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Science and Technology:

¶ “NASA Solid-State Battery Is Lighter And More Powerful” • Researchers at NASA are chasing a dream – advanced solid-state batteries that can power electric aircraft. Battery performance is a key aspect in the development of more sustainable electric aircraft, whose batteries must store huge amounts of energy while being extremely light. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Israel And Lebanon Reach Historic Agreement, Paving The Way To Potentially Rich Gas Exploration” • Israel and Lebanon have reached a historic agreement, leaders on each side said separately, settling a years-long maritime border dispute over major oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean. The disputed area is 860 km² (332 mi²) of the sea. [CNN]

¶ “New Zealand Wants To Tax Farmers For Their Cows’ Burps And Farts” • Prime Minister Jacinda Arden confirmed that her government will push ahead with a proposal to make farmers pay for their livestock’s emissions in a bid to combat climate change. New Zealand is a major livestock and meat exporter, and has around 10 million cattle. [CNN]

New Zealand farmland (Match Sùmàyà, Unsplash)

¶ “Greenland’s Culture Shifts As Arctic Heats Up” • Communities in northern Greenland have lived in one of the world’s toughest environments for centuries. But temperatures have risen faster in the Arctic region than elsewhere on earth, and the impact of climate change is being felt on the local way of life. In the past, they used dogs to pull sleds, but not now. [BBC]

¶ “Cars.Co.Za Buys Into The Sun Exchange’s Karoo Fresh Off-Grid Solar Project To Boost Sustainability” • Sun Exchange, a global solar leasing platform, announced that leading South African automotive platform, Cars.co.za, has bought into a project that provides off-grid solar-plus-battery storage power to Karoo Fresh. [CleanTechnica]

Solar and battery system (Sun Exchange image)

¶ “The Ten Biggest EV Battery Manufacturers In The World (2022)” • The EV battery world has changed a lot in the past few years. Let’s start with the ten largest EV battery manufacturers through most of 2022, but then also look at how this list changed over the years. There are several Chinese and Korean companies on the list, but none in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Maersk To Transport, Install French Floater’s Turbines” • The Maersk Supply Service has contracted to transport and install three 10-MW wind turbines at the Eoliennes Flottantes Du Golf Du Lion wind farm, a French pilot project. The EFGL wind farm is in the Mediterranean Sea, 16 km off the coast of Leucate in the Gulf of Lion natural marine park. [reNews]

Maersk at work (Maersk Supply Service)

¶ “World Must Triple Investment In Renewable Energy By 2050: UN Report” • Global investments in renewable energy need to triple by 2050 to put the world on the trajectory toward net-zero emissions, a report by the World Meteorological Organization says. The supply of electricity from clean energy sources must double within eight years. [CGTN]

¶ “Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Loses External Power” • Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost all external power and was running on diesel generators, the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog said. Ukraine accused Russia of preventing fuel shipments from reaching the site. They are needed to provide power to cool the plant. [UPI]

Zaporizhzhia plant (Maxim Gavrilyuk,
GNU Free Documentation License 1.2, cropped)

UK:

¶ “Use Covid Lessons To Curb Climate Change, Lords Tell Government” • Information campaigns like those used in the Covid-19 pandemic would help individuals act on climate change, a House of Lords report has said. To meet climate goals, a third of cuts to UK emissions by 2035 must come from people changing their behaviour, the report says. [BBC]

¶ “Seagreen Gets Nod To Increase Capacity” • Scottish ministers gave the go ahead for plans seeking to maximise the renewable energy potential of Seagreen, Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm. The application to increase the potential installed capacity of the project’s remaining 36 turbines from 360 MW to up to 500 MW has been granted. [reNews]

Wind turbines (SSE image)

¶ “UK Confirms 2023 Revenue Cap On Renewables” • The UK government has confirmed plans to introduce a temporary cap on renewable energy generators’ revenue to curb the impact of soaring wholesale power prices. The ‘Cost-Plus Revenue Limit’ will apply to renewables in England and Wales from the start of 2023. [reNews]

US:

¶ “GM Is Starting An Energy Storage Subsidiary To Take On The Tesla Powerwall” • General Motors is starting an energy storage business using its Ultium battery packs to power homes and charge cars as well as to feed power back into the grid when needed. GM Energy divisions will be of Ultium Home, Ultium Commercial and Ultium Charge 360. [CNN]

GM Ultium Home system (GM image)

¶ “BYD Bringing Cutest Little Electric School Bus To California Schools” • BYD is bringing a Type A electric school bus to the Los Olivos Elementary School District in California, and it’s one of the cutest vehicles around. The Los Olivos Elementary School District aims to be the first school district that has a 100% zero-emission school bus fleet. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Duke Energy Targets Carbon-Free Power Generation” • Like many utilities, Duke Energy is working with NREL to investigate the pathways to a decarbonized grid, as well as opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in coordination with policymakers and regulators. Duke Energy has a goal of a net-zero CO₂ emissions power system by 2050. [CleanTechnica]

Have an adequately triumphant day.

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World:

¶ “ISIS-Linked Militants Are Threatening Huge Natural Gas Reserves The World Needs Badly Right Now” • Mozambique has huge natural gas reserves. If they are exploited effectively, they could change its fortunes and help the world find enough natural gas to heat homes and fuel industry. But an insurgency threatens its entire economic future. [CNN]

Dhow in Mozambique (F Mira, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Floods Are Submerging Whole Houses In Nigeria. At Least 80 Have Died Trying To Escape” • Flooding in southern Nigeria has displaced up to 600,000 people, according to the country’s National Emergency Management Agency. Seventy-six people died when their boat capsized as they tried to flee dangerously high floodwaters. [CNN]

¶ “China’s electric car market is booming but can it last?” • The China Passenger Car Association predicts that 6 million new EVs would be registered in the country in 2022. Ana Nicolls, director of industry analysis at the Economist Intelligence Unit, says that with the removal of subsidies for purchasers of new vehicles, the appetite for EVs could wane. [BBC]

Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (David290, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Tesla Model Y Germany’s Best Selling Vehicle In September, Beating Iconic VW Golf” • Germany, Europe’s largest auto market, saw plugin EVs take 32.2% share in September, up from 28.7% year on year. Full electrics grew more than plugin hybrids. In September, the Tesla Model Y was the overall best selling vehicle of any kind. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “All EVs In Ethiopia Now Exempted From VAT, Surtax, And Excise Tax” • To supercharge the adoption of electric vehicle in the country, the Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance has recently exempted all EVs from VAT, Surtax, and Excise Tax! They went further to exempt completely knocked down kits from customs duty tax. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai EV (Hyundai image)

¶ “UK Government ‘To Impose Renewables Revenue Cap’” • The UK government is working on laws that would impose a revenue cap on renewable electricity after reports that talks between the industry and officials failed to find a voluntary strike price for new long-term power contracts. A meeting between industry and government is said to be scheduled for today. [reNews]

¶ “Greece Runs Entirely On Renewables For The First Time In Its History” • On 7 October, Greece used only renewable energy for about five hours, reaching a record high of 3,106 MWh at eight o’clock (GMT). It was the first time in the Greek power system’s history that 100% of the demand was met by renewable energy sources, an IPTO report says. [Greek City Times]

Wind turbines in Greece (Koliri, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Austria Challenges EU Ruling On Nuclear And Gas Power” • Austria has said it was seeking to enlist other European Union countries to support its legal action against Brussels for labelling investment in gas and nuclear power as “green.” Austria filed a legal challenge against the EU’s inclusion of the energy sources on a list of climate-friendly investments. [RTE]

Australia:

¶ “Solar Powers Up At Australia’s Biggest Hybrid Renewables Park” • AEMO confirmed that the 77-MW solar part of the 317-MW Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park, or PAREP, was one of three new renewables project to be signed up for connection to the NEM since mid-July, 2022. It is part of Australia’s largest wind and solar hybrid plant. [Renew Economy]

Transmission lines and wind turbines (Iberdrola image)

¶ “NSW Launched The First Auction For 12-GW Renewable Energy Zones” • NSW launched the first tender of a ten-year NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap program, and an auction will be held every six months. renewable energy and energy storage auction will replace the state’s retiring coal-fired power units. The state’s last coal-fired power plants are set to close in the next 11 years. [Energy Matters]

¶ “Farmers For Climate Action Report Says On-Farm Renewable Projects Are Getting Overlooked” • Large-scale wind and solar projects are accelerating across regional Australia, but a report says smaller on-farm renewable projects are being overlooked in the country’s transition to net zero emissions. In some cases, solar panels are not being put to full use. [ABC]

Australian beeves (Cgoodwin, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Minnesota State Begins Training Hybrid And EV Technicians” • Minnesota State Community and Technical College will be offering training for hybrid and electric car technicians, thanks largely to a $349,652 National Science Foundation grant. The plans for a new training program are to help meet the expected demand for the auto technicians. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wheatbridge Hybrid Wind, Solar, And Storage Facility Opens In Oregon” • The Wheatbridge Renewable Energy Facility in eastern Oregon was commissioned last week. It is the fourth and largest hybrid wind, solar, and battery storage facility in Ameica. There are many projects that combine wind and storage or solar and storage, but few that have all three. [CleanTechnica]

Turbine (Courtesy of Wheatbridge Renewable Energy Facility)

¶ “The Green Jobs Sector Continues Upward Momentum” • The green jobs sector is robust and getting stronger by the year. In fact, the median salary in a green job is $76,530/year – 31% more than the national median salary for the US workforce at $58,260. Also, the overall growth rate for green jobs higher than for the overall workforce (+7.7%). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The US Military Is Buying Ultium Battery Packs From GM Defense” • The latest news from GM Defense says it was chosen by the Defense Innovation Unit to create a prototype battery pack for testing and evaluation with Department of Defense platforms. GM Defense will rely on GM’s most advanced battery technology, the Ultium Platform. [CleanTechnica]

Have a flabbergastingly easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Want Energy Resilience? Invest Locally In Community Solar, Rooftop Solar, Heat Pumps, EVs” • Fortunately for those of us who don’t live in Babcock Ranch, the resiliency created there is possible across the country. Communities looking to build resilience in the face of worsening climate disasters will be able to prepare themselves. [CleanTechnica]

Solar settlement (Andrewglaser, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Microgrids As A Service” • Microgrids are more and more popular every year. They offer tremendous benefits in terms of energy security, resilience, and energy independence. Here is an interview with Michael Stadler, co-founder and CTO of Xendee, about microgrids and about Xendee’s “microgrid as a service” offering. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Volvo EX90 Will Feature App-Based AC & DC Bi-Directional Charging” • Volvo gets it. Electric cars are batteries on wheels that can be used to fry bacon at your campsite, support the grid, power your home, charge a friend’s EV, or earn extra money for their owners by sharing electricity with neighbors across the street or in the next county. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo bi-directional charging graphic

¶ “Battery State Of Health – What Is It? Why Is It Important?” • Like most things, the batteries in EVs age with time and use. This is a normal process that is influenced by factors such as number of cycles, temperature, and depth of discharge. Knowing how much life is left in an EV battery is critical for anyone planning to buy it for whatever reason. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Satellite Power Grid Would Beam Energy Around The Globe Just Like Data” • New Zealand company Emrod says it’s got the technology to enable efficient wireless energy transfer from orbit. It’s proposing a global wireless energy matrix, which would instantly beam renewable energy via satellite between any two points on Earth. [New Atlas]

Launch (SpaceX image)

World:

¶ “BYD Delivering 120 Electric Semi Trucks In 2022” • A decade or so ago, I recall a lot of debates about who was approaching the EV revolution best, Tesla or BYD. Or who was leading the EV revolution, Tesla or BYD. Of course, some people were happy to say “both!” Now, as Tesla is going into manufacture of its Semis, BYD is making them also. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Met Rise in Electricity Demand During First Half of 2022” • All of the increased electricity demand during the first half of 2022 was met by renewable energy, data released from the energy think tank Ember has shown. “Wind and solar are proving themselves during the energy crisis,” a senior electricity analyst wrote. [EcoWatch]

Wind turbines (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Ministers Hope To Ban Solar Projects From Most English Farms” • UK Ministers are planning to ban solar farms from most of England’s farmland, the Guardian can reveal. Environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena is understood to oppose solar panels on agricultural land, arguing that they would impede boosting food production. [The Guardian]

¶ “Wave Power Generators Could Help To “Firm” Solar And Wind, Says Report” • Wave machines dotted along Australia’s coastlines could hold the key to filling generation gaps in solar and wind-powered grids and reduce the need for battery storage, cutting the cost of renewable energy in the future, Australian research and trial operations show. [Renew Economy]

