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.
geoharvey 