Science and Technology:
¶ “New Triple-Junction Tandem Perovskite Solar Cell Sets World Record” • Research activity in the perovskite solar cell field began to stir in the early 2000’s, with US innovators in the lead. Now that lead has shifted to Australia. A research team at the University of Sydney set a record for perovskite solar conversion efficiency and stability. [CleanTechnica]
New solar cells (Courtesy of University of Sydney)
¶ “Biofuels Globally Emit More CO₂ Than The Fossil Fuels They Replace” • Global biofuels production emits 16% more CO2 than the fossil fuels it replaces, a new Cerulogy report on behalf of T&E shows. The same land could feed 1.3 billion people, while using just 3% of that land for solar panels would produce the same amount of energy. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Record-Breaking Amazon Fires Triggered As Much Co₂ As An Entire Country Last Year” • The Amazon rainforest went through its “most devastating” forest fire season in over two decades, even in a trend to slower deforestation. Researchers say there were record carbon emissions and ecosystem degradation, exposing the region’s “growing ecological fragility.” [Euronews]
Amazon rainforest (Andres Medina, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Cost Of Europe’s Extreme Weather Doubled This Decade And Could Hit €126 Billion By 2029” • A report from the European Environment Agency calculated the economic losses caused by climate-related events such as intense heat, floods, and drought from 1980 to 2023. Annual damage from extreme weather could rise to 126 billion by 2029. [Euronews]
¶ “EVs Take 35.5% Share Of The UK – BYD Atto 2 Launches” • September saw plugin EVs take 35.5% share of the UK auto market, up from 29.4% year-on-year. BEVs grew in volume by 29% YOY, while PHEVs grew 56%. Overall auto volume was 312,891 units, up some 14% YOY. Tesla was the UK’s leading BEV brand for the month. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Atto 2 (Navigator84, CC BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Ferrari Reveals Features Of Its First Fully Electric Vehicle” • Italian luxury sports carmaker Ferrari raised its 2025 guidance, despite global 15% tariffs on foreign car imports to the US, as the company unveiled the new powertrain and chassis of its first fully electric production vehicle. The Ferrari Elettrica will be delivered beginning late next year. [ABC News]
¶ “Google Signs 54-MW Wind Power Deal With Eneco” • Google LLC entered into a PPA with the Dutch utility company Eneco. Under the agreement, Google will procure electricity from 54 MW of wind energy in Belgium. Eneco will supply that power from three wind farms. The green energy will go to Google’s data centres in Belgium. [Microgrid Media]
Windpower (Marius Matuschzik, Unsplash)
¶ “In Ireland, 42% Of Electricity Came From Renewable Sources In September” • Provisional data from EirGrid shows that 42% of electricity in September came from renewable sources. EirGrid said the majority of renewable electricity generated last month came from windfarms, which accounted for 34% of all electricity used in Ireland. [RTE.ie]
¶ “Solar Power During Monsoons: Busting The Myth” • Solar panels typically experience only a 10-20% reduction in output during monsoons, not a complete shutdown. The reason is that modern panels efficiently capture diffused light, converting scattered sunlight even on cloudy days. Solar power has value even during monsoon. [pv magazine India]
Solar power in India (Sreejithk2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “IAEA Moves To Restore Power Tto Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant Amid Escalating Risks” • The International Atomic Energy Agency initiated a process to help restore external electricity to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, after diplomatic engagement with both Ukraine and Russia as the facility again lost all access to the grid. [OilPrice.com]
US:
¶ “In A Contest Between Solar And Ethanol, There Is One Clear Winner” • Solar United Neighbors, a community action group, says, “In 2024, 43% of Indiana’s corn went to ethanol production. But … solar is 20 times more efficient than ethanol, even when accounting for useful byproducts such as animal feed.” And that’s just for starters. [CleanTechnica]
Corn field (Stefano Marinelli, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “New Chevy Bolt Undercuts Tesla Model 3 Standard On Price” • General Motors has been aching to bill itself as the #1 EV seller in the US. That dream seems like a fantasy with Tesla dominates. However, some hope appeared this week as GM re-launched its popular Chevy Bolt while Tesla continues to flounder its way into the dustbin of history. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California Gives Grands For Offshore Wind Ports” • State regulators approved almost $43 million in grant funding for the state’s ports for the development of a floating offshore wind sector. The Port of Long Beach will receive $20 million for a proposed offshore wind hub. Humboldt Bay Harbour will get $18.75 million for a heavy lift terminal. [reNews]
Port of Long Beach (Port of Long Beach)
¶ “Despite Trump Administration’s Best Efforts To Suppress It, Climate Science Is Alive And Well Online” • Researchers in the US who raced to protect climate data, public reports, and other information from Trump administration budget cuts, firings, and scrubbing of federal websites are starting their own climate information portals. [Daily Kos]
¶ “Energy Company Abandons Proposal To Store Nuclear Waste At Site In New Mexico” • Holtec International described an “untenable path forward for used fuel storage in New Mexico” as it walked away from the proposal to temporarily hold spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants across the nation. Holtec said other states are more amenable. [ABC News]
Have a delightfully reasonable day.
geoharvey 
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