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.
geoharvey 