Science and Technology:
¶ “SpaceX Proposes One Million Solar Powered Data Centers In Earth Orbit” • SpaceX thinks it has an answer to the question of how to power data centers. On January 30, 2026, it filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission to launch up to 1 million solar powered satellites that will serve as data centers for artificial intelligence. [CleanTechnica]
Orbiting data center designs (SpaceX image)
¶ “New Pumped Hydro Energy Storage System Doesn’t Need Mountains” • Pumped storage has always required height. But there is a new type from the UK, where the startup RheEnergise has a compact system it calls HD Hydro. Short for High-Density Hydropower, it can be set up on low, hilly terrain, without the need for high, steep slopes. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “This Hydropower Plant Provides 10% Of Brazil’s Electricity. So Why Has It Been Dragged To Court?” • Brazilian courts ruled that the Belo Monte hydropower plant has had environmental and social impacts “far greater” than originally forecast. Approval to build it was conditional. It had to have little environmental impact. It failed on that. [Euronews]
Belo Monte dam (Vice-Presidência da República, CC BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Russia’s Energy Offensive Plunges Ukraine Into Dark And Bitter Cold” • In Kyiv this winter, the citywide hum of thousands of generators has dominated the soundtrack. Ivan Stupak, a former officer in the Security Service of Ukraine, described it to ABC News as a “modern symphony. Ukraine is still under attack by Moscow. [ABC News]
¶ “Venezuela’s First Shipment Of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Left Venezuela Bound For The US” • Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced that the country exported its first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas to the US. This comes nearly a month after President Trump ordered his military operation against the country. [ABC News]
Tanker (Alexandr Popadin, Unsplash)
¶ “Dutch Plan CfDs For 40-GW Offshore Drive” • The incoming Netherlands government has vowed to introduce a Contracts for Difference scheme to power towards 40 GW of offshore wind by 2040. The new minority government has outlined a series of priorities in a coalition agreement including the commitment to invest in clean, domestic energy. [ReNews]
¶ “Vattenfall Removes Mines For Nordlicht Build” • Vattenfall has completed removal of three WW II mines from the 1600-MW Nordlicht offshore wind farm site after geophysical surveys found magnetic anomalies interpreted as possible unexploded ordnance. A remotely operated vehicle found each to have the equivalent of 200 to 300 kg of TNT. [reNews]
Nordlicht mine removal (Vattenfall image)
¶ “Iberdrola And Norges JV Hits 1.5 GW Of Installed Capacity” • Iberdrola and Norges Bank Investment Management have 1500 MW of operational renewable capacity in their co-investment alliance following the addition of the 330-MWCaparacena and 316-MW Ciudad Rodrigo solar plants. The partners said they are part of €2 billion of JV assets. [reNews]
¶ “Australian Renewables Exceed 50% Of Power Supply in Q4” • Renewable generation supplied over half of Australia’s electricity in the fourth quarter of 2025, driving wholesale power prices down by nearly 50% and coinciding with record battery output. Coal-fired generation fell 4.6% year on year, and gas-fired output was down 27%. [pv magazine International]
Solar site (Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works)
¶ “China’s Installed Solar Power Capacity To Exceed Coal For The First Time” • China’s installed solar capacity is projected to surpass coal for the first time this year. The China Electricity Council expects China to add more than 300 GW of renewable capacity this year, making China the premier powerhouse in the world’s renewable energy revolution. [China Daily]
US:
¶ “Tesla Semi Chargers Planned For Pilot Travel Centers” • Pilot is recognized as having the largest network of travel centers in North America, with over 900 locations. Pilot is working with Tesla to install Semi chargers in California, along I-5, the state’s major transportation artery, which spans the whole state from North to South. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Semi on the road (Korbitr, public domain)
¶ “IBM Advances Quantum Computing With Nighthawk For Clean Energy Transformations” • IBM’s latest step in Quantum Technology is the Nighthawk processor, a recently unveiled 120-qubit (quantum-bit) system that now anchors the company’s roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. Nighthawk is engineered for scaling depth. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Zelestra Seals PPA For 50-MW Gem City PV Site” • Zelestra signed a long-term power purchase agreement with AEP Energy Partners for the full output of the proposed 50-MW Gem City solar project in Dayton, Ohio. Zelestra said the deal will enable construction of the project, which is in advanced development and due to begin full works in early 2027. [reNews]
Solar farm (Zelestra image)
¶ “Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Enters New Phase Towards Reopening” • The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant is entering its final phase towards reopening. According to a spokesperson for Holtec, crews are finishing maintenance activities and returning systems and equipment to an operational-ready state. There is no firm restart date yet. [MSN]
¶ “Florida Urges Bureaucratic Behemoth To Unshackle Nuclear Power” • America First Legal, a conservative legal organization, filed a petition on behalf of the State of Florida and Last Energy, Inc, asking that the NRC change the classification of the energy company’s modular nuclear reactor design so that it falls outside the NRC’s licensing jurisdiction. [AOL.com]
Have an agreeably beneficial day.
geoharvey 