Community Solar Projects” • With the federal dollars for renewable energy slowing, or stopping altogether, Solstice, a company based in Cambridge, is looking to provide funding for community solar projects in underserved areas through a new renewable energy credit program. [Commonwealth Beacon]

¶ “Northern North Dakota Farmers Push Back On A Bill That Would Allow Study Of Nuclear Waste” • The legislative push to build nuclear power plants in North Dakota could run up against perennial problems – the US lacks a long-term solution for the storage of nuclear waste, and proposals to permit them have been controversial. [The Bismarck Tribune]

Have a thoroughly delightful day.

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World:

¶ “Mercedes CLA With EQ Technology Gets Rave Reviews” • According to Jalopnik, the new CLA is built by Mercedes for both fully electric and hybrid powertrains, but with the primary emphasis on battery electric versions. It incorporates many of the features of the Mercedes EQXX, which means the goal is maximum efficiency. [CleanTechnica]

Mercedes CLA (Mercedes image)

¶ “Green Hydrogen Cross-Border Collaborations Persist Despite Trump’s Trade War” • Not all US-Canada economic activity has halted. A case in point is the ambitious North American green hydrogen plan being hatched by the Montreal-based Canadian startup Charbone Hydrogen in collaboration with the leading Swiss legacy engineering firm ABB. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “With Tesla EVs Down, Toyota Is Teasing A Super Cute Solar-Powered Micro Car” • Tesla CEO Elon Musk has torched the brand reputation of the world’s most popular electric car, but EV sales keep surging upwards, and Toyota is among the automakers stepping in to snap up niche markets neglected by Tesla, and that even includes teenagers. [CleanTechnica]

Urban electric micro-car (Screenshot courtesy of Toyota)

¶ “CIP’s Fifth Flagship Fund Smashes €12 Billion Target” • CIP, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, has announced that its fifth flagship fund surpassed its target size of €12 billion. CIP says investor interest in large-scale greenfield energy infrastructure investments is strong, as commitments exceeding the €12 billion target, excluding capital for co-investments. [reNews]

¶ “Enercon Unveils Taller Towers” • Enercon is developing additional and taller Hybrid Steel Towers for its EP5 turbine. With the additional steel tower variants, the tower portfolio will be expanded, so Enercon can offer towers with high hub heights worldwide. The technology has already proven itself in practice and is to be delivered as early as 2026. [reNews]

Tower construction (Enercon image)

¶ “Czech Law To Speed Up Permitting Process Of Wind Power” • The Czech government approved the Act on Accelerating the Use of Renewable Energy Sources. The legislation simplifies the permitting processes for construction of solar and wind power plants, especially through the designation of areas as so-called acceleration zones. [ceenergynews]

¶ “How To Reduce Mining Emissions Easily” • According to the Climate Change Authority’s 2024 ‘Sector Pathway Review,’ emissions from Australia’s resources sector equaled 99 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022, representing 23% of the country’s total emissions in that year. This is key to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. [Australian Mining]

Solar array at Australian mine (Aggreko image)

¶ “Nuclear Fusion Race Intensifies With Chinese Breakthrough” • Scientists in China announced that the nation’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, achieved a sustained temperature of 100 million °C, shattering previous records and bringing nuclear fusion closer to reality. China aims for viability of fusion energy by 2050. [Oil Price]

¶ “Octopus Energy expands in France” • Octopus Energy’s generation arm is expanding its green energy push in France, striking four deals in solar and wind energy. France is Octopus’ largest clean generation market in continental Europe, and these deals mark the step in Octopus’ €1 billion investment plans for France’s renewables market. [reNews]

Solar array (Octopus Energy image)

US:

¶ “Driving Intelligence Into Action On The Road To A Smarter, More Resilient Grid” • Cable faults can create outages that are difficult to find and correct if insufficient intelligence is not built into the system. This is where S&C’s EdgeRestore® system plays a crucial role. The system provides rapid restoration to minimize customer outages. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Breathe Deep, America. Carbon Dioxide Is Good For You!” • Energy secretary Chris Wright is telling African leaders that burning coal is good for them because it worked well for the US a hundred years ago. And EPA administrator Lee Zeldin proudly announced 31 separate actions to roll back restrictions on air and water pollution. [CleanTechnica]

San Miguel lignite power plant (SMECI via LinkedIn)

¶ “US Floating Platform Achieves Milestone” • US outfit ECO TLP has achieved another step towards commercial readiness of its floating offshore wind platform. The company has recently secured, from the American Bureau of Shipping, a non-site-specific FEED (front-end engineering design) approval for the Hybrid Spar-TLP platform. [reNews]

¶ “First Substation Installed At CVOW” • The first substation for the 2600-MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is in place. Last November, Dominion Energy said the offshore substation foundations and were installed in the first installation season. The 2.6-GW offshore wind farm is being built 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. [reNews]

Substation installation (Dominion Energy image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Isn’t The Cause Of Electric Bills Spiking In Delaware” • If you were told that renewable energy is to blame for soaring electric bills this winter, you were told a lie. Colder temperatures led to heating systems running longer and harder, and gas rates went up for Delmarva customers, while electric rates decreased slightly. [The News Journal]

¶ “Small Nuclear Power Struggles At Cusp Of US Electricity Demand Boom” • The players pushing SMRs are not utilities with decades of experience dealing with the intricacies and safety requirements of nuclear plants, but rather AI companies, the data center community, and vendors. This was pointed out by Greg Jaczko, former NRC chairman. [MSN]

Have a spectacularly cozy day.

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World:

¶ “Pursuing The Sound Of Every Bird In Ireland” • Over half of Ireland’s birds at risk of extinction, and Seán Ronayne is using recordings he made to advocate for their preservation. He has made about 12,000 recordings of Irish birds and other wildlife. He says “It’s not just birds that are at risk of extinction, these are a symptom of something much greater.” [BBC]

Grey partridge (Åsa Berndtsson, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Hydrogen Plant Promises Jobs At Old Nuclear Site” • A green hydrogen project hopes to deliver dozens of jobs next to the site of a former nuclear plant in southern Scotland. According to Green Cat Hydrogen, the plant it proposes for Chapelcross could help decarbonize local businesses. The nuclear plant stopped generating electricity in 2004. [BBC]

¶ “VinFast Ships 2,500 Electric Vehicles To Indonesia” • VinFast’s dedicated cargo ship, the Silver Queen, has docked at the Jakarta port and is unloading 2,500 VinFast electric vehicles. This latest shipment is the fourth and largest delivery of VinFast vehicles to Indonesia, occurring one year after the company’s initial market entry in February 2024. [CleanTechnica]

VinFast shipment (VinFast image)

¶ “Toyota EVs Tromp On Tesla’s Toes In Europe” • In an epic case of strategic timing, or maybe just a coincidence, Toyota has taken a meaningful plunge into the market for 100% battery EVs in Europe, where auto buyers have begun scouting alternatives to the politically toxic Tesla brand. Toyota EVs will now have three new models in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Voltalia Signs 526-MW PPA With Uzbekistan” • Voltalia has signed a PPA for its 526-MW hybrid project in Uzbekistan with the state-owned JSC Uzenergosotis. The Artemisya project combines 126 MW of solar, 300 MW of wind and 100 MW, 200 MWh of battery storage. The PPA covers 25 years for solar and wind and 15 years for storage. [reNews]

Solar plant (Voltalia image)

¶ “Scottish Council Backs West Of Orkney Plans” • The Highland Council is backing plans for the offshore 2-GW West of Orkney Windfarm being developed by a joint venture comprising Corio Generation, Renewable Infrastructure Development Group, and TotalEnergies. The project, with up to 125 turbines, is expected to be operational in 2029. [reNews]

¶ “South Korean Project Secures Permit” • Deep Wind Offshore Korea has successfully secured another Public Waters Occupancy and Use Permit for the 1500-MW Abalone Offshore Wind project. The project forms part of Deep Wind Offshore and BP’s partnership to build 6 GW of offshore windpower projects in South Korea. [reNews]

Offshore windfarm (Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash)

¶ “Iran Rejects Nuclear Talks As UAE Delivers Trump’s Letter” • Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected any idea of negotiations with the US over its nuclear program, as Tehran confirmed receiving a letter from President Donald Trump. The letter was delivered by an official from the United Arab Emirates, but Khamenei dismissed it as deceptive. [BBC]

US:

