Opinion:
¶ “What Happens When US Electricity Demand Craters?” • A CleanTechnica reader shared an interesting thought: If demand for electricity craters in a falling economy, the fossil fuel plants will be the first to shut off. That is because the marginal costs of electricity produced from fossil fuels are high, where those of renewables are very low. [CleanTechnica]
Renewables replacing coal (Arno Senoner, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Paper-Thin Solar Panels Set To Transform Clean Energy Technology” • Another breakthrough in solar power generation technology is all set to revolutionise the solar power generation. Japan has already unveiled the ultra-thin solar panels, which are thinner than paper. They were developed by a research team from the MIT. [Telangana Today]
World:
¶ “New Satellite Will See Through Clouds To ‘Weigh’ Earth’s Forests” • A new type of satellite will be able to see through the clouds and leafy canopies to assess how the world’s rainforests are protecting the planet from climate change. The European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite, will “weigh” the Earth’s forests, to find how much carbon is being stored. [BBC]
Biomass satellite (ESA-CNES-Arianespace)
¶ “Millions Without Power As Outages Hit Spain, Portugal And Parts Of France” • Millions of people in Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France lost power after a “severe disruption” in the European electrical system. According to the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in remarks on the issue, the cause of the disruption is still unknown. [ABC News]
¶ “Copernicus: Warmest March In Europe And Lowest Arctic Winter Sea Ice” • March 2025 was the warmest on record for Europe, as temperatures continue to hit new highs. And it was a month of contrasting rainfall extremes, as many areas had their driest March on record and others their wettest for at least the past 47 years. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Airline Emissions Soar To Pre-COVID Levels As Europe Fails To Price Their Pollution” • Emissions from European aviation are almost back to 2019 levels, and flights within Europe are even greater, a T&E study shows. The EU’s carbon market is failing to address the true cost of emissions, while airlines show signs of climate backtracking. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Equinor, Polenergia Secure Permit For 1.6-GW Bałtyk 1” • Equinor and Polenergia have secured the final environmental decision for their planned almost 1,600-MW Bałtyk 1 offshore wind project. Gdańsk’s Regional Director for Environmental Protection issued the decision, allowing the project to progress towards Poland’s 2025 offshore auction. [reNews]
Wind turbines (Equinor image)
¶ “EU Solar Sector Proposes Cybersecurity Solutions” • The European solar sector has proposed new recommendations to help EU policymakers mitigate cybersecurity risks. Solar PV systems are digitalised, with more and more connected to the internet via inverters. A report by DNV performs an in-depth risk assessment for the sector. [reNews]
¶ “Adding 50-GW Renewable Energy Yearly Can End Coal Imports By 2029, Save India $66 Billion” • If India adds 50 GW of renewable energy every year, it could stop importing thermal coal completely by 2029 and save about $66 billion in foreign exchange between 2025 and 2029, according to a report by think tank Climate Risks Horizon. [PSU Watch]
Wind turbines (George Dagerotip, Unsplash)
¶ “Solar Power Surge Sinks Europe’s Electricity Prices Deep Below Zero” • A sunny weekend in northwest Europe plunged power prices in the region to hundreds of euros below zero on Sunday afternoon as solar generation soared. Spot power prices in Belgium sank to as low as -$302 (-€266) per MWh between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “Coalition Says Its Energy Plan Is Climate Approved. Here’s What The IPCC Really Says About Nuclear” • Does the IPCC say nuclear power is necessary for decarbonisation? No, but that has not stopped Australia’s Liberal-National Party Coalition from claiming the IPCC tells them that to decrease emissions we must increase nuclear power. [RenewEconomy]
Sign for the times (Dan Meyers, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “New York State Wants To Divest From Everything Tesla” • A number of New York state policy gurus have changed course on Tesla. According the New York Times, they are pushing to revoke a legislative waiver that has let Tesla directly operate five New York dealerships rather than sell cars through dealer franchises, as other carmakers must do. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “SunTrain Re-Imagines Battery Storage And Clean Energy” • Sometimes we have excess electricity in one place but we need it somewhere else. New transmission lines could send electricity to where it is needed, but they are expensive and take years to plan, permit, and build. SunTrain thinks it has a better idea: Ship the electricity by rail. [CleanTechnica]
SunTrain railcar (SunTrain image)
¶ “Electric Water Heater Sales Set New Record In 2024 While Gas Sales Decline” • Data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute tells us sales of gas-burning tanked water heaters were down 3%, in 2024. Meanwhile, sales of electric water heaters grew by 3% in 2024 to a record high level and a market share 5% higher than gas. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “LS Breaks Ground On $700 Million Subsea Cable Facility” • Oceantic Network member company LS GreenLink USA has broken ground on its new $700 million subsea cable facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. The subsea cable manufacturing facility is a first in the US for the Korean-based LS Cable & System. It is expected to be operational in 2028. [reNews]
Have a clamorously applauded day.
geoharvey 
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