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World:

¶ “Finnish City Starts Up 1-MW, 100-MWh Sand Battery” • The ways to store energy go far beyond using batteries. One uses sand. A really big pile of sand is heated with excess renewable electricity to around 500°C (932°F). That heat is later used to heat homes, factories, even swimming pools. The sand can stay hot for three months or more. [CleanTechnica]

Sand battery (Polar Night image)

¶ “Induction Cooking Is Gaining Acceptance With Professional Chefs” • Induction cooking is a new concept for most people. Until now, most food preparation by professional chefs has been done over a methane or propane flame. Now Bloomberg reports that some top level professional chefs are beginning to embrace induction cooking technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Power Transforming Lives Of Indian Farmers: PM Modi” • Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his radio program ‘Mann ki Baat’, on Sunday, emphasised the growing importance of solar power in India’s farm sector. He also narrated the story of a woman from Bihar who changed “the fate of her village with a solar pump.” [Public TV English]

Solar powered pump (USDA NRCS Montana, public domain)

¶ “Jigawa Gov Unveils N1.2 Billion Solar Mini Grid” • Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Nigeria, has inaugurated a 500-kW solar hybrid mini-grid worth N1.2 billion ($786,000) in Kafin Hausa Local Government Area. The project marks a major step toward improving power supply and prospects for economic activities in the state. [Punch Newspapers]

¶ “Ethiopia Accelerates Renewable Energy Drive to Power And Connect East Africa” • Ethiopia is leveraging its potential for renewable energy to grow and interconnect East African nations, its energy minister said. Ethiopia is using its renewable resources to position itself as Africa’s energy hub, with plans to extend the supply to other countries. [MSN]

Ethiopia (Daniele Levis Pelusi, Unsplash)

¶ “Meridian And Nova To Develop Mega Solar Projec” • In New Zealand, construction of the Te Rahui solar farm in Rangitāiki is going ahead after definitive agreements between Meridian and Nova were signed. The companies will share 50/50 ownership of the project. They have secured NZ$300 million ($176.56 million) in financing for the 200-MW first phase. [Inspenet]

¶ “Poland To Build Europe’s First Of Its Kind Small-Scale Nuclear Power Plant In Włocławek” • Poland’s first small nuclear power plant will be built in Włocławek, energy company Orlen announced. It will be the first project of its kind in Europe. The Polish SMR, a BWRX-300, with a capacity of 300 MW will be the first of at least two at the site. [Euronews]

Włocławek (Rafał Jendrzejewski, CC0 1.0)

US:

¶ “Tesla Still Nearly 50% Of US EV Sales, GM Rises To 15%” • The big sales drop by Tesla year over year (and even more so going back two years), still had the US EV brand dominate US EV sales. The company accounted for 48.5% of the US EV sales last quarter. With almost 144,000 sales, Tesla had over four times as many sales as #2 Chevrolet. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A Push For Change In The US Electoral College Gives Us Hope For Future Climate Action” • The National Popular Vote non-profit argues that the national popular vote winner should be President. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has 209 electoral votes, and it will go into effect when states with at least 270 electoral votes have joined. [CleanTechnica]

Elephant and donkey (Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash)

¶ “The Offshore Wind Industry Is Forever (Offshore Wind Jobs, Not So Much)” • On August 29, the Trump administration yanked another rug out from under the US offshore wind industry, sending thousands of construction jobs spinning into the black hole of malevolent incompetence that passes for the US government these days. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What To Know About Monsoon Season In The US” • The monsoon season, with its inclement conditions in the western US, is expected to last for another few weeks following a massive dust storm in the Phoenix region. In the Southwestern US, a monsoon has dry mornings and storms in the afternoons of the warm summer months. [ABC News]

Dust storm, Phoenix, 2011 (Zooey, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Sea Power Turned Into Energy At Los Angeles Port” • Floating blue paddles dance on the waves that lap a dock in the Port of Los Angeles, silently converting the power of the sea into useable electricity. This innovative installation may hold one of the keys to hastening a transition away from fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of climate change. [Free Malaysia Today]

¶ “White House Wants Government Stakes In More Companies” • The Trump administration’s move to take stakes in companies across industries may soon have a new target: nuclear power. The DOE’s recent establishment of a consortium for nuclear fuel paves the way for the Trump administration to take stakes in companies. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a congenially raucous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Stand Up To Trump’s War On Renewable Energy” • Recently, the USDA announced that federal funding for wind and solar projects will be curtailed to end support of “unaffordable and unreliable ‘green’ energy sources.” That criticism rings hollow in Iowa. Nearly 60% of the state’s electricity comes from wind. It attracts companies to the state. [The Gazette]

Wind turbine (Jason Mavrommatis, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Europe Faces Stormy Future As Climate Change Increases Supercell Risk” • Research has revealed how climate change is intensifying supercell thunderstorms in Europe. The study, published in Science Advances, warns that the Alpine region and parts of Central and Eastern Europe can expect a significant increase in storm activity. [Euronews]

¶ “How Flash Droughts Driven By Climate Change Sparked Record Wildfires In Spain” • Flash droughts, a relatively new climatic phenomenon, are rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous weather extremes linked to climate change. In just weeks, they can turn lush forests into tinder ready to burn, as the fires in Spain this August show. [Euronews]

Drought (Johannes Plenio, Unsplash)

¶ “Hyundai CRADLE Partners With UNCAGED Innovations To Develop Sustainable Leather Alternatives” • Hyundai CRADLE, Hyundai Motor Group’s open innovation hub, is partnering with UNCAGED Innovations, a leading biomaterials company to create sustainable, animal-free leather for automotive interiors using grain byproducts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “1,212 EV Chargers Installed In Richmond, British Columbia” • A huge number of electric vehicle chargers were installed in the parking area of the Cadillac Fairview Richmond Center: 1,212 smart Level 2 EV chargers. This massive installation has chargers for Richmond Centre residents and an additional 20 to 40 will be added for the public. [CleanTechnica]

CF Richmond Center (Wpcpey, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “US Pressuring Other Countries To Abandon Clean Energy And Climate Goals” • If the US is going to build massive new LNG terminals, it will need plenty of customers for that climate-killing fuel. Since those terminals are for export, the customers must be foreign. So the US is trying to bully foreign countries into buying fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “France Strikes EU Deal To Unlock Hydro Investment” • France reached an agreement with the European Commission to resolve two disputes that blocked investment in hydroelectric power for over a decade. The government said the breakthrough will allow a relaunch of investments in dams and valleys, supporting its climate goals and energy sovereignty. [reNews]

Chief Joseph Dam (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)

¶ “JERA Nex BP, EnBW Get Green Light For Morgan” • The UK energy secretary, Ed Miliband, has granted planning consent to JERA Nex BP and EnBW for the 1.5-GW Morgan wind farm off north-west England. The 96-turbine array is the second Round 4 development to reach the milestone after Irish Sea sister array 1.5-GW Mona got a permit nod in July. [reNews]

¶ “Tesla Sales Plunge Again In Europe As Anger At Musk Keeps Buyers Away” • Europeans angry at Elon Musk still aren’t buying his cars months after the billionaire predicted a “major rebound” in Tesla sales, data shows. Tesla sales plunged 40% in July in the 27 European Union countries year over year, even as sales of EVs soared overall. [ABC News]

Cyberinfliction (Mylo Kaye, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “FDA Expands Warning Of Radioactive Shrimp As Two More Brands Are Recalled” • The US Food and Drug Administration is expanding its warning about radioactive shrimp, recalling more brands due to possible contamination. The FDA said the brands were processed by an Indonesian supplier, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, operating as BMS Foods. [ABC News]

¶ “Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina: Could Cuts To Disaster Preparedness Leave The US Vulnerable Again?” • Twenty years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina ripped into Louisiana and left New Orleans flooded. Nearly 2,000 people died, and entire neighbourhoods were lost. But the systems built in Katrina’s wake are now under threat. [Euronews]

After Katrina (Library of Congress via Unsplash)

¶ “Slate Auto’s New EV Is Coming For Your Gasmobile” • Despite Republican opposition to EVs, Slate Auto is forging ahead. As befits its new EV-on-a-budget business model, the company has been refurbishing a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana, to produce the Blank Slate pickup along with other variants on the same platform. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Admin Cancels $679 Million For Offshore Wind Projects As Attacks On Reeling Industry Continue” • The Transportation Department canceled $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects. Funding for projects in eleven states was rescinded, including $435 million for a floating wind farm in Northern California. [MSN]

Oil rig (Arvind Vallabh, Unsplash)

¶ “North Carolina Governor Stein Establishes Energy Policy Task Force” • In the face of federal cuts to clean energy funding and manufacturing tax credits, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has established an energy policy task force to determine how the state can continue to keep utility costs affordable and manage increasing energy demand. [The Well News]

¶ “Idaho National Lab Breaks Ground On The Nation’s First Experimental Modular Reactor” • Two years after the Energy Department approved development of the MARVEL nuclear reactor, Idaho National Lab officials met with Aalo Atomics on a 1-acre parcel inside the Idaho National Lab’s Materials and Fuels Complex for the groundbreaking. [KSL.com]

Have a nicely fulfilling day.

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World:

¶ “Deforestation Linked To Thousands Of Heat-Related Deaths Each Year, Study Warns” • A study published in Nature Climate Change finds that local warming caused by tropical deforestation exposes over 300 million people to higher temperatures and is associated with around 28,000 excess deaths every year, about half a million in the past twenty years. [Euronews]

Deforestation (roya ann miller, Unsplash)

¶ “Record Amount Of Wildfire Destruction Marks Dark Year For Europe” • In Europe, the 2025 wildfire season has already broken records for the amount of land burnt. So much, in fact, that it’s more than four times as much as last year. Experts say the higher temperatures and lower rainfall brought by climate change are making forest fires worse. [Euronews]

¶ “BYD’s Opportunity To Establish Brand Preference In The Developing World” • Because EVs are relatively new technology in these markets, there is an additional opportunity to be the first to mind when people think about EVs. Even where a preference for an fossil-fueled vehicle existed, disruptive technology helps buyers be open to new preferences. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull (BYD Cars Philippines image)

¶ “Think How Much Climate Progress We Could Make If We Protected The World’s Forests” • Better science and policy to improve nature-based solutions to support climate mitigation outcomes can make a real difference to protect the world’s forests. It would take willingness on the part of governments to move forward with this approach. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bottlenecks Threaten Offshore Wind Surge” • Europe’s offshore wind pipeline is 411 GW in 386 projects but bottlenecks threaten targets, a report from the Energy Industries Council shows. Only five of Europe’s eighty specialist installation vessels can handle 14-MW turbines. Moreover, port upgrades take six to ten years to complete. [reNews]

Offshore windfarm (Pete Godfrey, Unsplash)

¶ “30-Year-Old Solar Panels Still Going Strong” • An analysis of six solar panel systems installed in Switzerland over 30 years ago shows they remain effective, with material quality emerging as the main factor determining their longevity. Solar panel makers typically guarantee their products for 25 to 30 years, but these all did better than that. [Chemistry World]

¶ “Kelag Starts Work On 48-MW Lavamund Project” • Kelag will begin implementation work on the 48-MW Lavamund wind farm in September 2025. The project, in the Austrian state of Carinthia, will feature seven turbines producing 79 GWh of electricity per year, enough to supply around 23,000 homes. Commissioning is expected in 2027. [reNews]

Kelag wind project (Kelag image)

¶ “July Power Use Hits All-Time High Of 1 Trillion kWh” • In July, China’s electricity consumption passed 1 trillion kWh for the first time, driven by strong demand from production and consumption sectors. The country’s total power consumption reached 1.02 trillion kWh in July, an increase of 8.6%, YOY, the National Energy Administration said. [China Daily]

¶ “Wholesale Electricity Market Generation And Storage CIS Tenders Now Open” • The Capacity Investment Scheme Tenders 5 and 6 of Australia’s federal government are now open, seeking 1,600 MW of renewable energy generation and 2,400 MWh of dispatchable electric capacity in the Western Australia wholesale market. [pv magazine Australia]

Western Australia (Sophia Simoes, Unsplash)

¶ “UK solar generation hits record levels in 2025, says Ember” • A report from clean energy think tank Ember shows that 2025 has been the UK’s strongest year for solar energy generation on record. The first six months of this year have seen solar energy generation in the UK rise 32%, producing a record-breaking 9.91TWh. [Solar Power Portal]

US:

¶ “Why Is A Tiny Floating Solar Project Making Such Big Waves?” • Floating solar is a relatively new development in the PV field, requiring its own suite of water-specific hardware. Solar trackers have not been high on the to-do list, but that’s where the California firm Noria Energy spotted an opening. It has a tiny demonstration project in Colorado. [CleanTechnica]

Floating solar project (Noria Energy image)

¶ “Solar Power With Energy Storage System Launched At Denver Public Library” • Not all energy projects in the US take place at the federal level: regions, states, counties, cities, and towns may carry on with their own initiatives. A new solar power and energy storage system at the Denver Public Library is a case in point. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “$200 Million More For Clean Energy Here, There, And Everywhere” • Despite shifting federal policy, opportunities to push forward on electrification and clean energy are growing on the technology side. Activity on the investor side is supporting the momentum, the latest example being a fresh round of $200 million in capital commitments. [CleanTechnica]

Distributed solar (Sunrock DG via prnewswire.com)

¶ “US Agency Sparks Backlash After Throwing Up New Barriers For Crucial Projects” • Under new guidance from the Treasury Department, large renewable energy projects can no longer use a simple method of spending 5% of total project costs to qualify for tax credits. Instead, they must demonstrate ongoing “physical work of a significant nature.” [The Cool Down]

¶ “Commonwealth Fusion Raises $863 Million For Commercial Fusion Power” • Commonwealth Fusion Systems just raised $863 million in additional funding as it works to reach the decades-old dream of commercializing nuclear fusion. With its Series B2 funding round, the startup has raised about $3 billion in capital since it was spun out of MIT in 2018. [Canary Media]

Have a preposterously perfect day.

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World:

¶ “Can Cruising Be Emission-Free? Havila Voyages Plans The World’s Longest Climate-Neutral Cruise” • Norwegian cruise line Havila Voyages showed plans to start what could be the world’s longest climate-neutral cruise as soon as this autumn. The 12-day voyage would sail along the coast from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, a distance of 9,260 km (5,734 miles). [Euronews]

Havila Voyages ship (Havila Voyages image)

¶ “Climate Change Intensified Weather That Fueled Deadly Wildfires In Türkiye, Greece, And Cyprus” • Rapid analysis from World Weather Attribution shows that the hot, dry, and windy conditions, which drove the spread of blazes in Türkiye, Greece, And Cyprus, were around 22% more intense because of human-caused climate change. [Euronews]

¶ “Countries Must Include Aviation Contrails In Climate Plans Under Paris Agreement, Legal Advice Shows” • Legal analysis carried out by leading environmental law barristers concludes that countries must include non-CO₂ emissions, estimated to account for at least half of aviation’s climate impact, in their national climate plans. [CleanTechnica]

Contrails (Betsy Kellenberger, public domain)

¶ “Volvo Cars Reveals The New XC70 PHEV” • The new Volvo XC70 SUV is Volvo Cars’ first long-range plug-in hybrid, offering an all-electric driving range of over 200km under the CLTC testing cycle — the longest of any Volvo plug-in hybrid to date. It is built on Volvo Cars’ Scalable Modular Architecture platform for long-range plug-in hybrids. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nordex Wins 46-MW German Order From Trianel” • Nordex will supply and install eight N149/5.X turbines for the 46-MW Tasdorf wind farm in northern Germany. The customer is Trianel Erneuerbare Energien, an association of 36 municipal utilities and Stadtwerke cooperation Trianel. A 20-year premium service agreement is part of the contract. [reNews]

Wind farm (Nordex image)

¶ “Japan Confident On Wind Power After Mitsubishi Exit” • Japan remains optimistic about renewable energy adoption after Mitsubishi pulled out of three big offshore wind projects, the government said. Mitsubishi blamed high costs as it exited the projects, which planned 134 turbines to generate power for over a million homes. [Free Malaysia Today]

¶ “RP Global Begins 50-MW Harbke Solar Build” • RP Global has started construction of a 50-MW solar park in Saxony-Anhalt, on the spoil tip of one of Germany’s oldest lignite mines. RP Global said this is its first German solar project and is being delivered with EPC partner MaxSolar. An expansion of the plant is planned for the future. [reNews]

Solar farm (RP Global image)

¶ “France, Germany, Britain To Reimpose Iran Sanctions After Talks Falter” • France, Germany, and the UK are preparing to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program after weeks of diplomacy failed to deliver results. The three countries, called the E3, had met with Iranian officials in a final attempt to revive stalled nuclear talks. [EUobserver]

US:

¶ “The Colorado River Is In Trouble. Some Groups Want The Government To Step Up” •A group of environmental advocates earlier this year sent a petition to the federal government with a simple, seemingly obvious message: Ensure that water from the imperiled Colorado River is only being delivered for reasonable and beneficial uses. [ABC News]

Sunset on the Colorado River (Clay Banks, Unsplash)

¶ “Trump Reports Distort Science To Justify Rollback Of Key Climate Protections, Experts Warn” • Two key documents from the Trump administration aimed at denying the long-standing finding that climate change is dangerous were filled with errors, bias, and distortions, according to dozens of scientists surveyed by The Associated Press. [Euronews]

¶ “Pumped Hydropower Storage Project Aims For Fast-Track Approval” • For all the attention lavished on lithium-ion battery technology, the fact is that good old fashioned pumped storage hydropower still accounts for the overwhelming majority of US grid-scale, long-duration energy storage. That’s overwhelming as in 96% as of last year. [CleanTechnica]

Proposed 1.5-GW pumped storage project (courtesy of NMSU)

¶ “Ford: Why Simplicity Is The Blueprint For Our Future EV Platform” • Doug Field, chief EV, digital, and design officer at Ford: “A century ago, Henry Ford said he would build a car for the great multitude, one ‘constructed of the best materials…after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise.’ That car, the Model T, … transformed society.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Enlight Secures $403 Million US Financing Package” • Enlight has raised $350 million through a mezzanine loan with Bank Leumi and $53 million in tax equity for its Atrisco project in [New Mexico]. The company said the transactions complete its 2025 financing plan for 4.8 GW of new projects scheduled to connect by 2027. [reNews]

Solar power (Enlight image)

¶ “California Pushes The Electric Truck Envelope, Again” • With a tremendous amount of buying power in their pockets, fleet operators have been flexing their muscles in the electric truck field in California. One example is Amazon’s electric delivery van partnership with the Rivian. Fedex is another example in the area of electric vans. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Soaring Power Bills In The Largest US Grid Pose A Risk For Republicans” • Surging utility bills in key battleground states are threatening to become a political liability for Republicans as they head into upcoming elections. Nowhere is that more clear than in the largest US grid, where almost all electricity is generated by coal, gas, and nuclear. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a richly bountiful day.