¶ “Why The Trump Administration Is Wrong About An Energy Crisis In The US” • The Trump administration is attempting to push the idea of a looming energy crisis in the US, but its claims couldn’t be further from reality, according to several experts who spoke to ABC News. There isn’t even the slightest hint of an energy crisis in the US. [ABC News]

Wind energy (Abby Anaday, Unsplash)

¶ “EPA Takes Aim At Water, Air And Toxics Protections As Part Of Massive Deregulation Campaign” • Calling it the “biggest deregulatory action in US history,” the Environmental Protection Agency rolled out moves aimed at walking back environmental protections and eliminating a host of climate change regulations, some decades old. [ABC News]

¶ “NOAA Braces For Mass Layoffs, With Concerns About Vitally Important Weather Services” • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is preparing to lay off more than 1,000 workers as part of the Trump administration’s mandate for agencies to prepare “reductions in force,” according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. [ABC News]

NOAA has functions (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “US Wants To Restart Shuttered Coal-Fired Generating Plants” • Last week, Chris Wright, the putative “energy secretary” for the US told African leaders that coal is the solution to a widespread lack of energy access in Africa, dismissing the challenge posed by climate change and saying there is too much emphasis on calling burning coal “destructive.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Battery Capacity Increased 66% In 2024” • In the US, cumulative utility-scale battery storage capacity exceeded 26 GW in 2024, according to the January 2025 Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. Generators added 10.4 GW of battery storage capacity in 2024, the second-largest generating capacity addition after solar. [CleanTechnica]

US battery capacity (EIA image)

¶ “X-Elio Secures Six US VPPAs” • X-Elio and the Net Zero Consortium for Buyers announced that they signed six virtual PPAs for a combined total capacity of 172 MW in the US. This came about through the efforts of Sustainability Roundtable, a pioneering organization for corporate sustainability. The energy will be generated by solar farms in Texas. [reNews]

¶ “Amazon, Google, Meta And Dow Back Goal To Triple Nuclear Capacity” • Tech giants and other major energy users Amazon, Google, Meta, Dow, Occidental, Allseas, and OSGE have signed a pledge supporting the goal of at least tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050, according to an announcement, at CERAWeek 2025 in Houston, Texas. [World Nuclear News]

Have an easily managed day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Was Toyota Right To Prioritize Hybrids Over Full Electric Cars?” • Paul Fosse: When I heard Toyota decided to prioritize hybrids over full EVs, I was skeptical. But after digging into the data and studying how this strategy plays out in different markets – China, Europe, emerging markets, and the US – I realized the answer isn’t black-and-white. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota charging (Toyota image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Bi-Directional Charging News From Kia And Mercedes ” • Wallbox began US pre-sales of its Quasar 2 bi-directional charger for the Kia EV9, which will enable customers to use the electric SUV for energy storage. The vehicle to home service will initially be available in California, Washington, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Flood And Drought Risk Increasing In Cities” • The world’s 100 most populated cities are becoming increasingly exposed to both flooding and drought, according to new research. Charity WaterAid worked on a study with the University of Bristol and Cardiff University and found 17% of the cities studied were at risk from “climate whiplash.” [BBC]

Flood (Don Lodge, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “City Hopes To Become ‘Pollinator Capital'” • Avon Wildlife Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society are working with people in Bristol and Bath to create a 43 mile (70km) “bee-line” for the Pollinator Pathways Project. Shelly Easton of the Avon Wildlife Trust said: “The focus this time is on hoverflies because they’re vital for food security.” [BBC]

¶ “Premiere Of New Toyota C-HR+, bZ4X, And Lexus RZ In Europe” • Toyota Motor Corporation announced that it will be expanding its battery EV lineup in Europe as part of its multi-pathway approach to achieving a carbon-neutral society. Toyota is committed to product and region-centered management with the aim of making ever-better cars. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota bZ4X – European specifications (Toyota image)

¶ “Solar Farms Can Host Up To Three Times As Many Birds As Crop Fields” • Building solar farms should be done carefully to avoid exacerbating a reduction in biodiversity. We found that solar farms in East Anglia that were managed for biodiversity had more bird species, and more birds overall, than surrounding cropland. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “BayWa RE Seeks Consent For 500-MW BESS” • BayWa’s renewable energy arm is seeking consent for a 500-MW battery energy storage system in Scotland, the largest in its portfolio. The Glasgow-based renewable energy company submitted an application to the Scottish government for the Redshaw BESS project in South Lanarkshire. [reNews]

Battery storage (BayWa image)

¶ “Europe Seeks To Avoid Russian Energy If Sanctions Eased, Ministers And Execs Say” • European buyers are unlikely to return to Russia’s energy sector if sanctions are lifted, as the bloc has diversified its power mix with both renewable energy and alternative gas suppliers, ministers and executives said at a conference in Houston. [Yahoo News UK]

¶ “Chinese PV Industry Brief: Huaneng, TBEA Have Announced GW-Scale Renewables Clusters” • TBEA has announced plans to invest in a 1-GW solar power plant and a 2-GW wind power project, both with energy storage. And China Huaneng signed a framework agreement for a 2.7-GW renewable project in Inner Mongolia. [pv magazine International]

Wind turbines on a hill (Ludovico Ceroseis, Unsplash)

¶ “‘Nervous And Rushed’: Massive Fukushima Plant Cleanup Workers Exposed To Radiation And Stress” • Radiation levels at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have dropped a lot since the cataclysmic meltdown fourteen years ago. Some workers walk around in wearing only surgical masks and regular clothes. It’s a different story for other workers. [The Japan News]

US:

¶ “Trump Or No Trump, EV Charging Is Getting Easier Than Ever” • The occupant of the White House is determined to take down the entire US auto industry, EVs and all. Presidents come and go, and this one will be gone four years hence. Meanwhile, EV charging stakeholders continue to lay the groundwork for the electrified future of the US. [CleanTechnica]

EV charger (Courtesy of Xcharge North America)

¶ “Tesla Cybertruck Hitch Tested To Failure: It Could Be A Problem For Heavier Trailers” • Last year, extreme torture tests by WhistlinDiesel got a lot of attention. When put through testing far beyond real-world conditions, the Cybertruck came to fail spectacularly. Then came stories of people hauling trailers and seeing similar failures. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Installed Record 50 GW Of Solar In 2024” • Figures shot the US installed 50 GW of new solar capacity in 2024. It is the largest single year of new capacity added by any technology in over two decades. Solar and storage account for 84% of all new capacity added to the US grid last year, according to the US Solar Market Insight 2024 Year in Review report. [reNews]

Solar array (SunPower image)

¶ “The US Solar Industry Is Setting Records, But The Dark Clouds Of Doom Are Gathering” • The US solar industry had another record setting year in 2024, according to data compiled by the Solar Energy Industries Association. All else being equal, the boom times will continue. Of course, with President Trump and Elon Musk nothing is certain. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “RWE Cuts US Offshore Workforce” • RWE confirmed that it is laying off workers of its US offshore team, the latest developer to scale back its US ambitions in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s federal permitting freeze. RWE has 5.9 GW of offshore lease holdings in the US, and in November RWE CEO Markus Krebber announced delays. [reNews]

Have a really inspired day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Who Will Buy Tesla When It Goes Bankrupt?” • Tesla insiders are racing to unload their shares in the company while they still can. The insiders are bailing out like rats deserting a sinking ship. Do you think their doing so has anything to do with proprietary knowledge gained by being inside the Tesla board room? Nah, no one would be that blatant, would they? [CleanTechnica]

Elon Musk at the ready (MSNBC via YouTube)

World:

¶ “How Global Warming Could Threaten Satellites, According To Study” • Global warming is causing space debris to linger above the planet for longer periods of time, leaving less space for functioning satellites and posing a growing problem for the long-term use of Earth’s orbital space, a study published in Nature Sustainability found. [ABC News]

¶ “Billionaire Carlos Slim Cancels $22 Billion In Starlink Orders Due To Elon Musk’s Outburst” • Aside from aligning himself with Trump and his incessant attacks on Mexico, Musk implied in January that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was involved in drug cartels in Mexico. Slim soon decided to cancel $22 billion of funds heading to Starlink. [CleanTechnica]

Starlink operating (Official SpaceX Photos, CC0)

