geoharvey

Opinion:

¶ “Celebrating 15 Years Of Tesla Production And The EV” • Tesla has officially been on the road for 15 years since the first Roadster rolled off the production line on February 1, 2008, and what a decade and a half it has been. Tesla used to be a niche startup auto maker. Now, it is an innovating force behind the automobile industry’s shift to electrification. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Roadster in space (SpaceX, CC0 1.0, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Pesticides Impair Our Senses” • Agriculture, as it is conventionally practiced in much of the world, depends heavily on pesticides. But our dependence on pesticides also comes at a significant cost to the environment. Recent research shows that pesticides may be responsible for the loss of smell in honeybees and salmon. [BBC]

¶ “Wireless Charging For Autonomous Electric Buses – World First” • WiTricity partnered with YuTong Bus, the largest bus producer in China, to charge up YuTong’s autonomous electric buses. The buses are in commercial use in Zhengzhou. They are autonomous minibuses, seat up to 10 people, and have a driving range of about 150 km (93 miles). [CleanTechnica]

Xiaoyu 2.0 bus (Courtesy of WiTricity)

¶ “Climate Change Portends Wider Malaria Risk As Mosquitos Spread South And To Higher Elevations In Africa” • Based on 120 years of data, scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center found that the mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria in Africa are spreading deeper into southern Africa and to higher elevations. [Georgetown University Medical Center]

World:

¶ “So-Called Doomsday Glacier Is ‘In Trouble,’ Scientists Say After Finding Surprising Formations Under Ice Shelf” • The “Doomsday Glacier” – nicknamed because its collapse could drive catastrophic sea level rise – is melting rapidly and in unexpected ways, new research shows. Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is roughly the size of Florida. [CNN]

Cracks in Thwaites Glacier in 2020 (Dr Britney Schmidt, ITGC)

¶ “World Bank President David Malpass To Step Down Early” • World Bank President David Malpass plans to step down a year before the end of his term. Malpass faced criticism from climate activists after he refused to confirm at a climate panel whether he accepted the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels were dangerously warming the planet. [CNN]

¶ “The World’s Largest Outdoor Ice Rink Is Closed Due To Lack Of Ice” • First ski resorts were not able to operate due to climate change. Now, the world’s largest outdoor ice rink might witness a season fully closed, due to a lack of ice. The 4.8-mile skateway in Ottwawa is part of the Rideau Canal, which runs between Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River. [CNN]

Rideau Canal Skateway (Nairg, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “BMW Ramping Up Electric Car Production, Including In Mexico” • Just about every automaker on the planet is increasing its EV production in 2023, and BMW Group is no exception. In fact, BMW seems to be on a serious push to try to take more of the EV market, as it invests €800 million in production facilities at a factory in Mexico. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kuwait Invites Bids To Power Oil And Gas Facilities With Renewable Energy” • Two state-owned Kuwaiti oil companies, the Kuwait National Petroleum Co and the Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Co, have invited consultancy bids from five Western firms to study the use of renewable energy to run their facilities, Zawya Projects reported. [Oil & Gas Middle East]

Oil & gas facility (Patrick Hendry, Unsplash)

¶ “Australia Warned It Could Lose Out To ‘Huge And Aggressive’ Green Hydrogen Support In US And Middle East” • Australia’s natural advantage in the race to create a green hydrogen industry is at risk of being overwhelmed by “huge and aggressive” policy support in the US and the Middle East, according to Guy Debelle of Fortescue Future Industries. [The Guardian]

¶ “EU Says ‘Renewable Hydrogen’ Valid Only For Electrolysers Linked To New Wind And Solar” • The European Commission proposed two detailed rules defining what constitutes renewable hydrogen in the EU. At the heart of the proposed rules is the requirement that all renewable fuels of non-biological origin are produced from renewable electricity. [Renew Economy]

Turbines and tank (Meridian Energy image)

¶ “Chernobyl Fears Return As Russia Makes Ominous Warning” • Russia has said Ukraine is planning a “provocation” linked to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Moscow said Kyiv was looking to accuse Russia of violating the Convention on Nuclear Safety during what Moscow calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine. [MSN]

US:

¶ “New York City May Soon Set The Pace For Municipal Vehicle Electrification” • The New York City Council is considering a bill that would codify a path toward a 100% zero-emission municipal fleet. This proposal would require the city’s entire on-road fleet, including heavy-duty trucks and specialty vehicles, to transition to zero-emission vehicles by mid-2035. [CleanTechnica]

Electric truck (Mack Trucks image)

¶ “Tesla Supercharger Network Will Be (Partially) Open To US Drivers By Next Year” • The Biden administration announced completion of rules and regulations for its nationwide charging program. And it looks like Tesla will get to keep its owners happy while tapping into federal funds to help it expand its network of Superchargers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Scott Renews Hope In Billion-Dollar Underwater Powerline” • Governor Phil Scott updated a renewed effort to bring a power line under Lake Champlain from Quebec to hook into the New England electric grid. The proposal was first raised over eight years ago, and now governors in New England show interest in the project again. [Vermont Business Magazine]

Have a copiously rewarding day.

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World:

¶ “Cyclone Gabrielle: Hundreds Rescued From Rooftops As New Zealand Grapples With Damage” • New Zealand officials say at least four people died in the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, which has caused significant flooding and landslides across the North Island. New Zealand’s climate minister has attributed to the scale of the disaster to climate change. [BBC]

Cyclone Gabrielle (Lauren Dauphin, NASA Earth Observatory)

¶ “EU Dodges Deadline For Polluting Trucks In Setback For Climate Goal” • Polluting trucks could still be sold in Europe after 2040, under a new EU plan. Transport & Environment said the proposed reduction target ensures that diesel freight trucks would still be on the road in 2050, making the EU’s net-zero climate goal impossible. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU Fit For 55: Zero CO2 Emissions For New Cars And Vans In 2035” • The European Parliament approved legislation setting the path towards zero CO₂ emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035. New intermediate emissions reduction targets for 2030 are set at 55% for passenger cars and 50% for vans. [CleanTechnica]

GreenWay charging VW ID.4 (Courtesy of WysokieNapiecie.pl)

¶ “Itochu To Supply Renewable Energy To Meta In US, Amazon In Japan” • Japanese trading house Itochu Corp has agreed to supply 160 MW of wind-generated power from the Texas-based Prairie Switch Wind project to Meta Platforms in the US when it is finished later this year. It said it will also supply solar energy to Amazon from 700 (sic) sites in Japan. [Reuters]

¶ “GE Renewable Energy Secures Turbine Supply Contract From wpd” • GE Renewable Energy secured a contract from German renewable energy firm wpd to supply onshore wind turbines for three wind farms in Germany. The company will deliver 16 turbines for the wind power facilities, with each turbine having 5.5 MW of capacity. [Power Technology]

GE wind turbin (Borja Fasi Fernandez, GE Renewable Energy)

¶ “Fukushima: Japan Insists Release Of 1.3 Million Tonnes Of ‘Treated’ Water Is Safe” • As Japan prepares to mark the 11 March anniversary of the Fukushima Disaster, one of its most troubling legacies is about to come into full view with the release of more than 1 million tonnes of “treated” water from the destroyed nuclear power plant. [The Guardian]

¶ “‘Obvious Place To Start’: Isle Of Man Targets 75% Renewable Power By 2026” • The Isle of Man has unveiled plans to generate 75% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2026, after Ministers gave the green light for state-owned electricity supplier Manx Utilities to start work on delivering 30 MW of clean power capacity over the next three years. [Building Green]

Port Erin, Isle of Man (James Qualtrough, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Russian Nuclear Exports Are Surging – And A Door Has Opened In SA” • Russia’s nuclear exports have surged since the invasion of Ukraine, boosting the Kremlin’s revenue and gaining influence over a new generation of global buyers, as the US and its allies shy away from sanctioning the industry. Now, Russia aims to strike a deal with South Africa. [News24]

US:

¶ “EV Revolution Activated: GM Puts $650 Million Into Securing Its US Lithium Supply” • The latest news from GM is that it has signed a deal with Lithium Americas to get lithium sourced from the US – a $650 million deal. They are investing together in the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, with GM investing $650 million in the lithium firm. [CleanTechnica]

Ultium Cells battery factory (Ultium Cells image)

¶ “Exxon Shuts Down Algae Fuel Research Program” • In 2009, Exxon began a research program designed to extract fuels for internal combustion engines from algae. In the years since, it has spent almost as much money bragging about the research as it has on the research itself. Now, Bloomberg says, it has quietly shut down the program. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “10.5% Of New Vehicle Sales Now Electric Vehicle Sales In Colorado” • Last year, 10.5% of new vehicles sold in Colorado were EVs. That’s a great result in the USA, which as a whole is closer to 6% or 7% of new vehicle sales being electric. Colorado got to this place with an extra helping of incentives for people who go electric. [CleanTechnica]

Road in Colorado (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “Building More Virginia Data Centers Requires Increased Pollution Controls” • Three years after Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality gave the go-ahead for data centers to install 139 diesel generators at data centers with no pollution controls, DEQ is proposing that over 100 more should be given variances on air pollution. [Virginia Mercury]

¶ “2024 Budget Calls on NYPA to Help Develop Renewables” • New York’s 2024 executive budget seeks to advance renewable energy through the New York Power Authority. The agency could use funds from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to help the state meet its energy-efficiency goals. Some observers feel it is a step in the wrong direction. [Public News Service]

Solar charging at NYIT (Samantha Padreddii, US DOE)

¶ “Nuclear Exec Would Have Made $100 Million From Sale Of Plants At Heart Of Bribery Trial, Lobbyist Says” • FirstEnergy Solutions executive John Kiani stood to personally gain $100 million from the sale of two nuclear plants at the center of the bribery case against the former Ohio House speaker, according to testimony of a company lobbyist. [Cleveland.com]

¶ “Bid To Keep California Reactors Running Faces Time Squeeze” • An attempt to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant has run into a predicament. It will take federal regulators until late 2026 to act on an application to extend its operating life, but the plant is scheduled to shut down permanently by mid-2025. [KRCR]

Have an exceptionally enjoyable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Microgrid In A Box Is Opening New Possibilities In Utilities, Disaster Relief, Defense” • A fully functional microgrid can fit in set of trailers and containers. The “Microgrid in a Box” stores 320 kWh of energy. It can tie seamlessly into a modern electrical grid and coordinate the distribution of electricity for a small village, military base, or critical building. [CleanTechnica]

Shipping Containers (Kristin Hillery, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Cyclone Gabrielle Lashes Auckland, As Authorities Order Nationwide State Of Emergency” • Cyclone Gabrielle has lashed New Zealand’s North Island with relentless wind, rain, and waves since Sunday evening. But conditions overnight Monday into Tuesday morning warranted that the entire country be included within the State of Emergency. [CNN]

¶ “Voltari Electric Performance Boat Travels 91 Miles On A Single Charge” • Canada-based Voltari announced that its Voltari 260 traveled 91 miles from Florida to the Bahamas on a single charge. The trip was the longest overseas journey completed by an all-electric performance boat. If you are interested, here are the boat’s technical specifications. [CleanTechnica]

Voltari electric boat (Voltari image)

¶ “E-Moto Morocco Ready To Supercharge The Growth Of The Country’s Electric Scooter Market” • Brahim Lazrak is General Manager of Multitrade, a Moroccan firm. He became interested in electric scooters in 2017 because of his niece, who became very fond of her electric scooter while studying in China. Now E-Moto Morocco has opened a market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The BYD Seagull Could Be A Game-Changer For Africa’s Automotive Sector” • Over 25 million electric cars have been sold over the last 14 years, worldwide. Over 13 million EVs were sold last year, but few cars were sold in Africa. One vehicle that might open up the African market if produced at scale is the upcoming BYD Seagull. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull (Image from China’s Ministry of Industry)

¶ “Lithium-Ion Battery Market To Grow At CAGR Of 20.33%” • The Brainy Insights estimates that the $45.67 billion in 2022 lithium-ion battery market will reach $200.73 billion by 2030. Government policies have changed to become more sustainable and environment-friendly in response to growing concerns about climate change. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Support For Wind Farms Soars In Ireland” • Four in five Irish people support wind farms, while opposition to windpower has fallen to 5%, new research has found. The polls found that 58% of Irish people would support the development of a wind farm in their local area and support generally for wind energy among people in rural Ireland is at 85%. [reNews]

Wind farm (Mylene2401, Pixabay, cropped)

¶ “Portugal: Almost 85% Of Electricity In January Generated By Renewables” • Of the 5,338 GWh of electricity generated in mainland Portugal in January, 84.4% was renewably generated, data from the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association shows. With renewable production, Portugal avoided spending €263 million to import natural gas. [Macau Business]

¶ “German States Show ‘Unknown Unity’ In Preparing Faster Wind Power Roll-Out” • The German states signalled readiness to expand onshore wind power “in almost unknown unity,” said economy and climate minister Robert Habeck. His comments came after he met with representatives of the 16 Länder to talk about buildout of renewables. [Clean Energy Wire]

German windpower (Franzfoto, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “EU Opens Door To ‘Green’ Nuclear-Derived Hydrogen” • The European Commission published rules on Monday that could allow some hydrogen produced in nuclear-based energy systems to count towards EU renewable energy goals, signalling a win for pro-nuclear France. Hydrogen is central to Europe’s plans to decarbonise heavy industry. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “EV Battery News From CATL, Toyocolor, And Toyo” • If there is EV battery news, there is a good chance it is about CATL. In today’s case, the CATL news is actually from a CATL supplier using the name to brag a bit. The news is that CATL will be using Toyocolor’s conductive carbon nanotube dispersions in its next-generation batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Lithium battery with carbon nano-tubes (Toyocolor, Toyo Ink)

¶ “Texas And Florida Paying Hundreds Of Millions More In Bond Interest Because Of ESG Bans” • Some states now prohibit the biggest Wall Street banks from handling their bond offerings because they are “woke.” The result is public financing projects often get assigned to smaller firms that may not be able to ensure borrowers get the lowest rates. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BOEM Publishes 2400-MW SouthCoast Wind Draft EIS” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed 2400-MW SouthCoast Wind energy project in Massachusetts waters. The project is a JV of Shell and Ocean Winds. It could provide power for more than 800,000 homes. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Reegan Fraser, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Energy Secretary Tells Summit Renewable Energy Is Now A National Security Issue” • Russia’s use of energy as a weapon for tormenting Ukraine gives the US an opportunity to develop renewable power, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Policy Summit. [Daily Energy Insider]

¶ “Natural Disasters, Boosted By Climate Change, Displaced Millions Of People In US In 2022” • Natural disasters forced an estimated 3.4 million people in the US to leave their homes in 2022, according to Census Bureau data collected earlier this year. This underscores how climate-related weather events are already changing American communities. [NBC News]

Have a sufficiently magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Solar, Solar Everywhere! Clever And Creative Uses Are Dotting The Landscape” • As the cost of solar panels continues to drop, it is becoming increasingly competitive as a popular energy source for households, businesses of all sizes, and municipalities. As a result, some solar applications are quite clever, creative, and imaginative. [CleanTechnica]

Lincoln Financial Field (Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Supporters Of A Controversial Climate Solution Say It Could Be Key. Critics Believe It Is The Path To Catastrophe” • One way to slow climate change, called geoengineering, releases chemicals into the atmosphere. Those who oppose the technology say it could open the door to an almost infinite number of potential negative consequences. [CNN]

¶ “Cyclone Gabrielle: The Science Behind Its Power” • It has been a soggy few weeks for the upper North Island. Not many cyclones make it this far south intact, but the combined effects of climate change and La Niña are making Cyclone Gabrielle dump more water on New Zealand. And unfortunately, more such cyclones are likely to come. [RNZ]

Cyclone Gabrielle (Zoom Earth, JMA, NOAA, CIRA)

¶ “Integration Of EV Charging Stations And Renewable Energy Resources” • A new research paper proposes an optimal planning technique to identify the sites and sizes of EV charging stations with controlled charging and hybrid wind and PV systems in a multi-microgrid. The paper was recently published in Energy Science and Engineering. [PV Magazine]

World:

¶ “Electric Trucks And Buses Have Lowest Emissions – ICCT Report” • The European Commission is about to release new proposed emissions regulations for heavy duty trucks and buses. A leaked draft of the rules indicates that they will heavily favor battery-electric vehicles over those powered by hydrogen fuel cells and so-called e-fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Semi (Tesla image)

¶ “Kenya Power’s E-Mobility Conference Develops Roadmap For Electric Motorization” • Kenya Power is looking to new business frontiers as part of its five-year Strategic Plan for 2023-2028. Key pillars of the plan include electric mobility, encouraging a shift to electric cooking, energy storage, and electrification of several sectors to support decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Citicore To Diversify Renewable Energy Projects By 2030” • Oliver Tan, the President and CEO of Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, told reporters the company is to add solar power projects, run-of-river hydro plants, offshore wind power, and energy storage over the next seven years, launching 1 GW of projects every year to 2027. [Philippine News Agency]

Philippine wind turbines (Obra19, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Australia:

¶ “Green Biscuits For Australia” • Whether you like coffee or tea, the morning cuppa with a biscuit of choice is part of Australia’s culture. Arnott’s, Australia’s main maker, has made a major move towards green energy. Arnott’s will be making green biscuits – 40 million kilograms a year of them. It’s like adding 15,000 Teslas to Queensland roads. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK Renewables Giant Targets Australian Solar With $145 Million Spending Spree” • Glennmont Partners, a UK fund manager, is eyeing the Australian renewable energy market. It plans to acquire, build, and operate a portfolio of Australian solar farms and energy storage assets as part of a A$145 million ($100 million) strategy. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar array (Green Gold Energy image)

¶ “Neoen Gets Transmission Go-Ahead For First Stage Of Country’s Biggest Renewable Zone” • Neoen has convinced South Australian energy bureaucrats that the 33 kilometer transmission line it needs to build to get power from what will be the country’s biggest renewable energy zone to the people should not be regulated. [Renew Economy]

¶ “$65 Million For ‘First-Of-A-Kind’ Concentrated Solar Power Plant” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency confirmed it approved A$65 million ($44.95 million) to help Vast Solar build VS1, a “first-of-a-kind” concentrated solar power  plant north of Port Augusta. The plant will have a capacity of 500 MW and store energy for four to sixteen hours. [pv magazine Australia]

Concentrated solar plant (Vast Solar image)

¶ “Nuclear Power Debate Looms” • The Federal Government of Australia said it would examine the potential of nuclear power, and discussions have been reinstated. There are some who favor nuclear power. Limestone Coast Protection Alliance chairman Angus Ralton said instead of nuclear power, wind farms and solar would be more efficient. [The Border Watch]

US:

¶ “US Clean Energy Goals Hinge On Faster Permitting” • The speed and scale the climate crisis requires reforms to the way projects sited and permitted to achieve our national goals. One analysis found that the project build time, including permitting, siting, and construction, for utility-scale solar and wind facility projects averages four years. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaic system (BlueWave via CS Energy)