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World:

¶ “Same Space, Two Harvests: Euronews Visits The First Seaweed Farm At An Offshore Wind Park” • In sea waters sheltered from vessel traffic, Euronews visited North Sea Farm 1, an experimental five-hectare seaweed plantation. It is part of a pioneering project combining offshore wind energy with ocean farming. And it just yielded its first crop. [Euronews]

Seaweed (Oleksandr Sushko, Unsplash)

¶ “EU Defends Sovereign Right To Regulate Tech Against Trump’s Latest Tariff Threat” • The fragile alliance between the EU and the US took a new turn for the worse after US president Trump unexpectedly threatened to put “substantial additional tariffs” on countries that implement legislation targeting US tech companies. [Euronews]

¶ “BYD’s Revised YangWang U9 Breaks EV Top Speed Record” • A recent post on BYD’s Xiaohongshu (aka RedNote) page says the YangWang U9 set a new EV top speed record of 472.41 km/h (293.54 mph) at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg, a track in Germany. Such tests as top speeds in hypercars help develop EV technology. [CleanTechnica]

BYD YangWang U9 (BYD image)

¶ “Evacuations Under Way In Eastern Pakistan As India Releases Water From Swollen Rivers” • A day after New Delhi alerted Pakistan about possible cross-border flooding Pakistan evacuated tens of thousands of people to safer areas. The alert India gave Pakistan was the first public diplomatic contact between the two nuclear-armed rivals in months. [Euronews]

¶ “R Power Launches 650-MW BESS Portfolio In Poland” • R Power is developing a 650-MW battery storage portfolio in Poland after winning long-term capacity market contracts. The company said the three projects – Jedwabno, Tursko and Gdansk – total 2300-MWh and form one of the largest storage pipelines in Central and Eastern Europe. [reNews]

Construction of Polish solar farm (R Power image)

¶ “Indonesia Bets On Thorcon’s Molten Salt Reactor, But History Suggests Trouble Ahead” • Indonesia has taken a bold and likely problematic step, announcing its first regulatory approval for a nuclear power project. It gave a developer of molten salt reactors based in Singapore, Thorcon International, permission to use a site to evaluate a demonstration plant. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SSE And Equinor Finalize Dogger Bank D Lease” • Equinor and SSE Renewables finalized a seabed lease with The Crown Estate to progress the proposed 1,500-MW Dogger Bank D offshore wind farm. Dogger Bank D would add up to 1.5 GW to the 3.6-GW Dogger Bank wind farm, already the world’s largest offshore project under construction. [reNews]

Dogger Bank D lease area (Dogger Bank image)

¶ “Enviromena Switches On 71-MW Essex Solar Farm” • A solar farm in Essex was energized by Enviromena, backed by the UK’s largest corporate power purchase agreement with an educational institution. From September, 71-MW Medebridge solar farm will supply The University of Manchester with 65% of its electricity demand under a 10-year deal. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Paving the Road for Cement and Concrete Technologies” • Cement and concrete are essential to infrastructure in the US. Accounting for 50% of all materials produced globally, domestic production of this critical material is highly energy intensive. It relies on outdated technology and requires imports of nearly 30 million metric tons of cement a year. [CleanTechnica]

NREL meeting (Agata Bogucka, NREL)

¶ “Yet Another Massive New Solar Factory Takes Shape In The US, Against The Odds” • While the domestic solar industry is operating under a thick pall of gloom this year, plans are already in the works for a full speed revival leading up to January 20, 2029, when the current occupant of the White House leaves peacefully, one hopes. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Administration Is Investing In US Rare Earths In A Push To Break China’s Grip” • US production of crucial materials for EVs, smartphones, and fighter jets is set to expand in coming years, as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to build up the critical mineral industry in the US to work to break China’s hold on the global supply chain. [ABC News]

Smartphone (Jonas Leupe, Unsplash)

¶ “Ben And Jerry’s New Wastewater Plant Works A Lot Like The Human Body” • William Brangham reported for PBS how Ben and Jerry’s chose an alternative process for waste management that works a lot like our own bodies do when we eat: anaerobic digestion. The process produces methane, which is captured and used as biogas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Trump-Orsted Wind Project Crisis: A Wake-Up Call For Renewable Energy Investors” • The Trump-Ørsted Wind Project Crisis has laid bare the fragility of renewable energy investments in the US, exposing how geopolitical and regulatory volatility can destabilize long-term infrastructure projects and erode investor confidence. [AInvest]

Offshore windpower (Mary, Unsplash)

¶ “Palisades Becomes The First Decommissioned US Nuclear Plant To Return To Operational Status” • The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan has returned to operational status, becoming the first US nuclear plant to do so. While it won’t allow the plant to generate power, the new status will allow it to order and receive fuel for plant reactors. [WMUK]

¶ “FERC Approves NextEra’s Request To Restart Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant” • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved a waiver request from NextEra Energy that clears the way for the company to begin the process to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power facility. Duane Arnold is the only nuclear plant in Iowa. [Power Engineering Magazine]

Have a deeply prepossessing day.

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World:

¶ “Solar Plus Battery Storage Changes Everything” • Energy Monitor reported that Pakistan imported 17 GW of solar PV and an estimated 1.25 GWh of lithium-ion battery packs in 2024. The expectations are that by 2030, battery imports could increase to 8.75 GWh. Pakistan’s rapid adoption of solar power, is driven primarily by market forces. [CleanTechnica]

Microgrid in Nigeria (Husk Power Systems via Canary Media)

¶ “Zambia’s Removal Of Customs Duties On EV Imports Spurs Growth In EV Adoption” • About a year and a half ago, Zambia moved to encourage the adoption of removing customs duties on EVs and reducing excise duties on most hybrids. Here, we look at the number of EVs registered in Zambia before and after the change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Luxcara To Ditch Mingyang For Siemens Gamesa” • Luxcara plans to switch from Mingyang turbines to Siemens Gamesa units for its Waterkant project of up to 300 MW in the German North Sea. The developer reserved nineteen 15.5-MW units from Siemens Gamesa, as part of a wider reservation it confirmed for its nearby 1.5-GW Waterekke project. [reNews]

Turbines ready to ship (Siemens Gamesa image)

¶ “GreenGo Has Secured Approval For 120-MW Italian BESS” • GreenGo received authorisation for the 120-MW San Sostene battery storage project in Calabria, bringing its total approved storage capacity to 249-MW. The Bologna-based developer said San Sostene will deliver 480 MWh of capacity and connect to the 150-kV SE San Sostene node. [reNews]

¶ “Mingyang ‘Fully Committed’ To Europe” • Mingyang said it is “fully committed” to the European wind market after mutually agreeing with Luxcara to step away from the 300-MW Waterkant project in the German North Sea.  The Chinese OEM issued a statement saying that it is still aiming to support a number of projects in the region. [reNews]

Mingyang turbine (Mingyang image)

¶ “Federal Government Powers Innovation In Offshore Wind” • To make the most of Australia’s offshore energy potential, the Federal Government proposed new guidelines for research and demonstration licenses. The new guidelines aim to support the offshore renewable industry in developing technology and unlocking the sector’s potential. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “Why Investors Are Avoiding US Renewable Energy Projects” • In the first half of 2025, global investment in renewable energy hit a record, but fell in the US, a BloombergNEF analysis shows. Since the 2024 US election, the EU saw a big jump, supporting “the idea that developers and investors may be reallocating capital out of the US and into Europe.” [MSN]

Wind turbines (Nipun Jagtap, Unsplash)

¶ “Putrajaya Eyeing 70% Of Renewables In National Power Mix By 2050” • The government will of Malaysia continue efforts to increase the capacity of renewable energy within the national electricity supply system, according to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation. This includes introducing Battery Energy Storage Systems. [The Edge Malaysia]

¶ “China First To Surpass 1,000 GW Of Solar Capacity” • China passed a historic milestone in renewable energy by becoming the first country to surpass 1,000 GW of installed solar capacity. The China Electricity Council says the country added 210 GW of new solar systems in the first six months of 2025, taking its installed capacity to 1,100 GW. [Transformers Magazine]

Solar array (Maksym Diachenko, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Some FEMA Staff Warn That Trump Cuts May Weaken Disaster Response” • On the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, about 180 Federal Emergency Management Agency employees wrote in a warning to Congress that the Trump administration’s changes and leadership at the agency could harm the US if disaster strikes. [ABC News]

¶ “Applications Open For Collegiate Competitions Aimed At Inspiring Future Water Power Workforce” • Calling all student innovators looking to make waves in the water power sector! The application windows for the Hydropower Collegiate Competition and Marine Energy Collegiate Competition will be open through September 19, 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Student presentation (Agata Bogucka, NREL)

¶ “Rivian To Build New Electric Vehicle Factory Despite Loss Of Federal Tax Credit” • Although efforts to throttle back federal support for the vehicle electrification movement gathered steam, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp did not get the memo. EV startup Rivian’s on-again, off-again plans for a massive EV factory in Georgia are on track again. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump ‘Plans To Revoke Permit For 2.2-GW Maryland'” • The Trump administration aims to revoke a permit for US Wind’s Maryland offshore wind farm of up to 2,200-MW. Reportedly, Attorneys from the Justice Department told a Delaware court that the Interior Department would move to vacate a plan for construction and operations by 12 September. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Sam Farallon, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Could The ‘Faltering’ US Dollar Create Global Clean Tech Investment Opportunities?” • Bloomberg reported that the value of the dollar fell almost 11% against ten leading global currencies in the first six months of 2025. It is its worst H1 performance since 1973. But the fall of the dollar may create opportunities to invest in clean technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cold War Plutonium Could Power Future US Reactors” • The US does not use plutonium in nuclear power facilities. Now the Trump Administration is considering making available 20 metric tons of plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads to US power firms, Reuters reports, citing a source with knowledge of the Administration’s plans. [OilPrice.com]

Have an unforgettably luminous day.

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World:

¶ “The Mobility House Promotes Energy Independence” • The Mobility House focuses on charging systems for EVs, despite the changing winds of politicals. It has a large presence in the US, but also works with partners in Europe as well as India, Singapore, and Thailand. The company manages some of Europe’s largest depot charging operations. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus fleet (Courtesy of The Mobility House)

¶ “Ørsted Reaffirms Rights Issue After Revolution Setback” • Ørsted has moved to reassure investors of its commitment to a planned €8 billion ($9.4 billion) rights issue following the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s order to halt offshore activities at its 704-MW Revolution Wind project. Ørsted is looking at options. [reNews]

¶ “Gentari, Gamuda Plan 1.5-GW Solar In Malaysia” • Gentari Renewables and Gamuda Energy have agreed to collaborate to develope about 1,500 MW of solar capacity with battery storage in Malaysia. The project will be delivered under the national Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme to support the energy demand of hyperscale data centers. [reNews]

Signing ceremony (Gentari and Gamuda image)

¶ “Odisha’s Green Energy Ambitions: $1.5 Trillion Economy Or Unrealistic Dream?” • Odisha has unveiled one of India’s most ambitious renewable energy roadmaps, targeting a $500 billion economy by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047 through green energy expansion. Odisha plans to increase its renewable capacity from the current 18% to 70% by 2047. [Down To Earth]

¶ “Ignitis Brings 137-MW Polish Wind Farm Online” • Ignitis Renewables has achieved commercial operation at the 136.8-MW Silesia II wind farm in southern Poland. The project in Opole Voivodeship features 38 Nordex N117/3600 turbines and can supply power to cover annual demand for approximately 177,000 households, the company said. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Ignitis Renewables image)

¶ “ADB Lends $2.8 Million For Solar Power Plant Upgrade In Samoa” • The Asian Development Bank provided a $2.8 million loan to Sun Pacific Energy Ltd to upgrade an existing solar farm in Samoa by replacing older solar panels, increasing renewable generation in the Pacific nation. The solar farm will be upgraded from 4.2 MW to 6 MW. [Renewables Now]

¶ “How A Solar Energy Company Is Trying To Lower Arctic Communities’ Diesel Dependency” • A solar energy company in Canada says it is reducing carbon emissions in Canada’s north by nearly 1.3 million kg per year. Green Sun Rising completed four solar installations in Nunavut this summer: in Pond Inlet, Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay and Clyde River. [Yahoo News Canada]

Solar installation (Green Sun Rising image)

¶ “Fukushima Nuclear Plant Clean-Up Faces Yet Another Delay” • The full removal of nuclear fuel from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi power plant was delayed by several years, as the operator now targets 2037 or later for the operation. An estimated 880 tons of damaged nuclear fuel and structural debris remain in the three reactors that had meltdowns. [MSN]

¶ “Lamborghini Can Build A Powerful Electric Car, But The CEO Says Customers Don’t Want One” • Owners and enthusiasts are pushing back against battery-powered two-seaters, demanding internal combustion engines that rattle homes and echo through the neighborhood. The fabled Italian marque has not entirely abandoned electrification, however. [ABC News]

Lamborghini Revuelto (Lamborghini image)

US:

¶ “Our Children’s Trust Represents Young People In Wisconsin In Climate Suit” • Our Children’s Trust and Wisconsin law firm Midwest Environmental Advocates joined to represent a group of fifteen young Wisconsin residents in a legal action to void two state statutes that they say unfairly benefit fossil fuels for power generation and limit renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “When An Offshore Wind Project Shuts Down, A Gas Pipeline Gets Its Wings” • The Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island was brought to a screeching halt by order of the Interior Department even though it is already 80% complete. And, once again, a proposed multistate gas pipeline is lurking in the background. [CleanTechnica]

Revolution Wind offshore wind project (Ørsted image)

¶ “Trump Works To Sabotage Offshore Wind Alliances” • Do you think a nearly complete $4 billion wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island would be safe from the Trump administration’s wrath? With all necessary permits in place, wouldn’t its future seem secure? Nope. Now only a handful of US offshore wind projects are still under construction [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Executives Warn That Trump Attack On Renewables Will Lead To Power Crunch That Spikes Electricity Prices” • President Trump’s attack on solar and wind projects threatens to raise energy prices for consumers and undermine a stretched electric grid that’s already straining to meet rapidly growing demand, renewable energy executives warn. [CNBC]

Solar construction (Ernie Journeys, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “US Solar Plant Construction Is On A Record-Breaking Spree – For Now” • The US is still on track to build a record amount of solar capacity this year, even as the Trump administration works to obstruct renewables. For now, the power industry is building more solar than any other type of power plant, as has been the case for several years running. [Canary Media]

¶ “Sunniest State Turns Its Back On The Sun” • The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 5-0 to repeal the state’s nearly two-decade-old renewable energy standards for its regulated investor-owned utilities. The rules require Arizona’s regulated utilities to source at least 15% of the electricity they sell from renewable sources. [pv magazine International]

Have a gracefully delightful day.

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World:

¶ “Rising Visitor Numbers Are Leaving A Harmful Human Footprint On Antarctica’s Ecosystems” • A study published in Nature Sustainability warns that surging tourism and expanding research bases are polluting the southern continent, accelerating snow melting, and threatening fragile ecosystems already at risk from climate change. [Euronews]

Penguin on watch (Jeremy Stewardson, Unsplash)

¶ “CLT As The Fastest Lever For Housing, Jobs, And Climate” • Canada is in the middle of two crises that are converging in uncomfortable ways. Housing supply has failed to keep up with demand for decades, but building constructions remain a major source of GHG emissions. Cross laminated timber can deal with both issues. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD’s Sales Transition: Clearing Out The Old To Make Way For The New In China” • Sealion 06 sales are still ramping up as it is rolled out to different markets in China this month. Initial reports already place it as the best-selling vehicle in its class and the second best-selling SUV, even before it was available in the whole country. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Sealion 06 (BYD image)

¶ “Greens Pass Resolution Against Nuclear Power” • At their delegates’ meeting in Vicques in the Swiss canton of Jura, the Greens passed a resolution calling for a definitive exit from nuclear energy. They said that among the various forms of renewable energy, solar energy has the greatest potential, and they want subsidies increased. [blue News]

¶ “Energy Company Secures Contract To Harness Near-Limitless Power From Deep Beneath Island” • A Portuguese island chain will soon generate more electricity from underground heat after an energy company won a contract for €24.5 million to upgrade existing facilities. The new system on the island of São Miguel in the Azores will generate 5 MW. [NewsBreak]

Village of Maia (José Luís Ávila Silveira, public domain)

¶ “Taiwan Referendum Fails To Reopen Nuclear Power Plant” • Taiwan’s referendum to reopen the Manshan Nuclear Power Plant has failed after voter turnout fell short of the required threshold, foreign media reported. The failure reflects ongoing safety concerns over nuclear energy production and waste management in Taiwan. [24 News HD]

¶ “Fire Breaks Out At Nuclear Plant After Russia Claims Downing Ukrainian Drone” • A fire broke out at Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant after the military shot down a Ukrainian drone. The facility said the blaze has been extinguished, according to the News.Az, citing the Kiyv Post. The drone detonated on impact, sparking the fire. [Latest news from Azerbaijan]

Kursk NPP (Way 147711211, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Oil & Gas Pollution Linked To 90,000 Premature Deaths A Year In The US” • It may be time to focus on some other issues of Oil & Gas. A study published this week in the journal Science Advances says that extracting, transporting, refining, distributing, and burning fossil fuels causes at least 90,000 premature deaths in the US every year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Firefighters Battle Wildfire In California’s Napa Valley” • A growing wildfire in California’s wine country sparked evacuation orders. The Pickett Fire in Napa County has burned over 5,800 acres since it broke out on Thursday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. On Saturday evening, the fire was just 11% contained. [ABC News]

Smoke over a vineyard (CalFire image via flickr)

¶ “Two-Thirds Of River Trash Is Plastic (Research)” • Recent research conducted at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that rivers have far too much plastic in them. In this article, Chase Brewster, a project scientist in UCSB’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory and the paper’s lead author, answered some questions about the research. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “PJM Surplus Interconnection Can Support 153 GW Of Solar, Wind, And Storage” • In the PJM Interconnection, thermal and renewable generating facilities have surplus interconnection capacity that could support about 153 GW of solar, wind, and storage, according to a working paper by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. [Utility Dive]

Wind turbines (Veronica White, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Shareholder Group Challenges Musk Compensation Award” • A shareholder organization called SOC Investment Group has asked NASDAQ to invalidate the latest proposed compensation package for Elon Musk on the grounds that it violates NASDAQ’s rules designed to protect shareholders of publicly traded companies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texas Regulators Consider Cost Caps For Entergy Gas Plants” • The Public Utility Commission of Texas is considering putting cost caps on an Entergy proposal to build two gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of about 1.2 GW, saying the utility failed to consider alternatives and has not shown the projects to be cost effective. [Utility Dive]

Have an excusably celebratory day.