¶ “Carney Takes The Helm: What’s Next For Canada’s Carbon Policy?” • With Mark Carney stepping in as the new leader of the federal Liberal Party, Canada’s carbon pricing system faces a critical juncture. Carney recognizes that the consumer carbon price is unsalvageable in its current form. He has been a leading voice in climate finance, however. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EVs Take 27.3% Share In Germany — Volkswagen ID.7 Still Leading” • In February, EVs took a 27.3% share in Germany, up from 19.3% share YOY. Battery EVs were back to decent volume compared to 2024, though only modestly ahead of February 2023 figures. Plugin hybrids stepped up modestly. Overall auto volume was down 6% YOY. [CleanTechnica]

VW ID.7 (Ssu, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Renewco Strikes 2.2-GW Spanish Battery Energy Storage Systems Deal” • Renewco Power has entered into an agreement with Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure to develop up to 2,200 MW of standalone battery projects across Spain. Renewco will develop the projects to ready-to-build status, while Atlantica will build and manage the portfolio. [reNews]

¶ “50Hertz To Invest €23 Billion In Grid Expansion” • 50Hertz is to invest almost €23 billion to improve its transmission grid in Germany to 2028. This is to facilitate the energy transition. The €23 billion is being spent on overhead lines, submarine and land cables, substations, digitalisation, and other technologies in the period 2024 to 2028. [reNews]

Offshore generating station (50Hertz image)

¶ “Gujarat Targets 37,350 MW Renewable Energy Generating Capacity By 2026” • By 2026, state of Gujarat’s solar, wind, and solar-wind hybrid power capacity will be 37,350 MW. This will develop from an investment of ₹1.50 lakh crore ($17.2 billion). Gujarat Power Corporation Limited is the nodal agency for the renewable energy initiative. [DeshGujarat]

¶ “Renewables Accounted For 54.1% Of Total Energy In Spain In February” • In February, renewables generated 11,543 GWh in Spain and reached a share of 54.1% of the total. The month’s first source of production was nuclear (22.1%), then hydroelectric (20.2%). These were followed next by wind power (17.3%), and solar PVs (14%). [pv magazine International]

Solar farm in Spain (kallerna, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Premier Reaffirms Green Energy Push, Leaves Door Open To Nuclear” • The government of Taiwan remains committed to developing diverse green energy sources while keeping the door open to “new” nuclear power under certain conditions, Premier Cho Jung-tai said. Reducing carbon emissions is the priority and achieving net zero is the goal. [Focus Taiwan]

US:

¶ “SCOTUS Rejects Republican Effort To Halt Climate Lawsuits In Democrat-Led States” • The Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit from Republican attorneys general in nineteen states aimed at blocking climate change suits against the oil and gas industry in Democratic-led states. The complaint was that the Democratic states are trying to set US energy policy. [ABC News]

Supreme Court Building (TheAgency, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Trump’s Tariffs Are Wrecking America’s Supply Chain For Critical Minerals” • Nickel, cobalt, and platinum-group elements are needed for the US economy. These metals power everything from electric vehicle batteries to jet engines and oil refineries. But the US has to rely on imports, often from nations it targets with trade restrictions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Set Records In Texas” • Canary Media reports that Texas is setting records with its fleet of renewables that include wind, solar, and grid-scale energy storage. But Republicans in Congress can’t wait to roll back the federal incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act that have made many of those renewables possible. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (USDA NRCS Texas, public domain)

¶ “Business Leaders Target The Trump-Musk White House For Damaging Profitability Margins” • Instead of embracing the Trump-Musk administration and its supposed pro-business ideology, companies are warning investors that the effects of federal change in Washington are unsettling and likely to hurt profitability margins. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Michigan Lawmakers Explore Nuclear Energy” • Lawmakers are looking to make Michigan a better place for nuclear energy. Bipartisan bills in the House of Representatives will create tax credits and university grants that incentivize nuclear research and energy production. Michigan is to start phasing out use of natural gas in 2030. [WZMQ 19 News]

Have a perfectly easy day.

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World:

¶ “Early Summer Could Spell Trouble For India’s Farms And Factories” • Across India as cool weather beats a hasty retreat, anxieties are building up at farms and factories, with cropping patterns and business plans getting upended. Data from the Indian Meteorological Department shows that last month was India’s hottest February in 125 years. [BBC]

Indian farm (Dominik Hundhammer, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “UK Hotter Than Costa Del Sol On Warmest Weekend Of The Year” • The UK’s warmest days of the year arrived this weekend, with temperatures reaching almost 20°C (68°F) in parts of the country. Temperatures topped 19.7°C near Liverpool and 18.7°C in north Wales. Killowen in Northern Ireland saw 17.2°C, and Threave in western Scotland was 17.3°C. [BBC]

¶ “Fighting For Breath: Wildfire Smoke, Climate Change, And The Urgency Of Adaptation” • Wildfire season is arriving earlier, lasting longer, and burning more intensely than ever. People who once thought of wildfires as rare, late-summer events now find themselves choking on smoke in spring. Over 200 wildfires are burning in North America already. [CleanTechnica]

Los Angeles (Anastasiya Badun, Unsplash)

¶ “Caribbean Has Potential To Unlock Solar-To-X Economy” • The Caribbean stands to benefit from low-cost renewable energy, reducing energy system costs and mitigating climate risks for a clean energy transition. The region is poised for a solar-to-X Economy by leveraging its abundant renewable resources for carbon neutrality. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Ministry To Fast-Track Rebuilding Of Older Onshore Wind Farms” • In Japan, rebuilding aging wind power plants will soon be faster, as the Environment Ministry plans to simplify part of the environmental impact assessment. The same procedures are required now for rebuilding a plant as for building a new one if the capacity is 50 MW or more. [Asahi Shimbun]

Wind farm (Vista Wei, Unsplash)

¶ “Basic Energy Eyes 1,000 MW Renewable Capacity By 2030” • Basic Energy Corporation plans to develop a total of 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects by 2030, including 500 MW of wind and 500 MW of solar capacity. A Business World report says Basic Energy is developing a 50-MW windpower project in Mabini, Batangas. [Power Philippines]

¶ “Nuclear Power’s Global Stagnation” • A report skewers claim ‘the world is going nuclear’ and nuclear ‘newcomers’ will save the industry from its decades-long decline. Proponents of nuclear power rely on an excessive optimism which sits in contrast to the reality of the decades-long stagnation of the industry, the report for EnergyScience Coalition says. [The Ecologist]

Sizewell nuclear plant (Roger Cornfoot, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “A Turkish Business Continues Its Investment In Ukraine: A Wind Farm Will Be Built In The Zhytomyr Region” • Turkey is contributing significantly to Ukraine’s energy security, as it accounts for 8% of renewable energy production in Ukraine, and current Turkish investments in the energy sector total about $600 million. [Ukraine Business News]

US:

¶ “Hello, TELO!” • TELO Trucks took the wraps off its MT1 battery electric pickup truck for the first time in public on March 6, 2025. The MT1 is about the size of a MINI Cooper. In a press release, TELO Trucks said the MT1 is the world’s most efficient mini pickup truck and is redefining what is possible in electric mobility today. [CleanTechnica]

TELO truck hidden by a MINI Cooper (TELO Trucks)

¶ “Ridiculous DOGE Policies Threaten An End To US Research Efforts In Antarctica” • The US Antarctic Program operates three permanent stations in Antarctica. They are difficult to get to and difficult to maintain, as they are scattered across that frozen land. Elon Musk’s performance at CPAC with a chainsaw was a reckless threat to science. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Startup Brings Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Platform To The World” • The floating offshore wind turbine platform is a global venture, spearheaded by the California startup ECO TLP. The new platform is designed to streamline the process to install floating offshore wind turbines in waters between 250 and 2,000 meters deep. [CleanTechnica]

Floating offshore wind turbines (Courtesy of ECO TLP)

¶ “What’s Next For The Economy? Billionaire Tom Steyer Says It Should Be Renewable Energy” • Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer discussed the future of green energy at a Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs event. During the talk, Steyer focused on renewable energy as an economic solution for the climate crisis. [The Brown Daily Herald]

¶ “Changing The Climate On Science: Nationwide Movement Pushes Back On Cuts For Research” • At University of California Berkeley, it was the professors’ turn to protest. Nearly 2,000 scientists, Nobel laureates, student researchers, and elected officials protested the Trump administration’s efforts to deny climate science and cut research funding. [MSN]

Have an acceptably majestic day.

