World:
¶ “El Niño could weaken the polar vortex. Does a scorching summer mean a freezing winter?” • El Niño’s European weather impacts tend to be indirect and less severe than in the tropics. But experts warn that after a peak in El Niño, the stratospheric polar vortex can become weaker. And this can mean severe cold in some places. [Euronews]
¶ “G7’S 100-Million-Barrel Pledge Would Finish An Emergency Oil Release Of Last March” • The G7’s proposed release of up to 100 million barrels of oil to curb soaring energy prices aims to complete the outstanding portion of the 400-million-barrel emergency release coordinated by the IEA in March, an internal document seen by Euronews shows. [Euronews]
¶ “EU Faces Gas Shortfall Of Up To 15% If Severe Winter Hits, Report Warns” • The EU is entering the winter season on thin ice, facing a double-edged geopolitical squeeze that threatens to expose the fragility of its post-Russian energy architecture. Europe could face a gas shortfall of 12% to 15% of demand if a severe cold snap hits this winter. [Euronews]
¶ “XPENG G9L Starts European Trial Production” • The first XPENG G9L rolled off the trial production line in Graz, Austria and headed for the European market. The G9L will be the fourth XPENG model produced at the European plant. The G6, G9 and P7+ are currently assembled at the Magna factory. Magna is a proven manufacturing partner. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “South Korea Plans To Add 100 GW Of Renewable Energy By 2030” • The government of South Korea announced a ten year plan to move forward toward a carbon neutral economy while achieving sustainable economic growth. One objective is to add 100 GW of renewable energy to the nation’s grid by 2030 and upgrade its transmission lines. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Island Green Wins Permit For 500-MW UK Solar Giant” • Island Green Power secured development consent for its Green Hill solar farm. The will system combine up to 500 MW of solar capacity with a 500-MW battery energy storage system. Island Green says the Green Hill Solar Farm will generate electricity sufficient to power 115,000 homes. [reNews]
¶ “Massive 4.5-MW Rooftop Solar Installation To Power New Western Sydney Airport” • A 4.5-MW rooftop solar installation with 8,824 Trinasolar modules is set to power the Western Sydney International Airport, which opens 25 October 2026. It was put up by Smart Commercial Energy on the rooftops and car parking areas. [pv magazine Australia]
¶ “Vena Group’s 72-MW Solar Plant Begins Operations” • Vena Group started commercial operations at its 72-MW Maniwa Solar Project in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The project converted a former golf course into a solar power plant, repurposing previously developed land and reducing the need to develop additional sites. [Asian Power]
US:
¶ “The US Just Experienced Its Warmest September On Record: NOAA” • Last month was the warmest September on record for the contiguous US, surpassing the previous record set in 1998, according to a report from NOAA. So far, four months this year have ranked as the warmest on record: March, July, August and September. [ABC News]
¶ “Why Are Gas Prices Still High Even As Traffic Improves In The Strait Of Hormuz?” • The apparent disconnect between a recovery in oil supply and stubborn fuel prices has drawn attention from analysts. The dynamics behind gas prices have garnered added urgency as the US hurtles toward midterm elections in less than a month. [ABC News]
¶ “Sierra Club Slams Trump Administration’s Decision To Bypass Environmental Reviews For Arctic Oil Drilling” • The Trump administration announced it will abandon environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act to allow oil and gas companies to run roughshod over pristine Arctic habitats to search for oil. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Waymo Raises $5 Billion To Expand Further” • These two things are not secrets: 1) Waymo has been expanding rapidly this year into new cities and regions. 2) Waymo isn’t even close to making a profit on its self-driving vehicle business. So, can it be a total surprise to find that the California company just raised $5 billion more to keep expanding? [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hawaiʻi’s LNG Bridge Has An Expensive Exit” • There is a question: Why would Hawaii want to turn renewable electricity into molecules overseas, ship those molecules across the Pacific, and turn them back into electricity, if a large share of the same energy service can be supplied directly with local solar, batteries and flexible demand. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nuclear Startup Applies For Connection To Power Grid” • A startup nuclear power company is the first in the US to apply to connect its next-generation reactors to the power grid. Based in Maryland, Blue Energy plans to build up to five small modular reactors in Texas. They will supply up to 1.5 GW of energy for a 1,600-acre data center complex. [WMAL]
¶ “Hawaiian Electric Seeks PUC Approval For Pulehu Solar” • Hawaiian Electric is seeking approval to purchase power from a renewable energy project, helping advance Hawaii’s clean energy goals while supporting reliable electric service. The project is to add 20 MW of solar generating capacity and 80 MWh of battery storage to Maui’s electric grid. [Hawaii News Now]
Have a sufficiently glorious day.
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