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World:

¶ “Global Ferry Electrification Accelerates: 70% Of New Orders Go Electric” • It is remarkable how fast maritime transportation is decarbonizing. Globally, 70% of ferries currently on order now feature electric drivetrains. About 15,400 ferries are operating around the world, and most operators have electric retrofit plans for existing vessels. [CleanTechnica]

Electric ferry in Norway (Cavernia, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “MIKA Meon E: The World’s Lightest Road-Legal EV, Built For Pure Fun” • The MIKA Meon E is not your average electric car. Hand-built in Warwickshire by Hall Engineering and Design, it is essentially a beach buggy with an electric heart. It proudly claims the title of the lightest road-legal EV in the world, at a weight of just 675 kg (1488 lb). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “World Installed Almost 600 GW Of Solar Power In 2024” • A record 597 GW of solar power was installed in 2024, and growth could hit 1 TW per year by 2030, a report shows. The SolarPower Europe report shows that the amount of solar power installed in 2024 was 33% more than the 2023 figure. In late 2024, the world hit 2 TW of total solar in operation. [reNews]

Solar array (Bluefield Solar image)

¶ “Tilt Renewables Cuts Ribbon On 396-MW Rye Park” • The Australian energy company Tilt Renewables celebrated the commissioning of the largest operating wind farm in New South Wales. The 396-MW Rye Park wind farm was put into operation by Penny Sharpe, NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Heritage. [reNews]

¶ “Maersk Floats Out New Wind Installation Vessel” • Maersk Offshore Wind is celebrating the launch of its turbine installation vessel. The Maersk Wind Installation Vessel went out to sea at Seatrium’s Tuas Boulevard Yard in Singapore. The Maersk WIV was designed as a next-generation turbine installation concept to help accelerate the build-out of offshore wind. [reNews]

Wind installation vessel (Maersk Offshore Wind image)

¶ “Scatec Starts Construction Of Large Scale Solar And Battery Storage Project In Egypt” • Scatec ASA began construction of its 1.1-GW Obelisk solar and 100-MW, 200-MWh battery storage project in Egypt. Electricity from the facility is to be sold under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

US:

¶ “Trump’s Tariffs And Electric Cars: Bloomberg Says It’s Time To Welcome Chinese Cars To The US” • Tariffs are a hot topic today, as the current administration’s trade policies are roiling many industries. Some of the highest tariffs apply to electric cars manufactured in China, which are subject to import duties of around 102.5%. [CleanTechnica]

BYD car-carrier (BYD image)

¶ “US Consumers Don’t Trust Tesla Anymore, Study Says” • The Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report into US EV sales was built in April from over 8,000 consumer responses. It was designed to provide a clearer view of what consumers think about EVs. It exposes some dismal flaws in Tesla’s marketing. Consumers just don’t trust Tesla anymore. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Defense Department Launches Bioeconomy Plan Against Fossil Fuels” • One surprising thing President Trump can take credit for is pasting his seal of approval on a significant initiative in bioeconomy sponsored by the US Department of Defense. It is aimed at pushing coal, oil, and natural gas out of the industrial petrochemical market. [CleanTechnica]

Biomanufacturing facility (Courtesy of Lygos)

¶ “Trump’s Pause On Wind Power Harming NY’s Climate And Economy, AG James Says In Lawsuit” • US President Donald Trump’s pause on permits for new offshore wind power projects is harming New York’s climate and  jeopardizing thousands of jobs, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged in a lawsuit filed on Monday. [Gothamist]

¶ “US State Coalition Sues Trump Over Offshore Axe” • Eighteen attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over its directive to halt all federal approvals for wind energy projects. The lawsuit challenges a Presidential Memorandum of January 20 that indefinitely freezes permitting for development of wind energy pending federal review. [reNews]

Flag and wind turbine (Dominion Energy Image)

¶ “DESRI And Ranger Power Announce Close Of Financing And Construction Start For 290 MW Of Michigan Projects” • DESRI, in partnership with Ranger Power, announced that the White Tail and Heartwood Solar projects achieved financial close with their project lenders and initiated construction. The two projects will have a total of 290 MW of capacity. [WJBF]

¶ “114 People Laid Off From The National Renewable Energy Laboratory” • At least 114 people were laid off at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, an email says. The cuts affected staffers in both the research and operations sides of the lab. Staff cut included some at NREL headquarters in Golden, Colorado and some based elsewhere. [Colorado Public Radio]

Solar array at NREL site (US DOE, public domain)

¶ “Trump Proposes Cutting DOE Budget By $19.3 Billion” • The White House’s 2026 budget proposal, released on Friday, seeks to cut $19.3 billion from the Department of Energy’s budget by making deep reductions to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [Utility Dive]

¶ “Neighboring States’ Nuclear Debacles Loom Over North Carolina Bill” • Proposed legislation in North Carolina to allow utility Duke Energy to charge customers for power plants still being built is taking heat, in part because similar schemes have left residents in neighboring states holding the bag for pricey abandoned nuclear projects. [Canary Media]

Have a cognizantly blissful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “It Is Folly For Us To Even Consider Expanding Nuclear Power” • Former MP Brian Wilson wrote, “the remnants of nuclear after decades of hostility still provides a defiant 11.1% of power.” Okay Mr Wilson, let’s forget about the nuclear waste, the danger, or even the possibility attack. I look forward to editorials outlining the cost benefit of nuclear power. [The Herald]

Wind turbines (TJ K, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Electric Cars Are More Reliable Than Gas Cars, Study Shows” • A study from the German Automobile Club tells us what we’ve always suspected would be the case: Electric cars are much more reliable than gasoline-powered cars. German Automobile Club is the largest roadside assistance organization in Europe, operating like the AAA in the US. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Oil Prices Drop $2 With Most Asian Markets Closed For Holidays” • Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel after the OPEC+ group of oil producing nations said it plans to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day on June 1. US crude oil is down about 17% for the year and prices are at a point where many producers can no longer turn a profit. [ABC News]

Oil rig (Arvind Vallabh, Unsplash)

¶ “What Caused The Blackout On The Iberian Peninsular? It’s Complicated” • The blackout in Spain and Portugal was not the inevitable result of running an electric grid with large amounts of wind and solar capacity, The Breakthrough Institute says. It is instead what one would expect from an energy transition with inadequate reserves. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How The World’s Largest Electric Ferry Changes Maritime Electrification” • The launch of the electric ferry China Zorrilla, to operate between Argentina and Uruguay, represents a landmark event in maritime electrification. Commissioned by Buquebus this vessel is the largest battery-electric passenger and vehicle ferry in the world. [CleanTechnica]

Incat-made China Zorilla ferry (Incat image)

¶ “In 2024, Costa Rica Had The Highest EV Market Share In The Americas” • Sales of new all-electric passenger vehicles in Costa Rica reached a record of 11,373 units in 2024, up 80% from 2023. The EV market share hit a record 15.4%, up from 11.6% in 2023, making Costa Rica the leader in all-electric cars in Latin America for the third consecutive year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Shell Considers Potential BP Takeover” • Bloomberg reported that the oil major Shell is in serious discussions with its advisers over the merits of a possible acquisition but is waiting for further stock and oil price declines before deciding whether to pursue a bid. Shares of BP have lost almost a third of their value in the last year as oil prices plummeted. [reNews]

Shell sign (Shell image)

¶ “NTPC Renewable Energy Tenders 56 MW Of Floating Solar With 60-MW, 240-MWh Battery Storage” • NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd has invited bids for development of a grid-connected 56-MW floating solar PV project, integrated with a 60-MW, 240-MWh battery system, on a turnkey basis at its North Karanpura Thermal Power Station. [pv magazine India]

¶ “DFO Bags Vessel Contract In Taiwan” • Dong Fang Offshore announced an order for a third Taiwan-flagged service operation vessel. On delivery it will start a 15-year service contract for an offshore wind farm project in Taiwan. The SOV is to be of DFO’s customised Vard 4 39 design, developed to meet the challenges of working offshore in Taiwan. [reNews]

Service operation vessels (Dong Fang Offshore image)

¶ “Australian Clean Energy Leaders Urge Albanese To Speed Up Renewables Push” • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party won a convincing majority in the the federal election. And Australia’s renewable energy sector is urging his re-elected government to step up the renewables energy transition based on that mandate. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Steelwind Rolls Out Its Largest-Ever Monopile” • Steelwind is celebrating a production milestone with the completion of its largest and heaviest monopile. Steelwind announced in February that it would invest €50 million in its Nordenham-Blexen factory in Germany to expand its capacity to meet increasing demand for offshore windpower. [reNews]

Monopile (Steelwind image)

¶ “China Steps Up As US Retreats From Global Green Energy Leadership” • As the world shifts towards cleaner energy, the role of superpowers is getting more visible. While China increases its support for green energy in developing countries, the US is stepping back. This pushes developing countries to choose their energy partners differently. [Microgrid Media]

US:

¶ “From Blight To Bright: Michigan Explores Solar Power On Brownfield Sites” • Michigan has 24,000 known contaminated sites, called brownfields. Kelly Thayer, senior policy advocate with the state’s Environmental Law & Policy Center, envisions a future where these brownfields are transformed into sites for solar energy projects. [Inside Climate News]

Brownfield site (Emilius123, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Coastal Restoration Project Is In Peril Amid Claims State Concealed A Critical Report” • A project to restore a rapidly vanishing stretch of Louisiana coast that was spoiled by the 2010 Gulf oil spill was thrown deeper into disarray when Governor Jeff Landry claimed that his predecessor concealed a study that threatened the $3 billion effort. [ABC News]

¶ “Farmers Are Harvesting A New Crop: Solar Energy” • A study shows agrisolar has been lucrative for farmers in California’s Central Valley over the last 25 years. On average, generating electricity from sunlight has 25 times the value of using the land to grow crops. Covering 10% of the land with solar power more than doubles their income. [Canary Media]

Have an objectively lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How Solar Breakthroughs And Electric Vehicles Can Protect Against Catastrophic Blackouts” • Some clean energy detractors tried to falsely blame the power outage on Spain’s reliance on renewables. One way to prevent blackouts is to have microgrids for buildings, and microgrids can be supported by EVs such as the Ford F-150 Lightning. [The Independent]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Elise240SX, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “NIO Sales Up 53% In April” • NIO had a solid month of sales growth again in April, growing 53% compared to April 2024. The company had 23,900 vehicles delivered to customers in the month. That was also a 59% increase over the month before, March 2025, going from 15,093 sales to 23,900 sales. Nio is also founding a new brand, Firefly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPENG Sales Up 313% In 2025!” • XPENG sales continue to soar. The company had 273% more sales last month than in April 2024! Through the first four months of 2025, sales are up 313%! Overall, 35,045 XPENG vehicles were delivered in April, and 129,053 were delivered in the first four months of the year. Also, XPENG is now insuring cars in China. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG X9 (JustAnotherCarDesigner, public domain)

¶ “Tesla Sales Continue To Crash In Europe” • Reuters reported that discounts and incentives, Tesla’s new car sales fell in Europe last month, topped by an 81% drop in Sweden. “Its sales in the Netherlands fell 73.8% to their weakest for that month since 2022 and were down 33% in Portugal, a bigger drop than the previous month,” Reuters noted. [CleanTechnica]

¶ ” A New Era For Energy Sector” • In Vietnam, the National Assembly set an ambitious goal of 8% economic growth in 2025 and double-digit growth from 2026 to 2030. Energy will be key to achieve this, especially electricity and sustainable sources of green energy. It is essential to adjust and plan the necessary resources effectively. [vneconomy.vn]

Archimedes screw turbine
(Nguyễn Thanh Quang, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Sembcorp’s 588-MW Solar Power Plant In Oman Begins Commercial Operation” • A Sembcorp Industries subsidiary, Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd, announced the start of commercial operations of the 588-MW Manah II Solar Independent Power Project in Manah, Oman. The power will go to the Nama Power and Water Procurement Company. [Times of Oman]

¶ “Coalition Power Plan “Nuked” At Poll” • Labor’s landslide election victory shows Australians have overwhelmingly rejected the coalition’s nuclear energy plan, climate groups say. The plan proposed by the coalition to build seven reactors in Australia would not have seen the first operational until 2035 and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. [RenewEconomy]

Polling place (Nick-D7, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “California Energy Leaders Report Progress Ahead Of Summer 2025 On Grid Reliability” • After the  climate-driven challenges of 2020 through 2022, California energy leaders are encouraged by recent progress and believe the state is better positioned to meet demand this summer, while it remains vigilant about the ongoing risks. [California Energy Commission]

¶ “New Data On Fossil Fuel Industry Emissions Could Be Pivotal In Climate Litigation” • Justin Mankin, an associate professor at Dartmouth College, and Christopher Callahan, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, wrote a study published in the journal Nature. They show how they can connect big businesses and climate damage in court. [CleanTechnica]

Statue of Justice (Luke Michael, Unsplash)

¶ “IBM Announces Partnership In Effort To Reduce Harmful Impacts Of Modern Computing: ‘Already Making Remarkable Strides'” • IBM has partnered with Clean Energy Capital with the goal of powering its Hursley data center with renewable energy to support climate goals. IBM is building on commitments that began in 2001. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Scientists Team Up To Publish Climate Assessment Gutted By Trump” • The American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society announced that they would team up to publish climate-related research to further a congressionally mandated assessment that had been gutted by the Trump administration. [UPI.com]

Have a truly inspired day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “With A Technology License From MIT And NREL In Hand, Comstock Fuels Aims To Produce Jet Fuel From Lignin” • It is an ideal complement to Comstock Fuels’ own technologies: just one refining step to upgrade lignin from biomass into the aromatic hydrocarbon molecules needed to produce “drop-in” synthetic aviation fuel (SAF). [CleanTechnica]

Poplar, lignin oil, and aromatic-rich SAF (Photo by NREL)

¶ “NREL-Led Research Effort Adds Salt, Boosting Performance Of Perovskites” • Using an ionic salt to replace the fullerene layer in perovskite solar cells boosted performance, efficiency, and durability, according to a global research effort led by scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Their findings appear in the journal Science. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “China’s EV Revolution Left US Automakers Behind, And Trump Just Sped It Up” • From 2015 on, automakers in China grew more confident, capable, and focused on EVs. Meanwhile, American brands pushed trucks, SUVs and combustion engines, liabilities in China. Then Chinese national pride was magnified by Trump’s trade war. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song DM (Jengtingchen, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “SolarDuck Earns Quality Mark” • Floating PV developer SolarDuck achieved ISO 9001 certification, the leading standard for quality management systems. The the certification awarded by Bureau Veritas is a step in its journey to achieve operational excellence, the company said. Offshore solar is attracting interest in multiple sectors. [reNews]

¶ “Berwick Bank ‘Key For Climate Fight'” • SSE Renewables has insisted that the 4,100-MW Berwick Bank offshore wind farm is key to tackling climate change, after conservation charities called for the project to be refused. Conservation groups led by RSPB Scotland argued that the project would threaten seabirds and offshore wind in Scotland. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (SSE Renewables image)

¶ “Germany’s Solar Power Set To Overtake Lignite In 2025” • In Germany, solar power output is expected to surpass electricity generation from lignite for the first time this year, according to the German Solar Industry Association. The group forecasts that new solar systems with a combined capacity of 17.5 GW will be connected to the grid in 2025. [MSN]

¶ “Senvion India Bags 84-MW Turbine Order” • Senvion India has secured a repeat order from KP Energy Limited for twenty of its flagship wind turbines. The 4.2M160 wind turbines will be installed in the Bharuch district of Gujarat, with deliveries to come in the fourth quarter of 2026. The 4.2M160 is Senvion’s largest turbine offering. [reNews]

Renewable energy (Senvion image)

¶ “Polls Open In Australian Vote Swayed By Inflation, Trump And Climate Concerns” • Australians began voting on Saturday in a bitterly contested general election, deciding a contest shaped by living costs, climate anxiety, and the tariffs of US President Donald Trump. One central issue is whether Australia will build nuclear power plants. [NZ Herald]

US:

¶ “Hawaiian Lawmakers Raise State’s Hotel Tax To Help Islands Cope With Climate Change” • Hawaiian lawmakers passed novel legislation that will increase the state’s lodging tax to raise money for environmental protection and strengthening defenses against natural disasters fueled by climate change. Governor Josh Green indicated he will sign the bill. [ABC News]

Resident of Hawaii (Sajith T S, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “California’s Energy Revolution: Sunrun Quadruples Virtual Power Plant Ahead Of Summer” • As California prepares for yet another summer of extreme heat, wildfire risks, and electricity demand, Sunrun is scaling up its CalReady distributed power plant significantly. The project now links together 75,000 home solar batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Offshore Wind Industry Lives To Fight Another Day” • US offshore stakeholders suffered a blow from President Trump, who abruptly suspended the federal offshore lease program on taking office. But the winds will blow across the waters of the US long after Trump leaves office, and the industry gearing up for another crack at it already. [CleanTechnica]

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (Dominion Energy image)

¶ “Mack Trucks Muscles Into The Class 8 Electric Truck Market” • Just as Tesla gears up for full production of its Class 8 Semi electric truck, it’s running up against a bulldog of a competitor. The legacy truck maker Mack Trucks just announced plans to produce an all-electric version of its newly launched Pioneer Class 8 diesel truck. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump’s Budget Cuts And The Environment” • President Trump’s first hundred days included a wide range of attacks on environmental and climate initiatives. His proposed budget does the same. The document looks to curtail or cut billions of dollars for everything from drinking water and clean energy to national parks and emergency management. [ABC News]

Meadow in Jackson, Wyoming (Holly Mandarich, Unsplash)

¶ “Clearway Signs 335-MW Power Purchase Agreement With Microsoft” • Clearway Energy Group signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Microsoft for the 335-MW Mount Storm wind farm in West Virginia. Mount Storm will support Microsoft’s sustainability and environmental goals by generating clean energy. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Energy Storage Industry Commits $100 Billion Investment in American-Made Grid Batteries” • The American Clean Power Association announced a commitment to invest $100 billion into American-made grid batteries. It hopes the investment will fuel creation of 350,000 jobs and turn the US into a world leader for battery making. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have an enjoyably civilized day.