¶ “US DOE Ramps Up Efficiency Standards For Appliances, Funds More Efficient Wind Turbine Manufacturing” • The DOE made several major moves this week. After a conditional $2 billion loan to Redwood Materials for a battery recycling facility, DOE made announcements about the energy efficiency of home appliances and wind turbines. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Oregon Churns Out Renewable Energy, But Needs Batteries To Store It” • In Oregon, some utilities have begun ramping up renewable energy to meet the state’s clean energy goals. There is one problem: These sources only generate energy intermittently. There is also a solution to the problem: Batteries operate the rest of the time. [Jefferson Public Radio]

Have an honestly awesome day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Michigan Scores The $3.5 Billion Ford Battery Factory Virginia Didn’t Want” • Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin didn’t want CATL, a godless communist Chinese company, to run a plant in his state. The 3,500 jobs that Virginia would have got as the result of Ford building a battery factory in Old Dominion will now go to Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Ford image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Long-Term Exposure To Air Pollution May Raise Risk Of Depression Later In Life, Study Says” • Exposure to air pollution may be tied to the risk of developing depression later in life, a large study finds. The study is one of the first to examine the associations between long-term exposure and the risk of depression diagnosed after age 64. [CNN]

World:

¶ “Electric Buses Are Driving A Silent Revolution In Nairobi” • During the early days of COVID-19, authorities in Nairobi called on the city’s thousands of private bus operators to stop running. The result was that people could suddenly see Mount Kenya. The clear lesson was to stop using diesel power and adopt electric buses to move people. [CNN]

BasiGo electric buses (BasiGo image)

¶ “South Africa’s Energy Crisis Poses ‘Existential Threat’ To Its Economy” • Over twice as many blackouts hit South Africa in 2022 as any other year, as aging coal-fired power plants broke down and state-owned power utility Eskom struggled to pay for oil. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the crisis “an existential threat” to Africa’s most developed economy. [CNN]

¶ “Transgrid Starts Trialing The LDV ET60 Double-Cab Electric Pickup” • Transgrid operates over 13,000 km of high-voltage transmission wires and 121 substations in New South Wales and the Australia Capital Territory, with connections to Victoria and Queensland. In a turn to EVs, the company has received its first 2023 LDV eT60 electric pickup. [CleanTechnica]

Transgrid double-cab electric pickup (Transgrid image)

¶ “Where’s The Snow? Climate Change Affects Ski Racing Season” • Besides some minor dustings, it hasn’t snowed significantly in the French resorts hosting the skiing world championships since mid-January. And there is no snow in the long-term forecast. The weather has been cold, but it has not brought snow to French ski resorts. [AP News]

¶ “CEA Notice To Not Retire Thermal Units Hinders Renewable Energy Goal: Experts” • Despite India’s thrust on renewable energies, a notice from the Central Electricity Authority of India to power utilities to not retire any thermal units until 2030 has alarmed experts who say that the move will have a negative effect on India’s energy transition endeavours. [MSN]

Indian thermal power plant (sheikh sohel, Unsplash)

¶ “Leak: France Wins Recognition For Nuclear In EU’s Green Hydrogen Rules” • The European Commission has tabled rules giving the circumstances under which hydrogen can be labelled as coming from “renewable” energy sources. In the last minute, Paris won recognition for low-carbon hydrogen produced from nuclear power. [EURACTIV.com]

US:

¶ “New Solar Farm Is A Carbon Sink And Prairie Preserver” • A movement is afoot to quash solar development on farmland in the US, but the case for rural solar keeps expanding. In the latest example, Lightsource bp built a pair of solar farms in Colorado that double as carbon sinks and help to preserve 3,000 acres of shortgrass prairie. [CleanTechnica]

Solar farm in Colorado (Courtesy of Lightsource bp)

¶ “EV Tax Credits To Boost Domestic Battery Manufacturing” • Recently passed legislation created updated requirements on EV tax credits, but one greatly underlooked factor of the act is its incentives for battery production. Huge federal investments into domestic battery making are expected to drive production costs down and make EVs cheaper. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SunPower Now Offers Solar For Multi-Family Properties, And The Tenants Benefit” • Many tenants can’t get solar energy because they don’t own the house. SunPower wasn’t happy with this and decided to do something about it. It recently showed how three new customers took advantage of its multifamily solar business, passing savings to tenants. [CleanTechnica]

UC Davis West Village in Davis, California (SunPower image)

¶ “Minnesota’s New Clean Power Mandate Poses Thorny And Expensive Challenges” • After Minnesota had mandated 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, utilities and energy analysts put the cost at tens of billions of dollars. But a director of Fresh Energy in St. Paul said, “But there is a will to make this happen, and the benefits are massive.” [Star Tribune]

¶ “Whale Deaths Are Exploited In A ‘Cynical Disinformation’ Campaign Against Offshore Wind Power, Advocates Say” • A dozen New Jersey beach town mayors and several groups want wind projects stopped while scientists investigate recent whale deaths. Whale advocates accuse them of using whales as pawns in a campaign against windpower. [USA Today]

Have an altogether admirable day.

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World:

¶ “A Subsidy Arms Race Is Kicking Off Between Europe And America” • By directing roughly $370 billion in federal funding toward the rapid buildout of clean energy infrastructure, the US started a global subsidies race. World leaders say the package unfairly favors American companies and they have no choice but to respond with their own hefty incentives. [CNN]

Solar panels on a German bridge (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “‘Exceptional’ Warming: January Temperatures 2.2°C Higher Than Average In Europe” • Europe had an exceptionally warm January, with average temperatures 2.2°C higher than the 1990 to 2020 average, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service data. Europe is warming faster than any other region, the World Meteorological Organization says. [CNN]

¶ “South Africa’s Largest Supermarket Chains Spend Millions On Diesel To Mitigate The Impact Of Load-Shedding” • It seems there is no end in sight for load-shedding of South African electricity. Pick n Pay Group has over 1,900 locations in South Africa, and it is spending $3.35 million per month to run diesel generators. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar system, a better way (The Shoprite Group)

¶ “Germany To Auction ‘Huge Number’ Of Hydrogen Power Plants” • Transforming Germany’s energy system away from fossil fuels must be reinforced by “molecule-based” power plant capacity that can back up the country’s energy system during times of low renewable generation, said economy and climate minister Robert Habeck. [Clean Energy Wire]

¶ “Solutions Africa Introduces Electric Tuk-Tuks In Kenya” • In Kenya’s transport sector, 3-wheelers, or tuk-tuks, are important for moving people and goods. They are especially important in the coastal region of Kenya. Mombasa-based Solutions Africa is working to catalyze the transition of the tuk-tuk market in Kenya to electric. [CleanTechnica]

Electric tuk-tuk (Courtesy of Solutions Africa)

¶ “Merseyside’s Mega-Battery Is Switched On – And Here’s How It Will Save Billions Of Pounds Off Bills And Huge Amounts Of CO₂” • It looks like self-storage with rows of shipping containers. But appearances can be deceptive as this is the first step in saving billions of pounds off bills and millions of tonnes of carbon. It’s a mega-battery. [Sky News]

¶ “Russia Is Draining A Massive Ukrainian Reservoir, And That Is Endangering A Nuclear Plant” • Russia appears to be draining an enormous reservoir in Ukraine, imperiling drinking water, agricultural production and safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, according to satellite data obtained by NPR. [NPR]

Dnieper Hydroelectric Station (A1, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Scientists Fear A Great Toxic Dustbowl Could Soon Emerge From The Great Salt Lake” • Like the rest of the West, Utah has a water problem. But megadrought and overconsumption aren’t just threats to wildlife, agriculture, and industry here. The Great Salt Lake is disappearing, and that could poison the lungs of more than 2.5 million people. [CNN]

¶ “The Economic Tides Just Turned For States” • States across the country have a massive opportunity to boost their economies through the Inflation Reduction Act, and now, for the first time, that opportunity is quantified. RMI’s first-of-its-kind analysis shows the potential benefits for states, in savings, investments, and employment. [CleanTechnica]

Renewable energy (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “DOE Announces Conditional $2 Billion Loan For Redwood Materials Nevada Expansion” • Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, received a conditional commitment for a $2 billion loan from the DOE’s Loan Program Office to support phased construction of a battery recycling plant in Nevada. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Solar Wave’ Sets The Stage For New Flow Battery In Wisconsin” • A fresh wave of solar development is coming to Wisconsin, and so is the German energy storage innovator CMBlu. The company is pilot testing a long-duration flow battery at a power plant in Milwaukee that could make a perfect match with big new solar arrays. [CleanTechnica]

Flow battery (CMBlu image)

¶ “New York Governor Hochul Announces Vermont’s Entry Into Effort To Create A Regional Hydrogen Hub” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Vermont signed a multi-state agreement to develop a proposal to become one of up to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs included in the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “The Home Depot Furthers Investment In Renewable Energy At Stores, Installing 13 MW Of Solar Power Across California” • The Home Depot is partnering with DSD Renewables to install 13 MW of solar power on the rooftops at 25 store locations in California. The Home Depot’s renewable energy goal is to use 100% renewable energy by 2030. [CSRwire]

Home Depot roftop solar (Courtesy of DSD Renewables)

¶ “Berkshire Hathaway Has Invested $30 Billion In Renewable Energy” • Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified company with energy, rail, insurance, manufacturing, and retail businesses. As of year-end 2021, it had invested $30 billion in wind, solar, and geothermal energy, with each of its many holdings making its own decisions. [Environment + Energy Leader]

¶ “Denver Solar Developers Say Small-Scale Projects Key For Energy Transition” • Emboldened by the Inflation Reduction Act, local renewable energy companies say small-scale solar projects and grid improvements to connect them will have a vital role in transitioning Colorado’s power infrastructure from fossil fuels to renewable generation. [NewsBreak Original]

Have a tremendously unworried day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Fossil Fuel Industry Is ‘Immorally Undermining Climate Action’” • “We must end the merciless, relentless, senseless war on nature,” UN Secretary General António Gutterres said, as that war “is putting our world at immediate risk of hurtling past the 1.5-degree temperature increase limit and now still moving towards a deadly 2.8 degrees.” [CleanTechnica]

Sunset (Pixy.com, CC0, public domain)

World:

¶ “Monster Profits For Fossil Fuel Companies Spur New Legal Challenges From Activists” • After the five largest fossil fuel companies reported their largest annual profits ever, ClientEarth sued the eleven directors of Shell in the high court of England. It is the first case seeking to hold corporate directors personally liable for climate inaction. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Law: 50% Or More Solar Power Over Parking Lots In France” • France stormed into a new era of solar with a law just passed requiring a massive increase in solar canopies. The new law requires that that large parking lots have at least 50% of their lot covered in solar canopies. It applies to parking lots with 80 spaces or more. [CleanTechnica]

Solar covered parking (Econet image)

¶ “Ukraine Schools And Hospitals Getting Solar + Storage From ‘Energy Act For Ukraine Foundation’ And Menlo Electric” • As the people of Ukraine fight for their survival, they need all the help they can get, including electricity. Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation and Menlo Electric teamed up for solar + storage for schools and hospitals. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Qualitas Inks PPA For 494 MW Of Spanish Solar” • Qualitas Energy has signed a long-term power purchase agreement for output from its 494-MW solar plant in the region of Murcia, in southern Spain. Through the PPA, the electricity generated by the plant will be sold to an IG global energy company for the next ten years. [reNews]

Solar project (Antonio Garcia, Unsplash)

¶ “European Institutions Combine Know-How On Energy Storage To Unlock The Full Potential Of Renewable Energy” • Fourteen leading European energy groups, universities, and research organizations launched a four-year project to help rapid deployment of renewables through the integration of innovative energy storage technologies. [PV Magazine]

¶ “Philippines’ Citicore Prepares For IPO, To Invest $4 Billion In Renewable Energy” • Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, one of the Philippines’ biggest solar power producers, is planning to go public to fund a $4 billion investment in solar projects over the next five years, its CEO said. Citicore hopes to increase its solar portfolio to 5 GW. [Market Screener]

Manila (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Delhi To Raise Power Generation Capacity By 6 GW Through Renewable Sources” • Currently, 33% of the total energy demand in Delhi is met by renewable sources. In the next three years, 6 GW of renewable energy will be produced in Delhi through various initiatives of the government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. [Millennium Post]

¶ “Datacom Partners With Mercury To Bring Renewable Energy To Data Centers” • New Zealand’s largest homegrown technology company, Datacom, has completed a new energy provider tender to ensure its data centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch are powered by renewable energy for minimal impact on the environment. [New Zealand]

Wellington (Lucas W, Pexels)

¶ “Russia, IAEA Hope To Make Progress On Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Safety Zone” • Russia and the UN’s nuclear watchdog said they hoped to make progress on creating a safety zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has come under repeated shelling over the months since it was seized by the Russian military. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “California Aims To Boot Dirty Investment With California Fossil Fuel Divestment Act” • One of California’s big recent announcements on climate laws is that state policymakers have introduced the California Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. It would require all large corporations to report carbon emissions, including their scope 3 emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Demonstration (Courtesy of Youth vs Apocalypse)

¶ “Interactive Map Shows Communities Impacted By Ethylene Oxide” • The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report assessing 104 facilities that emit ethylene oxide, a toxic, colorless gas that causes cancer. An interactive map shows whether one of these facilities is in a community, with information about who may be most impacted. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Heat Pump Wars In Maine” • New England and much of the northeast US suffered through a brutal cold snap lately. Much to the surprise of many, a heat pump designed for operation in low temperatures (not all of them are) is quite capable of functioning just fine even when the temperature outside falls below zero. And the message is getting around. [CleanTechnica]

Winter cold (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Comcast Sources Solar Power For Regional Operations” • Comcast is making a major investment in renewable electricity in Connecticut. Under a 15-year agreement with Constellation, the telecommunications company is getting enough electricity from the Gravel Pit Solar project in East Windsor to 43% of its needs in Connecticut and Massachusetts. [CBIA]

¶ “Several Universities, Including Purdue, To Experiment With Micro Nuclear Power” • Some universities take interest in micro nuclear technology to power their buildings and to see how well it can replace the coal and gas-fired energy that causes climate change. Purdue University is working with Duke Energy on the feasibility of using nuclear technology. [CBS 4]

Have an incomparably delightful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How China Achieved Its Clean Tech Dominance” • China holds a commanding lead in manufacturing most low-carbon technologies and looks likely to remain highly competitive. But the landscape is nuanced and varies by technology. There is still potential for other countries to catch up, and thus diversify global supply chains. [Energy Intelligence]

Great Wall of China (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “Fossil Fuel Companies Won’t Save Us From Climate Change. We Need Governments To Step Up” • The early contender for the least surprising newsflash of the year: Fossil fuel companies will not, of their own volition, save us from climate breakdown. So will government step up to drive an efficient shift away from fossil fuels? Or will it prop them up? [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Common Kinds Of Air Pollution Led To Changes In Teens’ Blood Pressure” • Exposure to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide was associated with lower blood pressure in teens, said a study published in the journal PLOS One. Exposure to particulate matter 2.5, also known as particle pollution, was associated with higher blood pressure. [CNN]

New York City (Pétrin Express, Unsplash)

¶ “Dust From The Moon Could Help Slow Climate Change, Study Finds” • The study, published in the journal PLoS Climate, explains how a cloud of lunar dust could be put between the Earth and the sun to block some solar radiation and reduce global warming. Some scientists say this is a bad idea. Also, its cost is estimated to be $1 trillion. [The Hill]

World:

¶ “Big Oil Faces Scrutiny After Huge Jump In Profits” • BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Total Energies raked in record billion in profits in 2022, benefiting from the surge in oil and gas prices that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The companies are not doing more work or investing in anything. They are just taking huge profits at the expense of customers. [CNN]

Offshore oil rig (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “Australia Rejects A Coal Mine Near Great Barrier Reef Due To Risk Of ‘Irreversible Damage’” • A proposed open-cut coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef was turned down by the Australian government, which cited environmental laws and the risk of “irreversible damage.” The mining project would have been less than 10 km (6.2 miles) from the reef. [CNN]

¶ “Droughts Leave Cargo Riverboats High And Dry” • Increased droughts are forcing shipping companies to abandon some of the world’s main river cargo routes, warns Ann Christina Sloek-Andersen, a senior director at global shipping giant Maersk. On the Rhine, record low water levels meant some vessels were able to carry just 25% of their usual load. [BBC]

Shipping on the Rhine near Koblenz (Holger Schué, Pexels)

¶ “Arnott’s Group Links With Stanwell In Shift To Renewables” • Queensland government-owned utility Stanwell will supply Arnott’s Group with more than 68 GWh of renewable energy as part of an eight-year power purchase agreement. It will enable all operations at a company’s biscuit factory in Brisbane to run on clean energy. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Cauchari Solar Initiative Giving Argentina A Boost Into Clean Energy Future” • The largest solar project in South America sits at over 13,000 feet above sea level in the far north of Argentina. In 2019, it had over 1,000,000 solar panels generating power for 160,000 homes. With a new expansion, it will be able to provide electricity to 260,000 homes. [CleanTechnica]

Cauchari III (Manuel arequipa, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “GE Grid Solutions Wins Order To Modernize 39 Substations In Nepal” • GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business has announced that it was awarded a multi-million dollar contract from Nepal Electricity Authority to automate 39 substations of various ratings across Nepal, including building six Master Control Centers. [General Electric]

¶ “France In New Row With Germany And Spain Over Nuclear-Derived Hydrogen” • A new row has erupted between France, Germany and Spain over nuclear energy, with Paris furious about a lack of support from Berlin and Madrid for its efforts to have nuclear-derived hydrogen, which is labelled as ‘green’ in EU legislation, sources said. [EURACTIV.com]

French nuclear plant (Romainbehar, CC0 1.0, public domain)

US:

¶ “Electric Vehicle Battery Investments Ballooned In 2022” • EVs only represent about 6% of new vehicle sales in the US, but a big shift toward battery projects suggests rapid growth in the coming years. Research from think tank Atlas Public Policy shows over $128 billion in announced US investments in EVs, battery plants, and battery recycling in recent years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hurry, Chevy Bolts Down An Astonishing 47% To $19,995 Until March! (Net After Tax Credit)” • In 2021, the price of a Chevy Bolt was $37,495. Now, with a couple of price cuts the 2023 price is $27,495 (if you can find a dealer in your area that will sell it at MSRP). With Federal incentives, which are available until March, a Bolt can be had for $19,995. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Bolt (Greg Gjerdingen, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “SK Battery America Factory Is Hiring More People Than Expected” • SK Battery America went through a long struggle to get its battery factory in the state of Georgia approved and under construction. Now the news is that it is employing people to work in the plant. And instead of the 2,600 envisioned, it is going to hire 3,000. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ameren Missouri Is Expanding Solar Generation With The Largest Project In The Company History” • Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, announced a big step toward bringing more renewable energy to customers. It has got a key approval in the planned acquisition of the its largest solar facility, a 200-MW solar plant. [PR Newswire]

Have a universally admired day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Europe, China, And India Can Electrify All Rail, Why Can’t The US?” • India is at 83% rail electrification, and is ahead of schedule to achieve almost 100%. China is at 72%, on its way to 100%. It’s built 40,000 km (30,000 miles) of grid-tied electrified high-speed rail since 2007. Europe is at 60% so far. And then there’s the US, with 1%. [CleanTechnica]

