World:
¶ “Extinctions Have Slowed But Experts Warn Human Activity Still Poses ‘Significant’ Risks” • New research from the University of Arizona unexpectedly found that extinctions in plants, land vertebrates, and arthropods peaked around 100 years ago, and have since declined. The paper was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. [Euronews]
Orangutan (Steffen Bertram, Unsplash)
¶ “Germany’s Energy Transition: Are Costs For Customers Spiraling Out Of Control?” • One in five German municipal energy providers plan to decommission gas networks by 2045, while the federal government builds 20 GW of new gas-fired power plants. Cities are phasing out heating gas while the nation maintains it for generating electricity. [Euronews]
¶ “China’s Clean Technology Recommendations for Their Next 5-Year Plan” • The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China met has made recommendations for the nation’s 15th five-year plan, which would run through 2030. There are several of the recommendations that are specifically relevant to clean technology. [CleanTechnica]
President Xi Jinping (FMPRC image)
¶ “Naturgy Starts Construction Of First Battery Projects In Spain” • Naturgy began construction of its first battery energy storage projects in Spain as part of its strategy to strengthen grid flexibility and support renewable integration. The company named four sites for the first phase of a broader program that will deliver ten battery projects by 2026. [reNews]
¶ “Masdar Pushes The Limits of Solar With New Round-The-Clock System” • Masdar aims to realize the full potential of a solar and battery system in Abu Dhabi, replacing traditional generating assets completely. So far, the solar system has 2.1 GW of the planned 5.2 GW system installed. And the capacity of the battery system will be 19.2 GWh. [CleanTechnica]
Abu Dhabi (Belinda Fewings, Unsplash)
¶ “China’s Tech Cutting Cost Of Renewables” • China has played a pivotal role in driving down global renewable energy costs with its technological advancements and manufacturing abilities, a top energy official said. China is showcasing its dominance in the world’s green transition. The country has helped more than 100 countries toward their climate goals. [China Daily]
¶ “EBRD Backs 314-MW Kelme Onshore Wind Farm” • The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is boosting Lithuania’s energy security and green transition with a loan to Ignitis Group as part of a €318 million financing package. The 314-MW Kelmė wind farm will generate around 740 GWh of zero-carbon electricity per year. [reNews]
Wind farm (EBRD image)
¶ “Climate Science, Early Warnings Key To Saving Lives” • No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather, and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to al, UN chief Antonio Guterres said. “We know that disaster-related mortality is at least six times lower in countries with good early-warning systems in place.” [MSN]
US:
¶ “ERCOT Increasingly Meets Rising Demand With Solar, Wind, And Batteries” • Since 2021, electricity demand within the Texas electricity grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has steadily increased. Since 2023, wind and solar have been the fastest-growing sources of electricity in ERCOT and are increasingly meeting rising demand. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it. (EIA image)
¶ “Tesla: ‘We Don’t Need No Stinking New Models!'” • This morning a Reuters report has this perky headline: “Tesla gambles that introducing new models no longer matters.” CleanTechnica readers, being unusually astute, are well aware that Tesla has not introduced a successful mass market model since the Model Y went on sale in March 2020. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Colorado Increasing Its EV Purchasing Incentives” • Even though the federal EV buying incentives are gone in the US, the state of Colorado still has some for its own residents. There are reasons for this. Just to start, fully electric vehicles don’t have toxic tailpipe emissions which harm human health and can lead to premature deaths. [CleanTechnica]
Colorado (Payson Wick, Unsplash)
¶ “Trump Administration Providing Weapons Grade Plutonium To Sam Altman” • the Financial Times reports that Trump is now offering companies access to plutonium from America’s arsenal of cold war nuclear missiles. One of the companies anticipated to receive shipments is Oklo, a “nuclear startup” backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. [Futurism]
¶ “Santee Cooper Selects Private Company To Lead Revival Of VC Summer Nuclear Project” • Santee Cooper announced that a private company will take over the revival of its failed, multi-billion-dollar nuclear project. The utility’s board approved a letter of intent with Brookfield Asset Management relating to two partially built AP1000 nuclear units. [WIS News 10]
Have a superbly safe day.
geoharvey 