Wave Power Generator (Wave Power image)

¶ “Life Insurers Urged To Prepare For Climate Change” • Life insurers need to prepare for the impact of climate change, though its effects on the life sector are not as obvious as those facing property and general insurers. That was the message from George Stavliotis, a Sydney-based vice-president of Swiss Re, to attendees at a conference in Auckland. [Good Returns]

¶ “Line Hydrogen Partners With Blue Cap On Gigawatt-Scale Green Energy Solution” • Line Hydrogen announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Blue Cap Mining to develop a 100% renewable energy system to replace fossil fuel-based power generation at BCM’s Lord Byron mining operation in Western Australia. [pv magazine Australia]

Lord Byron gold mine site in WA (Line Hydrogen image)

¶ “Power Is Back At Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant. IAEA Warns The Situation Can’t Last” • The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has restored some power, UN nuclear watchdog officials announced. The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, called the restoration of power “a temporary relief in a still untenable situation.” [WAMU]

US:

¶ “Biden Is Blamed For Downturn In New Oil Drilling, But Fossil Fuel Companies Are The Ones Hitting Pause” • With the OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production, Republican rhetoric went into familiar territory: President Joe Biden’s green policies have us pay more at the pump. But energy experts tell CNN that the oil companies are just not interested in drilling. [CNN]

Alaska (Zetong Li, Unsplash)

¶ “Pioneers In The US Clean Hydrogen Sector Launch Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc, A Dedicated Clean Hydrogen Production Platform” • Principals of Hydrogen Technology Ventures have launched Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc, a clean hydrogen platform with a portfolio of green ammonia and hydrogen plants. They are to be operating in 2024. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Small Fairbanks Company Wants To Build Alaska’s Biggest Wind Farms” • A Fairbanks man and his business partner in the Lower 48 are planning to build what could be Alaska’s biggest wind farms, one each outside Anchorage and Fairbanks. One site would have 60 turbines and a capacity of 200 MW. The other would be about a third of that size. [Anchorage Daily News]

Have an excitingly welcome day.

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Opinion:

¶ “US Should Be More Transparent About Our Transportation Emissions – Our Health And Climate Depend On It” • The Biden administration has two weeks left to hear from Americans on a proposal that would require states, cities and towns to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result directly from highway activity. This is a critical step. [CleanTechnica]

Golden Gate Bridge in a fog (Chris Leipelt, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Grecell Portable Power Stations – CleanTechnica Review” • The team at Grecell sent CleanTechnica’s Derek Markham three of their portable power station models, ranging from 300 W to 2000 W, to test out and review, and after putting them all through their paces. He is happy to report that all of them performed as designed. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Earth System Grid Federation Launches Effort To Upgrade Climate Projection Data System” • The Earth System Grid Federation, a multi-agency initiative that gathers and distributes data for top-tier projections of the Earth’s climate, is preparing a series of upgrades to make using the data easier while improving how the information is curated. [CleanTechnica]

Simulated ocean conditions (LLNL and US DOE)

World:

¶ “Government Plan For Price Cap Is Risky, Firms Warn” • The government of the UK is set to cap the price of electricity from older renewable and nuclear facilities. The plans could hit the profits of energy firms that say they are concerned that further price limits could upset the UK’s reputation for having a stable regulatory environment and deter investment. [BBC]

¶ “Australia Is Rushing To Exit Coal” • AGL, one of Australia’s largest coal-fired power station operators, is not having a good year. It has fought off a hostile takeover effort and had to swallow the bitter pill of a failed demerger. Now it is bowing to the inevitable, as it announces the early closure of its fossil fueled fleet. AGL will exit coal. [CleanTechnica]

Yallourn W Power Station (Marcus Wong, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy, Already ‘Booming’ In South Africa, Will Require Much More Investment” • South Africa’s energy crisis will require investment, both from the private and public sector, of an estimated R1.2 trillion ($66.65 billion) between now and 2030, according to investment banker Emrie Brown, the CEO of Rand Merchant Bank. [IOL]

¶ “John Swinney To Stress Scotland Will ‘Not Put Up With’ Nuclear Power To Make Up For UK ‘Failures’” • Deputy First Minister John Swinney is set to renew the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear power stations being built north of the border. He will double down on his Government’s stance when he delivers his keynote speech to SNP. [The Herald]

Scottish windpower (W L Tarbert, public domain, cropped)

¶ “Ukraine Nuclear Plant Has Lost Final External Power Link, UN Watchdog Says” • Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe, has lost its last remaining external power source as a result of renewed shelling and is now relying on emergency diesel generators, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. [PBS]

US:

¶ “Exxon Illegally Fired Two Scientists Suspected Of Leaking Information To WSJ” • ExxonMobil has been ordered to reinstate two scientists who were fired after they were suspected of leaking information to The Wall Street Journal. A 2019 WSJ article said ExxonMobil might have inflated its production estimates and the value of assets in the Texas Permian Basin. [CNN]

Permian Basin pumpjacks (Zorin09, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Report Says Many Utilities Are Slow-Walking Clean Energy Goals” • A report released by the Sierra Club faults dozens of utilities that provide a major chunk of US electric generation for failing to speed up their decarbonization efforts. The report analyzed plans of 77 utilities that collectively supply about 40% of US electric generation. [Nebraska Examiner]

¶ “US Hurricane Rebuilding Rules Must Adapt To ‘Era Of Climate Change’: Expert” • A professor of environmental planning at the University of North Carolina, worked for several states following major hurricanes. He says current reconstruction standards are not up to the challenges of climate change, but correcting them will require real “political will.” [RFI]

Have a uniquely gratifying day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Let’s Talk Atmospheric Carbon Drawdown’s Hype Vs Reality” • This article focuses on the overhyped and overly hoped for silver bullets vs the realities of what will actually work to start reducing the CO₂ and CO₂e in the atmosphere. It concludes that we already have the technology we need to capture CO₂, and it has economic value. [CleanTechnica]

Viru bog (Diego Delso, CC-BY-SA)

¶ “Toyota Admits It Just Can’t Keep Up” • Toyota President Akio Toyoda told reporters, “Realistically speaking, it seems rather difficult to really achieve.” Meeting California’s zero-emissions requirements isn’t difficult for all automakers, or even for most automakers. It’s difficult for Toyota because Toyota has become a top laggard in the transition to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Zaporizhzhia: How Deteriorating Conditions At The Nuclear Power Plant Could Lead To Disaster” • Even when all reactors at the plant are shut down there is a risk of a major nuclear incident, as the plant requires permanent cooling. Furthermore, other factors exacerbate the fragility of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]

Rafael Mariano Grossi talking about the plant’s six reactors
(IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Winds Of Change Drive “Alarming” Rate Of Ocean Warming” • Researchers from UNSW Sydney say changes to strong, large-scale wind patterns are causing western boundary currents in the Southern Hemisphere to warm rapidly, transforming weather and habitats across the world. They explain in a study published in Nature Climate Change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Is Now The Cheapest Energy In History” • Thanks to incrementally better technology, panel design, and scale of manufacture, solar panels have become incredibly cheap. In the past decade alone, their price per unit of generated energy has fallen by 85%, so much so that multiple reports consider solar to be the cheapest energy ever. [ZME Science]

Please click on the image to enlarge it

World:

¶ “Facing Risk Of Blackouts This Winter, The UK Will Drill For More Oil” • The UK government could award oil and gas companies more than 100 new licenses to drill in the North Sea, as it looks for ways to bolster energy security amid a global supply crunch. The licensing round won’t lead to new UK production for several years. [CNN]

¶ “World Aviation Agrees To ‘Aspirational’ Net Zero Plan” • At a Montreal meeting, the International Civil Aviation Organisation pledged to support an “aspirational” net zero aviation goal by 2050. The plan was accepted by the 193 countries that are members of ICAO. However green groups say the deal is weak and not legally binding. [BBC]

Jet (Gabriela Natiello, Unsplash)

¶ “Tata Power Plans 10,000 MW Renewable Energy Push In Rajasthan” • At the Invest Rajasthan 2022 Summit, Tata Power unveiled its plan to step up its efforts in Rajasthan. The company said it plans to develop up to 8,000 MW of utility scale projects, 1,000 MW of solar rooftop and 150,000 solar pumps over the next five years. [BW Businessworld]

¶ “European Energy Has Reached Almost 1 GW In Renewable Energy Projects In Romania” • European Energy is expanding its activities in Romania, with 935 MW of projects, of which 810 MW in solar parks and 125 MW in wind parks. The company has also received grid connection approval for another 125 MW project. [The Diplomat Bucharest]

Romanian wind farm (500px, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Fourth Year In A Row Of Drought Is Likely In Southwest After Worst Three On Record” • The past three years have been the driest such period on record in California, state officials said. The state is now preparing for the increasing probability that it will see a fourth consecutive dry year as it works to conserve water resources as reservoir supplies dwindle. [CNN]

¶ “Barge Traffic Halted On Mississippi River By Lowest Water Levels In A Decade” • The lowest water levels in the Mississippi River in a decade, caused by a severe Midwest drought, have closed the vital channel to barge traffic at a crucial time of the year for the transport of crops from the nation’s heartland. Very limited traffic could reopen soon. [CNN]

Barges on the Mississippi (Justin Wilkens, Unsplash)

¶ “Under The Radar: Little-Known Code Proposal Imperils American Clean Energy” • A proposal by FEMA would change to the 2024 International Building Code, raising the structural “risk category” for ground-mounted solar PVs, energy storage systems, and wind turbines to the highest level possible. This would slow our response to climate change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bucknell University Celebrates Installation Of 1.76 MW Solar Array” • Bucknell University and Encore Renewable Energy of Burlington, VT, have hosted a public dedication of their new 1.76 peak megawatt solar array, developed by Encore Renewable Energy, which will move Bucknell closer to achieving its climate neutrality goals. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Solar array (Encore Renewable Energy)

¶ “Fourteen Times More Methane Leaking From Gathering Lines Than EPA Estimates” • Enough methane gas leaks from pipelines between Permian wellheads and processing facilities to power 2.1 million homes, a study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters finds. At 213,000 metric tons, it is 14 times higher than a previous EPA finding. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Appalachian Power Tells Virginia Customers Renewables Will Lower Their Bills” • Appalachian Power is asking its customers in West Virginia and Virginia to pay more to account for the higher cost of coal and natural gas. It said that the solution to reducing their monthly bills is to increase renewable power and move away from coal and natural gas. [WVPB]

Have a conveniently comfortable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Michigan Has Potential To Reduce Emissions By Over 94%” • The 2030 Report: How Michigan Should Meet Its Climate Change Goals outlines the most feasible and ambitious set of policies that would help Michigan reduce health-harming pollution and greenhouse gases while putting the state on a strong path for meeting its climate goals. [CleanTechnica]

Michigan wind farm (Gregory Varnum, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “CleanTechnica Tested: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station” • The new EcoFlow DELTA 2 bundles EcoFlow’s robust iron phosphate battery cell tech with its proven electronics into a compact 1 kWh package that boasts an impressive 1,800 watt continuous and 2,700 watt peak power output. We were eager to test it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Better Buy: Renewable Energy Or Uranium Stocks?” • While uranium stocks should continue performing well over the next decade, the time will come when we move away from nuclear energy. I would instead choose the security of renewable energy from environmental sources and seek stocks that are set up for growth in this sector. [Motley Fool]

Wind farm (Kervin Edward Lara, Pexels)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Seven Ways Of Getting CO₂ Out Of The Atmosphere” • There are currently seven recognized negative emissions technologies. What are their global CO₂ removal potentials, costs, and relevant side effects? Ranging from planting trees to drawing down carbon, here is an overview of the pros and cons of carbon capture and storage. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Solar Panels Create Micro-Climate To Save Vineyards In Spain” • The giant energy firm Iberdrola is keenly interested in its latest project, a tiny array of just a few solar panels with a total of 40 kilowatts in capacity, called Winesolar. The flea-sized project could have broad impact on both the solar industry and the wine industry, too. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels at a vineyard (Courtesy of Iberdrola)

¶ “Anglo American And EDF Renewables Agree To Renewable Energy Partnership In South Africa” • Anglo American, a global mining company, and EDF Renewables have announced their agreement to form a new jointly owned company, Envusa Energy, to develop a regional renewable energy ecosystem in South Africa. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Independence Can Unlock Scotland’s Renewable Energy Potential, Report Finds” • A report by Dr David Skilling, director of Landfall Strategy Group, showed that the green sector could create up to 385,000 jobs and boost the Scottish economy by £34 billion a year by 2050. The SNP’s leader at Westminster said the Union is holding Scotland back. [The National]

