World:
¶ “More Than 1,000 Objections To Battery Storage Sites” • More than 1,000 people objected to plans to build two battery energy storage systems in the North Yorkshire countryside. Plans for the 1-GW systems at South Kilvington, near Thirsk, and at East Rounton, between Northallerton and Yarm, were submitted by energy company NatPower. [BBC]
Mowbray battery storage project (NatPower image)
¶ “UK’s Rarest Wildlife Being ‘Pushed To Extinction’ By Grass Fires” • Some of the UK’s rarest wildlife is being “torched alive” and pushed closer to extinction after weeks of intense grass fires, conservationists have warned. They include endangered birds like hen harriers and water voles, which are now the UK’s fastest declining mammal. [BBC]
¶ “Waymo Robotaxis Moving Forward In Japan With Partners” • Waymo’s story of growth continues, most recently with partners in Japan and Atlanta. In Japan, Waymo’s partnership with taxi company Nihon Kotsu and taxi platform GO is getting ready for launch. Waymo vehicle will soon hit the roads of Tokyo, but they won’t be driverless yet. [CleanTechnica]
Waymo Jaguar in San Francisco (Dllu, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Solar Power Surges In Nigeria Thanks To Arnergy” • US energy secretary Chris Wright met with several representatives of African nations last month, including Nigeria, to browbeat them into making new investments in coal-fired generating stations. Wright overlooked one thing: Africa lacks a fully integrated electrical grid. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BW ESS Makes 1.5-GW German BESS Pact” • BW ESS and Zelos Energy Developments are planning to build a 1500-MW portfolio of battery energy storage system projects in the federal states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Sachsen-Anhalt in Northeast Germany. The projects are expected to achieve ready-to-build status in 2025-2027. [reNews]
Battery storage system (BW ESS image)
¶ “European Renewable PPA Market Hits 19 GW In 2024” • The European renewable Power Purchase Agreement market saw nearly 19 GW of new capacity contracted in 2024 driven by strong activity in Spain and Germany, a Wood Mackenzie report says. Solar PV and wind projects made up around 80% of the volume, each with a similar share. [reNews]
¶ “Ørsted Launches New SOV” • Ørsted has launched the Wind of Hope, which is now in use as the second Service Operation Vessel at its German offshore wind farms in the North Sea, carrying out maintenance work on the company’s 337 wind turbines. The 84-metre-long Wind of Hope has space for ninty cabins for service technicians and crew. [reNews]
Wind of Hope (Ørsted image)
¶ “Aluminium Sector Could Add Up To 20 GW Of Solar And Wind Power Capacity By 2030” • A new analysis reported by JMK Research says that with around 4.5 million tonnes per annum of new primary aluminium capacity expected by 2030, India’s aluminium sector could add up 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by that time. [pv magazine India]
¶ “Renewable Power Generation To Increase 84% By 2030” • The BloombergNEF New Energy Outlook 2025 highlights the rapid growth of renewable capacity, predicting an 84% growth by 2030. The report outlines the transition to a lower-carbon energy system, with more inexpensive renewables meeting the growing global demand. [Windtech International]
Wind turbine (Vasilios Muselimis, Unsplash)
¶ “IEA’s World Energy Outlook Systemically Underestimates Solar PV Development” • Since 1993, the World Energy Outlook of the International Energy Agency has been an authoritative report. An examination, however, indicates that even they vastly underestimated the growth of renewable energy technologies, especially solar PV. [pv magazine India]
¶ “Delaying Coal Power Exits: A Risk We Can’t Afford” • Recently, Frontier Economics put forward modelling proposing delayed closure dates for several coal generators over the mid-2030s to mid-2040s, when they could be replaced by nuclear reactors, justifying this pathway on the basis of lower cost. But nuclear timelines often blow out significantly. [IEEFA]
Coal, solar, and wind power (Arno Senoner, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “US Crude Oil Exports Reached A New Record In 2024” • US crude oil exports in 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023, exceeding an annual average of 4.1 million barrels per day. Crude oil exports grew 1% in 2024, compared with 14% in 2023 and 21% in 2022. Europe and Asia-Oceania were the top regional destinations for US crude exports. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GM And Mary Barra Place A $35 Billion Bet On EVs” • GM is bringing compelling electric cars to market, like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Equinox EV, and Chevy Blazer EV. The new Chevy Bolt is nearing production, and the electric Hummer, Silverado, and Suburban will be on sale soon. GM is partnering with LG Energy Solution on a battery plant. [CleanTechnica]
Preproduction 2026 LYRIQ-V (Courtesy Cadillac)
¶ “Community Solar Is Booming And Bringing Big Economic Benefits With It” • Solar advocates can get even more excited about community solar. According to a report published by the Coalition for Community Solar Access, these projects aren’t just delivering clean power, they’re also bringing about some serious economic growth. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Invenergy Signs US PV PPA” • Invenergy has signed a 20-year PPA with the Grant County Public Utility Distric to offtake 120 MW of power from the Quincy Solar Energy Center from 2027. Located near Moses Lake, Washington, Quincy Solar will support Grant PUD’s goal of securing 300 MW of solar power generation capacity by 2027. [reNews]
Have a markedly superior day.
geoharvey 