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World:

¶ “Plans Lodged For ‘Largest’ Floating Solar Farm” • Plans were submitted for what is described as the UK’s largest floating solar farm. Associated British Ports has plans to install 47,000 panels covering around a third of the available water area of Cavendish Dock in Barrow, Cumbria. The plant’s annual production would be equal to the needs of about 14,000 homes. [BBC]

Proposed solar farm (ABP image)

¶ “Solar Farm To Power 13,000 Homes Gets Go-Ahead” • A solar farm that will generate power for about 13,000 homes will go ahead despite a council previously refusing planning permission for it. Land at Burcot Farm in Oxfordshire, will be used for the 49.9-MW solar farm after the proposal, originally rejected, was successfully appealed. [BBC]

¶ “2,325 BYD Electric Bus Chassis Ordered For Use In India” • Indian electric bus manufacturer Olectra Greentech has ordered 2,325 electric bus chassis from BYD because it says the Blade battery from the Chinese company has earned a reputation for superior safety and performance. The Blade battery has passed rigorous safety tests. [CleanTechnica]

BYD buses (BYD image)

¶ “EVs Take 33.9% Share In The UK – Tesla Takes Two Of Top Three” • February’s auto market saw plugin EVs take 33.9% share in the UK, up from 24.8% year-on-year. BEVs grew in volume by 42% YOY, with PHEVs close to 20% growth. Overall auto volume was 84,054 units, almost flat YOY. The UK’s leading BEV brand in February was Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “President Makes Historic Move On Controversial Energy Sources” • In January, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law to authorize offshore wind farms, Reuters reported. This could enable incentives to develop wind farms in Brazil’s territorial waters, where wind speeds can be stronger and more consistent than over land. [The Cool Down]

Lula da Silva (Partido dos Trabalhadores, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “The End Of Diesel: Europe’s Buses Are Going Fully Electric – Fast” • Electric buses are transforming the European public transportation system faster than many policymakers expected. In 2024, nearly half of all new city buses sold in the EU were battery-electric, a report from clean energy advocate Transport & Environment says. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Bully’: Iran’s Khamenei Rejects Trump Demands For Nuclear Talks” • The US is not seeking negotiations with Iran but rather imposing demands on it, said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in response to  US President Trump, who had announced that he had sent a letter to the Iranian leadership to initiate talks on a nuclear deal. [Al Jazeera]

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (khamenei.ir, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “New Zinc Battery Delivers Three To Twelve Hours Of Utility-Scale Energy Storage” • Startup Eos Energy Enterprises is scaling up production of its new Z3 aqueous zinc battery, aiming to supply the booming energy storage market in Texas and other parts of the US. The zinc battery is a fire-safe alternative to the lithium-ion battery. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Great American Insurance Retreat: Climate Change, Uninsurable Homes, And The Future Of Real Estate” • The US insurance industry is in crisis. If you own a home or business in some parts of the country, your ability to get coverage (let alone afford it) may soon disappear entirely. And this isn’t some far-off projection. It’s happening now. [CleanTechnica]

Hurricane wreckage (NOAA image)

¶ “South Dakota Rejects Pipeline Proposal” • Summit Carbon Solutions plans to construct an $8.9 billion, 2,500-mile pipeline to carry CO₂ from the dozens of ethanol facilities in the Midwest to sites in North Dakota for injection deep underground. But to get to North Dakota, it has to go through South Dakota, which developed an aversion to CO₂. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plan To Relaunch Michigan Nuclear Plant With New Reactors Sparks More Backlash” • Holtec International said it is to revive Palisades later this year, after it was shut down in 2022, and in five years, install the nation’s first small modular reactors. Critics warned the reactors would still have problems with radioactive waste and accident risks. [Kiowa County Press]

Have a marvelously rewarding day.

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World:

¶ “Data, Waves, And Wind To Be Counted In Economies” • Wind and wave power are to be included in measuring countries’ economies, in changes approved by the UN in the first update since 2008. Assets like oilfields were already factored in. This update aims to capture areas that have grown since then, such as the cost of using up natural resources. [BBC]

Wind turbine (Vasilios Muselimis, Unsplash)

¶ “Mass Blackouts As Tropical Storm Nears Australian Coast” • More than 300,000 properties are without power as a tropical storm edges closer to Australia’s east coast, lashing the region with heavy rain. Storm Alfred has been downgraded from a cyclone to a tropical low, but local authorities have warned that the threat it poses is “not over.” [BBC]

¶ “Green Hydrogen Gets A Ceramic Catalyst Makeover” • The EU is supporting green hydrogen, as it aims to cut dependence on Russian gas. The supply of hydrogen is almost all extracted from natural gas or coal, but that will change as innovators aim to extract green hydrogen from biomass, wastewater, solid waste, and other sustainable feedstocks. [CleanTechnica]

Green hydrogen (Courtesy of Stargate Hydrogen)

¶ “Super Long EV Charging Network in Australia Now Open” • The Western Australia EV Network recently “opened.” The EV charging network is the longest in Australia, extending 7,000 km (4,350 miles). The network includes 110 charging points at 49 locations. Completion of the EV Network is considered to be a major milestone. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Freja Clears Hurdle For 2.5-GW Offshore Wind Farm” • Freja Offshore got a key permit for its proposed 2500-MW Mareld offshore wind farm in Sweden. The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland granted a Natura 2000 permit for the project. Freja Offshore is a joint venture between Hexicon and Mainstream Renewable Power. [reNews]

Floating wind power (Hexicon image)

¶ “Tata Power Signs MOU To Develop 7 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects In Andhra Pradesh” • Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to jointly explore opportunities for the development of up to 7 GW of renewable energy projects, with or without storage systems. [pv magazine India]

¶ “CDWE Kicks Off 2025 Hai Long Construction Campaign” • CDWE kicked off the 2025 construction campaign for the 1-GW Hai Long offshore wind project in Taiwan. The first installation campaign of the project was completed in last November, with the jacket foundations installed at Hai Long 2. CDWE’s heavy lift vessel Green Jade did the work. [reNews]

Heavy lift vessel Green Jade (CDWE image)

¶ “Scientists Are Rising Up To Resist Trump Policies” • There are thousands of scientists from scores of countries around the world joining together in solidarity to oppose attempts by the Trump administration to enact what they see as anti-scientific measures that threaten public health and the environment around the world. [Inside Climate News]

¶ “Hexa Renewables And Marubeni Partner For 100 MW Of Solar In Japan” • Singapore-based Hexa Renewables and the Japanese conglomerate Marubeni entered into a partnership to develop up to 100 MW of solar in Japan. Marubeni said it plans to procure about 1,000 non-feed-in tariff solar plants by the end of 2028 for Hexa. [pv magazine International]

Solar system (Nuno Marques, Unsplash)

¶ “Chernobyl: Emergency Work Completed After Drone Strike On Shelter” • The State Emergency Service of Ukraine said work to fight smouldering fires in the insulation layers of Chernobyl’s giant shelter is complete, three weeks after it was struck by a drone. The International Atomic Energy Agency says radiation levels remained normal. [World Nuclear News]

US:

¶ “US Agency Says Congress Can’t Repeal California’s 2035 ZEV Mandate” • Under the Clean Air Act, the US EPA has historically granted California waivers to set stricter air pollution regulations on vehicles, power plants, and industry on its land. Trump may think he’s king, but US agencies say California’s right to set its own rules is locked in. [CleanTechnica]

Redondo Beach (Paul Hanaoka, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Apple Legend Woz Torches Tesla UI” • After Steve Wozniak’s presentation at a big tech conference, where he criticized Big Tech taking over our lives too much and tech billionaires for becoming too directly political, CNBC interviewed the Apple co-founder and got more comments from him on Tesla, Elon Musk, and other matters. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Churches In Louisiana Installing Solar + Storage As Hurricane Prep” • A coalition named Together New Orleans that includes about fifty churches as well as a number of other community institutions is developing a network of ten solar-plus-storage centers around New Orleans. The coalition is actually calling these hubs “lighthouses.” [CleanTechnica]

New Orleans church (Rojan Maharjan, Unsplash)

¶ “Trump’s Tariffs And New State Regulation Could Increase Power Costs In Texas” • The low costs of developing renewable energy allowed Texas to lead the US in clean energy deployment. But the cost of doing business with new tariffs and rules may stall the industry’s ability to churn out the cheap power, according to developers and experts. [Inside Climate News]

¶ “Offshore Wind Turbines Promise More Power” • Wind turbines located in the deep ocean off US shores could one day generate as much as 2.8 terawatts of energy. That amount is triple what the country needs to supply all of its current electric power needs, according to the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. [ACMA]

Have a conspicuously beautiful day.

