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Science and Technology:

¶ “Microgrids Could Help Solve Challenges Of Renewable Energy” • Issues such as variability and surplus generation have so far created headaches in the move to full use of renewable energy. Research led by Murdoch University Associate Professor Ali Arefi found that using interconnected scattered microgrids may be the answer. [MSN]

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

World:

¶ “1,500 Policies To Fix Global Warming Were Implemented In 41 Countries. Here Are Those That Worked Best” • Researchers from European climate institutions analyzed the effectiveness of 1,500 climate policies across 41 countries over the past twenty years, in a study published in the journal Science. They found just 63 “success stories.” [CNN]

¶ “This Superyacht Hot Spot For The Uber-Wealthy Is Heating Up And Becoming More Dangerous” • The storm that sank the “Bayesian,” a luxury yacht anchored off the coast of Sicily, was sudden, violent and deadly. Scientists say it may be a warning of what’s to come as global warming fuels more extreme weather in the Mediterranean. [CNN]

Mediterranean (Ernesto Solla, Unsplash)

¶ “Vena Energy Moves Ahead With 550 MW Of Solar In The Philippines” • Vena Energy has signed an investment agreement with MGen Renewable Energy for the joint construction of a 550-MW solar plant in the Philippines. They will build the solar project in the municipality of Bugallon, which is on the island of Luzon. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Energiekontor Secures German Wind Permits” • In August of 2024, three building permits for wind park projects in Germany with a total generation volume of approximately 116 MW were awarded to Energiekontor. Construction work on the Lower Saxony projects will start shortly, according to the German developer. [reNews]

German wind turbines (Tony Webster, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Collgar Eyes 1.7 GW Of Wind Power Projects In Western Australia” • Collgar Renewables, which operates the largest wind farm in Western Australia, has announced plans to beef up its portfolio by building five new wind projects across the Australian state. In a statement, the company said the five projects will have a total capacity of 1.7 GW. [Asian Power]

¶ “Skyborn Completes Foundation Installation At Yunlin” • A Skyborn Renewables subsidiary, Yunneng Wind Power, has announced that all of the 80 foundations have been installed at the 640-MW Yunlin offshore wind project in Taiwan. Reaching this milestone means the project is on track to be completed by the end of 2024. [reNews]

Foundation (Skyborn Renewables image)

¶ “Kuwait Targets 17-GW Renewables Fleet By 2050” • KBR was awarded an advisory contract by Kuwait Oil Company to develop a strategy for delivering 17 GW of renewable energy and 25 GW of green hydrogen capacity by 2050. The company will devise a phased approach to deployment of wind and solar generation with power storage. [reNews]

¶ “Global Offshore Wind To Breach 520 GW By 2040” • Despite setbacks, global offshore wind installations grew 7% in 2023 and are projected to rapidly expand, surpassing 520 GW by 2040, excluding China, according to Rystad Energy. Rystad Energy said Europe will drive the growth as it heavily depends on floating wind to meet national targets. [Asian Power]

Offshore windfarm (Tony Exley, Unsplash)

¶ “China Hits Xi Jinping’s Renewable Power Target Six Years Early” • China passed another benchmark for its wind and solar capacity, surpassing a target set by President Xi Jinping almost six years earlier than planned. China added 25 GW in July, bringing its capacity to 1,206 GW. Xi had set a goal in December 2020 for 1,200 GW of clean energy by 2030. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Ukrainian Official Rejects Putin’s Accusations Of Attempted Attack On Kursk Nuclear Plant” • A top counter-disinformation official from Ukraine refuted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s accusations that Kyiv attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Plant. Putin alleged that Ukraine tried to strike the nuclear plant, but provided no evidence. [The Kyiv Independent]

Kursk nuclear plant (Dmitriy 92, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Multiple Drones Seen Over Nuclear Power Plant In Germany, Russia Suspected” • Drones were seen flying over an industrial area in Schleswig-Holstein. They may have been launched by Russian agents, Bild reports. They flew over an industrial area, which has a nuclear power plant, a liquefied natural gas terminal, and chemical plants, at high speed. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Las Vegas Looks To Solar Power To Keep Streetlights On, Thieves Away” • Solar powered streetlights installed in the Las Vegas valley could help deter copper wire theft and keep home lights on. More than a million feet of copper wiring has been stolen from Clark County since early 2002, with 500,000 feet of that just in the last two years. [KLAS 8 News Now]

Solar powered street light (Robert Ashworth, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Historic Heat Breaking All-Time Records In Texas” • Texas has been baking in record heat since last weekend, and the heat will continue all week. Record highs were forecast from Roswell, New Mexico, to Galveston, Texas. Heat alerts have been issued by the National Weather Service for Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Florida on Thursday. [ABC News]

¶ “California Regulator Backs 7.6-GW Floater Plan” • California’s Public Utilities Commission voted in favour of procuring up to 7,600 MW of floating offshore windpower. Under Assembly Bill 1373, the commission directed the Department of Water Resources to procure electrical resources with long lead times, such as offshore wind. [reNews]

Have an unprecedentedly enjoyable day.

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World:

¶ “No Solar Energy? No Problem! Gigantic Undersea Cable Will Make It Happen” • The Australian government green-lighted the massive Australia-Asia Power Link solar energy project. Under the purview of the startup SunCable, AAPowerLink will connect Australia’s vast solar resources to the energy-hungry island of Singapore by undersea cable. [CleanTechnica]

Cable route (Courtesy of SunCable)

¶ “Argonne And The University Of Münster Join Forces To Advance Essential Battery Materials And Technology” • The US DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Münster signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advanced battery materials. The MOU was signed on July 8 in a ceremony at Argonne. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “O&G Windfall Tax Hike Will Hit Floating Wind Investment” • In an open letter to the treasury, issued by Offshore Energies UK, over forty member companies have warned that official plans threaten £200 billion of investment not just in Oil & Gas but also in offshore renewables and hydrogen. Oil & Gas companies invest in offshore wind. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Equinor image)

¶ “No Special Treatment When It Comes To ICE Ban, Ethiopia Tells Diplomats • Diplomats get a lot of special privileges all over the world, which must be nice, but there are no special privileges when it comes to allowing imports of new combustion vehicles in Ethiopia, it seems. Ethiopia is the first country in the world to ban importing them. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ACWA Breaks Ground On 200-MW Wind Farm” • Saudi-listed ACWA Power has broke ground on the Beruniy Wind Independent Power Plant project which includes construction of a 200-MW wind power plant and a 100-MW battery energy storage system. The project is in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan. [reNews]

Dominion Energy installation ship (Dominion Energy image)

¶ “China Authorises Eleven New Nuclear Reactors In $31 Billion Investment” • China’s State Council has approved eleven nuclear reactors across five sites in the provinces of Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Guangxi. With a total investment of 220 billion yuan ($31 billion), construction is expected to take about five years. [Yahoo Finance]

US:

¶ “Scientists Have More Evidence To Explain Why Billions Of Crabs Vanished Around Alaska” • Fishermen and scientists were alarmed when billions of crabs vanished from the Bering Sea near Alaska in 2022. It wasn’t overfishing, scientists explained. It was likely that shockingly warm water sent the crabs’ metabolism into overdrive and starved them to death. [CNN]

Crabs in a market (Nathan Cima, Unsplash)

¶ “America’s Growing Wind Energy Future: Three Reports” • In the past year, the US wind energy sector showcased its resilience and potential, as detailed in 2024 editions of the annual market reports released by the US DOE. The reports show that the Inflation Reduction Act led to significant increases in near-term wind deployment forecasts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Eversource Secures Federal Funding For Offshore Wind Hub In Southeastern Connecticut In Collaboration With New England States” • Eversource Energy announced that its Huntsbrook Offshore Wind Hub project was recently awarded $89 million in federal grant funding through the second round of the US DOE’s Grid Innovation Program. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind farm and wind hub (Eversource image)

¶ “Renewables Now 30% Of US Power Capacity” • Renewable energy sources are now 30% of total US electrical generating capacity, according to SUN DAY Campaign analysis. Solar has been the largest source of new capacity ten months in a row and is on track to be the second-largest source of capacity, behind only natural gas, within three years. [reNews]

¶ “EVLO Puts Into Operation Its First Battery Energy Project In The United States” • EVLO Energy Storage Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, announced that it has completed the commissioning of a first utility-scale battery energy storage system in the US. The contracted 3-MW, 12-MWh installation is in Troy, Vermont. [CleanTechnica]

EVLO’s BESS project in Troy, Vermont (Courtesy of EVLO)

¶ “Process Starts For BOEM To Define More Central Atlantic Wind Power Areas” • The process to define the next round of offshore wind power areas on the Central Atlantic coast is about to begin. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will open a 60-day comment period while soliciting input to lead to a future lease auction. [The Maritime Executive]

¶ “US Offshore Wind Pipeline Hits 80 GW” • The US offshore wind pipeline now stands at just over 80 GW, up 53% year-on-year, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Offshore Wind Market Report 2024. This includes almost 4.1 GW that is now under construction, more than four times what was being built in 2023. [reNews]

Wind turbine and flag (Dominion image)

¶ “As Dangerous Heat Grips Texas, Solar Power And Batteries Keep The Electric Grid Humming Along” • With temperatures climbing over 100°F in much of the state, the Texas electric grid set an all-time record for energy demand. Despite the heat wave, ERCOT has yet to ask people to conserve electricity. The reason is solar power and batteries. [KUT]

¶ “Enel Brings 326-MW Solar, 86-MW Storage Project Online For Nestlé In Texas” • Enel North America began operations at the 326-MW Stampede solar+storage project in Hopkins County, Texas. Nestlé is the sole tax equity investor for the project and will purchase the renewable energy attributes from the entire output of the solar plant. [Solar Power World]

Have a perfectly grand day.

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World:

¶ “Cash For Clunkers Program In China Will Boost Electric Car Industry As EU Tariffs Bite” • Last month the government of China announced it would double trade-in subsidies introduced in April to boost demand for cars after sales growth slowed. The cash for clunkers trade-in program could drive total electric car sales to over 10 million this year. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 (Courtesy of Volvocars)

¶ “Lithium And Politics Clash In Serbia” • If the future of clean energy depends on lots of batteries, the world will need lots of lithium. When China realized that early in this century, it started securing lithium supplies globally. Now that is having effects, as other nations do not want to be beholden to China for a supply of the critical resource. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Energy Transition is Slowed by Growth in Consumption” • Renewable energy is a strong runner. Its growth rate far exceeds that of global energy consumption. But it has started from a low base and so its absolute growth, in exajoules per year, has so far been less than that of consumption. Fossil fuels are still growing just a bit slower than renewables. [CleanTechnica]

A race (Andreas N on Pixabay)

¶ “Australia Greenlights World’s ‘Largest’ Solar Hub” • Australia approved plans for a massive solar and battery farm that would export energy to Singapore, a project billed as the “largest solar precinct in the world.” The project will eventually include a cable linking Australia with Singapore. It is backed by tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes. [Yahoo Finance UK]

¶ “KGAL Fund Bags 50-MW Czech Solar Project” • KGAL fund ESPF 5 has entered the Czech market with the purchase of the 50-MW solar project PVPP Saxonie near the northern Bohemian city of Most. The Czech Republic is developing into a highly attractive market for investors, with its climate targets having been increased several times, KGAL said. [reNews]

PVPP Saxonie solar project (KGAL image)

¶ “Negative Power Prices Hit Europe As Renewable Energy Floods The Grid” • European power markets are experiencing a notable shift as renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, become a larger part of the energy mix. On Wednesday, power prices in several European markets dipped below zero due to a surge in green power production. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Australia Needs 126 GW Of Solar, Wind By 2030 To Hit Net Zero By 2050” • Modeling from BNEF shows that Australia must rapidly decarbonize its power sector to reach net-zero by 2050. An investment of A$3.56 trillion ($2.4 trillion) is needed by 2030, as renewable energy capacity needs to grow by 135% to more than 126 GW. [pv magazine International]

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

US:

¶ “Tens Of Thousands Remain Without Power In Puerto Rico After Tropical Storm” • Tens of thousands of customers are without power in Puerto Rico, a week after Ernesto swiped the US territory as a tropical storm. Authorities pledged to restore power to everyone by the weekend, as the National Weather Service issued another heat advisory. [ABC News]

¶ “US Power Grid Added 20.2 GW of Generating Capacity In First Half of 2024 – Almost Entirely Clean Energy” • According to the EIA’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, there were 20.2 GW of utility-scale electric generating capacity added in the US during the first half of 2024. Of that, 18.7 GW was solar, wind, and battery power. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Harisankar, Unsplash)

¶ “Household Vehicles Were Parked 95% On A Typical Day In 2022” • Household vehicles were driven an average of 64.6 minutes on a typical day in 2022 (including all trips made that day) and parked for the remainder of the time (95%). Household vehicles being parked for 95% of a 24-hour day offers a lot of time for EV charging. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Thin Film Solar Deployed In Biggest-Ever Solar Farm In The US East” • New thin film solar technology has been a long time breaking into widespread use, but its day is coming, along with the promise of low costs and a small environmental footprint. The latest example is the huge 800-MW Double Black Diamond solar farm in Illinois. [CleanTechnica]

