World:
¶ “In Estonia, A New Rare-Earth Magnet Plant Powers Europe’s Green Transition” • Europe’s first rare-earth magnet plant has opened in Estonia. The new facility marks a milestone in the EU’s effort to secure a supply chain for critical technologies. China now supplies 90% of the EU’s permanent magnets needed for wind turbines. [Euronews]
Neodymium Magnet Balls (Clarence Risher, CC BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Extreme Weather Cost Europe Billions This Summer, Study Finds” • This summer’s extreme weather will leave a €126 billion dent in the EU’s economy by 2029, a study from the University of Mannheim shows. The extreme weather caused short-term losses of at least €43 billion this year, with total costs expected to rise to €126 billion by 2029. [Euronews]
¶ “Vehicle Sales Growth Since 2020 Is Entirely From Electric Cars” • There’s a narrative among people in the auto industry and mainstream media that demand for electric cars is shaky while fossil-fueled cars have strong and consistent demand. That is bunk. Electric car sales have been growing while fossil-fueled car sales have been shrinking. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the link to enlarge. (Our World in Data image)
¶ “Nearly All Truckmakers Are On Track To Meet 2025 EU CO₂ Target” • European trucks are now on the path to decarbonize, a clear sign that the EU CO₂ standards are working for heavy-duty vehicles after decades of no progress. But the ICCT analysis also shows that truckmakers have so far preferred higher ICE truck efficiency over electrification. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Test Flight Of BETA Alia CX300 Electric Airplane Completed In Norway” • The CX300 is based on an electric VTOL aircraft that has been under development by BETA Technologies, a Vermont company formed in 2017. According to the New York Times, it has completed test flights in the US. Norway put up $5 million for a test flight there. [CleanTechnica]
Beta Alia CX300 (Margareth Aske, Avinor, via ATI)
¶ “Suzlon Wins Its Second-Largest Order Ever From Tata Power Renewable Energy• Suzlon Group won its second-largest order ever, from Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd for a 838-MW wind power project. The project will see Suzlon install 266 wind turbines rated at 3.15 MW each in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, a company statement said. [MSN]
¶ “SRE Picks Siemens Gamesa For Formosa 4 Offshore” • Synera Renewable Energy has selected Siemens Gamesa to supply 35 14-MW turbines for the 495-MW Formosa 4 offshore wind farm off Taiwan. Formosa 4 was awarded capacity in Taiwan’s Phase 3 Zonal Development auction in 2022 and got its establishment permit in 2024. [reNews]
Offshore windpower (Pramod Kumar Sharma, Unsplash)
¶ “GreenIT Secures $434 Million For Renewable Energy Projects ” • GreenIT SpA has signed a new project finance agreement for €370 million ($434.2 million) to support its renewable energy projects. GreenIT, a joint venture between Eni SpA’s Plenitude and CDP Equity, plans to invest the funds in the development of a portfolio of greenfield projects in Italy. [Rigzone]
¶ “Neoen Secures 47-MW French solar” • Neoen won 46.8 MW of capacity in the latest round of French government solar tenders, including a 35.4-MW floating project in the Aube department. The Romilly 2 floating solar farm will be installed on a former quarry lake at Romilly-sur-Seine, adding to Neoen’s 42.7-MW Romilly Saint-Eloi project. [reNews]
Solar array (Neoen image)
¶ “Surge In Global Demand For Power Storage Solutions” • In China, battery cell manufacturers are ramping up production to meet a surge in overseas demand for energy storage solutions, fueled by the global transition to renewable energy and market-driven electricity pricing reforms. Factories have been operating at full capacity since March. [China Daily]
¶ “Intermoor And Jumbo Ally On Floating Wind” • Intermoor and Jumbo Offshore formed a strategic alliance to provide joint services for offshore energy projects, with a focus on floating wind. The partnership combines Intermoor’s mooring systems expertise with Jumbo Offshore’s heavy-lift transportion and installation capabilities. [reNews]
Fairplayer (Intermoor and Jumbo Offshore image)
¶ “Raft Of US-UK Nuclear Deals Ahead Of Trump Visit” • Several agreements have been signed between UK and US companies to bring forward the deployment of small modular reactors and advanced reactors in both countries. The deals were signed ahead of the state visit of President Donald Trump to the UK later this week. [World Nuclear News]
US:
¶ “California Completes Solar Canopy Over Irrigation Canal” • In the western US, hundreds of miles of irrigation canals bring vital fresh water to farmers. But a lot of the water in the canals evaporates before it can be put to use irrigating crops or drunk by farm animals. What if we put solar panels over those canals? It’s been done in California. [CleanTechnica]
PVs over a canal (Turlock Irrigation District image)
¶ “Per Capita Energy-Related CO₂ Emissions Fell in Every US State Between 2005 And 2023” • Per capita CO₂ emissions from primary energy consumption decreased in every state from 2005 to 2023, according to data in the EIA State Energy Data System. Total energy-related CO₂ emissions in the US fell 20% even as the population grew 14%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Admin Aims To Block Funds For Renewable Energy In Alaska Villages” • Wind and solar can be faster and cheaper ways to power small Alaska Native communities. Nevertheless, Denali Commission programs director Jocelyn Fenton emphasized fossil fuel last week when she spoke to a US Senate panel about the energy needs in rural Alaska. [KYUK]
Have a totally wholesome day.
geoharvey 