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World:

¶ “Billions At Risk Of Extreme Heat In The Workplace” • Billions of workers worldwide need better protection from extreme heat as they work, a joint report by the World Health Organisation and the World Meteorological Organisation has found. Over 2.4 billion workers, 71% of all workers, are exposed to excessive heat, partly due to climate change. [Euronews]

Baking muffins (Taylor Grote, Unsplash)

¶ “What To Know About China’s New Regulations On Rare Earths” • China released new interim measures tightening controls on mining and processing of rare earth metals. China has been gradually tightening restrictions on exports of such materials, partly in response to US controls on its access to American advanced technology. [ABC News]

¶ “China Races To Build The World’s Largest Solar Farm To Meet Emissions Targets” • Chinese government officials showed off what they say will be the world’s largest solar farm, high on a Tibetan plateau. It will cover 610 km², which is about the size of the city of Chicago. As China is installing solar panels, its carbon emissions have started falling. [Euronews]

Tibetan plateau (Jiasong Huang, Unsplash)

¶ “Have We Reached Peak BYD? July 2025 China EV Sales Report” • July saw the Chinese EV market continue its growth, with plugins scoring close to a million sales in July in market with 1.8 million sales. Battery EVs are up 26% to over 607,000 units, or 34% of overall sales, while PHEVs were actually down. Plugins had 54% market share. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Syncraft Builds New Climate-Positive Power Plant In Wallern, Austria” • Ground was broken in Wallern, Upper Austria for a Syncraft climate-positive power plant. This facility will convert regional forest residues into baseload clean electricity, heat, and carbon removal, moving energy forward and removing carbon from the atmosphere. [CleanTechnica]

Syncraft plant (Syncraft image)

¶ “Global EV Patent Counts are Growing, with BYD in the Lead” • Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD Group’s Brand and Public Relations Department, showed BYD well ahead in the global patent count for EVs. BYD has over 120,000 R&D engineers, and they submit an average of 45 patent applications and have 20 patents awarded per day. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Study Finds Space Solar Power Could Make Europe Net-Zero” • Space could play a key role in helping the EU reach its goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050, a study says. Researchers from King’s College London and Xi’an Jiaotong University proposed that space-based solar power could account for 80% of Europe’s renewable energy by the EU’s deadline. [Payload Space]

Solar panels on the ISS (NASA image)

US:

¶ “California’s Long-Delayed Bullet Train Slated To Run In The Central Valley By 2032” • California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project could be operating in the Central Valley by 2032, but it is far short of securing the funding it needs to connect up north toward the San Francisco Bay Area and south toward Los Angeles, a report by officials says. [ABC News]

¶ “The Global Space Solar Race Is Heating Up, And NASA Holds The Keys” • The emerging field of space solar should have a spot on the federal energy policy to-do list, considering its potential for 24/7 power generation. NASA also has two technologies in the works that researchers have identified as keys to unlocking solar power based in space. [CleanTechnica]

Space-based solar technology (Courtesy of CalTech)

¶ “Eco-dynamic Solar Awnings Make It Easy For RVs To Capture More Sunshine” • Eco-dynamic’s solar awnings are much like a traditional roll-up shade awning for RVs, but with integrated, flexible solar panels that are designed to withstand the rigors of RV life and the wide range of weather conditions that come with it. The awnings can be sized widthwise. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Administration Stops Construction On 80% Complete Offshore Wind Farm” • Only days after Ørsted reported that its 704-MW Revolution Wind was 80% compled, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a stop-work order halting all offshore construction activities on the project. [OffshoreWIND.biz]

Ørsted blade loadout (Ørsted image)

¶ “Governor Signs Bills To Boost Solar Generation And Battery Storage” • Governor Phil Murphy signed two bills to boost New Jersey’s renewable energy capacity. One allows state energy regulators to register 3,000 MW additional community solar capacity; the other creates an incentive program to build 1,000 MW of battery storage by 2030. [New Jersey Monitor]

¶ “Mile High City Sparks Fury Over Plan For One Of America’s Busiest Airports” • Bosses at one of America’s busiest airports sparked fury by unveiling controversial plans to explore using nuclear energy. Leaders at Denver International Airport made the announcement earlier this month, sparking a backlash from locals who say they were never consulted. [Daily Mail]

Have an absolutely perfect day.

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World:

¶ “Why Is Arctic Sea Ice Melting More Slowly Despite Global Warming?” • Arctic sea ice has been melting at a slower rate over the last 20 years, despite human-caused global warming, new research has found. Experts say this pause shouldn’t be mistaken for recovery, as Arctic sea ice coverage is still much lower than it was in the 1980s. [Euronews]

Arctic (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

¶ “Toyota And Mazda Start Tests of Energy Storage System Using EV Batteries” • For a test, the power at Mazda’s headquarters campus and Toyota’s system to utilize batteries from EVs will be connected through their energy management systems. This will make it possible to the verify stable, high-quality, and efficient charging and discharging. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vineyards Begin 2025 Harvest Early After Hot Temperatures” • French winemakers were forced to bring forward the 2025 harvest earlier after heat made grapes ripen earlier than in the traditional wine harvesting season of September to October. Harvesters in Château Carbonnieux found temperatures near 40°C strained white wine grape clusters. [Euronews]

Wines of Château Carbonnieux (Chlescuyer, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “When Will Battery Prices Fall, And By How Much?” • Prices for lithium-ion batteries have fallen by more than 50% in the last three years, and EV makers are now paying about €54/kWh ($62.62/kWh) for LFP batteries. Meanwhile, CATL is claiming its sodium-ion batteries, called Naxtra, will eventually cost as little as $10 per kWh. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cadeler Wins Formosa 4 Installation Contract” • Cadeler has signed a firm contract with Synera Renewable Energy for the transportation and installation of 35 Siemens Gamesa 14-MW turbines at the 495-MW Formosa 4 offshore wind farm in Taiwan. The work will be carried out by one of Cadeler’s new M-class wind turbine installation vessels. [reNews]

Cadeler M-class installation vessel (Cadeler image)

¶ “Masdar Consortium Seals $1.1 Billion Saudi Solar Deal” • A consortium led by Masdar reached financial close on the 2-GW Al Sadawi solar project in Saudi Arabia. The independent power producer scheme will rank among the world’s largest solar plants and contribute to the Kingdom’s goal of sourcing 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030. [reNews]

¶ “Drone Deliveries Hit Spot For Ørsted” • Ørsted is carrying out an offshore cargo drone operation across its UK offshore wind fleet. The developer and UK operator Skylift use FlyingBasket drones to lift evacuation equipment boxes weighing up to 70 kg onto turbine nacelles at Hornsea 1 & 2 and Walney 1 & 2. More than 550 flights are planned. [reNews]

Drone delivery (Photo by Richard McCrilley, Ørsted)

¶ “Sweden Picks Mini-Reactors For First Nuclear Expansion In Fifty Years” • Sweden said that it had selected “small modular nuclear reactors” for its first nuclear power expansion in a half-century. Greenpeace said the government was “trying to trick the Swedish people into believing that new nuclear power would lead to cheap and green electricity.” [24 News HD]

US:

¶ “Hurricane Erin Live Updates: New Jersey Under State Of Emergency As Monster Storm Roars North” • Erin, a massive Category 2 hurricane more than 700 miles wide, is located about 285 miles east of North Carolina’s Outer Banks and is moving northeast through the Atlantic. High surf advisories continue from Florida to Maine. [ABC News]

Wave (Matt Paul Catalano, Unsplash)

¶ “Smart(er) EV Charging Could Slash US Electricity Bills By $30 Billion, 10% Per Household By 2035” • EV charging management firm ev.energy released a study showing that next-level charging programs could yield $30 billion in savings on utility costs in the US, a cut of about 10% per ratepayer by 2035 whether they own an EV or not. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Connecticut High School Gets Solar Power Carport” • In Ridgefield, Connecticut, Ridgefield High School just had a 1-MW solar carport installed, a joint effort of Davis Hill Development and the Connecticut Green Bank. Micah Brill, Vice President of Asset Management at Davis Hill Development, answered some questions about the project. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power carport (Davis Hill Development image)

¶ “The US Opens A Turbine Imports Investigation” • The Trump administration has opened a national security investigation into the import of wind turbines and components. The so-called Section 232 probe, which was opened earlier this month but was only just made public, could push tariffs higher for the sector, according to Reuters. [reNews]

¶ “Solar Leads US Capacity Growth” • Three-quarters of new US generating capacity was solar in the first five months of 2025, as solar extended its lead as the largest source of additions for the 21st consecutive month, the SUN DAY Campaign said. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission data showed solar took 75.3% of new capacity, while 15.6% was wind. [reNews]

Solar array (Green Genius image)

¶ “Trump Blames Renewables For Rising Electricity Prices, But Experts Point Elsewhere” • With electricity prices rising at over twice the rate of inflation, President Trump lashed out at wind and solar power, blaming them for price hikes. Energy analysts blame higher demand, aging infrastructure and more extreme weather events due in part to climate change. [MSN]

¶ “Renewable Energy Stocks Fall As Trump Vows To Block Wind, Solar” • A handful of renewable energy stocks slumped after President Donald Trump indicated that his administration will block new solar and wind projects. Shares in Enphase Energy, Sunrun, Solaredge, and First Solar fell with the news, as did some companies overseas. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a particularly enjoyable day.

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World:

¶ “Renaturalisation Of Wetlands Slows Global Warming And Species Decline” • For many centuries, farmers drained swamps to gain arable land. This contributes to climate change, so the EU wants to reverse it. Now a law sets out a detailed timetable: By 2050, half of the damaged moors are expected to be “healed” – a third of them through rewetting. [Euronews]

Moor (Maksim Shutov, Unsplash)

¶ “Spain Reports Nearly 400,000 Hectares Burned And 37 Arrests Due To Fires” • Humid weather and rainfall gave some relief to Spanish firefighters in their battle against the fires that have ravaged much of the country this year. Over 391,000 ha (966,000 acres) have burned so far this year, European Forest Fire Information System data shows. [Euronews]

¶ “China Rushes To Build Out Solar, Emissions Edge Downward” • China has been installing solar panels far faster than anywhere else in the world, and the investment is paying off. A study found that the country’s carbon emissions edged down 1% in the first six months of the year compared to a year earlier, extending a trend that began in March 2024. [ABC News]

PV power station in China (w0zny, CC BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Two Energy Paths: China Locks In Renewables, US Clings To Coal” • China’s coal consumption dropped by about 2.6% in the first six months of 2025 while electricity demand rose roughly 5%, year over year. So China added solar and wind capacity fast enough to cover more than new demand. US coal fired electricity jumped 14% in the same span. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Flexes Its Green Hydrogen Muscles In Europe” • The Chinese firm Sungrow Power Supply has set up an elaborate new state-of-the-art hydrogen R&D facility at the Munich Airport Business Park through its Sungrow Hydrogen branch. Sungrow is aiming to establish a foothold in the ripe but difficult-to-pluck European market. [CleanTechnica]

Sungrow Hydrogen R&D in Germany (Courtesy of Sungrow)

¶ “From Norway To Nigeria, Beijing To Bogotá: Mapping The World’s EV Inflection Points” • In this piece we take a look at EV tipping points, starting with growth models, then exploring what 5% to 15%, 15% to 40%, and 40% to 80% penetrations look like, and then examining key markets including Europe, China, India, the US, Africa, and South America. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SPR Completes EA3 Converter Station Jacket Installation” • The jacket foundation for the offshore converter station for ScottishPower Renewables’ 1.4-GW East Anglia 3 wind farm has been put in position 69 km off east England. The installation of the 3,700-tonne and 59-metre-high base was completed by Heerema crane vessel SSCV Sleipnir. [reNews]

SSCV Sleipnir (east Anglia 3 image)

¶ “UK Renewable Approvals Soar To Record 16 GW” • A record 16 GW of new renewable energy capacity won planning approval in the UK during the second quarter of 2025, government figures show. The Financial Times first reported the surge, which covered 323 projects and marked a 195% growth compared with the same period of last year. [reNews]

¶ “BayWa RE Wins Consent For 500-MW Redshaw Battery” • BayWa re has secured Section 36 planning consent for its 500-MW Redshaw battery system in South Lanarkshire. The facility will be the company’s largest battery system in Europe. It is next to the site of Scottish Power Transmission’s planned Redshaw substation at the B6 boundary. [reNews]

Battery system (BayWa re image)

¶ “Japan Sends Robots Into Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant To Get Radioactive Debris” • Technicians at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant are taking another cautious step toward one of the most challenging operations of nuclear decommissioning. They sent remote-controlled robots into a damaged reactor to obtain radioactive material they could assess. [WION]

US:

¶ “Hurricane Erin Could Bring Destruction To The East Coast Despite Not Making Landfall” • Hurricane Erin may not make landfall, but it still could have devastating consequences for East Coast residents. Sea levels for many East Coast communities are now about a half foot higher today than they were a few decades ago, intensifying coastal erosion. [ABC News]

Miami Beach with storm coming (Dylan Sauerwein, Unsplash)

¶ “Climate Change Brings More Rapidly Intensifying Hurricanes; NOAA Cuts Make Forecasting Them Harder” • A remarkable 96% of Cat 4 and Cat 5 storms undergo rapid intensification. Those that intensify rapidly just before landfall are especially perilous, as they can catch forecasters and populations off guard, risking inadequate evacuations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Over 50% of New US Electric Generating Capacity Will Come from Solar in 2025” • Developers added 12 GW of utility-scale solar capacity in the US during the first half of 2025, and they plan to add another 21 GW in the second half. If they realize that plan, solar would account for more than half of the 64 GW that developers bring online this year. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “California’s Biggest Virtual Power Plant May Get A Funding Reprieve” • California’s premier ​“virtual power plant” program is reducing the state’s reliance on polluting, costly fossil-fueled power, and it’s just the start of what its scattered network of solar and batteries could do. But only if the state Legislature can stave off funding cuts to the program. [Canary Media]

¶ “Trump Escalates His War On ‘Windmills'” • President Trump began an attack on ‘windmills” again, calling them inefficient and expensive, just a day after his administration unveiled new tariffs on wind turbines. Experts told Newsweek provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could lead to higher costs as projects are postponed or abandoned. [MSN]

Have a fascinatingly frolicsome day.

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World:

¶ “Hurricane Erin’s Rapid Intensification And What It Means For Europe’s Weather” • Hurricane Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2025 season, grew from a Category 1 storm to Category 5 in just over 24 hours. It is not projected to make landfall on this side of the Atlantic. But weakened to storm status, it could cross the Atlantic and hit Ireland and the UK. [Euronews]|

Projected path of Erin (Please click on the image.)