Thin film solar PVs (Courtesy of Swift Current Energy)

¶ “Unitil Launches New Hampshire’s Largest Solar Project, Expected To Power 1,200 Homes” • Officials with Unitil, an electric and natural gas provider based in Hampton, New Hampshire, have broken ground on a first-of-its-kind project in the state. Construction is underway on what will become New Hampshire’s largest solar project. [WMUR]

¶ “HEA Board Approves Buying Energy From What Will Be Alaska’s Largest Solar Farm” • The Homer Electric Association board unanimously approved a contract with Renewable IPP, which has built several large solar farms in Alaska. Jenn Miller, CEO of Renewable IPP, said it is working to give Alaskans energy options beyond natural gas. [KBBI AM 890]

Homer Spit, Homer Alaska (Grace Simoneau, Unsplash)

¶ “California Advances Flexible Demand To Absorb Renewable Power” • The California Energy Commission expects to issue flexible demand appliance standards for electric storage water heaters, “hopefully” within months, said Michael Sokol, director of the efficiency division at the California Energy Commission. He was speaking on a webinar. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Holtec To DEP: State Has No Authority To Ban Radioactive Water Discharge Into Cape Cod Bay” • The company that owns the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Holtec International, filed an appeal seeking to discharge radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay. Last month, the state denied Holtec a permit to release nearly 1 million gallons of water. [capeandislands.org]

Have a reasonably amusing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The International Court Of Justice Needs Global Support To Protect The Climate” • In the Paris climate agreement, which is legally binding, nations pledged to keep average temperatures within 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels. The Paris agreement lacks its own enforcement, so international court is where those bodies should go for failed climate promises. [CleanTechnica]

Forest in Sierra (pine watt, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Improved Direct Air Capture Of CO₂ Leads A Small Chemical Change To Reap Big Climate Reward” • Amino acids, which react readily with CO₂ and are environmentally friendly. They could be used in liquid-based DAC, but they aren’t naturally drawn to surfaces where they might interact with environmental CO2. A team from ORNL fixed that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texas EV Battery Startup Aims To Break Texas Oil Industry” • Austin startup Group1 is launching a potassium-based energy storage formula aimed at supporting the high performing, lower cost, and more environmentally friendly battery of the future. The company has big plans for the potassium EV battery it has developed. [CleanTechnica]

Group1 batteries (Courtesy of Group1)

World:

¶ “Renewable Energy Partners Tables Plan For 5-GW Wind Farm In Queensland” • Queensland is set to become home to a 5-GW wind power complex under a proposal by Brisbane-based power generator Renewable Energy Partners. The Bogunda wind farm is planned to be installed in phases near Hughenden, about 385 km west of Townsville. [Renewables Now]

¶ “One Country Is Making Progress On Electrifying Everything” • China started increasing the percentage of energy services delivered via electricity in 1990 and in 2005 started increasing it rapidly. In the past three years it has accelerated again. The peak in Chinese emissions is predicted to be this year, six years ahead of the its target. [CleanTechnica]

Great Wall in autumn (Hanson Lu, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Powers Up Green Energy Push” • The Prime Minister and the First Minister of Wales have announced plans to strengthen collaboration on clean energy. During a visit to a wind farm in West Wales, both leaders emphasised the value of investing in renewable energy for economic growth, job creation, and the UK’s energy independence. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Lightsource BP To Develop 500-MW Of Solar In Germany” • Lightsource BP and Kajoni Energie have signed an agreement to jointly develop more than 500 MW of utility-scale solar projects in Germany. The 500-MW pipeline will be realised over the next two to three years. It will focus on projects that are at least 20 MW in size. [reNews]

Solar farm (Lightsource BP image)

¶ “Maharashtra: First Solar Village To Provide Zero Electricity Bills And Free Power To Farmers” • In a first, the government of Maharashtra launched the Solar Village Scheme, to provide 100% solar-powered electricity to 100 villages. Manyachiwadi, a village in Satara has become the first village in the state to be electrified 100% by solar power. [WION]

¶ “Through Colonial Patterns Of Extractivism: Self-Governance As A Sustainable Path Forward” • The Arctic is transforming due to the amplifying effects of climate change, warming four times faster than the rest of the world. As the region grapples with a dangerously changing climate, there is a growing inclination to embrace sustainable solutions. [The Arctic Institute]

Wind farm (Jason Mavrommatis, Unsplash)

¶ “Russia’s Nuclear Blackmail At Zaporizhzhia Raises Global Alarm” • Russia is blackmailing the world with the threat of a catastrophe at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Monday. He said only the return of the power plant to Ukrainian control would ensure safety. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Federal Government Grants First Floating Offshore Wind Power Research Lease To Maine” • The federal government issued the nation’s first floating offshore wind research lease to the state of Maine. At about 23 square miles, the array will have up to a dozen turbines generating a total of up to 144 MW nearly 30 miles southeast of Portland. [ABC News]

JFloating offshore wind turbine (US DOE, public domain)

¶ “Connecticut Floods Leave Two Dead And Over 100 Evacuated; State Of Emergency Declared” • Heavy rainfall and flooding in Connecticut left two people dead and over 100 evacuated as the governor declared a state of emergency. State police announced that two residents were found dead after flooding swept them away from their vehicles. [ABC News]

¶ “Balto Energy Has A Plan To Move The Electrify Everything Agenda Forward” • New California rules incentivize homeowners to install residential storage batteries to supplement their rooftop solar systems, and Balto Energy CEO James Quazi believes doing so opens up a whole new area: converting homes to all-electric systems. [CleanTechnica]

The Future is Electric (Balto Energy image)

¶ “Tesla’s Favorability With Liberals/Democrats Dropped From 39% To 16% In 6 Months – Among Conservatives/Republicans Also” • Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s dramatic, public departure into deep right-wing political culture has been turning many buyers and shareholders off from Tesla. And demand for Tesla’s cars seems to be taking a hit. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Pledges To End Pollution Rule, Block Steel Merger” • Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to rescind a Biden administration rule limiting pollution from power plants. In his most detailed economic remarks in the campaign so far, he reiterated a promise to block Nippon Steel’s planned purchase of US Steel. [Reuters]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How Would A Harris Presidency Affect US Adoption Of EVs?” • Vice President Kamala Harris established her climate positions by endorsing hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits and rebates for renewable energy and EVs. By all indicators, a Harris presidency would continue to implement policies in support of the adoption of them. [CleanTechnica]

Kamala Harris (Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Tesla Is Over 100,000 Workers, Not Just Elon Musk” • Many Democrats have gone from wanting to support a company focused on stopping global heating to not wanting to support a company CEO who is spreading right-wing conspiracy theories, endorsing Donald Trump, and falsely downplaying the threats of global heating and climate crisis. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Agrivoltaics: Use It Where It Works, Don’t Use It Where It Doesn’t” • In some cases, solar PVs and farming can be combined to increase the total land productivity. In other cases, the synergy between solar and farming is less successful. But there are more positive use cases for agrivoltaics than previously thought, recent developments show. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics with sheep (Reagan Costa, Enel North America)

World:

¶ “Municipal Tax Dollars From Renewable Energy Projects Nearly Double” • Alberta municipalities have seen a big jump in tax revenues from renewable energy projects in the past year. Driven by twenty new projects, annual tax revenues have shot up to $54 million in 2024 from $28 million last year, a 92% increase, according to a report. [MSN]

¶ “Melting Permafrost Releasing Toxic Mercury Into The Arctic, Scientists Say” • Melting permafrost in the Arctic is releasing toxic mercury into the water system, potentially impacting the food chain, scientists say. Arctic permafrost is melting at rapid rates, potentially putting the food chain and the communities who depend on it in “grave danger.” [ABC News]

Yukon River (Kalen Emsley, Unsplash)

¶ “AMEA Inks PPA For Aysha-1 Array In Ethiopia” • AMEA Power has announced the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement and Implementation Agreement with Ethiopian Electric Power for development and operation of a 300-MW Aysha-1 wind energy project in Ethiopia. Costing $620 million, the project is expected to power over 4 million households. [reNews]

¶ “Rānui Starts Work On 31-MW Twin Rivers Site” • In New Zealand, solar developer Rānui Generation has begun on-site works at the 31-MW Twin Rivers solar farm in Pamapuria, near Kaitaia. The array is the first of four PV sites in its development pipeline and is capable of delivering enough electricity to power 6,000 households or 25,000 EVs annually. [reNews]

Solar PVs and flowers (Dulas image)

¶ “Can Saudi Arabia Break Free From Using Oil For Power Generation?” • Despite also consuming prodigious quantities of natural gas, Saudi Arabia uses nearly 1.4 million barrels of oil per day in summer to generate power and water. But Riyadh may be about to turn the corner, with nearly 13 GW of renewables to come on line by the end of next year. [The National]

¶ “Wärtsilä Signs Decarbonisation Agreement For Madagascan Power Plant” • Wärtsilä’s renewal of its existing Operations and Maintenance agreement with QIT Madagascar Minerals SA part of the Rio Tinto group, has been expanded to include a novel Decarbonisation Agreement. Wärtsilä is to reduce emissions as it produces notable cost savings. [Wärtsilä]

Power plant (Wärtsilä image)

¶ “Zelenskyy: Russia Uses Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant For Strikes On Nikopol And Equipment Storage” • The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russia is using the territory of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for launching strikes on Nikopol and other areas, and for storing ammunition and military equipment. [Ukrainska Pravda]

US:

¶ “Solar Energy Revolution Brewing In Arkansas, With An Assist From GM” • Last week, General Motors dropped word that it will power three of its assembly plants with electricity from a solar farm in Arkansas, but that’s just the tip of a solar energy boom washing over the state. Arkansas has been shaking the dust off its renewable energy profile. [CleanTechnica]

Arkansas solar array (Courtesy of General Motors)

¶ “An Unwelcome Fast Start To The US Severe Weather Season” • Severe storms have set a fast pace for the first half of 2024. It was an extremely active first half for severe convective storms. We had the second-highest number of tornado reports of any year in the past 15 years, the fifth worst year for hail, and the second most damaging windstorms. [WTW]

¶ “Louisiana Looks To Idaho National Laboratory For A Nuclear Strategy” • Louisiana leaders are working with Idaho National Laboratory’s Frontiers Initiative to help the state become a national leader in advanced nuclear energy. INL experts will help the state develop a strategic plan to use nuclear energy to support growing grid-scale electrical demands. [East Idaho News]

Have an appropriately easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Those Denying Climate Crisis Ignore that Moderate Climate Migration Is Freaking Them Out” • Sadly, climate disruption is going to get worse and worse in coming years. More and more people will desperately leave their homes due to drought, floods, bigger and more damaging hurricanes, and crop disruption. How are we going to deal with that? [CleanTechnica]

Temperature anomaly (Courtesy of Earth Observatory, NASA)

¶ “Arizona Needs All The Power It Can Find” • This month, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called for more interstate cooperation to ensure a robust and flexible power grid. When one area is experiencing extreme heat or a plant failure, other areas can quickly support the increased need. [The Arizona Republic]

Science and Technology:

¶ “New Silicon EV Battery From CalTech Spinoff Is The Best Thing Ever” • Sienza Energy, a spinoff from CalTech, has come up with a silicon EV battery that does away with cobalt, a mineral that is baggage-laden but once thought essential for EV energy storage. The secret is a nanoscale structure that delivers on cost, performance, and safety. [CleanTechnica]

Nanostructure (Courtesy of Sienza Energy)

World:

¶ “Wildfires Rage In Western Turkey For A Third Straight Day, Exacerbated By Windy And Dry Weather” • Wildfires raged across western Turkey for a third straight day, worsened by high winds and warm temperatures, authorities said. Over 130 fires broke out across the country in the past week, though most have been brought under control. [ABC News]

¶ “EVs Are Starting To Overtake Gas-Powered Cars In A Place That’s Surprising” • There are around 100,000 EVs in Ethiopia, and the government estimates the number will quadruple at least by 2032. That’s largely because the national government took the extraordinary step earlier this year of banning the import of all gas-powered passenger vehicles. [CNN]

Adis Ababba (Hawi Getachew, Unsplash)

¶ “Commbank Follows Super Funds In Curbing Investment In Fossil Fuels” • Commonwealth Bank will no longer lend to fossil fuel companies without emissions plans that are genuine. “Until today’s announcement, I would have considered these as ‘just words.’ But it appears that the bank is prepared to put its money where its mouth is.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Twenty Years Of Policy Initiatives By China Have Created A Manufacturing And Technology Colossus” • A recent article in the New York Times shines a light on how China has been able to dominate battery and electric car production. Beijing’s challenge to US technological leadership can be seen in China’s classrooms and corporate budgets. [CleanTechnica]