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World:

¶ “UK Could Hit 30°C At Earliest Recorded Point In A Year” • The UK is set for its hottest day of the year so far on Thursday, and the high could hit 30°C (86°F) at the earliest recorded date, forecasters said. The heat follows one of the warmest and driest Aprils on record. It’s bad timing for those who want to bask in the sun over the three-day weekend. [ABC News]

Brighton (Ben Guerin, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Ukraine Signs Minerals Pact With US As State Department Praises ‘Deal-Maker’ Trump” • The United States and Ukraine have signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the country’s critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defence against Russia. [Yahoo News UK]

¶ “Europe EV Sales Report” • Some 365,000 plugin vehicles were registered in Europe in March, rising 22% year over year, in an overall market that was up by just 3%. There was a steep fall of diesel sales, down 27% YOY to 7% share now. Petrol is also in a death spiral: Petrol vehicles saw their sales fall by 20% YoY, and their share dropped to 28%. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an EV (JUICE, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Councils Advise Government: Rooftop Solar Should Be Required On All New Homes” • In the Local Government Association’s April 2025 report, the LGA called for mandatory rooftop solar panels on all new homes in the UK, urging stronger building standards to accelerate decarbonization and reduce household energy bills. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Launches In Benin, Seychelles, Croatia, Slovakia, And Cambodia, Plus The World’s Largest Car Carrier!” • In April, BYD was joined by Dubai Taxi Company and Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility to deploy 200 all-electric BYD SEAL taxis in Dubai. BYD also launched the BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest car carrier, to carry 9,200 vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

BYD launch event in Seychelles (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Voltalia Secures Finance For UK Solar Project” • Voltalia raised a £20 million finance package to build a 34-MW solar project near Scarborough, north Yorkshire. Voltalia’s £20 million finance package consists of a construction and long-term operating loan of up to £18.9 million, from Triodos Bank UK, and a debt service reserve facility of €1.1 million. [reNews]

¶ “European Commission Backs Nine Renewables Projects in Finland And Estonia” • The European Commission allocated €52 million ($58.7 million) for nine projects in Finland and Estonia through the EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism. The funding aims to strengthen the EU’s renewable energy and foster cross-border cooperation of member states. [Rigzone]

Night in Finland (Niilo Isotalo, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “New Military Activity Reported Near Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants, IAEA Says” • Explosions, drone flights, and air raid signals have continued for weeks near Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports. [RBC-Ukraine]

US:

¶ “Smart Electrical Panel Startup SPANs NREL’s Accelerator Programs” • SPAN created a smart electrical panel that goes beyond traditional capabilities. Users can control individual circuits for individual devices. SPAN also has an app that gives users a dashboard to keep track of the connected appliances and electric loads. [CleanTechnica]

SPAN smart electrical pane (Photo from SPAN)

¶ “Republicans Want A New $250 Tax On Electric Vehicles” • Republicans in Congress have dropped the idea of funding the Trump-Musk budget cuts with a $20 fee on all passenger cars. Now they are pushing for a tax on EVs, in the form of a national $250 registration fee. So much for the tax-cutting, pro-business, law-and-order Republican party. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project Can Now Support Coastal, Remote, And Island Communities” • Coastal, remote, and island areas need affordable, reliable, secure energy systems but many lack the resources to improve. Harsh weather conditions and aging infrastructure can relatively isolated places vulnerable. Now than can get support. [CleanTechnica]

Casco Bay (Dougtone, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Tariffs Could Result In $120 Million Q2 Hit To CVOW Costs” • Dominion Energy increased the cost estimate for its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project by $120 million due to impacts of tariffs, the company said in an update. Chief executive Bob Blue said the project cost will increase residential customer bills by just $0.04 per month. [reNews]

¶ “Trump Official Accepts Empire Order Is ‘Dangerous'” • Leslie Beyer, nominated as assistant secretary of the interior, lands and minerals management, agreed with Senator Angus King at a confirmation hearing that the administration’s decision to issue a stop order for Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind projects off New York sends a negative signal. [reNews]

Leslie Beyer (US Congress image)

¶ “Fossil Fuels Within Electricity Sector Falls To All Time Low In US” • A study determined that the US reached a record low for fossil fuels generating electricity in April, while solar and wind reached a record high. According to data collected by Ember, the global energy think tank, fossil fuels produced 49.2% of the US supply of electricity. [NationofChange]

¶ “Largest Solar Project East Of Mississippi River Now Online In Illinois” • Swift Current Energy has brought its 800-MW Double Black Diamond Solar project online in Illinois. It is the largest solar project in operation east of the Mississippi. Swift Current Energy joined project customers and local leaders to celebrate the start of operations. [Solar Power World]

Have a comfortably mild day.

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Opinion:

¶ “With Mark Carney’s Win, Trump Is Now Sandwiched Between Two Climate Leaders” • Mark Carney was elected to be Canada’s prime minister based on a campaign agenda focused squarely on pushing back on attacks by US President Donald Trump. Carney is regarded an environmental champion. Mexico has another in President Claudia Sheinbaum. [Time Magazine]

Mark Carney in 2016 (Policy Exchange, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

World:

¶ “Nuclear Vs Renewables: The Coal Mining Town Caught In Australia’s Climate Wars” • The Hunter Valley has long been coal country. But the area of New South Wales is now begrudgingly on the frontline of the country’s transition to clean energy. It will transition away from coal, but will it go to nuclear or renewables? The election is on May 3. [BBC]

¶ “BYD Seagull To Start Production In Brazil Next June” • The BYD Seagull, a city-car, will start production in less than two months at a Brazilian factory. For now, 150,000 units are to be built at Camaçarí yearly, but that amount could double from 2027 onwards if the market sustains it, as Brazil will export it to all of Latin America. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagulls (BYD image)

¶ “Phase-Shifting Hot Bricks Pack More Energy Storage Punch Into Smaller Spaces” • Among the emerging solutions for energy storage is a block-type thermal energy storage system developed by the Australian startup MGA Thermal. MGA claims the system is so energy dense that it requires up to 24 times less land than conventional battery storage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “IPF 2025: Canada To Roll Out 2.5-GW Offshore Auction” • Canada is ready to welcome offshore wind developers jilted by US federal policy and will launch a 2.5-GW lease auction later this year, attendees at IPF 2025 in Virginia have heard. Nova Scotia aims to launch a lease auction this fall. There will be a need to export power to the US. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (Jesse De Meulenaere, Unsplash)

¶ US And Ukraine Sign Mineral Resources Agreement”” • The US and Ukraine have signed the deal to create the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, the long-awaited deal that gives the US rights to Ukrainian rare earth minerals, both sides announced. The US had delayed signing the minerals agreement until the investment fund was finished. [ABC News]

UK and Jersey:

¶ “Nature Charities Call For Berwick Bank To Be Refused” • RSPB Scotland joined forces with several other organizations to urge Scottish Ministers to refuse a 4-GW offshore wind project. They argue that permitting SSE Renewables’ 4100-MW Berwick Bank project will threaten both the future of seabirds and other offshore wind projects in Scotland. [reNews]

Firth of Forth (Courtesy of RSPB Scotland)

¶ “‘Worrying’ Decline Of Crucial Insects In NI, Says Charity” • The decline of insects in Northern Ireland is “worrying,” warns a charity. Buglife carries out a “splat survey” every year, for which people count the number of insects on a car licence plate after a journey. The results show that since 2021, flying insects declined in Northern Ireland by 55%. [BBC]

¶ “Jersey’s First Solar Farm Switched On” • Jersey’s first solar farm was switched on and will provide enough energy to power over 600 homes. The 11 acre site has nearly 7,500 panels and is expected to power 14% of St Clement’s homes. Jersey Electricity’s chief executive Chris Ambler said the array was important for the island’s energy independence. [BBC]

Jersey (Nick Fewings, Unsplash)

Germany:

¶ “Millionth Electric Vehicle Rolls Off The Production Line At The Volkswagen Plant In Zwickau ” • After around five and a half years of all-electric vehicle production, the Zwickau vehicle plant has cracked a magic barrier: The one millionth electric car rolled off the production line at the multi-brand site. The anniversary vehicle is an ID.3 GTX Performance. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Germany Approves New SuedLink Section” • The German Federal Network Agency has completed the planning approval procedure for another section of the SuedLink. The section runs from the district border of Bad Kissingen and Schweinfurt in Bavaria about 70 km to the state border of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg near Altertheim. [reNews]

Laying underground cable (NKT image)

¶ “Germany May Get 99% Of Its Power From Solar And Wind On Thursday” • A slump in demand due to a public holiday will coincide with a surge in solar generation and the region’s first mini-heat wave. Early afternoon on Thursday, as much as 99% of consumption could be met by green energy sources, according to Bloomberg Models. [Luxembourg Times]

US:

¶ “Climate Change Is Making Coffee More Expensive. Tariffs Likely Will Too” • Losses from heat and drought have cut coffee production forecasts in Brazil and Vietnam, the world’s largest growers. The result is increased coffee prices. Now prices in the US will be even higher than in the rest of the world because of all coffee producers face US tariffs. [ABC News]

Coffee (dapiki moto, Unsplash)

¶ “Pure Lithium Announced Agreement With Kingston Process Metallurgy” • Pure Lithium Corporation, a vertically integrated lithium metal battery technology company based in Boston, announced an agreement with Kingston Process Metallurgy to develop and construct Pure Lithium’s pilot-scale lithium metal anode production reactor. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Montana Republicans Are Proud Their State Has The Most Toxic Superfund Sites” • When the annual legislative session for 2025 is over at the end of May, the state’s Republican governor is certain to sign a large number of bills intended to mount a direct assault on the Held vs Montana decision that upheld a right to a clean environment. [CleanTechnica]

Have an ethereally delightful day.

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World:

¶ “BYD Dolphin Mini, The Car The US Will Never Have, Secures World Urban Car Award” • BYD is the first Chinese automaker to clinch a prestigious World Car Award. The Seagull’s autonomous driving version now has a starting price of 69,800 yuan (about $9,540) before subsidies. Given Trump policies, it will not be sold in the US. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull, aka Dolphin Mini (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “From Darkness To Light: Iberia’s Rapid Grid Recovery Is Explained” • On April 28, 2025, the Iberian Peninsula went into a significant and sudden blackout, plunging large portions of Spain and Portugal into darkness. The cause is not yet known, but the power has been largely restored fairly quickly. It is worth taking a look at why that could  be done. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “In 2024, 11 GW Of Offshore Wind Added” • World Forum Offshore Wind figures show that 31 new offshore wind farms with a total capacity of 11 GW were taken into operation in 2024. This increased global offshore wind capacity to a total of 78.5 GW, according to the Global Offshore Wind Report for 2024. China continues to lead the sector. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Mark Timberlake, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuclear Waste And Schools Don’t Mix: Parents Want Answers On Radioactive Waste Transport Routes” • The advocacy group Parents for Climate wants to know how the risks of nuclear waste being transported past schools and child care centers will be managed by Peter Dutton if nuclear reactors proposed by the Coalition are built. [medianet.com.au]

UK:

¶ “Government Not Taking Climate Seriously – Advisers” • The government has made very little progress in preparing the UK for the threats posed by rising temperatures since coming to power, a highly critical report from the independent Climate Change Committee says. Progress is “either too slow, has stalled, or is heading in the wrong direction.” [BBC]

Rural England (Scott Evans, Unsplash)

¶ “Lowest Rainfall In 90 Years As Temperatures Set To Soar” • As Yorkshire prepares for what may be the hottest day of the year so far, records show the region has endured its driest combined February, March and April for almost 90 years. Just 78 mm (3 in) of rainfall fell at Sheffield’s Weston Park weather station since the start of February, the least since 1938. [BBC]

¶ “Leonardo, Conrad Energy Ink 20-year PPA” • Helicopter manufacturer Leonardo has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Conrad Energy in the UK. Under the agreement, Leonardo’s site in Yeovil will receive 100% green energy from the 11.25-MW Camp Road solar farm, which will generate enough energy to power about 6500 homes. [reNews]

Leonardo helicopter (Fas Khan, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “The Biggest ‘Anti-Environment’ Policies Enacted In Trump’s First 100 Days” • President Donald Trump has enacted a large number of policies that could harm the environment and foil goals for emissions reductions during his first 100 days in office, environmental policy experts say. On the first day in office, he set a record by signing 54 executive orders. [ABC News]

¶ “Coal Miners Speak Out As Trump Strips Away Their Health Protections” • As President Donald Trump vows to reinvigorate America’s coal industry, critics say his administration stripped away key protections for the miners. In his first 100 days, his administration decimated the federal institute that protects them from such things as black lung disease. [ABC News]

Coal mining machine (Alpha Perspective, Unsplash)

¶ “How The Trump Administration May Be ‘Attacking’ Science” • The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term were filled with mass firings, cancellations of research grants, university funding cuts, and questions over what should be studied. Many doctors and public health specialists view these actions as an “attack” on science. [ABC News]

¶ “US Imports Of Major Transportation Fuels Decreased In 2024” • US imports of petroleum products decreased by 210,000 barrels per day in 2024 to average 1.8 million barrels per day. Imports of all major transportation fuels, such as motor gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, decreased. Other petroleum products, such as unfinished oils, also decreased. [CleanTechnica]

Imports, 2014 to 2024 (EIA image)

¶ “Government Dismisses Everyone Working On The National Climate Assessment” • If we had any doubts about who is in control of the US government, they were all erased on April 28, 2025 when every person working on the next National Climate Assessment due in 2028 got an email saying that all contributors were being dismissed. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Community Solar Could Spark $120 Billion In US Economic Growth” • A study by the Coalition for Community Solar Access says that one 5-MW project generates about $14 million in local economic activity and supports close to 100 jobs. Scale that up to 1 GW, and you’re looking at 18,000 jobs and nearly $2.8 billion flowing into state economies. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Raphael Cruz, Unsplash)

¶ “Corning Increases Investment In Manufacturing Facility To Meet Solar-Component Demand” • Corning Incorporated is accelerating its advanced manufacturing operations in Saginaw County to meet demand for solar components made in the US. Corning is increasing its new manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion. [WNEM]

¶ “Empire Wind Halt ‘Unlawful'” • The head of Equinor has described the US government’s order to halt work on the Empire Wind offshore wind farm as “unlawful.” Anders Opedal said: “We have invested in Empire Wind after obtaining all necessary approvals, and the order to halt work now is unprecedented and in our view unlawful. [reNews]

Have a sweetly scented day.

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Opinion:

¶ “What Happens When US Electricity Demand Craters?” • A CleanTechnica reader shared an interesting thought: If demand for electricity craters in a falling economy, the fossil fuel plants will be the first to shut off. That is because the marginal costs of electricity produced from fossil fuels are high, where those of renewables are very low. [CleanTechnica]

Renewables replacing coal (Arno Senoner, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Paper-Thin Solar Panels Set To Transform Clean Energy Technology” • Another breakthrough in solar power generation technology is all set to revolutionise the solar power generation. Japan has already unveiled the ultra-thin solar panels, which are thinner than paper. They were developed by a research team from the MIT. [Telangana Today]

World:

¶ “New Satellite Will See Through Clouds To ‘Weigh’ Earth’s Forests” • A new type of satellite will be able to see through the clouds and leafy canopies to assess how the world’s rainforests are protecting the planet from climate change. The European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite, will “weigh” the Earth’s forests, to find how much carbon is being stored. [BBC]

Biomass satellite (ESA-CNES-Arianespace)

¶ “Millions Without Power As Outages Hit Spain, Portugal And Parts Of France” • Millions of people in Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France lost power after a “severe disruption” in the European electrical system. According to the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in remarks on the issue, the cause of the disruption is still unknown. [ABC News]

¶ “Copernicus: Warmest March In Europe And Lowest Arctic Winter Sea Ice” • March 2025 was the warmest on record for Europe, as temperatures continue to hit new highs. And it was a month of contrasting rainfall extremes, as many areas had their driest March on record and others their wettest for at least the past 47 years. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Airline Emissions Soar To Pre-COVID Levels As Europe Fails To Price Their Pollution” • Emissions from European aviation are almost back to 2019 levels, and flights within Europe are even greater, a T&E study shows. The EU’s carbon market is failing to address the true cost of emissions, while airlines show signs of climate backtracking. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Equinor, Polenergia Secure Permit For 1.6-GW Bałtyk 1” • Equinor and Polenergia have secured the final environmental decision for their planned almost 1,600-MW Bałtyk 1 offshore wind project. Gdańsk’s Regional Director for Environmental Protection issued the decision, allowing the project to progress towards Poland’s 2025 offshore auction. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Equinor image)

¶ “EU Solar Sector Proposes Cybersecurity Solutions” • The European solar sector has proposed new recommendations to help EU policymakers mitigate cybersecurity risks. Solar PV systems are digitalised, with more and more connected to the internet via inverters. A report by DNV performs an in-depth risk assessment for the sector. [reNews]

¶ “Adding 50-GW Renewable Energy Yearly Can End Coal Imports By 2029, Save India $66 Billion” • If India adds 50 GW of renewable energy every year, it could stop importing thermal coal completely by 2029 and save about $66 billion in foreign exchange between 2025 and 2029, according to a report by think tank Climate Risks Horizon. [PSU Watch]

Wind turbines (George Dagerotip, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar Power Surge Sinks Europe’s Electricity Prices Deep Below Zero” • A sunny weekend in northwest Europe plunged power prices in the region to hundreds of euros below zero on Sunday afternoon as solar generation soared. Spot power prices in Belgium sank to as low as -$302 (-€266) per MWh between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Coalition Says Its Energy Plan Is Climate Approved. Here’s What The IPCC Really Says About Nuclear” • Does the IPCC say nuclear power is necessary for decarbonisation? No, but that has not stopped Australia’s Liberal-National Party Coalition from claiming the IPCC tells them that to decrease emissions we must increase nuclear power. [RenewEconomy]

Sign for the times (Dan Meyers, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “New York State Wants To Divest From Everything Tesla” • A number of New York state policy gurus have changed course on Tesla. According the New York Times, they are pushing to revoke a legislative waiver that has let Tesla directly operate five New York dealerships rather than sell cars through dealer franchises, as other carmakers must do. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SunTrain Re-Imagines Battery Storage And Clean Energy” • Sometimes we have excess electricity in one place but we need it somewhere else. New transmission lines could send electricity to where it is needed, but they are expensive and take years to plan, permit, and build. SunTrain thinks it has a better idea: Ship the electricity by rail. [CleanTechnica]

SunTrain railcar (SunTrain image)

¶ “Electric Water Heater Sales Set New Record In 2024 While Gas Sales Decline” • Data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute tells us sales of gas-burning tanked water heaters were down 3%, in 2024. Meanwhile, sales of electric water heaters grew by 3% in 2024 to a record high level and a market share 5% higher than gas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “LS Breaks Ground On $700 Million Subsea Cable Facility” • Oceantic Network member company LS GreenLink USA has broken ground on its new $700 million subsea cable facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. The subsea cable manufacturing facility is a first in the US for the Korean-based LS Cable & System. It is expected to be operational in 2028. [reNews]

Have a clamorously applauded day.

