World:
¶ “War Is One Of The World’s ‘Top Polluters.’ Is It Time EU Militaries Disclosed Their Emissions?” • A 2022 study by two global organizations estimates that militaries are responsible for around 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with armed conflicts emitting more CO₂ than most countries. But mili emissions go largely unreported. [Euronews]
Tank in Finnland (Aleksi Partanen, Unsplash)
¶ “Czechia Invests Billions In Reactors To Replace Dependence On Coal” • The eight cooling towers of the Dukovany power plant overlook a construction site for two additional reactors as Czechia pushes ahead with plans to expand its use of nuclear energy. Czechia hopes nuclear power will generate up to 60% of its electricity by 2050. [Euronews]
¶ “Ambitious Car CO₂ Standards More Important Than Ever After Lawmakers Vote To Weaken 2040 Target” • EU lawmakers agreed on a weakened 2040 climate goal. An emissions reduction target of 85% (down from 90%) by 2040 shows that Europe is still committed to tackling climate change and establishing a globally competitive green economy. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen ID. EVERY1 concept car (Volkswagen AG)
¶ “Pioneering Teesside Autonomous Airport System Now In Operation” • Teesside International Airport launched the world’s first simultaneous deployment of autonomous passenger and baggage transport, marking a significant step in aviation logistics. The system was first announced in early August. It has now gone into a testing phase. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “African Nations Promote Locally Produced Solar Panels” • A message of COP30 is that countries in the global south are tired of all the platitudes and empty promises being shoveled their way every year at these international confabs. And so, they are making plans to chart their own course forward instead of waiting for others to act. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array (Salpha Energy image)
¶ “DRD To Build 40-MW Solar Farm For Kao Data” • Downing Renewable Developments will develop, build and operate a 40-MW solar farm to supply Kao Data’s Harlow data centre campus, according to the companies. The Green Data Solar Farm will deliver up to 40 MW of solar-generated electricity directly to the site via private wire. [reNews]
¶ “NKT Completes Fast Beatrice Cable Repair” • NKT completed a 38-day turnkey repair on one of the 220-kV export cables at the 588-MW Beatrice offshore wind farm in Scotland, according to the company. NKT said the fault in April cut the project’s export capacity by 50%, prompting a coordinated response led by the manufacturer. [reNews]
NKT Beatrice (NKT image)
¶ “Dawn Of A New Era For Solar Power In South Africa” • While load-shedding might have been the spark that ignited the surge in solar power installations in South Africa in previous years, the next phase of adoption is being driven by cost savings. That is one of the key findings of Jaltech’s Largest Solar Survey in South Africa, based on 2,000 inputs. [MyBroadband]
¶ “Smulders, HSM Load Out Jasmund Substation” • The topside and jacket for the OSS Jasmund offshore substation have been loaded out in the Netherlands ahead of installation in the Baltic Sea, the HSI consortium said. It said the topside was completed at HSM Offshore Energy’s Stormpolder yard and weighs around 4,500 tonnes. [reNews]
Substation loading in the Netherlands (Smulders image)
¶ “Energy Club Set Up To Share Renewable Power” • Residents of a North Yorkshire village formed the region’s first renewable energy club in a bid to cut their costs and carbon footprint. The Settle Energy Local Club takes excess energy produced by solar panels on a local furniture business and passes it on to members at a discounted price. [Yahoo News Canada]
¶ “South Korea To Phase Out Coal, Ramp Up Renewables, In New Blow To Australian Exporters” • South Korea will phase out coal by the 2040s it announced at COP30. South Korea will join a 60-strong bloc of countries working to end use of the fossil fuel. The decision will affect 61 coal-fired power plants, 40 of which are already scheduled to close. [Renew Economy]
Coal Museum in South Korea (Dittwjfsdgkvkdjg, CC BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “Texas-Sized, 391-MW Floating Solar Power Plant Is Coming…To Texas, Of Course ” • There they go again. Texas has become a pacesetter for the domestic renewable energy transition, and that includes the emerging field of floating solar. Suddenly the state is on track to host a 391-MW floating solar power plant, far bigger than anything like it in the US. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “EPA Moves To Limit Scope Of Clean Water Law To Reduce Amount Of Wetlands It Covers” • The EPA announced that it is redefining the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to limit the wetlands it covers, building on a decision two years ago by the Supreme Court that removed federal protections for significant areas. [ABC News]
Wetlands (Nick Fewings, Unsplash)
¶ “Thin Film Solar Pounds The Final Nail In Coal Coffin” • Tthe “American Energy Dominance” policy would have US taxpayers shell out millions to support outdated coal power plants. But the killer combo of solar energy and energy storage is dominating grid capacity additions already, and here comes the First Solar with new thin film technology. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Utah Officials Announce Nuclear Power Plant In Brigham City” • Brigham City Mayor DJ Bott and Governor Spencer Cox have announced a nuclear power plant to be built in Brigham City. The development is a part of the support of Operation Gigawatt, a project that is expanding and developing energy production in Utah. [Yahoo]
Have a generously supportive day.
geoharvey 