Shanghai (Denys Nevozhai, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Masdar To Help Power Up Egypt With 200-MW Wind Project” • Egypt has partnered with a consortium led by Infinity Power and the UAE’s Masdar to build a 200-MW wind power plant in the Gulf of Suez. The consortium, comprising Egypt’s Infinity Group and UAE-based Masdar, will develop, finance, and operate the onshore wind project. [Gulf Business]

¶ “Supreme Court Grants India’s States Power To Tax Mining Operations, Retrospectively From 2005” • A full bench of India’s Supreme Court has ruled the states have the right to levy taxes on mining operations. The court made the ruling retrospective from 2005, opening up a Pandora’s box of fresh costs for mining companies. [The New Indian Express]

Coal mine in West Bengal (Choti hussain, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Safety Deteriorating At Ukraine Nuclear Plant After Nearby Drone Strike, UN Watchdog Says” • The UN’s nuclear watchdog warned the safety situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was “deteriorating” following a nearby drone strike. The plant, which was seized by Russia’s forces early in the war, has come under repeated attacks. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Drought In US West Has Cost Hydropower Industry Billions In Losses” • Two decades of persistent drought in the West has limited the amount of electricity hydropower dams can generate, costing the industry and the region billions in revenue. Drought cost the sector about 300 million MWh of power generation between 2003 and 2020. [CleanTechnica]

Lake Oroville on October 28, 2021 (Andrew Innerarity, CDWR)

¶ “One hundred Attendees Treated For Heat-Related Illness, Ten Hospitalized At Colorado Air Show” • At least ten people were hospitalized and a hundred others were treated for heat-related illness at a sold-out airshow in Colorado on Saturday, officials said. Some 30,000 people were expected to attend the two-day Pikes Peak Air Show in 96°F heat. [ABC News]

¶ “Senator Markey Says It Makes No Sense To Cede Our Clean Energy Future To China” • Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) has promoted US climate action for much of his long career. Part of that work is to keep track of renewable energy projects, wherever they be. “Economically, it makes no sense to just cede the future to China,” Markey argues. [CleanTechnica]

Senator Ed Markey (Karen Smith Murphy, CC-BY-ND 2.0)

¶ “California Legislative Committee Gives Green Light To EV Battery Recycling Bill” • Proposed legislation in California to ensure the responsible recycling of batteries once EVs retire was approved by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Senate Bill 615 would require EV makers to make sure that the batteries are ultimately recycled. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Federal Funds To Help Fuel ‘Next-Gen’ Wyoming Nuclear Plant” • TerraPower aims to have the $4 billion project operating by 2030. This project and others are getting federal boosts from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which provide billions of dollars for clean-energy projects with various incentives. [Kiowa County Press]

Have a quietly celebratory day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Exploding Homes And Forever Fires: What Rural Solar Power Critics Want You To Forget” • Rural solar power projects in the US have been encountering more and more opposition driven by misinformation. With that in mind, we should review some of the changes that fossil energy extraction has wrought on rural communities. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Sodium-Ion Battery News From The US And China” • Sodium has none of the disadvantages of lithium for batteries. It is found abundantly everywhere around the world, and it is cheap. While sodium-ion batteries do not perform as well as the best lithium-ion batteries, they have important advantages over their lithium-based cousins. Their time has come. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “China Now Doing “Extensive” Vehicle-to-Grid Trials” • China’s EV market is about the same size as the EV market in rest of the world combined. The country can also make big top-down changes faster than any other major economy. It is no surprise that one of the first very large-scale vehicle-to-grid programs would be implemented in China. [CleanTechnica]

Charging (Juice, Unsplash)

¶ “China’s Renewable Energy Surge” • China’s renewable energy sector is set to surpass its original wind and solar capacity targets much earlier than anticipated. This accelerated growth is driven by the dual objectives of enhancing national energy security and asserting a dominant position in the global green industry, one researcher says. [Asian Power]

¶ “Farm Site Proposed For Solar Farm” • Environmena proposes to build a solar farm on 0.26 sq km on nine irregular fields in North Dorset. It said the solar farm could produce up to 12 MW of power, connected to the National Grid via an overhead power line in the area. Trees and shrubs would planted across the site, with wildlife areas around the edges. [BBC]

Dorset countryside (Nick Fewings, Unsplash)

¶ “RBC To Boost Renewable Energy Lending To Reach Climate Goals” • Royal Bank of Canada said it plans to triple loans for renewable energy to C$15 billion ($11 billion) by 2030 as part of its efforts to achieve net zero emissions in its lending practices by 2050. RBC has come under attack for being one of the biggest fossil fuel financiers. [Yahoo News Canada]

¶ “Moldova To Build Wind Farms For Energy Independence” • To improve its energy independence, the Republic of Moldova announced its first tender for the construction of onshore wind power facilities with capacities of up to 105 MW. Moldova found itself in an “incredibly vulnerable position” when Russia invaded Ukraine, in February 2022. [Ukrainska Pravda]

Farm in Moldova (Ghenadie Cebanu, Unsplash)

¶ “Paks Nuclear Plant Cuts Output Amid Record Danube Temperatures” • The nuclear power plant in Paks, Hungary, reduced its output by 240 MW due to the heat in the Danube water. The ministry had permitted the limits on the heating of water discharged from the power plant into the river to be exceeded just the day before. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Americans Have Saved Billions With A Law They Know Next To Nothing About” • Two years after President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, millions of Americans have used it to save millions of dollars on solar panels, appliances and home insulation. More than 3.4 million households claimed $8.4 billion for upgrades relating to energy. [CNN]

Rooftop solar system (Giorgio Trovato, Unsplash)

¶ “Perspective Pivot: Mapping a Landscape of Voices in Oahu Changes Energy Planning” • Over the course of six weeks, a team of people from NREL, the Hawaiian Electric utility, and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute travelled across Oahu to hear how people perceived hybrid microgrids. Their work will be used for Oahu-wide energy planning. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Archer Gets Two Big Orders For Its Electric Aircraft” • News from Archer is moving on quickly. The latest announcements are that Archer has landed two big orders. Future Flight Global has signed an agreement with Archer and plans to buy 116 electric “Midnight” aircraft from Archer. And the US Airforce is buying aircraft worth $142 million. [CleanTechnica]

Archer eVTOL (Courtesy of Archer Aviation)

¶ “Nearly $100 Million Awarded To Expand Sales And Use Of Renewable Fuels, Renewable Energy In Upper Midwest” • US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is funding 160 projects in 26 states to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels. More than half of the projects are in Minnesota. [Agweek]

¶ “Form Energy To Build World’s Largest Battery Energy Storage System In Maine” • Form Energy, headed by Matteo Jaramillo, a former Tesla engineer, makes batteries that can supply the grid for up to 100 hours. It says it will build an 85-MW, 8500-MWh battery storage system on the site of a former paper mill near Bangor, Maine. [CleanTechnica]

Form Energy battery facility (Form Energy image)

¶ “Electric Reliability Council of Texas Could Get A Geothermal Project” • Sage Geosystems, a geothermal baseload and energy storage company, announced the site of its “first-of-its-kind” project, the first geothermal project in ERCOT territory. The 3-MW EarthStore system will be near the San Miguel Electric Cooperative coal power plant. [Power Engineering]

¶ “In Wyoming, Bill Gates Moves Ahead With Nuclear Project Aimed At Revolutionizing Power Generation” • Bill Gates and his energy company are starting construction at their Wyoming site for a next-generation nuclear power plant that he believes will “revolutionize” how power is generated. Gates went to Wyoming for the groundbreaking. [The Wyoming Truth]

Have a decidedly fantastic day.

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World:

¶ “Alarming Southern Africa Agriculture Statistic Should Spring Regional Leaders Into Decisive Action” • A serious drought is affecting a countries in southern Africa. Some reports say it is the worst drought in over 100 years. Close to 70% of the southern African population relies on rain-fed agriculture and harvests were decimated. [CleanTechnica]

Solar PVs for pumping water (WRI image)

¶ “Diesel Consumption Drops in China!” • EIA estimates of diesel consumption in China totaled 3.9 million barrels per day in June 2024, a decline of 11% from the same month last year and the largest year-over-year decline in consumption for any month since July 2021. This is despite China’s GDP growth of 4.7% from last year in the second quarter. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BMW Group Mexico Invests In EV Charging In Mexico” • BMW Group Mexico, aiming to promote electric mobility in Mexico, has consolidated a new strategic alliance with VEMO, which joins other strategic allies in order to amplify the charging structure on public roads for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the country. [CleanTechnica]

Charging station (Courtesy of BMW)

¶ “Hai Long Offshore Wind Project Launches Nacelle Production Line” • The Hai Long Offshore Wind Project, along with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, started production at the company’s expanded Taichung Nacelle Plant. The collaboration includes an upgrade by Siemens Gamesa to meet the demand for 14-MW wind turbines. [North American Windpower]

¶ “Lightsource BP Gets Financing For New Zealand PV Project” • Lightsource BP has NZ$267 million ($161 million) of financing on its 168-MW Kōwhai Park solar project in New Zealand. It will be one of New Zealand’s largest solar farms, with around 300,000 solar panels. Kōwhai Park is the first phase of the Christchurch Airport’s renewable energy precinct. [reNews]

Solar array (Lightsource BP image)

¶ “US IPP Powers Up Canadian PV Site” • Independent power producer Silicon Ranch has announced that its 58-MW Scotford Solar Farm has reached commercial operation near Edmonton, Alberta. It is Silicon Ranch’s first international solar project and the first large-scale PV facility installed in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. [reNews]
Scotford Solar Farm (Silicon Ranch image)

¶ “‘We Should Have Better Answers By Now’: Climate Scientists Baffled By Unexpected Pace Of Heating” • In a candid essay in the journal Nature this March, one of the top climatologists in the world posited the possibility that global heating may be moving beyond the ability of experts to predict what happens next. Now it’s August, and things may have changed. [The Guardian]

Weather balloon (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Finland’s Fortum Says New Nuclear Not Feasible At Current Prices” • Fortum doesn’t believe investing in new nuclear power capacity is feasible at current low Nordic power prices, its chief executive said. The utility is among the power companies under consideration for building 2,500 MW of new nuclear power plants for Sweden. [Yahoo]

US:

¶ “Jordanian Citizen Arrested For Allegedly Attacking Florida Solar Energy Facility, Threatening Pro-Israeli Businesses” • A Jordanian citizen living in Florida was arrested and charged for allegedly carrying out multiple attacks on businesses in Orlando, as well as a solar facility, based on their perceived support for Israel, the DOJ announced. [ABC News]

Some of the damaged solar panels (US DOJ image)

¶ “American Cities Are Getting Unbearably Hot. These Ones Are Roasting The Most” • No, it’s not your imagination – summers in the US really are getting hotter. And longer. Phoenix reached 158 days above 95°F on average in 2023. But Las Vegas comes out on top for heat. It roasted this summer. Every day in July the high was over 105°F, and it topped out at 120°F. [CNN]

¶ “New York City Is Home To Largest Passive House Building In The US” • The Sendero Verde 709-unit apartment complex in New York City is the largest certified passive house building in the US. Its champions say it can serve as a model for other cities and states that are trying to tackle both the housing crisis and the climate crisis. [CleanTechnica]

Sendero Verde (Courtesy of New York City)

¶ “Never Been Better Time To Buy A Used EV – Prices Drop 20.5%!” • Been thinking about getting an electric car but not sure when to jump in? If, like many others, you’re shopping for a good used car, it seems your time has come! Used electric car prices were down 20.5% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the second quarter of 2023! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Revolution Wind Delayed To 2026” • Ørsted has delayed the commercial operation date for its 704-MW Revolution Wind from 2025 to 2026. The company blamed a construction delay at the onshore substation, which is being built by Eversource. The substation is located on a former Naval base, where the soil is contaminated. [reNews]

Wind turbine mast (Ørsted image)

¶ “The GOP’s Efforts To Repeal The Clean Energy Plan Are Anti-Worker And Will Hurt Arizona” • The Biden-Harris clean energy plan has been swept up in politics, as Republicans in Congress argue to repeal the the Inflation Reduction Act. But there isn’t anything controversial about creating more good jobs and giving Americans more energy choices. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Flunks Basic Science Yet Again In Speech Insulting Harris’ Intelligence” • During his speech in North Carolina, which Trump claimed would focus on the economy, he claimed Harris is “not smart.” It’s hard to take the insults seriously when Trump himself fails to grasp some fairly basic concepts involving science and economics. [MSNBC News]

Have a slyly rewarding day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Project 2025 Aims To Break The US Government And Ignore The Climate Crisis If Trump Is Elected” • Project 2025’s aim is to dismantle US government as much as possible. One supporter said, “If the American people elect a conservative president, his administration will have to eradicate climate change references from absolutely everywhere.” [CleanTechnica]

