Opinion:
¶ “The Basics Of IRA Subsidies And Why It’s Stupid To Kill Them” • Republicans are doing what they said they’d do, as they tilt the scales for the rich. They are attempting to return the US to a past glory that they imagine was founded on fossil fuels. But to do this, they are ignoring market trends that will continue to go on, even without the US. [CleanTechnica]
Driving away (Hyundai Motor Group, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Critical Minerals For Clean Energy Concentrated In Fewer Countries” • World sources of critical minerals are increasingly concentrated in just a few countries, most notably China, leaving the global economy vulnerable to supply cutoffs that could be disruptive to economies and hit consumers with higher prices, according to a report. [ABC News]
¶ “Hyundai Motor Group And Incheon International Airport To Deliver Next-Level Convenience With AI-Powered EV Charging Robots” • Hyundai Motor Group and Incheon International Airport Corporation have forged a strategic agreement to deploy EV automatic charging robots, based on AI, at the airport as part of a demonstration project. [CleanTechnica]
Hyundai EV charging at IIAC
¶ “In EU News, BYD Overtakes Tesla As Northvolt Suspends Production” • According to JATO Dynamics, a market research firm, BYD sold more EVs in the EU in April than Tesla, 7231 to 7165. That is a small difference, but the implications are huge. Also, EV battery maker Northvolt, which entered bankruptcy last year, is shutting its factory. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “100% Solid-State EV Batteries” • The US might have taken a total U-turn on EVs, but the rest of the world is moving on. A case in point is BMW Group, which is moving forward with plans to introduce 100% solid-state EV batteries. In a key test, the firm is trying out technology from the Colorado-based startup Solid Power. [CleanTechnica]
BMW with a new solid-state battery (BMW Group image)
¶ “China Achieves Milestone In Renewable Energy Transition” • China has set a new benchmark in its transition to renewable energy, with wind and solar power sources generating 26% of the nation’s electricity in April 2025. Wind power was responsible for a 13.6% share, while solar power made up 12.4%, according to global energy think tank Ember. [Yahoo]
¶ “Final Offshore Substation Installed At Dogger Bank C” • The Dogger Bank Wind Farm and its delivery partners completed the installation of the HVDC offshore substation platform at Dogger Bank C. Installation of the offshore substations is now complete on all three phases of Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm under construction. [reNews]
HVDC substation intallation (Heerema image)
¶ “New Report Reveals ‘Rapidly Emerging’ Energy Breakthrough Transforming The Future” • Even in the dead of winter, solar power is smashing records in Europe, and it is reshaping the continent’s energy future. In the first quarter of 2025, Europe’s solar electricity production surged by 32% compared to the same period in 2024. [The Cool Down]
¶ “Equinor And Polenergia Bank Over €6 Billion For Baltyk 2 And 3” • Equinor and Polenergia have reached financial close for the 1,440-MW Bałtyk 2 and Baltyk 3 offshore wind projects in Poland. Two project financing packages of over €3 billion for Bałtyk 2 and over €3 billion for Bałtyk 3, including ancillary facilities, have been secured. [reNews]
Offshore wind turbines (Ole Jørgen Bratland, Equinor)
¶ “RES Submits Plans For Northern Ireland Wind Project” • A planning application for a 66-MW wind project in Northern Ireland has been validated by the Strategic Planning Directorate Department for Infrastructure. RES’ 11-turbine Mullaghclogher project is located approximately 4 km north-east of Plumbridge, County Tyrone. [reNews]
US:
¶ “Solar Stocks Plunge As Republican Tax Bill Worse Than Feared For Clean Energy” • Solar stocks plungedafter House Republicans passed a tax bill that terminates key clean energy credits. The GOP bill is a “worse than feared” scenario for clean energy, as it takes a “sledgehammer” to the Inflation Reduction Act, Jefferies analysts told clients in a note. [CNBC]
Capitol Building (Harold Mendoza, Unsplash)
¶ “Crippling Clean-Energy Tax Credits Won’t Fly, GOP Senators Say” • The House’s draconian cuts to former President Biden’s landmark climate law won’t fly in the Senate, key Republican senators said. Softening aggressive phaseouts of key tax credits for clean electricity and nuclear projects are some top priorities, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “US Senate To Vote On Cuts to IRA” • The US House narrowly passed the current reconciliation proposal, with dramatic cuts to key provisions of the Investment Reduction Act. The IRA was designed to bolster US manufacturing, develop a local US supply chain, and establish transmission systems. The Senate is urged to roll back the cuts. [reNews]
Liz Burdock of Oceantic Network (Oceantic Network image)
¶ “California Has Far More EV Chargers Than Gas Stations” • Author Jake Richardson, talking with the California Energy Commission, found that there are about 178,549 EV charging ports in the state. He looked up the total number of California gas stations. It turns out there are only about 15,000 gas stations or less, varying by source. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nuclear Stocks Surge On Report Of Trump Executive Orders To Boost Industry” • Shares of nuclear power rose in premarket trading after a Reuters report said US President Donald Trump will sign executive orders aimed to jumpstart the nuclear energy industry as soon as Friday. Trump is expected to streamline the regulatory process for new reactor approvals. [MSN]
Have a totally copacetic day.
geoharvey 