Wind turbines in Scotland (Tom Swinnen, Pexels)

¶ “Europe’s Renewable Energy Supply Chain Under Threat From Soaring Power Prices, 25% Of Solar And Battery Manufacturing Capacity At Risk – Rystad Energy” • Record-breaking electricity prices in Europe are damaging the continent’s attempts to build a reliable low-carbon supply chain and reach its decarbonization targets, as solar and battery costs mount. [energy-pedia]

¶ “UK Defies Climate Warnings With New Oil And Gas Licences” • The UK has opened a new licensing round for companies to explore for oil and gas in the North Sea. Nearly 900 locations are being offered for exploration, with as many as 100 licences set to be awarded. The decision is at odds with international climate scientists. [BBC]

Wind turbines (Matthis, Pexels)

¶ “IAEA Rejects Russia’s Claims To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Ukrain and Russia are caught up in a struggle over Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Vladimir Putin signed a decree saying Russia will take operational control of the Zaporizhzhia complex. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says the need for a safety zone is “more urgent than ever.” [NHK]

US:

¶ “The World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Haul Truck Could Help Clean Up The Mining Industry” • The mining industry puts out as much as 7% of the world’s carbon emissions. First Mode, based in Seattle, is designing a zero-emission solution to replace the diesel engines used in haul trucks. The plan is to do this with hydrogen fuel cells. [CNN]

Hydrogen-powered haul truck (Anglo American image)

¶ “Western Governors Sign Agreement To Tackle Climate Crisis And Transition To Clean Energy” • The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington and the premier of British Columbia gathered in San Francisco to sign an agreement to decarbonize the electric grid, speed the transition to electric vehicles, and make their communities more resilient. [CNN]

¶ “Viking Cruise Ship Can’t Finish Voyage Because Mississippi River Is Too Low” • A Viking river cruise ship heading north on the Mississippi River can’t finish its voyage because of low water levels, according to a statement from the company. The ship isn’t the only one facing problems on the largest US river. Several barges have run aground. [CNN]

Viking Mississippi (Viking image)

¶ “Tesla Semi Deliveries Begin December 1st!” • It’s been a long wait since we very enthusiastically discovered all of the amazing features and specs of the Tesla Semi when it was revealed 5 years ago, in November 2017. Elon Musk has just tweeted that Tesla has started actual Tesla Semi production, and deliveries will begin on December 1st, 2022. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Form Energy Raises $450 Million In Latest Funding Round” • Form Energy​ is in the race for long-term energy storage. Its efforts are centered on iron air technology to send power to the grid for up to 100 hours. The company claims its technology will cost about one-tenth as much as lithium-ion battery storage. Now it has funding. [CleanTechnica]

Have an amazingly delightful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Time Has Never Been Better For Community Solar In The US” • Community solar used to be a perk for upper income people. Just as some people spend big bucks to drive a luxury EV so they can lower their carbon footprint, others were willing to pay more for electricity to help the planet breathe easier. With the IRA, times have changed. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (US Bureau of Land Management)

Science and Technology:

¶ “This Solar-Powered Electric Car Cleans Carbon From The Air As It Drives” • Silver, sleek and sporty, Zem wouldn’t look out of place at a supercar championship. But Zem isn’t like other sports cars – or any car, for that matter. The one-of-a-kind prototype cleans carbon from the air while driving, using a carbon capture device fitted to its underside. [CNN]

¶ “Northern Hemisphere’s Extreme Summer Drought Was Made Twenty Times More Likely By Climate Change” • All across the Northern Hemisphere this summer, drought scorched the soil, dried up rivers and triggered mass crop failure. The drought was made at least twenty times more likely by the climate crisis, a new analysis found. [CNN]

Failed crop (Md Hasanuzzaman Himel, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Tesla Model Y Beats Ford And Toyota Best Sellers In New Zealand” • New Zealand’s aggressive bonus malus approach has enabled a fully electric vehicle , the Tesla Model Y, to become the top selling car in September. With 1,502 registrations, the Tesla Model Y beat the top models of Ford, which had 1,043, and the Toyota Hilux, which had 989. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Model Y Is Best Selling SUV In Australia!” • “[T]here is a clear market trend towards zero emission technology,” Tony Weber, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, says. This is a significant admission from the FCAI, which has long downplayed electric vehicles due to Toyota’s dominance of the group. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Screen Post, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “How Europe’s Energy Crisis Has Impacted Corporate Renewable PPAs” • The corporate renewable power purchase agreement market in Europe grew by almost seven times between 2016 and 2021, but it looks like the energy crisis will make 2022 the first year it sees a slowdown, data from the trade association WindEurope shows. [Energy Monitor]

¶ “Switching To Renewable Energy Could Save Trillions, New Study Finds” • Switching from fossil fuel energy to renewable energy could save trillions, a report involving the University of Oxford found. Furthermore, the faster we make the switch, the more money we will save. This study, was published on journal Joule in September. [The Oxford Student]

http://Solar panels (Andreas Gücklhorn, Unsplash)

¶ “Vladimir Putin Decrees Russian Takeover Of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to take control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Europe’s largest nuclear power facility. The boss of Ukraine’s state energy agency, Energoatom, announced that he would be taking over the plant, also. [RTV]

¶ “Nuclear Share In Energy Generation Falls To Lowest In Four Decades” • The share of nuclear power in global gross electricity generation fell below 10% last year to the lowest in around four decades, an industry report showed. Nuclear energy generated 2,653 TWh of electricity last year, accounting for 9.8% of global generation, the lowest since the 1980s. [Reuters]

Nuclear power plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Report: Transitioning Only 6% Of American Vehicles To Electric Could Prevent 67,000 Premature Deaths” • Changing America’s fleet of trucks and buses to run on electricity while changing the nation’s power grid to renewable fuels could prevent 67,000 premature deaths by 2050, according to a report from the American Lung Association. [CNN]

¶ “California Offers To Cut 130 Billion Gallons A Year To Save Colorado River; Expert Says It’s Not Enough” • A group of water agencies in California that consume the largest proportion of lower Colorado River water are offering to cut their usage in an effort to save the river basin voluntarily and stave off a larger crisis. One expert says it is not nearly enough. [CNN]

Colorado River (Donald Giannatti, Unsplash)

¶ “White House Releasing Progress Reports On Agencies’ Efforts To Combat Climate Change Risks” • The White House is showing a series of reports detailing agencies’ progress in steeling federal facilities, programs, and operations in the face of climate change. The progress reports come a year after more than 20 agencies released plans to ensure resilience. [CNN]

¶ “Ford Used Its Lightning Trucks, Sent Them To The Rescue For Hurricane Ian” • Ford has helped people who lost power before. For Hurricane Ian, it was a much more organized effort. In addition to other corporate aid efforts, Ford sent F-150 Hybrids, F-150 Lightning electric trucks, E-Transits, and other vehicles to assist non-profits. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)

¶ “Chevy Bolt EV And EUV Saw Record Sales, GM To Almost Double Production” • GM announced record sales of the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. With price drops and factory incentives, the Bolt Brothers have been selling like hotcakes. The total sales for Q3 alone were 14,709, the biggest quarter the Bolt Family has had since things started in 2017. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Mississippi sets new rule on incentive for renewable energy” • Mississippi utility regulators approved a new incentive program for renewable energy despite objections from Republican Gov Tate Reeves and large utility companies. Some lower-income customers who pay most of the cost of installing a system such as rooftop solar panels could receive a $3,000 rebate. [WRAL]

Have an serendipitously rewarding day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Election In Brazil Is A Fight For The Planet” • Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been called “the world’s most dangerous climate denier.” He just lost a reelection bid, but since his opponent, leftist former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, did not win by a majority, there will be a runoff election. The climate will be affected by the result. [CleanTechnica]

Brazilian forest (Mateus Campos Felipe, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Should We Pay Extra For Nuclear Power?” • As the governor of Virginia wants to switch support from renewables to nuclear power, it might be a good idea to revisit reports from last June. NextEra Energy, the biggest US investor in nuclear energy, made it clear that its cost analysis shows reasons to switch from nuclear to renewables. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “For Offshore Wind Hopes To Become Reality, Transmission Hurdles Must Be Cleared” • Amid news releases touting offshore wind’s megawatt targets and jobs, there’s been less attention on the challenge of bringing the electricity ashore and connecting it to a grid that was designed to bring power to the coast, not the other way around. [Virginia Mercury]

Offshore turbine installation (Dominion Energy image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Green Hydrogen Pipeline And Shipping Question” • To transition to a green hydrogen future, we need access to cheap renewable energy, clean water, and economical electrolyzers. These parts of the puzzle seem to be falling into place. Rethink Energy is tackling the question of how to transport this hydrogen and what it will cost. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Observations Confirm Model Predictions Of Sea-Level Change From Greenland Melt” • Rising sea levels from melting glaciers pose an increasing threat to coastal communities. An analysis of high-resolution satellite observations takes a major step forward in assessing this risk by confirming theoretical predictions and computational models. [CleanTechnica]

Sea level change (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

World:

¶ “‘Unproven’ Small Nuclear Reactors Would Raise Australia’s Energy Costs And Delay Renewable Uptake” • The small nuclear reactors being advocated by the Coalition would raise electricity prices, slow the uptake of renewables and introduce new risks from nuclear waste, according to a report from the Australian Conservation Foundation. [The Guardian]

¶ “White House Launches Last Ditch Effort To Dissuade OPEC From Cutting Oil Production To Avoid A ‘Total Disaster’” • The Biden administration has launched a full-scale pressure campaign in a last-ditch effort to dissuade Middle Eastern allies from dramatically cutting oil production, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. [CNN]

Offshore oil rig ( Genghiskhanviet, public domain)

¶ “World’s Largest Storage-as-Transmission Project Announced by Fluence and TransnetBW” • Fluence Energy GmbH and TransnetBW GmbH, the transmission system operator in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, announced they would deploy the world’s largest battery-based energy storage-as-transmission project. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Australia Post’s Goal Is 100% Renewables By 2025” • Australia Post is aiming to source 100% renewable electricity by 2025 as part of a newly released “road map” to decarbonise and align itself with the Paris climate goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The government-run mail carrier will pursue rooftop solar generation and RECs.[Renew Economy]

Australia Post delivery EV (Kgbo, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Rolls-Royce Power Systems and The German Renewable Energy Expert SOWITEC Partner Over The Production of Green Hydrogen” • Rolls-Royce Power Systems and the renewable energy expert SOWITEC will partner for production of green hydrogen. They plan total electrolysis capacity of up to 500 MW by 2028. [Hydrogen Central]

¶ “RWE pledges €15 Billion German Green Drive” • RWE has pledged to accelerate its efforts to phase out coal power generation, boosting its investment in renewables to replace the fossil fuel. RWE said it is ready to end lignite-based electricity generation in 2030 and confirmed that it will “invest massively” in renewable energy. [reNews]

Wind turbines (RWE image)

¶ “Nuclear Power Won’t Help Climate Urgency, Says Renewables Chief” • Francesco La Camera, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said the world needs to accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels but building new nuclear capacity was not the right way to do it. He said new nuclear power plants will take too long to build. [Nikkei Asia]

US:

¶ “NY Governor Hochul: Electrovaya To Establish Lithium-Ion Battery Gigafactory In Chautauqua County” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced Electrovaya, Inc, a producer of lithium-ion batteries for transportation and utility storage, has selected the Town of Ellicott in Chautauqua County, New York, as the site for its first US plant. [CleanTechnica]

Electrovaya battery energy storage system (Electrovaya image)

¶ “EVgo And Chase Open First Charging Station Of 50-Station Partnership” • EVgo and Chase announced that they opened the first of 50 fast charging stations at banking branches in the US. The first station opened in Carmel, Indiana, with 100-kW and 350-kW speeds. Chase is also looking to continue its on-site solar power growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Entergy Arkansas Announces 250-MW Solar Facility Near Osceola” • The Arkansas Public Service Commission approved the Entergy Arkansas Driver Solar Project. The 250-MW AC solar plant was developed by Lightsource bp. Its site is about 2,100 acres near Osceola in Mississippi County. Driver Solar will supply power to over 40,000 homes. [Entergy Newsroom]

