World:
¶ “EU Commissioner Hoekstra Defends Scrapping 2035 Ban On Combustion Engines” • In an interview European Commissioner for Climate Wopke Hoekstra defended a controversial decision to reduce a planned 100% ban of combustion-engine vehicles from 2035 to 90%, calling it a “smart and wise compromise” for both climate and industry. [Euronews]
Wopke Hoekstra (European People’s Party, CC BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Shipping e-Fuels Production In Europe: State Of Play In 2025” • In its 2025 update of the shipping e-fuels observatory, T&E examined European green hydrogen and e-fuels projects for the maritime sector. There has been progress, but maritime e-fuels production appears unlikely to reach targeted levels without a policy change. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “$13,034 Ora 5 Is Here!” • Well, not here in the US, but in China. The Ora 5, a small “SUV,” is the first new model from GWM’s Ora sub-brand in more than two years. And it was worth the wait. It seems certain the Ora 5 is going to be a competitive, high selling EV. The model starts at just 91,800 yuan ($13,034) with 480 km (300 miles) of range. [CleanTechnica]
Ora 5 battery EV
¶ “Alphabet Google Signs A Solar Power Agreement In Malaysia, Reports Bloomberg” • Bloomberg reported that Alphabet Inc’s Google signed a solar power agreement in Malaysia. Google would be buying power from a 30-MW solar farm in Malaysia’s Kedah state developed by a consortium led by a local unit of Japan’s Shizen Energy Inc. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Vestas Takes Waddi Order With Tilt Renewables” • Vestas took the order for Tilt Renewables’ 108-MW Waddi Wind Farm in Western Australia. The order includes supply and installation of eighteen 6.0-MW EnVentus turbines. The partnership of Vestas and Tilt Renewables has delivered several major Australian wind farms, the companies said. [reNews]
Wind turbine (Vestas image)
¶ “South Korea Launches Its Largest Operational Offshore Wind Farm In Jeju” • South Korea has completed the 100-MW Hanlim Offshore Wind Power Complex. According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, the offshore wind complex is off Jeju. It is the largest offshore wind power complex operating in the country. [Asian Power]
¶ “BayWa RE Gets Nod For 250-MW Swedish Solar Giant” • The Nordic renewable energy unit of BayWa re has secured an environmental permit for the 250-MW Ryamon Solar Park in Alvesta municipality. The company said the project is the largest solar project in Sweden to date to receive such approval. The park is next to the Lyngsåsa wind farm. [reNews]
Renewable generation (BayWa re image)
¶ “Renewable Energy Powers Up As Coal Demand Plateaus” • Mining companies, agencies, and global events are strengthening the world’s renewable footprint. The IEA shows coal demand has reached a plateau and may decline by 2030. A new IEA market report sees global coal demand forecast to edge down through the end of this decade. [Mining.com.au]
¶ “RWE Wins Permit For 1.1-GW Five Estuaries” • UK Energy Minister Alan Whitehead has granted planning consent to RWE’s 1.1-GW Five Estuaries wind farm off East Anglia. The 79-turbine extension of the 353-MW Galloper array is the fifth UK offshore wind farm to reach the milestone this year, one of which was RWE’s 1.2-GW Rampion 2 project. [reNews]
Offshore wind turbines (RWE image)
¶ “EU Renewables Hit 49.3% Of Electricity In Q3 2025, Denmark Leads” • According to the latest data from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, renewable energy’s share in the EU’s final energy use climbed to 25.4% in 2024, with projections indicating further growth into 2025. The uptick was driven largely by expansions in solar, wind, and heat pumps. [WebProNews]
¶ “Cheaper, Cleaner Energy Drives Germany’s Balcony-Solar Boom” • Transitioning to renewables is critical for confronting the climate crisis, and Germany is seeing this advance at the household level. Small solar devices that can be plugged into household sockets are very popular in the country, with over 1 million installed in the past three years. [DW]
Balcony solar (Triplec85, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “Coal For Christmas: Local Advocacy Groups Deliver Coal, Protest Letters To JEA” • Local advocacy and climate groups delivered some coal to Jacksonville Electric Authority just in time for the holidays. Sierra Club Florida and other groups left coal, a joint letter, and holiday cards that protest JEA’s dirty Northside Generating Station coal plant. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Illegally Extends Life Of Centralia Generating Station Coal Plant” • The Trump administration issued an ‘emergency’ order to forcibly and illegally extend operations of Centralia Generating Station past its scheduled retirement. The high cost to keep this aging coal plant online is expected to be passed onto residents in the area. [CleanTechnica]
Centralia plant (Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Tesla Has Engaged In False Advertising, Has To Suspend Vehicle Production & Sales If Problem Not Fixed” • A California judge ruled that Tesla’s use of the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self Driving” was, in effect, false advertising. The judge’s proposal is that Tesla’s license to manufacture and sell vehicles in California be suspended for 30 days. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Palisades Nuclear Plant Restart Plans Pushed Back To Early 2026” • The restart of a nuclear energy plant in Michigan is behind schedule, and will not happen until early 2026, according to Holtec International, the company behind the restart. The plant stopped operating in 2022, but with a renewed focus on nuclear energy, plans changed. [WCMU Public Radio]
Have a graciously carefree day.
geoharvey 
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