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.
geoharvey 