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World:

¶ “Green And Intelligent Solutions Boost Rural Revitalization” • Using a green, intelligent charging station in Zhenggang village as a model, the State Grid Chuzhou Power Supply Company will deepen its cooperation with local government departments to inject green momentum into the high-quality development of the local economy. [China Daily]

Rural China (James Wheeler, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “India Installs 28 GW Of Solar And Wind Power In FY 2025” • India installed around 28 GW of solar and wind power capacity in FY 2025, according to JMK Research & Analytics. JMK said the country added 23,832 MW of solar capacity and 4,151 MW of wind capacity from April 2024 to March 2025. These were up 27.9% and 58.5%, respectively. [Asian Power]

¶ “Ireland Could Add 6 GW Of Onshore Wind” • A study by MKO, commissioned by Wind Energy Ireland, calculated that Ireland could produce up to 6 GW more onshore wind energy. An earlier report published onshore wind farms saved Irish electricity consumers nearly €840 million in the years 2020 through 2023. [reNews]

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland (WEI image)

Australia:

¶ “Victoria Is Growing A Skilled Wind Energy Workforce” • The Victorian Government is building a skilled workforce to power the state’s renewable energy future. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy and Resources, opened tenders for a center training wind workers, giving investors and developers confidence that they have talent for projects. [Invest Victoria]

¶ “The $60 Billion Energy Boom Hidden In Barnaby Joyce’s Backyard” • It’s the kind of windfall that regional Australia has dreams of: $60 billion in investment, 4,000 construction jobs, over 5,000 ongoing jobs, and enough clean energy to power half the country. But the local MP who is sitting on this renewable energy goldmine isn’t cheering. [RenewEconomy]

Australian wind farm (elaine alex, Unsplash)

¶ “Fireys Pour Water On Peter Dutton’s ‘Potentially Catastrophic’ Nuclear Power Plan” • The United Firefighters Union of Australia launched a last-minute campaign warning Australians of the risks associated with the Dutton Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear power plants in five states. The UFUA says the cost of emergency services is over half a billion dollars. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “‘Meadowscaping’: The People Turning Their Lawns Into Meadows” • Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states actively encouraging homeowners to transition their lawns to meadows. In 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources started a lawn conversion program that in some cases helps finance meadow projects. [BBC]

Meadow (Stephan Eickschen, Unsplash)

¶ “New Jersey Wildfire: Strong Winds Complicate Firefighters’ Efforts” • Firefighters continue to battle a wildfire in New Jersey that has burned over 15,000 acres, with high winds complicating their efforts. The Jones Road Wildfire, in Ocean County, burned 15,300 acres and is only 65% contained as of Sunday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. [ABC News]

¶ “Mr Musk Goes To Memphis – And Poisons Its Air” • Elon Musk’s personal bid for artificial intelligence is xAI. For whatever reason, xAI is building a huge data center he calls Colossus in Memphis, Tennessee. Residents say Colossus is dumping huge quantities of carbon dioxide into the air they breath, along with a lot of other pollutants. [CleanTechnica]

Product of Elon Musk’s xAI (Image by xAI)

¶ “‘Repowering’ Era For America’s Aging Wind Energy Industry Begins, Despite Trump’s Effort To Kill It” • President Donald Trump is blocking many of the wind industry’s new projects, and the times have not been looking good for it. However, the largest wind turbine manufacturers are moving to repower the older wind farms, bring them up to date. [CNBC]

¶ “California Community Solar Project To Help Disadvantaged People” • A joint community solar power project from Peninsula Clean Energy and Renewable America, Dos Palos, recently came online in Merced County, California. The electricity it generates will help disadvantaged people by reducing their utility bill costs. Here is a look at it. [CleanTechnica]

Solar farm in California (Renewable America image)

¶ “Connecticut Bill Aims To Cut Electric Costs, But May Stifle Clean Energy” • Lawmakers are touting new legislation as a way to lower Connecticut’s out-of-control power bills, but opponents say it could ruin the state’s renewable energy progress. The bill would reduce incentives for residential solar and make nuclear eligible for renewable energy credits. [Canary Media]

¶ “Why Mississippi’s Solar Industry Is Growing Rapidly Despite A Lack Of State Incentives” • Despite nearly no financial incentives offered by the state for solar companies to build power plants, the renewable energy sector has been exploding in Mississippi in recent years. There are a number of key growth factors. One is a competitive power market. [The Clarion-Ledger]

Have an extraordinarily happy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Managing The Shift From Fossil Fuels To Alternatives” • As the global community confronts the twin crises of climate change and energy insecurity, the imperative to transition towards renewable energy has become increasingly urgent. Solar, wind, hydro, and other alternative sources promise a cleaner, more sustainable future. [Eurasia Review]

Oil well and wind turbine (Pixabay image)

¶ “Utahns Must Think Carefully About Becoming The Nation’s Nuclear Hub” • We have seen how costly nuclear development can be here in Utah. In 2015, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems partnered with NuScale on a small modular reactor. The project was canceled in November 2023 after cost estimates went from $3 billion to $9 billion. [Yahoo]

¶ “Important To Vote In Federal Election If Concerned About Climate, Renewable Energy” • To support Canada’s transition to renewable energy, the most powerful step a citizen can take is to vote. Global clean energy is past 40%. Uruguay transitioned from oil imports to 98% renewables. Finland’s energy is 95% fossil fuel-free. Canada is at 17%. [Rocky Mountain Outlook]

Banff National Park (Chi Liu, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Solar Power Surges Around The World” • While reactionaries all across America are getting out their pitchforks to oppose solar and wind power, renewables continue to grow, not only in China and Europe, but even in the US. Why? Thanks to the wonders of capitalism, humans who subscribe to its strictures invariably seek the cheapest way to do everything. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Continues To Be At Odds With Its Allies Over Renewable Energy” • As part of their quest to undermine the momentum toward the clean energy upswing, Trump administration officials sparred at the gathering with the International Energy Agency. The Trumpsters want to block data that favors renewable energy over fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Wind farm (US DOI image)

¶ “Ukraine’s Wartime Expertise Can Reshape Farming” • Ukraine has emerged as one of the world’s drone innovation hubs, driven by the brutal necessities of wartime. Remarkably, this wartime industrial surge has positioned Ukraine uniquely to pivot its new drone expertise toward civilian applications, particularly drones for sustainable farming. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Area Burned By UK Wildfires In 2025 Is Already At Annual Record” • In the UK, more than 29,200 hectares (292 sq km or 113 sq miles) has already been burnt this year, according to data from the Global Wildfire Information System, which has kept a record of burnt area since 2012. That is more than the previous high of 28,100 hectares for the whole year of 2019. [BBC]

Wildfire in Wales (Neil Mark Thomas, Unsplash)

¶ “Energy Leader Transforms Cooking Oil Into Fuel For One Of The World’s Largest Mines” • Old cooking oil was turned into fuel recently to power an iron ore mine in Australia – the first of its kind. Neste MY Renewable Diesel has allocated 8,500 tons of renewable diesel from used cooking oil for the trial, according to Renewable Energy Magazine. [The Cool Down]

¶ “DRC’s Kinshasa Could See Deadly Rain And Floods Every Two Years” • In early April, extreme rainfall and flooding at Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killed at least 33 people. Catastrophic rainfall events are predicted to hit Kinshasa every two years in today’s warming climate, a study by World Weather Attribution shows. [MSN]

Congo River at Kinshasa (EdwinAlden.1995, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Satellite Images Reveal This Gigantic Nuclear Fusion Center Rising at Breathtaking Speed” • China’s ambitious leap into laser fusion research is capturing global attention, as satellite images reveal the construction of a massive research center in Mianyang. This facility is poised to position China at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology. [Sustainability Times]

US:

¶ “There Is One Clear Winner In The Corn Vs Solar Battle” • At Cornell University, researchers showed that if farmers covered just 46% of land currently used to farm ethanol with solar panels, that would then generate enough energy to reach the US goal for decarbonization for 2050. Solar power is a more efficient use of land than corn for ethanol. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (Tom Hickey and Al Hicks, NREL)

¶ “Tesla Is The Humpty Dumpty Of Brand Reputation” • The New York Times and others reported that Trump’s “DOGE” office saved just $160 billion while costing $135 billion, an accounting by the nonpartisan good-government nonprofit Partnership for Public Service shows. Elon Musk hurt many people in the process, along with Tesla’s reputation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “DTE Energy Unveils Pine River Solar Park, Highlighting Renewable Energy Expansion” • DTE Energy celebrated bringing the Pine River Solar Park online, marking its commitment to renewable energy and sustainability, aligning with Michigan’s clean energy goals. The company plans an investment of $30 billion to enhance grid reliability. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a wonderfully straightforward day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Elon Can’t Save Tesla By Leaving Washington” • With Tesla’s disastrous quarterly results, it’s pretty clear that the company is actually in trouble. With years of poor product decisions, the company’s strengths could only compensate for so much. Elon Musk now says he’s going to spend less time in Washington, and more time on Tesla It won’t be enough. [CleanTechnica]

X, a symbol of what once was (Fachrizal Maulana, Unsplash)

¶ “Remembering Chernobyl: Why Not Developing Wylfa B Is A No-Brainer” • April 26 2025 marks the 39th anniversary of the catastrophic explosion in the Chernobyl nuclear plant, now in Ukraine. The rain that fell in Wales after the explosion caused radioactive pollution, with effects on agriculture, even though we were 1,600 miles away. [Nation.Cymru]

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Flow Battery Aims Energy Storage Dagger At The Heart Of Fossil Fuels” • Next-level energy storage systems are starting to provide more space to store wind and solar energy for longer times. The California flow battery startup Quino Energy is in the mix, gearing up for the first ever commercial deployment of its organic, water-based system. [CleanTechnica]

Flow battery (Courtesy of Quino via CleanTechnica archive)

World:

¶ “Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China At 52%” • March signals the end of the low season in the Chinese EV market. Plugins scored almost a million units in the last month of the quarter (in a 1.9-million-unit overall market). They had a 39% growth rate, in a total market that grew 12% YOY. Sales of fuel-burning cars fell by 76,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “​Switzerland Unveils World’s First Operational Solar Railway Project​” • Switzerland established the world’s first solar power plant installed directly on an active railway line. Developed by Swiss startup Sun-Ways, the project features removable solar PV panels laid between the rails, marking a significant advancement in renewable energy integration.​ [CleanTechnica]

Solar array between rails (Sun-Ways image)

¶ “A Third Of China’s Farms Are Sprayed By Drones, Marking Agricultural Revolution” • Drone spraying has not just reached scale. It has arguably become transformative and is reshaping the world’s farms. Nothing highlights this more vividly than DJI’s remarkable assertion: DJI agricultural drones now spray a third of all farmland in China. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EnBW Installs First He Dreiht Turbine” • EnBW announced that the first of 64 wind turbines at its 960-MW He Dreiht wind farm in Germany is in place. This is the first time Vestas’ 15-MW wind turbine is being used in a commercial project. A single rotation of the rotor will be enough to supply four households with electricity for a day. [reNews]

Turbine installation (EnBW image)

¶ “Growth Of Solar Power In Dublin: A Sustainable Revolution” • Solar power is picking up steam in Dublin as the city is stepping up its climate action and sustainability. The Dublin City Council set goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and being climate neutral by 2050, so Dublin is a renewable energy focal point. [Blue and Green Tomorrow]

US:

¶ “Big Tech’s Soaring Energy Demands Are Making Coal-Fired Power Plant Sites Attractive” • Coal-fired power plants, long an increasingly money-losing proposition in the US, are becoming more valuable now that the suddenly strong demand for electric power to run Big Tech’s cloud and AI applications has set off a race to find new energy sources. [ABC News]

Coal-fired power plant (Stephen Kong, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Drone Video Shows Wildfires At State Forest In Pennsylvania” • Two wildfires are burning at in the Michaux State Forest in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. At least 1,350 acres, including the Kings Gap Environmental Education Center and Pine Grove Furnace State Park, have been impacted. The heavy smoke from the wildfires may cause air quality alerts. [ABC News]

¶ “Slate Electric Pickup Truck Is The Anti-Cybertruck” • By every measure, Slate’s electric pickup truck is the exact opposite of the Cybertruck. It is light, affordable, and basic. Tesla’s Cybertruck is heavy, expensive, and loaded with technology. The Slate popped out of stealth mode this week, and so we know a lot more about it now than we did two weeks ago. [CleanTechnica]

Slate pickup (Slate image)

¶ “Trump Deep Sea Mining Order Violates Law, China Says” • Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order aimed at stepping up deep-sea mining polymetallic nodules in both US and international waters. The nodules are rich in such minerals as cobalt and rare earths. China condemned the move, which said it “violates” international law. [BBC]

¶ “RWE Is Ending US Offshore Operations” • RWE has ceased its US offshore wind operations, citing US regulatory uncertainty under the Trump administration. CEO Marcus Krebber will say RWE has stopped offshore activities “for the time being” in a speech to be delivered to shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Essen on 30 April. [reNews]

Marcus Krebber (RWE image)

¶ “Chugach Electric Customers Can Sign Up For Community Solar” • Chugach Electric, based in Anchorage, is launching its community solar program for customers this summer. Though solar energy typically saves consumers money in the long run, the initial cost of a solar system can be high. Community solar, a subscription service, avoids that. [Alaska’s News Source]

¶ “Proterra’s Innovative Battery Pack Optimised For Heavy-Duty Trucks” • Leading innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology Proterra Powered LLC announced the debut of its H2-23 battery pack as part of the Company’s new Onyx Strata series, engineered for Class 8 trucks and similar commercial applications. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have a surprisingly rewarding day.

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World:

¶ “China Has Halted Rare Earth Exports, Can Australia Step Up?” • China imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements essential to the production of advanced technologies. Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to invest A$1.2 billion (£580 million, $770 million) in a strategic reserve for such minerals if he wins the election in May. [BBC]

Rare earth mine in China (Kevnmh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “New Tesla Model Y Sales Bump Already Over In China?!” • Tesla’s big hope to get back to sales growth, or to at least stop the immense bleeding, was that the new Tesla Model Y would be a huge hit and make up for the drop in sales in the past year. What we can glean from the market doesn’t tell the whole story yet, but it doesn’t suggest high expectations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Denza Z From BYD!” • BYD introduced the Denza Z at the Shanghai Auto show. It is clearly designed to be disruptive. The car is so svelte and athletic it will inspire lust in the hearts of all who see it. It has the performance of a supercar, the looks of a McLaren or Ferrari, and a price low enough that many ordinary mortals can aspire to own it. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Denza Z (DPC Cars via YouTube)

¶ “OX2 Submits Laine Environmental Impact Assessment” • OX2 has submitted the EIA for its Laine offshore wind project to the Finnish authorities. Located about 30 km off the coast, Laine could include up to 150 turbines, generating 11 TWh of clean electricity annually. The project is being developed by OX2 and Ingka Investments. [reNews]

¶ “EA3 Monopile Installation Gets Underway” • Construction for the largest renewables project ScottishPower has ever taken on is underway with the installation of the first foundation for the £4 billion, 1400-MW East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm. Standing at 83.89 meters tall, the 1,800 tonne monopile is the largest ever installed by a jack-up vessel in Europe. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (Hellenic Cables image)

¶ “At Energy Security Talks, The US Pushes Gas And Derides Renewables” • While the leaders of the UK, European Union and ministers from Barbados and Colombia argued that clean energy provides energy security, ministers and officials from oil and gas producers like the US, Iraq and Egypt said that fossil fuels should remain part of the energy mix. [Climate Home News]

¶ “China Says Wind And Solar Energy Capacity Exceeds Thermal For First Time” • China’s wind and solar energy capacity exceeds that of thermal, mostly coal-powered, its national energy body said. China, the world’s largest of greenhouse gases emitter, has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. [Yahoo News UK]

Wind farm in China (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “GEE Files Plans For 2-GW Scottish Pumped Storage” • Glen Earrach Energy submitted an application for a 2-GW pumped storage hydro project near Loch Ness. If approved, the project will deliver over £20 million annually during a 125-year life cycle to Highland communities through a community benefit fund. Polling shows strong support in the area. [reNews]

¶ “NSW Approves Grid Access To Some 3.56 GW Of Renewable Projects” • Four renewable energy projects with a total generating capacity of 3.56 GW have been granted grid access in the South West Renewable Energy Zone. These projects include more than 700 MW of battery storage, capable of powering up to 300,000 households during peak demand. [Asian Power]

Wind turbines in NSW (CSIRO, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Left Alone By Humans, Wildlife Returns To The Eaton Fire Burn Area” • Wildlife is returning to the Eaton Fire burn area four months after the Los Angeles area wildfires tore through the Angeles National Forest and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Altadena. It is a sign of hope to people who have lost so much that nature is returning. [ABC News]

¶ “Nearly Half Of All Americans Are Breathing Unhealthy Air” • The American Lung Association issued its annual State of the Air report. It says that, after decades of successful efforts to reduce sources of air pollution, 46% of Americans, 156.1 million people, are living in places that get failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or fine particle pollution. [CleanTechnica]

Comparisons (EPA image)

¶ “Toyota Invests More Into Old Tech In West Virginia” • Toyota went from hero to villain in the eyes of many people concerned about the climate. After leading the market for years with its popular Prius, it proved to be a battery EV laggard. Now Toyota North America says it is investing $88 million in its West Virginia factory to make more hybrids. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Zelestra Closes $113 Million Of US Solar Financing” • Zelestra closed a $113 million financing transaction for an 81-MW solar project in Indiana. Banco Santander provided the senior secured credit facility for the Jasper County solar project. The project has long-term environmental attributes purchase agreement with Meta and is due to be operating in Q4 2025. [reNews]

Solar panels (Zelestra image)