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World:

¶ “East Midlands To Get EV Charge Funding” • Over £40 million in funding has been distributed to thirteen Midlands councils to install thousands of EV charging points. Midlands Connect said the funding came on top of £2.3 billion to help people make a switch to EVs before the 2035 ban on buying new diesel and petrol vehicles. [BBC]

Charging an EV (Ernest Ojeh, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Homes Install Subsidized Heat Pumps At Record Level” • The number of UK homes installing heat pumps supported by government incentives set a record in 2024. Data showed 52% more of the low-carbon heating systems were installed than in 2023. Experts said part of the rise was due to an increase in the grant offered to get people to switch from gas. [BBC]

¶ “Tesla Is Offering 0% Financing on Model 3, 1.99% Financing on Cybertruck, $1,100 Subsidy in China ” • Tesla is offering new incentives on the Cybertruck. Tesla has started advertising 0% APR on the Model 3 on its US website, implying it is having a harder time moving the Model 3 than the Model Y. And there are new incentives in China. [CleanTechnica]

Cybertruck (Phillip Pessar, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Tesla Sales Crash Hard in Oz” • Tesla sales are dropping in China, in Europe, and in the US. Now we have Australian data, and it shows Tesla crashing hard there. Reportedly, Tesla sales dropped 72% in Australia last month. Whatever the reason, it appears we should see it in markets around the world, as they all seem to be trending together. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo Cars CEO Torches EU Plan To Delay Automaker CO₂ Emissions Requirements” • CleanTechnica has published articles about the EU’s move to delay CO₂ emissions requirements, seeing it as a weak, harmful, unnecessary move. Now the CEO of Volvo Cars, Jim Rowan, has come out and torched the EU over this as well. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan (Courtesy of Volvo Cars)

¶ “Developers Consult On 3.6-GW Ossian Connection” • The developers of the 3600-MW Ossian floating wind farm will hold a consultation on the transmission system that is to connect the project to the National Grid. SSE Renewables, Marubeni Corp, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners are developing the project off the east coast of Scotland. [reNews]

¶ “UK And Ireland To Boost Offshore Wind Ties” • The UK and Ireland will work more closely together to enable sub-sea energy infrastructure to maximize offshore wind potential in the Irish and Celtic seas. The UK and Irish governments will set up the system for commercial developers to increase offshore energy by cutting red tape for them. [reNews]

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Number 10 Downing)

¶ “Ocean Winds Nets Key Permit For 1.1-GW Hanbando” • Ocean Winds secured a key permit for its 1125-MW Hanbando offshore wind project in South Korea. The Electricity Business Licence was granted by the Electricity Regulatory Commission. The EBL grants the project exclusive development rights over the ocean space and reserves the interconnection. [reNews]

¶ “Canberra Select Committee’s Interim Report Not Rushing To Nuclear Energy” • The evidence they’ve heard so far indicates nuclear energy wouldn’t be available until well into the 2040s and so would be too late to meaningfully support achieving Australia’s climate and energy targets or to help in a transition away from coal power. [Fremantle Shipping News]

Parliament House (Social Estate, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “National Analysis Finds Butterflies Are Disappearing At A ‘Catastrophic’ Rate” • America’s butterflies are disappearing due to insecticides, climate change, and habitat loss. Their number is down 22% since 2000, a study in the journal Science found. The number in the Lower 48 states has been falling on average 1.3% per year since the turn of the century. [ABC News]

¶ “Corning Blows A Huge Solar Energy Raspberry At ‘American Energy Dominance'” • Add Corning Incorporated to the growing list of US companies moving forward with renewable energy ventures regardless of President Trump’s desire to assist fossil energy stakeholders. Corning is making a big move into making solar panels. [CleanTechnica]

Solar PV system (Courtesy of Hemlock Semiconductor)

¶ “Trump Assault On NEPA Will Sow Chaos And Is Doomed To Fail” • One of the latest actions by the Ogre of the Offal Office is to try to shortcut US environmental laws, especially aiming at the National Environmental Policy Act. It’s likely cause confusion and chaos, even slowing permitting large oil and gas projects, according to Oil & Gas Watch. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Apple Legend Woz Says Tech Companies Are Too Big And Too Political” • Speaking at a tech conference in Barcelona this week, Apple legend Steve Wozniak commented on the tech industry of today. Tech companies have become too big, they are getting too political, and they are increasingly controlling our individual lives. [CleanTechnica]

Steve Wozniak (Nichollas Harrison, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Congress Hears Warnings That Cutting Renewable Energy Incentives Could Drive Up Costs” • Energy experts told congress that rolling back Biden-era tax credits for renewables could slow grid expansion, raise electricity costs, and make it harder to meet surging energy demand, which is rising fast as such customers as data centers come online. [The Daily Climate]

¶ “A Fossil Fuel May Be Rebranded ‘Renewable Energy’ Under Proposed Tennessee Law” • Tennessee may become the first state to legally define gas as “renewable energy.” State law now defines natural gas, a fossil fuel, as “clean energy.” But a proposed state bill would expand the definition to state that gas is “renewable,” “clean,” and “green.”  [WPLN News]

Have a neatly nifty day.

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World:

¶ “New BYD Yuan Plus With Fridge Ans God’s Eye Launches at $15,970” • BYD was already crushing it. But now its Yuan Plus (called the Atto 3 in overseas markets) includes a refrigerator, God’s Eye C driver-assist tech, and an all-around upgrade at a starting cost of 115,800 yuan ($15,970). That’s 1,000 yuan cheaper than last year’s model. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Yuan Plus (BYD image)

¶ “Tesla Sales In China Tumble 49% In February” • According to CnEVPost, Tesla China sold 30,688 cars in February 2025. That’s 51% fewer than Tesla sold in January and 49% fewer than it sold last February. The Chinese media are offering several reasons for Tesla’s poor performance, including Chinese New Year’s holiday. But sales of other EVs increased. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK Launches Energy Transition Consultation” • The UK government launched a consultation on how to ensure the oil and gas industry and its workers can benefit from the expected growth in clean energy. It is estimated that the workforce for offshore renewable energy could grow to between 70,000 and 138,000 in 2030. [reNews]

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (RenewableUK)

¶ “EU Auto Plan Is A Major Concession To Industry – It Must Be the Last” • After the EU Automotive Plan, there must be no more concessions on car industry climate targets, T&E says. Giving carmakers two extra years to comply with the 2025 CO₂ targets undermines the greatest incentive for EU carmakers to catch up in the race to electrify. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gode Wind 3 Reaches Full Power” • Ørsted and Nuveen Infrastructure’s 253-MW Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm is now operating at full power. Final testing for Gode Wind 3 was completed in late February and the project’s 23 turbines are now fully commissioned. The project is Ørsted’s fifth operational offshore wind farm in Germany. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Ørsted image)

¶ “Federal Government Greenlights Major NSW Renewable Projects” • New South Wales is celebrating a major renewable milestone, with the approval of three new wind projects with a combined capacity of 2,404 MW. The new projects will build on the record amount of renewables meeting 46% of demand in the national grid in Q4 2024. [Utility Magazine]

¶ “‘World-Leading’ Array Of Massive Eight-Hour Solar Batteries To Reboot Australian Manufacturing” • Australian infrastructure investor Quinbrook unveiled plans for a series of massive eight-hour solar batteries that they say will offer Australia the best, and possibly the only, chance to protect Australian manufacturing and attract new industries. [RenewEconomy]

Solar array with batteries (Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners)

¶ “Dutch Port Expands Logistics Offering” • Buss Terminal Eemshaven expanded its terminal area and heavy-duty quay side access, as it seeks to be a key player in offshore wind logistics in the European North Sea. The expansion includes about fifteen hectares of heavy-duty storage area and 200 meter quay-side connecting to the Beatrixhaven. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Ocean Energy Is Almost Ready, But It Needs A Boost Over The Testing Barrier” • The marine energy industry needs to vet their novel tech at custom facilities and instruments. Researchers studying solar panels can prop a new prototype in a sunny field to see how it works, but for an untested marine energy device it is not that simple. [CleanTechnica]

Artist’s impression of wave energy (Alfred Hicks, NREL)

¶ “Companies Tell Congressional Committee That Renewable Energy Is Needed To Keep Up With Demand” • The US is in the midst of a surge in energy demand, largely driven by the rise of artificial intelligence and the power-hungry data centers feeding it, as well as electrification and an increase in demand from US manufacturing. [Inside Climate News]