Have a manifestly resplendent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Trains, E-Bikes, And Blimps: Bill McKibben Envisions Slower, Cleaner Transportation” • Years ago, a group of people in France founded a “slow food” movement, celebrating the joy of dining rather than downing a burger with fries and dashing back into life’s fray. Could we be ready for a “slow travel” movement? McKibben certainly thinks so. [CleanTechnica]

Inside an Airlander 10 blimp (Hybrid Air Vehicles image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Microgrids For Anyone” • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory published a description of the improvised controls that saved NREL during its own outage. It describes a microgrid approach that sidesteps the central controller, an expensive and complicated component, to make microgrids easy and low cost where they are needed most. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Can Agrivoltaics Fuel The Growth Of Sustainable Farming?” • The Inflation Reduction Act, lauded as the largest climate change investment in US history, features a $369 billion investment in clean energy. It includes more than $20 billion for climate-smart agricultural practices, and that will likely produce more grants or subsidies for agrivoltaic projects. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (Image courtesy SolarEdge)

World:

¶ “Bad News For Fossil Fuels: Barbados Seeks Green Hydrogen With Sheep, Too” • A new green hydrogen project in the tiny island nation of Barbados is providing a glimpse of the future that awaits after the global economy wakes up from its collective fossil energy nightmare. Unless, of course, sheep give you nightmares. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tata Tiago EV Is A $10,000 Electric Car For India” • Tata Motors, one of India’s largest vehicle manufacturers, announced a new made-in-India electric car called the Tiago EV, a 5-door hatchback based on the the company’s Ziptron electric car platform, which is optimized for driving conditions in India. The Tiago EV starts at around $10,000. [CleanTechnica]

Tata Tiago EV (courtesy of Tata Motors)

¶ “German Measures To Support Renewable Energy Production Granted EU Approval” • The European Commission approved three additional measures for Germany to support production of electricity from renewable energy sources. The approval is in the context of EEG 2021, which aims to increase climate protection and expand renewable energy. [Energy Live News]

¶ “372-MW Bjornberget Wind Farm Generates First Power” • Enlight Renewable Energy’s Bjornberget onshore wind farm has achieved all necessary regulatory requirements to start moving to commercial operation. Bjornberget is in Sweden. It is one of the largest wind farms in Europe, at 372 MW, and it is Enlight’s largest operational project to date. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Image by Emil Serrgel)

¶ “Head Of Russian-Held Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Freed: UN Watchdog” • The detained chief of Ukraine’s Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been released, according to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Ihor Murashov had been detained by a “Russian patrol” on Friday. [Kyiv Post]

Australia:

¶ “Kaban Wind Farm Powers Up And Connects To Queensland’s Renewable ‘Supergrid’” • Neoen Australia’s 157-MW Kaban wind farm has connected to Queensland’s “SuperGrid,” the state’s grand name for the beefed up electricity network that will need to accommodate 80% renewables by 2035. The wind farm has 16 of its 28 turbines fully installed. [Renew Economy]

Transporting masts (CleanCo image)

¶ “Queensland Seeks Local Manufacturers To Build The State’s Renewable Energy ‘Supergrid’” • Queensland is looking for local manufacturers to build its “supergrid” and ambitious renewable energy rollout, with a plan to set up new local clean technologies supply chains. It is aiming to switch its energy supply from coal to 80% renewables by 2035. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Telstra Dials Up Wind Power Generation” • Ark Energy announced it would supply Telstra, the telecommunications giant, with renewable electricity from the 923.4-MW MacIntyre Wind Farm, now under construction. Telstra has bankrolled over $1 billion of renewable energy projects in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. [The Canberra Times]

Wind turbine construction (PR handout image)

US:

¶ “Death Toll From Hurricane Ian Surpasses 100 As The Search For Survivors Continues In Florida” • The number of people killed in Florida by Hurricane Ian rose to at least 101 on Monday, days after the Category 4 storm made landfall, wrecking coastal areas and leaving rescue crews searching for survivors while residents face the daunting task of rebuilding. [CNN]

¶ “Babcock Ranch Was Designed To Be Resilient. Hurricane Ian Was Its First Real Test” • Florida Power & Light is invested in building community solar facilities. It installed battery storage as part of the solar plant at Babcock Ranch, creating a microgrid. But compliance with a strong building code was an important factor in keeping BR safe. [CleanTechnica]

Babcock Ranch solar array (Babcock Ranch image)

¶ “Vermont’s New ‘Replace Your Ride’ Funds Cleaner Options For Transportation” • Under the Replace Your Ride program, incentives of $3,000 are available on a first-come, first-served basis to income-eligible Vermont residents who retire a working high-polluting vehicle that is at least 10 years old and switch to a new or used plug-in EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Youngkin Plan Calls For Reevaluating Major Clean Energy Law” • On Monday, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin called for expanding nuclear power generation in Virginia, reevaluating a recent clean energy law celebrated by environmentalists, and restoring greater authority to state regulators who oversee the state’s powerful utilities. [AP News]

Have a rather flawless day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Hurricane Ian Amplifies Urgent Need For Resilient, Renewable And Just Energy Grid” • Climate change is fueling more intense storms, with power outages that can be lethal. But distributed renewable energy – generated at or near the place where it will be used – can keep the power flowing to homes, hospitals, and businesses when disasters hit. [The Hill]

Solar array (Jason Blackeye, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Tesla Powerwalls Survive Hours Underwater In Hurricane Ian” • Kelly Roofing, a licensed Tesla Solar Roof installer in Southwest Florida where Ian made landfall, says a solar roof it installed has no damage, apart from a small amount it got when a 30-foot boat landed on it. And two Powerwalls that were under water for hours are doing fine. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Renewable Energy Sector Excluded From Philippine Foreign Investment Cap” • Foreign ownership in the renewable energy market is not covered by the so-called 60-40 investment rule, according to the Department of Justice. The legal opinion stated that the investment cap seeks to “preserve for Filipinos limited and exhaustible resources.” [CNN Philippines]

Philippine wind farm (Froi Rivera, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Revenge Of The ICE Car In Italy As Plug-Ins Down To 7% In August” • There is no sign of relief for the ongoing EV crisis in Europe’s fourth largest auto market. As the rest of the continent continues to enjoy an increasing share of plug-in vehicles across all major countries, Italy is showing a worrying pullback, with causes that are political. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Iran To Produce 10 GW Of Nuclear Power ‘With Or Without Foreign Help’” • Iran’s nuclear  generating capacity is planned to hit 10 GW, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization said, noting that the target does not rely on international partnership. The target will be achieved with national self-sufficiency and local technologies. [Eurasia Review]

Tehran (Sajad Nori, Unsplash)

¶ “Uttar Pradesh To Start Solar Rooftop Projects” • The Uttar Pradesh government decided to develop solar rooftop projects on government and semi-government buildings and offices as part of its new renewable energy initiative. It plans to have twenty-five 2-MW solar PV projects on government buildings and offices. [The Economic Times]

UK:

¶ “Owner Of UK Power Station Drax Cuts Down Primary Forests In Canada” • Drax, which got billions of pounds in green energy subsidies from UK taxpayers, is cutting down environmentally important forests, a BBC investigation found. Drax says it only uses sawdust and waste wood. The BBC discovered some of the wood comes from primary forests in Canada. [BBC]

Canadian forest (Eelco Böhtlingk, Unsplash)

¶ “Equinor Hits The Construction Start Button On UK Storage Project” • Equinor has approved the final investment decision on its Blandford Road battery storage project in the south of the UK. This is Equinor’s the first commercial battery storage asset. The Blandford Road project is a 25-MW, 50-MWh battery storage asset in Dorset. [reNews]

¶ “Siemens And Aker Sign Norfolk Boreas EPCI Grid Contract” • Siemens Energy and Aker Solutions, both preferred bidders to provide the power system to the full 3.6-GW Norfolk zone, have signed a contract with Vattenfall to deliver infrastructure for grid connection for Vattenfall’s 1800-MW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm off England’s east coast. [reNews]

Offshore living quarters platform (Vattenfall image)

US:

¶ “Death Toll Soars To 76 In Florida After Entire Communities Are Demolished By Hurricane Ian” • Newly homeless Floridians are struggling to restart their lives while rescuers scramble to find any remaining signs of life in the wreckage left by Hurricane Ian. In some cases, there are emergency workers who juggle both unimaginable tasks. [CNN]

¶ “This 100% Solar Community Endured Hurricane Ian With No Loss Of Power And Minimal Damage” • Babcock Ranch says it’s “America’s first solar-powered town.” Its solar array makes more electricity than the 2,000-home town uses. When Hurricane Ian came barreling through southwest Florida this week, the lights in Babcock Ranch stayed on. [CNN]

Babcock Ranch solar array (From babcockranch.com)

¶ “Ford F-150 Lightning Powers Florida Man’s Cooking, Lights, Fridge, Entertainment During Hurricane Ian” • A Ford F-150 Lightning helped one Florida man and his family ride out the storm. They used their electric Ford pickup truck to power their refrigerator, lights, fans, TV, electric stove burner, record player, speakers, and probably more. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Achieves Record 343,830 Deliveries In 3rd Quarter” • Tesla published its 3rd quarter production and delivery totals. The company produced a record 365,923 vehicles and delivered a record 343,830 vehicles to customers. The deliveries could have been higher, but there were delays, with more cars in transit at the end of the quarter. [CleanTechnica]

Have an enjoyably reflective day.

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Opinion:

¶ “IEA Head Fatih Birol: Electric Cars Are Transforming The Auto Industry. That’s Good News For The Climate” • The global energy crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing hardship around the world and shining a spotlight on the flaws in today’s energy system. But the current crisis can be a turning point for clean energy. [CNN]

Fatih Birol (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Queensland’s Renewable Energy Plan Confirms The Politics Of Coal Have Changed For Good” • Four years ago, Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson wasn’t convinced by renewable energy. Recently, Williamson went to the Mackay steelworks and said green energy would be “the future saver, the job protection” for regional Queensland. [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Noru Became A Super Typhoon In Six Hours. Scientists Say Powerful Storms Are Becoming Harder To Forecast” • While Noru didn’t inflict as much damage or loss of life as other recent typhoons in the Philippines, it stood out from the others because it gained strength so quickly. It went from being a typhoon to a super typhoon in just six hours. [CNN]

Noru from space in false colors (Earth Observatory, NASA)

¶ “What Is Blue Carbon?” • Blue carbon refers to carbon dioxide that is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean. “Blue” refers to the watery nature of this storage. Most, by far, of blue carbon is CO₂ that has dissolved directly into the ocean. Much smaller amounts are stored in underwater sediments, soils, and coastal vegetation. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “100% Electric Vehicles Are 11% Of New Vehicle Sales Globally!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 60% in August 2022 compared to August 2021, reaching 847,000 units. September could be the first month when the world reaches one million plugin vehicle registrations, making the third quarter of 2022 the best ever for plugins. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song Plus interior (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Climate Change At ‘Point Of No Return’: Jane Goodall” • The Earth’s climate is changing so quickly that humanity is running out of chances to fix it, primatologist Jane Goodall has warned in an interview. Goodall, whose activism has spanned decades, said time was rapidly running out. “We are literally approaching a point of no return,” she said. [Malay Mail]

¶ “RWE Agrees To Acquire Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, Inc” • German renewable energy company RWE AG signed a purchase agreement with Con Edison to acquire all shares in Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses. Con Edison CEB has about 3 GW of capacity operating in the US and another 7 GW in its development pipeline. [RWE]

Wind farm near Madison, New York (Russell Lovrin, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “IAEA Head Seeks Release Of Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Head” • Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, called for the release of the director-general of Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying his detention posed a threat to safety and security. [Reuters]

Russian wind turbine (kallerna, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Rosatom Keen To Offer Renewable Energy Solutions To Bangladesh” • Amid the fossil fuel price volatility, Rosatom, the Russian nuclear power company is offering renewables to foreign partners, said a top official. Rosatom is Russia’s biggest wind operator, at 600 MW. (So Rosatom has four times as much wind capacity as Vermont does.) [The Business Standard]

US:

¶ “Behind The Blackout Triggered By Hurricane Fiona Is A Long-Embattled History Of Puerto Rico’s Weak And Outdated Electrical Grid” • Less than two weeks ago, Hurricane Fiona made landfall on Puerto Rico. It triggered an islandwide blackout for 1.5 million customers. Power has been restored to 84% of residents, officials said. [CNN]

¶ “Lack Of Flood Disclosure Laws Is Putting Home Buyers At Risk As Extreme Storms Become More Frequent” • According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, most states either have inadequate flood disclosure laws or none at all. This means that homebuyers completely in the dark about the history of flood damage at a property, unless they ask. [CNN]