The White House (Jacob Morch, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “The New Acronym In The EV Revolution Is EREV” • The Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) has become the fastest growing propulsion system for cars in China. EREV sales have more than doubled in that country in the past year and now account for 30% of the country’s plug-in hybrid sales, according to research service BNEF. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Top EV Markets Around The World – H1 2024 Summaries” • This article highlights the main EV markets and brings to light a few others that are usually under the radar. It includes the Big Three markets, China, Europe, and North America, but it also includes how things are doing in ten markets around the world that usually go unnoticed. [CleanTechnica]

Electric Mini Cooper (Severin Demchuk, Unsplash)

¶ “India’s Renewable Storage Capacity To Rise By 6 GW By Fiscal 2028” • Ratings agency Crisil said that it expects India’s energy storage capacity to grow by 6 GW by fiscal 2028, from less than 1 GW operating as of March 2024. It said energy storage capacity additions will be driven by a robust pipeline of projects and a healthy auction pace. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Renewable Energy Powers Up India’s $10 Trillion Future” • With a goal to be energy independent by 2047 and achieve net zero emissions by 2070, India is rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity and ramping up adoption of green energy, while consolidating its presence in clean energy manufacturing, supply chain, R&D, and innovation. [Gulf News]

Indian wind farm (Debasish1974, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Indonesia Eases Local Content Requirements For Solar Power Projects” • Indonesia relaxed local content requirements for solar projects financed by foreign investors, as it seeks to expedite its renewable energy development and boost the domestic solar panel industry. The move will help Indonesia unlock funding for renewable energy. [Theinvestor.vn]

¶ “AGL Hails Performance Of First Big Battery, Says Waiting For Nuclear Would Put It Out Of Business” • AGL has hailed the performance of its first operating big battery, at Torrens Island in South Australia, saying it was a key to its transition to flexible capacity supporting wind and solar. It also reiterated its total disinterest in nuclear power. [RenewEconomy]

Torrens Island big battery (AGL image)

¶ “Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant ‘Could Cost Up To £35 Billion’” • The final cost of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in Somerset could be as much as £35 billion, up from most recent £26 billion, developer EDF said. The start of electricity production had been scheduled for June 2027 – but the completion date could now be up to three years later. [Yahoo News UK]

US:

¶ “Experts On The Musk-Trump Interview” • Donald Trump and Elon Musk both made assertions about global heating, including that rising sea levels would create “more oceanfront property” and that there is no urgent need to cut carbon emissions, during an interview. Bill McKibben wrote it was “the dumbest climate conversation of all time.” [The Guardian]

Polluting emissions (Chris LeBoutillier, Unsplash)

¶ “Ernesto Becomes Hurricane After Leaving 728,000 Without Power In Puerto Rico” • Ernesto became a Category 1 hurricane after hitting Puerto Rico overnight and leaving power outages and flooding in its wake. While it was a tropical storm, Ernesto’s center passed within 40 miles of San Juan, producing strong winds and heavy rain. [ABC News]

¶ “$775 Million From “Investing In America” Agenda For States To Plug Orphaned Oil And Gas Wells” • The Department of the Interior announced the availability of $775 million for 21 states to clean up legacy pollution. These historic resources to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells and well sites, reducing risks while creating jobs. [CleanTechnica]

Abandoned gas well (Steve Hillebrand, USFWS, public domain)

¶ “Central Atlantic Offshore Wind Lease Sale Yields Nearly $93 Million To Power Over 2.2 Million Homes” • After completion of the fifth offshore wind lease sale, the Department of the Interior announced the results from the BOEM’s wind energy auction for two lease areas in waters off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NRDC Report: Climate Law To Slash Power Sector Emissions” • The climate legislation and pollution standards adopted during the Biden administration have put the US power sector on track to make unprecedented progress in cutting CO₂ emissions. The power sector is on track for a 65% cut in emissions by 2030 from 2005, and 80% by 2040. [CleanTechnica]

ARIES platform (Josh Bauer and Bryan Bechtold, NREL)

¶ “Construction Finishes On Converting Retired Coal Plant Into Massive Commercial Solar Project” • A new 200-MW solar farm in New Mexico started operations on June 1, supplying enough clean energy to power 63,000 homes and avoid 322,000 metric tons of CO₂ pollution. The project replaced a decommissioned coal-fired power plant. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Meta Signs 374-MW Solar PPA” • The energy firm RWE has announced that social media giant Meta signed a deal to offtake from two solar farms in development in Louisiana and Illinois. Construction is underway at RWE’s 274-MW County Run Solar in Illinois and 100-MW Lafitte Solar in Louisiana – both are due live in late 2025. [Data Centre Dynamics]

Have a generally flawless day.

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World:

¶ “BYD’s Other New Factory – In Uzbekistan” • BYD is constantly in the news, thanks to its fast rise in EV sales, almost continual rollout of new plugin car models, and expansion into more and more countries around the world. BYD has also opened a new factory and began high-volume vehicle production at a factory in Uzbekistan. [CleanTechnica]

BYD factory in Uzbekistan (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “NIO Sales Popping – 44% Growth!” • NIO can boast about strong sales growth year over year. In July 2024, the company delivered 20,498 EVs, the only kind of vehicles it produces. NIO delivered 107,924 vehicles in the first seven months of the year combined. And that total indicates a 43.9% increase over January through July of 2023. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “World Investing Almost Twice More Into Clean Energy As Fossil Fuels Now!” • In recent years, investments in clean energy have been growing, especially since 2021. On the other hand, investments in fossil fuels are well below what they were in 2015. The result: Clean energy investments are nearly double fossil fuel investments in 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Break free from fossil fuels (Eelco Böhtlingk, Unsplash)

¶ “Luxcara Confirms 1.5-GW Win In German Auction” • Luxcara has confirmed it has secured a 1500-MW project zone in the North Sea in the latest German offshore wind auction. Luxcara’s Waterekke Energy GmbH won the right based off of social and ecological criteria, the company said. The site is in the German North Sea’s Exclusive Economic Zone. [reNews]

¶ “Crown Launches Second Phase Of Celtic Sea Leasing” • The UK government’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 moved into its second phase, aimed at developing floating wind in the Celtic Sea off the coast of South Wales and South West England. The new phase kicked off on 8 August, and will see bidders set out their plans for delivering wind farms. [reNews]

Towing a floating turbine (Wind Europe image)

¶ “Radioactive Water Leaks Reported At Japan’s Crippled Fukushima Power Plant” • About 25 tons of radioactive water leaked in the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the plant’s operator has reported, a week after the latest round of ocean discharge started. TEPCO said the water had not escaped outside the reactor building. [Shanghai Daily]

¶ “Why Almost Nobody Is Buying Green Hydrogen” • As a carbon-free fuel, hydrogen’s potential has provoked no end of excitement. The gas can be produced cleanly by using wind or solar power in a process that splits the gas from water. But the vast majority of those projects don’t have a single customer stepping up to buy the fuel. [The Japan Times]

Toyota hydrogen fuel cell concept (Darren Halstead, Unsplash)

¶ “The Fire At The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Was Probably Not Caused By A Drone Attack, IAEA Says” • The International Atomic Energy Agency said its experts visited the damaged cooling tower at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and found no remains of the drone. No remains of a drone were found in the inxpection. [Sarajevo Times]

US:

¶ “SEIA Statement On President Biden Action To Support US Manufacturers Of Solar Cells” • President Biden issued a proclamation to raise the Section 201 tariff rate quota for imported solar cells from 5 GW annually to 12.5 GW. “SEIA strongly commends President Biden’s decisive action to support American solar module manufacturers.” [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (Courtesy of US Department of Energy)

¶ “LA 2028 Olympics To Use Public Transit Only, Will Be A ‘No-Car’ Games” • Even as one Summer Olympics ends, the planning for the next one is already in the works. The LA 2028 Summer Games could also be host to an ambitious goal: a “no-car Games.” That is certainly one solution to the “notorious” gridlocked traffic in Los Angeles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford And TXU Offer Texas Residents Free EV Charging During Off-Peak Hours” • Ford and TXU Energy announced they have teamed up to create a first-of-its-kind retail energy offering for Ford electric SUV and truck customers in Texas. The program offers Ford EV drivers the opportunity to charge their vehicle at home entirely for free. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an F150 Lightning in Texas (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Wind Power Now Generates More Electricity Than Coal Plants” • According to a report from the government, the amount of electricity generated by wind farms, such as those spread all over Oklahoma, is now more than from coal-fired generating plants. Operators plan to retire 2.8 GW of coal-fired capacity in 2024, EIA data show. [Oklahoma Energy Today]

¶ “RWE Picks Up Two PPAs From Meta” • RWE has signed two long-term PPAs with Meta to offtake energy from two solar farms under construction in the US. Onsite construction is underway on RWE’s 274-MW County Run Solar project in Illinois and its 100-MW Lafitte Solar project in Louisiana, with commissioning planned for both sites in late 2025. [reNews]

Solar array (RWE image)

¶ “Supporters: Lower Power Bills Could Be Part Of New ‘Net Meeting’ Law Signed By Dunleavy” • Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed into law a piece of legislation designed to increase renewable energy options, lower utility costs, and reduce the state’s dependence on natural gas through a system known as “net metering.” [Alaska’s News Source]

¶ “Southern Oregon Floating Offshore Windpower Clears One Bureaucratic Hurdle In A Long Process” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced it finished an environmental assessment that looked at potential impacts from developing floating offshore wind in Oregon. But local opposition to the projects remains. [Oregon Public Broadcasting]

Have a beautifully interesting day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The World Is Turning To Renewables And Canada Should Too With Its Clean Electricity Regulations” • Canada has a big head start. Over 80% of its electricity is from non-emitting sources. Yet, it is rapidly losing ground. “To stay competitive, Canada must ramp up clean electricity at the speed and scale others are already achieving.” [David Suzuki Foundation]

Wind farm in Ontario (Keshav Rajasekar, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Revolutionary Loop Heat Pipe Transports 10 kW Of Waste Heat – No Electricity Required” • A team of researchers from Nagoya University in Japan developed a Loop Heat Pipe that can transport up to 10 kW of heat without the need for electricity. The team’s LHP aims to contribute to energy savings and carbon neutrality in various fields. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Xpeng Launches As Australian EV Market Down, New Zealand Market Recovering” • The spectacular launch of Xpeng into the Australian market is expected to shift the ground for EVs there. New Zealand’s market is not rushing back to the highs of last December, when sales rates hit 25%, but it is recovering slowly and in July reached 12%. [CleanTechnica]

Xpeng X2 (Courtesy of Xpeng)

¶ “UK Speeds Up ICE Vehicle Sales Ban (Again)” • The UK government has moved up its plans for an internal combustion engine vehicle ban to 2030. That’s in just 5½ years. The country intends to get from about one out of five new car sales being electric to all new cars being electric that fast. And the thing is, it doesn’t really require much work. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Photovoltaics With Battery Storage Cheaper Than Conventional Power Plants” • The latest study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE on the generation costs of various power plants shows that PV systems, even combined with battery storage, now produce electricity much more cheaply than fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Levelized costs of electricity (Courtesy of Fraunhofer ISE)

¶ “Ofgem Awards £3.4 Billion For New Subsea Cable” • Ofgem has fast-tracked some 26 grid connection projects which will allow for faster grid connections for renewable projects. The government has awarded a £3.4 billion funding package for a proposed new subsea and underground 500 km cable between Scotland and Yorkshire. [reNews]

¶ “RWE Wins Big With 4-GW German Tender Haul” • RWE has emerged as the big winner in the latest German offshore wind auction. The German developer has won two of the three sites on offer, with the Essen-based outfit taking 4 GW of the 5.5 GW up for grabs. The zones are the 2-GW N-9.1 and 2-GW N-9.2, both in the North Sea 115 km off Borkum. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (EnBW image)

¶ “Renewable Hydrogen Plans Backed By 32 GW Of Solar And Wind Get Federal Boost” • A massive, Big Oil-backed renewable hydrogen project that proposes to install up to 26 GW of solar and wind in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has been awarded major project status by the federal government, putting it on the fast-track for regulatory approvals. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “China Deploys Massive Dual Rotor Floating Wind Power Platform” • China’s Mingyang Smart Energy has begun the deployment of a unique floating wind turbine structure. The company says the OceanX platform the world’s largest floating wind power platform. Its maximum output is expected to reach 16.6 MW. [The Maritime Executive]

OceanX platform (Mingyang image)

¶ “Price Tag For New Nuclear Power In Sweden $38 Billion, Commission Says” • Sweden’s plans to rapidly expand nuclear power are likely to cost around 400 billion crowns ($38 billion) and should be financed by mix of government loans and price guarantees, a government commission recommended. Four or five plants are possible. [MSN]

US:

¶ “US Is Now A Global Leader In Attracting EV Investments” • The US is the top nation for attracting investments in EV and battery making, surpassing announced investments in other countries globally. Companies plan $312 billion in investments in the US, up from about $75 billion when President Joe Biden took office in 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Possible Tennessee mega-campus (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “China In Command Of The US Domestic Solar Panel Making Industry” • Construction of US plants for PV making by Chinese companies is surging, putting China in position to dominate the industry, as other American factories struggle to compete despite federal subsidies. Chinese companies will be able to serve about half the US market within a year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Batteries In Phoenix, Heat Pumps In Houston – Here’s Where Cleantech Industries Are Best Poised To Thrive” • RMI and the Brookings Institution have developed a free resource, the Clean Growth Tool, that maps out the places where different kinds of clean energy industries are most likely to thrive in communities across all 50 states. [CleanTechnica]

