World:
¶ “As The Planet Warmed, Politics Wobbled: The Defining Climate Moments Of 2025” • This was a challenging year for climate politics, and a challenging one for our warming planet. In the past twelve months, climate change has been impossible to ignore, whether we would like to or not. Euronews takes a look back at a year of record highs and lows. [Euronews]
Glacial cave (Akshay Nanavati, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “More Robotaxi + Ride-Hailing Partnerships” • A handful more partnerships between robotaxi companies and ride-hailing apps have popped out recently. First off, Baidu is partnering with Lyft and Uber in London. Also, WeRide and Uber have teamed up in Abu Dhabi and launched fully driverless robotaxi service in the UAE capital. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “You Can’t Buy This, America: FCB Ti7 4WD Luxury SUV” • On a visit to Guangzhou, China, the author saw a showroom for BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao premium SUV brand. The first car inside was a Ti7. Compared to a Land Rover, the Ti7 is only a couple of inches longer and taller. It looks more imposing in person. You can’t buy one in the US. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Fang Cheng Bao Ti7 (AutoLab, CC BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “China’s Installed Power Capacity Sees Steady Expansion” • China’s total installed generating capacity reached 3,790 GW by the end of November, marking a 17.1% year-on-year increase, official data showed. Solar capacity led the growth with a 41.9% YOY surge to 1,160 GW, while windpower capacity expanded by 22.4% to 600 GW. [China Daily]
¶ “XPENG’s Mona M03 Gets Even Better” • XPENG’s Mona M03 was critical to the company’s EV sales growth and march toward profitability this year. Across the first eleven months of the year, 163,299 units of the Mona M03 were delivered. That’s about 42% of the company’s 391,937 total deliveries. Now, the M03 is getting a refresh, at less than two years old. [CleanTechnica]
Pair of Mona Mo3s (XPENG image)
¶ “The DOE To Install Solar Power Systems In Lanao Del Sur Hospitals” • In the Philippines, the DOE is rolling out rooftop solar systems with battery storage in four public health facilities in Lanao del Surto ensure reliable power for essential medical services. The project will combine 170 kW of rooftop solar capacity with battery storage. [Inquirer.net]
¶ “Oceans Are Supercharging Hurricanes Past Category 5” • Hot spots in the deep ocean are getting hotter. As they do, they make the most powerful hurricanes and typhoons more likely and dangerous. These regions, especially near the Philippines and the Caribbean, are expanding as climate change warms ocean waters far below the surface. [ScienceDaily]
Hurricane (NASA, Unsplash)
¶ “Putin Claims Talks With US On Managing Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Without Ukraine” • Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that the US and Russia are discussing the idea of jointly managing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been occupied by Russia since 2022, for cryptocurrency mining without Ukraine’s involvement. [RBC-Ukraine]
US:
¶ “Massachusetts Awards 1.3 GW In First Large Energy Storage Tender” • The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources announced the winners of its first storage procurement. The state selected four projects totaling 1,268 MW, as it aims to reach a legislative demanded 5,000 MW of operating storage capacity by July, 2030. [pv magazine International]
Storage facility (Lightshift Energy image)
¶ “Fact Check: Are Wind And Solar Power ‘Worthless’ When There’s No Wind Or Sun?” • The US DOE posted on social media, “Wind and solar energy infrastructure is essentially worthless when it is dark outside, and when the wind is not blowing.” It seems the DOE doesn’t know that batteries can store energy for such times. [WRAL]
¶ “Trump Energy Department Scuttles Planned Closures Of Two Indiana Coal Plants ” • The Trump DOE issued emergency orders to keep two set-to-be-shuttered coal plants in Indiana running through the end of the year, providing a lifeline to a favored industry while arguing it would ensure people with secure and affordable electricity. [The Hill]
Have an unforgettably cheerful day.
geoharvey 
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