Fort Lauderdale neighborhood (Luiz Cent, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Power In Parts Of Florida Could Be Out For Over A Week As Flooding Lingers In Ian’s Wake” • It could be over a week before power lines are fully restored in some parts of Florida. And many residents are still dealing with major flooding. Deadly Hurricane Ian is expected to be the most expensive storm in the Sunshine State’s history. [CNN]

¶ “US Commercial Buildings Continued To Increase Energy Efficiency Through 2018” • According to the Energy Information Administration’s recently released 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, the total floorspace in commercial buildings has increased but energy consumption has not, since the previous survey, of 2012. [CleanTechnica]

Have an actually dreamy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Australia’s Great Energy Transition Reaches A ‘Tipping Point’ As Clock Winds Forward For Coal” • Bruce Mountain from the Victoria Energy Policy Centre may have summed up a big week for Australia’s energy industry best. “I think it’s a tipping point,” he said. His comment was about AGL deciding to close the Loy Yang A early. There were other similar events. [ABC]

Loy Yang power station (Marcus Wong, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Effective Are Rooftop Solar Plus Storage Systems In A Blackout? Berkeley Lab Has The Answer” • How timely! Just as millions in Florida lost power due to Hurricane Ian, Berkeley Lab released a report that examines how effective rooftop solar plus storage systems can be at keeping the lights on for a 3-day period in every county in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Artemis Technologies Unveils Fast Electric Ferry Design” • A maritime design and applied technologies firm based in Belfast, Artemis Technologies, unveiled the design of its 100% electric EF-24 Passenger vessel for the global high-speed ferry market. This revolutionary ferry is one of several zero-emission vessels being created by the company. [CleanTechnica]

Electric ferry (Artemis Technologies image)

¶ “Study Finds That Climate Change Added 10% To Ian’s Rainfall” • Climate change added at least 10% more rain to Hurricane Ian, a study prepared immediately after the storm shows. “The real storm was 10% wetter than the storm that might have been,” said Lawrence Berkeley National Lab climatologist Michael Wehner, study co-author. [CBS19 News]

World:

¶ “Everrati Accelerates Global Production Of Classic Car EV Conversions Following Surging Demand” • Everrati has been working hard to ensure that timeless classics are also part of the transition to EVs. By converting legendary cars of yesteryear, Everrati is preserving them for a new generation to drive and enjoy without gas-guzzling guilt. [CleanTechnica]

Electrified classic (Everrati image)

¶ “EU Agrees To Tax Windfall Oil And Gas Profits Amid ‘Insane Race’ To Tame Energy Crisis” • EU governments agreed Friday to tax the windfall profits of oil and gas companies and to cap the revenues of some electricity generators as the cost of Europe’s energy crisis spirals higher. But they have not agreed to impose a price cap on imports of Russian natural gas. [CNN]

¶ “Sono Motors Debuts Solar Trailers, Solar Refrigeration For The World’s Current Diesel Fleet” • One promising way to cut some diesel usage in the existing fleet is to use solar retrofit kits on buses and large trailers for subsystems that ventilate, heat, air condition, or refrigerate. Sono Motors unveiled systems that cover those needs. [CleanTechnica]

Solar trailer (Sono Motors image)

¶ “Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone Takes Crucial Shape” • The New South Wales government has moved closer to opening up of one of the state’s most promising renewable energy zones, with the release of a draft declaration of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ. It is envisioned to have 40 GW of renewable energy and storage. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Costa Rican Future Is Focused On Renewable Energy And Reducing Dependence On Crude Oil” • Costa Rica has had great achievements in areas including electrical energy and even progress with renewable energy. The Central American country covered 99.92% of its electricity demand with renewable energies in 2021. [The Costa Rica News]

Pirrís Dam (Walter Camacho 5654, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Head Of Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant Was ‘Kidnapped By Russian Forces’” • Ukraine’s nuclear power provider has accused Russia of “kidnapping” the head of Europe’s largest nuclear plant, a facility occupied by Russian troops. Energoatom said Russian troops stopped Murashov’s car, blindfolded him, and took him to an undisclosed location. [TheJournal.ie]

¶ “GE Renewable Energy To Supply Turbines To Continuum Green” • GE Renewable Energy announced it will supply, install, and commission onshore wind turbines for Continuum Green Energy’s 218-MW wind power projects in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The orders have been placed by two Continuum subsidiaries. [Construction World]

GE wind turbines (Dietmar Rabich, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Ian expected to dissipate soon after striking Carolinas and killing at least 45 in Florida” • Ian made its second landfall in the US near Georgetown, South Carolina, Friday afternoon as a Category 1 hurricane. By Friday night, it was continuing to pack 60 mph winds, but it was expected to weaken overnight and dissipate over North Carolina or Virginia. [CNN]

¶ “Electric Cars And Politics – NY Follows California’s Lead, And Georgia Seeks Relief For Hyundai” • California announced it will prohibit the sale of passenger cars and light duty trucks with internal combustion engines by 2035. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week that her state is following the lead of California on this. [CleanTechnica]

Car on the road (Michelin image)

¶ “RE+ 2022: SEIA’s Vision For The Solar+ Decade” • “I simply can’t overstate how impactful the IRA is for the solar and storage industry,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA. “We are closer than ever to meeting our ambitious goals by 2030. By the end of this decade, we’ll be at least a $150 billion industry, we’ll employ over one million workers…” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SWEPCO Issues Requests For Proposals Renewable Energy Resources” • Southwestern Electric Power Co issued two RFPs for the purchase of wind and solar generation resources in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas or Missouri. The RFPs solicit bids for up to 1,900 MW of wind resources and up to 500 MW of solar power. [Shreveport Times]

Have a singularly superb day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The hurricane problem Florida could have avoided” • After Hurricane Andrew, thirty years ago, Florida got new building codes. They may have somewhat protected against damage and enhanced survivability, but other disaster factors, such as rapid population growth and climate change, have tipped the disaster scale in the wrong direction. [CNN]

Housing in Naples, Florida (pennsyloco, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Carmakers’ Lifetime Emissions 50% Higher Than Reported” • Carmakers’ global emissions average 50% more than they report, Transport & Environment analysis shows. Obligatory scope 3 (lifetime) emissions disclosure is set to be introduced in 2023. Exposure to carbon intensive carmakers is a ‘ticking carbon bomb,’ for asset managers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Last Gasp For Mountain Valley Pipeline Natural Gas Project” • Natural gas stakeholders thought they had the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the bag. Federal legislation that would have cleared the way for it and other fossil energy projects was cut from a spending bill by its own sponsor, Senator Joe Manchin. There is a lot to this story. [CleanTechnica]

West Virginia (DJCohenour, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “US Points Finger At Russia Over Gas Pipeline Sabotage” • The US has said it “seems” Russia is to blame for this week’s leaks in the two Nordstream gas pipelines. US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said an investigation was being carried out into the cause of what she called “an act of sabotage.” Russia has dismissed suggestions that it was to blame. [BBC]

¶ “Fraunhofer ISE Doubles Production Speed Of Silicon Wafers For Solar Panels” • Working with a consortium of companies and research organizations, Fraunhofer ISE devised an innovative production line that can produce 15,000 to 20,000 silicon wafers per hour. That is about double the output of most production lines in use today. [CleanTechnica]

Experimental wafer stack (Fraunhofer ISE image)

¶ “In Europe, 13% Of New Car Sales Are Electric (21% Plugins)” • For the first time since June 2021, the overall European car market grew YOY, though it was only by 3%. Plugin hybrid models continued to have falling sales, but at the same time, BEVs managed to maintain their two-digit growth rates last month, with 12% growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “WindEurope warns EU Power Plans Will Put Renewables At Risk” • WindEurope warned that new EU emergency regulations in response to the energy crisis could hold up many renewables investments. EU energy ministers are convening  to decide on emergency regulations aimed to curb rising electricity prices and coordinate members’ responses. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Thomas Reaubourg, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe Braces For Mobile Network Blackouts As Russia Halts Gas Supplies” • Russia’s decision to halt gas supplies to Europe in the wake of the Ukraine conflict has increased the chances of power shortages. The situation is made worse in France due to the maintenance cycles of several nuclear power plants. Even cell phones could be affected. [Business Today]

Australia:

¶ “Australia’s AGL Energy Plans Investments Of $13 Billion In Renewable Energy By 2036” • An Australian energy generator and retailer, AGL Energy Ltd, recently announced that it plans to spend up to A$20 billion ($13 billion) by 2036 on renewable energy. At the same time it will accelerate the end of coal-fired generating by ten years. [Saur Energy]

Solar panels and radio telescope (ESA_events, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Queensland, Australia, Vows To Turn Its Coal Plants Into Renewable Energy Hubs By 2035” • Queensland is one of Australia’s most important coal-producing states, according to Reuters. But that might change. The government announced a $40 billion plan to transition its coal-fired generation stations into renewable energy hubs by 2035. [EcoWatch]

¶ “Queensland Is Building The World’s Largest Pumped Hydro System” • One takeaway from Queensland’s renewable energy plan is that the state is committed to pumped hydro technology. It’s the centerpiece of the state’s new renewables target, coming in the form of two new pumped hydro facilities, one of which will be the largest of its kind worldwide. [ABC]

Pumped hydro plant (Supplied by Snowy Hydro)

US:

¶ “‘Substantial loss of life’ possible in Florida as Hurricane Ian takes aim at South Carolina” • Ian’s combination of winds, rain, and storm surge caused at least a dozen deaths, flooded homes, cut off roadways, and left millions of Florida residents without power as it once more intensified into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and heads toward South Carolina. [CNN]

¶ “Hurricane Ian’s Rainfall Was A 1-In-1,000 Year Event For The Hardest-Hit Parts Of Florida” • Hurricane Ian slammed into the Gulf Coast of Florida on Wednesday with record-breaking storm surge and devastating winds. But as it tracked inland, extreme rainfall became the most destructive aspect of the storm for central Florida. [CNN]

Lucky survivors (PCHS-NJROTC, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “The US Plan To Power 100% Of Its Flights With Renewable Jet Fuel” • This month, the US DOE released a roadmap on how to achieve carbon-neutral aviation emissions. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap outlines steps to meet 100% of the domestic aviation fuel demand with sustainable fuel by 2050. [Oil Price]

¶ “Burlington Electric Issues RFP To Replace Expiring Renewable Energy Sources” • Burlington Electric Department issued a request for proposals for renewable energy resources to ensure that it can continue to source 100% of its power from renewable generation. BED has contracts that will be expiring in the next two to five years. [Vermont Business Magazine]

Have a thoroughly fortunate day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Hay! Alfalfa Is The Biggest Issue For Western Water” • All the reductions of water use cities can do will not be nearly enough to restore the Colorado River. But alfalfa farmers in one California irrigation district use far more water than the allotment for the state of Nevada. Alfalfa farms use almost enough water to cover the river’s shortfall. [CleanTechnica]

Growing alfalfa (USDA-NRCS image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Hurricane Ian’s Rapid Intensification Is Part Of A Trend For The Most Dangerous Storms” • Ian’s wind speed increased by 35 mph in less than three hours. Scientists say rapid intensification of hurricanes is getting more likely as the climate crisis pushes ocean temperatures higher, enabling them to grow at breakneck pace into deadly major hurricanes. [CNN]

World:

¶ “Big Oil’s Toxic Emissions From Flaring Undeclared” • Major oil companies are failing to declare significant greenhouse gas emissions from flaring gas at oil fields, a BBC News investigation revealed. Millions of tonnes of undeclared emissions come from gas flaring at oil fields that are operated by BP, Eni, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell. [BBC]

Gas Flare (Andreas Rümpel, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “West Shores Up Nord Stream Pipeline Security, Blaming Leak On Sabotage” • European countries say they will boost security around oil and gas installations after the suspected sabotage of two major pipelines. The EU, US, and Nato suggested damage to the pipelines between Russia and Germany was deliberate, but have not blamed Russia directly. [BBC]

¶ “Australia’s Most-Polluting Coal Plant To Shut Decade Earlier Than Planned” • Australia’s dirtiest power plant will shut down a decade earlier than planned. The coal-fired Loy Yang A power station in Victoria will close in 2035, owner AGL Energy said. It emitted 16.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas in 2019-20, more than 3% of the country’s emissions. [BBC]

