World:
¶ “Nation Warns Ongoing Concern With Atlantic Ocean Could Be ‘A Direct Threat … To National Security’: ‘Time is running out'” • Iceland has sounded the alarm regarding the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, declaring it a national security risk that requires its immediate attention. “We cannot afford to wait.” [The Cool Down]
Vik, Iceland (Jon Flobrant, Unsplash)
¶ “Deep-Sea Mining Tests Impact More Than A Third Of Seabed Animals” • Calls for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining got louder as the results of a five-year-long investigation have been revealed. The Metals Company, which funded the study, says they are “encouraged” by its findings, but Greenpeace was not happy with it. [Euronews]
¶ “Temperature Average For 2023-2025 On Track To Exceed 1.5°, Copernicus Data Reveals” • The global average temperature anomaly for January to November 2025 is 1.48°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline. It is currently beaten only by 2024, the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus. [Euronews]
Heat (Jonas Weckschmied, Unsplash)
¶ “New Syncraft Powerplant Being Built In Partnership With Procarbic” • In Zwickau, Germany, construction is starting on a new Syncraft Climate Positive Powerplant that will turn regional forest waste into renewable energy and green carbon. The project is led by BiokohlenWerk Zwickau and is coordinated by Procarbic Management. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “So-Called Technology Neutrality Is Not The Solution To The Car Industry’s Issues” • Next week, an EU announcement will decide the fate of its car industry. The industry and its political allies want ‘technology neutrality’, so they can keep selling combustion cars after 2035. This short-term strategy will have devastating consequences. [CleanTechnica]
BMW at sunset (Tyler Clemmensen, Unsplash)
¶ “Record Battery Discharge Supports Irish Power System” • Provisional EirGrid data shows renewables supplied around 41% of Ireland’s electricity in November. The operator said wind provided 35% of all electricity used, totalling 1,067 GWh. Other renewables including solar and hydropower brought the overall clean energy share to 41%. [reNews]
¶ “Vattenfall And Cemvision Seal Near-Zero Cement Deal In Europe” • Vattenfall and Cemvision have signed an agreement to supply near-zero-carbon cement for onshore wind infrastructure in Europe from 2028. Cemvision’s Re-ment Massive product will be prioritised for use in Vattenfall’s projects. It could cut CO₂ emissions by up to 95%. [reNews]
Turbine base (Vattenfall image)
¶ “University Of Aberdeen Invests £1 Million In Geothermal Pilot” • The University of Aberdeen has secured a public grant of £1 million for the Aberdeen Geothermal Feasibility Pilot, an ambitious city-wide geothermal feasibility pilot study to explore Aberdeen’s geological potential and pave the way for low-carbon heating solutions. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Equinor Starts Brazil Solar-Wind Hybrid” • Equinor and its Brazilian subsidiary Rio Energy have begun commercial power production at the Serra da Babilonia Solar facility, creating the company’s first hybrid power asset. The company said the 140-MW solar site is co-located with the 223-MW Serra da Babilonia Wind complex. [reNews]
Hybrid power plant (Rio Energy image)
¶ “State Moves Ahead On New Wind Farm And Indigenous-Backed Energy Parks” • Two renewable energy projects proposed for Western Australia took important next steps forward in the race to meet the state government’s pledge to quit coal by the end of the decade. The state is committed to closing its publicly-owned coal plants by 2029. [Renew Economy]
US:
¶ “Federal Judge Vacates Illegal Offshore Wind Order, Says Wind Foes Are ‘Tilting At Windmills'” • A federal judge declared a key part of President Trump’s notorious Offshore Wind Order of January 20 null and void. On December 8 the US District Court District Of Massachusetts, in Boston, determined that all the evidence points to its illegality. [CleanTechnica]
Offshore windpower (NREL image)
¶ “Waymo Drives Right Into Police Scene, And Golf Course” • Robotaxis may be much safer drivers than most humans, but there are still a variety of edge cases where humans would have handled a situation better. The latest example may be a case that is “funny,” but it has warnings that Waymo should take seriously and try to address. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Panasonic To Supply Batteries For Zoox” • Zoox, the robotaxi startup owned by Amazon, has expanded a bit recently. In fact it has scaled up enough that it needed to secure an EV battery supplier for more EV production. Starting in early 2026, Zoox will be receiving batteries from Panasonic Energy, using 2170 cylindrical batteries. [CleanTechnica]
Zoox in Las Vegas
¶ “AI Strengthens Investor Confidence In Renewables” • The value of the renewable energy sector is no longer defined just by installed capacity, but increasingly by data, algorithms, and AI that support it. It is going into a new phase. And investors will require higher levels of predictability, transparency, and long-term performance. [pv magazine USA]
¶ “Secretary Of Energy Supports Quadrupling US Nuclear Power Generation” • Energy Secretary Chris Wright touted the Trump administration’s efforts to “unleash the next American Nuclear Renaissance,” affirming his support for a four-fold expansion of America’s nuclear energy capacity in the next 25 years during a tour of Idaho National Laboratory. [Local News 8]
Have a cozily warm day.
geoharvey 