Electric train (Pixy.org, public domain, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change Is Contributing To The Rise Of Superbugs, UN Report Says” • Climate change and antimicrobial resistance are two of the greatest threats to global health, a report from the UN Environment Programme says. The report highlights the role of climate change and other environmental factors behind the rise of antimicrobial resistance. [CNN]

¶ “New Sodium And Aluminum Battery Aims To Integrate Renewables For Grid Resiliency” • A research team, led by the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, demonstrated that a storage battery built with the low-cost metals sodium and aluminum provides a pathway towards a safer and more scalable stationary energy storage system. [CleanTechnica]

System with batteries (Sara Levine, PNNL)

¶ “Carnivores’ Attacks On Humans Are Becoming More Common, And Climate Change Isn’t Helping” • Attacks on humans by carnivorous animals have increased steadily since 1950, as growing human populations in new areas make such incidents more common, a study says. Some experts say climate change may contribute to the problem. [NBC News]

World:

¶ “An ‘Inland Tsunami’: Fifteen Million People Are At Risk From Catastrophic Glacial Lake Outbursts, Researchers Find” • Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, and are leaving massive pools of water in their wake. The meltwater forms glacial lake behind natural dams of ice or land. The dams sometimes give way destructively. [CNN]

Glacial lake (Takisha Rappold, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Tesla Is First In World BEV Sales By Big Margin, 2022 World EV Sales Report” • Looking only at battery EVs, Tesla again got the title, with 18.2% share of the global BEV market. BYD took second place at 12.6%. Looking at plugin vehicle sales overall, Tesla, with a 13% share of the market, lost the 2022 title to BYD, which had an 18.4% share. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPeng Enters 4 European Countries” • XPeng is one of the most exciting car companies. Early on, it decided to go beyond its safe, huge home market of China and become a notable global force in the EV revolution. Now those plans are starting to come to fruition.The latest news from XPeng is that it is now selling two of its models in Europe! [CleanTechnica]

Xpeng P7 sedan (Windmemories, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy Surge Signals A Tipping Point For Power Sector Emissions” • An expected surge in renewables electricity generation through 2025 signals coming to the tipping point of emissions in the power sector, the International Energy Agency said. It expects renewables’ share of global power generation mix to rise from 29% in 2022 to 35% in 2025. [Oil Price]

¶ “RWE Boss: German Nuclear Power Plants Are Dispensable” • The head of energy group RWE, Markus Krebber, believes the last three German nuclear power plants still in operation are dispensable. “In the overall European energy supply, the good four gigawatts of output of the last three German nuclear power plants make no difference.” [Market Screener]

German nuclear plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

US:

¶ “Senators Form Bipartisan Colorado River Caucus As Tensions Rise In West Over Water Crisis” • As the Colorado River sinks further into crisis and tensions rise between Western states over how to divvy up painful water cuts, a bipartisan group of senators is formalizing a new caucus to examine how the US government could help in the situation. [CNN]

¶ “Plan Now For Home Efficiency Federal Rebate Programs” • The US DOE isn’t expected to issue guidance on how states should implement the rebate program until later this year. Then state energy offices will need to develop their own systems for administering benefits to eligible residents. But planning for them should start now. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it (State of Rhode Island)

¶ “New Survey Reveals That Two-Thirds Of Renters Want Green, Energy Efficient Homes” • A survey of 2000 US renters shows that one key criterion for two-thirds of them when choosing a place to rent was “green practices” at the building, with 40% of them saying that they wouldn’t rent a property that doesn’t have green practices. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Energy Storage Facility Could Be Coming To Pueblo Under Pilot Plan” • Pueblo could soon become home to an iron-air battery storage system to back up energy from solar and wind plants. The system will be on the site of Xcel Energy’s Comanche 3 power plant, which is slated to close December 31, 2030 as the last coal-burning plant in Colorado. [Pueblo Chieftain]

Proposed Form Air battery system (Xcel Energy image)

¶ “DOE Releases Report, Aims To Meet Puerto Rico Target Of 100% Renewable Energy By 2050” • The US DOE and the Federal Emergency Management Agency released a progress report from a study on Puerto Rico’s transition to 100% renewable energy. The study is used to help inform investment decisions for Puerto Rico’s energy grid. [Pasquines]

¶ “Minnesota Just Passed A 100% Clean Energy Bill” • Minnesota governor Tim Walz signed a 100% clean energy bill. SF 4 requires all Minnesota utilities to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The road map to carbon-free electricity before 2040 has stages: 80% for public utilities and 60% for other utilities by 2030, and 90% for all utilities by 2035. [Electrek]

Have an easily outstanding day.

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World:

¶ “Atmospheric Rivers Aren’t Just A Problem For California. They’re Changing The Arctic, Too” • The Arctic is seeing a rapid decline in sea ice even during the cold winter months when it should be recovering from the summer melt. Scientists say that one often-overlooked factor plays a bigger role than they had thought: Atmospheric rivers. [CNN]

Aurora Borealis (Sami Takarautio, Unsplash)

¶ “South Africa’s Power Cuts Hit Vineyards” • South Africans are struggling with crippling power cuts daily, and they impose huge costs on business. As the country’s grape harvest gets under way, there are fears about the impact on the wine industry. This is a crucial time of year, and it coincides with the worst rolling power blackouts the country has ever had. [BCC]

¶ “2022 Indian EV Market Share – Start Of Evolution Of The S Curve” • 2022 was an exciting year for the Indian EV market, so it makes sense to take stock of where we are and what the road ahead looks like. Tremendous growth in EV sales resulted from causes ranging from generous subsidies to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [CleanTechnica]

Tata Motors EV (Tata Motors image)

¶ “Renewables In China Trend Upward While Nuclear Trends Flat” • In China, the combination of wind and solar, and usually both individually, outstrips new nuclear generation, both in raw nameplate capacity and in additional TWh of annual generation. Hydropower adds even more. China’s nuclear power is barely growing, compared to renewables. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BMW Advancing Fuel Cell Vehicle Trials” • The big drawback to using hydrogen as a power source for automobiles is that the refueling network is virtually non-existent in the US and sparse at best in Europe. This week, Bloomberg reports that BMW chief executive, Oliver Zipse, is a firm believer in fuel cell powered passenger cars. [CleanTechnica]

Fueling a car with hydrogen (Courtesy of BMW Group)

¶ “Indian Steel Companies Begin Transitioning To Green Steel” • With Kalyani Steels Ltd becoming the first Green Steel producer of India, all major Indian steel manufacturers are now beginning to transition towards Green Steel. They are in need of cheap supplies of Green Power and Green Hydrogen so the transition can be financially viable. [Solar Quarter]

¶ “Pacific Forum And Japan Going Head-To-Head Over Planned Nuclear Wastewater Dump” • There are hopes that a meeting will address issues about the looming release of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The Government of Japan, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown are to meet in Japan. [RNZ]

TEPCO installing discharge outlet caisson (TEPCO image)

¶ “Russia Says Protection Structures At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Near Completion” • Construction of protective structures for key facilities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine is nearing completion, Russia’s state TASS news agency reported, citing an adviser to the head of Russia’s nuclear plants operator. [Business Recorder]

US:

¶ “Leader Of Neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Group Charged With Baltimore Power Grid Plot” • Two people, one of whom founded a neo-Nazi group, were arrested after allegedly plotting to shut down power to the Baltimore area. Authorities say the couple planned to shoot five electricity substations in Maryland. They face up to 20 years in prison. [BBC]

Substation (Daryana Vasson, Pexels)

¶ “Freight Train Derailment In Ohio Puts US Infrastructure Back In A Bruising Spotlight” • On the eve of the President’s State of the Union address, American infrastructure is back in a grim spotlight. The fiery derailment of train cars carrying hazardous chemicals on the eastern edge of Ohio has led to an evacuation zone in Ohio and Pennsylvania. [CNN]

¶ “New Study Links EVs With Real-World Reductions In Air Pollution And Respiratory Problems” • A study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, has found a link between the increased use of zero-emission vehicles and improved air quality and public health in California. [CleanTechnica]

Cleaner air for San Francisco (Joonyeop Baek, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Stock Rebounded Big In January, Surging 41%” • After hitting a low on January 6, there was an impressive rebound for Tesla’s stock. Many investors are seeing profits as a nice change of pace after a tough year of 2022. Tesla’s shares jumped by 41% in January, according to Dow Jones Market Data, as detailed by a report in Barron’s. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NREL Removes Initial Barrier To Distributed Wind Turbine Certification” • By funding the International Code Council’s Small Wind Certification Council to cover costs of preliminary reviews for certification applicants, NREL is helping ensure that turbine designs are ready to successfully complete the process of certification. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbine (Anton B, Unsplash)

¶ “Maine PUC Moves Forward With Transmission Line To Deliver Renewable Energy From Northern Maine” • The Maine Public Utilities Commission has issued an order to move forward with LS Power Grid Maine’s transmission line. It will deliver renewable energy from Aroostook County, Maine into the New England grid. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “US Solar Developer Secures Funds For 5-GW Rollout” • US solar developer Pristine Sun Corporation has secured financing to develop up to 5 GW of PV projects. The $250 million capital commitment from comes from strategic private equity and family office investors. It will allow Pristine Sun to develop, finance, and build solar projects. [reNews]

Have a marvelously productive day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Individual Actions Matter” • We can blame greedy companies or politicians for climate change. But ultimately, pointing fingers misses a larger point that decarbonizing makes everyone’s life more comfortable, affordable, healthier, and resilient. So we all should take action at every level, not out of obligation but out of self interest. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Martin Katler, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How NASA-ISRO’s NISAR Mission Will Track Disasters And Climate Change” • By tracking subtle changes in Earth’s surface, NISAR will “spot warning signs of imminent volcanic eruptions, help to monitor groundwater supplies, track the melt rate of ice sheets tied to sea level rise, and observe shifts in the distribution of vegetation around the world.” [NewsBytes]

¶ “How Beavers Are Reviving Wetlands” • Wetlands store water, act as a carbon sink, and are a source of food. They do more for humanity than all other terrestrial ecosystems. But we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands says. For restoring wetlands, there is one hero with remarkable powers – the beaver. [BBC]

Beaver (Andrew Patrick, Pexels)

¶ “International Group Of Scientists Warns Nuclear Radiation Has Devastating Impacts On Ecosystems” • Use of nuclear weapons of any kind would cause widespread devastation, according to a position paper by a group of renowned scientists. They want to make clear the lasting consequences of nuclear radiation. [Warner College of Natural Resources]

¶ “How Safe Will NASA’s Nuclear-Powered Mars Rocket Be?” • It’s the stuff of science fiction movies and novels: Human beings harnessing the power of the atom to travel to other planets and explore space. But soon, it will become a reality. So, just how safe is a nuclear-powered rocket? Officials say it will be safe, but there are questions that remain. [Spectrum News 13]

Nuclear thermal propulsion (DARPA image)

World:

¶ “Chile’s Wildfires Leave At Least 22 People Dead, Officials Say” • Hundreds of fires have recently been buring in south-central Chile. In days, twenty-eight of them burned an area of woodland the country typically loses over the course of a year, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said. She pointed out that temperatures hit levels never previously recorded. [CNN]

¶ “The World Is Creating More Single-Use Plastic Waste Than Ever, Report Finds” • The world is producing a record amount of single-use plastic waste, mostly made from polymers created from fossil fuels, despite global efforts to reduce plastic pollution and carbon emissions, according to a report compiled by the Minderoo Foundation. [CNN]

Beach (Dustan Woodhouse, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Honda Doubles Down On Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Car Commitment” • While the debate between batteries and fuel cells rages on, some automakers have decided to settle the issue by producing an electric car with both a battery pack and a fuel cell stack. Honda is one, and it plans on adding green hydrogen punch to the picture, too. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Top Five Countries with 100% Renewable Energy in Electricity Generation” • Some countries have been particularly successful with renewable electricity and have made significant progress in increasing the share of renewable energy in their overall energy mix. Here is a look at the top five countries for using renewably generated electricity. [The CSR Journal]

Bridge at a village in Norway (Tobias Tullius, Unsplash)

¶ “Marcos Welcomes Isabela Solar Power Project And Lauds Renewable Energy Projects” • Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. welcomed the ₱‎18 billion ($331 million) 440-MW Isabela Solar Power Project, which is seen to boost the administration’s renewable energy thrust and to create jobs in its local area of Luzon. [Manila Bulletin]

¶ “South Australia Plans World’s Largest Electrolyzer And H₂ Power Plant” • South Australia, the state that built the world’s first grid-level “big battery” is striking out on an even more ambitious green energy project: the world’s biggest hydrogen power station, fed by an electrolysis facility that is 10 times larger than anything running today. [New Atlas]

South Australia (Jay Wennington, Unsplash)

¶ “Timmermans: Africa Likely To Be EU’s Most Important Renewable Energy Partner” • Africa is likely to be Europe’s most important partner as it looks to increase its renewable energy supply and switch to green hydrogen, EU climate chief Frans Timmermans told EURACTIV. For example, a submarine cable could run from Egypt to Greece. [EURACTIV.com]

US:

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Lease Price Reduced To Match The Toyota Corolla!” • Tesla has dropped its lease pricing so much that it costs the same to lease a Tesla Model 3 as a Toyota Corolla! The Model 3 is clearly a much larger car for passenger and luggage volume than the Toyota Corolla and slightly larger than the BMW 3 Series sedan. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Charlie Deets, Unsplash)

¶ “Colorado River Crisis Is So Bad, Lakes Mead And Powell Are Unlikely To Refill In Our Lifetimes” • Even with above-average snowpack in the Rocky Mountains, scientists say everyone in the Colorado River Basin will need to plan for low reservoir levels for years to come. Some think the river’s major reservoirs probably won’t refill in our lifetimes. [Yahoo]

¶ “Buh-Bye Gas: Enphase Launching Seamless Vehicle-To-Grid System” • The case for full home electrification just keeps getting better, and the news for natural gas stakeholders keeps getting worse. Now, Enphase Energy plans to launch a car charger that provides EV owners with all the benefits of new vehicle-to-grid technology, at their fingertips. [CleanTechnica]

Have a uniquely encouraging day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Democrats Sell Their Souls To The Methane Mob” • A group of methane suppliers have banded together to form Natural Allies For A Clean Energy Future. According to the Washington Post, its purpose is to convince Democratic voters that gas is a “clean” energy source. And how best to do that? Hire Democrats to tout the wonders of methane. [CleanTechnica]

Power plant (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Researchers Create Hydrogen From Seawater Without Pre-Treatment” • Before seawater can be used in an electrolyzer, it needs to be desalinated, purified, and ionized, and the catalysts used are costly. Researchers at the University of Adelaide say they have a solution that makes hydrogen directly from seawater by using cheap catalysts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Half A Century Of Climate Change Has Altered The Face Of The Earth” • Fifty years later its “Blue Marble” photo of Earth, NASA took a new image of Earth from its Deep Space Climate Observatory about 1.5 million km away. The photo reveals clear changes to the face of the Earth, some of which are indicative of 50 years of climate change. [PetaPixel]

Earth (NASA, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “China’s Investment In Energy In Ecuador” • In November of 2016, an earlier “strategic association” between Ecuador and China was upgraded to an “integral strategic partnership,” which is the highest level relationship China has with any country. Now Chinese policy banks loaned Ecuador $19 billion, much of it for hydroelectric plants. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ecuador Needs to Expand Beyond Hydroelectric Power” • The commitment Ecuador has to hydroelectric power created an energy market wherein wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects provide only 1% of the electricity generated. The country has other renewables, but it is perilously reliant on hydroelectric facilities. [CleanTechnica]

Dam (Ministerio de Turismo Ecuador, via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “France Plugin EV Share Up YOY – Dacia Spring Takes Top Spot” • France’s auto market saw plugin EVs take 22.3% share of new sales in January, up from 17.6% year on year. Full electrics saw stronger growth than plugin hybrids. Overall auto volumes were 111,939 units, some 9% higher YOY, but still well below pre-2020 seasonal norms. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Improving Energy Storage Key To Adopt Renewable Sources, Says Union Power Minister Singh” • Improving energy storage and ensuring energy security are key in ensuring economies shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, India’s Union Minister of Power, and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh told the G-20 meeting. [The Indian Express]

Power Minister Singh (OfficeOfRajKSingh, Facebook)

¶ “Serbia Opens Door For Batteries As Solution For Intermittent Renewables” • To support intermittent renewable energy sources, batteries are conquering the region around Greece and Turkey, where tens of gigawatts of projects are in the pipeline. A draft law is opening the possibility for their widespread development in Serbia. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “Road To India@100: Renewables Will Power The New India” • The size of India’s grid is expected to expand to almost 2,300 GW by 2050 as per capita consumption of electricity catches up with the world’s average. Maintaining this growth trajectory, while addressing energy security will depend on affordable and reliable clean energy. [Business Today]

Key Monastery, Himachal Pradesh (Vivek Kumar, Unsplash)

¶ “Iran Lashes Out At IAEA Report On Fordow Nuclear Plant” • Iran’s nuclear agency chief hit out at the International Atomic Energy Agency, terming its latest report on activities at the Fordow nuclear facility as “unprofessional.” He accused the IAEA of “disclosing wrong claims” in the report, saying the West “does not want a nuclear Iran.” [TRT World]

US:

¶ “In Deep-Red Corner Of Arizona, Threat Of Losing Water Starts To Outweigh Fear Of Regulation” • Unfettered agricultural growth means faucets of residents of Kingman, Arizona, will run dry soon. They blame corporate megafarms that pumped 60% to 72% of the groundwater used there as of 2021. The lesson is get active or lose water. [CNN]

Route 66 in 2006 (Marriedtofilm, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Tesla’s $3.6 Billion Expansion Plans At Giga Nevada” • Tesla’s operations at Sparks, Nevada, are set to grow a lot in coming years. The company recently shared plans to add two factories. The Tesla factory has been a key producer of Tesla’s automotive batteries throughout the last several years, and soon it will be producing the Tesla Semi. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US DOD Inches Closer To Tactical Electric Vehicles” • While everyone has been freaking out over the switch to electric stoves, the US Department of Defense has been quietly pulling off its own electric switcheroo. The DOD has been slowly introducing EVs into its non-tactical fleet, and it is getting ready to jump into tactical vehicles, too. [CleanTechnica]

Canoo light tactical vehicle (Canoo image)

¶ “New GMU Survey: More Agreement On Renewable Energy” • Last week, a survey was released to gauge voters’ attitudes about climate change policies in the US. The poll showed that at least 75% of registered voters support federal funding for renewable energy sources and tax incentives for people and businesses who do not burn fossil fuels. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

¶ “USDA Invests $15.2 Million In Renewable Energy And Infrastructure In Maine And New Hampshire” • The USDA Directors for Rural Development in Maine and New Hampshire have announced $15,217,000 in funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loan program. The loans will support annual energy for 1,800 average homes. [Daily Bulldog]

