World:
¶ “AI Data Centers’ Carbon Footprint Could Match That Of A Small European Country, New Study Finds” • A report estimates that AI systems running in data centres could be responsible for between 32.6 million and 79.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2025. This amount is similart to the emissions of New York City or a small European country. [Euronews]
Vaduz, Lichtenstein (Ondrej Bocek, Unsplash)
¶ “Ukraine Strikes A Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker In The Mediterranean” • The Oman-flagged tanker Qendil was hit by aerial drones more than 2,000 kilometres from Ukrainian territory in what an SBU source described as “an unprecedented special operation”. The vessel sustained critical damage and can no longer be used, the source said. [Euronews]
¶ “BYD Significantly Improves Range And Efficiency With OTA Updates” • In China, over-the-air updates have improved BYD’s 5th generation plugin hybrid EV platform, which started rolling out in models last year. With the updates, consumers are getting more battery-only range and better fuel economy than when they bought their vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Sealion 06 (BYD image)
¶ “EVs Take 32.9% Share In France – Renault 5 Record Volume” • November’s auto sales saw plugin EVs take 32.9% share in France, up from 26.2% year-on-year. Battery EVs grew volume by almost 50% YOY, while plugin hybrid EVs fell. Overall auto volume was 132,927 units, flat YOY. The Renault 5 was the best-selling BEV, with its highest ever volume. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Skyborn Wins Approval For Gennaker Project” • Skyborn has secured state planning approval for its Gennaker offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea. The project will have 63 turbines of the 15-MW class and is expected to generate 4 TWh of green electricity annually, equivalent to the consumption of about one million households. [reNews]
Offshore wind farm (Skyborn image)
¶ “Moldova Launches Tender For Construction Of Large Wind Power Plants With Storage Batteries” • Moldova has launched a tender for the construction of wind power plants with a total capacity of 170 MW, accompanied by energy storage systems of 44 MWh. The tender marks a first for Moldova by including the storage component. [Moldpres]
¶ “European Energy Wins Approval For 1.1-GW Upper Calliope Solar Farm” • European Energy secured planning approval for the 1.1-GW Upper Calliope solar farm in Queensland. European Energy said approval advances the project toward final design, grid processes, and construction preparation. The project’s full output is contracted to Rio Tinto. [reNews]
Solar farm in Australia (European Energy image)
¶ “Ireland Achieves 2 GW Of Installed Solar Capacity” • Ireland was able to achieve 2 GW of solar capacity thanks to three solar farms brought online by Dublin-based BNRG. They are the 22-MW Dunmurry, 16-MW Finnis and 6-MW Kerdiffstown projects. Together, they helped push Ireland’s installed solar capacity beyond the 2-GW landmark. [AltEnergyMag]
¶ “Ukraine Adds 324 MW Of Wind Power Capacity In 2025, Up From 248 MW Over Previous Two Years” • Since the beginning of 2025, some 324 MW of new wind power plant capacity has been built in Ukraine, while in the previous two years – between 2022 and the first quarter of 2025 – 248 MW of wind power capacity was commissioned. [Interfax-Ukraine]
Wind turbines in Ukraine (Blitz1980, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “New York Hochul And Ontario Premier Ford Announce An Agreement To Support Nuclear Technology” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement by New York and Ontario on nuclear technology. The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration on the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies. [Niagara Frontier Publications]
US:
¶ “Warm Weather And Low Snowpack Bedevil The Western Ski Resorts” • Ski resorts are struggling to open runs, walk-through ice palaces can’t be built, and the owner of a horse stable hopes that her customers will be satisfied with riding wagons instead of sleighs under majestic Rocky Mountain peaks. It’s just been too warm in the West with not enough snow. [ABC News]
Ski resort (Nick Rickert, Unsplash)
¶ “Georgia Public Service Commission Issues Final Order On Data Center Power Plan” • The Georgia PSC approved Georgia Power’s plan to build the most expensive gas plants in America. The commission unanimously approved an agreement that is expected to require the expenditure of at least $15 billion in capital costs alone. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Sierra Club Notice of Intent to Sue Flags Agency Failures to Protect Arctic Polar Bears from Oil & Gas Activities” • The Sierra Club and allied organizations filed a notice of violations by the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service that threaten polar bears with expanded oil and gas exploration, drilling, and development. [CleanTechnica]
Polar bear taking a dip (Pixabay, Pexels)
¶ “New Jersey Sides With Solar! More State Leadership Needed” • The SPEED Act was followed by some good news. New Jersey is siding with solar. “The New Jersey Senate passed A-5264, a bill to streamline and modernize the process for permitting residential solar energy systems. The law takes effect immediately,” the Solar Energy Industries Association wrote. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Texas Power Grid Will Get A Boost From Batteries This Winter” • Even with less available electric power capacity during cold weather in Texas, battery storage systems are reducing the risk of power outages over this winter, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, as it reported at its December board of directors meeting. [San Antonio Current]
Have a thrillingly easy day.
geoharvey 