Arizona Plant (Courtesy of LG Energy Solution)

¶ “Vineyard, GE Layout Plan To Resume Installation” • Avangrid and CIP’s 804-MW Vineyard Wind and GE Vernova have put in place a three-step inspection process that will allow the company to resume turbine installation after confirming that a production defect was behind a July blade failure at the array off the coast of Massachusetts. [reNews]

¶ “White House Unveils Plan To Safeguard Renewable Energy Infrastructure” • The Biden administration is moving to guard clean energy networks from cyberattacks. The White House says the convergence of network-based information technology and physical process management puts an emphasis on software in this transition. [OilPrice.com]

Have a rightly excellent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “We All Pay A High Price For Refusing To Modernize” • Rocky Mountain Power shocked Utah officials by requesting a 30% rate hike over the next two years, blaming half of the increase on the rising cost of coal. The officials should not have been shocked. They had passed a law to force RMP to abandon plans to shift from coal to lower-cost renewables. [Deseret News]

Coal-burning power plant (Billy Joachim, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Can We Replace Over-Engineered Single-Use Plastics With Unplastic Solutions?” • The government of the US wants to reduce demand for disposable plastic items and help create a market for substitutes that are reusable, compostable, or more easily recyclable. But will the feds make the next move and embrace unplastics? [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Wildfire Spreads Near Athens In Searing Heat, Prompting Evacuations Orders” • Wildfires are burning near Athens amid scorching temperatures throughout Greece, emergency and weather officials said. Government officials warned of an high fire hazard in several areas, including the Athens peninsula and the Boeotia region northwest of it. [ABC News]

Boeotia (Jebulon, public domain)

¶ “SWREL Wins ₹550 Crore Solar Plant Order in Rajasthan” • Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy has secured an order worth over ₹550 crore ($65.5 million) to set up a solar plant in Rajasthan. The solar project will be set up in engineering, procurement and construction mode, the company said in a regulatory filing. [Rediff Money]

¶ “Enel Green Power Starts Operations At 194-MW Wind Farm In Brazil” • The Brazilian unit of Enel Green Power SpA has put into commercial operation the 194-MW Pedra Pintada Wind Complex in the Northeastern state of Bahia. Built at a total cost of R$1.8 billion ($324.92 million), Pedra Pintada has 43 turbines, the company announced. [Renewables Now]

Pedra Pintanda Wind Complex (Enel Green Power image)

¶ “Renewable Electricity To Outstrip Coal Next Year: IEA” • The amount of electricity produced by renewable sources worldwide is set to surpass output from coal-fired plants for the first time in 2025, the International Energy Agency said. The forecast comes as electricity demand is set to rise 4% this year and next, up from 2.5% in 2023. [Yahoo Finance Singapore]

¶ “July ‘Third Best For Irish Wind Generation'” • In Ireland, wind generation was the third best on record for a July month, Wind Energy Ireland’s monthly wind energy report says. The latest figures show that wind power generation in July 2024 totaled 656 GWh, with Cork wind farms knocking Kerry’s off the top spot for the second time this year. [reNews]

Wind turbine in Ireland (Peter Randall-Cook, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant Catches Fire. Zelensky Accuses Russia” • A Ukrainian nuclear power plant caught fire after Kyiv launched a cross-border assault into Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian occupiers of trying to ‘blackmail’ Ukraine after the fire broke out at a cooling tower in Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. [MSN]

¶ “Fire At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Extinguished” • The Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration reported on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant. “The fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been extinguished. The radiation level in the Nikopol district is normal. We are keeping the situation under control.” [Ukrainska Pravda]

Zaporizhzhya NPP (Ralf1969, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Two People Found Dead, One Injured After Maryland House Explosion” • Two people were found dead and one was injured after an explosion leveled a home and damaged several nearby residences in a suburban Baltimore neighborhood, authorities said. Firefighters were responding to a report of a gas leak when the explosion happened. [ABC News]

¶ “The Self-Driving Startup Everyone Forgot About” • Waymo, Cruise, Tesla, Baidu, Zoox – there are a handful of companies that get quite a big bulk of the attention when it comes to self-driving vehicle development. However, there’s another company that has been progressing nicely and often goes under the radar. That would be Nuro. [CleanTechnica]

Delivery vehicle on the road (Courtesy of Nuro)

¶ “Many EVs Aren’t Legal On Park Service 4WD Roads” • A recent story at Jalopnik tells us the story of a Subaru driver who got in trouble for going on the wrong trail. Why? Because the National Park Service only allows four-wheel-drive vehicles on some roads, and the Subaru in question was an all-wheel-drive car model. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texas Blows A Sugary Sweet Renewable Energy Kiss To The USA” • Texas, with its deep roots in oil, is cranking out a leading role in wind and solar power generation, too. The production has stayed within state lines so far, but the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act enables in-state manufacturers to share the renewable energy love with the rest of the US. [CleanTechnica]

Factory (Courtesy of SEG Solar)

¶ “LS Power To Acquire 3-GW Wind, Solar Portfolio” • US-based LS Power made an agreement with Algonquin Power & Utilities to acquire its renewable energy business. The business is made up largely of wind and solar assets located throughout the US and Canada, including 44 operating assets with more than 3000 MW of generating capacity. [reNews]

¶ “Cutting-Edge Systems Harvest Solar Energy While Promoting Crop Growth” • New projects are underway, and if they prove successful, they could greatly expand the areas considered viable for solar power. Until recently, it wasn’t considered possible to have a solar array on farmland where crops are grown, but things are quickly changing. [The Cool Down]

Have a highly useful day.

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World:

¶ “Dubai Aims To Create ‘World’s Greenest Highway'” • Dubai is aiming to create the “world’s greenest highway.” But we’re not talking about 100% electric vehicles and EV chargers every mile or something like that. No, it’s about greenery and multimodal transport, with an electric tram system powered by a solar farm, which will also power 130,000 homes. [CleanTechnica]

Dubai Green Spine (Rendering courtesy of Urb)

¶ “China Amends Its Climate Policy Playbook” • Bloomberg reports that in less than a week, China overturned years of foot dragging to begin setting hard targets for carbon emissions, announced ambitious goals for provincial renewable energy consumption, and established a multi-year plan to strengthen its electricity grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Paris Cleaned Up The Seine And Created A Better City For Its Citizens” • In 2015, Paris launched its swimming plan. The 2024 Olympic deadline supercharged a Seine cleanup that had been decades in the making. It infused social, environmental, and economic benefits for Paris and the communities around it in the process. [CleanTechnica]

“River Seine, Paris” (Mustang Joe, CC0 1.0)

¶ “Ituka Solar Plant Will Offset 26,600 Tonnes Of Carbon Emissions” • Up to 192,640 homes in the West Nile sub-region are set to benefit from reliable electricity after groundbreaking work by a government-backed independent power developer. The project will establish a 24 MWp Solar PV plant in the Madi Okollo district. [The Independent Uganda]

¶ “Balochistan’s Renewable Energy Potential Can Help Cut $1 Billion In Electricity Costs” • Balochistan has huge renewable energy potential. It can electrify the province and help Pakistan achieve its 30% target, while reducing the annual losses of about $500 million by 2028, contributing to reducing the circular debt in the sector, says the World Bank. [ProPakistani]

Solar panels in Pakistan (Ab PrinceGabol, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Reliance To Commission First Solar Giga-Factory To Achieve Net Zero Emission” • Reliance Industries Ltd, India’s most valuable company, plans to commission its first solar giga-factory in the current fiscal as it pivots a green pathway to achieve net zero carbon emissions from operations by 2035. The plant is to be running in March, 2025. [Business Standard]

¶ “Round-The-Clock Renewable Power Project For Tata Steel” • A 966-MW round-the-clock renewable power plant is slated to be developed by Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited for Tata Steel, one of the world’s top steel makers. India’s group captive market would have one of the largest industrial RTC PPAs with this project. [Tata Power]

Tata Steel plant (Ashokinder, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “UN Issues Horror Nuclear Accident Warning As Russia Evacuates Thousands” • Russia claims to have evacuated more than 76,000 people from the region following the Ukrainian surprise attack. Images show huge damage from Kyiv’s surprise attack in Russia’s Kursk region. Russia and Ukraine have been urged to use “maximum restraint.” [Express.co.uk]

US:

¶ “Is It Possible To Have A Friendly Social Media Platform? It Is If You Live In Vermont” • If success is measured by creating places where people can come together to discuss matters that interest them, whether its politics or the a recipe for strawberry rhubarb pie, unlike the drama of Facebook or Xwitter, Front Porch Forum in Vermont is the model. [CleanTechnica]

Vermont (ngoc202020, Pixabay)

¶ “Governor Wes Moore Announces $9.2 Million Renewable Energy Workforce Development Program For Maryland Higher Education Institutions” • The Governor announced the launch of the Higher Education Clean Energy Grant Pilot Program, a $9.2 million competitive pilot supporting clean energy transitions in Maryland’s colleges and universities. [The MoCo Show]

¶ “Climate Activists Rally Around Harris, Seeing A Chance To Build On Biden’s Record” • Endorsements for Vice President Harris are rolling in from environmentalists who see her as a potential ally on issues like climate change. Climate advocates highlight Harris’ record stretching back two decades to her time as San Francisco district attorney. [NPR]

Have an unmistakably cheery day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Sheer Chaos As Paint-On Perovskite Solar Cells Take Over” • The latest development in PV technology has low-cost perovskite solar cells created in the form of a solution which can be applied to a thin film or coated onto almost any surface. Results of the latest paint-on solar cell efforts at Oxford University show a solar conversion efficiency of over 27%. [CleanTechnica]

New perovskite (Martin Small via Oxford University email)

World:

¶ “India Gets More Serious About EVs – Increases Public Charging Stations Nine-Fold In Two Years” • Several years ago, India’s prime minister said that India was aiming to be the first all-EV nation. That seemed a little bonkers. But India’s 1,800 charging stations, two years ago, have grown to 16,347 today, a greater than nine-fold increase. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Lilium Logging More Electric Jet Sales” • Lilium is one of the leaders in the early electric vertical takeoff and landing market. It seems to have one of the more appealing and practical aircraft designs, and it is breaking through barriers (or I should say, flying over barriers) quicker. Lately, the big news is that it’s started logging sales. [CleanTechnica]

Lilium eVolare

¶ “Partners Launch 1.1-GW Italian Battery JV” • The renewable energy fund KGAL ESPF 5 is entering into a joint venture with Italian power specialist IMCS to develop four battery systems in Italy totaling 1,100 MW. The emerging market for energy storage systems is gaining strong political support, as batteries can be used to mitigate power fluctuations. [reNews]

¶ “SJVN Green Energy Commissions 90-MW Floating Solar Project in India” • SJVN Limited announced that the 90-MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project was commissioned by its wholly-owned subsidiary, SJVN Green Energy Limited. With this new project, the company’s total installed capacity has increased to over 2,460 MW. [Machine Maker]

Floating solar array (Courtesy of SJVN Limited)

¶ “South Africa’s R89-Billion Wind Power Boom” • Over the past decade, South Africa’s wind industry has attracted more than R89 billion ($4.75 billion) in investments, creating over 23,000 jobs, and provided for the annual power for over three million homes. This is according to data from the South African Wind Energy Association. [MyBroadband]

¶ “South Korea Lays Out New Offshore Roadmap” • South Korean Trade, Industry, and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe has announced the Offshore Wind Power Competitive Bidding Roadmap at a conference in Seoul. From the second half of 2024 to the first half of 2026, Seoul will launch approximately 7 GW to 8 GW worth of offshore tenders. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (Doosan image)

¶ “Nuclear Danger Warning Over Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive In Russia” • The UN’s atomic watchdog told Ukraine and Russia to show “maximum restraint” as fighting on a new front raises fears for a Russian nuclear plant. Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said there were reports of “significant military activity” near the plant in Kursk. [The National]

China:

¶ “Largest Battery-Electric Container Ship Now Operating” • Battery prices have come down a ton in recent years, energy density has improved greatly, and a bit of creativity using swappable batteries makes it all the easier and more efficient. And now, it’s being done with an extremely large container ship – in China, of course. [CleanTechnica]

Bridge of the ship (Courtesy of CCTV)

¶ “Coal To Green Power, Shanxi’s Transformation Is Stunning” • Once synonymous with coal mining and known as “the coal province,” Shanxi, which is in North China, is now among the leaders in China’s renewable energy transition. It is making significant strides in developing solar power to drive its green transformation. [China Daily]

¶ “The Rise Of Renewable Energy Puts China On Track To End Its CO₂ Emissions Growth” • As of 2024, China is currently the source of around 30% of all global emissions. But several groups of international analysts consider it possible that it has already reached its peak emissions thanks, mainly, to the massive rise of China’s renewable energies. [EL PAÍS English]

