Science and Technology:
¶ “US President Can’t Stop Tandem Perovskite Solar Cells” • The Shockley-Queisser limit sets the conversion efficiency for a single junction solar cell at under 33.7%. But it doesn’t apply to perovskites, and they are starting to come to market. Donald Trump may want progress to stop on his command, but that’s not how progress works. [CleanTechnica]
Researchers at Poly U in Hong Kong (Poly U via Eurekalert)
World:
¶ “Fossil Fuel Emissions Rise Again, But Renewables Boom Offers Hope For Climate” • The world’s burning of fossil fuels is set to release more planet-warming carbon dioxide this year than ever before, data shows. But emissions grow slower than they had, and renewables are taking off, providing hope that the world’s warming trend can be curbed. [BBC]
¶ “UK’s First Small Nuclear Power Station To Be Built In North Wales” • A first-of-its-kind nuclear power station is to be built on Anglesey, at a cost of billions of pounds. The plant at Wylfa will have the UK’s first three small modular reactors. Work is due to start next year with the aim of generating electric power by the mid 2030s. [BBC]
Small modular reactor plant (Rolls Royce image)
¶ “UN COP30 Climate Report Says Sustainable Cooling Essential To Cut Emissions And Save Lives” • Sustainable cooling must be prioritised as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the UN said in a report published at the COP30 climate talks. UN Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said cooling is vital. [Euronews]
¶ “Countries Commit To Tackling Climate Disinformation At UN Climate Summit” • Climate disinformation and information integrity are on the agenda at the UN climate summit for the first time this year. Brazilian President Lula da Silva opened COP30 in the Amazonian city of Belém with a call for world leaders to “defeat” climate deniers. [Euronews]
Belém (jose amaro silva, Unsplash)
¶ “Crocodile Economics Comes to Africa: Trade, Solar, and the New Energy Map” • “Crocodile economics” is a metaphor that covers the widening gap between economic growth and GHG emissions. The metaphor is simple but powerful: GDP rises as emissions fall, creating what looks like a crocodile’s jaws. Over 80% of the world shows that trend. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Light Pollution May Be Driving Ecosystems To Release More Carbon” • Researchers found that pollution of artificial light increased ecosystem respiration: plants, microbes, and animals released more carbon dioxide, but there is no corresponding increase in photosynthesis, the plant process that removes it from the atmosphere. [Euronews]
Los Angeles at night (Saad Chaudhry, Unsplash)
¶ “China Is Changing The Global Balance Of Political Power With Renewables” • Today, the energy market is shifting. The key to the shift is China, a renewable energy superpower. Having saturated its own market with solar panels, wind turbines and batteries, Chinese companies are now exporting their wares to the countries that need them. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Wood Mackenzie Hails AR7 Offshore ‘Win-Win'” • Wood Mackenzie has claimed that the UK’s Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 could deliver stability and value to the offshore wind sector after recent setbacks in previous auctions, despite a lower than expected £900 million budget. It expects around 5.5 GW to be awarded. [reNews]
Offshore windfarm construction (RWE image)
¶ “Bosch Introduces 800-Volt Platform For Farm Tractors And Other Machinery” • Converting farm machinery to battery-electric systems is not easy. Unlike cars, which coast along at part throttle much of the time, a tractor is expected to work hard for hours on end. As the car industry transitions to EVs, Bosch is joining it with work vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “How Pacific Nations Plan To Go From Spending Up To 25% Of GDP On Fossil Fuels To Using 100% Renewables” • For decades, highly exposed Pacific island countries have led the global fight on climate change. Now they are leading the way again. Their plan is to be the world’s first region powered 100% by renewables and energy storage. [Down To Earth]
Samoa (gabriel xu, Unsplash)
¶ “Acciona To Build 1-GWh Battery In Chile” • Acciona Energia has announced plans to install a 200-MW, 1-GWh battery system at its 238-MW Malgarida PV complex in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The project, which is expected to come online in early 2027, will be among the largest battery storage systems in Latin America, according to the company. [reNews]
US:
¶ “Waymo Takes The Freeway (With A Note On Waymo’s Approach)” • Waymo operates in a growing list of cities, but it has historically avoided getting on freeways because freeways have their own challenges. Now, Waymo has announced that it is going to start giving customers rides on freeways in the Bay Area and expanding, without safety drivers. [CleanTechnica]
Waymo driverless car (Hoseung Han, Unsplash)
¶ “Plug-In Solar Could Bring Affordable Energy To 60 Million Americans” • Most Americans love the idea of going solar, but many can’t. Apartment dwellers, other renters, and low-income families are among them. A white paper from Bright Saver and its research partners says plug-in solar could change that story almost overnight. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Vermont’s Green Lantern Solar Acquired By New Renewable Energy Developer” • Dispatch Energy, based in New York, has announced acquisition of Vermont community and commercial solar developer Green Lantern Solar. Dispatch Energy, founded in 2024, will acquire over 64 projects from GLS at various stages of development and operations. [Solar Power World]
Have a totally copacetic day.
geoharvey 