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.
geoharvey 