Wind Farm in Shanxi (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Fremont Announces Plan To Use 100% Renewable Energy” • In June Fremont’s city council asked Ava Community Energy, the city’s primary energy provider, to switch its default offering to its “Renewable 100” service. Ava’s board of directors approved the city’s request last month. Fremont is the ninth city in Alameda County to adopt the plan. [NBC Bay Area]

¶ “US Fire Departments Spent Over Half A Billion Dollars On Gas Leak Responses In 2018, Study Finds” • A peer-reviewed study by scientists at PSE Healthy Energy estimates that US fire departments spent over $564 million responding to gas leak incidents in 2018. The cost for New York City was conservatively estimated at $70 million. [CleanTechnica]

House destroyed by a gas explosion (NTSB, public domain)

¶ “Four Northern California Tribes Are Working Together On A Microgrid Project To Improve Power Reliability” • A microgrid will help the Yurok, Hoopa, and Karuk Tribes avoid frequent power outages. Heidi Moore-Guynup of the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe, said these tribes live along one of PG&E’s most unreliable power lines. [Jefferson Public Radio]

¶ “Biden’s $1.5 Billion Deal To Resurrect A Nuclear Plant Is Facing Fresh Drama” • The United States’ effort to reverse the permanent shutdown of a nuclear station for the first time hit a potential snag this week when an ex-employee at the facility went public with safety concerns about reopening the 53-year-old power plant. [HuffPost]

Have an amusingly calculated day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Weird Looking Sails Bring Wind Energy Back To Cargo Ships” • Wind energy is coming back to the high seas, only not in the form of traditional sails. In the latest development, UK startup GT Wings is fitting a 124-meter cargo ship with its new AirWing onboard energy harvesting devices, leveraging experience in the world of F1 racing. [CleanTechnica]

Wind energy for shipping (Courtesy of GT Wings)

World:

¶ “JSW Energy Unit Bags A Contract From SECI For 230 MW Of Renewable Energy” • JSW Neo Energy Limited received a letter of award from Solar Energy Corporation of India for supply of 230 MW of clean power. JSW Energy said the contract increased its total locked-in generation capacity to 16.4 GW, which includes 2.3 GW of locked-in hybrid capacity. [MSN]

¶ “More Than Half Of All New Cars Sold In China In July Had A Plug” • Sales of plug-in hybrid and electric cars accounted for more than half of all new car sales in China in July. That’s up 37% from the same month last year. The only other country to post those sorts of numbers is Norway, and the reason in both cases is government policies. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Qin L (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Punjab Plans To Add 66 New Solar Power Plants” • The Punjab government is planning to set up 66 new solar power plants with each having 4 MW of capacity, Aman Arora, the state Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources said. With this the Punjab government wants to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and cut the annual power subsidy. [Saur Energy International]

¶ “Climate Crisis Hinges On Green Power For The Poor, Study Shows” • A study of the world’s 72 most energy-poor nations, of which 44 are in Africa, shows that they will need to deploy about 5,000 GW of generation capacity by 2050. The people in these countries use an average of one-eleventh of what Americans do, but demand is growing quickly. [Moneyweb]

Solar power in Mali (Torsten Schreiber, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Commonwealth Has Greenlighted Renewable Energy Zone Transmission Project” • The proposed 4.5-GW Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone transmission project, 350 km northwest of Sydney across a 20,000 sq km region, has secured federal government planning approval. Construction is expected to start in late 2024. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Energia Group Partnership With Microsoft Delivers First Onshore Wind Farm” • Irish utility Energia Group announced that the Drumlins Park wind farm is in commercial operation and a power purchase agreement with Microsoft has been signed. The 49-MW wind farm consists of eight GE Renewable Energy wind turbines. [Power Engineering International]

Wind turbine in transit (Richard Dorrell, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Germany May Take Another Fifty Years To Find Its Final Repository For Waste From Shuttered Nuclear Power” • An Institute for Applied Ecology report, commissioned by the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management, said a decision on a site can be expected in 2074 at the earliest, Zeit Online reports. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Debby Live Updates: Flash Flooding Targets North Carolina, Virginia” • Debby, which weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression, slammed the Carolinas and Virginia with heavy rain. The heavy rain will target Maryland, Pennsylvania and western New York next. There’s a significant risk for flash flooding in those states. [ABC News]

Damage in North Carolina (Johnson524, public domain)

¶ “The Inflation Reduction Act: Saving American Households Money” • New data from the IRS show that more than 3.4 million American families have already claimed more than $8 billion in residential clean energy and home energy efficiency credits for their 2023 federal income taxes, the first year that the IRA tax credits were fully in effect. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Just Notched One of its Best Quarters Ever for New Zero-Emission Vehicle Sales” • In the second quarter of 2024, Californians purchased 118,181 zero-emission vehicles, 25.7% of all new vehicle sales in the state. That’s nearly 10,000 more than the first three months of the year and the second highest ever market share. [CleanTechnica]

Transmission lines (EnergyCo image)

¶ “Archer Unveils Los Angeles Air Mobility Network Ahead Of Major Worldwide Sporting Events” • Archer Aviation announced plans to launch a Los Angeles air mobility network. Passengers will be able to go to a nearby vertiport, or vertical take-off and landing location, and then fly in Archer’s Midnight aircraft to their destination, avoiding traffic. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vermont Utility Enters Purchase Agreement For More Than 54 GWh Of Hydropower In Connecticut” • FirstLight announced a PPA with Burlington Electric Department. The agreement says FirstLight will deliver Burlington, Vermont more than 54 GWh of hydropower from FirstLight’s Shepaug Generating Station in Connecticut. [Hydro Review]

Shepaug Generating Station (Courtesy of FirstLight)

¶ “US Developer Starts Up Bronx Battery” • Developer and independent power producer Catalyze has started operations at a battery system in the Bronx, New York. The asset is one of the first megawatt-scale storage projects to be completed and fully approved through New York City’s updated permitting process for battery energy storage. [reNews]

¶ “Batteries Step In As Coal Plant Trips Amid Heatwave And Near Record Demand In Texas” • The growing fleet of big batteries in Texas has stepped in to the market after another “always on” baseload power generator tripped in the middle of the evening peak, as the ongoing heatwaves pushed demand in the state towards record levels.[RenewEconomy]

Have an unimaginably gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tim Walz Will Turbocharge Climate Action By The Harris Administration” • Kamala Harris will win the presidency of the US in November by a margin so large that no one will be able to falsely claim the voting process was irregular. When that takes place, Tim Walz will be at her side, helping to make meaningful climate policies politically possible. [CleanTechnica]

Tim Walz (Image from Minnesota.gov)

World:

¶ “Deforestation In Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest Is Down To Lowest Level Since 2016, Government Says” • Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest slowed by nearly half compared to the year before, according to government satellite data. It’s the largest reduction since 2016, when officials started using the current method of measurement. [ABC News]

¶ “2024 On Track To Become Earth’s Warmest Year On Record” • With the end of El Niño, last month was the second-warmest July on record globally. It was, however, the second-warmest overall month. The year, 2024, is still on the way to set a record as the warmest so far, as every one of the first six months set a record for highest temperature. [ABC News]

Road through Death Valley (Richard Hedrick, Unsplash)

¶ “Global EV Sales – Second Best Month Ever!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 15% in June 2024 compared to June 2023. There were 1.5 million registrations. Battery EVs were up by just 4% year over year, but plugin hybrids jumped 41% YOY, selling over 500,000 units, a new record. Plugins had 22% share of the overall auto market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Power To Account For 46% Of India’s Capacity By 2047” • India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said that solar energy is expected to account for approximately 46% of India’s projected total installed capacity at 1,860 GW by 2047. In a statement, the ministry said this projection is based on the Business-As-Usual scenario. [Asian Power]

Solar plant in India (Sarvajanik Puralekh, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Second Life Concept: How Used Taycan Batteries Became An Energy Storage System For The Leipzig Plant” • It’s nearly the size of two basketball courts and consists of 4,400 EV batteries: the battery storage system to supply the Porsche Plant Leipzig with power. This stationary energy storage system was built out of used Taycan batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electricity From Large Solar Arrays With Batteries Is Now Cheaper Than From Fossil Plants In Germany” • Electricity from large ground-mounted solar PV systems combined with batteries is now cheaper than that generated from fossil power sources in Germany, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have found. [RenewEconomy]

Solar power in Germany (Paul Gipe, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “East Coast Railways To Equip Buildings, Infrastructure With Solar Power” • Sources said East Coast Railway plans to install solar power panels in phases at 149 station buildings, 248 service buildings, 6,924 residential buildings and 366 level crossing gates under its jurisdiction. The plan is to install 21,826 kW of capacity in the solar plants. [The New Indian Express]

¶ “US, India, Russia, And Japan Are Building Out Wind Power Much Too Slowly For Climate Change, Report Says” • The world is falling well short of a promise made at global climate talks last year to triple the amount of wind power, a report by Ember says. The world committed to tripling wind energy by 2030, but it is on track to double it. [CTV News]

Windpower (Typical Albanian, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “France Warns Of Nuclear Power Cuts As Heat Triggers Water Curbs” • Electricite de France will likely curtail production at nuclear reactors starting this weekend as hot weather restricts the amount of water that can be discharged into the Rhone River. EDF uses water to cool its reactors before releasing it into the river. [Luxembourg Times]

US:

¶ “Making Hay (And Solar Power) While The Sun Shines” • Siting renewable energy can be a complex process in which public and private entities weigh the costs and benefits of renewable energy deployments in a location. Developing renewable infrastructure that shares space with other types of production can help resolve some siting challenges. [CleanTechnica]

Deer help keep the grass down (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Big Oil Continues To Battle Lawsuits About Climate Pollution Culpability” • The attorneys general of the District of Columbia, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont have sued Big Oil. NOAA scientists can show 2023 was the hottest year in history and 2024 may be hotter yet. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cable-Laying Vessel Comes To Play Its Part In Empowering New York’s $6 Billion Renewable Power HVDC Link” • According to COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Transport, the Kang Sheng Kou semi-submersible heavy lift vessel has completed transportation of the Atalanti cable laying vesselfrom Karlskrona, Sweden to New York. [Offshore Energy]

Atalanti vessel on ship (COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Transport)

¶ “New England States To Receive $389 Million In Federal Funding For Offshore Wind Energy Infrastructure” • The US DOE selected the New England states’ Power Up New England proposal to receive $389 million. Power Up was submitted to the DOE through the second round of the DOE’s competitive Grid Innovation Program. [Baird Maritime]

¶ “Arkansas Solar Farm Opens, Providing Renewable Energy To GM Assembly Plants” • Back in September 2020, GM Authority reported that General Motors was setting up a solar array in Arkansas to power a few of its facilities. Now, NorthStar Clean Energy announced that the 180-MW Newport Solar is supplying electricity for GM operations. [GM Authority]

Have a really fabulous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Stark Differences Between Wind And Oil Industry Accidents” • Two recent accidents in the energy sector – an oil spill in Louisiana and a wind turbine failure in New England – have generated starkly different responses from the impacted communities and government agencies that are regulating the industries. [CleanTechnica]

“Oiled Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle” (Image from © 2013 NOAA)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Climate Menace Hidden in Plain Sight” • Refrigerants are everywhere. They’re in our air conditioners and heat pumps, in our fridges. They are even in our cars! Yet, despite their ubiquity, refrigerants are an oft-neglected subject within electrification strategies, and this is in spite of their major contribution to the greenhouse effect. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Environment Canada Says That It Can Now Rapidly Link High-Heat Weather Events To Climate Change” • Environment and Climate Change Canada says scientists now have the ability to estimate the degree to which human-induced climate change played a role in a heat wave or extreme heat event within a week of its happening. [Yahoo News Canada]

Wind blown cloud tops (NOAA, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Cooler Regions Could See ‘Boom’ In Tick Populations Due To Climate Change, Researchers Say” • Tick populations could see a “boom” in traditionally cooler regions as global temperatures continue to rise, possibly increasing the likelihood of the spread of tick-borne diseases, according to a research paper published in the Royal Society Journals. [ABC News]

¶ “A DIY Solar Revolution Is Quietly Taking Place” • In homes across Germany, the New York Times reports, small solar panels power a quiet transformation, bringing the green revolution into the hands of people without making them invest a lot of money, find an electrician, or use heavy tools. Over 500,000 such DIY systems are already running. [CleanTechnica]

DIY solar (Courtesy of Solago)

¶ “India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Surges By 165% In Ten Years” • India’s renewable energy capacity increased by 165% over the last ten years, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said. Renewable energy capacity rose from 76.38 GW in 2014 to 203.1 GW in 2024. And solar capacity grew from 2.82 GW in March 2014 to 85.47 GW by June 2024. [The Mooknayak English]