Have an especially faultless day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Co-Founder JB Straubel On Racing To Scale Up Battery Recycling” • The EV industry is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of recycling battery materials. In an interview for MIT Technology Review, JB Straubel offers some new insights into the massive challenge of building a circular economy, and why we can’t wait. [CleanTechnica]

JB Straubel (Courtesy of International Transport Forum)

¶ “New England policymakers have the tech and funds for energy security. They just need to act” • The combination of the climate crisis and high energy prices means we are in an urgent moment. The development of offshore wind and hydropower is essential to address these issues in the Northeast especially, but they will take years to develop. [Utility Dive]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Why Temperatures Still Plummet To Dangerous Levels Even As The Planet Warms” • With all the high temperature records we see, there are still bomb cyclones and records for cold. Some scientists say that climate change – and more specifically rapid warming in the Arctic – may actually be increasing the likelihood that frigid, polar air can dive south. [CNN]

Yaks in snow (Lieve Ransijn, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “US Climate Subsidies Unsettle Europe’s Green Industry Plans” • The massive green subsidies on offer in the US come to $370 billion (€339 billion euros). That has unsettled the EU’s plans and sent European policymakers scrambling to respond. Some European companies are giving priority to renewable energy developments in the US. [Digital Journal]

¶ “Proposed Wind Farm Could Become First Renewable Energy Competitor For Nova Scotia Power” • A proposed wind farm in Queens County could become Nova Scotia’s first project to sell electricity from renewable sources directly to customers. Mersey River Wind wants to erect 33 wind turbines south of Milton, N.S., to generate 148.5 MW of power. [CBC]

Proposed wind farm region (Mersey River Wind)

¶ “India’s Budget To Give A Further Boost To Renewable Energy Growth” • India already has a robust green energy program with one of the fastest growing capacities, and the Union Budget 2023 will give a further boost to the country’s renewable energy growth, Union Power Minister RK Singh said in an exclusive interview with ET Now. [Times Now]

¶ “China’s Renewable Power Installations To Maintain Robust Growth In 2023” • China will continue increasing its renewable power capacity in 2023 after the installation of wind and solar power capacity rose 22% in 2022 on strong demand, lower raw-material costs, and a low-base effect for wind power, according to Fitch Ratings. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

Tracking mounts in China (Vinaykumar8687, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners And Amberside Partner To Develop UK Solar And Battery Projects” • Amberside Energy and CIP, on behalf of its Flagship Funds, have partnered to develop 2 GW of solar and battery storage projects in the UK. CIP’s Flagship Funds will provide the investment capital for project development. [reNews]

¶ “Mexico Plans To Accelerate Its Push Toward Renewable Energy As Global Energy Costs Rise” • Mexico was pushed to accelerate its turn toward renewable energy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year drove a sharp increase in global energy costs, according to Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. [WGMD]

Wind farm (Presidencia de la República Mexicana, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “European Parliament Calls For Russia Sanctions To Include Nuclear” • A European Parliament resolution calls for sanctions to be expanded to include the Russian companies that are still present on European markets, and it reiterates a call for an “immediate and full embargo on imports of fossil fuels and uranium from Russia.” [World Nuclear News]

US:

¶ “In Boost For Ford And Tesla, Treasury Changes EV Tax Rules Making It Easier To Qualify As An SUV” • New rules now in effect for EV tax credits favor SUVs. If a Ford Mustang Mach-E is an SUV, then it can get the credit if it costs almost $80,000. If not, the cut-off is $55,000. The Treasure Department has reviewed its new rules so they fit with common sense. [CNN]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Adrian N, Unsplash)

¶ “How Can The US Eliminate Carbon Pollution From The US Power Sector By 2035?” • A report outlines decisive action that the US can take to cut pollution over the next two years. It is a first step toward the broader goal of zeroing out greenhouse gas is to cut all carbon pollution from the power plants by 2035. It is a tall order, but it can be done. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Coldest Wind Chill Ever Recorded In Continental US, Say Forecasters” • Forecasters say the coldest wind chill ever has been recorded in the continental US as an Arctic cold snap freezes a swathe of North America. The National Weather Service said icy gusts on Mount Washington in New Hampshire produced a wind chill of -108°F (-77°C). [BBC]

Frost (Martin Longin, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewables Vs Fuels? Puerto Rico Faces A Critical Time To Determine Its Energy Future” • About 3,000 Puerto Ricans died in Maria’s aftermath because of lack of electricity that caused interruptions in medical and other services. Increasingly, the island’s people want to transition to renewable energy in the hope of finally having reliable power. [NBC News]

¶ “Plenitude Starts Production From Texas Solar Farm” • Energy firm Plenitude has begun production at its 263-MW Golden Buckle solar project in Brazoria County, Texas. The plant was built in just over a year, in an area of over 600 hectares 50 miles south of Houston. It will produce a yearly average of 400 GWh to 500 GWh of solar energy. [reNews]

Have a pleasantly thrilling day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How To Get Your City Or County To 100% Renewables” • With funding quickly becoming available from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, cities and counties need a more nimble, iterative planning process that can help them determine which energy actions to take. Here are two questions they need to answer. [CleanTechnica]

Henderson, Nebraska (Taylor Siebert, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Should The Infrastructure Investment Act Bail Out A Retired Nuclear Reactor?” • Some 115 organizations and 179 people sent a letter to US Energy Secretary Granholm asking for a rejection of Holtec Decommissioning International’s request for a federal bailout to restart the retired Palisades atomic reactor on the shore of Lake Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “How undersea cables may affect marine life” • Thousands of miles of cables crisscross our deep seas, carrying data or electric power. These artificial structures can serve as shelter to a vast array of bottom-dwelling sea life that have been found to take up residence on or near them. But we don’t know much about the effects of their electromagnetic fields. [BBC]

Work on a submarine cable (US Navy, public domain)

World:

¶ “Open The Gates! 25% BEV Share In Europe!” • Even while the overall automotive market continued falling, Europe’s passenger plugin electric car market had a historic month in December, with 413,500 registrations. That is a massive 46% improvement over November, which had already beaten the December 2020 record of 282,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ABB Delivers Its Millionth EV Fast Charger” • ABB E-mobility celebrated a major milestone recently with the delivery of its one millionth (!) EV charger, and marking major strides in the company’s stated mission to enable an emission-free future. ABB E-mobility has a presence in 85 global markets, and continues to grow and expand worldwide. [CleanTechnica]

Chargers (ABB E-mobility image)

¶ “MOL Signs Collaboration Deal With Nagasaki Prefecture For Shipbuilding-Related Industries And Renewable Energy Projects” • Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd signed an agreement with the Nagasaki Prefecture Department of Industrial and Labor Affairs to develop and promote renewable energy projects and shipbuilding-related industries. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Will Reach $1,998.30 Billion By 2030” • Precedence Research estimates the size of the renewable energy market at $1,030.95 billion in 2022 and expects it to grow to over $1,998.30 billion by 2030, for an annual growth rate of 8.6%. International leaders have been pushed to quick action by the upheavels in the gas market. [AltEnergyMag]

Rooftop solar system (Jeroen van de Water, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar And Wind With Batteries Are Set To Produce Cheaper Electricity Than Natural Gas In Alberta And Ontario” • In Alberta and Ontario, wind can now produce electricity at lower costs than natural-gas-fired power, and more reductions are on the horizon, according to a report from Clean Energy Canada based on newly commissioned  research. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Renewable Energy Attracts South Africa’s Coal Miners” • More coal companies are moving to cleaner resources to power their operations in South Africa. The country continues to battle with energy shortages, and the coal companies are seeking their own energy sources. The coal companies are also looking to reduce their carbon emissions. [ITWeb]

Transmission lines (Matthew Henry, Unsplash)

¶ “France Seeks Strategy As Nuclear Waste Site Risks Saturation Point” • The fuel-cooling pools in La Hague, in the northwest of France, could be full by the end of the decade and state-owned Orano, which runs them, says the government needs to outline a long-term strategy to modernise its ageing facilities no later than 2025. [International Business Times]

US:

¶ “EPA Blocks Mining Project Proposal That Threatened Alaskan Salmon” • The EPA has blocked the controversial Pebble Mine project, which was set for development in Alaska, over concerns about adverse effects on salmon fisheries, an agency release said. It could have become the largest copper, gold and molybdenum extraction site on the continent. [CNN]

Wetlands near Bristol Bay (US EPA, public domain)

¶ “Large Glacier Near Seattle Has ‘Completely Disappeared,’ Says Researcher Who Has Tracked It For Years” • Nestled between the snowy ranges of Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak, a significant glacier in Washington state has disappeared after existing full of ice and snowpack for millennia, according to a researcher who has tracked the glacier for years. [CNN]

¶ “PG&E To Stand Trial Over Deadly California Wildfire” • The California utility giant PG&E must face trial for manslaughter for its role in a 2020 wildfire that killed four people, a state judge has ruled. It is the latest legal trouble for Pacific Gas & Electric, which has been blamed for a series of deadly wildfires in the state in recent years. [BBC]

Wildfire in California (US Forest Service, public domain)

¶ “Clean Energy To Communities Program Launched By US DOE” • The US DOE announced that it launched the Clean Energy to Communities program to provide up to $50 million to support a range of clean energy needs of communities. The program is especially to help small communities that might ‘’fall through cracks.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EDF Renewables Signs PPA For Texas Solar Farm” • EDF Renewables North America has executed a 20-year virtual power purchase agreement from its Millers Branch solar project. Under the deal, with Thermo Fisher Scientific will take the full output of the 200-MW (AC) project, which is in Texas. It is expectedto be commissioned in December, 2025. [reNews]

Have an actually ideal day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Greener School Playgrounds Are An Overlooked Climate Solution” • The new schoolyard at PS 184M Shuang Wen, a grade school in Manhattan’s Chinatown, features new play equipment, a yoga circle, a stage and basketball and tennis courts. It also has a porous turf field that can capture an estimated 1.3 million gallons of stormwater runoff. [CleanTechnica]

Manhattan’s PS 184 (Courtesy of Trust for Public Land)

¶ “‘Advanced’ Nuclear Reactors: No Climate Cure” • Contrary to claims by their promoters, “advanced” nuclear technologies are not new, and we cannot be sure they are safer, more secure, or economically competitive. Legislatures should focus on proven renewable technologies instead of doling out billions of taxpayer dollars for dubious projects. [Energy Intelligence]

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Enormous Heat Pumps Warming Cities” • Ground-source heat pumps can be used in cities. Rather than each home having its own borehole, Heat the Streets uses more than 200 boreholes drilled 100 meters (330 ft) beneath the street linked to a huge communal network of horizontal, underground pipes just below street level, known as a heatmain. [BBC]

Stockholm, heated by heatpumps (Adam Gavlák, Unsplash)

¶ “The Straight Skinny On Gas Stoves And Indoor Pollution” • Right-wing media are outraged when cities curb the use of gas stoves. Rather than join in the screaming match, researchers in the Bronx decided to do some actual scientific testing to see what exactly happens when people cook indoors on gas stoves. The results may surprise you. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Black & White Building In London Showcases Wood Construction Techniques” • The Black & White building shows that commercial buildings can be truly green. Many so-called “green” buildings cover a steel and concrete core with a pretty wooden façade, but the frame of the Black & White building is structurally engineered wood. [CleanTechnica]

The Black & White building (Ed Reeve, courtesy of AHEC)

World:

¶ “Chinese Electric Cars Are Filling European Streets” • Chinese EVs are making their way into European markets at large. XPeng announced its first deliveries to Norway in October 2020. Now, Chinese EVs from XPeng, BYD, and MG are common sights in Oslo, to say nothing of models from Volvo and Polestar, both owned by Chinese firm Geely. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Australian Mining News: Not Just Lithium, But Rare Earths!” • Australian firm Wyloo Metals has invested in Neo Performance Materials, a producer of rare earths and advanced permanent magnets, and in Hastings, developer of the Yangibana rare earth project in Western Australia, which may produce 15,000 tonnes of mixed rare earths carbonate per year. [CleanTechnica]

Corvette project (Courtesy of Patriot Battery Metals)

¶ “Audi South Africa And Rubicon Add 43 EV Charging Stations To The Growing Network” • Sales of battery-electric vehicles breached the 500 units per year mark in South Africa for the first time ever in 2022. Lately, Audi South Africa, in partnership with Rubicon, brought 43 additional EV charging stations online in the country. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Account For 92% Of Brazil’s Power Produciton In 2022” • The Brazilian Power Trading Chamber announced that 92% of the country’s 2022 electricity production came from renewable energy sources. There was a 64.3% increase in output of solar power plants in 2022, compared to 2021. Windpower output increased by 12.6%. [Renewables Now]

Brazilian wind farm (AES Tiete image)

¶ “GE Renewable Energy Strengthens Position In Spain Through Agreement With Repsol” • GE Renewable Energy was selected by Repsol to supply 22 units of its 6.1-MW wind turbines – the most powerful GE wind turbines installed in Spain – to six of the wind farms in its Delta II project (Santa Cruz I, Amp, II, III, and San Isidro I and II) in Aragon. [Energy Global]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Takes Another Step Toward Advancing A Controversial Oil Drilling Project In Alaska” • The Bureau of Land Management advanced the massive ConocoPhillips Willow oil drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope, releasing the final environmental impact statement before the controversial project can be approved. [CNN]

Nuiqsut, Alaska (Paxson Woelber, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “NYC Wants Uber And Lyft To Be 100% Electric By 2030” • In his State of the City address on January 26, New York City mayor Eric Adams announced that Uber and Lyft will be required to operate only zero-emissions EVs by 2030. The mayor’s new policy initiative has the potential to affect an estimated 100,000 for-hire vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vermont Lawmakers Revisit Renewable Energy Standard As Greenhouse Gas Emissions Deadlines Loom” • With Vermont’s 2025, 2030, and 2050 greenhouse emission deadlines slowly but surely approaching, state lawmakers are working quickly to make sure the legally binding deadlines are met. Some want to revisit the Renewable Energy Standard. [WPTZ]

Vermont (Kevin Davison, Unsplash)

¶ “Two Groups Challenge Grid Operator Rules That Restrict Renewable Energy” • An environmental law organization, filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on behalf of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Earthjustice challenged a rule that prohibits renewables from providing ancillary services. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Climate Activists Accuse Shell Of Inflating Renewables Spend” • In a letter of complaint to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, campaigning group Global Witness has accused fossil-fuels giant Shell of adding gas-related investments to its spending on renewables to inflate its overall investment in clean sources of energy. [reNews]

Have a plainly perfect day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Decline And Fall Of Fossil Fuels” • The latest projections from FERC say natural gas capacity will not grow in the US in the near term. Fossil fuels were in decline overall, but now no part of the fossil fuels or nuclear industry is projected to grow. So about 100% of net generating capacity growth to 2026 is expected to made up of renewables. [Green Energy Times]

Wind farm in Iowa (Voice of America, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Stackable Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Platform Cuts Costs” • The American Bureau of Shipping gave approval in principle to a stackable, offshore floating wind turbine platform. The stacking feature is part of a soup-to-nuts campaign to cut the maritime-related costs of floating wind, from the Swedish firm Bassoe Technology. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Nigeria Election 2023: The Oil Land With No Electricity” • In oil-rich Nigeria, businesses cannot rely on electricity from the national grid, as blackouts are common. The country has 210 million people, but its 5,000 MW of generating capacity is only enough to power about five million households. Candidates for election are promising to provide more. [BBC]

Street in Lagos (Muhammad-taha Ibrahim, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Volkswagen Had A Great 2022: 26% More EVs, More Than 15,000 Rapid Charging Stations” • The Volkswagen Group says it has made significant progress toward EV transformation in 2022. Despite supply challenges and temporary manufacturing halts, customers received 572,100 all-electric vehicles, a notable 26% increase globally from 2021. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plugin Electric Vehicles Get 30% Share Of Auto Market In Another Record Month In China” • Plugin vehicles in China once again ended the year with a record month, growing by 83% year over year in the last month of the year to a record 671,000 units. Interestingly, full electric vehicles had a slow month, growing just 13%, to 471,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (Anonymousfox36, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Big Return To Coal In Europe Killed Off By Record Renewable Energy” • As Russia cut off gas supplies to Europe last year, countries put more coal power on standby to fill the gaps. But the bloc fended off a feared dramatic increase in burning coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, by installing large amounts of solar and wind generating capacity. [Sky News]

¶ “Jera Finishes Formosa 2 Turbine Installation” • Jera completed installation of all 47 wind turbines at the 376-MW Formosa 2 offshore wind project off the coast of Miaoli County, Taiwan. Jera continues to actively promote large-scale offshore wind projects both in Japan and abroad to achieve sustainable growth in its corporate value, it said. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Jera image)

¶ “Royal Navy Orders Investigation Into Nuclear Submarine ‘Repaired With Glue’” • The Royal Navy has ordered an urgent investigation amid claims that workers on a Trident nuclear armed submarine fixed broken bolts in the vessel’s reactor chamber using glue. Reportedly, the bad repairs were found when a bolt fell off during an inspection. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “California Floated Cutting Major Cities Off Colorado River Water Before Touching Its Agriculture Supply, Sources Say” • In a closed-door negotiation about Colorado River, representatives from California’s water districts proposed modeling what the basin’s future would look like if some of the West’s biggest cities were cut off from the water supply. [CNN]

All-American Canal (Charles O’Rear, US EPA, public domain)

¶ “Monthly Plug-In EV Sales In The US Exceeded 7% Of All New Light-Duty Vehicle Sales For The First Time In September 2022” • From the introduction of mass-market plug-in EVs in 2010, it took about a decade for monthly sales to routinely exceed a 2% share of all light-duty vehicle sales. That share more than tripled in just two years to over 7%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Cuts Mustang Mach-E Prices, Plans Production Increase, May Sell German Factory” • Ford says it will continue to position the Mustang Mach-E as a compelling option for those looking for an electric SUV. The company said that it has secured enough batteries and raw material to scale production of all of its EV models in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Eduardo Arcos, Unsplash)

¶ “Exxon Announces Record Profits For 2022” • ExxonMobil announced record profits for the year 2022, reporting it made $55.7 billion over the past year and drawing ire from the left. Other major energy companies also posted record earnings for the year. Democrats have been critical of corporate profits at a time when consumers faced high prices. [The Hill]

¶ “Amazon Buys Record 8.3 GW Of Renewable Energy In 2022” • Tech giant Amazon announced it had secured more renewable energy in 2022 than any other company had bought in a year, as part of its drive to power its stores, data centres, and fulfilment centres entirely using clean energy by 2025. It bought 8.3 GW of wind and solar power in 2022. [Computing]

Wind turbine (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Corridor To Northern Maine Clears Hurdle With OK From State Commission” • A major renewable energy project in Aroostook County, Maine got a boost, as the state’s Public Utilities Commission concluded that it is in the public interest. The wind farm and transmission line are driven by Maine’s climate goals. [Maine Public]

¶ “Duke Energy Proposes Two Programs To Help Customers Use Renewable Energy” • Duke Energy has asked North Carolina regulators to approve the expansion of a program that lets large customers contract for renewable energy. Duke also wants to offer renewable energy credits to customers who want to support the shift to clean energy. [WFDD]

Have an unreservedly elated day.

