Opinion:
¶ “Renewables Have Won The Electricity Battle But Not The Climate War” • British think-tank Ember said increased capacity for solar and wind power provided all the world’s additional need for electricity in 2025. The battle between renewables and power from coal and gas is all over but the shouting. But fossil fuels lobbyists go on shouting. [Pearls and Irritations]
Solar power (Michael Förtsch, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Nuclear Imaginaries, Hydrogen Assumptions, And The Grid Reality Models Are Still Missing” • Why do so many projections assume large a future nuclear expansion when the actual global nuclear capacity has been roughly stagnant for decades and the share nuclear has of global electricity fell from 17.5% in 1996 to below 10% in 2023? [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Solar And Farming Can Share Land, But The Details Matter” • Solar and farming can share land. In some climates, with some crops, in some configurations, partial shade from solar panels can improve crop performance, reduce both water stress and evaporation, and cool the microclimate enough to improve solar panel output. But the details matter. [CleanTechnica]
Solar PVs over a rice paddy (Σ64, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
World:
¶ “Cuba Grid Collapse: The Situation Is Growing More Dire, Experts Say” • The situation for those living in Cuba is growing more dire by the day as the island grapples with dwindling oil supplies to fuel everyday life, experts on Cuban-US relations told ABC News. Prolonged power outages have been occurring daily across the island. [ABC News]
¶ “Are Solar Panel Prices About To Surge?” • The EU describes solar as having a “significant role in its transition towards cleaner, more affordable and secure” energy, but it is heavily reliant on China to make PV panels. Geopolitical uncertainty, shortages in supply and China’s recent tax reform are threatening to increase the prices of solar panels. [Euronews]
Making silicon solar wafers (Laureen Sanderson, US DOE)
¶ “Remote Japanese Island Draws Scrutiny Over Nuclear Waste, Rare Earth Plans” • Japan’s easternmost island, Minamitori Island, is drawing attention as the site of test mining for rare earth elements from the surrounding seabed and as a potential final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. It is isolated in the Pacific Ocean. [MSN]
¶ “Leapmotor Gets Bigger Avenue Into Europe And Beyond” • We have yet another story on the theme of Chinese EV makers expanding rapidly around the world. The Chinese EV company Leapmotor is opening up bigger pathways abroad. Stellantis and Leapmotor have had a partnership helping each other, and now it is expanding. [CleanTechnica]
Leapmotor C10 SUV (Leapmotor image)
¶ “Rajasthan Regulator Blocks Coal Project, Favoring Cheaper Renewables” • The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission rejected a proposed 3.2-GW coal power project. The regulator cited conflicts with the state’s clean energy policy and the more economical power sources that are available. Rajasthan is already a leader in solar power. [Whalesbook]
US:
¶ “US Plan To Allocate Water From The Colorado River Will Severely Impact California, Arizona, And Nevada” • The states that depend on the Colorado River for water seem unable to agree on allocation, so the federal government plans to help them. The Interior Department proposes to reduce the amount of water each state draws by 40%. [CleanTechnica]
Hoover Dam (Courtesy of the City of Los Vegas)
¶ “As Electric Bills Rise, Leaders Of Some States Are Focusing On The Growing Profits Of Utilities” • In some states, the artificial intelligence boom is leading to fights over growing utility profits. The governors, attorneys general, and others are protesting the rising electricity bills, saying cash-strapped residents are stuck in a broken system. [ABC News]
¶ “EV Marketing Failure In USA, And A Financial Crisis For The Auto Industry” • A Wall Street Journal headline says, “Honda’s Never Faced a Crisis Like This – and a Comeback Won’t Be Easy.” A subheading focuses on the Japanese automaker’s $2.7 billion reported loss in the US. But one might wonder about how they market their EVs. [CleanTechnica]
Honda Prologue (Autosdeprimera, CC BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “The Texas-Size Fight Over Rick Perry’s Nuclear Power And AI Startup” • Seven months ago, former Energy Secretary Rick Perry described as genius an idea from Texas energy billionaire Toby Neugebauer to build the world’s largest data center on a dusty grazing lease near Amarillo. Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. [MSN]
¶ “Michigan House Works To Pull The Plug On Renewable Energy Mandates” • The GOP-led Michigan House approved House Bill 5711, seeking to eliminate the state’s renewable energy standards enacted by Democrats in 2023, claiming they were acting out of concern for reliability and cost. The bill is going to the Democrat-led Senate. [Michigan News Source]
Have a demonstrably superb day.
geoharvey 