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.
geoharvey 