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Opinion:

¶ “China’s Purchasing Power Advantage And Wright’s Law Mean Its Green Investments Go A Lot Further” • China made about half of the $1.1 trillion of green investments made in 2022. But raw data fail to show China’s deep competitive advantages. The investments China spends on are mostly wise, in a way that the West’s are not. [CleanTechnica]

Wind farm (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Scientists Using AI Find Planet Could Cross Critical Warming Threshold Sooner Than Expected” • We could cross critical global warming thresholds sooner than previously predicted, even with concerted global climate action. A study using machine learning shows the planet could reach 1.5°C of warming above pre-industrial levels in one decade [CNN]

World:

¶ “Norway Discovers Huge Trove Of Metals, Minerals And Rare Earths On Its Seabed” • A Norwegian study found a “substantial” amount of metals and minerals ranging from copper to rare earths on the seabed of its extended continental shelf, authorities said. These resources are in high demand for the role they play in the transition to a greener economy. [CNN]

Trondheim (Simon Williams, Unsplash)

¶ “New Zealand Flooding: Fears Of Further Damage As New Alerts Issued” • Emergency service personnel warn that northern New Zealand could see unprecedented levels of rain in the next two days. The country’s new prime minister, Chris Hipkins, said, “It’s a one-in-one hundred weather event and we seem to be getting a lot of them at the moment.” [BBC]

¶ “Amsterdam Built An Underwater Parking Garage For 7000 Bicycles!” • The Netherlands is unique, largely because nearly a third of the country is below sea level, a fact that has forced the Netherlands to create innovative ways to co-exist with nature. Last week Amsterdam opened a parking facility for bicycles, built below sea level. [CleanTechnica]

Bicycle garage entrance (Courtesy of the City of Amsterdam)

¶ “Renewable Energy Revolution To Create 100 Million Jobs By 2030” • The International Renewable Energy Agency calculated that $131 trillion will have to be spent by 2050 for the energy transition we need to limit global temperature rises to levels that can be managed. Even by 2030, this could create 100 million jobs, according to the ILO. [The National]

¶ “Australia Is Adding Green Energy At Less Than Half The Rate Required To Keep Grid Stable” • Australia is adding renewable energy at less than half the pace required to replace retiring coal-fired generation and meet its own 2030 climate targets, reported the University of New South Wales. The year 2022 was pivotal, but the change is too slow. [ABC]

Wind farm in Tasmania (Ian Cochrane, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Rays Power Infra To Build 1800-MW Solar Solar Park In Rajasthan” • In a key development that strengthens its presence in the state of Rajasthan, Rays Power Infra announced that it has signed an agreement with the state government to build a 1,800 MW solar park. The development will consist of three projects of 300 MW and one of 900 MW. [Saur Energy]

¶ “Solar, Wind Produce Record Fifth Of EU Power” • According to the “European Electricity Review,” published by energy think tank Ember, wind and solar generated over a fifth (22%) of EU electricity in 2022, for the first time overtaking fossil gas (20%). The coal power share increased by 1.5 percentage points to generate 16% of EU electricity in 2022. [reNews]

Solar farm in Spain (Elawan Energy image)

¶ “Belgium To Shut Down Second Nuclear Reactor” • Tihange 2, the second largest of the three Tihange nuclear reactors, will shut down permanently on the evening of January 31, after 40 years of activity, making it the second nuclear reactor in Belgium to be retired. Some politicians and pro-nuclear groups have called for the reactor to stay open. [EURACTIV.com]

US:

¶ “Winter Heating Costs Likely Won’t Be As High As Feared, But Many Still Need Help” • Both the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and the US DOE’s Energy Information Administration reduced their cost estimates for heating with natural gas and oil. That’s thanks to a combination of lower energy prices and mild winter weather. [CNN]

Thermostat (Dan LeFebvre, Unsplash)

¶ “Arizona’s EV Plan Gives Us A Clue About Tesla CCS Charging” • Arizona has narrowed down its choices for EV charging sites to meet federal requirements, and it reveals something interesting that’s probably happening behind the scenes with Tesla. It is confirming plans to deploy CCS-compatible charging stations in the state. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Government Funding Helps Biofuels Move Forward” • Biofuels may not be the ideal way to address climate change, but they can help reduce our carbon emissions. Two pieces of news in recent weeks that show the US government is still trying to help biofuels improve, come from cleaner sources, and work better with infrastructure. [CleanTechnica]

Duckweed (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Public Domain)

¶ “El Dorado School District “Flips The Switch” On Renewable Energy” • In Arkansas, El Dorado School District signed a Solar Services Agreement with energy and solar company Entegrity. ESD says a 1.75-MW (AC) solar array will “Flip the Switch” on energy usage and expenses throughout the district saving over $128,000 annually in energy costs. [KNOE]

¶ “Renewables Are Cheaper Than Coal At All But One Site In The US” • Researchers at Energy Innovation and UC Berkeley said that of 210 US coal plants, only one, Wyoming’s Dry Fork facility, could operate at a cost lower than new wind or solar plants. For all the rest, shutting down today to be replaced by wind and solar would save money. [The Register]

Have an abundantly cheerful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Bingo! The SAIC-GM-Wuling Joint Venture Gets It” • We need more affordable cars. We are finally starting to see more of them, but they are still mostly available only in China. However, just like the solar panel and mobile phone revolution, the affordable vehicles will start finding their way to more parts of the world sooner rather than later. [CleanTechnica]

Baojun E300 (Jengtingchen, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “The Transformative Power Of Drones Has Only Just Begun” • Drones are changing things. Their game-changing use in warfare has been highlighted by Russia’s murderous invasion of Ukraine, but they are also accelerating the clean energy landscape. Here is an interview with Cameron Chell, CEO and President of the US company Draganfly. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Steel Corrosion Is A Major Contributor To Climate Change” • Each year, the US spends almost a $1 trillion fighting metallic corrosion, the reaction which occurs when metals oxidize and begin to rust. Now, a team of researchers led by the Ohio State University has estimated how much corrosion is worsening global carbon emissions. [Earth.com]

Rust (Jay Heike, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “New Zealand’s Biggest City Braces For More Heavy Rains After Deadly Floods” • New Zealand authorities warned the situation in flood-hit Auckland was likely to worsen after “unprecedented” rainfall brought devastating floods. New Zealand Climate Change Minister James Shaw underscored the link of extreme weather to climate, tweeting “This is climate change.” [CNN]

¶ “King Charles’ Newest Eco-Activism: Royal Wind Farm Profits Will Go To The People” • King Charles III announced that an expected surge in profits from wind farm deals that could have elevated royal investment accounts should, instead, be spent on the public. A spokesperson said the king wished a windfall to be redirected “for the wider public good.” [CleanTechnica]

Thanet Wind Farm (Acabashi, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Renault Partners With EV Conversion Company To Refit Older Renault Vehicles” • Some people have a car they’ve owned for decades, and they’re interested in driving an EV, but don’t want to part with a beloved friend. Renault seems to understand and has teamed up with R-FIT1 to launch extraordinary electric retrofit kits in France. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cape Town Plans To Provide Protection From The First 4 Stages Of Eskom’s Load-Shedding Within Three Years” • South Africa is going through its worst ever period of electricity rationing, but the City of Capetown is not waiting for a solution. It is instituting a three phase program for electricity, starting with independent suppliers. [CleanTechnica]

Capetown (Daniel Vogel, Unsplash)

¶ “Galatea-Galene Wind Farm Gets Regional Approval” • In Sweden, the County Administrative Board of Halland approved OX2’s Galatea-Galene offshore wind farm for construction. The development is to have a capacity of up to 1.7 GW. Its annual generation is estimated to 6 to 7 TWh which is close to the region’s expected increase in demand. [reNews]

¶ “TenneT Hails Strong North Sea Performance” • Beating last year’s figures, TenneT transmitted over 29 TWh of energy from wind farms in the Dutch and German North Sea to land in 2022. In total, 21.13 TWh was fed into the German grid, while 7.91 TWh were transmitted to the Netherlands, up from 4.71 TWh because of a new wind farm. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Martina Nolte, CC-BY-SA 3.0 de)

¶ “Russia Was Making Big Plans For Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants Before Its Invasion Fell Apart” • An analysis of the first five months of the war by the Royal United Services Institute, a UK think tank, shows that the Russians had big plans to use Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to help topple Ukraine’s government, and demilitarize Ukrainian forces. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Elon Musk’s DC Visit Stirs EV Charging Standardization Pot, Again” • Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with Biden administration officials with EV production and charging station buildout reportedly a topic. As to the question of whether Tesla will agree to a single standard for American charging stations other than its own, the short answer is “Nope.” [CleanTechnica]

Charging stations (Ken Fields, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Xcel To Test Power Storage Tech In Becker” • Xcel Energy is bringing state-of-the-art storage technology to the Sherco Power Plant in Becker. Xcel Energy has partnered with Form Energy, an American technology company, to deploy an iron-air battery system at the Sherco Plant. The plant’s capacity will be 10 MW, and 1,000 MWh. [WJON]

¶ “US Renewable Energy Farms Outstrip 99% Of Coal Plants Economically” • Coal in the US is now being economically outmatched by renewables to the point that it’s more costly for 99% of the country’s coal-fired power plants to keep running than it is to build an entirely new solar or wind energy operation nearby, an analysis found. [The Guardian]

Wind farm (Zbynek Burival, Unsplash)

¶ “The State Of The US Renewable Energy Market: Preliminary Analysis For 2022” • In 2022, renewables are estimated to make up 22% of the US electricity generation and experts predict the percentage for 2023 will be even higher. As for total renewable consumption, renewables accounted for 12.7% as the main sources of those consumptions. [Earth.org]

¶ “How States Are Reimagining Power Grids To Take Advantage Of Wind And Solar” • For years, many states have set ambitious goals and incentives to promote renewable electricity projects. Now, more of those states are turning their attention to the transmission lines, substations, and transformers needed to get that electricity to customers. [Fast Company]

Have an inexpressibly happy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Electric School Buses Can Fight Inequity In The USA, Or Worsen It” • Most students, especially those from low-income and communities of color, ride diesel-powered buses that expose them to health issues. Electric school buses offer a solution, but they can actually deepen inequities if programs aren’t designed and deployed properly. [CleanTechnica]

All-electric school bus (Courtesy of GreenPower Motors)

World:

¶ “Auckland Flooding: Three People Dead After Torrential Rain In New Zealand” • Auckland is said to have had 75% of its usual summer rainfall in just 15 hours. Scientists caution against attributing individual weather events to climate change, but research by NIWA has found the warming planet is leading to more extreme weather in New Zealand. [BBC]

¶ “25% Plugin Vehicle Share In France!” • While the overall French auto market in 2022 had its worst year since 1975, with only 1.5 million units registered, plugin sales continued to grow. December was a record month for battery EVs, which had sales up 7%, to 24,733 registrations. Plugin hybrids continued to be slow, but they had 14,486 sales. [CleanTechnica]

Peugeot e-208 GT (Vauxford, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “What China Is Doing On Solar And Wind Power Storage To Secure Supply Amid Weather Challenges” • China’s solar and wind power generating capacities are the largest in the world, over 35% of the global total. With the strong growth of renewable capacity, lithium battery output surged 70% last year to 957 GWh, according to reports. [South China Morning Post]

¶ “Asia’s First Steam Field Continues To Power Homes” • Asia’s first commercial-scale geothermal steam field was discovered 50 years ago in Tiwi, a small town in the Philippine province of Albay. It is still providing clean, renewable energy to 2.7 million homes. Geothermal is the biggest industry in Tiwi and a major source of local employment. [The Manila Times]

Geothermal plant in Tiwi (Chris Newhall, USGS, public domain)

¶ “Can India Take Advantage Of Its Enormous Green Energy Potential?” • India’s decarbonization progress over the coming months and years can make or break the global fight to limit average temperatures to 2°C above pre-industrial averages. India aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, but so far progress has been uneven, to say the least. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Permian Set To Lead BPx Energy’s Low Carbon, Renewables Efforts” • BP plans to sell $25 billion in oil and gas assets to fund its renewables business. The company is not completely through with oil and gas, and in fact, it sees significant contributions from the shale assets. But it has set a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. [Midland Reporter-Telegram]

Wind turbine (Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash)

¶ “Cracking Under Pressure: Inside The Race To Fix France’s Nuclear Plants” • Complicated procedures, replicated across sites this winter, have hampered the ability of EDF to get its reactors back online after lengthy shutdowns. The two Penly reactors are examples. Scheduled to be back online this month and next, they are being delayed to May and June. [Yahoo Finance]

US:

¶ “Duke Energy’s Idaho Project Is Part Of A Much Bigger National Expansion Through Clean Energy” • Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions recently made news by launching its 120-MW Jackpot Solar project in Twin Falls County, Idaho. So the part of Duke Energy that focuses on sustainable projects is having a big impact in Idaho. [CleanTechnica]

Duke Energy Idaho project (Duke Energy image)

¶ “Federal And State Initiatives Aim To Spur Offshore Wind Development” • There are some serious advantages to offshore wind, but the difficulties of of offshore development are not easy to overcome. CleanTechnica recently received press releases that show us the federal government and the State of New York are trying to make it happen. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Switching To Cylindrical Battery Cells” • General Motors is reportedly planning to switch from pouch cells to cylindrical cells for its EVs. This caused some stress between GM and battery supplier, LG Energy Solution. They had agreed to build and operate three battery factories jointly in the US, but now a fourth factory seems to be on hold. [CleanTechnica]

2022 BrightDrop EV600 (42-BRT, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “How Did Renewables Fare During Winter Storm Elliott?” • The Wall Street Journal blamed renewables for rolling blackouts after winter storm Elliott, based on little data. But the picture that’s emerged since is one of inaccurate forecasting of electricity needs to weather the storm, large-scale fossil fuel plant failures, and gas shortages. [Kansas Reflector]

¶ “Utah Company Advances Wyoming Pumped-Storage Project” • Salt Lake City-based rPlus Hydro announced that it submitted its final application to FERC to build a 900-MW pumped storage project north of Rawlins, Wyoming. The Seminoe Reservoir would be the lower reservoir. An upper reservoir would be built in nearby mountains. [The Salt Lake Tribune]

Have an impressively quiet day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Akio Toyoda Is Stepping Aside As CEO Of Toyota. Now What?” • Akio Toyoda announced that he will step aside as of April 1. He has steered the company away from battery EVs, in favor of fuel cells run on hydrogen. the new head of the company is Koji Sato. Will he now boldly go where no Toyota chief executive has gone before? That remains to be seen. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota bZ4XToyota bZ4X (Courtesy of Toyota)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Thin, Lightweight Layer Provides Radiation Barrier For Perovskites In Space, Protection From Elements On Earth” • An ultrathin protective coating is sufficient to protect a perovskite solar cell from harmful effects of exposure both in space and on Earth, according to research by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Porsche’s Approach To Regenerative Braking” • To handle the increased power from an electric motor, hydraulic wheel brakes have been used, though they reduce efficiency and range. The Porsche Taycan was designed with an economical solution to this problem. Breaking is 100% regenrative down to 5 mph, and then hydraulic brakes take over. [CleanTechnica]

Porsche EVs (Porshe image)

World:

¶ “Humans And Extreme Drought Damaging Amazon Rainforest Much More Than Thought” • While many climate studies focus on Amazon deforestation – where trees are completely cleared and land use changes – this study looks at “degradation.” Up to 38% of the remaining rainforest has been damaged by human activity and drought. [CNN])

¶ “Elia Tenders HVDC Platforms For Belgium Offshore Wind Resurgence” • Belgian transmission operator Elia is seeking contractors to design, build, and maintain two high voltage DC converter stations to connect future offshore wind capacity to the mainland. The stations would support the 3.5-GW Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone. [reNews]

Offshore converter station (Elia image)

¶ “Decentralised Electricity Distribution Is A Must To Avoid Blackouts” • Renewable Energy Coalition, a group of civil society organisations, think-tanks, and energy experts, said Pakistan’s national grid is “too old, too large and too centralised” to be managed effectively, which explains why the recent breakdown “is not an isolated incident.” [The News International]

¶ “At $1.1 Trillion, Renewable Energy Investment Matches Fossil Fuels In 2022 For First Time” • For the very first time in history, investment in low-carbon energy technologies worldwide was equal to money spent on fossil fuels, global strategic research service provider BloombergNEF said. $1.1 trillion was invested in cleaner energy technology in 2022. [Down To Earth]

Wind turbines (Jason Blackeye, Unsplash)

¶ “Hungary Says It Will Veto Any EU Sanctions Against Russian Nuclear Energy” • After calls for more sanctions after Russia invaded Ukraine, Hungary says it will veto any EU sanctions against Russia that affect nuclear energy. Ukraine called on the 27-nation bloc to include Russian state-run nuclear power giant Rosatom in the list of sanctions. [Press TV]

US:

¶ “Why Gas Prices Are Surging This Month” • Since the end of last year the national average has climbed by more than 9%. The unusual wintertime jump in gas price is not because of demand, which remains weak, even for this time of the year. Instead, the problem is supply. Much of that problem is the result of extreme weather. The price is expected to climb. [CNN]

Gas station (Diego Carneiro, Unsplash)

¶ “Patagonia And Home Depot Are Both Increasing Their Solar Footprints” • Last month Home Depot made a deal with a solar company to help move their stores’ operations to clean power. Here are several similar deals in the press releases CleanTechnica has received. More companies than ever are finding renewable energy partners. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Protections For Tongass National Forest” • The US Department of Agriculture finalized protections for the Tongass National Forest, the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. USDA’s final rule repeals the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule and restores longstanding protections to 9.37 million acres of Alaska. [CleanTechnica]

Tongass National Forest (US Forest Service)

¶ “The Minnesota House Passes A Bill Requiring Carbon-Free Electricity By 2040” • The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed a landmark bill requiring the state’s electric utilities to get all of their electricity from carbon-free sources by 2040. The bill passed on a 70 to 60 vote after more than seven hours of debate. [Austin Daily Herald]

¶ “Dirty Fossil Power Plants In Queens To become Green Energy Hubs” • Rise Light & Power LLC announced that it will invest in an offshore wind facility so as to turn its Ravenswood Generating Station in Queens, New York City’s largest fossil fuel power plant, into a clean energy hub. A 1.3-GW offshore wind farm would power batteries at Ravenswood. [Informed Comment]

Ravenswood Generating Station (Taraqur Rahman, Unsplash)

¶ “Community-Based Solar Projects Offer Energy Independence To Molokai Renters” • Hawaiian Electric reported last year that a third of its customers in single-family homes had solar on their roofs. The utility wants to add 50,000 rooftop solar systems this decade to help meet the state’s clean energy goals. Community-based projects can help with that. [Hawaii Public Radio]

¶ “Public Health Experts Warn Against Releasing Radioactive Wastewater Into Hudson River” • The Indian Point Energy Center closed two years ago. Now, public health experts and campaigners are warning that a plan to discharge a million gallons of the plant’s wastewater into the Hudson River could harm at least 100,000 people. [Common Dreams]