¶ “Despite Tariff Turmoil, Stellantis Aims Solid-State Battery Plan At US EV Market” • Last year, Stellantis announced plans to launch its Dodge Charger Daytona EV in 2026, with a solid-state battery developed by US startup Factorial Energy. Now Stellantis and Factorial say Factorial’s solid-state EV battery has sailed past a key validation stage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Nuclear Power Reactors In Vermont? Not Again” • Recently, VTDigger published an article alerting its readers that Vermont governor Phil Scott and other New England government officials are considering the use of nuclear power to provide the region’s future electricity. The discussions are in the early stages, but we should be developing opposition. [CounterPunch.org]

Have an utterly gorgeous day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “How 3D Printing Could Make Housing Cheaper And More Sustainable” • A BioHome takes about a week to create. Its material is stronger than concrete and can be recycled entirely, as it can be broken down into pellets, which are used for a new project. The system was developed at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures & Composites Center. [ABC News]

BioHome (ASCC image)

World:

¶ “UAE Offers Portable Desalination Plants To Cover Cyprus’ Water Needs” • Cyprus will receive portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates to cover the tourism-reliant island nation’s water needs this summer as reservoir deposits are nearly depleted, officials said. A fire had knocked out one of the five desalination plants on Cyprus. [ABC News]

¶ “BYD Keeps Delivering On Tesla’s Unkept Promises” • At the start of this decade, Tesla indicated that a model would come at a price of $25,000. It didn’t. But last year, BYD’s average selling price was $16,700. At the low end of the spectrum, BYD set the base price of its entry level Seagull to below $7,800, outdoing a promise Tesla failed to deliver on. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seal (BYD image)

¶ “European Energy Costs Plunge Following Winter Peaks” • The electricity prices in Europe are falling this spring from two-year highs in the winter of 2025 as renewable power generation jumps and natural gas prices fall. With winter cold and low wind speeds, utilities had been forced to use more natural gas for generating electricity, but prices are now falling. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “​The AfricroozE Bike Could Revolutionize E-Mobility Across Africa” • AfricroozE bike is not just another e-bike on the market. It’s purpose-built to meet the needs of African communities. With a rugged steel frame, fat puncture-resistant tires, thicker spokes, and solid suspension, the AfricroozE is designed support the smile on your face. [CleanTechnica]

AfricroozE Bike (AfricroozE Bike)

¶ “Coalition’s Nuclear Gambit Will Cost Australia Trillions” • Climate Energy Finance published a report examining the economic implications of the nuclear pathway for Australian energy modelled by Frontier Economics. The proposed nuclear transition would result in a cumulative $3.5 trillion reduction in Australian GDP by 2050. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Meanwhile, In China, 60 Gw Of New Solar Capacity Added In First Quarter Of 2025” • China’s National Energy Administration announced that operating solar capacity increased by 43.4% in the first quarter of the year, with nearly 60 GW of new capacity added. The total installed power generating capacity in China has reached 3.43 TW. [RenewEconomy]

Solar array (China Three Gorges image)

UK:

¶ “Moray West Offshore Windfarm To Be Switched On” • Moray West, in the Moray Firth, has 60 turbines. Each stands 257 meters (843 feet) above the surface of the sea, making them the tallest turbines installed in UK waters, according to Ocean Winds, the wind farm operator. The wind farm will have a capacity of 882 MW, enough power for 1.3 million households. [BBC]

¶ “UK Unveils £300 Million Offshore Supply Chain War Chest” • UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an initial £300 million of funding through Great British Energy to invest in supply chains for domestic offshore wind. The public investment complements the £43 billion of private investment pledged for clean energy projects since July. [reNews]

Sir Keir Starmer (Simon Dawson, No 10 Downing Street)

¶ “National Grid files Sea Link application” • The Planning Inspectorate has accepted National Grid’s development consent application for its 2-GW Sea Link offshore cable. The 138 km high voltage direct current cable between Suffolk and Kent will help facilitate more renewable energy and strengthen Great Britain’s electricity infrastructure. [reNews]

¶ “Planning Reforms ‘To Cut Energy Delivery Times By Year'” • The UK Government will cut the time it takes to build major infrastructure by at least a year under planning reforms. Changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will scrap unique statutory consultation requirements for large projects, halving the average two-year pre-application phase. [reNews]

Worker on a wind turbine (Ørsted image)

US:

¶ “The Race Against Time To Save US Climate Data” • Deletions of scientific data are sweeping across US government websites. Decades of health, climate change, and extreme weather research data are at risk. Now, scientists race to save their work before it’s lost. The data, long available online, keeps getting taken down by the Trump administration. [BBC]

¶ “Large Solar Power + Energy Storage Projects Completed At Fresno DPU” • The City of Fresno celebrated the completion of several solar power and energy storage projects, which could save taxpayers over $122 million by 2045. The project developer is ForeFront Power. Fresno has about 300 days of sunshine per year to energize its 540,000 people. [CleanTechnica]

Solar project (Courtesy of ForeFront Power)

¶ “California Expands Electric School Bus Fleet As A Federal Freeze Pauses Other Efforts” • California is spending $500 million to put an additional 1,000 electric school buses on the road as federal cuts and freezes pause efforts in other states to replace old, polluting diesel-fueled fleets. Those states are now hampered by uncertainty. [ABC News]

¶ “Tesla Misses The Electric Truck Boat, Again” • The latest news in the medium-duty electric truck field relates to Harbinger, a California startup launched in 2021. It already has such leading firms as THOR Industries and ETHERO Truck + Energy under its wing. The company announced the start of production at its Garden Grove factory. [CleanTechnica]

Have a greatly appreciated day.

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(, CC-BY-SA 3.0) km² CO₂ NH₃ CH₄ ₹ NOₓ ‽ ♦♦♦♦♦

World:

¶ “How Pope Francis Viewed Climate Change” • With the death of Pope Francis, the world lost the first Catholic pontiff to take a public stance on combating climate change. Tributes poured in after the Vatican announced that Pope Francis died, including from leaders in the fight against climate change, who praised him for supporting those efforts. [ABC News]

Pope Francis (Zebra48bo, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “How The Trump Administration’s Policies Will Impact Global Decarbonization” • The actions of the Trump administration will decelerate the race to decarbonize economies around the world significantly, energy and climate change experts say. But they won’t cause global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to come to a screeching halt. [ABC News]

¶ “China’s Solar Capacity Installations Grew Rapidly In 2024” • Utility-scale solar power capacity in China reached over 880 GW in 2024,China’s National Energy Administration said. China has more utility-scale solar than any other country. The utility-scale solar capacity installed in China in 2024 came to 277 GW, which is more than the US has in total. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (US EIA image)

¶ “China’s Electrification Of Trucks, Buses, And Construction Vehicles Accelerates Rapidl” • China’s heavy vehicle sector took major strides toward electrification in 2024. China continues to lead in the transition toward zero-emission heavy commercial transportation, and new energy vehicle adoption in the segment is accelerating significantly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Record 117 GW Of Wind Installed In 2024” • A record 117 GW of windpower capacity was installed globally in 2024, according to a Global Wind Energy Council report. But the report shows big disparities in terms of the pace of deployment across global markets, with the lion’s share of installations taking place in a small number of key mature markets. [reNews]

Offshore windfarm (GWEC image)

¶ “Australia On The Way To Fully Renewable Electricity” • You probably didn’t hear it on the news but Australia took a vital first step towards being powered fully by renewable energy. The first stage of a new transmission line was finally hooked up and will become the key to South Australia hitting 100% renewable power by the end of 2027. [Small Caps]

¶ “Poll Reveals Business Tipping Point On Renewables” • A landmark global poll found that 97% of business leaders at mid-sized and large companies support a transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable electricity. More than half of executives said they would relocate their operations or supply chains to countries with better access to renewable power. [reNews]

Wind turbines (George Dagerotip, Unsplash)

¶ “Spain Hits First Weekday Of 100% Renewable Power On National Grid” • Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable energy for the first time on April 16, with wind, solar, and hydro meeting all peninsular electricity demand during a weekday. Solar set a new record five days later, generating 20.12 GW of instantaneous power, 78.6% of demand. [pv magazine International]

US:

¶ “Tesla Profits Drop 71% Amid Anti-Musk Backlash” • Tesla’s profits fell 71% over the first three months of this year, a company earnings release shows. Total revenue decreased by 9% from one year earlier, to $19.3 billion, while revenue derived from car sales plunged 20% over the first three months of 2025 compared to a year ago, the data show. [ABC News]

Elon Musk and Donald Trump (The White House, public domain)

¶ “How Rock Dust Is Used To Fertilize Farms, Clean The Air” • Rocks like limestone and basalt naturally absorb CO₂, so a based carbon removal company in Seattle is collecting rock dust left over from mining material used for construction and using it as way of removing the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. It also makes farming more productive. [ABC News]

¶ “Study Shows Big Drop In Pollution With Switch To Electric Trains” • Caltrain, which operates commuter rail service between San Francisco and San Jose, replaced all its diesel-powered self-contained trains and locomotives with electric equipment in six weeks. The rapid change gave researchers a chance to measure the improvement in air quality. [CleanTechnica]

Electric trains (Caltrain image)

¶ “New Petroleum Product Pipelines Dropped Off A Cliff During Biden Era In USA” • In 2024, pipeline companies completed just five pipeline projects to transport petroleum liquids in the US, according to the EIA’s Liquids Pipeline Projects Database. The five projects included three hydrocarbon gas liquid pipelines and two petroleum product pipelines. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Renewable Energy Projects Can Enhance Ecosystems” • With the renewable energy transition, we can strengthen our relationship with nature. The goals of expanding renewable energy and enhancing ecological integrity are not mutually exclusive. We can create systems that restore natural processes while generating clean power. [pv magazine USA]

Sheep and solar power (Enel image)

¶ “Lawmakers Push Controversial Bill That Could Derail Texas’ Booming Energy Growth” • Legislation proposed in the Texas Senate proposes sweeping administrative rules, imposes fees, and requires the Texas PUC to approve wind and solar projects before they can break ground. A Senate committee advanced the matter to the full chamber. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Deep Fission To Build Nuclear Power Plants Below The Earth’s Surface” • Deep Fission is the latest venture to come up with a way to finally make nuclear energy safe and abundant. It wamts to bury 15-MW nuclear power plants a mile below the surface of the Earth. A quick poll in the CleanTechnica breakroom showed many people are not convinced. [CleanTechnica]

Have an acceptably perfect day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Earth Day 2025: The Intersection Of Renewable Energy And The Water Sector” • On April 22, 2025, Earth Day marks its 55th anniversary. Its global call to action is the theme Our Power, Our Planet. This year, the emphasis is on accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources with the goal of tripling global clean electricity by 2030. [Smart Water Magazine]

Floating solar in California (SolarWriter, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Earth Day 2025: Weather And Renewable Energy” • This year, Earth Day’s theme is “Our Planet, Our Power,” inviting people across the globe to unite in support of renewable energy. In the UK, a large portion of our energy still comes from fossil fuels. But as alternative energy sources keep evolving, it’s worth asking: How can our weather contribute to our future? [BBC]

¶ “Climate Change And Secrets Of The Penguins” • Awareness of climate change started to change about twenty years ago, when National Geographic released March of the Penguins. Now National Geographic is releasing, Secrets of the Penguins, it’s a good time to take stock of how sentiment on climate change and sustainable technology is evolving. [CleanTechnica]

Penguins (Courtesy of National Geographic)

World:

¶ “Wildlife Trust Considers Beaver Rewilding Project” • A wildlife trust is seeking donations as it looks to use beavers to transform habitats in Surrey. The beavers were hunted to extinction in the county about 400 years ago. The trust said reintroducing beavers would help to create wetlands, which would alleviate flood risks and help native wildlife. [BBC]

¶ “Thermoresistant ‘Super Corals’ Offer Hope Amid Climate Change” • A possible “biological treasure chest” of coral, found in a lagoon off a remote island in the South Pacific, appear to be surviving extreme heat caused by climate change, scientists say. The coral live in a semi-enclosed lagoon, where the water is far warmer than in the ocean beyond. [ABC News]

Coral (Alexis Rosenfeld, 1ocean.org)

¶ “India Sells Over 2 Million EVs” • A friend returned from the sub-continent and declared “EVs are everywhere.” Of course, the vast majority have fewer than four wheels. Has a preoccupation with cars in the West has blinded us to the rEVolution going on in countries transitioning from petrol two- and three-wheelers to battery-powered alternatives. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “First Turbine Installed At Hai Long Offshore Wind Farm” • The first offshore wind turbine has been installed at Northland Power’s 1-GW Hai Long wind farm off the coast of Taiwan. The wind farm is using Siemens Gamesa’s SG 14-222 turbine, which has a rotor diameter of 222 meters. With Power Boost, each unit can generate up to 15 MW. [reNews]

Hai Long Turbine installation (Shimizu Corporation image)

¶ “CATL Next Gen Batteries Coming Soon To An EV Near You!” • After BYD made an announcement battery range and charging, CATL made one of its own. In both cases, the news means that the constant bleating of anti-EV folks about how they won’t buy an electric car until they can charge it in the same time as it takes to fill a gas tank is now just hot air. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Unveils The World’s First ‘Meltdown Proof’ Thorium Reactor” • Chinese scientists achieved a significant milestone in energy technology when they successfully added fresh fuel to an operating thorium molten salt reactor, Chinese media reported. According to Guangming Daily, the 2-MW experimental reactor is located in the Gobi Desert. [OilPrice.com]

Gobi Desert (Sasha Kaunas, Unsplash)

¶ “Security Fears Over Mini Nuclear Plant Network With ‘1,000s More Police Needed’” • Sir Keir Starmer pledged to “rip up the rules” governing the nuclear industry to fast-track Small Modular Reactors. But UK government plans to build a network of “mini” nuclear power stations across the country have failed to assess major security threats adequately. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Freight Electrification Report: A Strategic Blueprint For US Truck Charging” • Electrification of freight trucking has become a central strategic challenge for decarbonization. Transportation is now the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, more than electricity generation, and freight trucking is a large part of the problem. [CleanTechnica]

Freight truck (Jonathan Cooper, Unsplash)

¶ “US Sets Tariffs Of Up To 3,521% On Solar Panels From South East Asia” • The US Commerce Department announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% solar panels imported from four countries in South East Asia. An investigation began a year ago when several major solar equipment producers asked the Biden administration to protect their US operations. [BBC]

¶ “Ford Blows Off Trump On Clean Power, Strikes Biggest Ever PPA With DTE” • Along with the rest of the US auto industry, Ford Motor Company is facing federal policy problems. But the allure of clean power continues to attract US business leaders. An example is Ford’s clean power purchase agreement, signed with the Michigan utility DTE. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Courtesy of DTE via globalnewswire.com)

¶ “Solar & Storage Industry Launches New Grassroots Advocacy Platform” • The Solar Energy Industries Association has started Solar Powers America, an advocacy platform designed to enable Americans to stand up for policies that will keep electric bills down while they protect our abundant sources of American-made clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BASF Powers Six Care Chemicals Sites With 100% Renewable Electricity” • BASF announced expansion of its EcoBalanced portfolio for Care Chemicals with the introduction of the first EcoBalanced products for personal care in North America. For EcoBalanced products, fossil resources are replaced with raw materials that are renewable. [Cosmetics Business]

Have a quietly ecstatic day.

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World:

¶ “Wildlife Trust’s Call To Protect Hoverfly ‘Heroes” • Two NGOs said hoverflies are the second most significant pollinator after bees. They are also food for birds and help break down gardens’ organic matter. But with intensive agriculture, pesticides and climate change, their population has declined so badly that they are on its Red List of threatened species. [BBC]

Hoverfly (Bernd Dittrich, Unsplash)

¶ “Analysis Finds Renewables Rollout Making UK Electricity Supply ‘More British’” • The UK’s rollout of wind and solar power over the last decade made its electricity supply “more British”, with significantly less reliance on imported gas, analysis found. Last year, just under half of the UK electricity supply was fueled by imports, down from 65% in 2014. [MSN]

¶ “China’s Coal Generation Dropped 5% YOY In Q1 As Electricity Demand Increased” • China’s coal-fired electricity generation took an unexpectedly sharp turn downward in the first quarter of 2025. Coal generation fell by about 4.7% year over year, while the electricity demand actually went up by 1%. Complicating this is an explosive growth of solar PV. [CleanTechnica]

Shanghai (Freeman Zhou, Unsplash)

¶ “Inner Mongolia Is Acting As A Green Power Bank” • The Inner Mongolia autonomous region, a vast territory in northern China with immense renewable energy potential, is powering China’s green transition and setting an example for the rest of the world. Wang Lixia, chairwoman of Inner Mongolia, said renewables are being used for desertification control. [China Daily]

¶ “Spain Will Host A Concentrating Solar Power Plant To Make Jet Fuel From Sunlight” • The solar fuels movement is breathing new life into the field of concentrating solar. The latest example is the Swiss firm Synhelion, which is bringing its sunlight-to-fuel technology to Spain after a successful test run of its pilot facility in Jülich, Germany. [CleanTechnica]

Concentrating solar power plants (Courtesy of Synhelion)

¶ “Greenko Unveils $4.2 Billion Renewable Energy Plus Storage Project In Andhra Pradesh” • Greenko’s $4.2 billion renewable energy project in Andhra Pradesh will be, on completion, the world’s largest integrated renewable energy project. It includes 4 GW of solar and 1 GW of wind capacity along with 1.68 GW, 10.08 GWh of pumped hydro. [pv magazine India]

¶ “ACWA Power’s 1-GW Wind Portfolio In Uzbekistan Reaches Full Commercial Operations” • ACWA Power announced that it began full commercial operation for its 1-GW wind portfolio in Uzbekistan. The company said the Bash and Dzhankeldy Wind projects, a joint venture with a Chinese company, finished the installation nearly two months early. [Asian Power]

Landscape in Uzbekistan (w0zny, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Trump Team Considering Neutral Zone Around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • The US, as part of discussions on ending the war in Ukraine, is considering the idea of creating a neutral zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Trump Administration proposes putting the area around the plant under US control. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Fifteen Years After Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Lawsuits Stall, Restoration Is Incomplete” • Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Gulf Coast, killing eleven and sending 134 million gallons (507.2 million liters) of crude gushing into the ocean, the effects of the nation’s worst offshore oil spill are still being felt. [ABC News]

Deepwater Horizon (USCG, public domain)

¶ “At Rally For America, Climate Activists And Others Erase The Silence” • Many people who did not attend the Rally for America said they were afraid. They feared a confrontation with violent Trump supporters or being targeted personally by the Trump administration. They worried about devastating consequences for family members. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Administration Affirms Biden-Era Clean Energy Grant For Dairyland Power” • The Trump administration has cut many grant programs created by his predecessor, but a Wisconsin power cooperative will maintain its Biden-era funding, which was awarded to help invest in renewable energy projects and transmission infrastructure. [WPR]

Have a pleasantly consequential day.

