Science and Technology:
¶ “Why We Need ‘Revolutionary’ Cooling Tech” • With climate change, we need cooling, but the refrigerants typically used for that typically have high global warming potential. Now some scientists are looking toward cooling devices that don’t need liquid refrigerants at all. One major set of revolutionary cooling tech is solid-state cooling. [BBC]
Phonic cooling systems (Phonic image)
World:
¶ “Queensland Makes EV Progress Despite Government Shift To The Right” • In 2024, Queensland citizens voted out the Labour state government and voted in the more conservative Liberal National Party. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Public Works said there has been no formal announcement of policy change for EVs, however. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Pilots Chasing ‘Sky Rivers’ And Cyclones From Japan To The US” • Storm-hunting planes chase atmospheric rivers from Japan to the US, revealing new insights into these powerful storms and how we can keep ourselves safe. They are becoming bigger, and the strongest ones are becoming more frequent, due to climate change. [BBC]
Flying to Japan (US Air Force image)
¶ “How Poland Changed Its Energy Story” • Poland’s energy story is both a cautionary tale and an inspiring narrative about how a nation dependent on coal has managed to diversify its energy mix greatly within just a few decades. Poland’s coal generation has dropped rapidly from over 90% of energy to 63% since 1990, all due to renewables. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “SSE Begins Construction Of 208-MW Strathy South” • SSE has begun construction on its 208-MW Strathy South wind farm in the Scottish Highlands. The £400 million onshore wind farm, in Sutherland near SSE’s existing Strathy North project, will have 35 Vestas V162-6.2MW turbines. It is expected to be operating commercially in late 2027. [reNews]
SSE wind farm (SSE image)
¶ “Microgrids Power China’s Green Energy Transition” • The demand for microgrid projects is surging in industrial parks across China, as companies see them as a way to help cut costs and transition toward greener growth. And local governments are encouraged to build smart microgrid projects that cater to regional needs. [China Daily]
¶ “UK Could Net 10,000 Extra Jobs Through Offshore Wind” • Regional Growth Prospectuses released by the Offshore Wind Industry Council and The Crown Estate set out how coastal regions of the UK can expand their activities in key parts of the country’s rapidly-growing offshore wind supply chain, which could have 10,000 extra jobs. [reNews]
Offshore wind farm (Innogy image)
¶ “Nuclear Power Wrecks Political Marriage As Nationals Quit Coalition With Liberals After 70 Years” • Nuclear energy has blown up a political agreement between the Nationals and the Liberals after their respective leaders failed to reach common ground. The coalition couldn’t continue after its disastrous result in the federal election. [RenewEconomy]
¶ “TenneT Has Installed 900-MW BorWin Converter Platform” • TenneT has reached a milestone in the development of its 900-MW German offshore grid connection system BorWin5. With a weight of 12,300 tonnes, twice the weight of the Eiffel Tower, and the height of a 16-storey building, the platform is now anchored at sea and almost ready for use. [reNews]
Platform installation in progress (TenneT image)
US:
¶ “Trump’s Policies Could Impact The Environment Long After He Leaves Office, Some Experts Say” • The policies promoting use of fossil fuels will be difficult to put into effect, experts say. But the campaigns against wind, energy, batteries, EV charging and energy efficiency will put the US on a slower path to dealing with global warming. [ABC News]
¶ “Greer Fire Expands To 20,000 Acres With More Than 700 Personnel Battling Flames” • A wildfire in eastern Arizona expanded to over 20,000 acres. The Greer Fire, named after the small community in Arizona’s White Mountains where the blaze sparked on May 13, has grown to over 20,425 acres and is 38% contained, officials said. [ABC News]
Greer Fire in eastern Arizona (@azstateforestry via X)
¶ “Republican Bill in Congress Threatens 300 US Factories And 300,000 US Jobs” • The Solar Energy Industries Association shares that legislation passed through two committees last week could jeopardize nearly 300 American solar and storage factories and lead to the loss of 145,000 GWh of solar generation by 2030, if it is enacted. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Loses Big Game Of Offshore Wind Chicken” • The dramatic stop-work order abruptly issued in April against the Empire Wind offshore wind farm by the Trump administration didn’t last long. On May 19, Equinor announced that the order to stop work has been lifted. Exactly how and why will probably remain a mystery. [CleanTechnica]
Offshore windpower (Capmat007, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Texas Welcomes More Solar Factories Despite Anti-Solar Lawmakers” • Republican lawmakers in the red state of Texas are making new laws aimed at making life miserable for Texas solar developers. Meanwhile, solar factories in Texas are churning out gigawatts’ worth of solar panels, making life easier for solar developers around the US. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Doral Renewables Gains $1.5 Billion Financing For US Solar Projects” • US-based renewable energy assets developer Doral Renewables has secured up to $1.5 billion in financing for its Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I, and Mammoth Central II solar projects in Pulaski County, Indiana, US. Each will have 300 MW of capacity. [Power Technology]
Have a subtly insightful day.
geoharvey 
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