Have a sensationally nice day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Youngkin’s Attack On Virginia’s Cars Law Threatens Climate Progress” • Gov Glenn Youngkin personally thwarted Virginia’s first EV factory from being built, though every state that borders on Virginia has at least two new EV factories. His latest salvo against climate action is his call to repeal a keystone climate law: Virginia’s Clean Cars initiative. [CleanTechnica]

EVs charging (EVgo image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Carbon Capture For Less Than $40 A Ton? It’s Possible, Says PNNL” • Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory say they have a cheap way to capture carbon dioxide as it’s emitted from power plants and factories, such as iron and steel making facilities. It costs less than $40 a ton, which is a huge drop in the cost of carbon capture. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why Solar And Farming Is A Match Made In Heaven” • Paul Mathewson and Nicholas Bosch, Clean Wisconsin researchers, make some startling observations in a report. The million acres of Wisconsin farmland that grow corn for ethanol could produce 100 times as much energy if planted with solar PVs instead. And crops may be grown under the PVs. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (Tobi Kellner, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “What’s A Virtual Power Plant?” • A virtual power plant  is a collection of small-scale energy resources that, aggregated and coordinated with grid operations, can provide the same kind of reliability and economic value to the grid as traditional power plants. In an emergency, a VPP can mean the difference between operating and failure. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “How Onions Became A Luxury In The Philippines” • In the Philippines, the price of onions surged to around ₱700/kg ($5.80/lb) last month, according to official statistics. That makes onions more costly than meat. Onions are a staple ingredient in Filipino cuisine, and their high cost has become a symbol of the rising cost of living. [BBC]

Philippine produce vendor (Lance Lozano, Unsplash)

¶ “Enfinity Global And Statkraft Sign Long-Term PPA For The Commercialization Of 191 GWh Of Clean Electricity Per Year In Italy” • Enfinity Global and Statkraft signed a 10-year solar power purchase agreement in Italy. The committed energy will be produced by a 112-MW solar power portfolio that is owned by Enfinity Global. [PV Magazine]

¶ “Hydrogen Deal Unites Australian Innovation With German Expertise” • Australia and Germany are boosting research into green hydrogen production with about $110 million combined conditional funding for four projects. The agreement brings together Australian and German industry and research partners for the projects. [Australian Renewable Energy Agency]

Planned 1-GW green hydrogen production facility (Edify image)

¶ “£100 Billion In Savings With 100% Renewable Energy By 2050, New Report Finds” • A report on UK energy strategies commissioned by UK group 100percentrenewableuk concludes that ALL of the UK’s energy needs (not just electricity) CAN be met with renewable energy, without fossil fuels or nuclear, by 2050. [Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]

¶ “CWP Enters Montenegrin Renewables Market With 400 MW Solar Project” • Renewable energy company CWP Europe plans to install a solar power plant in Montenegro with a capacity of 400 MW. The planned investment is around €360 million. CWP Europe said project development and construction are planned to be in phases. [Balkan Green Energy News]

Kotor, Montenegro (George Kedenburg III, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “How California’s Recent Flooding Could Set The Stage For A Dangerous Wildfire Season” • Weather has swung from drought to floods. But Californians know the pendulum could abruptly swing the other way again. If moisture doesn’t stick around and heat sets in, winter’s rain and snow could prime the landscape for an intense wildfire season. [CNN]

¶ “Funding Opportunity For Clean Energy Tech Deployment On Tribal Lands” • The US DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs issued a Notice of Intent to release a $50 million Funding Opportunity Announcement to support clean energy technology deployment on tribal lands. Awards are anticipated to range from $100,000 to $5 million. [CleanTechnica]

Tribal House (National Park Service, Public Domain)

¶ “How The Salton Sea Could Solve Battery Mineral Supply Issues” • The Salton Sea has gone through many cycles of filling and drying up. Right now, it is in the latter stage. A recent YouTube video by PBS shows us a way that the underground remnants of the lake could come to the rescue of not just the Salton Sink, but the EV industry. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NextEra Commissioned 5 GW Of Renewables And Storage In 2022, Ups Growth Plan” • NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light and the largest developer of clean energy in the US, said it deployed 5,000 MW of new renewable energy resources and energy storage in 2022, while adding 8,000 MW of projects to its pipeline. [Power Engineering]

Jordan Creek Wind Farm (Courtesy of NextEra Energy)

¶ “How California’s Ambitious New Climate Plan Could Help Speed Energy Transformation Around The World” • California is embarking on an audacious climate plan that aims to eliminate the state’s greenhouse gas footprint by 2045, and in the process, reduce emissions far beyond its borders. The blueprint calls for massive transformations. [FlaglerLive]

¶ “Equinor And BP Bid For Third New York Offshore Wind Solicitation” • Equinor and bp today jointly bid into New York’s third offshore wind solicitation, building on strong commitments to deliver renewable energy for New Yorkers, create sustainable jobs, boost the economy across the state, and support a just transition to renewable energy. [BP]

Have an obviously impeccable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “With Concrete, Less Is More” • In its recent urbanization, China used more concrete between 2011 and 2013 than the US did in the entire 20th century. Concrete is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. The concrete industry must reduce emissions by 16% by 2030 and 100% by 2050 to stay within the 1.5°C warming carbon budget. [CleanTechnica]

Concrete dam (Tejj, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Tesla Is A ‘Sustainability Behemoth,’ Analyst Calls Out” • Tesla is increasingly focusing on renewable energy as a whole, rather than just EVs, offering a broad range of solar and energy storage products. This made Tesla into an unprecedented new type of company, one that offers huge benefits to the world in the way of general sustainability. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Energy Should Not Become Major Part Of Philippine Energy System” • Proponents would highlight nuclear energy as a potential solution to address the climate crisis. However, as a mitigation option, solar and wind energy not only have much higher potential for reducing GHG emissions, but also are more cost-effective than nuclear energy. [Rappler]

Nuclear plant (Vladimír Sládek, Pexels)

World:

¶ “The UK Car Industry Hasn’t Been This Weak Since 1956. And It’s Losing The EV Race” • Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed that the number of passenger cars made in Britain declined 10% year-on-year to hit 775,014. The latest blow came when homegrown battery startup Britishvolt entered administration. [CNN]

¶ “From China To Japan, Deadly Cold Is Gripping East Asia. Experts Say It’s The ‘New Norm’” • East Asia is having a deadly cold snap. It has killed at least four people in Japan after subzero temperatures and heavy snow brought travel chaos during the Lunar New Year holiday. Climate experts warn that such extreme weather events are the “new norm.” [CNN]

China (Jane Marc, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Emma Thompson And Aisling Bea Urge UK Banks To Stop Financing Fossil Fuels” • Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Aisling Bea, and other are calling on the five of the UK’s biggest banks to stop financing new oil, gas, and coal projects. HSBC, Barclays, Santander, NatWest, and Lloyds were accused of funding “fossil fuel expansion” despite green pledges. [BBC]

¶ “Kenya’s Producing Its First Electric Buses” • Kenya’s BasiGo is a perfect example of how quickly things can happen. Established in May 2021, BasiGo sealed partnerships with several banks in Kenya. It just announced a partnership with Associated Vehicle Assemblers to make 1,000 electric buses in Kenya over the next three years. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus made in Kenya (AVA image)

¶ “GreenGo Plans 4-GW Danish Energy Park” • GreenGo Energy joined forces with Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality in Denmark to develop a 4-GW green energy park using renewable hybrid solar and wind energy. Under the plans, this energy will fed directly to the Megaton energy park, at the core of which will be 2 GW of electrolysis. [reNews]

¶ “Foresight Backs 100-MW German Electrolyser Project” • Foresight, through its managed funds, is to invest in a 100-MW green hydrogen project in Germany. Two Foresight funds, HH2E and HydrogenOne Capital Growth, are developing the project, located in Borna, Saxony. It will produce around 6000 tonnes of hydrogen a year, initially. [reNews]

http://Hydrogen storage (Hydrogen Web image)

US:

¶ “Puerto Rico Officially Privatizes Power Generation Amid Protests, Doubts” • Puerto Rico has been plagued by ongoing blackouts and decaying infrastructure. A new private company will take over power generation units of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the public corporation in charge of generating energy on the US territory. [NBC News]

¶ “EPA Plans To Stop Six Power Plants From Dumping Toxic Coal Ash Into Unlined Ponds” • The EPA announced it plans to stop six coal-fired power plants from continuing to dump coal ash into unlined ponds. The agency announced last year that it would begin to enforce Obama-era regulations requiring coal-fired power plants to clean up their waste. [CNN]

Coal-burning power plant (Wim van ‘t Einde, Unsplash)

¶ “Florida Is Fueling Its EV Charging With Federal Funds” • The Federal Highway Administration approved the Florida DOT’s EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan, and Florida pledged funding for EV infrastructure improvements to address charging gaps. Interestingly, Florida’s senators wanted nothing to do with the legislation behind the funding. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Customer Orders Now Are About Twice Its Production Capacity, Slight Price Increases Coming” • Many shareholders and fans have been worried that consumer demand is lower than Tesla’s production capacity. But Elon Musk says that order rates have been huge and orders have been approximately twice its production capacity. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla building (Craig Adderley, Pexels)

¶ “Microsoft and Qcells Announce Strategic Alliance” • Qcells is investing in building a US solar supply chain, and Microsoft is commited to be carbon negative by 2030. They are partnering on a supply chain for new renewable generrating capacity projected to require at least 2.5 GW of solar panels, enough to power over 400,000 homes. [Tech Times]

¶ “DeSantis Is Using Nature To Fight Climate Change” • Widely considered a top contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) cemented his status as an environmentalist when he made the largest investment ever in the Everglades this month. In one past action, he vetoed an anti-solar pwer bill. [Washington Examiner]

Have a positively great day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “People Building Artificial Beaver Dams In Drought-Stricken Montana” • In southwest Montana, landowners, volunteers, and others are wading into streams to create artificial beaver dams. The dams slow water runoff, which is quicker now with climate change bringing rain rather than snow. The dams may on day attract beavers. [Yale Climate Connections]

Beaver (Wolfgang Fürstenhöfer, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “How Climate Change Threatens To Close Ski Resorts” • Over Christmas and New Year, northwest Switzerland hit a record 20.9°C (70°F). The warm weather throughout the Alps is an omen of what awaits the ski industry. Many resorts are aware that they only have two options: close or adapt their business model to cope with mounting climate threats. [BBC]

¶ “Bill Gates Backs Start-Up Tackling Cow Burps” • Billionaire Bill Gates has announced an investment in Australian start-up Rumin8, which is developing a seaweed-based feed to reduce the methane emissions from cattle. Nearly a third of global methane emissions come from livestock and most of that is from beef and dairy cattle. [CNN]

Dairy herd in the Netherlands (Shyam, Unsplash)

¶ “Forecast: Europe Could End Reliance On Chinese Li-Ion Battery Cells By 2027” • Europe is on track to produce enough Li-ion cells by 2027 to meet its own demand for EVs and energy storage, analysis by Transport & Environment shows. But T&E said the EU needs a policy to counter US subsidies or risk losing investments in the EV supply chain. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “European Response To The US Inflation Reduction Act” • The European Green Deal has ambitious climate policies. It means to usher the EU into the net zero economy by 2050. But it requires a massive ramp up of technologies from wind turbines to EV batteries. The question is how much of the buildup’s value will be captured by European industry. [CleanTechnica]

Training at a BMW Group plant (Courtesy of BMW)

¶ “UAE Supports India’s Ambition Of 450 GW Of Renewable Energy By 2030” • The UAE’s expanded cooperation with India in the area of climate and clean energy aims to support New Delhi’s ambition to achieve 450 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, a senior official said. [EastMojo]

¶ “Wholesale Power Prices Fall On Renewable Energy Output To Bring Consumer Relief” • Embattled consumers are set for some welcome relief after sky-high wholesale electricity prices more than halved in the final three months of 2022, an analysis by the Australian Energy Market Operator shows. The prices fell on abundant renewable generation. [ABC]

Grid storage batteries (Victorian government image)

¶ “IAEA Rejects Russian Claims That Ukraine Stores Arms At Nuclear Power Plants” • The International Atomic Energy Agency rejected claims by Russia that Ukraine stores arms at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he had instructed IAEA staff to inspect for arms and the results showed there were none at the plants. [UrduPoint]

US:

¶ “Aptera Responds To Customer Feedback, Makes DCFC Standard On All Vehicles” • One piece of news about the Aptera stirred up a lot of displeasure and controversy: the first run of vehicles would come without DC fast charging. Seeing that reaction, Aptera decided to do whatever it takes to have higher speed charging ready. [CleanTechnica]

Aptera (Courtesy of Aptera)

¶ “At A CAGR Of Over 15% In 2023 To 2028, The North America PV Market Will Boost The Region’s Renewable Energy Sector” • The demand for the Solar PVs is growing fast in North America. Factors are demand in the private and public sectors for clean electricity, strong government policies, and the falling cost of electricity generated by PVs. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Union Leaders Tell Biden, ‘Don’t Change The IRA’” • The leaders of several unions and environmental groups are urging US President Joe Biden to reject efforts by foreign governments and carmakers to revise the Federal EV tax incentives outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The IRA has had a big effect on US automobile manufacturing. [CleanTechnica]

Solar EV charging station (Kindel Media, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “Granholm Ecstatic At Red State Surge In Renewable Energy: ‘That Is Fantastic!’” • At a White House press briefing, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was asked by Yahoo News to weigh in on the sharp rise in renewable energy projects in Republican-led states like Texas since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. “That is fantastic,” she said. [MSN]

¶ “Colorado Co-Op Signs On For 1.2 TWh Of Annual Renewable Energy” • Invenergy, a leading renewable energy company, said it has entered a wholesale power supply agreement with CORE Electric Cooperative, the largest nonprofit electric cooperative in Colorado, for 400 MW of new solar and wind power and 100 MW of battery storage. [pv magazine USA]

Solar panels (Invenergy image)

¶ “Federal Study Calls For Rooftop Solar Panels To Meet Puerto Rican Renewable Energy Goals” • Puerto Rico should install rooftop solar panels in such sites as airports and industrial areas to reach national renewable energy goals, a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said. The island depends heavily on fossil fuels for electricity production. [The Hill]

¶ “NRC Rejects Request to Keep Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Online” • In 2022, PG&E asked the NRC to resume consideration of a 2009 application, which had been withdrawn in 2016, to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. The NRC rejected the proposal, saying that it needed current information on the plant’s condition. [POWER Magazine]

Have a simply resplendent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nucor’s Green Steel Trumps Anti-Wokedness In Bluegrass State” • Kentucky is celebrating its new green steel factory, the biggest in the US. It aims to be the top supplier to the domestic offshore wind industry. Kentucky is also part of the “anti-woke” movement, which seeks to prevent financial institutions from investing in clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

Kentucky green steel workers (Courtesy of Nucor)

¶ “US And EU Climate Markets And Cleantech” • Wasn’t it only a few months ago when Europe was far ahead of the US in climate action? Not anymore. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act in the US prompted growling and frowning by EU diplomats at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Ursula von der Leyen said, “We must also step up EU funding.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘No Miracles Needed’: Prof Mark Jacobson On How Wind, Sun And Water Can Power The World” • “Combustion is the problem – when you’re continuing to burn something, that’s not solving the problem,” says Prof Mark Jacobson. The world can rapidly get 100% of its energy from renewable sources with, as the title of his new book says, “No Miracles Needed.” [The Guardian]

Wind farm (Charl Folscher, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “The Spanish Town Powered By Waves” • Mutriku is called “one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Basque Country.” It was built as a fishing village. Its harbor’s breakwaters protecct it from the effects of the constant waves. In 2011, it installed the Mutriku Wave Energy Plant, the first commercial wave power plant in Europe. [BBC]

¶ “TESLA 50Hz To Provide 40 MW Of Rooftop Solar To Element Industrial In Romania” • Element Industrial develops, invests in, and manages logistics and industrial real estate in southeastern Europe. It signed an agreement with TESLA 50Hz (not affiliated with Tesla) to design and build rooftop solar installations on all its buildings in Romania. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar system (Courtesy of TESLA 50Hz)

¶ “Sasol Seals Deal For Wind Power While Coal Mining Outlook Dims” • Chemicals and energy group Sasol signed three power purchase agreements for almost 300 MW of wind energy to help kick off its decarbonisation plans for its Southern African value chain. The group reported declines in revenues due to continued operational challenges at its coal mines. [News24]

¶ “KABISA Launching Awesome Electric Mobility Ecosystem In Rwanda” • Rwanda is one of the countries in Africa that has led the way in introducing incentives to catalyze the adoption of EVs. Now, thanks to the country’s progressive policies, the price point of new EVs is reaching cost parity with the purchase price of old ICE vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

EV charging in Rwanda (Courtesy of KABISA)

¶ “BPCL Signs MOU With Government Of Rajasthan For 1-GW Renewable Energy Plant” • Bharat Petroleum Corporation has signed an MOU with the Rajasthan government to set up a 1-GW renewable energy power plant. Bharat Petroleum has set itself the ambitious goal of Net Zero in Scope 1&2 emissions by the year 2040.  [Construction Week India]

¶ “India Can Save $19.5 Billion Per Year By Shifting From Coal To Clean Power, Says New Study” • India can save up to $19.5 billion a year if it goes with its plan to add 76 GW of utility-scale solar and wind power by 2025, research from Global Energy Monitor shows. The report ranked India in the top seven world countries for prospective renewable power. [Business Today]

Thar Desert (Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Ukraine Reports That Permanent IAEA Missions Are Now Operating At All Of The Country’s Nuclear Power Plants” • The Ukrainian nuclear company Energoatom reported that a number of permanent International Atomic Energy Agency missions are operating at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants, after arriving in the country over the past week. [MSN]

US:

¶ “NOWRDC Announces US Offshore Wind Supply Chain Road Map” • The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium released a report showing how the US can develop a robust and equitable domestic supply chain required to achieve the national offshore wind target of 30 GW by 2030, with a fully domestic supply chain. [CleanTechnica]

Floating offshore windpower (DOE image)

¶ “Texas Solar Plant Enters Operation” • US independent power producer Advanced Power has commenced full commercial operation at a 140-MW (DC) solar farm in Texas. The Cutlass solar farm, in the Greater Houston area, started delivering power into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system in July 2022. [reNews]

¶ “Hawaiian Electric Seeking Proposals For Renewable Energy Projects On Maui, Oahu” • Hawaiian Electric is seeking proposals for renewable energy projects on Maui and Oahu in a new round of clean energy procurement. The RFP includes development of firm renewable capacity, which can deliver power full time, on the islands. [Maui Now]

Maui (Benjamin Rascoe, Unsplash)

¶ “Federal Study Calls For Rooftop Solar Panels To Meet Puerto Rican Renewable Energy Goals” • Puerto Rico should install rooftop solar panels at such sites as airports and industrial areas to reach renewable energy goals, a federal study said. More than $12 billion in disaster funds were announced in early 2022 for recovery and the redesign. [The Hill]

