Opinion:
¶ “It Is Folly For Us To Even Consider Expanding Nuclear Power” • Former MP Brian Wilson wrote, “the remnants of nuclear after decades of hostility still provides a defiant 11.1% of power.” Okay Mr Wilson, let’s forget about the nuclear waste, the danger, or even the possibility attack. I look forward to editorials outlining the cost benefit of nuclear power. [The Herald]
Wind turbines (TJ K, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Electric Cars Are More Reliable Than Gas Cars, Study Shows” • A study from the German Automobile Club tells us what we’ve always suspected would be the case: Electric cars are much more reliable than gasoline-powered cars. German Automobile Club is the largest roadside assistance organization in Europe, operating like the AAA in the US. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Oil Prices Drop $2 With Most Asian Markets Closed For Holidays” • Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel after the OPEC+ group of oil producing nations said it plans to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day on June 1. US crude oil is down about 17% for the year and prices are at a point where many producers can no longer turn a profit. [ABC News]
Oil rig (Arvind Vallabh, Unsplash)
¶ “What Caused The Blackout On The Iberian Peninsular? It’s Complicated” • The blackout in Spain and Portugal was not the inevitable result of running an electric grid with large amounts of wind and solar capacity, The Breakthrough Institute says. It is instead what one would expect from an energy transition with inadequate reserves. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “How The World’s Largest Electric Ferry Changes Maritime Electrification” • The launch of the electric ferry China Zorrilla, to operate between Argentina and Uruguay, represents a landmark event in maritime electrification. Commissioned by Buquebus this vessel is the largest battery-electric passenger and vehicle ferry in the world. [CleanTechnica]
Incat-made China Zorilla ferry (Incat image)
¶ “In 2024, Costa Rica Had The Highest EV Market Share In The Americas” • Sales of new all-electric passenger vehicles in Costa Rica reached a record of 11,373 units in 2024, up 80% from 2023. The EV market share hit a record 15.4%, up from 11.6% in 2023, making Costa Rica the leader in all-electric cars in Latin America for the third consecutive year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Shell Considers Potential BP Takeover” • Bloomberg reported that the oil major Shell is in serious discussions with its advisers over the merits of a possible acquisition but is waiting for further stock and oil price declines before deciding whether to pursue a bid. Shares of BP have lost almost a third of their value in the last year as oil prices plummeted. [reNews]
Shell sign (Shell image)
¶ “NTPC Renewable Energy Tenders 56 MW Of Floating Solar With 60-MW, 240-MWh Battery Storage” • NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd has invited bids for development of a grid-connected 56-MW floating solar PV project, integrated with a 60-MW, 240-MWh battery system, on a turnkey basis at its North Karanpura Thermal Power Station. [pv magazine India]
¶ “DFO Bags Vessel Contract In Taiwan” • Dong Fang Offshore announced an order for a third Taiwan-flagged service operation vessel. On delivery it will start a 15-year service contract for an offshore wind farm project in Taiwan. The SOV is to be of DFO’s customised Vard 4 39 design, developed to meet the challenges of working offshore in Taiwan. [reNews]
Service operation vessels (Dong Fang Offshore image)
¶ “Australian Clean Energy Leaders Urge Albanese To Speed Up Renewables Push” • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party won a convincing majority in the the federal election. And Australia’s renewable energy sector is urging his re-elected government to step up the renewables energy transition based on that mandate. [pv magazine International]
¶ “Steelwind Rolls Out Its Largest-Ever Monopile” • Steelwind is celebrating a production milestone with the completion of its largest and heaviest monopile. Steelwind announced in February that it would invest €50 million in its Nordenham-Blexen factory in Germany to expand its capacity to meet increasing demand for offshore windpower. [reNews]
Monopile (Steelwind image)
¶ “China Steps Up As US Retreats From Global Green Energy Leadership” • As the world shifts towards cleaner energy, the role of superpowers is getting more visible. While China increases its support for green energy in developing countries, the US is stepping back. This pushes developing countries to choose their energy partners differently. [Microgrid Media]
US:
¶ “From Blight To Bright: Michigan Explores Solar Power On Brownfield Sites” • Michigan has 24,000 known contaminated sites, called brownfields. Kelly Thayer, senior policy advocate with the state’s Environmental Law & Policy Center, envisions a future where these brownfields are transformed into sites for solar energy projects. [Inside Climate News]
Brownfield site (Emilius123, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Coastal Restoration Project Is In Peril Amid Claims State Concealed A Critical Report” • A project to restore a rapidly vanishing stretch of Louisiana coast that was spoiled by the 2010 Gulf oil spill was thrown deeper into disarray when Governor Jeff Landry claimed that his predecessor concealed a study that threatened the $3 billion effort. [ABC News]
¶ “Farmers Are Harvesting A New Crop: Solar Energy” • A study shows agrisolar has been lucrative for farmers in California’s Central Valley over the last 25 years. On average, generating electricity from sunlight has 25 times the value of using the land to grow crops. Covering 10% of the land with solar power more than doubles their income. [Canary Media]
Have an objectively lovely day.
geoharvey 