¶ “US Rigs Drilling For Natural Gas Decreased For The Second Consecutive Year In 2024” • The number of rigs deployed to drill for natural gas in the US decreased over the last two years. They fell 32% (50 rigs) between December 2022 and December 2024. The decline coincided with a general decline in natural gas prices over the last two years. [CleanTechnica]

US natural gas rig count (EIA image)

¶ “Surprising Report Shows Texas Has Enormous Advantage Over Other States” • Everything’s bigger in Texas. Among other things, this idea applies to the state’s enthusiasm for renewable energy, as new data shows it has almost 80% more solar, wind, and battery capacity combined than the state with the next highest capacity, California. [The Cool Down]

¶ “ACP Finds Clean Energy Dominated New US Energy Capacity In 2024” • The American Clean Power Association released its Snapshot of Clean Power in 2024, a preview of the upcoming full Clean Power Annual Market Report. It shows a dominant year for clean energy in 2024, as the US deployed an unprecedented 49 GW of capacity. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Wind turbines (Anna Jiménez Calaf, Unsplash)

¶ “Wind And Solar Power Overtake Coal In US For First Time” • Wind and solar energy generated more of the US’ electricity than coal for the first time last year, according to figures released by the US Energy Information Administration. Wind and solar accounted for 17% of the US’ electricity mix while coal fell to an all-time low of 15%. [The Times]

¶ “Supreme Court Debates Nuclear Waste Disposal, Questions Status Of Yucca Mountain Site” • The Supreme Court debated how to dispose of the nation’s nuclear waste as Texas urged the court to block a storage site near its border with New Mexico. The justices’ debate over the Texas case invited discussion of a site in Nevada. [Reno Gazette Journal]

Have a basically wonderful day.

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World:

¶ “The World’s Strongest Ocean Current Should Be Getting Faster, But It Is At Risk Of Failing” • Flowing clockwise around Antarctica, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on Earth. Five times as strong as the Gulf Stream, and over 100 times as strong as the Amazon, it is being weakened by fresh water from melting Antarctic ice. [BBC]

Antarctic ice (Cassie Matias, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Work Begins On Mine Water Heating System” • Work is under way to create a mine water heating system to supply hundreds of homes. Water from disused mines will be used to heat houses in a community being built in County Durham. About 759 homes in the Seaham Garden Village will be heated through an ultra-low-carbon district heat network. [BBC]

¶ “BYD Electric Bus Sales Grow 40.5%, Non-Bus Commercial Vehicle Sales Grow 1,459%!” • BYD’s electric bus sales grew 40.5%, year-on-year, in the first two months of 2025. But non-bus BYD electric commercial vehicle sales grew a whopping 1049.2% in February 2025 over last year, from 362 sales in February 2024 to 4,160 sales in February 2025. [CleanTechnica]

BYD electric truck (BYD image)

¶ “BYD New Energy Vehicle Sales Jump 161%” • Just looking at passenger vehicles, BYD’s new energy vehicle (plugin vehicle) sales grew 161.4% in February 2025 compared to February 2024. It scored 322,846 sales compared to 122,311 in February 2024. That’s huge year-on-year growth when you consider the scale BYD was already at! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “VinFast Partners With Motech On A Nationwide Service Center Network In The Philippines” • VinFast Philippines and Motech Automotive Service Center formalized a Memorandum of Understanding to create a service network for VinFast EVs. The collaboration fits with the VinFast’s commitment to foster green transportation in the region. [CleanTechnica]

Motech service center in Manila (Motech Commonwealth image)

¶ “China’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Deployed In Antarctica” • A hydrogen fuel cell, developed by a subsidiary of China’s State Power Investment Corporation, was successfully deployed at China’s Qinling Station in Antarctica, in a hybrid power supply of wind, solar, hydrogen, and diesel. It is a significant chapter in development of hydrogen energy. [China Daily]

¶ “Vattenfall Chooses DEME For German Projects” • Vattenfall has chosen DEME Offshore to carry out cable protection systems stabilization works at the DanTysk and Sandbank offshore wind farms in Germany. The electrical wiring contract is worth €3.56 million for the work at the projects. The DanTysk and Sandbank projects have a total capacity of 576 MW. [reNews]

Wind turbine at DanTysk (Vattenfall image)

¶ “Stalling On Renewables Will See Power Bills Jump In This Decade, Study Shows” • In Australia, domestic power bills could jump 30% by the end of this decade, and for small businesses they could rise by up to 41%, if renewable energy isn’t rolled out faster, according to modelling by Jacobs, a global engineering and professional services firm. [Riotact]

US:

¶ “US Air Force Leads Defense Department Into A Geothermal Energy Future ” • The US Air Force was an early adopter and market-mover for the budding domestic solar industry back in the early 2000s, leading to solar’s explosive growth curve in the ensuing years. Now the Air Force is poised to do the same for geothermal energy. [CleanTechnica]

Geothermal energy (Courtesy of GreenFire Energy)

¶ “Over 16,000 Medium and Heavy Charging And Fueling Points Available In California” • Diesel exhaust is very bad for human health. Replacing gas and diesel trucks with zero-emissions ones improves air quality and is better for both people and the planet. The California Energy Commission has an online charging and fueling dashboard for ZEV trucks. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GE Vernova And Amazon To Partner On Onshore Wind” • GE Vernova and Amazon Web Services signed a strategic framework agreement that will see the two companies collaborate to commercialise onshore wind development projects. The work will support a larger initiative aimed at supporting AWS’s data center business. [reNews]

GE Vernova office (GE Vernova image)

¶ “Divided House Energy Panel OKs Measure To Eliminate Renewable Energy Fund” • Since 1994, most of the programs, subsidies, rebates, and incentives in Minnesota for renewable energy have been financed by money from a nuclear agreement with XCEL Energy. But that might go away if a new state law is passed. [MN House of Representatives]

¶ “Trump’s Energy Agenda To Encounter Roadblocks, Wood Mackenzie Says” • A report from Wood Mackenzie that explores the implications of actions by the Trump administration says North America’s energy transition could slow down by rising trade tariffs, infrastructure delays, and policy uncertainty for emerging technologies. [pv magazine USA]

Trade goods (PortCalls Asia, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Supreme Court Takes On Dispute Over Nuclear Waste Storage Sites” • A solution to America’s stockpile of nuclear waste keeps getting passed around. The issue is going before the Supreme Court in a dispute from Texas over the federal government’s authority to allow temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel at privately owned facilities far from reactors. [ABC News]

¶ “Court Rules Oyster Creek Fuel Storage Casks Are Permanent” • After a local township asserted that the spent fuel and storage casks should be considered to be permanent, because there is nowhere for them to go, a New Jersey court ruled that the spent nuclear fuel system at the former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant is permanent and taxable. [World Nuclear News]

Have an interestingly fulfilling day.

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World:

¶ “Sawfish Inspire Drive To Preserve Marine Life” • An aquarium announced it is expanding its work to protect the world’s marine life by entering into a partnership with a wildlife biobank. The Deep, in Hull, said the collaboration with Nature’s SAFE would help to preserve more marine and freshwater species such as the green sawfish. [BBC]

Green Sawfish (Courtesy of The Deep)

¶ “Canada’s Cities Deploying Electric Buses And Toying With Hydrogen” • The Canadian transition to electric buses is gaining momentum, as a number of cities adopt zero-emission vehicles to enhance sustainability in public transit. While hydrogen has often been getting the attention, what has really been happening is lots of electric buses. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU To Gift Weaker Climate Targets To Car Industry In Return For No Commitments” • The EU Commission will weaken the 2025 CO₂ target for carmakers by allowing them to comply over three years instead of one, President Ursula von der Leyen said. The measure still needs to be passed by EU governments and Members of European Parliament. [CleanTechnica]

Renault 5 EV (Image courtesy of Renault)

¶ “Record Year For Renewable PPAs Features Two Mega-Deals” • Corporate PPAs have directly contracted for almost 40% of capacity and supported projects that account for 70% of capacity installed. In other words, only 30% of the renewable energy capacity installed since 2017 has not been supported at some stage by a Corporate PPA. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Half Of New EU City Buses Were Zero-Emission In 2024” • Of all new EU city buses, 49% were zero-emission in 2024, making city buses one of the early success stories of the European Green Deal. Sales exceeded T&E’s projection made last year, despite its assumption of exponential growth. This is due in part to quick uptake of fuel cell buses. [CleanTechnica]