¶ “New Study Confirms ExxonMobil Knew Exactly The Danger Posed By Climate Change” • ExxonMobil knew just how much the continuing use of carbon-producing fossil fuels was likely to heat up the planet at the same time it was funding a campaign tp denying the reality of global warming, according to a new study published in the journal Science. [GoLocalProv]

Have a remarkably satisfying day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How The World’s Largest Banks Are Funding Fossil Fuel Companies” • There’s no way to sugarcoat this. The world’s largest banks are providing the money fossil fuel companies need so they can continue degrading the environment to the point where the humans may no longer be able to survive on our little blue planet [CleanTechnica]

Money (Ibrahim Boran, Unsplash)

¶ “$1 Trillion Of Oil And Gas Assets Risk Being Stranded By Climate Change” • Mark Campanale, founder and executive chair of the nonprofit financial think tank, Carbon Tracker, explains that many companies risk having assets stranded both financially and physically because of the pressure that climate change is putting on the market to evolve. [BRINK News]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Algae That Blights Our Seas Is Harvested To Make Useful Products” • Excessive outbreaks of seaweed are clogging up waters from the Caribbean to the Baltic. Now the algae is being harvested alongside farmed crops to create ingredients for cosmetics and food products. The outbreaks happen when tiny cyanobacteria suddenly multiply rapidly. [BBC]

Mari Granström in a lab (Origin by Ocean image)

World:

¶ “Nearly 220 Million People In Pakistan Without Power After Countrywide Outage” • A nationwide power outage in Pakistan left nearly 220 million people without electricity on Monday, threatening to cause havoc in the South Asian nation already grappling with fuel shortages in the winter months. It is unclear how long the outage will last. [CNN]

¶ “BEV Sales Double In South Africa In 2022, Plenty More Room For Growth” • With only 1024 battery EVs sold in South Africa since 2018, it’s clear that sales have been slow compared to auto markets around the world. This is due to the limited variety of battery EV models in the country, coupled with the high import duties and taxes levied on EVs. [CleanTechnica]

BMW iX3 (BMW image)

¶ “IRENA Report Says Renewables Can Meet 60% Of Nigeria’s Energy Needs By 2050” • The Energy Commission of Nigeria and the International Renewable Energy Agency published a report, “Renewable Energy Roadmap for Nigeria.” It focuses on ways to meet the country’s growing energy needs in sectors by adopting renewables. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Climate Scientists Worry As ‘Sun Tourism’ Catches Up Fast In Himachal Pradesh” • ‘Sun tourism’ is catching up fast in the Indian mountains of Himachal Pradesh as one gets more balmy days in the winter compared to the country’s northern plains, where the fog is screening out the sun. It is a worrying sign for climate scientists. [The Weather Channel]

Mountains of Himachal Pradesh (Sreehari Devadas, Unsplash)

¶ “With Its New Energy Policy, Odisha Hopes For A Frictionless Transition To Renewable Power” • The government of the Indian state of Odisha is offering exemption on duty and surcharges, along with other benefits and is targetting renewable energy capacity of 10,000 MW by 2030, according to its renewable energy policy, 2022.  [Scroll.in]

¶ “Pexapark And Afry Have Launched A Daily Valuation Curve To Accelerate Renewables Investment” • Two European energy companies, Pexapark and Afry, launched the ‘Daily Valuation Curve,’ a pricing data system that will give investors and lenders greater certainty over the lifetime value of renewable energy projects. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Wind turbines (Courtesy of Afry)

¶ “Balanga Bishop Writes Against Revival Of Bataan Nuke Plant” • The Diocese of Balanga, led by Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos, has spoken against the idea of reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The letter cited the 2018 findings of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, which said the Philippine plant is “absolutely outdated.” [Power Philippines]

US:

¶ “A Treasure Trove For Rural And Commercial-Scale Solar Projects” • Eight teams in the Solar Energy Innovation Network tackled the challenges of adopting renewable energy while also addressing disaster preparedness to provide a blueprint for other communities pursuing projects focused on solar-plus-storage, resilience, and general use of solar. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Tesla May Benefit From US Economy ‘Soft Landing,’ Goldman Sachs Reports” • As the Federal Reserve hopes to engineer a “soft landing,” steering the economy clear of recession while reducing inflation, companies like Tesla could benefit. One investment firm put Tesla on a list of companies that could be well-poised if the Fed succeeds. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California ZEV Sales Near 19% Of All New Car Sales In 2022” • California has announced the latest data showing the state’s accelerating transition to zero-emission vehicles and ZEV market dominance. Last year, 18.8% of all new cars sold in California were ZEVs and 40% of all the ZEVs sold in this country are sold in California. [CleanTechnica]

Have a thrillingly carefree day.

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Opinion:

¶ “‘Climate Deniers Are Victims Not Villains’ – A Psychologist’s Guide To Winning Them Over” • Climate denial comes from different kinds of people. Some are angry because they believe the fossil fuels interests. But the average climate dismissive is not an evil business mogul looking to squeeze all possible profit from the world before it burns. [Euronews]

Supercell (NOAA, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How One Volcano Could Trigger World Chaos” • Every year, approximately 90,000 ships pass through the narrow sea lane of the Malacca Strait, which links the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. Their cargo comprises an estimated 40% of global trade. It’s only a matter of time before a natural disaster like an earthquake or volcano strikes the region. [BBC]

¶ “Robotic Technology Is Reducing The Price Of Offshore Wind Power” • Off the coast of Portugal, a team of underwater robots is scanning the bases of wind turbines, looking for signs of damage. The activity is part of a project to reduce inspection costs, keep wind turbines running for longer and ultimately reduce the price of electricity. [Environment + Energy Leader]

Windfarm in Lancashire (Pete Godfrey, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Ukraine War: Hiding From Putin’s Call-Up By Living Off-Grid In A Freezing Forest” • When Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation of Russian men in September of last year, Adam Kalinin – not his real name – did not want to leave the country. So he decided that the best thing he could do was to move to the forest and live off-grid. [BBC]

¶ “BMW’s Excellent Solid-State EV Battery Adventure” • The conventional lithium-ion technology has been shouldering the EV battery load for almost fifteen years, and automakers are looking for the next big thing. Solid-state batteries may be coming, but so will even more improvements to lithium-ion batteries. BMW is pursuing both. [CleanTechnica]

Solid-state battery (Courtesy of BMW Group)

¶ “Thai Manufacturers Urged To Shift To Renewable Energy To Reduce Costs” • The Ministry of Industry of Thailand stressed that manufacturers should seriously embrace renewable energy to reduce the burden of rising electricity bills. Renewable energy could be combined with efficient management of electricity to lower costs. [Vietnam Plus]

¶ “This ‘Floating City’ Concept Could Be The Answer To Climate Change” • This ‘floating city’ concept could house up to 50,000 people and be powered by 100% renewable energy. The living spaces are all connected by walkways, airways, and waterways. Take a look at its vertical gardens and 25 acres of interconnected social spaces. [Business Insider India]

Floating City (Luca Curci Architects + Tim Fu Design)

¶ “Ukraine Issues Warning Of Disaster As Russia Launches New Offensive In Zaporizhzhia” • As Russia has begun shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, elevating fresh fears of a possible nuclear catastrophe, Ukrainian officials again warned about the looming disaster in the making as intense fighting has broken out. [Republic World]

¶ “The Community Of Bataan Rejects The Plan To Activate The Nuclear Power Plant: Life Is More Important Than Cheap Electricity” • Citizens reflect that there are high risks and costs associated with nuclear energy. While nuclear power may seem cheap by producing cheap energy, the costs to convert, upgrade, and maintain the plant are exorbitant. [Agenzia Fides]

Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (Jiru27, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Dolphins Make A Splash In New York City’s Bronx River” • Dolphins are swimming in New York City’s Bronx River for the first time in over five years. “It’s true – dolphins were spotted in the Bronx River this week!” wrote the Parks Department. “This is great news – it shows that the decades-long effort to restore the river as a healthy habitat is working.” [CNN]

¶ “This Butterfly Was Once Thought Extinct. Now It’s Off The Endangered Species List” • Fender’s blue butterfly has fluttered away from the brink of extinction. The species, once so rare it was thought to be extinct, is no longer considered endangered. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reclassifying the species from “endangered” to “threatened.” [CNN]

Fender’s blue butterfly (Jeff Dillon, US Fish and Wildlife Service)

¶ “Tesla’s Huge Expansion Plans At Giga Texas” • Tesla has been looking to expand Gigafactory Texas since its opening, but the scope of its plans hasn’t been exactly clear. Now, Tesla has filed official documents for multiple expansion projects, set to yield huge increases in the production capacity, the surface area, and the reach of the factory’s projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Aptera Reveals Launch Edition EV” • Aptera held a live online event where the company revealed the Launch Edition version of its three-wheeled solar-powered car. There are some really cool things about the final design, but also some downsides early adopters will face. You can see the event yourself or read a recap and commentary. [CleanTechnica]

Aptera Sol (Aptera image)

¶ “Octopus Energy And Enphase Bring Virtual Power Plant Technology To Texas” • Texas grid operator ERCOT is mandated by law to build the grid as cheaply as possible. So, of course, it fails. In fact, Texas has made installing a solar system with battery backup the least expensive option. Octopus Energy and Enphase have a plan for that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How LSU Researchers Could Help Protect Louisiana, Nation’s Cultural Heritage From Climate Change” • With support of a roughly $473,000 grant, an interdisciplinary team at LSU is developing a risk assessment scale that will help institutions understand their vulnerability to a number of different risks of a changing climate. [LSU Reveille]

Have a fabulously practicable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Confronting The Climate Crisis With Scientist Activism: The Essential Role Of Rule Breakers” • Our society generally agrees that in times of crisis, rules may have to be broken for vital causes by those willing to risk the consequences. But what of the climate crisis? What rules should scientists be breaking, taking chances to help solve it? [CleanTechnica]

Demonstration for science (Vlad Tchompalov, Unsplash)

¶ “The Future Of Tesla Is In Musk’s Hands” • In the last year, it has seemed that Tesla narratives focused a whole lot on the antics of mercurial Musk. Many former Tesla aficionados expressed their dismay over revelations about Musk’s private life and other uncomfortable circumstances, worried that his often outrageous antics affected Tesla’s brand identity. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Car-Size Laser Deflects Lightning Atop A Mountain In Switzerland” • Lightning deflection technology hasn’t changed much since Ben Franklin invented the lightning rod in 1752. Recently, Scientists were able to create a virtual lightning rod using a large, powerful laser atop a mountain in Switzerland, successfully diverting the path of lightning. [CNN]

Laser operating at Mount Säntis (Martin Stollberg, TRUMPF)

World:

¶ “31% Of New Vehicle Sales Plugin Sales In Germany In 2022!” • The German automotive market has opened the gates to plugin vehicles. December set a new monthly record, with an amazing 171,000 registrations. Plugin vehicles scored an amazing 55% share (32% battery EVs) of the auto market in December. Plugins took a 31% share for the full year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Italy Orders 7,100 MW Of Weird Floating Offshore Wind Energy Harvesters” • The floating wind field is a relatively new one, but Italy has just put in for an ambitious order of 7,100 MW from a new joint venture anchored by the startup Hexicon, which is marketing a floating wind platform that supports two wind turbines instead of just one. [CleanTechnica]

Floating offshore wind turbines (Courtesy of Hexicon)

¶ “NatWest To Receive 50 MW Of Renewable Energy Through New CPPA” • NatWest, has signed a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement with EDF Renewables UK. It will see the retail and commercial bank benefit from 49.9 MW of renewable power, which will be supplied to NatWest from Porth Wen Solar Farm in Anglesey, North Wales. [Solar Power Portal]

¶ “Masdar To Develop 5 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects To Advance Africa’s Clean Energy Objectives” • Masdar is helping African nations in their clean energy transition. At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023 by signing agreements with Angola, Uganda, and Zambia to develop renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 5 GW. [Business Upturn]

Ntinda, Uganda (Robin Kutesa, Unsplash)

¶ “Bloomberg: China To Increase Share Of Renewable Energy Sources To 52% By End Of Year” • Beijing plans to increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in electricity generation in 2023 to 52% compared to 49.6% at the end of 2022. Bloomberg wrote about it with reference to the report of the China Electric Power Council. [Armenia News]

US:

¶ “An EV Heads To Daytona, But It’s Heavier Than Any Car That’s Ever Raced There” • A small fleet of EVs will be serving every race at Daytona going forward. The REV Fire Group Inc, which makes fire-fighting apparatus, announced that starting this year, its all-electric Vector fire truck will be part of the firefighting fleet at Daytona International Speedway. [CleanTechnica]

All-electric Vector fire truck (REV Fire Group image)

¶ “Renewables Could Make Up A Quarter Of US Electricity Generation By 2024” • Renewable energy is poised to reach a milestone as the Energy Information Administration’s Short Term Energy Outlook projects that renewable sources will exceed one-fourth of the country’s electricity generation for the first time, in 2024. [Fast Company]

¶ “This Winter’s Rain And Snow Won’t Be Enough To Pull The West Out Of Drought” • The West has been slammed by rain and snow. “It’s great to see a big snowpack,” said Brad Udall, a water and climate researcher at Colorado State University. “We would need five or six years at 150% snowpack to refill these reservoirs. And that is extremely unlikely.” [KUER]

Lake Tahoe (Daniel Akre, Unsplash)

¶ “Community Solar Project Achieves High Efficiency And Good Return On Investment” • Many residents of Rhode Island are unable to install solar systems. Community solar projects allow consumers to benefit from a centralized solar installation, which reduces household energy bills and increases renewable energy on the grid. [POWER Magazine]

¶ “First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Design Certified For Use In US” • For the first time, the NRC has certified the design of a small modular nuclear reactor. Companies seeking to build and operate a nuclear power plant can pick the design for a 50-MW small modular nuclear reactor by NuScale Power and apply to the NRC for a license. [CBS News]

Have a verifiably splendid day.

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Opinion:

¶ “This Is An Era Of Plentiful, Cheap, Renewable Energy, But The Fossil Fuel Dinosaurs Can’t Admit It” • It remains a mystery how a reputation for well-meant inadequacy clings to renewable energy. It can’t all be the result of fossil fuel industry lobbying. It’s one triumph after another in green energy. We just need to see that in our energy bills. [The Guardian]

Scottish wind farm (Ondrej Rafaj, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Lies, Damn Lies And Climate Change” • Big oil companies like Exxon and Chevron had the best scientists research the question of climate change. They knew it was coming, but they denied what they knew was true to protect profits. Now, catastrophic climate disruption has arrived. Disruptors like Greta Thunberg are not the ones who should be arrested. [rabble]

¶ “Why Mapping Wetlands With AI Is Important” • Chesapeake Conservancy’s data science team has developed an artificial intelligence deep learning model for mapping wetlands, which resulted in 94% accuracy. This method for wetland mapping could deliver important outcomes for protecting and conserving wetlands. [CleanTechnica]

Wetland (NOAA image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Race To Make Diesel Engines Run On Hydrogen” • Engineers at the University of New South Wales say they have successfully modified a conventional diesel engine to use a mix of hydrogen and a small amount of diesel oil. They claiming their patented technology has cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 85%. [BBC]

World:

¶ “Candela C-8 Electric Boat Gets Larger Polestar 2 Battery And Range Increase” • The Candela C-8 now has the Polestar 2’s 69-kWh battery, rather than the 44-kWh battery it previously came with. With the new larger battery, the C-8’s range is up to 65 miles traveling at 22 knots; previously it was 50 miles. The price of the boat is unchanged. [CleanTechnica]

Candela C-8 (Candela image)

¶ “Stellantis Takes On Two Partners To Reduce EV Production Emissions” • Stellantis apparently doesn’t think it’s good enough that the EVs it makes operate with reduced emissions. It recently entered into two partnerships that will help it cut down on the carbon emissions associated with building its EVs, making EVs an even more superior choice. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Thousands Of Solar Electric Cars On Order” • Lightyear’s first solar electric cars went into production last December under the Lightyear 0 label. Now, Lightyear is selling Lightyear 2, which it is billing as its accessible, mass-market model with a bumped-up range of 800 km (500 miles) including solar charging. The price is €40,000 ($43,400). [CleanTechnica]

Lightyear 0 (Lightyear image)

¶ “Nofar Energy Plans 1.5-GW Renewables Portfolio In Romania For 2023” • Renewable energy company Nofar Energy has acquired a 73-MW solar project in Romania, as it is pushing to purchase, develop, and install solar power plants and wind farms with a total capacity of 1.5 GW in 2023. Project construction is set to start soon. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “New Africa Renewable Energy Initiative To Unleash 1.2 Terawatts” • A new consortium launched the Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative, which was set up to help drive the financial, technical, and socioeconomic investments needed to develop 1.2 terawatts of energy potential and 14 million new jobs in Africa. [MyJoyOnline.com]

Nairobi (Mustafa Omar, Unsplash)

¶ “IAEA Head Worries World Getting Complacent About Ukraine Nuclear Plant” • Rafael Grossi, director general of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, said he is worried that the world was becoming complacent about the considerable dangers posed by the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia atomic plant in Ukraine. [The Business Standard]

US:

¶ “California Storms Were Great For Wine” • The atmospheric rivers that swept through California for two weeks caused an estimated $30 billion in damage. The torrents collapsed hillsides, uprooted trees, and washed out highways. At least 20 people died, and millions were under flood warnings. But the rain was a desperately needed gift to California wineries. [BBC]

Vineyard (Alex Gorbi, Unsplash)

¶ “Increasing Renewables Likely To Reduce Coal And Natural Gas Generation Over Next Two Years” • In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration projects that growth of US renewable power capacity will reduce output of both coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants in 2023 and 2024. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Utilities Can Save Customers Billions Of Dollars” • The pandemic reduced coal-powered generation in 2020. RMI research looking at the hourly operation of power plants shows that there was a huge opportunity for even further reduced use of coal. The move would have driven $2.5 billion in consumer savings in that year alone. [CleanTechnica]

Coal-fired plant in Texas (Sam LaRussa, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Longroad Energy Begins Construction Of 285-MW Solar, 860-MWh Storage Project In Arizona” • Renewable energy developer Longroad Energy announced starting construction of a solar-plus-storage project in Arizona. The system, with 285 MW of solar PVs and 860 MWh of storage, is expected to be operating commercially in 2024. [Utility Dive]

¶ “Stony Brook-Led Study Reveals Summer Heatwaves And Low Dissolved Oxygen Contributed To Fishery Collapse” • A study by Stony Brook University researchers published in Global Change Biology shows that warming waters and heat waves contributed to the loss of an economically and culturally important fishery, the production of bay scallops. [SBU News]

Have a delightfully easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Nuclear Fallacy: Why Small Modular Reactors Can’t Compete With Renewable Energy” • Small modular reactors are the nuclear industry’s next big hope, because no government can gain a mandate to build dozens of big reactors any more. But SMRs don’t solve the problems of high cost and waste. They can’t compete with solar and wind. [CleanTechnica]

SMR under construction (Courtesy of NuScale Power)