¶ “Adaptation Efforts Like Early Warnings And Preparedness Have Cut Europe’s Flood Deaths And Losses” • Flooding deaths in Europe fell 52% since 1950, thanks to such solutions as early warning systems and emergency preparedness, a study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research has found. This is despite an 8% increase in flooding. [Euronews]

¶ “Record UK Wildfires Have Burned an Area Twice the Size of Glasgow in 2025 ” • Wildfires have scorched more than 40,000 hectares of land so far this year across the UK, an area more than twice the size of the Scottish city of Glasgow. This is already a record amount of land burned in a single year, far exceeding the previous high, GWIS data shows. [CleanTechnica]

Forest fire (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “BYD Rises To #91 On Fortune Global 500 List” • BYD has been growing, growing, growing, and CleanTechnica has been keeping track. As a testament to its rise and its increasingly strong place in markets around the world, we got news that the Chinese EV company has risen up the Fortune Global 500 list and is now in the top 100. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why the Recent Slowdown in Arctic Sea Ice Loss Is Only Temporary” • The retreat of sea ice in the Arctic has long been a prominent symbol of climate change. Yet, since the late 2000s, the pace of Arctic sea ice loss has slowed markedly. Climate model simulations suggest we should expect periods like this to occur relatively frequently. [CleanTechnica]

Mount Erebus, Australia (Josh Landis, US NSF, public domain)

¶ “CDWE Completes Hai Long Jacket Installation” • CDWE (CSBC-DEME Wind Engineering) has completed installation of all 73 jacket foundations at Northland Power’s 1-GW Hai Long offshore wind farm in the Taiwan Strait. The project is the largest CDWE has undertaken in both scale and technical complexity. It was completed early. [reNews]

¶ “RWE Powers Up 34-MW Wind Farm In Aldenhoven” • RWE has commissioned the 34-MW Aldenhoven wind farm in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The site, developed on recultivated land at the Inden opencast lignite mine, features six 5.7-MW turbines, which are capable of powering 24,000 households with clean electricity. [reNews]

Wind farm (RWE image)

¶ “Eskom Pivots Towards Renewable Energy With New Solar Power Procurement Initiative” • Eskom announced the launch of its first Renewable Energy Offtake Programme. Now Eskom has shifted its focus from merely addressing the crippling issue of loadshedding to making itself a sustainable and competitive player in the energy market. [MSN]

US:

¶ “FDA Warns Public Not To Eat Possibly Radioactive Shrimp Sold At Walmart” • US Customs and Border Protection alerted the FDA that possible radioactive Cesium-137 was detected in shipping containers at four US ports, the FDA said. No shrimp in the US food supply were found to be radioactive. The source of Cs-137 in the shrimp is not known. [ABC News]

Dinner with shrimp (Pirata Studio Film, Unsplash)

¶ “Ford Is Doing What Has To Be Done: Leading On EVs And Innovating Are Imperative” • Ford says it is investing billions of dollars into advanced manufacturing, EV batteries, and a whole new vehicle platform in Kentucky and Michigan. It is all about creating affordable, competitive EVs. It makes one think, what else could we expect from Ford? [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Washington Blocks Funding For Solar On Farmland” • US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that the US DA will no longer fund solar panels on productive farmland or allow equipment made by foreign adversaries to be used in USDA-backed projects. She said that subsidised solar projects displace farmland. [reNews]

Brooke Rollins, at center (USDA image)

¶ “New Nissan LEAF Adds Range And Features, For Under $30,000” • The Nissan LEAF is a classic among EVs. But it’s not done and collecting dust in history books. Nissan is launching the 3rd-generation LEAF, and it just keeps getting better. The starting MSRP of the 2026 Nissan LEAF is $29,990, the lowest of any EV in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Extends 50% Tariff To Wind Turbines” • The Department of Commerce added 407 product categories to Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs, which carry a 50% duty rate. The scope now covers wind turbines and components, along with other equipment such as mobile cranes, bulldozers, compressors, pumps, and railcars. [reNews]

Attaching a blade (Enercon image)

¶ “Coal Power Plant Demolished For Nuclear Fusion Prototype” • We have seen such things as solar arrays on former landfills. Now comes another reversal of technologies. This one is about getting rid of a coal power plant for a cleaner source of electricity. Chris Mowry, CEO at Type One Energy, answered some questions about the project. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Waste Could Provide Fuel For Fusion Energy, Says Los Alamos Physicist” • Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have unveiled simulations showing how radioactive nuclear waste could be repurposed to generate tritium, the rare hydrogen isotope that fuels nuclear fusion. Tritium is rare and expensive. [NucNet]

Have a comfortably constructive day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Thing Pollution-Heads Extolling Climate-Policy Sabotage Don’t Understand” • The US is an oil nation, and often corrupt and disinformative. At the moment, the Oil & Gas lobby is very clearly trying to hold the US back when it comes to the transition to EVs and clean energy. But the world is not waiting for us, and the technology will march on. [CleanTechnica]

Capitol Building (Jorge Alcala, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Technologies Will Hasten The End Of Fossil Fuels” • It seems now the fossil fuel industry is getting its way. The US administration is about to eliminate the “endangerment finding” that found carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas to be regulated. But one thing the fossil fuel thugs forgot is that science advances. Here are two examples. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Power With Batteries Became 22% Cheaper In One Year” • A new report from Ember shows dramatic cost reductions for solar power with batteries. The average cost of electricity from such systems dropped 22% in just one year. The cost reduction means solar power with batteries can deliver electricity around the clock, continuously. [Warp News]

Solar with batteries (BLM California)

World:

¶ “Tracking Mosquito-Borne Illnesses Across Europe” • Viral diseases, which usually occur when an infected mosquito bites someone, are becoming more common in Europe due to more travel and warmer summer temperatures driven by climate change. Hundreds of cases of mosquito-borne infections have been reported so far this summer. [Euronews]

¶ “Cloudbursts, Deadly Climate-Fuelled Deluges, Cause Chaos In India And Pakistan” • Climate change is disrupting monsoons, as cloudbursts hit vulnerable mountain regions with deadly force. In a cloudburst, a large volume of rain falls in a very short time, usually over 100 mm (4 in) in an hour. They create chaos in the mountains of India and Pakistan. [Euronews]

Sunset in Uttarakhand (Soham Kalghatkar, Unsplash)

¶ “VicGrid’s 2025 Transmission Plan Unveiled” • The Victorian Government has released the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan, marking a major step in the state’s renewable energy transition. It sets out the transmission infrastructure the state needs to build over the next 15 years to ensure all Victorians have access to safe, reliable and affordable power. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “IEA: Renewables Will Be World’s Top Power Source ‘by 2026′” • Renewable energy will overtake coal to become the world’s top source of electricity “by 2026 at the latest,” say forecasts from the International Energy Agency. The rise of renewables is driven by extremely rapid growth in wind and solar output, which will pass 6,000 TWh by 2026. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Masdar Deploys $1.7 Billion Green Bond Proceeds” • Masdar channelled more than $1.5 billion from its green bond issuances into clean energy projects by the end of 2024, according to its latest Green Finance Report. The proceeds supported new solar, onshore and offshore wind, and energy storage developments around the world. [reNews]

¶ “Galileo Empower Files To Build 476-MW Dorenell 2” • Galileo Empower has submitted a planning application for the 476-MW Dorenell Extension wind farm and biodiversity enhancement plan in Scotland. The proposals include 67 turbines, alongside a battery storage facility, on the Cabrach and Glenfiddich Estate about 10 km south of Dufftown. [reNews]

Wind farm (EDF Renewables image)

¶ “Boulder clearance begins at Baltica 2” • Seabed preparation is underway for the 1500-MW Baltica 2 offshore wind farm, a joint project of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Ørsted. Boskalis vessel BOKA Falcon has arrived in Polish waters to clear large boulders along the planned cable routes. Baltica 2 will feature 107 turbines with a total capacity of 1.5 GW. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Data Center Owners Urge US Treasury To Keep Renewable Energy Subsidy Rules” • The Data Center Coalition, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and others, called on US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to uphold existing rules for wind and solar subsidies, saying they enable the industry to grow quickly and stay ahead of competition from China. [MSN]

Sustainable technology (Mark König, Unsplash)

¶ “Trump’s Climate Report Includes More Than 100 False Or Misleading Claims ” • A “critical assessment” report the Trump administration commissioned to justify a rollback of US climate regulations contains at least 100 false or misleading statements, according to a Carbon Brief factcheck involving dozens of leading climate scientists. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Veterans Back Lombardo Letter Urging Interior Secretary To Get Solar Back On Track” • A veterans group praised Republican Governor Joe Lombardo’s efforts to open an economic pipeline important to Nevada. Lombardo wrote that Burgum’s decision to review solar and wind projects personally and in detail was a cause of major delays. [KLAS 8 News Now]

Solar array (Michael Förtsch, Unsplash)

¶ “OCI Sells 100-MW Texas Solar Project To Sabanci” • OCI Energy, a developer of utility-scale solar and battery projects, sold a 100-MW AC solar project in Texas to Sabanci Renewables, Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holding’s US green energy unit. Development of Lucky 7 Solar will proceed under Sabanci Renewables’ management. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Google Announced The First Nuclear Site To Power Its Data Centers” • Google announced the site of its first nuclear reactor, as part of its 2024 deal with startup Kairos Power. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, will be home to the Hermes 2 plant to supply Google with 50 MW of power under a long-term purchase agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. [Yahoo News]

Have an immensely rewarding day.

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World:

¶ “Pakistan Expands Rescue And Relief Efforts After Floods Kill Over 200” • Rescue workers in northwestern Pakistan expanded relief operations after flash floods killed more than 220 people in a single district, officials said. In Buner, a mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, torrential rains led to flash floods and landslides. [ABC News]

Mountains in Buner district (Shahzadk007, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Wildfires In Spain And Portugal Force Evacuations And Deployment Of Thousands Of Emergency Personnel” • The heatwave at the Iberian Peninsula keeps going on. Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to battle ongoing blazes, and towns have been evacuated. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited affected regions. [Euronews]

¶ “Solar Power Is An Isolated Island’s Weapon Against A Fossil Fuel Monopoly” • The Philippines has 7,641 islands. One of the most serene and relatively isolated of them is the beautiful island of Siquijor. This mystical island is a paradise in peril because its tourism is threatened by power outages. It is a problem that solar power can address. [CleanTechnica]

Pier at Siquijor (Marlene Centeno, Unsplash)

¶ “Alberta Planning To Power Some Of Its Jails With Solar Energy” • Alberta’s government is looking to power some of its jails with solar energy. It says it’s planning to install solar plants at five of its ten jails. The solar facilities are expected to save an estimated $1 million per year while providing about 80% of the energy at each site. [Rocky Mountain Outlook]

¶ “RWE Wins 37 MW In German Solar Tender” • RWE secured two new solar projects in North Rhine-Westphalia in the latest German Federal Network Agency solar tender. The Manheimer Bucht solar farm in the Rhein-Erft district will deliver 17.2 MW, while an extension of the PV project along the A44n motorway will add 19.9 MW. [reNews]

Solar and wind (RWE image)

¶ “Statera Connects 300-MW Thurrock Battery System” • Statera Energy energised one of the UK’s largest battery storage sites, the 300-MW, 600-MWh Thurrock Storage project in Essex. The facility can deliver its full output within seconds, according to the developer. Thurrock adds rapid-response capacity for the grid in the UK’s South-East. [reNews]

¶ “Iberdrola And Ingeteam Add Storage In Spain” • Iberdrola and Ingeteam will hybridise solar farms in Burgos, Extremadura, and Huelva with 100 MW, 200 MWh of battery storage. Ingeteam will supply medium-voltage power electronics, control systems, and SCADA monitoring to integrate the batteries with existing Iberdrola PV plants. [reNews]

Storage (Image by Iberdrola And Ingeteam)

US:

¶ “Coastal Communities Restoring Marshes, Dunes, Reefs To Protect Against Rising Seas” • Coastal communities across the nation are ramping up efforts to fend off rising seas, higher tides and stronger storm surges that are chewing away at coastlines, pushing saltwater farther inland and threatening ecosystems and hundreds of communities. [ABC News]

¶ “Arizona, Nevada, And Mexico Get Less Colorado River Water For A Third Year” • Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will again live with less water from the Colorado River as drought lingers in the West, federal officials announced. The Colorado River is a critical lifeline to seven US states, thirty Native American tribes, and two Mexican states. [ABC News]

Colorado River (Emma Renly, Unsplash)

¶ “US Energy Secretary Calls For An End To All Subsidies For Solar And Wind” • US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who made his fortune by drilling holes in the Earth to access methane and then leaving taxpayers to clean up his company’s mess, said it is time to do away with all federal subsidies for wind power, the Des Moines Register reported. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Chevy Silverado EV Driven Over 1,000 Miles On A Single Charge” • Recently, a 2026 Chevy Silverado EV was driven over 1,000 miles on a single charge. There were differences from an earlier impressive drive of 460 miles. For one, the earlier drive was at highway speeds, but the drive that got over 1,000 miles was kept low speeds. But it is a record. [CleanTechnica]

Chevrolet Silverado EV (Courtesy of GM)

¶ “Gas Station Owners Are Smiling At The Return Of NEVI, And So Are EV Advocates” • The Trump administration had another TACO moment and relinquished funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. There is some dilution of former language, but the EV charging infrastructure’s federal funding is back on the table. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Energy Experts Condemn US Government For Giving China An Energy Advantage” • A US DOE report raised questions about delaying renewable energy. The July Resource Adequacy Report “recycled familiar, but flawed, talking points against renewable energy, warranting a closer look at the facts behind the rhetoric,” EnergySage reported. [The Cool Down]

Wind turbines (Daniel Morris, Unsplash)

¶ “Trump Guidance Tightens Tax Credit Rules For Renewables” • New guidance released by the Trump administration tightens up the rules under which wind and solar projects can qualify for Biden-era tax credits. According to the new guidance, developers must begin physical work by 6 July, 2026 in order to qualify for tax credits. [reNews]

¶ “US Eyes 90,000 Tons Of Nuclear Waste As Fresh Fuel For Future Power Reactors” • The Trump administrationis looking at ways to use spent nuclear fuel and plutonium to fuel advanced reactors. Expanding the share of nuclear in the country’s overall energy production and consumption is considered an important step towards increased clean energy adoption. [MSN]

Have a comforably thoughtful day.

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World:

¶ “Hydrogen Mobility Vs Platinum Reality” • Only four of the fourteen Cascadia trains Lower Saxony purchased are operating. It is tempting to dismiss this as a simple supply chain hiccup, but the problem runs deeper. Following the thread back reveals not only the weakness of hydrogen in transportation but a structural material constraint as well. [CleanTechnica]

Alstom Coradia LINT 41 (X-angel, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “China Is Winning On Renewables. Will It Win On Green Steel, Too?” • While China leads the world in both the production and adoption of clean energy tech, the country has been slower to decarbonize heavy industry. That is changing. HBIS Group, a Chinese steelmaker, agreed to sell over 10,000 metric tons of green steel to an Italian buyer. [Canary Media]

¶ “Death Toll Rises As Wildfires Continue To Burn Across Southern Europe” • Firefighters in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey are battling wildfires that have raged on for weeks. The wildfires in souther Europe are tied to an ongoing heatwave. Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist, and temperatures are set to climb over the weekend. [Euronews]

Satellite image of a wildfire in Greece (NASA, public domain)

¶ “A New Energy Malta: Wind, Solar, And Green Maritime Fuels” • Malta’s energy story must change. For decades, Malta has been dependent on imported fossil fuels, leaving its energy system exposed to rising costs, supply risks, and carbon emissions. But Malta’s maritime territory gives it an opportunity to develop large floating wind farms. [MaltaToday]

¶ “Can Google’s AI Stop Aircraft Contrails from Warming Earth?” • According to the Royal Meteorological Society, an aircraft’s contrails could be more responsible for warming the Earth than its carbon emissions. To address this, Google has joined forces with American Airlines in a six-month experiment to reduce contrail formation. [Energy Digital Magazine]

Contrail (Adrian Pingstone, public domain)

¶ “Global Nuclear Power Hits Record High as Asia Surges Ahead” • Nuclear power has always been a paradox. The latest Statistical Review of World Energy shows that while nuclear generation is growing globally, setting a new record high in 2024, the trend is anything but uniform. Some countries are charging ahead, while others are stepping back. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Victorians Pay The Lowest Wholesale Energy Prices After Renewable Energy Investment, State Government Says” • Lily D’Ambrosio, the Minister for Energy and Resources, said over 42% of Victoria’s electricity was produced by cheap renewable energy, making the state well on track to hit its legislated target of 40% by the end of 2025. [9News]

Wind farm in Victoria (John Englart, CC  BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Shopping For An Affordable EV In Colorado” • Colorado has one of the hottest EV markets in the US. There’s a $3,500 instant tax credit for EVs under $80,000, with $2,500 extra if the price is below $35,000. There’s even a program that gives up to $6,000 more off an EV purchase if you retire a gas car over twelve years old and meet income limits. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texas Sends Yet Another Solar Manufacturing Love Letter To The US” • Texas’ booming solar manufacturing sector is sending solar equipment all over the US to help the renewable energy transition keep going, regardless of the abrupt shift in federal policy. The Solar Industries Association is telling everyone who listens OBBA could hurt Texas. [CleanTechnica]

Solar manufacturing in Texas (Courtesy of T1 Energy)

¶ “Investor State Dispute Settlement Treaties Protect Private Investors From Climate Action” • ISDS treaties are an outgrowth of the nationalization that swept some parts of the world in the 20th century. Such action denies investors an ability to recover their investments and the profits they expected. But the treaties endanger effective climate action. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Supreme Court Hands Victory To Rooftop Solar Panel Owners” • The California Supreme Court sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for rooftop solar power proliferation in California. In a unanimous vote, justices told a lower court to revisit a ruling that upheld reducing payments to solar panel owners. [Edhat]

California solar installation (Kate Costa, US DOE, public domain)

¶ “Minnesota Approves First Stand-Alone Battery System, A Key Step Toward A Clean Energy Future” • The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a site permit for the 150-MW Snowshoe Energy Storage Project, which will be built west of Rochester on 18 acres. The batteries will store electricity from nearby solar and wind farms. [MPR News]

¶ “Trump Administration Attacks On Science Extend Far Beyond Climate, Loom Large In WV” • The EPA is proposing to remove greenhouse gas standards for vehicles and heavy-duty engines. The EPA’s proposed rule cites a DOE report to claim “extreme weather events have not demonstrably increased relative to historical highs.” [The Logan Banner]

Have a really fantastic day.