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World:

¶ “Miliband Accuses Net Zero Opponents Of ‘Nonsense And Lies'” • UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the government will “double down” on its environmental agenda and accused those against the move to net zero of “making up nonsense and lies.” The UK was legally committed by an earlier government to moving to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. [BBC]

Ed Miliband (UKinUSA, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Could American Tariffs Actually Hand China A Semiconductor Advantage?” • American politics are increasingly turning inward and illiberal, while foreign policy grows abrasive, aggressively unilateral, and zero-sum. Traditional US allies are reviewing their commitments to American technological containment efforts against China. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Massive 2-GW Agrivoltaic Project Aims To Restore Desert In China” • China is leaning on agrivoltaic projects to help tamp down dust storms in its deserts, halt growing desertification, and restore vegetation, while generating clean electricity. A 2-GW project, part of a larger 100-GW system that is 250 miles long, is due to be finished this year. [CleanTechnica]

Gigantic 2-GW agrivoltaic project (JA Solar image, via LinkedIn)

¶ “Zero-Emissions Surpasses 40% Of World Electricity” • With the growth of solar and wind, zero-emissions electricity sources reached a milestone recently. Energy think tank Ember recently reported that the world got 40.9% of its electricity from zero-emissions sources last year. (Note that this includes electricity from nuclear power plants.) [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Amaravati To Be World’s First Fully Renewable-Powered City” • Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s planned capital, aims to be the world’s first city powered entirely by renewable energy, targeting 2,700 MW of green energy. This ₹65,000 crore ($7.6 billion) project integrates solar, wind, and hydropower, setting a standard for urban sustainability. [The Economic Times]

Amaravati Secretariat (IM3847, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Your Guide To The Energy Divide At The Federal Election” • Heading into the Australian election, there are stark differences on energy. The two pitches being put forward are very different paths to the same destination: net zero emissions by 2050. Labor is pursuing a renewables-led path. The Coalition is arguing in favor of nuclear power. [MSN]

¶ “Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone Has Over 1,000 GW Of Windpower Potential” • Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone has a wind potential of 1,068 GW, nearly 470 GW more than earlier thought, a National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting report says. The UN Development Program and the Norwegian Embassy supported the report. [Theinvestor]

Offshore wind power in Vietnam (Courtesy of VnEconomy)

¶ “The UK Is Doubling Down On Wind Energy” • The UK is already a world leader in wind energy, having rapidly expanded its wind capacity over the last decade. Now, under the Labour government, the UK hopes to expand its wind power sector even further through the massive expansion of the Rampion offshore wind farm. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Federal Election 2025: Economists Send open letter opposing Coalition nuclear plan” • An open letter from sixty Australian economists has rejected the coalition’s nuclear energy plan. Instead they promote subsidising household clean energy policies, including incentives for home battery storage, which can deliver immediate benefits. [The Nightly]

Nuclear power (Jametlene Reskp, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Tesla Woes Continue To Pile Up” • A Tesla owner in California filed a lawsuit against Tesla in Los Angeles County, alleging that Tesla manipulated the odometer in his car in order to shorten its warranty period. Tesla will argue that its customers have all given up their right to sue the company and must submit their claims to binding arbitration. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Everglades Restoration Would Protect Florida Keys While Scientists Watch For Drought” • The Everglades is more than just swamps, fan boats, and alligators. And restoration efforts impact more than the land between Florida’s east and west coasts. High salt levels during dry periods can have fatal consequences for the plants and animals living in the region. [ABC News]

Snowy egret (Alex Shutin, Unsplash)

¶ “Fossil Fuels No Longer Majority of US Electricity!” • Ember wrote, “In March 2025, fossil fuels accounted for less than 50% (49.2%) of electricity generated, for the first month on record. This surpasses the previous monthly record low of 51% set in April 2024.” The decline of fossil fuels is due mostly to the growth of solar and wind capacity. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A Fading Coal Town Banked On A Windpower Boom. Then Came Trump” • The election of President Trump, who has railed against windpower and promised to kill new projects, drove what many in Somerset, Massachusetts, believe was the final nail in the coffin for a windpower proposal, which already was facing shaky demand and permitting delays. [MSN]

Have an appropriately happy day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “High-Efficiency Energy Storage Device” • Researchers have created technology for high-performance supercapacitors. It could mean better, faster, and more stable energy supplies, especially where consistent power is hard to come by. A nickle foam improves both how much energy can be stored and how quickly it can be delivered. [AOL.com]

Theoretical supercapacitor (Elcap, public domain)

¶ “Longi Achieves 34.85% Efficiency For Two-Terminal Tandem Perovskite Solar Cell” • Chinese solar module maker Longi said it hit a power conversion efficiency of 34.85% for a two-terminal tandem perovskite solar cell. The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory certified the result, which represents a world record for the typology. [pv magazine International]

World:

¶ “How Climate Change Could Affect Arsenic In Rice” • Rice is a staple food for over half of the global population. It is consumed on a daily basis by more people than either wheat or maize. So it is with some concern that scientists have unveiled a finding: As carbon emissions rise and the Earth continues to warm, the levels of arsenic in rice rise also. [BBC]

Paddy (Prahlad Inala, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Project To Suck Carbon Out Of Sea Begins In UK” • A project to suck carbon out of the sea has started operating on England’s south coast. The small pilot scheme, SeaCURE, is funded by the UK government, as it searches for technologies that fight climate change. SeaCure is testing whether it is more efficient to pull CO₂ from the sea as opposed to the air. [BBC]

¶ “Endangered Sea Turtle Populations Show Signs Of Recovery In Much Of The World: Survey” • Endangered sea turtles show signs of recovery in a majority of places where they’re found, a survey shows. It looked at 48 populations of sea turtles around the world and measured the impacts of threats such as hunting, pollution, development, and climate change. [ABC News]

Sea turtle (Wexor Tmg, Unsplash)

¶ “How Broadband Over Power Lines Can Support Electrical Grids” • Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) is a technology that enables high-speed data communication over existing electric lines. At Corinex, field-proven BPL-based solutions provide high data rate, edge computing capabilities, and load balancing in real time on low voltage grid lines. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “World Bank Approves $110 Million For Caribbean Nations’ Renewable Energy” • To improve both energy costs and climate resilience, the World Bank approved the Caribbean Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility. It aims to speed up clean energy in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. [Caribbean National Weekly]

Grenada (georama, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Solar Farm That Will Power 11,000 Homes Approved” • A solar farm that will generate enough energy to supply annual needs of about 11,000 homes was allowed when developers won an appeal. The company may now build the 30-MW PV system at Manor Farm. The planning inspector has said the “weight of beneficial considerations” meant it should go ahead. [BBC]

China:

¶ “What Global Investors Must Know About China In 2025” • The world is in the middle of a structural reset. Global capital can no longer pretend geopolitics, climate, and industrial policy are background noise. Jefferies investment bank is hosting an event with a lineup of experts who bring unusually grounded insight into China’s role. [CleanTechnica]

Great Wall (William Olivieri, Unsplash)

¶ “China Walks Away: US LNG Expansion Plans Unravel As Trade War Escalates” • China has just suspended all LNG imports from the United States. No warning, no phasedown, apparently just a state directive that Chinese buyers, including the national oil companies, were no longer to sign, lift, or receive US liquefied natural gas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Bans Deceptive Autonomous Driving Claims” • After a particularly bad accident, in which three women in a car with autonomous driving were killed in a fire, China will now ban car manufacturers from using the phrases “intelligent driving” and “autonomous driving” when they advertise computerized driver assistance functions. [CleanTechnica]

Ship at anchor (Ian Simmonds, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Kia EV4 And Subaru Trailseeker – Two New EVs Coming Soon To The US” • Two new EVs will debut in the US at the New York Auto Show this year. One of them is from Kia, which announced it will bring the Kia EV4 to America next year. It is expected to start at around $37,000 before incentives, about $5,000 less than the Tesla Model 3. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “There Is More To Equinor Than The Empire Wind Offshore Wind Project” • Interior Secretary Doug Burgum really stepped in it when he ordered Equinor to stop work at its Empire Wind offshore wind project. The project had been greenlit by the first Trump administration, but the real issue is damage Burgum did to a leading US natural gas producer. [CleanTechnica]

Penn Station Reconstruction Project (Courtesy of MTA)

¶ “The Road To Renewable Energy Continues On, Even Against The Political Tide” • If you worry that the US road to renewable energy will halt under the Trump administration, you do so with reason. But there is also hope. A series of new analyses indicate that the US renewable energy transition will slow down, but it has a force too strong to stop. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Puebloans Lobby For Renewable Energy Instead Of Nuclear At Comanche 3 Site” • Several Pueblo County residents spoke at a Colorado PUC hearing to advocate replacing Xcel’s Comanche 3 coal plant with renewable energy. The idea to have a renewable energy park originated at Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan think tank specializing in climate policy. [Pueblo Chieftain]

Have a radically uncomplicated day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The US Needs To Kick Russia Out Of Ukrainian Nuclear Plants ASAP” • The Zaporizhzhia plant is the largest nuclear plant in Europe, once supplying 20% of domestic energy for Ukraine and even exporting to other European nations. Now it is occupied by Russia, and the American technology inside it is at the mercy of Russian soldiers. [The National Interest]

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (Leo211, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “Australian Opposition Leader Clarifies He Believes In Climate Change After Debate” • Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton has clarified he believes in climate change after facing backlash for comments made during an election debate. Asked about the increasing impact of climate change, Dutton replied he would “let scientists and others pass that judgment.” [BBC]

¶ “Controversial Hydrogen Plant Plans Get Green Light” • Some controversial plans to build a hydrogen energy facility have been given the go-ahead despite years of public and council concern. Japanese firm Marubeni Europower wants to create a hydrogen storage and refuelling unit, as well as a solar energy scheme on two sites in Bridgend county. [BBC]

Hydrogen Plant (Marubeni Europower image)

¶ “The End Of The Runway For Boeing In China” • One of the largest aerospace shifts in history is underway in China. Reports indicate that Beijing has instructed its domestic airlines to stop ordering US-built passenger aircraft. The move is not simply an act of retaliation or trade war chess. It’s a signpost for a deeper transformation in industrial strategy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “More Green Buses for Australia” • The trials are over and more green buses are on order for Australia! Moving from diesel power to electric is good for the climate, the economy, and for national security. We’ll look at progress in three states, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Then, we’ll look at the newest offerings from bus companies. [CleanTechnica]

Battery electric bus in NSW (Courtesy of GoZero)

¶ “Researchers In Japan Find An Alternative To Single Use Plastic” • The journal Scientific Adviser recently published a paper by researchers in Japan with this entertaining title: “Fully circular shapable transparent paperboard with closed-loop recyclability and marine biodegradability across shallow to deep sea.” Please note that it’s “transparent.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Offshore ‘Can Drive Canada Energy Growth'” • A report shows how the Atlantic Canada’s wind energy supply chain could grow. Atlantic Canada, home to some of the strongest wind resources in the world, is ready to drive clean energy growth and support emissions reduction targets through new projects, the Atlantic Wind Energy Supply Chain Assessment says. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Tony Exley, Unsplash)

¶ “How Transforming Canada’s Electricity Grid Could Drive Decarbonization, Save Billions” • The vision of a decarbonized, interconnected, resilient national power grid is at the heart of recent analysis by Corporate Knights’ Climate Dollars project. It provides a plan for zero-emissions by 2050, while securing and revitalizing local economies. [Corporate Knights]

¶ “Ocean Energy Gains Ground In 2024” • Ocean energy made progress towards commercialisation in 2024 according to the latest data from Ocean Energy Europe. The pre-commercial tidal farm pipeline grew in 2024, and several full-scale wave devices were deployed. And there are plans to deploy about 165 MW more in the next five years. [reNews]

Water turbine (Nova Innovation image)

US:

¶ “Six Million Under Red Flag Warnings As Extreme Fire Danger Increases In Southwest” • More than six million people in New Mexico, West Texas, Colorado, eastern Arizona, central Kansas, and parts of Oklahoma have been under red flag warnings as strong winds and warm temperatures were forecast to increase wildfire threats. [ABC News]

¶ “Over Half Of Puerto Rico Has Power Restored After Island-Wide Blackout” • Electricity for over half of Puerto Rico was restored by Thursday evening after an island-wide blackout that left 1.4 million customers in the dark and disrupted service at hospitals, its international airport and hotels. Power had been restored to 57% of customers. [ABC News]

Old San Juan (Zixi Zhou, Unsplash)

¶ “Equinor Halts Work, Mulls Legal Action Over Empire Order” • Equinor has halted construction on its 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project off the coast of New York in compliance with a directive from the Trump administration. However, the company said in a statement that it is “considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order.” [reNews]

¶ “NY Governor To ‘Fight’ Trump Empire Stoppage” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul pledged to fight the US government’s move to halt construction on Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project. She said: “As Governor, … I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy, and New York’s economic future.” [reNews]

Governor Kathy Hochul (Courtesy of the State of New York)

¶ “V2G Program In California Kicks Off The Future” • There is a very interesting V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) pilot program, now being offered to GM EV owners in Northern California. They can enroll and get up to $4,500 in incentives to unlock bidirectional charging. Then they can supply energy back to their home, or in time, even to the grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Does Solar Power Work In Alaska?” • Many people believe Alaska’s long winters and frequent cloud cover make solar energy unfeasible, but the state is actually a great candidate for solar power. Solar power is gaining momentum in Alaska. Alaska generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than all it generated before 2021 combined. [Environment America]

Have a thrilling well-mannered day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Why Trump Is Only A Speed Bump On Road To Renewables” • Both the Energy Information Administration and Bloomberg New Energy Finance predict consumption of coal, natural gas, and oil will all decline in the coming decades, as renewable power generation rises and more people use electricity to power their cars and heat their homes. [Politico]

Wind turbines (Daniel Morris, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Kenya’s Energy Sector Is Making Strides Toward Universal Electricity Access, Clean Cooking Solutions And Renewable Energy Development” • Kenya is on track to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, as ambitious plans place the country as an energy development leader in the region, according to an IEA new Energy Policy Review. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo EX90 Claims World Luxury Car Title” • The all-electric Volvo EX90 is the most impressive new luxury car launched in the past 12 months, says the World Car Awards expert jury. The seven-seat family SUV claims the title of World Luxury Car with its comfortable and refined interior, advanced safety technology and distinctive Scandinavian design. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX 90 (Volvo image)

¶ “Kia EV3 Wins World Car of the Year Award!” • The 2025 World Car Awards were held at the 2025 New York International Auto Show. Close cousins Kia and Hyundai nabbed a couple of big awards, but Kia won the biggest – World Car of the Year. Kia said, “The EV3 brings the cutting-edge innovation of Kia’s flagship EV9 to a wider audience.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “OWIC Sets Out Steps To Manage Underwater Noise” • In a report, the Offshore Wind Industry Council set out measures to ensure that management of underwater noise is coordinated better among the industries operating in the North Sea. Activities include underwater surveys, installing wind turbine foundations, and dealing with unexploded bombs. [reNews]

Bubble curtain (Vattenfall image)

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Installs First 236-Meter Rotor Turbine” • Siemens Gamesa completed the first installation of the SG 14-236 offshore wind turbine at Ørsted’s 920-MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan. This is the first installation of the 14-MW SG 14-236 wind turbine globally. Siemens Gamesa said it is “proud to see it happen in Taiwan.” [reNews]

¶ “Greenlink Starts Operations” • Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien welcomed news that a new subsea electricity interconnector linking Ireland and the UK commenced operations. The 500-MW Greenlink Interconnector entered commercial operations after a successful testing period and three years of construction. [reNews]

Darragh O’Brien (Greenlink image)

¶ “Decentralised Renewable Energy Can Transform Agriculture And Support Development Goals In Malawi” • A report explores how decentralised renewable energy can transform agricultural value chains in Malawi. “Decentralised renewable energy for agriculture in Malawi” was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency. [Down To Earth]

¶ “The Australian Investors Betting Big On Fusion” • One of Australia’s biggest super funds is backing nuclear tech – but not the kind being pitched by the federal Coalition. Hostplus CIO Sam Sicilia says a combination of tech advances in the last five years and a youthful member base means fusion is now a real option for big, patient investors. [RenewEconomy]

Fusion reactor (EUROfusion image)

US:

¶ “Puerto Rico Plunged Into Darkness Again As Island-Wide Blackout Hits” • Puerto Rico was hit by another massive power outage, leaving the US territory in the dark for a second time in four months, officials said. Power company LUMA Energy said restoring service to 90% of the island’s customers could take two to three days. [ABC News]

¶ “Trump Halts Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind ” • The Trump administration has moved to stop all work on Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 off the coast of New York State. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrote he directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to “immediately halt all construction activities on the Empire Wind Project.” [reNews]

Donald Trump (The White House)

¶ “Equinor To ‘Engage Directly’ With BOEM On Empire Wind” • Equinor says it will “engage directly” with the US BOEM on questions related to permits for 810MW Empire Wind 1. “We will engage directly with BOEM and the Department of Interior to understand the questions raised about the permits we have received from authorities,” Equinor said. [reNews]

¶ “Proposed Rule Change On Endangered Species Triggers Alarm For Environmentalists” • The Trump administration plans to eliminate habitat protections for endangered and threatened species in a move green activists say would lead to the extinction of critically endangered species due to such activities as logging, mining, and development. [ABC News]

Monarch butterfly (Kenneth Dwain Harrelson, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Solar Industry Statement On Texas Senate Passing Bill That Will Harm Needed Energy Generation” • The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 819 by a 22-9 vote. Experts warn that, if it becomes law, it would risk the state’s ability to meet fast-rising energy demand by making it excessively difficult and expensive to build clean energy projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Community Solar Movement Beats Coal, Again” • Back in the days of coal-fed furnaces, the outside walls of many buildings had coal chute doors. Those days are long gone. Exhibit A is the community solar developer Catalyze, which turns unused parts of commercial and industrial properties into income-generating powerhouses. [CleanTechnica]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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World:

¶ “More Than 1,000 Objections To Battery Storage Sites” • More than 1,000 people objected to plans to build two battery energy storage systems in the North Yorkshire countryside. Plans for the 1-GW systems at South Kilvington, near Thirsk, and at East Rounton, between Northallerton and Yarm, were submitted by energy company NatPower. [BBC]