Loy Yang plant (Marcus Wong Wongm, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Manchester Orders 50 Electric Buses, But It Would Be More Fair To Call Them 100 Electric Buses” • NFI announced that Transport for Greater Manchester had ordered 50 zero-emission double-decker buses from Alexander Dennis. These buses will be used in the first phase of the franchised Bee Network bus system, set to launch in September 2023. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vattenfall Swoops On 1 GW Of German Offshore Wind” • Vattenfall has decided to exercise its right to develop a 980-MW offshore wind project awarded to RWE Renewables in the German North Sea. Following a final investment decision by Vattenfall, the wind farm could be connected to the German electric grid in 2027. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Vattenfall image)

¶ “GE Renewable Energy Secures 218.7-MW Indian Order” • GE Renewable Energy has secured orders from Continuum Green Energy Limited to supply, install, and commission 81 turbines for windpower projects in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. The order is for 2.7-132 onshore wind turbines for the projects with a total capacity of 218.7MW. [reNews]

¶ “Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plant Hit By 26th Postponement” • The completion date for a spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Japan, a key component in the cycle policy, was pushed back for the 26th time. The construction cost of the reprocessing plant was initially estimated at ¥760 billion ($5.25 billion). It has grown to ¥3.1 trillion ($21.4 billion). [Asahi Shimbun]

Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (Nife, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Hurricane Ian Continues To Batter Florida As A Category 1 Storm While Officials Warn The Worst Is Yet To Come” • Ian made landfall as a Category 4 near Cayo Costa around 3:05 pm, with winds near 150 mph. It continued to batter Florida with high winds, heavy rain, and historic storm surge Wednesday night, even as it weakened to a Category 1. [CNN]

¶ “More Green Ammonia For The US, And More Electrofuels For Texas” • The Danish firm Topsoe announced that it is part of a scheme to drop a gigantic new electrofuel plant featuring green hydrogen in the state of Texas. The same company is also involved in a new green ammonia plan that could find a footing in Texas, too. [CleanTechnica]

Green ammonia and electrofuels (HIF Global, screenshot)

¶ “Electric School Buses Used To Support Maryland Energy Grid” • A widespread adoption of EVs with V2G technology can help balance the nation’s energy grids. The Montgomery County Public School district in Maryland put the idea into practice by using its electric school bus fleet to provide power reserves to support the PJM electric grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ESS Flow Battery To Supply 200-MW, 2-GWh Of Storage To California Utility” • ESS is an Oregon-based company that makes flow batteries using abundant and inexpensive materials: iron, salt, and water. ESS is to supply the Sacramento Municipal Utility District with a flow batteries with a total capacity of 200-MW, 2-GWh beginning next year. [CleanTechnica]

ESS all-iron flow battery (ESS image)

¶ “Victory! Colorado Cancels Highway Expansion, Funds Transit Instead” • A plan to expand Interstate 25 through central Denver has officially been scrapped, and $100 million has instead been reallocated to Bus Rapid Transit and investments in projects that are friendly to walking and biking to support healthier, more vibrant communities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tiny Oregon Town Hosts First Wind-Solar-Battery “Hybrid” Plant” • A renewable energy plant that was commissioned in in the tiny Oregon town of Lexingtonn combines solar power and wind power with massive batteries to store the energy that is generated there. It is the first utility-scale plant of its kind in North America. [NowThis News]

Have a sufficiently perfect day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Could Living In A Bamboo Home Help Solve The Climate Crisis?” • While bamboo has been used in construction in Asia for thousands of years, it’s starting to be used for sustainable housing in parts of the US and elsewhere. Giant bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on the planet. It can be harvested when it is just three years old. [CNN]

Bamboo house interior (Maria Orlova, Pexels)

¶ “Tesla To Employ Thousands Of Its “Humanoid Robots” In Its Factories” • Elon Musk has long talked about Tesla’s innovation in building “the machine that builds the machine.” He emphasized that he sees that manufacturing will be Tesla’s #1 competitive advantage. Now Tesla seems to be working on using humanoid robots in factories. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “To Get Lithium For Batteries, Geothermal Energy Could Soon Help” • The Lithium Story Map allows visitors to scroll through the role of lithium in renewable energy, see how the critical material is obtained, and understand why the Salton Sea region of California may prove a key domestic source – with a little help from geothermal energy. [CleanTechnica]

Aerial view of the Salton Sea (Dicklyon, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “Hurricane Ian: Cuba Suffers Complete Blackout After Storm” • Cuba is completely without power after Hurricane Ian slammed the western end of the island, its government has announced. The electrical system is experiencing total collapse, after one of the main power plants could not be brought back online, leaving 11 million people in the dark. [BBC]

¶ “Hundreds Of Thousands Evacuated As Typhoon Noru Makes Landfall In Vietnam’s Da Nang” • Typhoon Noru made landfall near Vietnam’s popular beach city of Da Nang on Wednesday morning, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain as hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated. Typhoon Noru left the Philippines around 8 pm on Monday. [CNN]

Typhoon damage in the Philippines (Carl Kho, Unsplash)

¶ “Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Pipeline Terror Attack On Nord Stream Pipeline” • Ukraine has accused Russia of causing leaks in two major gas pipelines to Europe in what it described as a “terrorist attack.” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said the damage to Nord Stream 1 and 2 was “an act of aggression” towards the EU. [BBC]

¶ “Venice’s Fight Against Rising Seas” • This statement is far from hyperbole: Venice is at very real risk of being consumed by the sea. In worst-case scenario, the city could disappear beneath the waves by as early as 2100. Part of the problem is rising sea levels. But also, many buildings in the city are slowly sinking due to groundwater extraction. [BBC]

Flooded Venice (Egor Gordeev, Unsplash)

¶ “Queensland Takes Its Own Road To A Decarbonised Grid” • The Queensland government revealed details of its new energy blueprint, with A$62 billion ($40 billion) of new investment to 2035. The plan is for 25 GW of new wind and solar (50:50 mix) by 2035, in addition to 7 GW of new rooftop solar, new pumped storage, and transmission lines. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Scottish Power Secured Record-Breaking 19 Renewable Energy Projects In First Half Of 2022” • Scottish Power has confirmed it secured 19 renewable energy projects in the first six months of 2022 totalling more than 9 GW, a record for the firm. Along with others, ScottishPower received leasing through the ScotWind initiative in January 2022. [Current News]

Wind turbines (Scottish Power image)

¶ “GE To Work On Converting Old, Gas-Fired Power Station In Britain Into A Battery Storage Facility” • A decommissioned gas-fired power station in Britain is set to be repurposed and converted into a battery storage facility. GE will supply the 50-MW project’s battery storage system, which will store energy from 43 onshore wind farms. [CNBC]

¶ “Germany Delays Exit From Nuclear Power To Offset Energy Shortfall” • Germany’s planned exit from nuclear power by the end of this year has been officially delayed in order to shore up energy supplies during an expected shortfall this winter, the economic minister, Robert Habeck, announced. The decision is an awkward U-turn for Germany. [The Guardian]

Isar nuclear plant (E.ON, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Florida officials urge evacuation as Ian approaches” • More than 2.5 million Floridians were under some kind of evacuation warning Tuesday as Hurricane Ian marched closer to the state’s west coast. The Category 3 storm was churning 120 mph winds Tuesday night with its center roughly 180 miles south-southwest of the city of Punta Gorda. [CNN]

¶ “US Plan To Add 500,000 EV Chargers In All Fifty States Gets Final Approval” • An Associated Press report says that all fifty states have received final approval to begin construction of the first nationwide network of EV charging stations. When it is complete, there will be at least one DC fast charger every 50 miles along the interstate highways. [CleanTechnica]

EV chargers (Image courtesy of ABB)

¶ “Seventeen EV Models Have EPA Combined Rating Of Over 100 MPGe In Model Year 2022” • For Model Year 2022, 17 EV models achieved over 100 miles per gallon equivalent. MPGe is a unit of measure used by the EPA to represent EV fuel economy in a common unit with gas-powered vehicles. The best rating was for the Tesla Model 3, at 132 MPGe. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Seabrook Nuclear Plant False Alarm: Here’s Why It Took Nearly An Hour To Notify Public” • On July 12, it took nearly an hour to notify the public that the alarm at the NextEra Seabrook nuclear power plant was false. The state Department of Safety’s report finds that this happened because there was no procedure in place for an inadvertent alarm. [Seacoastonline.com]

Have a simply splendid day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Electric Vehicle Good, E-Bike Better, Cargo E-Bike Even Better” • “One bike that can do almost anything – commutes, trips to the store, daycare drop-off, leisure rides, and more.” So said the e-bike maker CERO, as it unveiled its CERO One. It’s all true! The CERO One feels like silk in motion to ride, and you can use it for local shopping. [CleanTechnica]

CERO One (CERO image)

¶ “If You’re A Climate Activist, Beware – Fossil Fuel Companies May Target You Next” • EarthRights International has uncovered a trend in the US and abroad of closing civic space, where those who exercise their fundamental rights to speak up about matters of public interest face retaliation through judicial harassment and physical violence. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change Is Causing Hurricanes To Intensify Faster Than Ever” • Rapid intensification has historically been a rare phenomenon, but human-caused climate change is stacking the deck in favor of more intense storms. As they generate more rainfall and larger storm surge, they are also more likely to be stronger and intensify faster. [CNN]

Super Typhoon Noru (NOAA/CIRA/RAMMB)

World:

¶ “Energy Dome To Partner With Ørsted For Energy Storage” • Energy Dome has technology that uses CO₂ as an energy storage medium. The company is building its first demonstration facility on Sardinia, where its CO₂ battery will help smooth the island transition to renewables when it shuts down its two coal-fired generating stations next year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Project Agreements For 420 MW Of Onshore Wind Signed This Week In South Africa” • The first three project agreements of South Africa’s fifth bid window of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme have been signed. The bid window aims to procure 1,600 MW onshore wind and 1,000 MW of solar PV plants. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Brett Sayles, Pexels)

¶ “South Africa’s Eskom Announces New Partnership For Developing A Renewable Energy Training Facility” • South African power utility Eskom announced a partnership with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre on a training facility at the Komati Power Station. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Corio Partners On Development Of Spanish Floater” • Corio Generation partnered with global investment platform Q-Energy to explore opportunities for development of floating offshore wind power in Spain. The announcement comes as the Spanish government is aiming to build up to 3 GW of floating offshore wind by 2030. [reNews]

Floating wind turbine (WindEurope image)

¶ “Wärtsilä To Provide Energy Storage Systems To The Cayman Islands” • The technology group Wärtsilä will supply two 10-MW, 10-MWh energy storage systems under a contract to Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd in the Cayman Islands. This project will enable the utility to nearly double its renewable energy capacity on Grand Cayman. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “European’s Energy Independence Impossible Unless Wind Power Considered A Strategic Industry Says SGRE” • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy published a white paper on Europe’s energy sovereignty. It highlights how the recent exceptional pressures on the wind industry led to a challenging financial situation. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Siemens Gamesa wind turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)

¶ “Victoria Targets 6.3 GW Of Renewable Storage By 2035” • Victoria’s new storage targets are Australia’s largest to date. Victoria is already home to the largest battery in the Southern Hemisphere, Neoen’s 300-MW Victorian Big Battery. The state’s new targets include batteries, hydroelectricity, and hydrogen technologies. [pv magazine Australia]

US:

¶ “Hurricane Ian: Florida Warned To Brace For ‘Major Disaster’” • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned the state to brace for a potential “major disaster” as category two Hurricane Ian gathers force in the Caribbean. Ian is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, but the hurricane’s exact path is still uncertain. [BBC]

Governor Ron DeSantis (Gage Skidmore, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “GM Banks On Honking Big Electric Vehicles In First-Ever Propulsion Do-Over” • GM has announced its first retooling of one of its propulsion facilities to make the innards for EVs. That’s the kind of move that could make EV-only startups quake in their boots. But the real question is how to plump up the lithium supply chain. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Rheem Releases 120V Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater That Can Be Plugged Into Typical Outlet” • Rheem released its 120V ProTerra(R) Plug-in Heat Pump water heater. This is really good news. When it comes to climate effects and price, heat pump water heaters are the energy equivalent of seven solar panels that cost one-sixth of the price. [CleanTechnica]

Rheem 120V heat pump water heater (Rheem image)

¶ “Activists Push Back Against Plan That Would Dump Nuclear Waste Into Ocean” • A crowd of about 100 activists objected to a plan by Holtec International, which is decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to dump radioactive waste into Cape Cod Bay as one of its options to get rid of the material. [NECN]