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World:

¶ “European Seas Break Temperature Records: Are They Too Warm?” • In August 2024, the Mediterranean Sea hit a record of 28.7°C (83.7°F). High sea temperatures in Europe fuel marine heatwaves that threaten marine life and worsen extreme weather events. In 2024, Europe’s seas hit their highest annual average surface temperature on record, 13.73°C. [Euronews]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Flash Floods In India And Pakistan Kill Over 280 People, Scores Remain Missing” • Flash floods triggered by torrential rains killed over 280 people in India and Pakistan, and rescuers are searching for at least eighty in one remote Himalayan village. Experts say cloudbursts have increased in recent years partly because of climate change. [Euronews]

¶ “Wärtsilä To Deliver 68-MW Energy Storage In Shetland” • Wärtsilä will provide a 68-MW energy storage system to Zenobē in Shetland. It will improve energy security, reduce emissions, and help with moving toward a cleaner, more resilient power system. Here, Christopher Wolf, Director at Wärtsilä Energy Storage, answers some questions. [CleanTechnica]

Energy storage site (Zenobē image)

¶ “Wind Power Progress in Australia” • The report Clean Energy Australia 2025 paints a picture of investment progress in onshore wind in 2024. Sadly, this has not been carried forward into 2025, but we must celebrate the wins when we can. It also illuminates the reasons for the lack of progress in Australia’s offshore wind development. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Petrostates Blow Up UN Plastics Conference” • In March 2022, 175 nations agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. Sadly, those countries are not the ones who produce plastics, but the ones hurt by plastic waste. The oil producing nations all furiously oppose limiting production in any way. [CleanTechnica]

Microplastics (Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “China Builds Record-Breaking Floating Wind Turbine That Could Change The Face Of Renewable Energy” • Engineers at two state-owned Chinese companies have created a prototype floating wind turbine that they say has broken power generation records. They say the design could usher in the next generation of renewable power generation. [MSN]

¶ “Century Completes Hai Long Jacket Deliveries” • The Hai Long Offshore Wind Project has completed delivery of 21 three-legged jacket foundations manufactured by Taiwan’s Century Wind Power. Each jacket stands over 90 metres tall and weighs about 2000 tonnes, the heaviest ever produced for a Taiwanese wind farm, Hai Long claimed. [reNews]

Final jackets (Hai Long Offshore Wind image)

¶ “S&P Downgrades Orsted Credit Rating” • S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Ørsted’s long-term credit rating citing stalled progress on the planned sale of a 50% stake in the Sunrise Wind project in the US. The rating agency said that the inability to complete the divestment “severely and directly hinders credit metric performance.” [reNews]

US:

¶ “At GM, Our Electric Pickups Are Built To Handle Truck Stuff – Press Release” • “When teams across General Motors designed and engineered today’s electric trucks, they made sure these vehicles were ready to handle all kinds of truck stuff – so you can rely on your EV. And we’re building them with more than 100 years of truck leadership…” [CleanTechnica]

2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali (GM image)

¶ “Solar & Storage Industry Statement On Treasury Department Changes To Tax Credit Guidance” • “The Treasury Department’s new guidance to further restrict energy tax credits is part of an unprecedented side deal the administration made with anti-clean energy ideologues to undermine Congress and further harm America’s solar industry.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Farley’s Model T Moment: Bold EV Strategy In A Risky Policy Era” • Ford’s presentation of its Universal EV Platform was equal parts engineering showcase and strategic declaration. Jim Farley framed the new architecture as Ford’s “Model T moment.” He was clear that the bet was enormous, but, just as clearly, Ford must remain competitive. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Gas Valve Failure During Maintenance Work May Have Led To Fatal Explosion” • Preparations for a routine maintenance task may have led to an explosion at a US Steel coal-processing plant near Pittsburgh. It left two dead and sent ten to hospitals, the company said. The explosion started around ovens where coal is heated to 1,200°F to make coke. [ABC News]

¶ “Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Acquires 1-GWh Beehive Battery From EDF” • CIP acquired full ownership of the 1-GWh Beehive battery energy storage project in Peoria, Arizona, from EDF power solutions North America. The 250-MW four-hour facility is under construction and is expected to enter service in the first half of 2026, CIP said. [reNews]

Battery storage (EDF image)

¶ “Trump Administration Tightens Vise On Wind And Solar With New Tax Rules” • The Trump administration has a new roadblock for US wind and solar power. Treasury Department guidance puts new restrictions on the rules that have for decades guided whether solar and wind projects have ​“commenced construction” for tax purposes. [Canary Media]

¶ “US Lab Begins Post-Irradiation Studies On High-Burnup Fuel” • Researchers at the US DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are in post-irradiation studies on GE Vernova’s high burnup fuel after it has spent six years in a commercial reactor. High burnup fuels use more of the fissile material in nuclear fuel, allowing more cycles. [World Nuclear News]

Have an entirely pleasant day.

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World:

¶ “Philippines’ First Floating Solar Farm Sets A National Blueprint For Clean Energy” • The Philippines is entering a new era of energy with a landmark 4.99-MW floating solar plant on the Malubog Reservoir in Toledo City, Cebu. The floating PV farm is a pioneering project, a collaboration between Carmen Copper Corp and Black & Veatch. [CleanTechnica]

Floating solar plant in Toledo City (Black & Veatch photo)

¶ “Flash Floods Triggered By Heavy Rains Kill At Least 49 People In Pakistan” • Flash floods triggered by heavy rains killed at least 49 people in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere in the country over the past 24 hours, officials said. More than 360 people, mostly women and children, have died in rain-related incidents in Pakistan since June 26. [ABC News]

¶ “Mitie And Elements Green Start A 360-MW BESS” • Mitie Power & Grid and Elements Green have broken ground on the 360-MW, 720-MWh Staythorpe battery energy storage system in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The £71.5 million facility will be one of the largest in Europe, with enough renewable energy to power 95,000 homes for a full day. [reNews]

Battery system area (Elemenyts Green image)

¶ “Foton Philippines Launched A Full Commercial EV Lineup ” • Foton Motor Philippines, Inc hosted an “EV Forward” event at its Clark assembly plant, showcasing its comprehensive lineup of electric vehicles. The event was held in collaboration with the Clark Development Corporation, reaffirming its strong support for the initiative. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Harmony Powers Up 100-MW French Battery” • Harmony Energy has energised France’s largest battery energy storage project at the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire. The 100-MW, 200-MWh Cheviré facility is the country’s first large-scale, two-hour duration system and is capable of powering about 170,000 homes for two hours. [reNews]

Cheviré battery project (Harmony Energy image)

¶ “BC-Wind Begins Seabed Survey For Cable Route” • Ocean Winds started the next stage of research for its BC-Wind offshore wind farm off Poland with a seabed survey for the export cable route. The specialist vessel Ocean Marlin is operating from the port of Gdansk to find unexploded ordnance and other wartime remnants that might be on the seabed. [reNews]

¶ “Gentari And PCL Construction Turn Sod On Renewable Energy Zone Project” • Gentari, based in Malaysia, broke ground on the Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage project in the heart of the New South Wales Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. The facility will integrate 243 MW of solar with a 172-MW, 409-MWh battery system. [pv magazine Australia]

Installation site (Gentari image)

¶ “Problems With Reactor Water Supply Are Increasing At The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • Over the past two weeks, IAEA staff have recorded a deterioration in the cooling system situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, though its reactors are in a state of cold shutdown. They also noted burnt trees near the cooling towers. [Odessa Journal]

US:

¶ “Heavy Rain And Flooding In Tennessee Kill At Least Four” • At least four people have been killed in heavy rain and flooding in Tennessee. This summer, parts of the US are having more frequent flash flooding, as record-breaking rains hit some areas, a phenomenon that scientists attribute to climate change caused by pollution from fossil fuels. [Euronews]

Flooding in Tennessee (National Weather Service image)

¶ “As Canada Wildfires Choke US With Smoke, Republicans Demand Action. But Not On Climate Change” • Sternly worded statements are filled with indignation as Republican lawmakers say Canada has done too little to contain wildfire smoke that foul the air in several states. But they haven’t recognized the role of climate change in the issue. [ABC News]

¶ “US DOE Supports Critical Minerals And Materials Supply Chain” • The DOE issued “notices of funding opportunities totaling nearly $1 billion to advance … mining, processing, and manufacturing technologies across key stages of the critical minerals and materials supply chains.” The industry seems not to be too ‘woke’ to support after all. [CleanTechnica]

CATL Freevoy battery (CATL image)

¶ “Which States Have The Most At Stake In Trump’s Anti-Wind Push?” • The cost of Trump’s war on wind could be $317 billion in lost investment, analysis from research firm Cleanview shows. That figure is based on the 790 projects totaling 213 GW that developers plan to build, all of which are at risk of delay or even cancellation under current policies. [Canary Media]

¶ “16.5-GW Wind Build Splurge On Cards In US” • The US will add over 16 GW of wind and nearly 60 GW of solar capacity over the two-year period from the end of 2024 to the end of 2026, according to projections released by the US Energy Information Administration. This is despite the president’s repeated attacks on renewable energy as a “scam.” [reNews]

Wind turbine construction (BayWa re image)

¶ “US Transformer Shortage To Hit 30% In 2025” • US power transformer supply is set to face a 30% deficit next year, with distribution transformers short by 10%, according to Wood Mackenzie. The consultancy said surging demand since 2019 has left domestic manufacturing struggling to keep pace. Power transformer demand has risen 116%. [reNews]

¶ “Scientists Push Back On Trump Climate Report With Strong Rebuttal” • CNN reported that dozens of climate scientists are joining forces to challenge a new Trump administration report that downplays the severity of the climate crisis. The document is being used to justify weakening pollution rules and rolling back federal climate protections. [One Green Planet]

Have an outrageously fine day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tariffs Are A Distraction And The End Of Globalization Is A Myth” • Many in the administration blithely assume slapping tariffs on everything will solve a host of economic problems, but according to Bloomberg’s Chris Bryant, something unexpected is happening. International commerce is simply adjusting its flow to go on a path of less resistance. [CleanTechnica]

MAERSK HANOI (Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “Norway, Sweden And Finland: Climate Change Made July Heatwave Ten Times More Likely, Study Says” • Human-caused climate change made a two-week-long heatwave in Norway, Sweden, and Finland around 2°C (3.6°F) hotter and at least ten times as likely, according to a rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution. [Euronews]

¶ “Heat Extremes Driven By Climate Change Are Behind A ‘Staggering’ Decline In Tropical Birds, Study Warns” • Extreme heat driven by climate change caused tropical bird populations to decline by up to 38% since the 1950s, scientists have warned. A first-of-its-kind analysis was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. [Euronews]

Flamingos (Dattatreya Patra, Unsplash)

¶ “New Draft Of Plastic Pollution Treaty Would Not Limit Plastic Production” • Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution are discussing a new draft of the text that would not limit plastic production. About 100 countries want to limit production but powerful oil and gas-producing nations oppose production limits. [ABC News]

¶ “Rising Seas Could Put Easter Island’s Moai At Risk By 2080, Study Warns” • By the end of the century, rising sea levels could push powerful seasonal waves into Easter Island’s fifteen iconic moai statues, according to a study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. About fifty other cultural sites in the area are also at risk from flooding. [ABC News]

Moai (Hal Cooks, Unsplash)

¶ “Global EV Sales Up 27% In 2025 Despite Anti-Electrification Policies In The US” • In a sharp rebuke to the anti-electrification agenda in the US, global EV sales are up 27% over last year, with some legacy automakers indicating the potential for a successful transition to electric mobility, according to a report from the UK firm Rho Motion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Lifts Morgan Objection After Wake Effect Deal” • Ørsted has withdrawn its wake effect objections to JERA Nex BP and EnBW’s 1500-MW Morgan offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. The Danish developer and Japanese-UK-German tie-up have reached an agreement, the latter has told the UK Energy Secretary in permitting filings. [reNews]

Worker at a wind turbine (Ørsted image)

¶ “Germany Awards 2.27 GW In PV Tender” • The German federal network agency has awarded 2,271 MW of capacity in its latest tender for ground-mounted and certain non-building solar installations. The 1 July 2025 auction was oversubscribed, with 313 bids totalling 2.82 GW competing for 2.266 GW on offer. The average price at €0.0484/kWh. [reNews]

¶ “Macquarie Backs 218-MW Finnish Onshore Platform” • €51 million in second lien financing was provided by Macquarie Asset Management to an eight-site onshore wind platform in Finland. The 218-MW portfolio, in central and southern Finland, is owned by funds managed by Helsinki-based renewable energy investor Taaleri Energia. [reNews]

Wind farm (Taaleri Energia image)

¶ “Governments Are Avoiding Renewable Energy Goals – And It Matters” • At the COP28 climate summit in December 2023, 133 countries pledged to triple global renewable capacity by 2030. This is the single biggest step we can take this decade to keep as close as possible to the 1.5°C global warming limit. They haven’t even come close. [Climate Home News]

US:

¶ “Energy Storage Breakthroughs Enable A Strong And Secure Energy Landscape” • Researchers are making breakthroughs at the Argonne National Laboratory in every stage of the energy storage lifecycle, from discovering substitutes for scarce, critical materials to pioneering applications to making recycling more cost effective. [CleanTechnica]

Researcher (Mark Lopez, Argonne National Laboratory)

¶ “Wait, The US Wind Industry Is Coming Back?” • Almost the entire US wind industry went into hibernation after US President Donald Trump took office in January, sending thousands of good paying jobs down the drain. However, the wind will continue to blow long after January 20, 2029, and we can hope for a peaceful transition. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Bullish On US Prospects” • Henrik Andersen, Vestas chief executive, is confident that the US onshore wind sector will continue to grow throughout the rest of the decade, despite uncertainties at the federal policy level. The Vestas boss said the company was buoyed by the announcement of an additional 950-MW US order in its Q3 intake. [reNews]

Henrik Andersen (Vestas image)

¶ “E&C Democrats: The DOE Is Illegally Influencing NRC And Undermining Nuclear Safety Protections” • Three Democrats in the Energy and Commerce Committee wrote to Chris Wright, the Energy Secretary, expressing concerns about reports the DOE is attempting to exert improper influence over the NRC, which is independent by law. [Democrats, E&C]

¶ “DOE Announces The Selection Of Eleven Projects For New Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program” • The US DOE has selected eleven projects for a nuclear reactor pilot program, with hopes of fully developing three of the projects by July 2026. The DOE will expedite these projects through its authorization procedure for nuclear reactors. [Inside Climate News]

Have a jovially celebratory day.

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World:

¶ “Use Of Plastics And Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations” • The world’s nations are convening at a UN conference in Geneva to negotiate a deal aimed at tackling plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Many wish to reduce production and use of specific chemicals. Some oil-producing countries oppose these goals in favor of managing waste. [Euronews]

Plastics (Naja Bertolt Jensen, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “One Of The World’s Most Polluted Cities Banned Single-Use Plastics” • Lagos, Nigeria’s 20 million people produced 870,000 tons of plastic waste in 2024. Last month, Lagos state authorities imposed a ban on single-use plastics. Residents, however, say weak enforcement and an absence of alternatives have weakened its effectiveness. [ABC News]

¶ “Casa Dos Ventos Selects Nextracker For 1.5 GW Of Solar Projects In Brazil” • Casa dos Ventos, known for its leadership in Brazil’s wind energy sector, is now including solar in its portfolio of renewables, part of a growing trend for Brazilian developers aiming to optimize projects. It awarded contracts for four solar projects totaling 1,563 MW. [CleanTechnica]

Hybrid solar-wind power plant (Nextracker image)

¶ “TDK Ventures Invests In Ultraviolette To Speed Electrification Of Motorcycles” • TDK Corporation’s subsidiary TDK Ventures, Inc invested in Ultraviolette, an innovator in high-performance electric motorcycles headquartered in Bangalore, India. The investment represents TDK Ventures’ commitment to advancing sustainable transportation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Launches 515-Mile Model 3 In China” • Tesla launched a Model 3 option in China that has 830 km (about 515 miles) of range on a full charge. The starting price of this new Model 3 trim is 269,500 yuan ($37,540). To compare, the longest-range Model 3 in the US has only 363 miles (584 km) of range, at a price of $35,000. [CleanTechnica]

Long-range Tesla Model 3 in China (Tesla image)

¶ “Germany’s Solar Industry Warns Against Subsidy Cuts For Rooftop Installations” • Germany’s solar industry has raised concerns over a proposal by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche to end feed-in subsidies for small-scale rooftop PV systems. The sector cautioned that such a move could risk national climate targets, according to Reuters. [Power Technology]

¶ “NIB And NORD/LB Back 182-MW Lithuanian Solar” • Nordic Investment Bank and NORD/LB will provide up to €64 million to finance two 91-MW solar farms in Lithuania for Green Genius. The sites in Izabelinė and Lieponys will also feature an 18-MW battery storage system at Izabelinė in a hybrid model to improve grid integration. [reNews]

Solar farm (Green Genius image)

¶ “Smoke Reported Near Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Smoke was observed in the area of the cargo port at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said “no radiation increase, no nuclear safety impact (was) reported” in the area. [Yahoo.com]

¶ “Rezolv Secures 731 MW In Romania CFD Auction” • Rezolv Energy has won three contracts for difference totalling 731 MW in Romania’s second renewable energy auction. The awards cover capacity from the 1,044-MW Dama Solar PV park in Arad County and the 300-MW Dunarea East wind farm in Constanța County. [reNews]

Wind farm (Rezolv Energy image)

US:

¶ “Greenlane Announces Key I-10 Charging Corridor, Powering Long-Haul Electric Pilots” • Addressing a critical infrastructure gap for electric trucking along one of America’s busiest freight highways, Greenlane is establishing its second commercial EV charging corridor connecting Southern California to Phoenix via Interstate 10. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ice Dam At Glacier Releases Floodwater Toward Downstream Homes” • A huge basin of rainwater and snowmelt dammed by Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier is releasing, and residents in parts of Juneau are urged to evacuate ahead of flooding downstream. Last year, the Mendenhall River’s release flow was about half that of Niagara Falls. [ABC News]

Mendenhall River (Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “US Unlocks Frozen EV Charging Funds” • When the current US administration took office in January, one of the first things it did was impound all funds appropriated by Congress for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. After fourteen states got a preliminary injunction, the Trump administration blinked and backed down. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EGLE Reviewing Next Steps As The Trump Administration Cancels Federal Solar Funding” • The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy recently announced grant support for a number of pilot projects in the MI Solar for All program. But President Donald Trump’s administration canceled its support for the program. [News From The States]

CBS Solar installation in Michigan (Courtesy of CBS Solar)

¶ “A Billion-Dollar Solar Industry Proof-Of-Life Is Coming To Tennessee” • The abrupt shift in federal energy policy hit the US solar industry hard on the short term, but some players are still in the game. One is Illuminate USA, with a 5-year, 15-GW solar glass deal. Another is Highland Materials, with a new $1 billion polysilicon acility in Tennessee. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Taxpayers Gave PG&E A Huge, Supposedly Safe Loan. The Losses Are Already Mounting” • Two weeks before the 2022 legislative session ended, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration asked lawmakers to authorize a $1.4 billion state loan to keep Diablo Canyon open. The loan was supposed to be safe. Things change. [The Santa Barbara Independent]

Have a spectacularly quiet day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Government Clown Denies That Energy Storage Exists In Space And Time” • Comparing a member of the US cabinet to a clown may be an insult to clowns, but what other word is there for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum after an appearance on Fox Business Thursday, when he conjured up a world in which every sunset is a “catastrophic failure”? [CleanTechnica]

Reid Gardner Battery System (Sig Chiocciola, CC0 1.0)

World:

¶ “Virtual Power Plant Drives ‘Zero Down’ Home Solar And Battery Installations” • Alinta Energy and National Renewable Network have launched a distributed energy virtual power plant program. The Solar Together program will offer households solar and battery systems with no upfront cost, financing or repayments. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Jellyfish Forced Shutdown Of French Nuclear Plant” • EDF confirmed that four of the six reactors at the Gravelines nuclear plant were shut down by jellyfish clogging the cooling system. Their abundance was tied to sea temperatures raised by climate change. The remaining reactors were down for maintenance already, so all 5.4 GW were offline. [Euronews]

Jellyfish (Jack B, Unsplash)

¶ “Poll Reveals Strong Public Backing For Renewables” • Eight in ten people in the UK support expanding the country’s renewable energy infrastructure, YouGov polling commissioned by Friends of the Earth shows. The YouGove survey found 65% of Reform supporters and 83% of Conservative supporters back increased clean energy generation. [reNews]