¶ “Ørsted Deploys Cargo Lift Drones” • Ørsted is deploying heavy-lift cargo drones for the first time in at the Borssele 1&2 Offshore Wind Farm. This move marks a significant step in operational efficiency and safety, the Danish developer said. The heavy lift cargo drone will transport cargo from a vessel to all 94 wind turbines of the Borssele wind farm. [reNews]

Wind farm delivery by drone (Ørsted image)

¶ “Consultants Say NI And Republic Energy Targets Will Be Missed” • Northern Ireland and Ireland will miss their 2030 renewable energy target by at least two years, consultancy firm Cornwall Insight has forecast. The firm says just 70% of the grid will be using renewable sources by 2030, rather than the 80% goal both jurisdictions have set. [BBC]

¶ “Mobile Floating PV Plant Powers Paris Olympic Village” • It is the largest floating and mobile solar power plant in the world. Moored on the banks of the Seine, the temporary PV installation, rented especially for the Olympic Games by energy company EDF ENR to a subsidiary, helps supply electricity to the Olympic and Paralympic Square. [pv magazine International]

Mobile floating solar power plant (Courtesy of EDF ENR)

¶ “Fukushima Plant Starts Eighth Round Of Treated Water Release Into Sea” • TEPCO started another round of releasing treated radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant during this fiscal year on August 7. TEPCO will discharge about 7,800 tons of filtered water into the Pacific Ocean after diluting it. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ “New England’s Offshore Wind Resource Is A Winter Power Resource” • Offshore wind is important all year round, for zero-carbon electricity, pollution reduction, job creation, and much more. But it’s in the winter that offshore wind will make a great contribution to the power system. Cold weather demand can be met by cold weather power. [CleanTechnica]

Block Island Offshore Wind Farm (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “$2.2 Billion For US Grid To Lower Costs, Prepare For Growing Demand, And Protect Against Extreme Weather” • The US DOE announced a $2.2 billion investment in the nation’s grid for eight projects across eighteen states to protect against extreme weather events, lower costs for communities, and catalyze additional grid capacity to meet load growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How To Solve Five Major Gaps In The US Hydropower Supply Chain” • The US DOE issued a report that gives actionable advice on addressing five gaps in the domestic hydropower supply chain. Hydropower makes up about 27% of renewable electricity generation in the US and is important for the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. [CleanTechnica]

Small hydropower (Andrew Baumgartner, US DOE)

¶ “Tropical Storm Debby Live Updates: Dangerous Flooding Ongoing For Southeast” • Tropical Storm Debby is slamming the Southeast with heavy rain. About 19 inches of rain fell south of Tampa. A rare “high risk” for flash flooding was issued for parts of the Carolinas, where rain totals could climb to 25 inches through Thursday. [ABC News]

¶ “Western Wildfire Season Continues With A Vengeance As New Blaze Destroys Homes In Southern California” • The US wildfire season goes on relentlessly as a new blaze erupted in Southern California, destroying several homes and leaving residents little time to evacuate, authorities said. So far this year, US wildfires have burned over 4.6 million acres. [ABC News]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “EV Battery Pack Costs 90% Lower In 2023 Than In 2008” • The US DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office estimates the cost of an EV lithium-ion battery pack for a light-duty vehicle declined 90% between 2008 and 2023, based on 2023 constant dollars. The estimated cost for 2023 is $139/kWh, compared to a cost of $1,415/kWh in 2008. [CleanTechnica]

Porsche battery pack (Porsche image)

¶ “NREL Researchers Are Paving The Way For Carbon-Negative Concrete” • Cement production is notorious for its high energy use and carbon emissions. NREL researchers use a system based on polymers that does not emit carbon dioxide during synthesis and could use much less heat. And epoxy resins are known to be stronger than concrete. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Carbon-Capture Batteries Store Renewable Energy, Help Climate” • Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing a new type of battery. The battery’s electrochemical reaction, in ORNL’s new battery formulation, captures carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and can convert it into value-added products. [all-about-industries]

Battery system (Andy Sproles, ORNL)

World:

¶ “India Has Pushed Hard For Solar. But As Its Billions Demand More Power, Coal Always Gets The Call” • For the third year in a row, the government of India ordered some coal plants to run at full capacity to meet high electricity demand of increasingly hot summer months. When demand is high, India still goes back to its most trusted power source: coal. [ABC News]

¶ “EVs Take 27.4% Share Of The UK” • July saw plugin EVs take 27.4% share of the UK auto market, up from 24.1% year on year. Both battery EVs and plugin hybrids grew YOY, better than the broader market. Overall auto volume was 147,517 units, up 2.5% YOY, still below pre-2020 seasonal norms. The UK’s leading battery EV brand in July was BMW. [CleanTechnica]

BMW EV (Damian B Oh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “XPeng On A Roll: Five Months In A Row Of Sales Growth” • Some may be claiming EV sales aren’t growing, but to that, XPeng can say, “Ha!” That’s because the Chinese “smart electric vehicle” company has seen five months in a row of both year-over-year sales growth and month-over-month sales growth. Can it last? We’ll see what August brings. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Synera Secures A Site For Its 800-MW Formosa 6” • Synera Renewable Energy has announced its Formosa 6 offshore wind project off Taiwan has been awarded 800 MW of development capacity. Formosa 6 will be situated approximately 35 km off the coast of Xianxi Township, Changhua County, spanning an area of around 84 square kilometres. [reNews]

Boat and Offshore wind farm (Bob Brewer, Unsplash)

¶ “Korea’s Large Corporations Are Increasing Renewable Energy Investments” • Korean corporations took numerous actions in the past three months to expand their business capabilities in renewable energy sectors such as solar power, secondary batteries, and bioenergy. This trend is part of a broader shift towards sustainable energy. [Businesskorea]

¶ “Solar Farm With Ability To Power Thousands Of Homes Approved Near Lincolnshire Coast” • Britain’s “greenest energy supplier” has been granted permission to build a new solar farm next to existing wind and solar farms off the Lincolnshire coast. Ecotricity applied to put ground-mounted solar panels on about 20.5 hectares of land. [Lincolnshire Live]

Site of proposed solar farm (Courtesy of Ecotricity)

¶ “Tokyo Gas Makes Overseas Investment” • Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd reached an agreement with Ocean Winds to invest in Windplus, the operator of the floating offshore wind farm WindFloat Atlantic operating in Portugal. This is the first time Tokyo Gas will participate in an overseas floating offshore wind power generation business. [Energy Global]

US:

¶ “Tropical Storm Debby Live Updates: Historic 10-20 Inches Of Rainfall Expected” • Debby has weakened over land, but it is still a tropical storm, producing maximum sustained wind speeds of 45 mph. Debby is expected to be stuck over the Southeast for the better part of this week, bringing historic rain while it meanders over Georgia and the Carolinas. [ABC News]

Rainfall potential of Debbie (NOAA image)

¶ “First Student’s Biggest School Year: Safety Enhancements, More Electric School Buses, And 1 Billion Planned Bus Rides in 2024–2025” • First Student, which provides children of millions of families with rides to and from school, is gearing up for its biggest year ever. The company expects to make the most trips for student s in North America. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “States To Receive $190 Million To Improve Health, Safety, And Lower Energy Costs In K-12 Public Schools” • Supporting the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, the US DOE announced selections for the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant, an investment to help K-12 public schools make energy upgrades. [CleanTechnica]

Solar canopy (Sacramento City Unified School District, via SEIA)

¶ “All Eyes On S&P 500 Nuclear Power Giant’s Outlook After 800% Grid-Price Surge” • Observers await the outlook of nuclear power provider and S&P 500 component Constellation Energy after PJM Interconnection, the largest US electrical grid operator, at its annual power market auction last week announced prices jumped more than 800%. [MSN]

¶ “Climate Change Deniers Make Up Nearly A Quarter Of US Congress” • US politics is an outlier bastion of climate denial. A total of 123 elected federal representatives, 100 in the House of Representatives and 23 US senators, all Republicans, deny that human-caused climate change exists, according to a recent study of statements they had made. [The Guardian]

Have a gleefully happy day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Bronze Age Technology Makes Renewable Energy Shift Cheaper” • Firebricks emerged in the early Bronze Age, around 4000-3000 BCE. They were first used to line kilns, and have been used in furnaces since. They are more efficient and cheaper for storing heat for industrial processes like steel, cement, and glass making, researchers say. [Cosmos Magazine]

Glass blowing (Carey Moulton, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “New Analytical Model Makes Groundbreaking Discovery About Potential Of Solar Power And Thin-Film Cells” • Scientists in Wales and Finland developed a new model for understanding how thin-film PV cells work, Phys.org reported. The breakthrough could have major implications in developing more efficient ways to harvest solar energy. [The Cool Down]

World:

¶ “The Great Salt Lake Is Drying, Antarctica Is Sweltering – The Knock-On Effects Of Climate Change Are Everywhere” • As the Great Salt Lake shrinks, the newly exposed former lake bottom puts out millions of tons of greenhouse gases. And researchers are reporting that in Antarctica it is as much as 50°F hotter this year than normal. [CleanTechnica]

Great Salt Lake (Urvish Oza, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EVs Take 20.8% Share In France – Citroën E-C3 Delayed” • In July, auto sales saw plugin EVs take 20.8% share in France, a drop from 23.3% year-on-year. Battery EV share was roughly flat YOY, while plugin hybrid EV share fell. Overall new auto volume was 126,037 units, down by some 2% YOY. The Renault Megane took the lead in the battery EV rankings. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK To Ease Solar And Onshore Wind Planning Rules” • The UK Government plans to make it easier to build solar and wind farms. Currently, if a project generates over 50 MW, it needs the Secretary of State’s approval. But new technology means solar panels and wind turbines are more efficient, making the 50-MW limit outdated. [Energy Live News]

UK solar farm (N Chadwick, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “ENEOS Inks PPA To Supply Renewable Energy To Amazon” • ENEOS Renewable Energy Corporation has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with Amazon to provide clean energy from a 9.5-MW solar power plant in Japan. The plant is currently under development, with operations expected to commence by November 2025. [Asian Power]

¶ “Xinjiang New Energy Power Capacity Soars By 103% In H1” • Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is rich in wind and solar resources, saw a 103% increase YOY in new installed energy capacity in the first half of this year. The new generating capacity in Xinjiang includes 9.8 GW of solar power and 4.28 GW of wind. [China Daily]

Wind turbines in China (Chris Lim, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Highest Wind Power Generation, Storage Project Starts Building In Xizang” • Construction of the world highest wind power generation and energy storage project started in Nagqu City of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet). Some 100 MW of wind turbines will be built at an average altitude of 5,000 meters. [Bastille Post Global]

Australia:

¶ “Massive Wind Farm To Power One In Four Capital City Homes” • A massive wind farm approved northwest of Brisbane could power almost a quarter of homes in Queensland’s capital when fully operational. The 436.5-MW Tarong West Wind Farm was granted approval by the state and awaits federal approval of its environmental impact plan. [Real Commercial]

Brisbane (Brisbane Local Marketing, Unsplash)

¶ “SBS Becomes Australia’s First 100% Renewable Broadcaster” • SBS, Australia’s most diverse broadcaster, is now also Australia’s first 100% renewable media organisation thanks to a deal struck with ZEN Energy. ZEN Energy will supply SBS’s operations in New South Wales and Victoria with 100% renewable energy over the next 10 years. [Energy Source & Distribution]

¶ “Free Speech Fears After Aussie Group Suspended By Elon Musk’s X” • Australian anti-nuclear campaigners have been suspended from billionaire Elon Musk’s privately-owned social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The decision has sparked fears about US-based companies limiting free speech by environmental campaigners. [Yahoo]

Elon Musk (Ministério das Comunicações, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Be Prepared: New Resource Readies States And Utilities For Grid Resilience Events” • Electricity grids must be resilient to natural and human-caused hazards: storms, floods, droughts, extreme heat, freezes, sea level rise, wildfires, seismic events, and cyber and physical attacks. More billion-dollar disasters took place in 2023 than ever before. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Much Money Can I Save With Solar Energy?” • This US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office blog post will walk you through calculating the solar payback period, or how long it takes for a rooftop solar system to pay for itself. When calculating the amount of potential savings, there are several factors to consider, and they are listed here. [CleanTechnica]

Residential solar PV installation (Joe DelNero, NREL)

¶ “Wendy’s Makes Electrifying Changes To Over 100 Of Its US Stores With New Community Solar Partnership” • News website Electrek reported that more than 130 Wendy’s restaurants now use community solar to source between 30% and 100% of their energy. The restaurants are located in Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York state. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Manhattan Project Nuclear Site To Become Solar Farm” • As the demand for solar energy continues to grow, the US DOE has stayed on top of potential expansion opportunities. It recently kickstarted negotiations to transform an old Manhattan project site in Washington state into a solar farm, repurposing what was once a secret nuclear site. [Thomasnet]

Have an expansively joyous day.