¶ “Feds Commit $50 Million To For-Profit Nuclear Fusion Companies” • The DOE announced that $50 million will go toward private nuclear fusion companies in public-private partnerships. The US government has put federal money into fusion science research since the 1950s and today invests about $700 million per year into fusion research. [CNBC]

Have a tremendously uncomplicated day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “NGK Is To Supply Sakuú With Ceramics For Solid-State Batteries” • Sakuú, based in California, has novel methods of 3D printing. NGK is a Japanese company with expertise in ceramics. They will collaborate to develop 3D-printed solid-state batteries. Sakuú says the batteries are 50% smaller, 30% lighter, and less expensive than lithium-ion batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Sakuú solid-state battery (Sakuú image)

World:

¶ “Volkswagen Subsidiary Elli Enters Partnership To Integrate EVs Into Grid” • Some recent news from Volkswagen shows us that using EVs to stabilize the grid is far from being a dream. Elia Group, re.alto, and Elli agreed to undertake joint activities with the aim of illustrating the benefits of e-vehicles integrating into the electricity system. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electric Utility Vehicles For Australia And New Zealand” • EV enthusiasts in Australia and New Zealand might be holding out for a Rivian or a Ford F-150 Lightning, but they may have to make do with the Chinese LDV T60 EV. The vehicle is available for order in New Zealand now and should be launched late this year or early next year in Australia. [CleanTechnica]

LDV eT60 (LDV New Zealand)

¶ “Saudi Arabia Announces Five Renewable Energy Projects To Produce Electricity” • Saudi Arabia has announced five new projects to produce electricity using renewable energy. They include three wind energy projects, with a total capacity of 1,300 MW, and two solar energy projects, whose combined capacity will be 1,500 MW. [Business Standard]

¶ “Enercon Unveils 6-MW E-175 Turbine” • German turbine manufacturer Enercon has revealed a new model, the E-175 EP5, which has a rotor diameter of 175 metres and a nominal power of 6 MW. The wind energy conversion system is designed for low to medium wind sites. A prototype is planned for 2023/24 and the start of series production for 2024. [reNews]

New wind turbine (Enercon image)

¶ “Tomago Aluminium Ramps Up Renewable Energy Plans” • New South Wales’ largest electricity user, Tomago Aluminium, is accelerating its plan to abandon coal-fired power, revealing it is looking to collaborate with key industry partners to develop new and innovative renewable power generation and energy storage projects. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Queensland Pushes Closer To Renewable Energy Target” • Stanwell is working with global renewable energy developer RES on the proposed Tarong West Wind Farm, 30 km south-west of Kingaroy. It is expected to have a capacity of up to 500 MW. Support is expected from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund. [pv magazine Australia]

Coopers Gap wind farm (DiamondIIIXX, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy Capacity Sees Rapid Expansion” • China’s installed capacity of renewable energy notched up rapid growth in the first eight months of the year amid the country’s pursuit of green development. By the end of August, the country’s total installed capacity included 340 million kW of windpower, and 350 million kW of solar. [The Bull]

US:

¶ “Florida officials urge residents to prepare for Tropical Storm Ian” • Floridians are bracing for Tropical Storm Ian, which is expected to rapidly intensify before hitting western Cuba with threats of strong winds and storm surge as high as 9 to 14 feet, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is too early to know where it will make US landfall. [CNN]

Forecast arrival times (NOAA image)

¶ “Biden Touts Climate Package At Global Citizen Festival” • President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden addressed the Global Citizen Festival, underscoring the administration’s commitment to climate action, according to remarks obtained by CNN. Biden cited the Democrats’ $369 billion climate package, the largest such investment in US history. [CNN]

¶ “East Bay Customers Support California’s Grid During Extreme Heat Wave Through Innovative Program” • East Bay Community Energy and Sunrun have been installing solar + battery systems in California. Systems in EBCE’s Resilient Home Program gave critical emergency energy support to stave off rolling blackouts during California’s Flex Alerts. [CleanTechnica]

Sunrun installation (Sunrun image)

¶ “Tesla Passes 10,000 Model Ys Produced At Texas Gigafactory” • Elon Musk has an ambitious goal for 2030. He wants Tesla to be producing 20 million vehicles a year by the end that year. Many milestones will be passed to get to that goal. The big milestone of the month at “Giga Texas” is that it just recently rolled out its 10,000th vehicle. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Corporate Demand Drives New Renewable Energy Projects Across Michigan” • Through voluntary “green pricing” programs created under 2016 statewide energy reforms, utilities regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission have reported exponential growth in the amount of customer-purchased renewable energy. [MiBiz]

DTE Energy’s Pinnebog Wind Park (Courtesy photo)

¶ “NYISO Report Examines Pathways To Renewables” • New York state will need to increase its electric generating capabilities by 20 GW to meet state’s goal that 70% of the state’s power come from renewable sources in 2030. The state Independent System Operator has identified what it terms an unprecedented level of electrical system investment. [Observer Today]

¶ “US Partnerships Boost Development Of Hydrogen Economy” • Argonne National Laboratory has teamed up with Constellation Energy Corp to develop projects, with one focusing on hydrogen production from nuclear power plants, while Bloom Energy and Excel Energy have announced plans for hydrogen production at a nuclear plant in Minnesota. [Eurasia Review]
(I think they are looking for ways to continue the operation of nuclear plants in a market where nuclear can’t compete. GHH)

Have an unimaginably excellent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Congress Should Reject Radical Permitting Proposal” • Sen Joe Manchin’s legislative text on fossil fuel infrastructure permitting, released after weeks of speculation about a potential measure, is similar to proposals already made public, but significantly worse in that it adds draconian language mandating permitting of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. [CleanTechnica]

West Virginia (Michael Barrick, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Air Pollution Can Amplify The Negative Effects Of Climate Change, New Study Finds” • The impacts of air pollution on human health, economies, and agriculture differ a lot depending on where on the planet the pollutants are emitted, a study found. In some cases, pollution co-emitted with CO₂ can increase the social cost of carbon by as much as 66%. [ScienceDaily]

World:

¶ “Fiona Slams Canada’s Atlantic Coast, Knocking Out Power For Thousands And Damaging Homes” • Fiona ripped through Canada’s eastern seaboard at hurricane strength after making landfall in Nova Scotia on Saturday, slamming the area with fierce winds and storm surge and causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of people. [CNN]

Storm damage (Charlottetown Police Department)

¶ “Fracking Ban Lifted, Government Announces” • Fracking can go ahead in England, the government said, lifting a ban on the controversial process. A moratorium was put in place in 2019 due to concerns over earth tremors. But with the worsening global energy crisis and world leaders scrambling to secure energy supplies, the question has been reopened. [BBC]

¶ “Climate Change Risk To Coastal Castles” • Castles that have stood for hundreds of years are at risk of being damaged by climate change, conservation charity English Heritage warns. The charity, which manages over 400 historic sites in England, highlighted six castles threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels. Tintagel Castle is one of them. [BBC]

Tintagel Castle, of Arthurian fame (English Heritage photo)

¶ “Tesla BEV Market Share Dropped From 25.1% In Q2 2020 To 15.6% In Q2 2022 – While Sales Grew 180.2%” • Sales of Teslas grew from 90,891 in Q2 2020 to 254,695 in Q2 2022. But in the markets of China, Europe, and the US, Tesla’s share of battery EV sales dropped from 25.1% in Q2 2020 to 15.6% in Q2 2022. The market is growing faster than Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Investments In Egypt’s Renewable Energy Approach $3.5 Billion To Produce 3,570 MW” • Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr Mohamed Shaker, said investments in the renewable energy sector in Egypt are growing rapidly, reaching 3,570 MW, with foreign direct investment of nearly $3.5 billion, double its counterpart in 2020. [Egypt Today]

Wind turbine in Egypt (Hatem Moushir, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Ukrainian Recalls Terror Of Life At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • A worker of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine revealed details about the situation at the facility in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun. Among other things, he said Russian soldiers stored artillery shells in the engine room near the reactor. [The Japan News]

Australia:

¶ “Rooftop Solar Recently Reached 72% Of Western Australia Electricity Output!” • It was once a common assumption in the utility industry and among solar skeptics that solar power could not provide more than 5% of grid electricity or the grid would break. In Western Australia, rooftop solar PVs recently provided 72% of grid power for a time. [CleanTechnica]

Perth, Western Australia (Nathan Hurst, Unsplash)

¶ “Grid Renewal Generates Billion-Dollar Shock As Costs Of Energy Transition Become Clear” • Australian consumers were told to brace for big hikes in power bills due to costs of grid overhauls for renewable energy. Western Australia’s economic regulator said the state’s grid provider should be allowed to spend $9 billion over the next five years [ABC]

¶ “Australia Has A Golden Opportunity To Expand Solar Energy Manufacturing” • Australia has a golden opportunity to expand its solar energy manufacturing capacity as the industry booms and nations scramble to cut their over-dependence on China, according to a report by the Australian Australian PV Institute Institute. [The Guardian]

House in Queensland (Kgbo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “EPA Launches New Office Dedicated To Environmental Justice” • The Environmental Protection Agency will establish a new national office of environmental justice to address the disproportionate harm that pollution and climate change has caused in low-income areas and communities of color, the agency announced. [CNN]

¶ “Misery, Yet Again, For Puerto Ricans Still Recovering From Maria” • Fiona arrived almost exactly five years after Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, delivered a blow from which the island has never fully recovered. It has left many Puerto Ricans marveling anew at the kindness of neighbors and revisiting the age-old debate about leaving for the mainland. [CNN]

Hurricane Fiona from space (NASA, public domain)

¶ “Tropical Storm Ian Forecast To Reach Category 4 Strength As It Tracks Toward Florida” • Tropical Storm Ian, the ninth named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to reach up to Category 4 hurricane strength before hitting Florida. If it does, it will be the first major hurricane to impact the state of Florida since 2018. [CNN]

¶ “Electric Airplane Flights Coming To Florida, The Bahamas, And The Caribbean” • Electric aircraft are all the rage, but when will we see actual commercial electric airplane options for normal people? They are on the way. The electric aircraft “Alice” from Eviation Aircraft is getting real orders, including from a young airline based in Florida. [CleanTechnica]

Have an unambiguously ecstatic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Fatih Birol: Electric Cars Are Transforming The Auto Industry. That’s Good News For The Climate” • By 2030, more than one out of every two cars sold in the US, the EU and China could be electric, according to an analysis that will be published in the International Energy Agency’s flagship “World Energy Outlook” report next month. [CNN]

Electric car (dcbel, Pexels)

¶ “The Really Big Battery Deal In The IRA That People Are Missing” • The IRA incentives for nearly every stage of battery production and the battery supply chain are very attractive, and since they stack on top of each other, the IRA is likely to bring about a “gold rush” of sorts for a wide range of enterprises in fields relative to batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Aluminum-Sulfur Battery Could Drastically Change Mining For Renewable Materials” • One of the most crucial aspects of sustainable living is the responsible mining of renewable resources. Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists have developed an aluminum-sulfur battery that could change mining practices forever. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Aluminum (Darren Patterson, Pexels)

World:

¶ “Ford’s Electric Van Promises To Revolutionize Commercial EVs In Europe” • Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford, says Ford’s Transit Custom is the most popular commercial vehicle in Europe. Now, Ford has a new electric version of that vehicle, the E–Transit Custom. Its electric power has not compromised its performance. [CleanTechnica]
***** Ford E-Transit Custom (Ford of Europe GmbH)

¶ “Citroën Announces New Partnership With Ubitricity” • The Citroën AMI is part of a new exiting range of very small urban electric vehicles. The AMI has a 5.5 kWh battery, a 6 kW motor, a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). It has a range of 46 miles. One really noteworthy thing about this little EV is that you can get one for only £7,695 ($8,356)! [CleanTechnica]

Citroën Ami (Image from Citroën UK)

¶ “Lhyfe Launches Offshore Renewable Green Hydrogen Production Pilot Site” • Global clean energy pioneer Lhyfe has launched the world’s first renewable green hydrogen production demonstrator. Lhyfe started an 18-month wind powered pilot in Saint-Nazaire, France, as part its drive towards large-scale carbon reduction. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Nova Scotia Power Expects Lengthy Outages From Hurricane Fiona” • Hundreds of thousands of Nova Scotians lost power on Friday night amid high winds and rain as Hurricane Fiona arrived. Officials warned that the lights, for some, might stay out for a long time, because repair crews cannot work on the lines until the winds subside. [CBC]

Fiona, Sept 23 (NASA/NOAA-20, public domain, cropped)