¶ “These Five Countries Have 71% Of World’s Nuclear Power Capacity” • Five countries account for more than two-thirds of the world’s total nuclear electricity generation capacity. The US has the most capacity, followed by France, China, Russia, and South Korea, according to International Atomic Energy Agency data of June 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Five countries’ nuclear power systems (EIA image)

¶ “India’s Unique Path To Electric Mobility” • India’s EV market is developing in a context that is different from the US, Europe, or China. Car ownership per capita is low, two-wheelers provide most personal mobility, and three-wheelers are integral to urban and peri-urban transport. Fueling and maintaining combustion vehicles outside of cities is patchy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Offshore Wind Gains Momentum In Atlantic Canada” • In parts of Newfoundland winds regularly reach a Category 3 hurricane’s power, and offshore winds are higher and steadier. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston proposed the Wind West project to develop 40 GW of offshore capacity, enough to meet 27% of Canada’s demand. [The Energy Mix]

Offshore windpower (Casey Horner, Unsplash)

¶ “China Begins Building World’s Largest Pure-Hydrogen Power Project In Inner Mongolia” • China started building the world’s largest pure-hydrogen power project, integrating a 30-MW hydrogen-fired turbine into a renewable energy generating and storage system in the Otoke High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Inner Mongolia. [Fuel Cells Works]

¶ “Vestas Takes 40-MW Turbine Order In Poland” • Vestas has secured a 40-MW contract in Poland from a customer who has not been disclosed as yet. The deal covers supply, installation, and commissioning of ten V138-4.2MW turbines operating in 4.0-MW mode. The contract also includes a 20-year AOM 5000 service agreement. [reNews]

Sunrise on wind turbines (Vestas image)

US:

¶ “California VPP Links 100,000 Residential Storage Batteries” • At 7:00 pm on July 29, 2025, history was made in California. PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E tapped 100,000 residential storage batteries installed by Tesla and Sunrun to form a first of its kind virtual power plant. Together, those batteries supplied about 535 MW of electricity to the grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Banks Cut Fossil Fuel Financing As The Market Outweighs Politics” • Wall Street’s six largest banks cut their financing to oil, gas, and coal projects by 25% year-over-year through August 1, 2025. In dollar terms, that means a cut from roughly $97 billion in 2024 to $73 billion this year. Morgan Stanley cut its fossil fuel lending by more than half. [CleanTechnica]

Wall Street (Patrick Weissenberger, Unsplash)

¶ “Ford Unveils Affordable EV Plan: ‘Lower Cost Of Ownership Over Five Years Than A Three-Year-Old Used Tesla Model Y'” • The time has finally come for us to learn what the “skunkworks” affordable EV project was all about. Ford higher-ups gathered at the sprawling Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky for an all-electric “Model T Moment.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Secures 950 MW Of US Orders” • Vestas has received orders totaling 950MW for undisclosed wind energy projects in the US. The company did not disclose project details or turbine models, but said the orders form part of its latest intake in the region. The announcement follows yesterday’s news that Vestas won a 40MW order in Poland. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Vestas image)

¶ “Next Massachusetts Solicitation Delayed” • Massachusetts officials delayed their fifth round of offshore wind procurement until next year. A Department of Energy Resources memo said that feedback from developers overwhelmingly recommended that the next request for proposals for offshore wind projects not be issued until 2026 at the earliest. [reNews]

¶ “Abandoned US Nuclear Site To Host 16,000 MT Polysilicon Plant” • Pivotal Manufacturing bought 140 acres where a nuclear plant was abandoned 40% into construction leaving over $2.6 billion in debt. It signed a ground lease with Highland Materials for a polysilicon advanced manufacturing facility and a campus of other energy projects. [pv magazine India]

Have a deliciously satisfying  day.

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World:

¶ “Ford Mustang Mach-E Available in the Philippines” • Ford Philippines launched the Mustang Mach-E Premium EV in that country at a price of ₱3,499,000 ($61,690). It features a battery with 88 kWh of usable energy, a 550 km range (342 miles), dual motors providing 394 hp, and electronic AWD. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in under five seconds. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (George Sargiannidis, Unsplash)

¶ “Black Hole: Dozens Of Renewable Energy Projects Still Waiting On EPBC Decision” • There is more evidence that Australia’s EBPC Act approvals process is failing renewable energy projects, with another report showing no projects sent into the queue 2023 or 2024 have been approved. The EPBC is doubling timelines. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “It’s Time To Divest From Plastic – Ceramics Are One Viable Alternative” • Plastics Treaty negotiations began on August 5 and are due to conclude on August 14, 2025, but a failures at the proceedings have put the fate of the plastics treaty in jeopardy. In this article, we look at ceramics as an alternative to plastics for many articles. [CleanTechnica]

GaeaStar ceramic cups (GaeaStar image)

¶ “Five Community Batteries Power Up In Adelaide” • The first batteries in the ARENA Community Batteries Project, managed by Momentum Energy, were switched on in Adelaide, South Australia. Five batteries, with a total capacity of 770 kW and 2,061 kWh, help reduce costs for the retirement village residents and shop tenants. [Energy Source & Distribution]

¶ “Torrent Power Floats 200-MW FDRE Tender With Greenshoe Option” • Gujarat-based Torrent Power invited bids for a 200-MW firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) project with an energy storage system. The tender includes a greenshoe option of up to 100 MW, with the bidding deadline set for 30 August 2025. [Saur Energy]

Energy storage (Europe Smart Energy image)

¶ “Solar Power Output Jumps 71% In 4 Months: SATBA” • Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA) said that output of solar power plants rose by 71% in the first four months of the Iranian year starting March 20, compared to the same period last year. The increase in output was partly due to increased capacity. [Tehran Times]

¶ “NISE Launches Support Program For Renewable Energy Start-Ups” • The National Institute of Solar Energy, collaborating with the National Solar Energy Federation of India and the Atal Incubation Centre–IIT Delhi Sonipat Innovation Foundation, announced a program to support start-up-led innovation in the Renewable Energy sector. [pv magazine India]

Small solar cell (Santeri Viinamäki, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Swarm Of Jellyfish Shuts French Nuclear Power Plant” • The Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France has been shut down after a swarm of jellyfish entered the filter drums that pull in cooling water, according to its state-owned operator, EDF. The plant is one of the largest in France. It is cooled by water from a canal connected to the North Sea. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “Google Launched An AI Model That Functions Like A Virtual Satellite” • Satellites gather images help scientists understand our planet. But these images come from many different sources, and it can be difficult to combine them into a single picture. Google’s AI model AlphaEarth Foundations can combine them to create highly detailed maps almost in real time. [Euronews]

New York City (NASA, Unsplash)

¶ “New Jersey Wins $2 Billion Settlement From DuPont Over PFAS” • New Jersey won a $2 billion settlement because PFAS are horrible for human health, and they don’t naturally degrade. The $2 billion seems minuscule compared to the damage PFAS do. We should take the stand that our government should protect people, not corporations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Offshore Wind Study Confirms The Obvious” • Research on North Sea wind farms in the UK indicates that the floating offshore wind field is an opportunity for the concrete industry. As applied to the US, that includes long swaths of deepwater coastline unsuitable for fixed monopiles. But a convicted felon will prevent it. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbines (NREL image)

¶ “The Human Health Risk Of Breathing Carbon Dioxide” • The US EPA issued a report claiming that increasing CO₂ promotes plant growth, enhancing agricultural yields, and neutralizing ocean alkalinity. The promotion of CO₂ is not based on any science, however. Scientists say we already breathe too much CO₂ for good health. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Homeowner Seeks Advice After Negotiating Solar Panel Deal To Lower Massive Energy Bills: ‘Too Good To Be True?'” • One Californian Redditor was thinking about signing a solar PPA and looked to r/solar for advice. Replies were mostly supportive. One said that the utility largely had control over rates, but with solar power, the user did. [The Cool Down]

Have a perfectly fabulous day.

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World:

¶ “Climate Solutions That Can Spread Fast? Scientists Outline A Strategy To Tip The System” • An international research group has a new method to identify “positive tipping points,” when small shifts in behaviour, technology or policy could lead to sweeping, self-sustaining climate progress. Their proposed plan is described in Sustainability Science. [Euronews]

Helping hand (Neil Thomas, Unsplash)

¶ “Wildfires Rage Across Southern Europe Amid Record Heat” • Firefighters battle wildfires across southern Europe as extreme heat grips the region with record temperatures. In the Aude region of southern France, approximately 1,400 firefighters were deployed on Saturday to prevent the country’s largest wildfire in decades from reigniting. [Euronews]

¶ “Lyft And Apollo Go to Go After Europe” • Baidu, the parent company of Apollo Go, has done a pretty good job of expanding its robotaxi services in China and beyond in recent years. Apollo Go keeps rolling out robotaxis into new markets. Now, Apollo Go will reportedly launch robotaxi services in Europe in 2026 via the Lyft network. [CleanTechnica]

Apollo Go robotaxi (Apollo Go image)

¶ “Ireland In Need Of Wind And Solar Farms As Coal-Burning Era Ends” • Ireland’s 40-year-long era of using coal to generate electricity came to an end in June, when ESB announced it had ceased burning coal at its Moneypoint power station in County Clare. That was six months ahead of schedule. Renewable energy is growing, but much more is needed. [RTE.ie]

¶ “China’s EVs: Racing From 50% To 80% New Sales In Record Time” • In 2025, battery electric and plug-in hybrid cars will account for roughly half of all new sales in China, a level the central government had not expected to see until the mid-2030s. One question now is how quickly China will move through the remaining adoption thresholds. [CleanTechnica]

EV by BYD (Tiago Ferreira, Unsplash)

¶ “Report finds staggering statistics about performance of newly commissioned energy projects” • A July report by IRENA clearly underscores the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy projects. There were 582 GW added, and onshore wind projects were 53% cheaper than the lowest-priced fossil-fuel alternatives. Solar projects were 41% cheaper. [The Cool Down]

¶ “BYD EV Struck By Lightning Holds Up Fine ” • A BYD electric car was recently struck by lightning, three times, while it was in motion. There was driver in the car at the time. The good news is that the driver and the car were fine, with only minimal damage. A mechanic inspected the battery, motor, and electronic contols and found nothing wrong. [CleanTechnica]

BYD EV lightning strike (Image via CleanTechnica)

¶ “Iraq Targets 12,000 MW Of Renewable Energy Output By 2030” • Iraq aims to produce 12 GW from renewable sources, including solar, wind, and waste-to-energy, between 2025 and 2030, according to Mueyed Hassan Radhi, head of renewable energy system designs at the Scientific Research Authority of the Ministry of Higher Education. [964media]

¶ “High Temperatures To Affect Nuclear Power Production In South West France” • High water temperatures are expected to affect electricity production on the Garonne river, from August 12, particularly at the 2.6-GW Golfech nuclear plant, nuclear operator EDF said in a notice. The high temperatures are also expected to affect other plants. [MSN]

Golfech nuclear plant (John Seb Barber, CC BY 2.0)

US:

¶ “Meet The Native American Tribe That Beat The Trump Administration In Court” • Less than two months ago, the Miccosukee first heard rumors that the largely abandoned airport on the outskirts of their reservation was being made into the detention complex called “Alligator Alcatraz.” For now, at least, they have brought it to a stop. [ABC News]

¶ “New Study Shows How Climate Change Is Driving Wildfire Season To Start Earlier In California” • Fire season is expanding in California, with an earlier start to wildfire activity in most of the state. In parts of the northern mountains, the season is now starting more than 10 weeks earlier than it did in the 1990s, a study shows. [PBS]

Wildfire in California (BLM image via Wikimedia Commons)

¶ “Tesla Dissolves Its Dojo Supercomputer Team Amid A Talent Exodus” • Tesla is dissolving the team that was developing its Dojo supercomputer, according to Bloomberg. The change marks a notable shift away from using in-house technology to train the AI models powering Tesla’s self-driving features and its Optimus humanoid robot. [MSN]

¶ “Northwestern University Study Finds Grid Congestion Is Key Obstacle To EV Emissions Reduction” • Even with sufficient renewable energy, simply switching from cars powered by fossil fuels to EVs won’t be enough to fight climate change unless the US also upgrades its transmission grid, according to a study from Northwestern University. [Green Car Congress]

Have a luminously lovely day.

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World:

¶ “‘Will European Cities Become Unlivable?” • Due to the “heat island” effect, cities are especially affected by heat. Cities can be 10°C to 15°C (18°F to 27°F) hotter than rural areas around them during summer. There are green solutions, and many cities are adapting, but if CO₂ emissions are not reduced to zero, experts warn cities could become unlivable. [Euronews]

Montmartre (Bastien Nvs, Unsplash)

¶ “Which EU Country Was The Worst Affected By Wildfires In 2024?” • Human behaviour drives the vast majority of wildfires in Europe, but climate change makes them more frequent and intense. Europe’s hottest year since records began in 1940 was 2024. Portugal had the largest burned area in the EU in 2024, with nearly 450 km² of land ruined. [Euronews]

¶ “Leapmotor Gets Its Own Ocean Vessel For Vehicle Shipments” • Leapmotor is really excelling and deserves more of a nod. It is a Chinese EV brand that is seeing soaring overseas sales, especially in Europe. Now it has its own ship, Grande Tianjin, leased by Grimaldi Group, to deliver cars. It’s new EV, B10, has a starting price of 99,800 yuan ($13,900). [CleanTechnica]

Grande Tianjin (Leapmotor image)

¶ “A Moment Of Opportunity To Embrace Renewables Is Smart Economics” • Smart economics is the driving factor for global renewable adoption. That is the argument behind a speech titled “A Moment of Opportunity” by UN Secretary General António Guterres. He described how “we are on the cusp of a new era” of powering our lives. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Germany Clears 86 MW Of New Wind Capacity” • Two wind energy projects in Germany totaling over 86 MW have secured approval, developers confirmed. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Ladenthin scheme will feature six V162 turbines with a total capacity of 43.2 MW. The Kerspleben repowering project will have 43.2 MW in Thuringia. [reNews]

Wind farm (Eurowind Energy image)

¶ “OX2 Sells Romanian Wind Project” • OX2 has sold its 96-MW Ansthall wind farm in eastern Romania to Helleniq Renewables, a wholly owned subsidiary of Helleniq Energy Holdings. The project will feature 15 Vestas 6.4-MW turbines. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025. Commissioning is planned for 2027. [reNews]

¶ “SRE Signs 15-Year SOV Deal With DFO” • Synera Renewable Energy Group has awarded a 15-year service operations vessel contract to Dong Fang Offshore, marking the longest such deal in Taiwan’s offshore wind sector. DFO will supply a newly built, Taiwan-flagged SOV to support the operations and maintenance of SRE’s assets. [reNews]

Service Operations Vessel (SRE image)

US:

¶ “Lowering Energy Bills Will Be More Difficult With EPA Cut, Groups Say” • The EPA announced that it is ending Solar for All, a $7 billion grant program to help pay for resident solar projects. The decision to cancel the solar grant program will hinder efforts to reduce energy bills for middle to low-income households, say several environmental groups. [ABC News]

¶ “Over 50 Million People On Alert For Dangerous Heat In The Southwest” • Extreme heat warnings remain in effect for parts of the desert Southwest. Phoenix has already seen a high of 118°F. This not only was the hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of August, it is also tied for the ninth-hottest day all time since records began in 1895. [ABC News]

Phoenix (Walter Martin, Unsplash)

¶ “General Motors Weathers Tariff Storm To Pursue #1 Spot In EV Sales” • General Motors is proud of its #2 slot in domestic EV sales, second only to Tesla, but it plans for better things. In the latest news, GM intends to import low cost LFP batteries from the Chinese company CATL over the next two years, pending the rampup of a US source. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Blue Bird Delivers Electric School Bus Fleet To Little Rock School District In Arkansas” • Blue Bird Corporation, a leader in electric and low-emission school buses, is delivering 25 electric school buses to Little Rock School District. The zero-emission school bus fleet marks a new era of clean student transportation for the school district. [CleanTechnica]

Blue Bird electric bus (Little Rock School District image)

¶ “Solar Farms In Mississippi” • The sun has been a resource for Mississippi, drawing tourists to the Gulf and Magnolia State lakes and reservoirs. Farmers need it most of all to nurture the work they do. Increasingly, they are investing in solar power, though as yet, it only provides about 1% of the electricity used in the state, according to the US EIA. [Mississippi Business Journal]

¶ “In US Autonomous Robotaxi Wars, It’s Zoox 1, Tesla 0” • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it has “issued an exemption for Zoox driverless vehicles under its newly expanded Automated Vehicle Exemption Program. This is the first-ever exemption for American-built vehicles under the program.” [CleanTechnica]

Zoox Fully Autonomous all-electric robotaxi

¶ “Administration Rescinds Biden Approval of 1,000 MW Wind Farm In Idaho” • The Trump administration rescinded approvals for a proposed 1,000 MW wind energy facility in southern Idaho that had been the object of controversy due to its proximity to a site where Japanese Americans were interned in government camps during World War II. [The Well News]

¶ “Thrust Fault At Diablo Power Plant Concerns Seismic Expert” • As PG&E’s aging Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant is up for a 20-year federal license renewal, one scientist cites new GPS data to suggest there’s a looming seismic threat from an active thrust fault that extends under the plant. There is some controversy about his opinion, however. [NBC Bay Area]

Have a simply marvelous day.

