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.
geoharvey 
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