Mowbray battery storage project (NatPower image)

¶ “UK’s Rarest Wildlife Being ‘Pushed To Extinction’ By Grass Fires” • Some of the UK’s rarest wildlife is being “torched alive” and pushed closer to extinction after weeks of intense grass fires, conservationists have warned. They include endangered birds like hen harriers and water voles, which are now the UK’s fastest declining mammal. [BBC]

¶ “Waymo Robotaxis Moving Forward In Japan With Partners” • Waymo’s story of growth continues, most recently with partners in Japan and Atlanta. In Japan, Waymo’s partnership with taxi company Nihon Kotsu and taxi platform GO is getting ready for launch. Waymo vehicle will soon hit the roads of Tokyo, but they won’t be driverless yet. [CleanTechnica]

Waymo Jaguar in San Francisco (Dllu, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Solar Power Surges In Nigeria Thanks To Arnergy” • US energy secretary Chris Wright met with several representatives of African nations last month, including Nigeria, to browbeat them into making new investments in coal-fired generating stations. Wright overlooked one thing: Africa lacks a fully integrated electrical grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BW ESS Makes 1.5-GW German BESS Pact” • BW ESS and Zelos Energy Developments are planning to build a 1500-MW portfolio of battery energy storage system projects in the federal states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Sachsen-Anhalt in Northeast Germany. The projects are expected to achieve ready-to-build status in 2025-2027. [reNews]

Battery storage system (BW ESS image)

¶ “European Renewable PPA Market Hits 19 GW In 2024” • The European renewable Power Purchase Agreement market saw nearly 19 GW of new capacity contracted in 2024 driven by strong activity in Spain and Germany, a Wood Mackenzie report says. Solar PV and wind projects made up around 80% of the volume, each with a similar share. [reNews]

¶ “Ørsted Launches New SOV” • Ørsted has launched the Wind of Hope, which is now in use as the second Service Operation Vessel at its German offshore wind farms in the North Sea, carrying out maintenance work on the company’s 337 wind turbines. The 84-metre-long Wind of Hope has space for ninty cabins for service technicians and crew. [reNews]

Wind of Hope (Ørsted image)

¶ “Aluminium Sector Could Add Up To 20 GW Of Solar And Wind Power Capacity By 2030”  • A new analysis reported by JMK Research says  that with around 4.5 million tonnes per annum of new primary aluminium capacity expected by 2030, India’s aluminium sector could add up 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by that time. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Renewable Power Generation To Increase 84% By 2030” • The BloombergNEF New Energy Outlook 2025 highlights the rapid growth of renewable capacity, predicting an 84% growth by 2030. The report outlines the transition to a lower-carbon energy system, with more inexpensive renewables meeting the growing global demand. [Windtech International]

Wind turbine (Vasilios Muselimis, Unsplash)

¶ “IEA’s World Energy Outlook Systemically Underestimates Solar PV Development” • Since 1993, the World Energy Outlook of the International Energy Agency has been an authoritative report. An examination, however, indicates that even they vastly underestimated the growth of renewable energy technologies, especially solar PV. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Delaying Coal Power Exits: A Risk We Can’t Afford” • Recently, Frontier Economics put forward modelling proposing delayed closure dates for several coal generators over the mid-2030s to mid-2040s, when they could be replaced by nuclear reactors, justifying this pathway on the basis of lower cost. But nuclear timelines often blow out significantly. [IEEFA]

Coal, solar, and wind power (Arno Senoner, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “US Crude Oil Exports Reached A New Record In 2024” • US crude oil exports in 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023, exceeding an annual average of 4.1 million barrels per day. Crude oil exports grew 1% in 2024, compared with 14% in 2023 and 21% in 2022. Europe and Asia-Oceania were the top regional destinations for US crude exports. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM And Mary Barra Place A $35 Billion Bet On EVs” • GM is bringing compelling electric cars to market, like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Equinox EV, and Chevy Blazer EV. The new Chevy Bolt is nearing production, and the electric Hummer, Silverado, and Suburban will be on sale soon. GM is partnering with LG Energy Solution on a battery plant. [CleanTechnica]

Preproduction 2026 LYRIQ-V (Courtesy Cadillac)

¶ “Community Solar Is Booming And Bringing Big Economic Benefits With It” • Solar advocates can get even more excited about community solar. According to a report published by the Coalition for Community Solar Access, these projects aren’t just delivering clean power, they’re also bringing about some serious economic growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Invenergy Signs US PV PPA” • Invenergy has signed a 20-year PPA with the Grant County Public Utility Distric to offtake 120 MW of power from the Quincy Solar Energy Center from 2027. Located near Moses Lake, Washington, Quincy Solar will support Grant PUD’s goal of securing 300 MW of solar power generation capacity by 2027. [reNews]

Have a markedly superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Taylor’s Nuclear Spin Is An Intense Form Of Greenwashing From A Party Hellbent On Fossil Fuels” • The Coalition’s plan to keep Australian coal and gas at their maximum levels over the coming decades has been offering a false, manufactured vision of nuclear power for the future. Honestly, it’s an intense form of greenwashing. [RenewEconomy]

Angus Taylor (Australian Government, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

World:

¶ “Scientists Plan To Use Plants To Save Italy’s Historic Mussel Farming Sea” • Decades of industrial pollution at Italy’s Mar Piccolo have brought mussel farming to its knees. The climate crisis made things worse with water temperatures at 31.5°C (89°F), which can be fatal to mussels. Can harnessing the power of plants bring back a traditional way of life? [BBC]

¶ “Hydrogen Versus Battery Buses: A European Transit Reality Check” • A number of European cities have had experience with hydrogen-powered buses. The great problem with hydrogen is how expensive and difficult to source green hydrogen is. But also, many cities find it far easier to increase the numbers of battery electric buses. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus in Yorkshire (Joseph Mama, Unsplash)

¶ “China’s Solar Industry Absolutely Crushing It On Solar Conversion Efficiency” • Intentionally or not, the malevolently incompetent Commander-in-Chief who occupies the White House has all but guaranteed that China will continue to dominate the global solar industry, leaving the US behind in the dustbin of history. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A Headache For Fossil Fuels: Liquid Air Energy Storage” • The UK startup Highview Power planned to bring its liquid air system to the US back in 2019, providing the kind of scaled-up and long duration energy storage needed to support more wind and solar power on the grid. Now Highview has headed back home where the grass is greener. [CleanTechnica]

Liquid air energy storage system (Courtesy of Highview Power)

¶ “Ofgem Backs Overhaul Of UK Grid Connections” • Ofgem has approved a package of major reforms to the UK grid connection process, enabling viable clean energy projects to connect more quickly and support the transition to net zero. The proposals, submitted in December 2024, were developed by a colaboration of the energy industry, government, and regulator. [reNews]

¶ “Iberdrola Secures European Investment Bank Green Loans” • The EIB has signed two green loans with Iberdrola totaling €108 million to improve the pumping capacity of the Valdecañas hydro complex, which includes the Torrejón and the Valdecañas power plants. The loans are from the bank itself and from the Regional Resilience Fund. [reNews]

Valdecañas hydroelectric complex (Iberdrola image)

¶ “RWE To Start Work On German Wind Farm” • RWE has been successful in a EEG tender for a 60-MW wind farm, which it will start building this month on recultivated areas of an opencast mine with the city of Bedburg, Germany. With the Bedburg 3 wind farm, RWE and Bedburg will operate a total of 156 MW of wind power in the city. [reNews]

¶ “Cubico Doubles Down On Queensland With Another Major Wind And Battery Project” • Despite the new Queensland LNP government’s about-face on renewable energy, developer Cubico is doubling down on the state with a proposal of another major wind and battery project. It is a 792-MW wind farm with 200 MWh of battery storage. [RenewEconomy]

Wind farm (Cubico Sustainable Developments Australia image)

¶ “Bringing Renewables To Mines In Western Australia” • South African mining company Gold Fields approved a renewables project at the St Ives mine in Western Australia, its largest to date. It will integrate 42 MW of wind power and 35 MW of solar power capacity, which is expected to cover 73% of the mine’s electricity needs and cut emissions by 50%. [Mining Technology]

US:

¶ “Tesla Model Y And Model 3 Continue To Dominate US EV Market – But …” • CleanTechnica just looked at overall EV sales in the US for the first quarter, comparing 2025 with the previous four years. Overall, the sales trend is great. Sales of fully EVs were up 200% from Q1 2021. While Tesla still accounts for 43% of the market, it saw its share decline. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Michal Lauko, Unsplash)

¶ “Non-Tesla US EV Sales Up 472% Since 2021!” • US EV sales keep growing. Pure battery EV sales were up 200% in Q1 2025 from Q1 2021, up 66% from to Q1 2022, up 12% from Q1 2023, and up 11% from Q1 2024. Non-Tesla EVs powered the increases, however, as they were up 472% for the quarter from 2021, while Tesla sales fell. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electrathon America Comes To Homestead-Miami Raceway” • Electrathon America provides participants hands-on ways to learn about STEM principles as they design and build an EV for competition. Each contestant starts the race with a the same amount of electrical energy, and the winner is the car that goes the farthest in one hour. [CleanTechnica]

Electrathon America racers (Courtesy of Florida Power & Light)

¶ “Enlight Reaches Financial Close On US PV Site” • Enlight Renewable Energy announced the financial close for its Quail Ranch project, near Albuquerque, as it secured $243 million in financing commitments. With 128 MW solar capacity and 400 MWh of battery storage, Quail Ranch is scheduled to be finished towards the end of 2025. [reNews]

¶ “Why Wind Power Is Booming In The US, Despite Trump’s Hatred” • President Donald Trump has a long-standing grudge against wind power. So it wasn’t surprising that when he took office in January, he promptly started to fight the wind industry. But despite the policy change, some wind developers say their business is still booming. [Fast Company]

Have a triumphantly affable day.

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World:

¶ “International Maritime Organization Reaches Agreement On Shipping Emissions” • After a decade of trying, the IMO agreed to a plan that it says will move the shipping industry toward net zero emissions by 2050. The heart of the plan is a levy of $380 per ton of CO₂ that ships will pay if they exceed a maximum level of emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Ships in port (Elijah Mears, Unsplash)

¶ “Net-Zero By 2050: The IMO’s Victory, And The Case For Less Fuel, Not More” • The International Maritime Organization has passed a binding climate policy. The industry that accounts for roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions is now on the clock. But we should look at what this agreement commits to, and importantly, what it ignores. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solving Green Hydrogen’s Water Woes, With Seawater” • It takes a lot of fresh water to make green hydrogen, and that’s water people need for other things. One alternative is to use sea water, but that is not easy. The leading Chinese energy firm Sinopec is among those exploring an alternative pathway that depends directly on seawater. [CleanTechnica]

Solar plant in China (Courtesy of Sinopec via prnewswire)

¶ “European Energy Unveils Second Swedish Hybrid Site” • European Energy decided to move forward with development of a second hybrid facility in Sweden. The new project will be sited in Grevekulla, Ydre municipality, where construction of a solar park adjacent to the existing wind park is scheduled to begin within three weeks. [reNews]

¶ “Repsol Powers Up 364-MW Chilean Wind Farm” • Repsol has started producing electricity at the 364-MW Antofagasta Fase 1, its largest wind farm to date and one of the largest in Chile. With an investment of nearly €400 million, it is the first renewable project developed entirely by Repsol in Chile. It will be operating commercial  in the coming weeks. [reNews]

Repsol wind farm (Repsol image)

¶ “India Installs Nearly 30 GW Of Solar And Wind Power In FY 2025” • India continues to expand its renewable energy capacity as it installed nearly 30,000 MW of solar and wind power in the fiscal year from April 2024 to March 2025. According to JMK Research & Analytics, 23,832 MW of solar and 4,151 MW of wind capacity were installed. [Asian Business Review]

¶ “Octopus Invests In South Korean Solar” • Octopus Energy’s generation arm has accelerated its Asian renewables plans with a solar investment in South Korea, and is set to help ramp up clean power in the country. Octopus is working with the local Skygreen Energy to develop up to 20 small to medium-sized solar farms in the next two years. [reNews]

Solar farm (Octopus Energy image)

¶ “New Research Exposes Critical Flaws In Supposed Benefits Of Bitcoin Mining: ‘Short-Sighted And Ill-Founded'” • Pro-bitcoin groups assert that mining the cryptocurrency can fuel the clean energy transition. However, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, “A close look at these bitcoin-is-climate-friendly claims shows they are short-sighted and ill-founded.” [MSN]

¶ “Extreme Weather Now A Global Threat To Insurability And Bankability Of Renewables” • Unmodelled extreme weather risks are emerging as a key challenge for renewable energy markets worldwide, raising concerns about the long-term bankability and viability of clean energy projects as the industry expands, a new report finds. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Lightning (NOAA, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Forty Year Old Nuclear Reactor Will Get A Massive Rebuild To Power Canada For 35 More Years” • The Independent Electricity System Operator of Ontario has approved Bruce Power to begin its fourth Major Component Replacement project, set to start on Unit 5 next year. Unit 5 will be the fourth of six reactors at the site to undergo refurbishing. [MSN]

US:

¶ “US EV Sales Rise As Tesla Sales Fall” • EV sales in the US rose 11% during the first quarter of 2025, to about 300,000 cars and light trucks, according to Cox Automotive. That is much better than the overall new car market, which showed no increase from 2024. One electric car company that is not experiencing growth, however, is Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Blazer EV (GM image)

¶ “Waymo’s Taking More Market Share Than I Expected” • Zachary Shahan: To be honest, I hadn’t thought a lot about Waymo’s market share in the cities it operates in. I just figured it’s still fairly small and niche as it works hard to improve its software and hardware. However, it turns out Waymo is getting a lot more business than I expected. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Demand Spike, Incentives Bust, And Tariffs” • Some experts believe renewable energy alone is not enough to supply rising demand but is essential to a broader supply equation. However, with funding freezes, subsidy walk-backs, and tariffs all on the table, renewable energy companies are working harder than ever to make their business models work. [MSN]

Have an unimaginably splendid day.

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World:

¶ “How Climate Change Is Supercharging Pollen Allergies” • In a warmer climate, seasonal allergy sufferers are hit with more pollen in a longer season. But they also have much worse allergy events, experts say. “Thunderstorm asthma” occurs when storms break up pollen particles in the air, releasing proteins, which make people suffer worse. [BBC]

Thunder storm with stars above (Tom Strecker, Unsplash)

¶ “Beneath The Fjord: Inside Northern Lights’ Carbon Storage Core” • Phase 1 of Northern Lights carbon storage is subscribed fully now, but only with government-backed Norwegian projects, EU-subsidized initiatives, and one low-cost industrial emitter with a pure CO₂ stream. Most participants’ capture costs for are well over €100 per ton. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trinasolar Sets Green Hydrogen Record In China, Sets Sights On Global Market” • The global green hydrogen industry has a history of stalled ventures and failures. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Trina Green Hydrogen, a branch of leading Chinese solar manufacturer Trinasolar, has just set a record for its new electrolyzer. [CleanTechnica]

Trinasolar green hydrogen effort (Trinasolar image)

¶ “Researchers Make Breakthrough On Revolutionary Device That Could Transform How We Power Our Homes” • At the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researchers have developed a new organic compound that can store four electrons at once in a flow battery. The finding could effectively double the energy these batteries can hold at the molecular level. [Yahoo]

¶ “Kabisa EV House Opens As Hub For e-Mobility In Rwanda” • Rwanda is encouraging investment in the e-mobility sector with initiatives to encourage investment. These incentives include a preferential corporate income tax rate for e-mobility investors. One of the companies leading this growth in Rwanda is Kabisa, based in Kigali. [CleanTechnica]

Kabisa EV House (Image courtesy of Kabisa)

¶ “Solar Power Station Opens In Chernobyl Exclusion Zone” • Ukraine and Spain opened a solar power station in Chernobyl with 0.8 MW capacity covering over 3,000 square meters. The solar facility was begun in 2019 as part of Ukraine’s cooperation with the Spanish government on climate change and innovative technology. [Euromaidan Press]

¶ “Tenaris Launched The First Solar Power Park In Romania For The Steel Industry” • International pipe company Tenaris has inaugurated its first solar energy park in Romania. It has 20 MW of capacity. The facility will supply the electricity generated by its PV panels to a steel mill in the town of Quelerasi, according to a press release. [GMK Center]

Solar park (Image from Tenaris.com)

¶ “Cuban Government Pledges 10,000 MW Expansion Of Solar Power In 2025” • Amid a sustained energy crisis with widespread power outages across Cuba, the regime has vowed to add 10,000 MW of solar power generating capacity by the end of this year. The plan is facing skepticism regarding its technical and financial feasibility. [CubaHeadlines]

¶ “Chinese Giant Envision Energy Has Its Eyes On Two Wind Power Projects In Vietnam’s Central Highlands” • Envision Energy Singapore Pte Ltd has proposed developing two wind power projects with a total capacity of 200 MW in Lam Dong province, as part of its parent company’s billion-dollar wind power journey in Vietnam. [Theinvestor]

Envision wind turbine (Envision image)

¶ “What Is Iran’s Nuclear Program And What Does The US Want?” • US and Iranian officials held indirect talks in Oman’s capital, Muscat, to try for a new deal over Iran’s controversial nuclear program. Donald Trump pulled the US out of a previous nuclear agreement. Now he is warning of military action if talks do not succeed. [BBC]

US:

¶ “Market Volatility Complicates Work For Lawmakers In Alaska” • After President Donald Trump returned to office, Governor Mike Dunleavy of Alaska declared “happy days are here again.” But Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs made oil markets more volatile, compounding uncertainty for Alaska lawmakers, whose budgets are based the price of oil. [ABC News]

Trans-Alaska pipeline (Luca Galuzzi, CC- BY-SA 2.5)

¶ “Schools Lined Up For Help Getting Cleaner School Buses, But Then Came The EPA Freeze” • Looking to cut pollution from its fleet of chool buses, an Oklahoma school district doubled its EVs last year. The funding had been promised by the EPA, but since Trump took office, the district has called and emailed the EPA regularly without a response. [ABC News]

¶ “Mojave Micro Mill Is First US Solar-Powered Steel Mill” • The Pacific Steel Group has begun construction of what it calls its Mojave Micro Mill. The factory is going up in California’s Mojave Desert, near Edwards Air Force Base, where it will produce rebar using electricity supplied by a solar panels and wind turbines located nearby. [CleanTechnica]

Have a delightfuly easy day.

