World:
¶ “Never Again A Blackout: Mega Storage Could Help Make Europe’s Electricity Grids More Stable” • The largest battery storage facility in Germany, in the town of Bollingstedt, has 64 mega-containers packed with battery technology to provide high voltage on demand. Slow coal-fired power stations could soon be made obsolete as an energy reserve. [Euronews]
Energy storage battery (Sig Chiocciola, CC0 1.0)
¶ “In Coastal Ghana, Female Oyster Farmers Try To Save An Old Practice Threatened By Climate Change” • In Ghana’s coastal mangroves, oyster farming is a key way of living dominated for ages by women. Hundreds of women were trained in ecological farming methods for oysters. Now, climate change threatens their way of life. [ABC News]
¶ “China Says It Wants To Protect Coral Reefs In South China Sea. Experts Are Doubtful” • China’s declaration of a nature reserve in the South China Sea is the latest twist in its push to establish control over the strategically important waters. Some experts believe the position is driven more by geopolitics than by environmental protection. [ABC News]
South China Sea (Terumi Tokino, Unsplash)
¶ “EVs Take 30.6% Share In Germany – Tesla In Freefall” • August saw plugin EVs take 30.6% share of the auto market in Germany, up from 20.6% year on year. Battery EV volumes were up strongly, while plugin hybrids increased even more. Overall auto volume was 207,229 units, up 5% YoY. The best-selling BEV in August was the Volkswagen ID.3. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “ASKO Delivery Fleet Is 100% Battery-Electric In Oslo” • ASKO, a division of NorgesGruppen, is the largest grocery wholesaler in Norway. It has over 700 trucks on the road daily, all of which should be electric by the end of 2026. This week, it announced that all the trucks that service its operations in the capitol city of Oslo are battery-operated. [CleanTechnica]
Electric truck (Traton image)
¶ “Cadeler Signs Firm BC-Wind Installation Deal In Poland” • Cadeler has signed a firm contract with Ocean Winds to install 26 Siemens Gamesa 14-MW turbines at the 390-MW BC-Wind offshore project in the Polish Baltic Sea. The contract follows a vessel reservation agreement signed earlier this year. BC-Wind is 23 km off the coast of Pomerania. [reNews]
¶ “Czech Electricity Distributor Connects 253 MW Of Solar In H1 ” • Czech electricity distributor ČEZ Distribuce connected 253.1 MW of solar in the first half of the year. Figures shared by the company show 9,084 solar power plants were added across its distribution network in H1, 72% of which were micro sources up to 10 kW in capacity. [pv magazine International]
Buildings in Czechia (Andrian Rubinskiy, Unsplash)
¶ “French Nuclear Technician’s Valve Mistake Nearly Caused Reactor Meltdown At Golfech Power Plant” • The potential for human error in high-stakes environments is always a concern. France narrowly avoided a nuclear mishap that could have had severe consequences. On June 15, a critical error occurred at the Golfech nuclear power plant. [Rude Baguette]
US:
¶ “Drier And Warmer Climate Boosts Interest In Low-Water Landscaping” • Grass is problematic anywere the water supply is limited. It won’t grow in dry areas without irrigation. As climate change makes the world hotter and brings on extreme weather, including drought, thirsty lawns are taxing freshwater supplies that are already under stress. [ABC News]
Japanese garden (Martti Salmi, Unsplash)
¶ “Solar Industry Urges Nevada PUC To Change Course On Draft Order That Makes Residential Solar More Expensive” • The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada released a draft order that will make rooftop solar more costly. Wil Gehl, Intermountain West Regional senior manager for the Solar Energy Industries Association called the order unfair. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “This One Chart Embarrasses USA” • Mike Shurtleff shared a chart from Our World In Data that deserves a shoutout. It shows that Norway has nearly completed the EV transition. China’s EV market is exciting and impressive. In the UK and Europe, EVs are growing strongly. World EV sales are growing. Except in the US, where the EV market is so tiny. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Elected Officials Reject The Trump Administration’s Attacks On Solar” • The organization Elected Officials to Protect America is a network of current and former bipartisan elected officials who care deeply about protecting our planet and democracy with education on energy security solutions. They argue that we need energy security solutions. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “States Request Injunction To Resume Revolution Work” • The states of Connecticut and Rhode Island asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction allowing work to resume on Ørsted’s 704-MW Revolution Wind. The Trump administration’s August stop-work order “threatens to imminently and irreparably harm Rhode Island and Connecticut,” they wrote. [reNews]
New London pier (Ørsted image)
¶ “Californians Hail A $228 Million Boost For Offshore Wind” • Offshore Wind California praised the state legislature’s approval of $228 million to support port upgrades for floating wind deployment. The funds represent the first instalment of the $475 million earmarked under Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond approved by voters in 2024. [reNews]
¶ “Bill Gates Strikes Partnership To Build Next-Gen Nuclear Reactor” • Bill Gates met Chung Ki-sun, vice chairman of South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai, to discuss coordinating the development of small modular reactors. The deal with Gates’ nuclear startup TerraPower is to construct a 345-MW Natrium reactor Kemmerer, Wyoming. [The Cool Down]
Have a privately glorious day.
geoharvey 