World:
¶ “Why Sodium-Ion Batteries Are Happening Now” • CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, made a production commitment for sodium-ion batteries. It introduced its Naxtra line of batteries last year. Now it has announced plans for volume production of sodium-ion batteries this year, with integration into production EVs by July. [CleanTechnica]
CATL sodium battery announcement (Screenshot via CnEVPost)
¶ “US Announces $6 Million Aid To Cuba As President Díaz-Canel Accuses It Of Imposing ‘Energy Blockade'” • The US has extended aid to Cuba for people still reeling from Hurricane Melissa in the island’s eastern regions. The aid comes despite a diplomatic rift, as Washington urges Cuba to negotiate a deal to end tensions “before it is too late.” [Euronews]
¶ “Permit Refused For 432-MW CWP Energy Onshore Wind Farm” • Scottish Ministers have refused planning permission to CWP Energy’s 432-MW Scoop Hill wind farm in Dumfries & Galloway following a public inquiry. Visual effects were one issue. Another is its potential effects on a system detecting underground nuclear tests. [reNews]
Wind farm (CWP Energy image)
¶ “BYD Electric Bus And Truck Sales Actually Up!” • In general, December is a much bigger sales month than January, so BYD’s commercial vehicle sales were down last month, though they weren’t even down much month over month. Meanwhile, year-over-year sales were up for all-electric commercial vehicles, both buses and trucks. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nordex Secures 220-MW Euro Orders Rush” • Nordex took 220-MW of European turbine orders in January 2026. An order from the UK is for fourteen N163/6.X machines totaling more than 90 MW, orders from Türkiye came to 78 MW, and a new Lithuanian wind farm will have seven N175/6.X units in a cold climate version, for 47.6 MW. [reNews]
Wind farm (Nordex image)
¶ “ACME Solar Takes 301 MW Of Renewables With 1,204 MWh Storage In SECI Peak Power Tender” • ACME Solar Holdings Ltd has secured a 301-MW renewable energy project integrated with 1,204 MWh of energy storage under Solar Energy Corp of India’s FDRE-VII tender. The project will deliver 1,204 MWh of assured peak power daily. [pv magazine India]
¶ “Siemens Gamesa Wins A 95-MW NZ Contract” • Siemens Gamesa won a turbine supply and maintenance contract for the Mt Cass Wind Farm in New Zealand. The 94.6-MW project will feature 22 SG 4.3-130 machines to be installed along ridgelines in North Canterbury. The manufacturer said the site will generate over 300 GWh of electricity per year. [reNews]
Wind turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)
¶ “Canada To Spend Up To $200 Billion On Wind, Solar, And Energy Storage” • Canadian investment in wind, solar, and energy storage is forecast to top $200 billion over the next decade, leading to a significant decline in the emissions intensity of electricity production, according to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. [Yahoo! Finance Canada]
¶ “TEPCO To Restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No 6 Reactor On Monday” • TEPCO announced it will restart the No 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture on February 9. TEPCO had restarted the reactor on January 21 for the first time in 13 years and 10 months, but shut it down due to an incorrectly set alarm. [The Japan Times]
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant (D a, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped
US:
¶ “Court Says Texas Cannot Punish Investors for Taking Climate Change into Consideration” • Republicans seem to have decided that major investors shouldn’t be allowed to look at matters of climate change, social responsibility, and corporate governance when deciding how to invest. Now a court says investors must be allowed to consider such things. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Worsening Snow Drought In The West Will Have Cascading Impacts, Experts Say” • Prolonged drought across much of the West has been worsened by low snowfall and persistent warmth, fueling a widespread snow drought. With reduced mountain snowpack, the region’s water supplies are facing mounting challenges, experts said. [ABC News]
Low snow cover (Deer Valley Resort image)
¶ “Michigan Sues Big Oil For Antitrust Violations” • The state of Michigan filed a suit against several major fossil fuel companies. This suit seems to be more than what has happened in the past. According to The Hill, it says the defendants acted together as a cartel to reduce production and distribution of renewable energy and restrain EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Tries To Cancel Millions More For EV Charging” • The Trump administration tried to cancel funds it had already approved, and take back money it had already granted, for the development of EV charging stations. The court system said that is not legal. But the attempt to do it is continuing, in spite of the court’s decision. [CleanTechnica]
EV charging (Courtesy of ChargePoint)
¶ “GE Vernova Wins 1.1-GW US Repowering Haul” • GE Vernova booked 1100 MW of US onshore wind repower orders in 2025 as developers look to boost output and extend the life of existing fleets. The projects will use nacelles and drive trains made at the company’s Pensacola, Florida facility, GE Vernova’s onshore wind business said. [reNews]
¶ “What’s Driving Up Maine’s Energy Bills?” • Due to the cost of natural gas, Maine’s electric rates are among the highest in the US. Possible solutions to the problem of high energy costs are developing clean power, investing in load-flexibility strategies, and continuing to push for home-heating electrification, a report prepared by The Brattle Group shows. [Canary Media]
Have a consistently gorgeous day.
geoharvey 