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World:

¶ “Global Breakthrough To Tackle Emissions From Shipping” • Countries agreed on a global deal to tackle shipping emissions, after nearly ten years of negotiations. The agreement covers the vast majority of the world’s commercial shipping and means that starting in 2028, ship owners will have to use increasingly cleaner fuels or face fines. [BBC]

Ship (Jens Rademacher, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “UN Shipping Agreement A Victory For Multilateralism But A Failure For The Climate” • Negotiators at the UN’s shipping body managed to clinch a deal that might save multilateralism for another day, but will likely lead to destruction of rainforests by promoting first-generation biofuels, says T&E, the European environmental organization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Green Mining, Green Iron, Green Shipping, and Community Support” • Andrew Forrest has scoffed at “net zero,” challenging the mining industry and maritime shipping to go for “real zero.” To this end, he purchased battery electric mining equipment. Now, he is expanding his renewable energy resources to power that equipment. [CleanTechnica]

Fortescue electric mining trucks trucks

¶ “Tesla Stops Selling Model S And Model X In China” • These are not exactly big sellers in China, or anywhere, but nonetheless it’s notable that Tesla has just removed the “Order” button for the Model S and Model X in China, because this is almost certainly due to Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Things could get more interesting in that regard. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Geo Trasporti Toasts Delivery Of 27 Turbine Blades” • Wind transport company Geo Trasporti is toasting the successful delivery of 27 wind turbine blades for the Mondonuovo wind farm in Italy, owned by RWE. Geo Trasporti said transporting wind blades is a complex operation due to their length, weight and oversized dimensions. [reNews]

Geo Trasporti moving a blade (Allison Transmission image)

¶ “Cornish Hospitals Get Funding For Solar Panels” • Plans are under way to install thousands of solar panels at hospitals in Cornwall. Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said it got a national funding grant of nearly £2.2 million to install 2,725 solar panels across eleven sites. The trust said it expected to save £6.5 million over the lifetime of the panels. [BBC]

¶ “Clearstone Energy Given Go-Ahead For 700-MW BESS Plans” • UK developer Clearstone Energy has secured consent for two battery energy storage projects totalling 700 MW. The 300-MW, 600-MWh Bramford Storage BESS in Suffolk and the 400-MW, 800-MWh Great Oak Energy Hub in Sussex were both approved by local planning authorities. [reNews]

Great Oak Energy Hub (Clearstone Energy image)

¶ “Nuclear Waste Returns To Germany Amid Protests” • A ship carrying containers filled with highly radioactive nuclear waste docked in the northern German port of Nordenham, Lower Saxony, amid protests and a heightened police presence. The nuclear waste is from reprocessed fuel elements from German nuclear plants that were decommissioned. [Bundle]

US:

¶ “Vesper Energy Launches 600-MW Solar Project In Texas” • A Texas-based solar energy developer inaugurated a large project in that state. Vesper Energy said the 600-MW Hornet Solar installation, which features some 1.36 million modules and covers more than six square miles in Swisher County, is now fully operational. [POWER Magazine]

Hornet Solar project (Vesper Energy)

¶ “First Vehicle From Slate Auto May Be An Affordable Electric Pickup Truck” • TechCrunch reported that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, is the financial force behind a new Michigan EV company. The company, Slate Auto, expects to start production as early as next year, sources say. Its first vehicle may be a two-door electric pickup truck starting at about $25,000. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Will New Lower-Cost Tesla Cybertruck Double Cybertruck Sales?” • Typically, a significant step down in price increases the buyer pool exponentially. So, one has to ask, will a $10,000 lower price-point combined with more range lead to significantly more Cybertruck demand and sales? Sales are dismal enough that it has to do a lot better. [CleanTechnica]

Cybertruck (u/Kruzat, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “‘2000-V: Solar Odyssey’ – How And Why The Industry Is On Its Way To 2000-V Systems” • The renewable energy landscape is evolving faster than ever. Building on the successful evolution from 600-V to 1500-V utility-scale solar systems, the next step to 2000 V promises to deliver substantial efficiency gains and cost reductions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Beat Fossil Fuels For First Time In Monthly US Energy Generation” • Renewable energy sources generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the US during March, data released by the global energy think tank Ember shows. This marks the first month on record where clean energy outpaced oil and gas in the nation’s power supply. [Straight Arrow News]

Wind turbines (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Continues To Grow On Public Lands” • Renewable energy on public lands has burgeoned in recent years with efforts at both the national and state levels to move away from fossil fuels. State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard said New Mexico’s solar capacity grew seven-fold in just six years. [New Mexico Political Report]

¶ “Sysco And NextEra Energy Resources Break Ground On Oklahoma Solar Project” • Sysco Corporation, the world’s largest food distributor, and NextEra Energy Resources, one of the largest US energy developers, celebrated the groundbreaking of the Rumble Solar Energy Center in Oklahoma. The project will have 250 MW of capacity. [CSRwire]

Have a gloriously unimposing day.

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World:

¶ “Do We Need Cocoa-Free Chocolate, And Is It Nice?” • The key ingredient of chocolate is cocoa, which is made from fermented, roasted and ground cacao beans. The wholesale price of cocoa increased by an astonishing 300% in 2024. This is due to climate change-related weather impacts on cacao farms, particularly in West Africa. There are alternatives. [BBC]

Cocoa beans (Etty Fidele, Unsplash)

¶ “La Niña Exits After Three Weak Months, Leaving Earth In Neutral Climate State” • La Niña, the natural cooling flip side of the better known and warmer El Niño climate phenomenon, has dwindled away after just three months. The La Niña that came into being in January, months later than forecast, was a weak one, according to NOAA. [ABC News]

¶ “Kia Concept EV2 Blends User-Focused Design With Material Innovations As A Vision For The Future Of Kia Interiors” • Kia’s designers have revealed new details on the inspiration behind its new Concept EV2’s interior design. This comes as part of the model featuring in the brand’s Transcend Journey exhibit at Milan Design Week 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Kia Concept EV2 interior (Kia Global News Center)

¶ “BYD, NIO, XPENG, And Zeekr Could Get Big Boost From Trump’s Tariff Circus” • Naturally, Trump’s massive tariffs on Chinese-produced goods are aimed at hurting China and helping the US. However, aside from the basic logic of the tariffs being in serious question, there often are side effects of our actions that we didn’t initially consider. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ireland’s Ardnacrusha Moment, Again: A Blueprint for Full Electrification” • In the 1920s, the young Irish Free State chose to spend roughly 20% of its national budget on the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric scheme. What if Ireland spent the same money on a major chunk of decarbonization technology as it did 100 years ago on that dam? [CleanTechnica]

Ardnacrusha plant (The Banner, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “ContourGlobal Commissions Chilean PV Site” • KKR-owned ContourGlobal commissioned a 221-MW solar PV plant with a 1200-MWh battery storage system that can deliver 200-MW for six hours after sunset. This milestone marks the final stage before commencing commercial operations in the coming weeks and starting to fulfil its long-term PPA. [reNews]

¶ “Ørsted Installs First Foundation At Changhua 2b And 4” • Ørsted has completed the installation of the suction bucket jacket foundation for the 920-MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan. The site is Ørsted first in the Asia-Pacific region to use SBJs, which minimize both installation noise and seabed disturbance. [reNews]

Installing an SBJ foundation (Ørsted via LinkedIn)

¶ “India’s Installed Renewables Capacity Reaches 220.10 GW As Of End-March” • India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said the country’s installed renewable energy capacity reached 220.10 GW as of 31 March. The ministry said the greatest part of the increase was solar, with 23.83 GW. The total installed solar capacity stands at 105.65 GW. [Asian Power]

¶ “WindEurope 2025: Irish TSO Opens €1 Billion Grid Tender” • As Ireland’s Transmission System Operator, EirGrid announced a procurement program of over €1 billion for works related to the delivery of an offshore electricity grid for Ireland. In 2021, Ireland opted to move towards a plan-led rollout of offshore renewables and infrastructure. [reNews]

Offshore substation (TenneT image)

¶ “Spain’s Nuclear Shutdown Set To Test Renewables Success Story” • Spain is ignoring various calls to reconsider its nuclear decommissioning plans, betting renewables and battery storage will make up for the upcoming energy shortfall. The country is plowing ahead with plans to shut down its seven nuclear reactors over the next decade. [Energy Connects]

US:

¶ “Greening Forms US PV And BESS JV” • Greening USA, a Greening subsidiary, has partnered with Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure in a JV to co-develop renewable energy projects in the US. The alliance will make it possible to promote PV and energy storage (BESS) systems, both by combining the two technologies and independently. [reNews]

Solar array (Greening image)

¶ “How Trump’s Executive Order On Coal Could Impact Energy Use In The US” • President Donald Trump’s quest to conduct a resurgence of coal production and use in the US is farfetched and unlikely, energy experts say. Coal power capacity has been declining here and worldwide in recent decades, mainly because we have cheaper and cleaner fuels. [ABC News]

¶ “Robots To Work With Humans To Demonstrate Solar Module Installation” • Rosendin, an electrical contracting company, has announced that its Renewable Energy Group will demonstrate its new autonomous robotic system for installing solar modules in Texas. The robotic system reportedly can install solar panels three times as fast as human workers. [pv magazine India]

Robots and humans (Rosendin Renewable Energy Group)

¶ “Businesses In New York Support Clean Trucks” • Two bills would delay the implementation and enforcement of New York’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule until 2027. They would provide a two-year pause on a policy that New York adopted in 2021 after extensive public engagement. A number of businesses signed a letter opposing them. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why Analyst Forecasts Dropped for Tesla (TSLA) Throughout Q1” • Troy Teslike tracks Tesla’s production figures well enough that some Wall Street analysts subscribe to his work. Throughout the first quarter the analysts, inlcuding Teslike, were wrong in their expectations about Tesla’s production numbers. There are reasons why this might happen. [CleanTechnica]

Have a brilliantly pacific day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Game Over For Coal: Perovskite Solar Cells Are Here” • Oh the irony, it burns. Just one day after US President Donald Trump took steps to salvage the dying remains of the domestic coal industry, word has just dropped that new perovskite solar cells got a seal of approval from the leading solar PV manufacturer Trinasolar. [CleanTechnica]

Perovskite solar cells (courtesy of Oxford PV)

World:

¶ “Tropical Tree Species Has Evolved To Benefit From Lightning Strikes” • The tonka bean tree exhibits an ability to transfer the electricity from lightning strikes onto the parasitic vines that attach to it, according to a paper published in New Phytologist. Lightning has also been shown to damage neighboring trees that may be competing for resources. [ABC News]

¶ “BYD Announces Price Cut On Seagull – Now $7,800” • BYD has announced a significant price cut for its Seagull EV, bringing the new starting price to 56,800 yuan ($7,800). This is a large reduction from the previous starting price of 69,800 yuan ($9,500) for the Vitality Edition model. It is one of the least expensive EVs in Asia. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Blyth Battery Goes Live. The 477-MWh Asset Commissioned For Neoen In South Australia” • NHOA Energy, a global leader in the design, delivery, and servicing of utility-scale energy storage systems, announced that in partnership with Elecnor Australia it had finished and commissioned Neoen’s 238.5-MW, 477-MWh Blyth Battery. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “WindEurope 2025: OTC Presents Offshore Grid Study” • The Offshore TSO Collaboration presented initial results of a pilot study of a joint European offshore grid in the North Sea. The analysis finds that establishing the North Sea as Europe’s “green power plant” will be crucial to secure an independent, affordable, and decarbonised energy supply. [reNews]

Offshore grid (OTC image)

¶ “Researchers Find Significant Energy Market Shift ‘Shows What Consistent Policy Can Achieve'” • PV Magazine reported that 80 to 90% of operational unit subsidies associated with the Renewable Energy Sources Act have already been paid. The researchers also found that costs have greatly improved and are now competitive. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Tidal, Wave Can Deliver £8 Billion Boost To Scotland” • Tidal stream and wave energy projects in the UK could deliver over £8 billion in economic benefits to the Scottish economy by 2050, according to a report by the University of Edinburgh. The report presents a scenario with a Scottish market for up to 8.8 GW of marine energy by 2050. [reNews]

Activity on marine energy (Colin Keldie, EMEC)

¶ “India Plans 13 GW Hybrid Solar, Wind Hybrid Project” • A hybrid renewable energy park with a total capacity of 13 GW is planned for areas of the region of Ladakh, India. The project will include solar, wind, and battery storage systems, according to Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power Shripad Yesso Naik. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Do New US-Iran Nuclear Talks Have Any Chance Of Success?” • The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, widely known as the Iranian Nuclear Deal, was heralded as a major diplomatic accomplishment, but only three years later, then-US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of it. Now, Trump is trying his had at dealing with the issue. [Yahoo News UK]

Tehran (Mohammad Amirahmadi, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Why The Flooding In The South, Midwest Was So Severe” • A multi-day outbreak of tornadoes, torrential rain, and flooding that killed at least two dozen people in the Midwest and South was caused by a storm system that stalled and persisted in the area. With climate change, extreme precipitation events have become about 45% more common. [ABC News]

¶ “Cleanup Underway Of The Keystone Oil Pipeline Spill In North Dakota” • When the Keystone pipeline ruptured Tuesday in southeastern North Dakota, it was shut down within two minutes by an employee who heard a mechanical bang. South Bow, which manages the pipeline, estimated the spill’s volume at 3,500 barrels, or 147,000 gallons. [ABC News]

Pipeline construction (shannonpatrick17, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Microsoft Says It’s ‘Slowing Or Pausing’ Some AI Data Center Projects” • Microsoft said it is “slowing or pausing” some of its data center construction, including a $1 billion project in Ohio, the latest sign that the demand for AI technology that drove a massive infrastructure expansion might not need quite as many powerful computers as expected. [ABC News]

¶ “Renewable Energy Still Alive And Kicking In The US” • Even with efforts to prop up the US coal industry, renewable energy projects still attract global energy investors. The loss of federal support for renewables still stings, but at least the folks overseas still believe there is money to be made from clean energy in the US. As they say, money talks. [CleanTechnica]

Renewable energy (Courtesy of Sunraycer Renewables)

¶ “Tesla Cybertruck Is A Sales Disaster” • Some people expected the Cybertruck could sell about 500,000 per year. Estimates are that it has sold about 46,000. Jalopnik says Tesla has about 2,400 Cybertrucks it can’t find buyers for, even with ridiculous sales incentives. It seem to be a dream, joining the Semi, the robotaxi, affordable models and so many others. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plug-In Solar Now Legal In Utah Homes” • Utah has taken a significant step in expanding residential solar energy options with the passage of HB 340. Now signed into law, it introduces a new category for small, portable solar generation devices that allow residents to integrate plug-in solar systems into their homes more easily. [CleanTechnica]

Have an unfashionably sweet day.

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World:

¶ “Fur Is Firmly Back In Fashion – And Even More Divisive Than Ever” • In 2017, when Gucci pledged to go fur-free, a number of designer brands followed suit. That movement was welcomed by animal rights activists, but what followed was a new problem: Much of the real fur has been replaced by synthetic alternatives that are derived from fossil fuels. [BBC]

Fur coat (Nick Monica, Unsplash)

¶ “Top Locations For Ocean Energy Production Worldwide Revealed” • Marine renewable energy development is still in its early stages compared to wind and solar power. One challenge is identifying the most feasible and economically viable locations for ocean current energy projects. A global data-based evaluation has been published. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Charting The Changes In The UK Auto Industry” • The UK government reacted to the latest round of tariff insanity in the US by altering its plans to promote the adoption of EVs. Among other things, Keir Starmer announced his country is reinstating a proposed ban on the sale of new cars powered solely by internal combustion engines as of 2030. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Sealion 7 (BYD image)

¶ “Geely Has Launched 48 New Models Since Tesla Revealed The Cybertruck!” • Tesla has quite a limited, simple product line with two mass-market models, a unique EV called a truck, and two premium models introduced more than a decade ago. BYD has introduced new models regularly. But now we see that Geely has brought out 48 new cars. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GE And BBWind Sign Turbine Deal” • GE Vernova announced that it signed agreements with BBWind to supply three of its 6-MW, 164-m workhorse turbines to community wind farms. The deals were booked in the first quarter of 2025 to support the two-turbine 12-MW wind farm in Heiden and the 6-MW Dorsten project in North Rhine-Westphalia. [reNews]

Wind turbine (GE Vernova image)

¶ “Trump Tariffs Could Boost Demand For Renewables: Think Tank” • Tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, and the resulting uncertainty, could boost demand for renewable energy, according to energy think tank Ember. Trump’s tariffs have sent energy and equities markets plummeting and stoked concerns about a global recession. [Asia Financial]

¶ “H&MV Completes Electrical Work On Blackhillock BESS” • H&MV Engineering has completed electrical and civil works for the 200-MW, 400-MWh Blackhillock battery energy storage project in Scotland. The BESS was developed by Zenobē, and it is the largest such facility in Europe. H&MV Engineering is the principal designer and contractor. [reNews]

BESS facility (H&MV Engineering image)

¶ “Solar Has Been The World’s Fastest Growing Power Source For Twenty Years Running” • Phil MacDonald, Ember’s managing director, said: “Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition. Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it is critical …” [Mother Jones]

¶ “Robot Dog Flips Crane Switch At Nuclear Site” • A robot dog has been sent into a potentially hazardous area of a nuclear power site to switch back on a mothballed piece of equipment. Due to safety restrictions, workers are not allowed to go near a switchboard to power up the machine. The crane had not been operational for about two years. [BBC]

Robot Dog at switch (Nuclear Restoration Services Image)

¶ “Thirsty Nuclear Plants ‘Could Suck Water From Farmers'” • Only one of seven nuclear power stations proposed to be built in Australia could access enough water to operate at full capacity, a study has found, and more than 200  billion litres may need to be acquired from farmers, businesses, or residents to meet the shortfall. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Trump Signs Executive Order To Expand ‘Clean’ Coal, But There’s No Such Thing” • At a White House ceremony witnessed by people wearing hard hat, Trump signed an executive order that follows the president’s recent promises to oversee a boost of coal production in the US. One action orders the Department of Interior to facilitate coal leases. [ABC News]

Coal-burning power plant (Chris LeBoutillier, Unsplash)