Articulated bus of Warsaw’s MZA (MZA image)

¶ “China’s New Renewables Account For 86% Of New Power In 2024” • China’s newly installed renewable energy capacity was 86% of its total additions in 2024, the government said. The total installed capacity of renewable energy made up a record high of 56% of all of China’s capacity. Renewables installed so far reached a total of 1,889 GW. [Asian Business Review]

¶ “TotalEnergies Inaugurates 640-MW Offshore Wind Farm In Taiwan” • TotalEnergies and its partners have put the 640-MW Yunlin offshore wind farm in Taiwan into commission. The wind farm consists of 80 wind turbines, each with a 8-MW capacity. It will produce 2.4 TWh of renewable electricity per year, powering over 600,000 households. [reNews]

Yunlin offshore wind farm (TotalEnergies image)

¶ “Renewables Provided Over Half Of Electricity In February” • Renewable sources provided over half of Ireland’s electricity in February. Data from grid operator EirGrid showed that wind power alone accounted for just over 48% of all electricity used in Ireland. Including grid-scale solar and hydropower, renewables provided 54.5% of electricity in February. [RTE.ie]

¶ “Iberdrola Inks Italian Solar PPA” • Iberdrola and Italian retail group Pam Panorama signed a ten year solar power purchase agreement. The PPA will supply the retail operations of the Pam, Panorama, Pam local, and Pam City brands in Italy with electric energy. By the end of 2025, Iberdrola will have around 400 MW of capacity operating in Italy. [reNews]

Solar panels (Iberdrola image)

¶ “Northwest Europe Power Prices Plunge Below Zero On Strong Solar Output” • The strongest solar generation in Germany since September sent the power prices in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands to below zero for the early Monday afternoon, in yet another spate of negative prices that undermine investment in renewable energy capacity. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Blackhillock BESS Uses Kraken Tech Platform” • Europe’s biggest operating Battery Energy Storage System uses Kraken’s smart operating system. The 200-MW, 400-MWh Blackhillock site in Moray, Scotland, owned by Zenobe, has gone live and is using the tech platform developed by Kraken Technologies, part of Octopus Energy Group. [reNews]

Blackhillock battery system (Kraken image)

¶ “Peter Dutton’s Nuclear Plan Could Blow Out Household Electricity Bills By Up To $600 A Year By 2030” • A report has torpedoed Peter Dutton’s claim that the Coalition’s nuclear plan for Australia would be 44% cheaper than Labor renewables plan, finding instead that it would inflate average consumer electricity bills by up to 41% by 2030. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “The US Enters Its ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Era. Here’s What A Top Energy Leader Has To Say” • Some industry observers speculate that energy prices and other market forces may deter energy companies from increasing drilling, noting that the US has been the world’s top crude oil and liquefied natural gas producer for several years now. [The World Economic Forum]

Abandoned pump jack (Strange Happenings, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Sales Drop Could Put Emissions Credit Revenue At Risk, Too” • According to reporting by Politico reporter Jordyn Dahl, Tesla made a total of $2.76 billion in emissions credit revenue in 2024, over 50% more than the previous year. Tesla is paid by car makers who buy credits to hit emissions targets. As Tesla’s sales fall, the revenue is in question. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Demand Response Could Reduce The Burden Data Centers Put On Electrical Grids ” • Powering data centers is getting to be a significant issue in the US as the demand for electricity to run them increases dramatically. To cope, utility companies plan for new gas-fired plants and even nuclear power. Demand response is an alternative. [CleanTechnica]

Have an absolutely perfect day.

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World:

¶ “The Warming Planet Is Changing The Ecosystem. It’s Also Bad For Automakers” • When Swedish automaker Volvo opened its proving ground in Kiruna, Sweden, 30 years ago, the mission was clear: “Making sure that our products are truly fit for the harshest of winter conditions.” The area had snow until mid-May in those days. Not any more. [ABC News]

Electric Volvo EX30 Cross Country (Volvo image)

¶ “Pharma Firms Extend Chinese Renewables Procurement” • AstraZeneca and GSK partnered with pharmaceutical suppliers to procure renewable power in China. In collaboration, twelve companies will unlock roughly 225 GWh of electricity per year for operations that include the research, development, and manufacture of medicines. [reNews]

¶ “UK Group Promotes Heat Pumps With Home Visits” • UK nonprofit Nesta helps people learn about heat pumps by word of mouth. It connects those who are interested by heat pumps with people who have already installed them. Instead of a sales pitch, the potential customers get to speak with people who have the equipment in their homes. [CleanTechnica]

How a heat pump works (State of Rhode Island)

¶ “NTPC’s 300-MW Kolayat Solar Power Plant Now Fully Operational” • State-owned NTPC announced that its 300-MW Shambu ki Burj-2 solar PV project in Rajasthan is now fully operational. The project was commissioned by NTPC Green Energy in a phased manner, with the final 18.32-MW portion recently going online. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Nordex Secures 112-MW Brazilian Turbine Deal” • Nordex has received a 112-MW turbine order for a wind project in Brazil. Brazilian energy holding company Auren Energia commissioned Nordex to supply and install nineteen N163/5.X turbines. The turbines are destined for the Cajuina 3 wind farm in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Nordex image)

¶ “2025 Offshore Capacity To Reach 19 GW” • The offshore wind industry is poised for a rebound in 2025, with capacity additions expected to reach 19 GW and sector-wide expenditure projected to hit $80 billion. According to research from Rystad Energy this recovery follows a slowdown at the end of last year, when new installations dropped to about 8 GW. [reNews]

¶ “Reports Reveal Australia’s Record Renewable Year” • Australia is kicking net zero goals, with three industry reports highlighting the country’s latest milestones, including a record amount of renewable electricity generation and emissions reductions in 2024. Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions are now 29% below 2005 levels. [Utility Magazine]

Wind farm in Australia (Nachoman-au, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “France And Spain Lead Europe’s Onshore Wind Potential” • Europe has been steadily ramping up its wind energy capacity. In the last quarter of 2023, the region succeeded in producing more power from wind than coal for the first time. Also, France and Spain alone could produce enough electricity to meet the EU’s 2050 energy demand. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Austria Regains Electricity Exporter Status Due To Renewable Energy” • Austria regained its status as an electricity-exporting country for the first time since 2009, driven by its transition to clean energy, with electricity exports reaching 4,747 GWh last year. Austrian Power Grid attributed this to a large expansion of renewable energy systems. [MSN]

Archimedes screw turbine (Hydro-Connect GmbH, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Nuclear Power Struggling To Maintain Its Level Of Stagnation, Let Alone Achieve Any Growth” • The current push in Australia to deploy nuclear reactors contrasts an excessive optimism by nuclear proponents against the continuing stagnant situation of nuclear power worldwide. And the latest nuclear proposals are built on speculations. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Domaine Carneros Takes Control Of Its Energy Future With A Schneider Electric Microgrid” • The Domaine Carneros winery in Napa, California, partnered with Schneider Electric to turn their onsite solar and generator systems into a classic microgrid. Schneider Electric invited CleanTechnica for a tour of the facility and a look at the microgrid. [CleanTechnica]

Domaine Carneros (Schneider Electric image)

¶ “In Solar Vs Gas Matchup, It Was Energy Storage That Killed The Beast” • Despite the efforts of Pres Trump, new technology is prying gas out of the US power generation profile. Energy analyst Lisa Martin Jenkins details this in an article for Latitude Media, in which she shows how batteries and renewables can defeat new natural gas plants. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Power Project Completed At Gateway Center” • The City of Albuquerque announced the completion of the final phase of a major solar energy upgrade to the Gateway Center. The new solar system includes four canopy solar PV rays, three solar edge inverters with power optimizers, and a steel tee canopy for a parking shade. [AOL.com]

Have an enormously enthusiastic day.