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World:

¶ “Massive, 18-Mile-Long Patagonia Glacier Experiencing Rapid Ice Loss For First Time” • What was once thought the most stable glacier in Patagonia is undergoing ice loss at rates far greater than previously thought, a study shows. The glacier, measuring about 18.6 miles long, has retreated nearly half a mile in some areas over the past few years. [ABC News]

Glaciar Perito Moreno (Chrysanthi Ha, Unsplash)

¶ “‘Unprecedented’ Wildfire In Southern France Driven By Drought And Climate Change” • A wildfire in the south of France has grown to 16,000 hectares to become the country’s biggest since 1949. France’s minister for ecological transition told France Info radio, “It is a fire that is clearly a consequence of climate change and drought in this region.” [Euronews]

¶ “July Was Earth’s Third-Warmest On Record” • The world went through it’s third-warmest July on record this year, according to the EU agency that tracks global warming. The years 2023 and 2024 both saw record-breaking heat, but despite a slightly lower global average temperature, extremes of heat and deadly floods persisted in July, scientists said. [ABC News]

Hot day (Jeff Ma, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs At 28.6% Share Of Sales In Germany – IDs Take Top Three” • July saw plugin EVs at 28.6% share in Germany, up from 19.1% share year-on-year. BEV volume increased by 58% YOY, while PHEVs grew 84%. Overall auto volume was 264,802 units, up some 11% YOY. In July, the best-selling battery EV was the Volkswagen ID.3. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gresham Hits 1-GW Milestone For UK BESS” • Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has reached 1 GW of operational battery energy storage capacity in the UK. Gresham said it has delivered 282 MW and 770 MWh of operational assets since the 2024 interim results, completing construction of its 1,072-MW, 1,701-MWh portfolio. [reNews]

Battery system (Gresham House Energy Storage Fund image)

¶ “Russia’s Oil Exports Have Decreased Modestly Since 2022, Shifting Toward Asia” • Exports from Russia in H1 of 2025 were 4.3 million barrels per day, down from 4.8 million b/d in 2024. Even as oil exports from Russia stayed rather high, the exports’ destination has shifted, mainly due to sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Wins 274-MW Turbine Order In Canada” • Vestas has secured a 274-MW order from EDF power solutions North America for the Madawaska wind project in Quebec, Canada. The deal covers the supply of 25 V162-6.0MW and 20 V162-6.2MW EnVentus turbines, alongside a 10-year Active Output Management 5000 service agreement. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “Berlin To Enter Talks With Industry After Auction Flop” • The German government will hold talks with developers and other key industry players to find out why the country’s latest offshore wind auction had no bids. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy had offered the tender, but 2,500 MW at two North Sea sites went unallocated. [reNews]

¶ “Plans For Renewable Energy Center In Exeter Get Go-Ahead” • Outline plans to build a renewable energy center in Exeter were given the green light by the city council. Exeter Energy Limited, which is developing a £120 million low-carbon heat network for the city, was granted permission to build the plant on land next to Marsh Barton train station. [MSN]

Renewable energy center in Exeter (© Exeter Energy Ltd)

¶ “Vietnam’s Renewable Power Capacity To Surpass 112 GW By 2035” • Vietnam’s power sector presents significant opportunities for renewable energy. The country’s total renewable capacity is forecast to be 112.1 GW in 2035, for a compound annual growth rate of 14.3% during 2024-35, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. [MSN]

¶ “China’s Next-Gen Fusion Reactor Could Achieve First Plasma In Just Two Years” • The promise of fusion energy is hard to overstate. With the ability to leverage the energy-producing physics that powers our Sun, humanity could tap into a near-limitless wealth of carbon-free energy, ending our dependence on the fossil fuels that poison the planet. [MSN]

MAST Tokamak (Eye Steel Film, CC BY 2.0)

US:

¶ “Amazon And Brimstone Advance Lower-Carbon Cement Collaboration” • Amazon and Brimstone this week announced successful results from tests of Brimstone’s lower-carbon Ordinary Portland Cement for use in concrete construction with plans for more comprehensive testing, which will be conducted in 2025 and 2026. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Make America Gaslit Again” • Trump & Co are trying to shut down as much renewable energy as possible. And they are doing so as rapidly as possible. Will the surviving wind and solar power be enough? Probably not. It would probably not be enough in any event, because demand is rising rapidly. We should prepare because the numbers don’t add up. [CleanTechnica]

Even a candle … (Manoj Roy, Unsplash)

¶ “Government Overreach Now Wears A MAGA Hat As Assault On Wind Power Accelerates” • Michael Thomas, who writes the Clearview Newsletter, makes clear that the oft-repeated mantra by Republicans that government should not be picking winners and losers is no longer operative. Now they are determined to get rid of wind power at all costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump’s Attack On Wind, Solar Cuts Deeper Than Industry Expected” • President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on wind and solar power, with a rapid-fire campaign that exceeds the industries’ worst fears. In the past few weeks, the Trump administration instituted permitting reviews that threaten US wind and solar developments. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a clearly beneficial day.

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World:

¶ “Record Coral Losses In Great Barrier Reef Spark Concern Over Escalating Climate Stress” • Parts of Australia’s iconic reef suffered their worst annual decline since records began almost 40 years ago. Back-to-back climate stressors have driven a sharp drop in coral cover – the percentage of a reef’s surface covered in live coral – in its three regions. [Euronews]

Great Barrier Reef (Chad Taylor, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs Take 33.8% Share Of The UK While Government Bungles Incentives” • July saw plugin EVs take 33.8% share of the UK auto market, up from 27.4% year-on-year. Battery EVs grew in volume by 9% YOY, while plugin hybrid EVs grew 33%. Overall volume was 140,154 units, down 5% YOY. The leading battery EV brand in the UK for July was Volkswagen. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD’s First Dedicated NEV Carrier Delivers 1,500 Vehicles To The Philippines” • BYD newest roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel just delivered 1,500 new energy vehicles to the Philippines. The BYD Zhengzhou is the first of a planned eight-ship fleet. The vessel measures 199.9 meters (652 feet) long, and can transport up to 7,000 NEVs at a time. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Zhengzhou (Photo from BYD Philippines)

¶ “Chinese Car Brands Grew 91% In Europe In The First Half Of 2025” • JATO Dynamics reported on auto sales in 28 European markets, and there are a number of interesting findings about EVs. One is that Chinese brands rose 91% from 181,897 in the first half of 2024 to 347,135 in the first half of 2025. The market share rose from 2.7% to 5.1%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Encavis Buys 34-MW German Wind Farm” • PNE sold its 34-MW Sundern-Allendorf wind farm in North Rhine-Westphalia to Encavis. The five-turbine project, now under construction, will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of around 22,800 households when it is commissioned in the first half of 2026, according to PNE. [reNews]

Wind farm (PNE image)

¶ “Statkraft Plans 400-MW Hydrogen Scheme In Shetland” • Statkraft is moving forward with plans for a 400-MW green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Shetland after securing a lease on land near the disused Scatsta Airport. The Shetland Hydrogen Project 2 will use electrolytic hydrogen to produce green ammonia. [reNews]

¶ “Virtual Power Plant Drives ‘Zero Down’ Household Solar And Battery Installs” • Alinta Energy, based in New South Wales, and National Renewable Nework co-launched a distributed energy virtual power plant program called Solar Together. It provides households with solar and battery systems at no upfront cost and no financing. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar installation (Solar Victoria image)

¶ “Nord/LB Backs 240-MWh Battery At Uskmouth” • Nord/LB agreed to a £45 million financing package for a battery system SAE is developing at its Uskmouth Sustainable Energy Park in Wales. The 240-MWh Afon Wysg 1 project is the first of four battery assets planned for the former coal power station site. It is expected to be operating in 2027. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Critics Of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Argue It Should Be Shuttered Due To Environmental Concerns” • An eight-hour hearing on environmental concerns over the Florida migrant detention center called “Alligator Alcatraz” ended without even establishing who runs the controversial facility. We still do not know whether it is run by the state or federal government. [ABC News]

Aligator (Adam Kubín, Unsplash)

¶ “US Should Put Nuclear Reactors On Moon Before Other Countries Do, Acting NASA Administrator Says” • Nuclear power on the moon is critical to the US space exploration and national security goals, and the US should move quickly to build reactors there before its terrestrial rivals, according to a federal directive obtained by ABC News. [ABC News]

¶ “Failed US Government Wants To Dismantle Solar For All Program” • During Joe Biden’s term, as much as $7 billion was approved in the Inflation Reduction Act for the Solar For All program, intended to help homeowners install solar systems. Now the government want to stop that, as it shovels out $90 billion for tech centers. [CleanTechnica]

Solar installation (Raze Solar, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Shareholders Sue Elon Musk Over Autopilot And FSD Failures” • The $329 million jury verdict against Tesla last week was the last straw for several Tesla shareholders. They decided “Enough is enough!” and sued Tesla and Elon Musk personally for repeatedly overstating the effectiveness of and prospects for their autonomous driving technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Secretary Of Interior Announces End To Lava Ridge Wind Project In Idaho” • The Interior Department announced that the Lava Ridge Wind Project is being canceled. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he would reverse approval of the large wind farm project that had been approved to be built outside of Twin Falls on BLM land. [Yahoo]

Wind farm in Power County, Idaho (US DOE image)

¶ “Schroders Greencoat Buys Into 395-MW US Solar Portfolio” • Schroders Greencoat bought a 50% stake in JERA Nex’s 395-MW solar portfolio, comprising the 300-MW Oxbow Solar Farm in Louisiana and the 95-MW Happy Solar Farm in Arkansas. The assets are operational in the MISO region and are backed by long-term PPAs. [reNews]

¶ “States Scramble To Complete Renewable Energy Projects Before Tax Credits Expire” • The abrupt termination of tax credits for clean energy may be the most drastic blow President Trump has struck in his campaign against wind and solar power. States are scrambling to get projects off the ground before the tax credits expire. [North Dakota Monitor]

Have an illustriously playful day.

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World:

¶ “Change For The Baltic Sea As Poland Bets On Offshore Wind Energy” • Poland is one of the largest CO₂ emitters in the EU, but its first offshore turbines are already standing in the Baltic Sea. Construction by the Baltic Power consortium aims to create a 1,200-MW farm, and Poland’s goal is 6,000 MW of offshore wind farms by 2030. [Euronews]

Offshore turbines (Mary, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Europe-Wide EV Survey Finds Growing Interest In E-mobility And Acceptance Of Chinese Brands” • Key findings of a survey taken in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, found that consumers are increasingly receptive towards EVs, and are more appreciative now of Chinese EV brands. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Electric Bus Sales Grow 128.5%” • We should take a look at the stunning growth coming from BYD’s commercial vehicle divisions. In July, BYD’s fully electric bus sales rose 128.5% year over year, from 267 in July 2024 to 610 in July 2025. Other commercial vehicle sales rose from 776 in July 2023 to 1,317 in July 2024 to 2,656 in July 2025. [CleanTechnica]

BYD B12 (S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0)

¶ “Canada’s Fossil Fuel Funding Faces Growing Legal Risks After ICJ Ruling” • British Columbia recently announced $200 million in funding to support Cedar LNG, a floating liquefied natural gas export terminal. But the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on July 23, 2025, creates significant legal risks around such subsidies as Cedar LNG. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Planning Body Clears Two Irish Wind Farms” • An Coimisiun Pleanala approved two wind farms totalling 79 MW in the second quarter of 2025, according to Wind Energy Ireland. The industry body said the projects represent only 13% of the volume needed during the quarter to stay on track with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan targets for 2030. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Energia image)

¶ “EU Approves €11 Billion French Offshore CFD” • A  French State aid scheme worth €11 billion, backing three floating wind farms with a total of 1.5 GW, has been approved by the European Commission. Each of the three planned wind farms – one in the waters off southern Brittany and two in the Mediterranean – will have a capacity of about 500 MW. [reNews]

¶ “Germany Urges EU To Cut China Magnet Reliance” • At this time, over 90% of permanent magnets containing rare earth elements are produced in China. They are vital components for wind turbine generators. The German wind industry proposed that Europe target sourcing 30% of all permanent magnets from suppliers outside China by 2030. [reNews]

Wind farm (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)

¶ “Malaysia Turns To Domestic Market To Revive Manufacturing Solar” • In response to the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff measures, Malaysia is urging its solar industry to pivot and expand the domestic market. The goal is to clearly distance itself from Chinese transshipment practices and reduce reliance on exports. [Reccessary]

¶ “Wind And Solar Droughts Have More Impact On Prices Than Reliability” • Long duration droughts of variable renewable energy are really neither that long nor that severe. Nevertheless, electricity spot prices are very elastic, and fewer than 0.5% of days have wind and solar output below 66% of normal for four days or longer in a row. [RenewEconomy]

Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park (Iberdrola image)

¶ “Nuclear Energy Is Dumb Energy” • Nuclear energy is called low-carbon and so it is included in most planning scenarios for net zero. This largely because of a perceived need of baseload power as solar and wind are variable. Nevertheless, sustainable development consultant Ran Boydell makes the case that nuclear energy is dumb technology. [The Fifth Estate]

US:

¶ “Gifford Fire Continues To Rage In California, Burning 83,000 Acres And Accompanied By 2 Other Emerging Wildfires” • The Gifford Fire, a wildfire burning in Central California that has destroyed nearly 84,000 acres in five days, continues to rage and is now accompanied by two additional fires emerging nearby, according to officials. [ABC News]

Gifford Fire (Cal Fire image)

¶ “Heat Waves: US Electricity Peak Demand Set New Records Twice in July” • Hot weather, which increases electricity demand for cooling, along with an underlying trend of demand increases, pushed coincident peak demand for the Lower 48 states to a high of 758,053 MW on July 28. Then it reached another record of 759,180 MW on the next day. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New Chevy Equinox EV For $28,000 (With Incentives)” • A persistent EV myth is that they cost too much, but we have seen four examples disproving that. Here is one more: A new Chevy Equinox EV, with $6,000 of state incentives from Colorado but not the expiring federal EV tax credit. The list price is $34,000. Incentives reduce that to $28,000. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Equinox EV (Booredatwork.com, CC BY 3.0)

¶ “Tesla Sales Keep Falling As Board Bribes Musk To Attend To Business” • Tesla is taking it on the chin in China and Europe. So how can we explain the latest act of the Tesla board of directors, which just awarded the drug-addled Musk a pay package worth about $29 billion? Will that recapture his attention? The gang at CleanTechnica are skeptical. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Dominion To Install Solar At Richmond Ballpark” • Dominion Energy Virginia has unveiled plans to install a 1-MW solar array at the future home of minor league baseball team the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The project will see more than 1,700 panels added to the roof and car park of CarMax Park once the team’s 2026 season concludes. [reNews]

Have an appreciably productive day.

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World:

¶ “Plastic Causing ‘Disease And Death From Infancy To Old Age'” • Plastic pollution is a “grave, growing and under-recognized danger” to health that costs the world at least $1.5 trillion per year, a report in the Lancet medical journal said. The report was published one day ahead of fresh talks in Geneva aiming for the first treaty on plastic pollution. [MSN]

Plastic spoon (Judesba, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “EVs Take A Record 98.2% Share In Norway” • July saw plugin EVs take a record 98.2% share in Norway, up from 94.3% year on year. Battery EVs alone took 97.2% share, setting a record high. Plugin hybrids took a 1.1% share of the market. Overall new auto sales volume was 9,563 units, up 48% YoY. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Global EV Sales: Plugin Vehicles Reach 28% Share!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 22% in June 2025 compared to June 2024. There were over 1.8 million registrations. Battery EVs grew 24% year-over-year to over 1.1 million units, compared to plugin hybrids growing 18% to around 600,000 units in the same period. [CleanTechnica]

Electric car (Hyundai Motor Group, Unsplash)

¶ “BasiGo Deploys 100th Electric Bus In East Africa!” • BasiGo has quickly moved from just two pilot buses in Nairobi in early 2022, to a hundred electric buses now operating in Rwanda and Kenya, a milestone for electric public transport in East Africa. BasiGo says “This isn’t just about numbers – it’s about proof of concept at scale.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Inch Cape Installs Offshore Substation” • The offshore jacket foundation and substation for the 1,100-MW Inch Cape offshore wind farm have been installed in the North Sea. The Siemens Energy Offshore Transformer Module and its jacket foundation were lifted into place by Heerema Marine Contractors’ crane vessel Sleipnir. [reNews]

Sleipnir (Heerema Marine Contractors image)

¶ “Wind Power Blows Away Monthly Generation Records In Australia And Four States” • A windy July blew away a number of wind energy records in Australia, according to the latest monthly data from Rystad Energy. Monthly wind generation records were also set in four states: Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “RWE Secures Four North Star SOVs” • RWE signed long-term charter and reservation agreements with North Star for four service operation vessels to be used at offshore wind farms. One will serve the 857-MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm off the UK coast, one is for German offshore sites north of Heligoland, and two are to come in 2028 and 2029. [reNews]

Four North Star SOVs (RWE image)

¶ “Renewables Will Be World’s Top Power Source By 2026” • Wind and solar are increasingly under attack from politicians on the right, such as US president Donald Trump. Even so, they will meet over 90% of the increase in global electricity demand out to 2026, the IEA says, making renewables the world’s biggest source of electricity. [Reccessary]

US:

¶ “Gifford Fire Burns Over 72,000 Acres In California” • Over 1,000 firefighters are battling a wildfire in California that has grown to over 72,000 acres. It has prompted evacuation orders and caused three injuries, according to officials. The Gifford Fire, which is burning in the Los Padres National Forest is only 3% contained, Cal Fire says. [ABC News]

Gifford Fire (PG&E via Cal Fire)

¶ “New Jersey Says Three Chemical Makers Agree To ‘Forever Chemical’ Settlement Worth Up To $2 Billion” • DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle claims stemming from PFAS, the companies said. The deal calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. [ABC News]

¶ “Tesla Awards CEO Musk Millions In Shares Valued At About $29 Billion” • Tesla is offering CEO Elon Musk 96 million shares of restricted stock valued at roughly $29 billion, just six months after a judge ordered the company to revoke his massive pay package. The EV maker said in a regulatory filing that Musk must first pay Tesla $23.34 per share. [ABC News]

Elon Musk (The White House, public domain)

¶ “The Huge Fraud Of DOGE” • It was obvious since the start that DOGE was built on lies. DOGE claimed it found “tens of millions of dead people” were getting social security, and the entire US government was riddled with fraud. A huge inquiry found two dead people might be getting social security checks. But that isn’t the worst of it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The US Offshore Wind Industry Is Almost Dead, But Not Quite” • The US offshore wind industry was a tough nut to crack long before President Donald Trump took office with a vendetta against “windmills.” And now Trump has thrown one monkey wrench after another into the works. But some stakeholders are willing to play the long game. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind farm (Jesse De Meulenaere, Unsplash)

¶ “Minnesota Power Announces Plan For 200-MW Wind Farm In Central North Dakota” • Minnesota Power announced plans to build a 45-turbine, 200-MW wind farm in central North Dakota. It would deliver power to  nearly 150,000 customers in northeast Minnesota. The company has a goal to be largely carbon-free within the next decade. [Grand Forks Herald]

¶ “DOE Selects Standard Nuclear To Kickstart US Nuclear Fuel Production” • In a major step to revitalize America’s energy independence, the US DOE has conditionally selected Standard Nuclear as the first company to join its new nuclear fuel line pilot program. This initiative is designed to strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply train. [Innovation News Network]

Have a highly amusing day.

