Science and Technology:
¶ “Old Solar Panels Are Still Working After 30 Years, And That’s Good News For Renewable Energy” • A study shows that solar panels installed in the 1980s are still producing electricity today, over 30 years later. Scientists say solar power are long-lasting and reliable, which is great for the future of renewable energy around the world. [Microgrid Media]
Solar panels (Soren H, Unsplash)
¶ “Loads Of Renewable Energy Can Be Stored In The Air (Liquid Air, That Is)” • Compared to conventional batteries, liquid air and other alternative systems can offer more hours, economies of scale, longer lifespans, and a more onshore, less geopolitically fraught supply chain. It is a safe technology, and it can be used just about anywhere. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Chinese Solar Panels Are Transforming Africa” • Africa has over 600 million people with no access to reliable electricity. The lack of electrical power has created opportunities for those who dare to take advantage of them, something the Chinese do very well. South Africa is is benefiting from a surge in solar imports from China. [CleanTechnica]
Eskom coal-burning power plant (Eskom image)
¶ “China Built A Supercritical CO₂ Generator. That Doesn’t Mean It Will Last” • China recently placed a supercritical CO₂ power generator, widely considered a breakthrough technology, into commercial operation. But China is large enough to try almost everything. It routinely builds innovative systems just because it can afford to learn by doing. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “AquaVentus Seeks Offshore Hydrogen Backing” • AquaVentus is calling for increased investment support for offshore wind through clear rules enabling hybrid electricity and hydrogen connections under the planned reform of the WindSeeG. The group asked for quick action to establish a framework that allows pipelines and cables to be combined. [reNews]
Wind farm, showing connections (AquaVentus image)
¶ “China Builds Fewer Coal Power Plants As Renewable Energy Takes Over” • China’s permits for new coal power plants are on track to fall to a four-year low. At the current pace, 2025 permits will be the lowest since 2021. The declining approval rate shows that the growing use of renewable energy is cutting into demand for new coal power plants. [Warp News]
¶ “Scientists Warn The Atlantic May Be Closer To A Tipping Point Than Feared” • The Atlantic may be one of the most fragile pressure points in the climate system. Scientists now warn that a shift once treated as a distant, low‑probability scenario could unfold within the lifetimes of today’s coastal residents, reshaping weather, sea levels, and food security. [MSN]
Atlantic Ocean (Jacob Buller, Unsplash)
¶ “Officials Spark Backlash With Controversial Nuclear Power Plan” • A decision by Ontario to refurbish the Pickering Nuclear plant got pushback from the nonprofit Environmental Defence. ED suggested the $26.8 billion plan to refurbish Units 5 to 8 will mean higher electricity bills, more pollution, and sidelining clean energy solutions. [The Cool Down]
US:
¶ “The Case Against Offshore Wind Is Already Crumbling” • On December 22, the Trump regime put an urgent stop-work order on five offshore wind farms in five different states on the Atlantic Coast, citing an extremely dire national security emergency. The issue lost in courts before, and one of the offshore wind farms is already sending 572 MW to the grid. [CleanTechnica]
Vineyard Wind under construction (Vineyard Wind image)
¶ “A Green Hydrogen Innovator In Oklahoma Has A Message For Texas: Hold My Beer” • Texas has emerged as a hotbed of green hydrogen activity, supported in part by know-how from the oil and gas industry. Now another iconic fossil fuel state, Oklahoma, is jockeying for a piece of the action. The Oklahoma City startup Tobe Energy is a case in point. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ørsted And Skyborn File Legal Case Over Revolution Wind Suspension” • Revolution Wind LLC has filed a supplemental complaint in the US District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the lease suspension order issued on 22 December 2025 by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [reNews]
Moving a nacelle (Ørsted image)
¶ “US Renewable Power Capacity Set To Reach Over 1 TW By 2035” • Renewable power capacity in the US is set to reach 1.06 TW by 2035, up from 414.5 GW in 2024, despite the pushback against renewables by the federal government, GlobalData has said. Renewable energy will remain as the ‘dominant source’ of new capacity additions. [Sustainability Online]
¶ “Geothermal Energy: The Renewable Trump Still Backs” • The Trump administration has rolled back many clean energy rules and pushed fossil fuels like oil and coal, but one renewable energy source has not targeted and may even have support. It is geothermal power. Geothermal continues to attract support from both sides of politics. [Microgrid Media]
Have a splendidly casual day.
geoharvey 