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World:

¶ “Study Shows Solar And Farming Can Co-Exist In UK” • At the University of Sheffield, researchers came to a rather stunning conclusion: Properly designed agrivoltaics could help the UK achieve its goal of having a net zero economy by 2050. PV targets could be met by Agrivoltaics on its own, while avoiding land use conflicts. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (By Tom Hickey and Al Hicks, NREL)

¶ “Cement Decarbonization Policy Makers Need To Understand All Levers” • Responsible for 7%–8% of global carbon emissions, cement production is a leading process for carbon emissions. Yet, as climate policies tighten and innovations develop, the cement industry stands at a crossroads: either continue business as usual or shift toward sustainability. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nation Announces Controversial Changes To Major Industry: ‘Significantly Changed Business Environment'” • To ease the financial pressures of inflation and supply chain issues for offshore wind projects, the Japanese government decided to modify pricing rules to encourage developers to follow through on their builds, Reuters reported. [The Cool Down]

Wind farm in Japan (BehBeh, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Solar For Apartments Scheme Launches In Second State, Offering Up To $150,000 In Grants” • A $25 million initiative to install shared rooftop solar systems for apartment buildings across New South Wales has opened for applications, backed by state and federal Labor. Grants of up to $150,000 per project are available for installations. [One Step Off The Grid]

¶ “Iran Can Manufacture Six Nuclear Weapons With Newly Enriched Uranium, UN Atomic Agency Report Says” • The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran has produced dramatically more uranium that can be used in six atomic bombs and stressed that Tehran has made no progress on resolving outstanding issues. [AOL.com]

Nuclear research reactor in Iran (Nanking2010, public domain)

US:

¶ “US Lobster Catch Drops As They Migrate To Colder Canadian Waters” • The US lobster catch is falling as waters warm and they move northward. Maine’s haul of lobsters declined every year from nearly 111 million pounds in 2021, to 2024, when it was only a little more than 86 million pounds, according to data released by state regulators. [ABC News]

¶ “Why Vermont Farmers Are Using Urine On Their Crops” • Urine was used as fertilizer in ancient Rome and China. Now Vermont farmers are using it again to boost harvests and grow crops more sustainably. The Rich Earth Institute, a non-profit based in Windham County, collects, pasteurizes, and distributes the urine to farmers. [BBC]

Sustainable farming (Courtesy of Rich Earth Institute)

¶ “US Electric Vehicle Sales Up 480% Vs Q4 2019, But Fossil Fuel Vehicle Sales Down 2%” • In the 4th quarter of 2024, pure battery EV sales were up 15% from the 4th quarter of 2023, up 61% from the 4th quarter of 2022, up 146% from the 4th quarter of 2021, up 284% from the 4th quarter of 2020, and up 480% compared to the 4th quarter of 2019. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Global Warming Threatening The Future Of Dog Sled Races” • Climate change could complicate dogsledding races around the country as rising temperatures make snowpack in traditionally cold climates less reliable. The start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has been moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks due to a lack of snow. [ABC News]

Racing in the Iditarod (Fredrik Solli Wandem, Unsplash)

¶ “Energy Firm Announces Completion Of New Facility That Delivers Massive Power Gains” • A large solar project, Amazon Solar Farm Arkansas – Prairie Mist, is fully operational and delivering solar energy to the online retail giant’s facility there. It’s part of Amazon’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon pollution by 2040. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Energy Dominance Will Make Americans Sick” • The key to energy dominance is fracking, injecting water containing a stew of toxic chemicals deep underground to force more oil and methane to the surface. What is in that water? Nobody knows, because the fracking industry got state and local officials to pass laws that let them keep that private. [CleanTechnica]

Fracking (SFU – Communications & Marketing, CC BY 2.0)

¶ “PA Counties Unite To Lead Bold Transition To 100% Renewable Energy By 2035” • our counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania—Chester, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery—are making significant strides in adopting renewable energy for county operations through their collective effort under the Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeast PA. [MyChesCo]

¶ “Experts Fear Blow To Climate Research After Sackings In US Agency” • The Trump administration has dismissed hundreds of researchers and meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Experts stressed that global cooperation on climate modelling and research is essential for forecasting severe weather events. [MSN]

Have a sufficiently warm day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Hidden Truth About Nuclear Power” • Famously, Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes said, “Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” Using that approach, we can see that nuclear power has little to do with electricity generation and a lot to do with nuclear weapons. [wsimag.com]

Three Mile Island (Constellation Energy, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “With Clean, Stable Power, Costa Rica Shapes Up As Taiwan’s Chipmaking Rival” • In 2023, Costa Rica forged a partnership with the US to start making more semiconductors as the US looked for new and less sensitive sources of microchips. Now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio singled them out at a summit with Costa Rican Rodrigo Chaves Robles. [Mother Jones]

¶ “Threat To Kashmir’s Iconic Chinar Trees – And The Fight To Save Them” • The chinar is an iconic symbol of the Kashmir valley’s landscape and a major tourist draw, especially in autumn when the trees’ leaves light up in fiery hues of flaming red to a warm auburn. But rapid urbanisation, illegal logging, and climate change are threatening their survival. [BBC]

Shankaracharya Hill (imad Clicks, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Clean Cars Vs Less Traffic: How Much Do They Cut Pollution from Cars?” • From 1990 to 2022, the EU-27’s greenhouse gas emissions from road transportation increased by 23%, while the total from all sectors decreased by 29%. What does the EU need to do to bring greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic in line with its targets? [CleanTechnica]

¶ “5-Axle Battery-Electric Cement Mixer From Renault Trucks” • How does all the low-carbon or zero-carbon concrete get to job sites? It has been in big diesel-powered cement mixer trucks, so heavy that they have had to be diesel powered. But now, Renault Trucks has changed that, with a fully electric battery-powered cement mixer. [CleanTechnica]

Renault Truck (Renault Trucks image)

¶ “Philippines EV Advocates To Propel Local Electric Vehicle Ecosystem” • EVAP president Edmund Araga told CleanTechnica that he is still bullish about what seems to be a sudden shift and acceptance of electric automobiles. His sentiment is backed by news reports and white papers indicating a remarkable escalation in EV sales across the nation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Agri-PV Could Meet UK Electricity Demand Fourfold” • A team of academics from the University of Sheffield did research on the potential benefits of agrivoltaics, where land is used for solar energy production as well as agriculture. They found that solar technology could meet UK’s electricity demand fourfold without sacrificing farmland. [reNews]

Agrivoltaics (REM Tec image)

¶ “Study Identifies 333 GW Of Financially Viable Renewable Energy Projects In Indonesia” • Indonesia is estimated to hold significant renewable energy potential, over 3,686 GW, a recent analysis by the Institute for Essential Services Reform shows. The study identified 1,500 suitable locations for renewable energy projects. [MSN]

¶ “Lautec Launches Live Tracking Of 1.4-GW Sofia” • Danish consultancy Lautec launched live public tracking of construction of RWE’s 1400-MW Sofia offshore wind farm. Construction work at Sofia wind farm, one of the UK’s most significant renewable energy projects, can now be tracked in real-time through use of a publicly accessible platform. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (RWE image)

¶ “Nation Aiming To Add 200 GW In Renewables” • China is setting the stage for another significant leap in renewable energy development this year, aiming to add over 200 GW of renewable energy capacity. The country’s total power generation is to reach about 10,600 TWh, said the National Energy Administration, the country’s top energy authority. [China Daily]

¶ “Construction Begins On 140-MW Wind Farm” • Construction work has begun on a 140-MW wind farm in South Africa after developers reached financial close on the project. African Clean Energy Developments and Energy Infrastructure Management Services reached financial close on the Ishwati Emoyeni wind farm with NOA Group Trading. [reNews]

Wind farm (ACED image)

¶ “France And EU Move To Secure Ukraine Minerals, As US Pushes For Deal” • France and the EU are mobilizing to secure access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources, despite pressure from the US, which is pushing for mineral deals as a form of repayment for military aid. Ukraine’s mineral wealth is a critical bargaining chip. [Yahoo News UK]

US:

¶ “Geothermal Energy Vs Natural Gas: The Biggest Loser Is Trump” • Trump left three types of renewable energy in his whackadoodle “American Energy Dominance” plan. One of them is geothermal. There are no geothermal plants east of the Rocky Mountains, but that is about to change with technology borrowed from the oil industry. [CleanTechnica]

New geothermal technology (Courtesy of Fervo Energy)

¶ “EV Rebates Available For EV Charging And Fleets In ComEd Utility District” • Providing power for over 4 million customers and about 70% of the population of Illinois, ComEd is big. Now it is turning its attention to good. At the recent Chicago Auto Show, ComEd announced that it was providing $100 million in rebates for more EV adoption. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Powering Texas: How Base Power’s No-Cost Home Batteries Are Revolutionizing Energy Resilience” •​ In response to Texas’ increasing power outages and the demand for reliable home energy solutions, companies like Base Power are revolutionizing the market by offering affordable home battery systems without the hefty upfront costs. [CleanTechnica]

Have an efficiently creative day.

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