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Generator Rolls Into Ocean Energy” • Most sensors that monitor tsunamis, hurricanes, and maritime weather run on battery power. But replacing batteries at sea is expensive and difficult. What if the replacement problem could be avoided by powering devices indefinitely from the energy in ocean waves? We may have a way to do that. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Temperatures On Greenland Haven’t Been This Warm In At Least 1,000 Years, Scientists Report” • After years of research on the Greenland ice sheet, scientists reported in the journal Nature that temperatures there have been the warmest in at least the last 1,000 years, which is the limit for the time they can analyze by examining ice cores. [CNN]

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

¶ “South Africa’s Energy Crisis Deepens As Blackouts Hit Twelve Hours A Day” • South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced this week to cancel a trip to Davos by an escalating energy crisis that is inflicting rolling blackouts on the continent’s most developed economy. The problem stems from failing old coal-fired plants and high cost of oil. [CNN]

¶ “UK Round 4 Offshore Projects Sign Lease Agreements” • The Crown Estate has signed lease agreements for six UK offshore wind projects around the coastlines of England and Wales, which were tendered under its Round 4 seabed auction. The milestone Agreements for Lease will allow developers to progress work on nearly 8 GW of sites. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Crown Estate image)

¶ “France’s Engie Aims To Expand In Renewables Across The GCC” • France’s Engie is looking to boost its operations in the Gulf Cooperation Council’s renewables sector and make the most of opportunities, a senior executive has said. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s two largest economies, both have net-zero emission targets. [The National]

¶ “Bristol City Leap Renewable Energy Deal Set To Be Worth £1 Billion To City” • A partnership is set to help Bristol reach net zero and bring £1 billion of investment to the city. The Bristol City Leap initiative, set up by the council and renewable energy company Ameresco, aims to transform the way Bristol generates, distributes, stores, and uses energy. [Business Live]

Bristol harborside (Mikey Harris, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “IAEA Sends Staff To All Ukraine Nuclear Plants To Reduce Risk Of Accidents” • The International Atomic Energy Agency is placing teams of experts at all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to reduce the risk of severe accidents as Russia’s war against the country rages on, agency head Rafael Grossi said. The IAEA is affiliated with the UN. [PBS]

US:

¶ “New Aircraft Design From NASA And Boeing Could Benefit Passengers In The 2030s” • NASA and Boeing will work together on the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project to build, test and fly an emission-reducing single-aisle aircraft this decade, NASA announced. The first test flight of this experimental aircraft is set to take place in 2028. [CNN]

Rendering of new aircraft design (Boeing image)

¶ “The Federal Reserve Is Testing How Climate Change Could Hurt Big Banks” • The six largest US banks have until July to show the Fed what effects disastrous climate change scenarios could have on their bottom lines. The banks have to show how their finances fare under such climate stresses as heat waves, wildfires, floods, and droughts. [CNN]

¶ “US Races Ahead In EV Manufacturing Investments” • The US is poised to attract the most investments globally in EV and battery manufacturing, for the first time surpassing announced investments in China and closing in on Europe. Companies have announced $210 billion of investments in the EV industry, up from just over $50 billion in 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Proterra factory in South Carolina (Courtesy of Proterra)

¶ “USDA To Make $300 Million Available For Local Renewable Energy In Nevada” • The USDA will make available $300 million for the state of Nevada to invest in renewable energy for rural areas. The funding will include $250 million from the Inflation Reduction Act. The USDA is now seeking applications for the fiscal year 2023. [KOLO] (All states have funding available.)

¶ “Evergy Calls On Renewable Energy Projects To Help It Reach Carbon Emissions Goal” • Evergy, based in Kansas City, Missouri, issued a Request for Proposals for up to 1,240 MW of generation resources that can be in service by 2026. Evergy said it plans to add over 3,500 MW of renewable energy and retire over 1,900 MW of coal-based generation. [KCTV5]

Kansas City Scout (Darren Hibbs, Unsplash)

¶ “Gas-Fired Peaker Plants In California Are Adding Energy Storage To Their Facilities” • Four natural gas-fired plants in California will co-locate 420 MWh of storage from a North Carolina company that offers battery storage and software. The batteries would store extra solar energy produced during the daytime for use later. [Nature World News]

¶ “Nebraska Public Power District Launches Siting Study For SMRs” • Nebraska Public Power District is beginning the process of studying sites that could have the potential to host advanced small modular nuclear reactors. NPPD’s application for funding has been approved by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. [American Public Power Association]

Have an amazingly fortuitous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Billionaires Battle Over Sun Cable: David Waterworth” • Disagreements about management of Sun Cable, the world’s biggest renewable energy export project, led to numerous conflicting headlines. I was hoping that after four days, the dust might have settled and the situation might be clearer. I’m not sure, but here’s what I can make of it. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it (Sun Cable image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “To Integrate Renewables, Energy Storage Is A Cost-Effective Alternative: Study” • Energy storage is a cost-effective alternative to transmission lines for integrating renewable energy, supporing reliability, and modernizing the grid, according to a recent study. Storage would typically have a lighter impact on the land and shorter development time. [Utility Dive]

¶ “The Rich Should Pay Higher Fares To Clean Up Aviation, Says Heathrow Boss” • Rich travelers will have to pay more to fly if the aviation industry is to transition to greener fuels, the boss of one of the world’s biggest airports said. Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said that wealthy individuals and companies should pay extra to fly with sustainable aviation fuel. [CNN]

Plane at Heathrow (Isaac Struna, Unsplash)

¶ “Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Detained By Police In Germany At Coal Mine Protest” • Greta Thunberg was detained by German police at a protest over the expansion of a coal mine in the west German village of Lützerath. She was part of a large group of protesters that broke through a police barrier and encroached on a coal pit. [CNN]

¶ “Geely Group Sales Of Electrified And Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicles Doubled To Over 675,000 Units, 29% Of Sales” • There are over a dozen auto brands in Zhejiang Geely Holding Group’s portfolio, Volvo Cars, Polestar, and Lotus are a few. Electrified and clean alternative fuel vehicle sales of its brands have doubled to over 675,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

Zeekr 001 (Courtesy of Geely)

¶ “51% Plugin Vehicle Share In The Netherlands! Tesla Model Y #1 Overall!” • December was another strong month in the Dutch market for plugin vehicle sales, with 15,757 plugin registrations. That result translated into a brilliant 51% plugin vehicle market share, with 44% share from just full battery EVs. The market for plugin EVs has had steady growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “IFC To Help Kyrgyz Republic Develop Renewable Energy Through Public-Private Partnership” • IFC and the government of the Kyrgyz Republic announced a partnership under the World Bank Group’s Scaling Solar program to develop up to 150 MW of solar power, increasing the Kyrgyz renewable capacity and diversifying its energy mix. [IFC Press Releases]

Nomad games village, Kyrgyzstan (Dastan Suiuntbekov, Unsplash)

¶ “Masdar Signs 1-GW Kazakhstan Wind Deal” • Masdar has signed an agreement related to the development of a 1-GW wind power plant in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The move would mark Masdar’s first investment in Kazakhstan, though it has already developed a strong presence in other countries of Central Asia. [reNews]

¶ “China Sets Another Solar Power Installation Record While Putting The Brakes On Fossil Fuel Capacity” • The installation of solar farms in China hit a record in 2022, while the amount of new fossil fuel-powered capacity fell for a second consecutive year. China continues to reduce its reliance on coal to generate electricity. [South China Morning Post]

PVs and wind turbines in Xinjiang (w0zny, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “‘Big Oil Peddled The Big Lie’: UN Chief Slams Energy Giants” • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned fossil fuel giants for ignoring their own climate science, accusing the oil and gas industry of seeking to expand production despite their knowing “full well” that their business model is incompatible with human survival. [CNBC]

¶ “Assessing The Cost And Feasibility Of France’s Nuclear Future” • A French government proposal to shorten the process of approving new nuclear energy projects is being considered by the Senate. The government says the law is necessary and cost effective, but climate activists including Greenpeace say it’s a waste of time and money. [RFI]

Saint Laurent nuclear plant (Nitot, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Locally Caught Fish Are Full Of Dangerous Chemicals Called PFAS, Study Finds” • Fish caught in the fresh waters of the US’s streams and rivers and the Great Lakes contain dangerously high levels of the “forever chemical” PFAS. The EPA is reducing the permissable amount of PFAS in water to 0.02 parts per trillion. Fish can have 8,000 parts per trillion. [CNN]

¶ “$2.9 Billion Approved For California Zero-Emission Vehicles Infrastructure” • The California Energy Commission approved $2.9 billion for zero-emission transportation infrastructure in the state. The funds will be used for the installation of more EV chargers, zero-emission trucks, school and transit buses, and hydrogen refueling technology. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus in Washington, DC (Mario Sessions, Unsplash)

¶ “Microgrid Boosts San Pasqual Band’s Energy Sovereignty And Security” • The San Pasqual Reservation basks in the abundant sunshine of San Diego County all through the year. In June 2022, the Tribe commissioned a hybrid solar-storage-liquid propane microgrid system to boost energy reliability and resilience on the Reservation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Entergy Texas Helps Customers Reduce Carbon Footprint” • Entergy Texas launched its Green Select program, which allows residential and business customers to match some or all of their electricity with clean, renewable energy generated in state. The program offers affordable options to help achieve environmental sustainability goals. [Entergy Newsroom]

Have a wonderfully relaxing day.

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World:

¶ “A Major Oil Exporter Is Hosting A UN Climate Summit. Opinions Are Divided” • The COP28 climate summit is mired in controversy. It is being held in one of the biggest oil exporting nations – the United Arab Emirates – and headed by one of the most prominent faces in its oil industry. Some people fear that it has been hijacked by the fossil fuels interests. [CNN]

Abu Dhabi (Belinda Fewings, Unsplash)

¶ “Carbonfuture And MASH Makes Join Forces For 50,000 Tonnes Of Carbon Removal” • In what is likely to be the largest ever carbon removal purchase agreement to date, MRV platform and carbon credit marketplace Carbonfuture has partnered with Indo-Danish company MASH Makes to secure 50,000 tonnes of carbon removal. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ora’s Good Cat Said To Be Coming To South Africa This Year” • The Mini Cooper SE is currently the cheapest battery EV in South Africa at around R700,000 ($41,000). Nothing else is below R1 million. But that is going to change soon. Expectations are that the Ora Good Cat will retail in South Africa for around R600,000 ($35,000). [CleanTechnica]

Ora Good Cat (Evnerd, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Vulcan Energy And Stellantis To Develop Renewable Energy Assets In Germany” • Automaker Stellantis is set to invest in a geothermal energy project in Germany with lithium developer Vulcan Energy Resources to help power a manufacturing facility for electric vehicles, Vulcan said. The phased project is aimed at providing renewable heat to the facility. [Nasdaq]

¶ “Parkwind Unleashes First Power From Arcadis Ost 1” • Parkwind produced first power from its 257-MW Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm in the German Baltic Sea. The Belgian developer said the first Vestas V174-9.5MW turbine is generating power for the German grid. Turbine installation is ongoing and full commissioning is expected this year. [reNews]

Installation in fog (Parkwind image)

¶ “Northern Ireland Avoids Paying To Import Gas As Wind Farms Provided 42% Of Electricity Last Year” • Northern Ireland consumers avoided paying £500 million to import gas last year because wind farms provided nearly 42% of the electricity. The figures come from a new analysis published by energy specialists Baringa. [Belfast News Letter]

¶ “Ocean Winds Extends French Floater Partnership” • Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires have teamed up to respond to France’s AO6 tender for floating offshore windpower in the Mediterranean. The AO6 tender is part of the French ambitions to develope of offshore wind power in France, with the objective of 40 GW of installed capacity by 2050. [reNews]

Floating offshore turbines (Lino Escuris, Ocean Winds)

¶ “Irish Wind Farms Supply 34% Of Country’s Power” • Ireland’s wind farms provided 34% of the country’s electricity last year, saving almost €2 billion for gas, new research shows. According to an analysis published by energy specialists Baringa, Ireland’s wind farms share of the country’s electricity supply rose by four percentage points compared to 2021. [reNews]

¶ “RWE Strikes German Offshore Wind Power Deals” • RWE has secured deals to provide twelve customers with electricity from its 295-MW Nordsee Ost and the 302-MW Amrumbank West offshore wind farms. The agreements cover power supplies to eleven German industrial customers from 2025 and one large municipal utility from 2026. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (RWE image)

¶ “UN Watchdog Is Optimistic About Ukraine Nuclear Plant Protection” • The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said he hoped to make progress on a safe zone deal around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine, but stressed it was a tough negotiation. Russian forces captured the Soviet-era plant in March, soon after their invasion. [Gulf Today]

US:

¶ “California Hit With One Final Round Of Storms” • California has been hit by a final round of storms, bringing more rain and snow to a state already reeling from at least 19 weather-related deaths. Skies will begin to look sunnier starting Tuesday, the NWS said, but a final gasp of wet weather will hit some areas on Wednesday and into Thursday. [BBC]

Walnut orchard (© Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “EPA Requirement Keeps Electric Buses Out Of Low-Income Schools” • In order to qualify for first round of funding from these EPA grants, school districts are being required to identify the specific diesel buses they’d replace with electric buses. The problem there is that many low-income school districts don’t own their own buses. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Over 40% Of Lincoln Dealers Say No To Ford’s EV Plans” • It looks like Ford’s grand plan to electrify its North American franchise dealers by 2030 hit a roadblock. As it turns out, more than 40% of Ford’s Lincoln brand dealers have decided they don’t want to spend nearly a cool million dollars to install EV chargers at their stores. [CleanTechnica]

Lincoln Corsair (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Tesla Still Leads The US EV Market – By A Lot” • Tesla’s cars made up four out of six of the most popular EVs sold in the USA in the first nine months of 2022, according to data from a recent Kelley Blue Book report. The Model Y and Model 3 boasted huge strides over other market offerings, both outselling the next top-sellers by over 100,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Battery Storage Can Help Solve Texas’ ‘Super Duck’ Challenge Of Integrating Renewable Energy” • The ERCOT grid is facing some extreme swings in its ability to match supply with growing demand for electricity, presenting an opportunity for energy storage. ERCOT is responsible for the grid and wholesale power markets in most of Texas. [Energy Storage News]

Have an enchantingly lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Europe’s Warm Winter Is Robbing Putin Of A Trump Card” • The threat of cutting Russian gas supplies was Putin’s trump card, if the war he started dragged into a long winter. But the winter has been milder than expected, and Western and Central Europe have coordinated gas consumption. taking one of Putin’s largest bargaining chips out of his hands. [CNN]

Mild winter weather (Dominik Dombrowski, Unsplash)

¶ “Why The Oil And Gas Companies Are Considering Green Hydrogen” • As interest in green hydrogen picks up, energy firms are using renewable energy to power hydrogen production. But one reason for the interest in green hydrogen by some energy companies is to support longer-term oil and gas production by helping to decarbonize operations. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Solar Energy For Household Consumption: Its Financial Feasibility” • Solar energy in Nepal is abundant and cheap. There is more than enough solar energy for every Nepali to enjoy the same energy consumption as in the developed countries. A solar power plant generates clean, environment-friendly and reliable electricity. [The Himalayan Times]

Solar water pump in Nepal (Prabuddha Raj, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Earth Is 1.1°C Warmer Than In The 19th Century” • Since the early 1900s, the Earth has warmed up by about 1.1°C as climate change becomes the biggest destabilising factor across the world. The latest assessment by scientists at the American space agency, NASA, reveals how the planet is losing its coolness as years become warmer and warmer. [India Today]

World:

¶ “Lützerath: German Police Oust Climate Activists After Clashes Near Coal Mine” • German police say they have removed almost all climate activists from a German village that will be destroyed to allow the expansion of a coal mine. Hundreds of police cleared around 300 activists from Lützerath. There were two people still holding out in a tunnel at the site. [BBC]

Lützerath (Bodoklecksel, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Tevva Plans On Fuel Cells For New Electric Truck” • Last summer, Tevva was talking up a 7.5-tonne electric truck for the European market powered primarily by batteries, with a fuel cell on board to function as a range extender. Tevva has unveiled a 19-tonne electric truck. The truck is expected to have a range of up to 500 km (310 miles). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Applies For Four Permits For Swedish Offshore Wind Farms” • Ørsted has applied for permits to build four additional large offshore wind farms in Sweden. Pending permit approvals and a plan for offshore grid build-out, Ørsted aims to deliver the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in Sweden, Skane Offshore Wind Farm, by 2029. [reNews]

Baltic Sea at Gotland (Michal Lawrenin, Unsplash)

¶ “2,000 MW Of RE Projects In Mindanao Pipeline” • Around 2,000 MW of renewable energy projects are under development in Mindanao, a government representative said. Projects with a combined capacity of 400 MW are already committed, implying that they have financial backing and are in the process of getting necessary permissions. [Power Philippines]

¶ “Nigeria Launches Renewable Energy Roadmap With IRENA Collaboration” • The Nigerian government and the International Renewable Energy Agency have launched a Renewable Energy Roadmap to help meet Nigeria’s energy demands. Nearly 60% of Nigeria’s energy demand in 2050 could be met with renewable energy sources. [ESI Africa]

Lagos, Nigeria (Namnso Ukpanah, Unsplash)

¶ “Shell’s 500-MW, 1,000-MWh Battery Storage Project To Be At Former Coal Power Station” • Shell Energy has announced plans to build, own, and operate the Wallerawang 9 Battery, a 500-MW, 1,000-MWh battery facility in New South Wales. The project is to be sited at a former coal power station. It will help integrate renewable generating capacity. [Energy Matters]

¶ “Global Leaders And Climate Activists Gather In Snowless Davos Ahead Of World Economic Forum 2023” • At the Swiss resort of Davos, where World Economic Forum 2023 is meeting, snowpack remains meagre on the lower slopes due to a massive heatwave bringing high temperatures to Europe and forcing ski resorts to shut down operations. [Earth.Org]

Davos looking green (Marvin Meyer, Unsplash)

¶ “Bataan Bishop Opposes Nuclear Plant: ‘We Don’t Want To Put Life On The Brink Of Danger’” • Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos has expressed opposition to reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant amid the dangers it poses to people’s lives and to the the environment. Some people think the plant will save money, but it will add burdens. [POLITIKO]

US:

¶ “Nikola And Allison Collaborate On Next-Gen Electric Semi” • It looks like the wild world of over-the-road trucking is about to get a little bit wilder. Allison Transmission has teamed up with Nikola. Together, they’re putting their Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell EVs through the wringer at Allison’s state-of-the-art testing center. [CleanTechnica]

Testing an electric semi (Allison image)

¶ “Wholesale US Electricity Prices Were Volatile in 2022” • The average wholesale electricity prices at major trading hubs in the US rose throughout much of 2022 and were, at times, volatile as a result of extreme weather events. The limited availability of coal to substitute for higher-priced natural gas also contributed to higher electricity prices. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Boskalis Wins US Offshore Wind Farm Contract” • Boskalis has acquired the contract to construct a large offshore windfarm off the US coastline. The Boskalis project scope includes the transportation and installation of the wind turbine foundations and power cables. Two crane vessels and several transport and cable-laying vessels will be deployed. [reNews]

Have an upliftingly convenient day.

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