¶ “China Could Exceed Renewables Generation Target Of 33% By 2025” • China is on track to meet its 33% electricity consumption target from renewables by 2025 and could comfortably exceed it amid ongoing efforts to de-bottleneck the power grid to bring more renewables online, analysts and clean energy project developers said. [S&P Global]

¶ “Belgium To Shut Nuclear Reactor On Friday Amid Energy Crunch” • Belgium announced that its Doel 3 nuclear reactor will disconnect from the grid and cease operations, despite fears of blackouts this winter. It is one of four reactors at the Doel plant near Antwerp, and is the first nuclear reactor to shut down in Belgium’s plan to exit nuclear power. [Oil Price]

Doel nuclear plant (Alexandre Jacquemin, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Sizewell C: Planning Shake-Up ‘Runs Roughshod Over Objectors’” • A government shake-up of planning which could bring forward the building of Sizewell C is “deeply dismaying”, campaigners said. New legislation aims to cut planning rules and get rid of environmental assessments to speed up construction of the nuclear plant. [BBC]

US:

¶ “Here’s What’s In Joe Manchin’s Energy Permitting Reform Plan” • West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has a proposal to streamline the federal permitting process for energy projects and fast-track a pipeline that would impact his home state. Senator Schumer had agreed to pass Manchin’s plan to win his support for the $750 billion Inflation Reduction Act. [CNN]

Pipeline (Quinten de Graaf, Unsplash)

¶ “Ford Improves Blue Cruise With Hands-Free Lane Changing And Tech To Make Road-Sharing With Bigger Vehicles Easy” • As it works toward autonomous driving, Ford announced some new BlueCruise features, including lane changing features and system updates to create more of a human-like driving feel. They will be available on new vehicles this fall. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BlueOval City: Ford’s Making Its Biggest Factory Complex Ever To Support EV Production” • Ford announced breaking ground for BlueOval City, representing a $5.6 billion investment on an EV-making mega-campus of nearly six square miles in western Tennessee. Ford’s goal is to build 2 million EVs per year by 2026, worldwide. [CleanTechnica]

Construction work (Ford image)

¶ “Over 100 Evolve NY Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers Now Installed” • To round out Climate Week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than 100 high-speed chargers have been installed across the state of New York. This achievement is part of the New York Power Authority’s EVolve NY fast charging network for electric vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Environment Groups Slam Plan To Reopen Michigan Nuclear Plant” • Dozens of environmental groups sent a letter to federal energy officials imploring them to deny funding to a New Jersey company seeking to reopen a west Michigan nuclear plant. They say the Palisades Power Plant should not be eligible for the Civil Nuclear Credit Program. [Detroit News]

Have a pefectly lovely day.

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(, CC-BY-SA 3.0) CO₂ NH₃ CH₄ ₹ NOₓ ‽ ♦♦♦♦♦

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Firms Making Flour From Mushrooms And Cauliflower” • Flour is culturally ingrained in our lives, but there are affordable alternatives to wheat. They are gaining attention, particularly after a year of disruption to the grain market resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And the alternatives have benefits for human health and the climate. [BBC]

Wheat growing in Ukraine (Polina Rytova, Unsplash)

¶ “A Wave Of Technologies Uses Nature To Fight The Climate Crisis” • A wave of technologies is accelerating natural climate solutions, and experts say that, together, they can provide around one-third of the cost effective climate mitigation that is needed between now and 2030 to achieve the 1.5ºC target of the UN Climate Paris agreement. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Fearsome Hurricane Fiona Could Be Canada’s Strongest-Ever Storm” • Canadians are bracing for what could be the strongest storm ever to hit their country’s coast. Hurricane Fiona lashed the Caribbean, is forecast to brush by Bermuda as a dangerous Category 3 storm, and shows no signs of slowing before it slams into Canada on Saturday morning. [CNN]

Hurricane Fiona storm track (NOAA image)

¶ “Kenya’s Fuel Subsidy Could Have Bought 28,000 Electric Buses!” • In 2021, Kenya’s bill for imported petroleum products came to $3 billion! Now, the price is far higher because of the energy crisis. Subsidies for consumers mean higher taxes. But for the cost of the subsidies Kenya could buy 28,000 BYD buses, with leased batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Fortescue Moves To Eliminate Fossil Fuel Risk” • Here is more on the Fortescue Metals Group investment of US$6.2 billion to eliminate fossil fuel use in its iron ore operations. One point is that the goal is not net-zero carbon emissions, but “real zero.” Also, eliminating fossil fuels is expected to reduce operating costs by US$818 million per year. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (Fortescue image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Jobs Rise By 700,000 In A Year, To Nearly 13 Million” • Worldwide employment in the renewable energy sector reached 12.7 million last year, a jump of 700,000 new jobs in just 12 months, despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the energy crisis, according to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency. [Indiablooms]

¶ “Brookfield Aims To Build 12 To 16 GW Of Renewable Power In India Over The Next 10 Years” • Brookfield aims to multiply it’s current 4-GW Indian renewable portfolio by three to four times within the next decade. It will also help corporates transition to decarbonizing and invest in building large scale supply chain in India, a top executive said. [The Economic Times]

Wind turbine (Elena Zhuravleva, Pexels)

¶ “Macron Aims To Make It Easier To Build Renewable Energy Projects In France” • French President Emmanuel Macron said he will cut red tape to halve the time it takes in France to get renewable projects off the ground, stressing that was crucial at a time when Europe faces a serious energy crunch amid the war in Ukraine. [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Announces RecyclableBlade For Onshore Wind Power Projects” • Siemens Gamesa has launched its RecyclableBlade for onshore wind projects, aiming to make wind energy even more sustainable and creating a fully circular sector. A similar product for offshore projects took only 10 months to get to market. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Wind farm (Siemens Gamesa RE image)

¶ “Damage Near Ukraine Nuclear Plant Prompts Poland To Distribute Iodine Pills” • Poland, concerned about fighting near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, distributed iodine tablets to regional fire departments to give to people in the event of radioactive exposure. Iodine is considered protective against thyroid cancer in case of radioactive exposure. [NDTV.com]

¶ “IAEA Proposal For Ukraine Nuclear Safety And Security Protection Zone Wins Support As Talks Begin On Establishment” • An IAEA proposal to establish a nuclear safety and security zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is receiving strong international support and detailed talks have begun. [International Atomic Energy Agency]

IAEA meeting (D Candano Laris, IAEA)

US:

¶ “California Pushes Aggressive Climate Action Plans Forward” • California is pushing its climate agenda forward again with more pieces of legislation. A press release from the office of Governor Gavin Newsom says the package of new laws will cut pollution, protect Californians from big polluters, and accelerate the state’s transition to clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kia Moves Start Of Electric Car Production In US Forward To 2024” • Earlier this year, South Korean car maker Kia announced it was talking with officials in Georgia about building a factory for making EVs near Savannah. As originally planned, it would start producing cars in 2025. Now, reports are that the factory will begin production a year sooner. [CleanTechnica]

Kia ev6 gt (Kia image)

¶ “Colorado Co-Op Cuts The Country In On The EV Revolution” • For many small towns in rural areas, the hefty power lines needed to install a DCFC station just aren’t around. Fortunately, the Highline Electric Association, a Colorado rural electric co-op, has found a solution: Freewire’s DCFC stations with integrated battery storage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EnerVenue And Green Energy Renewable Solutions Announce 250-MWh Master Supply Agreement” • EnerVenue, a maker of metal-hydrogen batteries capable of 30,000 cycles, announced a Master Supply Agreement with Green Energy Renewable Solutions for 250 MWh of EnerVenue’s storage systems over the next three years. [Hydrogen Fuel News]

Have a really marvelous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Power As Response To Climate Crisis Is Like ‘Calling On A Sloth To Put Out A House Fire’ – Times Columnist” • A Times Opinion columnist, Farhad Manjoo, argued that nuclear power entails higher costs and longer periods for construction than renewables. With batteries, solar and wind are easier to put up and have lower costs. [The Deep Dive]

Sloth to the rescue (Jack Charles, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Surprise! Nissan LEAF Batteries Last Much Longer Than Expected” • According to urban legend, LEAF batteries don’t last. It turns out that is simply false. Nic Thomas, Nissan’s marketing director for the UK, told Forbes recently, “Almost all of the [EV] batteries we’ve ever made are still in cars, and we’ve been selling electric cars for twelve years.”  [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Fusion Energy Scientist Speaks To CleanTechnica About Fusion Potential” • In August of 2021, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Lab achieved a nuclear fusion milestone. A fusion reactor at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility yielded of over 1.3 megajoules (0.36 kWh). Now peer-reviewed papers are being published about the research. [CleanTechnica]

Fabled doohickey (Image by James Wickboldt, LLNL)

World:

¶ “Germany Nationalizes Its Biggest Natural Gas Importer” • As part of an €8 billion ($7.9 billion) plan to prevent an energy shortage this winter, Germany is nationalizing Uniper, its biggest importer of natural gas. Uniper provides 40% of the country’s gas supply and is crucial for large companies and private consumers in Europe’s biggest economy. [CNN]

¶ “VW Releases Final Specs And Details For ID. Buzz” • Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen a lot of photos and learned a lot of little details about Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz. But, final details haven’t been released until recently in a press release by the company. In this article, I’m going to share some of those details with you. [CleanTechnica]

European model of the VW ID. Buzz (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Nikola Begins Selling The Tre BEV Electric Semi In Europe” • This week, Nikola made another huge stride towards establishing itself as the front-running electric semi startup with an official commercial launch of the brand’s Nikola Tre battery electric truck. It also unveiled a “beta” version, its hydrogen fuel-cell powered Nikola Tre. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Partners With Inchcape To Bring Its EVs To Belgium And Luxembourg” • BYD has been ramping up production of EVs and opening new production facilities in China and has also recently announced plans for new plants outside China as well. Through smart partnerships with local firms, BYD is taking EVs to the world. [CleanTechnica]

BYD EV (BYD image)

¶ “Hitachi Energy To Supply HVDC Converter Station To Link Quebec And NYC” • Transmission Developers Inc, a Blackstone renewable power developer, picked Hitachi Energy to supply a high-voltage direct current converter station that will be a key part of the Champlain Hudson Power Express HVDC line from Québec to the New York City area. [T&D World]

¶ “Daimler Launches First Mercedes-Branded Electric Semi” • In big news for the shipping industry, Daimler Truck revealed the production version of its first-ever, heavy-duty, long-haul battery electric semi truck: the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul. It can haul 22 tons of cargo 500 km, or 311 miles, before it needs to be recharged. [CleanTechnica]

Daimler truck (Daimler Trucks, via Bloomberg)

¶ “Amazon Adds New Projects To Clean Energy Portfolio” • Amazon has added 2.7 GW of clean energy capacity as part of the latest expansion of its renewable energy portfolio. Amazon now has a total of 379 renewable energy projects across 21 countries, with 154 wind and solar farms and 225 rooftop solar projects, for a total of 18.5 GW of capacity. [reNews]

¶ “Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group announced a $6.2 billion plan to eliminate fossil fuels and carbon emissions from its operations by the end of the decade.” • The world’s fourth-largest iron ore producer expects to save $818 million a year from 2030 based on current prices of diesel, gas and carbon credits, a statement says. [Bay News 9]
(Also see the video, “Business as usual is over,” at CNN)

FMG ore train (Geez-oz, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Senate Approves Treaty To Combat Climate Crisis” • The Senate ratified an international climate treaty to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, potent greenhouse gases used in air conditioning and refrigeration. The vote was 69-27. Many Republican senators objected because China, as a developing country, got better terms than the US did. [CNN]

¶ “Treasury Regulations And Tax Insights Into The Inflation Reduction Act” • The Inflation Reduction Act is a big step in the fight to save humanity from the effects of climate change. In a panel discussion on preparing to implement the IRA from within the cleantech industry, panelists agreed that it could bring big benefits, one of which is stability. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Raphael Cruz, Unsplash)

¶ “Five Things To Know About The Updated EV Charging Tax Credit” • The Inflation Reduction Act contains a tax credit that can be used for EV charging infrastructure. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit offers an incentive for those investing in infrastructure that is used to refuel vehicles that run on certain alternative fuels. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New York Seeks Bids For 2 GW Of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul opened up the state’s sixth competitive solicitation calling for 2,000 MW or more of new large-scale renewable energy projects. These new projects will have the capacity to power at least 600,000 New York homes. [Solar Builder]

Have an immensely cheerful day.

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