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World:

¶ “Iberia Declares High-Alert Due To Fire Risk As Europe Faces Record Heatwaves” • Spain and Portugal entered a state of alert over the weekend due to the worsening risk of wildfires as a result of incoming severe hot weather. Elsewhere in Europe, other countries are also dealing with the extreme climate, as various regions have storms or heat. [Euronews]

Weather (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Vietnam Automaker Vinfast To Build Factory In India, Eyeing Growth In Asia” • Vietnam’s Vinfast inaugurated a $500 million EV plant in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state, part of a planned $2 billion investment in India and a broader expansion across Asia. The factory in Thoothukudi will make 50,000 EVs per year, initially, but could grow to 150,000. [ABC News]

¶ “XPENG Overseas Sales In Fourteen Countries Growing 339% In 2025” • XPENG is now selling in 46 markets around the world. While we’re used to looking at the brand’s sales and thinking of them as Chinese, we should probably start paying attention to and tracking the company’s sales in other markets, because they are rising fast. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG G6 and G9 for Europe

¶ “OPEC+ Countries To Boost Oil Production By 547,000 Barrels Per Day” • A group of OPEC+ countries has agreed to boost oil production, a move some believe could lower oil and gasoline prices, citing a steady global economic outlook and low oil inventories. The group will increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September. [ABC News]

¶ “JERA And BP Launch 13-GW Offshore Wind JV” • JERA and BP completed the formation of JERA Nex BP, a 50:50 offshore wind joint venture with a portfolio for 13 GW of net potential capacity. The portfolio includes 1 GW of operating assets such as the 257-MW Arcadis Ost 1 in Germany, 7.5-GW in development, and 4.5-GW of secured leases. [reNews]

Arcadis Ost 1 (JERA Nex BP image)

¶ “EVs Take 24.0% Share In France – Hyundai Inster Arrives” • July’s auto sales saw plugin EVs take 24.0% share in France, up from 20.8% in July 2024. Battery EVs grew share, whilst plugin hybrid EVs remained flat. Overall auto volume was 116,350 units, down some 8% YoY. The Renault 5 was the best-selling battery EV for the month. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Taihan Wins Cable Deal For 532-MW Korean Offshore Wind Farm” • Taihan won a 181.6 billion won ($131 million) turnkey contract to supply and install more than 100 km of inter-array cables for the 532-MW Anma offshore wind farm in South Korea. The projectis expected to generate 1400 GWh annually, enough to power 1.4 million people. [reNews]

Working on cable (Taihan image)

¶ “Egypt’s $10 Billion Green Gamble” • Egypt has been steadily increasing its renewable generating capacity in recent years to improve energy security. By 2024, Egypt had a total installed capacity of renewable energy of almost 7.8 GW. Egypt’s solar capacity grew from 35 MW in 2012 to almost 2.6 GW in 2024, and much more is coming. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “CJEU Backs Galicia Wind Permitting Process” • The Court of Justice of the European Union upheld the legality of procedures used in Galicia to authorise wind farms, removing a legal hurdle that had stalled almost a hundred projects in the region. The Wind Energy Business Association said the decision ends years of legal uncertainty. [reNews]

Greenalia wind turbines (Greenalia image)

¶ “Ireland’s Giant Kite Project Aims To Revolutionise Wind Energy” • Researchers in Ireland are testing a giant kite that generates electricity by capturing the wind. The mobile, low-impact system could help power remote areas and revolutionize wind energy with few barriers. The kite is attached by a cable tether to the generator and acts like a yo-yo. [France 24]

US:

¶ “Everything We Know About The Chevy Bolt 2.0” • A few days ago, Chevrolet put out a press release about the new version of the Chevy Bolt. As press releases go, it was remarkably short. We were able to gleana few details, but not many. We do know that the new Bolt will have an LFP battery pack, which should help keep the starting price down. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Bolt 2.0 (Chevrolet image)

¶ “EVs Lead Five Vehicle Categories In California” • Tesla sales may have dropped a lot, but the brand still stands well above the crowd and is the best seller in the California EV market. That said, some other EVs are doing well, especially in their vehicle classes. In fact, there are five vehicle classes in which EVs took the top spot for sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why Trump’s Renewables Surrender Could Hand China AI Victory” • Some commentators believe Trump’s pro-fossil fuels, anti-renewables policy, which is exemplified in his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ has already surrendered a giant advantage to China in a crucial area, access to the vast amounts of energy needed to power AI data centres. [Recharge News]

Wind farm (Vidar Nordli-Mathisen, Unsplash)

¶ “Republicans Put Pressure On Trump To Salvage Funding For Renewables” • Several Republican Senators are sending signals of unhappiness to the Trump administration. They have basked in the glow of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, and now they are nervous about salvaging renewables funding that had been earmarked for their states. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump’s Nuclear Energy Overhaul Sparks Alarms Over Safety” • President Donald Trump, is betting big on nuclear power and aims to fast-track projects to prepare for the massive increase in electricity demand over the next decade. But experts fear his plans to hasten project development could compromise safety standards. [OilPrice.com]

Have a smoothly developing day.

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World:

¶ “2024 On Track To Become Earth’s Warmest Year On Record Despite Slight Global Temperature Drop” • For the first time in over a year, the planet did not set a monthly temperature record. However, Earth did have its two warmest days on record globally in July. Also, it’s becoming increasingly likely that 2024 will end up as the warmest year on record. [ABC News]

Earth (NASA, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe EV Sales Report: Tesla Has #1 Plus #2 Win, In A 29% EV Share Market” • EVs are picking up in Europe, with 361,000 plugin vehicles being registered there in June. That’s up 23% year over year. This is a particularly positive sign, considering that the overall market does not look good this year, with a 5% decline in June, down 1% YTD. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Queensland New Record Share Of Wind And Solar, Its First Since Anti-Renewable LNP Swept To Power” • Queensland set a record for wind and solar share, reaching 77.5% on Saturday. It is the first time the record has been broken since last October, and the first since the LNP government won in the state election nearly a year ago. [RenewEconomy]

Wind farm (Squadron Energy image)

¶ “India’s Renewable Projects Without Supply Deals Double In Nine Months” • India’s stranded renewable power capacity, the projects awarded but unable to come online, more than doubled over nine months, due to unfinished transmission lines, and legal and regulatory delays, according to letters to the government from an industry group. [Business Standard]

¶ “IAEA Records Explosions Near Zaporizhzhia NPP” • The IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi, said the Zaporizhzhia NPP administration informed the agency that since 9:00 AM one of the auxiliary facilities has been under fire, including by drones. The auxiliary facility is located about 1,200 meters from the main territory of the station. [Ukrainian news]

Zaporizhzhia NPP (Leo211, CC BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Why Parts Of America Are ‘Certainly In A Water Crisis’ And What To Do About It” • As pollution, engineering, population growth, and climate change pose challenges to freshwater in America, its safety and quantity is in question. Environmental experts told ABC News about the future of water in America and problems the country is facing now. [ABC News]

¶ “Hydropanels Can Bring Clean Water To Remote Deserts” • Nearly thirty years after the California desert town of Hinkley won a suit against PG&E over contaminated water, a company is installing new technology to give it clean water. The firm has set up hydropanels to create the water using a solar-powered system that draws in moisture. [ABC News]

SOURCE® Global hydropanels (Courtesy image)

¶ “Miami Jury Finds Tesla Liable For Deadly Crash And Awards $329 Million In Damages” • After a two-week trial that included testimony from experts, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. It found that the driver was ⅔ responsible for the collision and Tesla was ⅓ responsible. It awarded the plaintiff a total of $329 million from Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New Nissan Leaf For $28,000? (With Incentive)” • We have been looking into the prices of EVs, after one person claimed they cost $187,000. Here is another real price. It is a Nissan Leaf, selling for $28,000 in Colorado, including a discount from the dealer, a $4,000 incentive from the state, and no good will from the federal government. [CleanTechnica]

2025 Nissan Leaf SV Plus

¶ “Prologis Launches Into Large Community Solar Rooftop Initiative In Illinois” • The first of 45 similar community solar rooftop projects was launched last week in Franklin Park, Illinois. The group is expected to total 82 MW. Illinois has around 200 community solar projects now, so adding 45 more is a huge increase for the sector. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Florida’s Surpassing California in Solar Energy Growth: A Paradigm Shift in Renewable Energy Investment” • In the US, states like California have long led in renewable innovation. But in early 2025, a seismic shift is underway: Florida has overtaken California in utility-scale solar capacity additions, signaling a realignment of priorities. [AInvest]

Have a pleasantly surprising day.

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Opinion:

¶ “On Clean Energy, Too Many Republicans Appear To Forget That Batteries Exist” • When targeting solar and wind power, Donald Trump routinely repeats an old mistake: After sundown or when the wind isn’t blowing, those energy sources are nearly useless. He’s not, however, the only Republican who has shown confusion about this. [MSNBC News]

Wind turbines (Daniel Morris, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Australia Finalizes FID For Marinus Link Cable To Boost Renewable Power” • Australia has reached the final investment decision for the Marinus Link Stage 1 undersea electricity cable project, marking a key milestone in its energy transition. The 750-MW connection will bring electricity from Tasmania to the National Electricity Market. [S&P Global]

¶ “Vatican Strikes Solar Farm Deal To Become The World’s First Carbon-Neutral State” • Italy agreed to a Vatican plan to turn a 430-hectare field north of Rome, once the source of controversy between the two, into a solar farm. The Holy See hopes it will generate enough electricity to meet its needs and turn Vatican City into the first carbon-neutral state. [Euronews]

St Peter’s Basilica (Fabio Fistarol, Unsplash)

¶ “ONVO’s Flagship SUV L90 Officially Launched, Starting at 265,800 Yuan” • ONVO, NIO’s second brand, started sales of its Smart Large-Space Flagship SUV, the L90, in Hangzhou. The L90 offers two seat layouts: six-seater and seven-seater, with price starting at 265,800 yuan ($36,914), or 179,800 yuan with the battery subscription option.  [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Multiplikator Charters CSOV For Global Tech 1” • The German servicing outfit Wind Multiplikator signed a long-term charter with Norwind Offshore to deploy a Commissioning Service Operation Vessel for the 400-MW Global Tech 1 wind farm in the German North Sea. The Norwind Maestro will enter service in early 2026. [reNews]

Norwind Hurricane (Norwind image)

¶ “Aura Power Wins Nod For 49.9-MW UK Solar Farm” • Aura Power has secured full planning permission for the 49.9-MW Moreton Brook Solar Farm in East Staffordshire. The approval follows East Staffordshire Borough Council’s March resolution to grant consent, which was finalized after completion of a Section 106 Agreement. [reNews]

¶ “RES Wins Consent For Northern Ireland Wind Farm” • RES won consent for the six-turbine Magheramore wind farm near Dungiven, after a planning appeal in April 2025. The Planning Appeal Commission approved the project after three months. The company said construction of the wind farm could deliver a £1.6 to £2 million boost to its area. [reNews]

Wind turbine (RES image)

US:

¶ “One Dead As Torrential Rains And Flooding Sweep Northeast” • Torrential rain pummeled parts of the Northeast on Thursday, stranding rush-hours passengers on a train stuck in floodwaters and inundating some roadways. Areas most affected were from New York City, through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, DC. [ABC News]

¶ “ChargePoint Launches Service Program It Should Have Had Years Ago” • ChargePoint took a big lead in US EV charging early on. It dominated the Level 2 charging market at commercial and workplace sites. However, its rapid expansion had some serious problems with reliability and maintenance. Now the problems are being addressed. [CleanTechnica]

ChargePoint technician (ChargePoint image)

¶ “Avangrid, Tyba Complete Pilot to Advance Battery Energy Storage Systems” • Avangrid, Inc, a part of the Iberdrola Group, ran a pilot project with Tyba, a platform for energy analytics and optimization, to enhance its battery system modeling. This week it announced the successful completion of the pilot. It can now identify potential sites for storage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New Chevy Equinox EV For $32,000?” • Jake Richardson writes, “After finding online information about a new Nissan Ariya for $31,000 before incentives, I wondered about the availability of other new EVs that are affordable. … So, in less than five minutes I found a new Chevy Equinox EV LT for $32,000, also before incentives.” [CleanTechnica]

Chevrolet Equinox EV (JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0 1.0)

¶ “Oregon Takes Aim At Utility Pushback Against Independent Solar Projects” • Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (D) signed SB 688 into law. It aims to address its utilities’ resistance to community solar, rooftop solar, and other forms of clean energy generation. The governor also signed a bill that expands microgrids beyond utility ownership. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “NRC Orders Safety Changes At Quad Cities Nuclear Plant After March 2023 Leak Incident” • Federal nuclear regulators are ordering safety improvements at the Quad Cities nuclear plant in Cordova after a March 2023 incident that violated multiple NRC rules and exposed serious gaps in training, oversight, and emergency response. [WQAD]

Have a distinctly gorgeous day.

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World:

¶ “Who’s Fueling Climate Disinformation, And Why” • A by the International Panel on Information Environment identifies key actors in disinformation narratives. Its authors highlight several entities, primarily individuals associated with the oil industry, politicians and right-wing circles, as well as certain countries, such as Russia. [Euronews]

Saint Basil’s Cathedral (Random Institute, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe’s Wildfire Emissions At Record Highs As Extreme Heat And Drought Fuel Summer Blazes” • Greece, Turkey, the UK, and Cyprus have already seen record wildfire emissions in 2025 as soaring temperatures and dry conditions fuel intense blazes. A total of 292,855 hectares (723660 acres) of land have burned in the EU, as of 29 July. [Euronews]

¶ “Philippine Port Now Uses All-Electric Transfer Vehicle Fleet” • The Manila South Harbor just got a jolt in its operations with the entry of the country’s first fleet of fifteen electric internal transfer vehicles to be operated by Asian Terminals Inc. As this is written, all fifteen of the eITVs are in full operation, replacing all of the diesel-powered trucks. [CleanTechnica]

SANY eITV port movers. (DP World image)

¶ “XPENG Sales For July Grow 229%!” • XPENG achieved a new record sales month in July, reaching 36,717 deliveries. As great as that seems, what’s probably more impressive is that this is a 229% increase over the 11,145 delivered in July 2024. And it is the ninth consecutive month in which XPENG’s vehicle sales surpassed 30,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Zelestra Signs 381-MW Wind Deal With Suzlon” • Zelestra signed a contract with Suzlon for 381 MW of wind capacity in India to support developing multi-technology renewable energy projects. The agreement contributes to Zelestra’s plans to begin construction this year on 480 MW of wind, 1450 MW of solar, and 150 MWh of battery capacity in India. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Suzlon image)

¶ “Avaada To Develop 1 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects In Bihar” • Avaada Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Indian state of Bihar for 1 GW of renewable energy projects. Avaada will develop projects that include ground-mounted, floating solar, community solar plants, and battery storage systems. [Asian Power]

¶ “First Jackets Depart For Dieppe Le Tréport” • The first four jacket foundations for the Dieppe Le Tréport offshore wind farm were shipped from Navantia Seanergies’ Fene yard in Spain. Each 1200-tonne structure is part of the 62-jacket array of Les Éoliennes en Mer, a consortium of Ocean Winds, Sumitomo Corporation, and Banque des Territoires. [reNews]

Transporting jackets (Navantia image)

¶ “ORE Catapult Launches Supply Chain Drive In Wales” • ORE Catapult launched a new phase of its Fit for Offshore Renewables program to support floating wind supply chain companies in South Wales. At least ten businesses from the Swansea region will be chosen for the twelve-to-eighteen month scheme, which aims to prepare companies to win contracts. [reNews]

¶ “Seatrium Profits Surge On Wind Showing” • Net profit at fabricator Seatrium surged in the first half of the year thanks to a stellar showing in offshore wind. The Singapore-based yard had a group-wide surplus of $144 million, up from $36 million in the period last year, partly due to its offshore wind division, where revenue more than doubled. [reNews]

Offshore substation platform (Seatrium image)

¶ “Due To Sanctions, Rosatom Can No Longer Build Power Units On Its Own” • The Russian nuclear industry is on the verge of financial insolvency. The state corporation “Rosatom”, which manages eleven nuclear power plants and provides up to 20% of Russia’s electricity, appealed to the authorities to subsidize its credit rates. [Українські Національні Новини]

US:

¶ “DOE Decrees That We Can Never Have Too Much Carbon Dioxide” • On July 29, 2025, the US DOE issued a report that says “the growing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere directly influences the earth system by promoting plant growth (global greening), thereby enhancing agricultural yields, and by neutralizing ocean alkalinity.” [CleanTechnica]

Global greening (bruno neurath-wilson, Unsplash)

¶ “California Blows A Big Fat EV Sales Raspberry At The Haters” • There had been reports that some of Tesla’s brand reputation troubles rubbed off on the entire EV market. With zero emission vehicles accounting for a healthy 21.6% of all new vehicle sales in California during Q2 this year, a California Energy Commission press release is a nice dose of reality. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bill McKibben Says The Renewable Energy Revolution Is Unstoppable” • McKibben says the fossil fuel industry may be in charge for now, but they’re very frightened. “They don’t have the cheapest power on Earth. We live on a planet where, all of a sudden, the cheapest way to make energy is to point a sheet of glass at the sun.” [CleanTechnica]

EcoFlow OCEAN Pro Solar Battery System (EcoFlow image)

¶ “Californians Back Offshore Wind In Poll” • Public support for offshore wind power in California remains high, with 75% of adults in favour of projects off the state’s coast, according to the latest survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. The figure is 77% among likely voters, including 88% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans. [reNews]

¶ “Trump Halts Plans To Develop New Offshore Wind Projects Amid An Energy Policy Shift” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is rescinding over 3.5 million acres (1.42 million hectares) designated as wind energy areas off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Maine, New York, California, and Oregon, as well as in the central Atlantic. [Yahoo.co]

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