Science and Technology:
¶ “Ten Responses to Common Electric Car And Renewable Energy Myths” • There are a number of popular and media myths regarding cleantech that just aren’t true or lack context, yet are pushed year after year after year after year. Here are some quick responses to ten of them, starting with probability of battery fire vs gas fire. [CleanTechnica]
Rooftop solar system (Watt A Lot, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “BYD Climbs To 10% Of EV Sales In Spain” • BYD is clearly leading the EV market globally. It has been leading the EV way into numerous neglected, developing markets in Asia, Africa, and South America. Of course, the Chinese automaker is also selling cars in Europe. BYD isn’t really a big name in EU countries yet. Except, for now, in Spain! [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Why Do Some Hurricanes Grow Larger Than Others? Study Points To Ocean ‘Hot Spots’” • Hurricanes grow bigger and quicker under certain ocean conditions, a study reveals. Climate change supercharges hurricanes, but the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows how ocean “hot spots” can fuel larger hurricanes. [Euronews]
Ocean (frank mckenna, Unsplash)
¶ “Jones Bros Lands UK’s Biggest Battery Contract” • Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK was appointed principal contractor for the UK’s largest battery system. The project, at Thorpe Marsh in South Yorkshire, will export over two million MWh annually, equal to the electricity needs of around 785,000 homes. Fidra Energy targets operation by mid-2027. [reNews]
¶ “EnBW Opens Hybrid Solar, Wind And Storage Park” • EnBW is at work on an energy park in Baden-Württemberg combining solar, wind, and battery storage at a single site. The first element, a 58-MW solar park, is already in operation. A battery storage facility has twelve used Audi e-tron batteries. They form the largest sodium-ion system in Europe. [reNews]
EnBW energy site (EnBW image)
¶ “Coal Down, Solar Up: Australia Halfway To 2030 Target” • In Australia, renewable energy is setting records and is halfway to its 2030 target. Coal-based power produced less than half the nation’s energy for the first time during the past year, while Western Australia and South Australia set records for renewable power production. [The Canberra Times]
¶ “Off-Grid Gold Miner Says 100% Renewables Is Possible After Running 84 Hours With “Engine Off” • The owner an Australian gold mine says it ran its off-grid facility for 84 consecutive hours with the “engine off,” proving that 100% renewables is possible at remote sites. Bellevue Gold has 24 MW of wind, 27 MW of solar, and a 15-MW, 30-MWh battery. [RenewEconomy]
Bellevue gold mine wind turbine (Bellevue Gold image)
¶ “Global Report Confirms And Details The Nuclear Industry’s Stagnation” • The latest edition of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report paints a despondent picture for the nuclear power industry and gives the lie to claims by the Coalition that Australia risks being ‘left behind’ and ‘stranded’ if we don’t jump on board. Maybe someone needs to tell them. [RenewEconomy]
US:
¶ “NASA Launches Urgent Mission To Protect GPS, Power Grids From Solar Storms” • Three satellites are set to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration press release tells us. The mission is to study space weather and its effects on Earth. [ABC News]
Satellite on mission to map space weather (NASA)
¶ “Batteries Are More Commonly Used For Price Arbitrage” • In its annual survey of power plant activity, the DOE asked the operators of grid storage batteries how they are using them, and one use case is increasingly prevalent: price arbitrage. Arbitrage involves buying electricity when prices are low and selling that electricity when prices are high. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “West Union, Iowa Has A Municipal Geothermal System” • In West Union, many municipal buildings are connected to the West Union District Energy System as are several businesses. Ground source heat pumps that are supplied with constant temperature water are among the most efficient ways of heating and cooling buildings available. [CleanTechnica]
Fayette Co Courthouse (Dick Woodard, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “More Geothermal Energy, ‘Faster Than Anyone Thought Possible'” • Geothermal systems are beginning to threaten the status of fossil energy for firm 24/7 power delivery. Up to now, there was some question about how quickly they could come to market. The Utah-based startup Zanskar has an answer for that question, however. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Clean Energy Jobs Growing Faster Than US Economy” • Clean energy jobs grew more than three times faster than the rest of the US economy last year, according to a report out from the nonpartisan business group E2. The clean energy sector added almost 100,000 new jobs, bringing total number of clean energy workers in the US to 3.56 million. [reNews]
Wind turbines (Avangrid image)
¶ “Ørsted Shares Surge After US Court Win” • Ørsted’s share price surged after a federal judge granted the developer’s request for an injunction against a Trump administration stop-work order, allowing work to resume on the 704-MW Revolution Wind. The project had been ordered stopped by the Trump administration on 22 August. [reNews]
¶ “New Yorkers Voice Support For 15 GW Of Renewable Energy By 2030” • New Yorkers say Governor Kathy Hochul’s choice is to build 15 GW of renewable energy or to continue “embracing Trump’s energy policy.” Rallied by NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, NYPA had over 6,100 public comments on building 15-GW of renewables. [pv magazine USA]
Have a sweetly scented day.
geoharvey 
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