¶ “The Latest Leak In The Keystone Oil Pipeline Continues Its Troubled History” • The latest leak in the Keystone oil pipeline in North Dakota continues its troubled history. The 2,700 mile (4,350 km) pipeline starts in Alberta and carries tar sands oil south across the Dakotas and Nebraska before splitting to go to refineries in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas. [ABC News]

¶ “US Production Of All Types Of Coal Has Declined Over The Past Two Decades” • US coal production peaked in 2008, but by 2023, the US production fell to less than half of what it was at the peak. The decline in coal production was due to rising mining costs, environmental regulations, and competition from other sources of electric power generation. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “New York City Congestion Pricing Likely To Remain Through The Summer” • New York’s $9 congestion toll on most drivers entering Manhattan is likely to remain through the summer, and even into fall, as a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from ending the program moves forward. A briefing schedule calls for court filings as late as October. [ABC News]

¶ “Wood Mackenzie Downgrades Its Five-Year US Wind Energy Outlook” • Wood Mackenzie reduced by 40% its five-year outlook for new US wind energy projects, due to Trump administration policies and concerns about the economy. The energy research firm expects the US to install 45.1 GW of wind, both onshore and offshore, through 2029. [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

Have an extraordinarily quiet day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Dire Wolf Revived Through De-Extinction Process Of A US Company” • In a scientific breakthrough that could forever alter how humans interact with our planet, US-based biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences said it has brought back an animal that became extinct roughly 10,000 years ago: the dire wolf. The woolley mammoth may be next. [ABC News]

Rendering of dire wolf (Erwin S. Christman, public domain)

¶ “Green Oxamide Vs Green Ammonia: The Chemistry Behind A Smarter Fertilizer” • China’s latest move in green fertilizer hasn’t made headlines, but it is a quietly significant development. A facility in Xinjiang will soon produce half a million tonnes of oxamide fertilizer per year, using captured CO₂, green hydrogen, and green ammonia. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “It’s Only Early April And North India Is Bracing For Extreme Heat” • India’s weather department warned of high temperatures in parts of northern India, including the capital Delhi, for this week. The Indian Meteorological Department said some of the northern and central states can expect maximum temperatures to cross 40°C (104°F). [BBC]

India (Remi Clinton, Unsplash)

¶ “WindEurope 2025: Industry Launches Call To Action” • The wind industry launched a call to action outlining three steps to boost Europe’s energy independence and competitiveness. The Copenhagen Call to Action was revealed at the opening session of WindEurope’s annual event, which brings over 15,000 people together for a conference and exhibition. [reNews]

¶ “Ford’s South Africa Plant Starts Producing The New Ford Ranger PHEV For The Global Market” • As the transition to EVs accelerates in world automotive markets, countries where the auto industry contributes significantly to their local economies need to accelerate their EV production. An example of one such country is South Africa. [CleanTechnica]

Ford South Africa plant (Ford South Africa image)

¶ “Gulf And Asia’s ‘Natural Synergy’ Ignites A Renewables Revolution” • The Gulf Arab monarchies, long synonymous with oil wealth, are deepening energy interdependence with China and Southeast Asian nations, signing landmark agreements in recent months for tens of billions of dollars’ worth of renewable-energy projects. [South China Morning Post]

¶ “Deutsche Offshore Picks SMST Gangway For Fleet” • Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt has chosen Dutch company SMST to supply a gangway system and crane for its fleet of service operation vessels. SMST will supply its Telescopic Access Bridge gangway system and its offshore knuckle boom crane with 3D motion compensating capability. [reNews]

Gangway system and crane (Salt Ship Design)

¶ “Ofgem Super-Charges UK Clean Power Storage” • A new era for renewable energy in the UK is beginning as Ofgem launches a plan to accelerate the development of long-duration electricity storage projects for the first time in forty years. The National Energy Systems Operator advised the government to add 2.7 GW to 7.7 GW of stored power by 2035. [reNews]

¶ “WindEurope 2025: ‘Deal to boost energy security'” • The proposed Clean Industrial Deal will boost Europe’s energy security and industrial competitiveness while providing greater certainty for wind investments, Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission, told delegates at WindEurope in Copenhagen. [reNews]

Ditte Juul Jørgensen (belgium24.eu, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Global Report Shows Up Coalition Gas And Nuclear Folly, Underlines Why Labor Should Do Better” • The latest Ember report shows the nuclear industry rising in power generation, but like gas, its share of total global power generation is decreasing every year. By comparison, wind, solar, and hydro have been steadily rising for a long time. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Cute, Quirky IONNA EV Charging Consortium Ain’t Here To Play” • The IONNA EV charging station consortium came out last year with a plan to treat EV drivers in style while they charge up. And Elon Musk has handed them a golden opportunity to show their retro-chic “Rechargery” model as a welcome alternative to the Tesla Supercharger network. [CleanTechnica]

VLM brands (VLM image, cropped)

¶ “Tesla’s Loyal Following Has Vanished – Will Musk Capitulate?” • On Saturday Night Live this week, alum Mike Myers played Tesla CEO Elon Musk. “Suddenly, no one likes Tesla cars,” Myers muttered. “So I asked myself why, and then I answered myself: because of me.” He showed a video of “the first electric car in history to be fully self-vandalizing.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Energy Firm Gets Massive Funding Boost That Could Help Lower Household Electric Bills” • A renewable energy company received a massive investment to help increase their business, enabling them to expand their solar power and energy storage portfolio. Encore Renewable Energy secured $389 million from Brookfield Asset Management. [The Cool Down]

Solar array (Encore Renewable Energy image)

¶ “As Coal Declines, Oklahoma Continues To Replace It With Renewable Energy” • Renewable energy from wind turbines and solar panels generated more electricity in the US than coal last year, a first for the country since coal peaked in 2007. Oklahoma saw an increase in wind and solar generation, which makes up about 41% of its electricity. [The Oklahoman]

¶ “Western NY Man Admits To Threatening To Blow Up Power Plants” • A Western New York man pleaded guilty in US District Court in Buffalo to threatening to blow up power plants. Horton pleaded guilty to conveying false information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. [Finger Lakes Daily News]

Have a clearly comfy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “French And Germany Economic Councils Endorse Electric Trucks Over Hydrogen” • Michael Barnard: The French and German economic councils have weighed in. They didn’t fall for hydrogen but did what economists do best: They looked at the numbers, ran the models, and declared that battery-electric trucks are smart bet. [CleanTechnica]

BYD truck (BYD image)

World:

¶ “Australia’s Residential Batteries Plan Will Lower Utility Costs For Its Citizens” • The latest plans of the government of Australia call for subsidizing residential batteries, which it says will greatly lower the amount citizens spend each month on utility bills. The $2.3 billion program is designed to lower the cost of residential batteries by about 30%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EVs Take 28.9% Share Of The UK – Tesla Top Battery EV Brand” • March saw plugin EVs take 28.9% share of the UK auto market, up from 22.9% year-on-year. BEVs grew volume by 43%, year over year, while plugin hybrids grew 38%. Overall auto volume was up some 12% year-on-year, at 357,103 units. Tesla was the UK’s leading BEV brand in March. [CleanTechnica]

BMW i8 coupe (Jeremy, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Renewable Bosses Say Gas Power Will Require Its Own Underwriting Scheme” • One of Australia’s leading renewable energy chiefs – a former gas executive – has broken ranks within the industry and argued that government will have to support new gas peaking generators in the main grid, or else they will simply not be built. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “DNV Backs SENSEWind To Deliver Offshore Savings” • The SENSEWind self-installing turbine assembly technology could reduce the levelized cost of energy at a large-scale fixed-bottom offshore wind farm by 4.7%, a report from accreditation agency DNV says. The savings are said to be equivalent to £1 billion over the operational life of a project. [reNews]

Self-installing turbine at work (SENSEWind image)

¶ “Celtic Sea Leasing Round 5 Enters Final Phase” • The Crown Estate concluded the first phase of a two-stage tender to award three 1.5-GW seabed plots in the Celtic Sea to floating wind developers this summer. The Crown Estate indicated that there is space for 12 GW of new capacity, of which 4 GW to 10 GW could be leased by the end of the decade. [reNews]

¶ “Construction Starts On New Zealand’s 280-GWh Agrivoltaic Project” • First Renewables, a joint venture of Harmony Energy New Zealand and energy supplier Clarus, is building largest solar farm in the country, the 202-MW Tauhei Solar Park project. It will generate 280 GWh of electric energy per year, while it also serves as a sheep farm. [pv magazine India]

Agrivoltaics (Harmony Energy image)

¶ “China Reports No Abnormalities In Fukushima Wastewater Samples” • Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said there were no abnormalities in levels of tritium, cesium-134, cesium-137, or strontium-90, found in tests of samples collected by the Chinese research institutions in February in waters near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. [China Daily]

US:

¶ “Trump’s Fraud And Efficiency Lies Bring Out Mass Protests” • Hands Off! demonstrations were organized for more than 1,300 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans, and elections activists, according to the Associated Press. Media small and large covered the events. [CleanTechnica]

Hands Off protest in Washington (SWinxy, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Tesla Solar Sales Declined For Four Straight Quarters, Then It Stopped Publishing The Numbers” • Tesla’s solar business was in decline, with the last good quarter being the fourth of 2022, with 100 MW of solar power installed. Tesla’s installations of rooftop solar then declined for at least four quarters in a row. And then it stopped publishing the figures. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “$50 Million More For US Space Solar Startup Aetherflux ” • The idea of beaming solar energy down to Earth from space was just a dream writers until 2013, when a research team at CalTech scored $100 million in private funding to look into it. Now the space solar field is crowded. Investors put up $50 million for the California startup Aetherflux. [CleanTechnica]

Have a vastly fortunate day.

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World:

¶ “China Just Turned Off US Supplies Of Minerals Critical For Defense And Cleantech” • China just stopped selling the US its dysprosium, terbium, tungsten, indium, and yttrium. They don’t make headlines, but without them an electric car doesn’t run, a fighter jet doesn’t fly, and solar PVs go from clean energy marvels to overpriced roofing tiles. [CleanTechnica]

F/A-18 Hornet (Cédric Dhaenens, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs Take 93.2% Share In Norway” • March saw plugin EVs take 93.2% share in Norway, up from 91.5% year-on-year. Plugin hybrids saw a large pull forward ahead of a tax tightening on April 1, and thus temporarily took share from full battery EVs. Overall auto volume was 13,304 units, up some 36% YOY, though from a low base. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD e-MPV To Launch At The Manila International Auto Show” • On April 10, BYD Philippines will launch the eMAX 7, an all-electric multi-purpose vehicle. The launch is scheduled for the Manila International Auto Show, but even before the formal unveiling, reservations for the eMAX 7 are being accepted at BYD dealerships nationwide. [CleanTechnica]

BYD eMAX 7 (BYD image)

¶ “Satellite Images Reveal Mass Destruction In Key Area” • A new report showed that critically endangered orangutans are losing their Indonesian habitat to palm oil plantations. The US-based Rainforest Action Network used high-resolution satellite imagery to show that it had detected a quadrupling of the deforestation rate between 2021 and 2023. [The Cool Down]

¶ “How To Build Even Better Wind Turbines” • In recent years, solar has been outpacing wind as the renewable energy leader. Recent innovations, like taller towers and longer rotor blades, which lead to increased efficiency, could unlock significantly more wind energy potential. There are some challenges in scaling turbines up, however. [DW]

Offshore wind farm (Siemens Gamesa image)

¶ “Prime Minister Seeks To Counter Dutton’s Price Of Energy Attacks With Cheaper Home Batteries” • The prime minister of Australia is countering Peter Dutton’s attacks on the price of energy with a scheme to make renewable energy cheaper. The plan would reduce the power bill for those with rooftop solar by up to $1,100 extra every year. [7NEWS]

¶ “World Must React To Russian Nuclear Threats” • Oleksandr Hryhorash, senior control inspector at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, stressed that the world is not responding adequately to Russian nuclear threats. The occupation of Ukrainian power plants by Russian forces and attacks on other nuclear facilities increase the risk of catastrophes. [MSN]

Chernobyl reactor 3, encased (Mick De Paola, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Trump Is In Violation Of An Injunction That Allows Approved Grant Funds To Flow, Says RI Judge” • Rhode Island US District Chief Judge John McConnell found the Trump administration in violation of a preliminary injunction to stop withholding grants. He ordered FEMA to notify administrators of its grants about his decision within 48 hours. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Without Insurance, Capitalism As We Know It Will Not Be Possible” • Insurance is the lubricant that keeps the gears of commerce turning. Without it, the capitalist system we all know and love grinds to a halt. Without insurance, many financial services are no longer commercially viable, but climate change might make insurance impossible. [CleanTechnica]

Pretty, but possibly hard to sell (Ian MacDonald, Unsplash)

¶ “Agrivoltaics To Rescue US Farmers” • Advocates of adrivoltaics list soil health, biodiversity opportunities, and conservation of water among the benefits of such systems, in which solar panels combine with farming activities on the same land. The extra income it brings is needed now more than ever, as farmers brace for the impact of Trump’s tariffs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Farms Nationwide Owe Some Success To An Unlikely Force” • In Texas, SB Energy operates the fifth-largest US solar power plant. It uses sheep herds to keep the weeds down beneath its 900-MW, 4,000-acre array. The livestock are more nimble than lawnmowers and they’re autonomous. Combining sheep and solar has also had success in Iowa. [The Cool Down]

Have an excitingly pleasant day.

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World:

¶ “Wind Energy In the Philippines Picks Up Speed In South Luzon” • The Philippines, driven by climate change initiatives and the need for energy security, is advancing its renewable energy sector rapidly. Though the number of onshore wind turbines tripled since 2016, there are no operational offshore wind turbines in the country yet. [CleanTechnica]

Red areas have greatest wind (World Bank image)

¶ “Pakistan’s 22-GW Solar Shock: How a Fragile State Went Full Clean Energy” • But by the end of 2024, Pakistan quietly went into the top tier of solar adopters, importing a jaw-dropping 22 GW worth of solar panels in a single year. That’s not a typo or a spreadsheet rounding error. That’s the kind of number that turns heads at IEA meetings. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Launches Sixth Car-Carrying Vessel!” • BYD sales keep on soaring. Its passenger vehicle sales were up 58% in the first quarter, while its electric commercial truck sales were up 1169%. Regarding full electric cars, BYD has now solidly shot past Tesla as the global leader. And the company has been releasing new model after new model. [CleanTechnica]

BYD car-carrying ships (BYD image)

¶ “Ireland Hits New Peak For Grid-Scale Solar Power” • Ireland set new records for solar power on the grid in March, with 39% of electricity coming from renewable sources last month, according to provisional figures from EirGrid. On 25 March, the country reached a new peak for grid-scale solar power with over 750 MW coming from sunshine at one point. [reNews]

¶ “UK Gives RWE Green Light For 1.2-GW Rampion 2 ” • UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has granted planning consent to RWE’s 1.2-GW Rampion 2 wind farm off south England. The 90-turbine array, an extension of the 400-MW Rampion project that has been online since 2018, will connect to the National Grid at the Bolney substation in Sussex. [reNews]

Rampion offshore wind farm (RWE image)

¶ “Spring Sunshine Brings Solar Power Record For Britain” • Great Britain had a new maximum solar generation record this week, with 12.2 GW solar power generated between 12:30 and 1:00 pm on 1 April. The record came as the Met Office confirmed that March 2025 was the sunniest since records began in 1910, totaling 185.8 hours of sunshine. [Yourweather.co.uk]

¶ “PNE Bags Permits For German Wind, Solar Projects” • The PNE Group was given the go-ahead to build two wind farms and a solar plant in Germany with a total capacity of about 185 MW. The wind farms will be built in Hesse and the PV plant is going up in Brandenburg. They will be able to supply annual electric needs of 73,000 three-person households. [reNews]

Wind turbines (PNE image)

US:

¶ “US EV Industry Collateral Damage In Trump’s Escalating Trade War” • President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz has shocked every aspect of the global economy, including the auto sector, where multi-billion-dollar plans to electrify are especially at risk in the US. Tesla held a majority of US EV market share in 2024 at 48%, but its sales are falling. [ABC News]

¶ “Hawaiian Island’s ‘Freakosystems’ Are A Warning From The Future” • Oahu’s lowland forests are now almost entirely devoid of the plants and animals that grew here for millions of years before the arrival of humans. Ecosystems which have never been seen before are being accidentally created by humans. They offer a stark look into the nature of tomorrow. [BBC]

Wilderness of Oahu (Colton Jones, Unsplash)

¶ “Repealing Federal Energy Tax Credits Will Directly Harm American Households” • A study by the Clean Energy Buyers Association estimates a family’s electric bill could increase by an average of $110 per year if energy incentives are nixed. And a report from ConservAmerica an increase by as much as $152 per year in America’s heartland. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New York Vs Tesla: The Grudge Match Is ON!” • Both the City and State of New York are considering taking legal action against Tesla based on what officials see as a lack of bona fides by Elon Musk. New York City comptroller Brad Lander, the investment adviser to the city’s five pension funds, said he thinks Tesla is misstating Musk’s work there. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla megaplace with bicycle (Tesla image)

¶ “Repealing Biden-Era Renewable Energy Investments Could Cost Western States Billions Of Dollars, Says Report” • A new economic analysis shows that repealing the Inflation Reduction Act could cost the states’ economies billions of dollars, cause them to miss out on thousands of jobs, and raise energy costs for consumers. [Aspen Public Radio]

¶ “Electric Aviation Takes Off: H55’s B23 Energic Embarks On Cross-Country US Tour” • The B23 Energic, an all-electric airplane from Swiss aviation company H55, is in the middle of a months-long tour called H55 Across America. The goal? Prove that electric flight isn’t a futuristic fantasy; it’s already here, and ready to go mainstream. [CleanTechnica]

Bristell B23 Energic (Courtesy of H55)

¶ “Scientists Urge Stein To Stop Duke Energy’s Expansion Of Fossil Fuels” • More than sixty research scientists signed an open letter urging North Carolina Governor Josh Stein to halt Duke Energy’s fossil fuel expansion and what they called “suppression of renewable energy solutions” with his executive authority, according to a press release. [NC Newsline]

¶ “‘Not admissible’: Request For Formal Hearing Challenging Palisades Re-Opening Denied” • A request to hold a full hearing on petitions that challenge plans to restart Palisades Nuclear Power Plant has been denied by a three-judge panel of the US NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board because the proposed contentions are not admissible. [The Holland Sentinel]

Have a seriously witty day.

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