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World:

¶ “‘Astonishing’ Antarctica Heat Wave Sends Temperatures 50°F Above Normal” • Temperatures since mid-July have climbed up to 50°F above normal in parts of Antarctica and this could go on through the first half of August. The latest data shows highs in parts of East Antarctica that are typically between -58°F and -76°F are now closer to -13° to -22 degrees°F. [CNN]

South Pole (Allan Timm, US Antarctica Program CSS)

¶ “Severe Drought Has Returned To The Amazon. And It’s Happening Earlier Than Expected” • Holder of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, the Amazon is beginning the dry season with many rivers already at critically low levels. Governments plan for contingency measures to address issues ranging from disrupted navigation to increasing forest fires. [ABC News]

¶ “Uber And BYD Plan To Put 100,000 Electric Cars On The Road – But Not In The US” • Uber and BYD are joining forces to put as many as 100,000 electric cars into service for the Uber ride-hailing service in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The US is conspicuously absent from the joint plan. [CleanTechnica]

BYD EV for Uber (Courtesy of Uber)

¶ “Moves For COP28 Goal Of Tripling Renewable Power Grow Stronger” • Along with the World Meteorological Organization and the International Renewable Energy Agency, the National Center of Meteorology in the UAE hosted a workshop in Abu Dhabi recently, as part of its efforts to address global climate challenges and green energy needs. [Gulf Today]

¶ “Global Demand For Renewable Energy Is Set To Surge” • New reports show that renewable energy demand is expected to soar in the coming years as countries undergo green transitions. The global energy demand is expected to increase in line with growth of population, industrialization, and the rise of such complex technologies as AI. [OilPrice.com]

Solar farm (Mark Merner, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Commissioner Secretary S&T Reviews Tribal Sub-Plan For Coverage Of 100 Tribal Villages With Renewable Energy” • The Commissioner Secretary, Saurabh Bhagat, chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat to discuss the Indian action plan under Tribal Sub-Plan for 100% coverage of 100 Tribal villages with renewable energy. [The Kashmir Horizon]

¶ “Grid capacity ‘risks’ Cornwall’s energy potential” • Cornwall Council warned that the area’s renewable energy potential is at risk if it is unable to properly access the electricity grid. It wrote the government highlighting the energy that floating offshore wind, geothermal, and solar Cornwall can produce. The lack of capacity is “significantly impacting” growth. [BBC]

St Ives (Simon Godfrey, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “200,000 Homes In Sindh To Receive Solar Power Under New Initiative” • The Chief Minister of Sindh announced a significant initiative to provide solar systems to 200,000 homes across the province. The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Chief Minister’s House, where an agreement for the Solar Home System was signed. [Daily Pakistan]

¶ “Ukraine Needs To Increase Nuclear Capacity To Overcome Problems With Power Generation, US Official Says” • Ukraine needs to improve its nuclear capacity to solve the problems with electricity generation caused by Russian attacks, Penny Pritzker, US special representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery, said during her visit to Kyiv. [The Kyiv Independent]

Kyiv (Robert Anasch, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Monster Wave Of Marine Energy About To Hit US Shores” • Harnessing the infinite power of ocean waves and tides has been a long, slow slog, but the waiting could be over. Democratic members of the House of Representatives have come up with a $1 billion scheme to launch the US marine energy industry into the big leagues. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vermont Suffered Millions In Damage From Flooding, Will Ask For Federal Help” • Vermont residents dealt with heavy flooding that damaged homes and infrastructure earlier this week and came after of wider flooding. The toll of damage from recent flooding exceeds $6 million, and the state is asking the federal government for help. [ABC News]

Flooding in 2023 (National Guard, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Battery Storage Can Maintain Reliability, Even After Fossils Retire” • In 2021, Illinois passed a law for 100% clean energy by 2045, and grid planners have begun to grapple with the law’s ramifications. Analysis shows that Illinois can maintain reliability even after retiring fossil resources by deploying 3 GW of 4-hour battery storage. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Farm In Tooele Reaches Commercial Operation” • In Utah, the 80-MW Elektron Solar Project reached commercial operation. The project sells renewable power to six customers. Salt Lake City is the largest, and the farm has brought the city closer to renewable energy goals outlined in the Climate Positive 2040 Roadmap. [The Daily Utah Chronicle]

Have an unusually lovely day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Battery Minerals: A Common Fight Over Uncommon Things” • The current media and political churning over the production and distribution of battery minerals is generating some energy of its own. If we could only get our hands on some Vibranium! In reality, however, this is a classic question of balanced resource allocation. [CleanTechnica]

Mudpots near the Salton Buttes (Deborah Bergfeld, USGS)

¶ “Rethinking Renewable Energy Control Systems To Create A Smarter Grid” • With the entrants of diverse distributed energy resources and utility requirements, optimizing and monetizing solar energy systems are increasingly complex. Monitoring and control technology are struggling to keep pace to meet the more sophisticated demands. [pv magazine USA]

World:

¶ “A Critical System Of Atlantic Ocean Currents Could Collapse As Early As The 2030s, Research Suggests” • A vital system of Atlantic Ocean currents that influences weather across the world could collapse as soon as the late 2030s, scientists suggest. And a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, would be catastrophic. [CNN]

AMOC (R Curry, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Solar Partners Join Forces To Help Newborns And Mothers In Africa By Installing Solar Powered Freshwater Solution” • Solar technology firm LONGi and Swedish solar energy wholesaler Senergia partnered to support the non-profit “Project Vita” by donating a solar-powered freshwater system for a maternity clinic in Mozambique. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EVs Take 94.3% Share In Norway – New Record High” • July saw plugin EVs take 94.3% share in Norway, up from 89.9% year on year. Battery EVs took almost 92% of the market, close to a record, and plugin hybrid EVs contributed 2.4%. Overall auto volume was 6,456 units, down 14% YOY. The Volkswagen ID.4 was the month’s best seller. [CleanTechnica]

VW ID4 charging (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “ESB Lines Up Voltalia To Build Irish PV Project” • ESB said that Voltalia will be the main engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the development of Middleton House Solar Farm, located to the northeast of Lanesborough, Ireland. Construction of the 57-MW project is scheduled to commence in September 2024. [reNews]

¶ “Alberta Renewable Energy Pause Left Legacy Of Cancelled Development: Study” • Alberta’s moratorium on renewable energy approvals left a legacy of cancelled projects. A report by The Pembina Institute says 53 wind and solar projects were abandoned after the United Conservative Party government paused approvals for seven months. [MSN]

Alberta countryside (Chong Wei, Unsplash)

¶ “Water Level In Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Pond Decreases Due To Heat” • Despite the fact that all reactors remain in cold shutdown, the water in the cooling pond is critical to the plant’s nuclear safety, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Scientists at the station recently detected a steady fall in the water level. [Українська правда]

US:

¶ “Extreme Heat, Bone-Dry Vegetation And Human Misconduct Prompt Intense Wildfire Season” • It’s only August, but wildfires have burned over 4.4 million acres, up 278% from last year, the National Interagency Fire Center said. Record temperatures of prolonged heat waves have left many parts of the West with bone-dry vegetation. [ABC News]

Drought (Juanita Swart, Unsplash)

¶ “Natural Gas Expansion Goose Cooked By Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub” • A proposal to bring more natural gas into New Jersey hit a brick wall last month, after regulators failed to prove that New Jersey needs more gas. Natural gas is in competition with offshore wind farms and the forthcoming Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Environmentalists Think Kamala Harris May Go After Big Oil For Climate Crimes” • Environmentalists want to hold Big Oil accountable and think Kamala Harris may make that happen if she is elected president. The basis for any prosecution would be the decades Big Oil and its fossil fuel companies spent spreading climate disinformation. [CleanTechnica]

Kamala Harris (Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “New York State Struggling To Green Its Grid” • Governor Kathy Hochul and the agencies charged with implementing the state’s ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act recently admitted that the state won’t meet its initial goal of getting 70% of its electric energy from renewable sources by 2030, Newsday reports. [Habitat Magazine]

¶ “Over $1 Billion Secured For 400-MW PV Solar-Plus-Storage Project In Utah” • rPlus Energies recently announced that it had secured over $1 billion in debt financing for a solar power and energy storage project. The funding is for 400 MW of solar PV and 400 MW, 1,600 MWh of battery storage at the Green River Energy Center project in Utah. [CleanTechnica]

Utah (rPlus Energies image)

¶ “California Lawmakers Are Negotiating A Sweeping Package To Speed Up Solar And Wind Energy” • California lawmakers are crafting a end-of-session package of proposed laws that could streamline building solar and offshore wind energy projects, according to people familiar with the discussions. California’s legislative session ends Aug 31. [LAist]

¶ “US Nuclear Plant Unfit For Quick Resurrection, Former Lead Engineer Says” • The first US nuclear plant to try reopening after being prepared for permanent closure is not fit to restart anytime soon because it sidestepped important safety work for years before retirement, said Alan Blind, engineering director at the Palisades plant from 2006 to 2013. [Reuters]

Have an entirely entertaining day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Climate Action Under The Biden Administration” • In 2020, Joe Biden ran for president on the most ambitious climate action platform of any major presidential candidate in US history. As President Biden finishes his term, it’s time to take stock of what his administration accomplished, what is still a work in progress, and what is off track. [CleanTechnica]

Power County Wind Farm, Idaho (US DOE image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “ARPA, DARPA, And The Solid-State Batteries Of The Future” • EV fans who yearn for the next big thing in batteries might not have much longer to wait. New solid-state batteries are emerging faster than some analysts anticipated, providing for longer range and faster charging times to fulfill the promise of hassle-free zero emission mobility. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Rain-Related Disasters Killed Over 200 In A Deadly Week Across Asia” • In India and China, torrential rains killed over 200 people in the past week. This is monsoon and typhoon season in Asia, and climate change has intensified such storms. Heavy rains have triggered landslides and flooding, devastating crops and taking lives. [ABC News]

Downpour (Ben Wicks, Unsplash)

¶ “In Mexico City, Women Water Harvesters Help Make Up For Drought And Dicey Public Water System” • Driven by prolonged drought and inconsistent public water delivery, many Mexico City residents are turning to rainwater. Pioneering company Isla Urbana has installed more than 40,000 rain catchment systems across Mexico. [ABC News]

¶ “Consortium To Develop Chilean Offshore Projects” • UK-based 17 Energy & SC Power have unveiled the Viento Azul Biobío consortium, which aims to develop Chile’s offshore wind industry and support decarbonisation of the electricity network. VAB aims to develop offshore wind projects that deliver tangible benefits to Chile. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (Herztier Kang, Unsplash)

¶ “95% of Steel-Related Emissions from Vehicles Can Be Cut Using Green Steel” • The auto industry can eliminate more than 95% of greenhouse gas emissions from producing the steel for passenger vehicles by moving to fossil-fuel-free steel, according to a new report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Prysmian Secures Oz Interconnector Contract” • Prysmian and Marinus Link Pty have finalised a contract worth around €600 million for a new power interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania. The project’s cables will span 345 km, with the completion date set for 2030. The first stage of the Marinus Link will have a capacity of 750 MW. [reNews]

Bass Strait (Sheba_Also, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Germany Achieves New Milestone In Power Generation” • In the first three months of 2024, renewable energy supplied a record-breaking 58.4% of all electricity generated in Germany. That’s the highest since Germany started keeping track in 2018. Wind and solar power are leading the charge, with wind alone providing a whopping 38.5%. [The Cool Down]

¶ “German Utility Takes On 700 MW Of PV Projects” • German utility enviaM group has taken on solar projects with a combined potential of over 700 MW in central Germany. The projects are to be developed will be carried out in cooperation between the enviaM subsidiary envia THERM and the ASG Group under the JV Ventura Holding. [reNews]

Countryside in Central Germany (Metilsteiner, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Up To $112.5 Million Funding Opportunity to Support US Wave Energy Development” • The US DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office announced an intent to provide up to $112.5 million in funding to advance the commercial readiness of wave energy technologies through open water testing and system validation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Legions Of Robots To Build Solar Farms All Over USA” • An energy firm, AES, has a scheme to send armies of robots named “Maximo” out to build solar farms all across the countryside. Maximo is expected to perform faster and more efficiently than its human counterparts, as robots usually do, leading to lower costs for solar power. [CleanTechnica]

Maximo robots (Courtesy of AES)

¶ “US Manufacturing Supporters Praise A Bipartisan Senate Bill Blocking Chinese Companies From Domestic Tax Credits” • The Defend Solar USA Alliance praised introduction of bipartisan legislation set to block Chinese solar makers and other foreign entities from making use of a clean energy tax credit intended to boost US solar making jobs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Legislation For $1 Billion To Advance Marine Energy” • The Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act would provide unprecedented levels of funding to the DOE’s Waterpower Technologies Office for R&D, demonstration projects, detailed resource potential mapping, workforce development, and better permitting processes. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

New wave energy test facility (Josh Bauer, NREL)

¶ “Often Overlooked In Clean Energy Push, Hydropower Having Its Moment” • Hydropower is a sector that often gets overlooked. But now a slew of new bipartisan, and, in some cases, bicameral bills promise to change that, if not during the upcoming lame duck session, then certainly after the next Congress is seated in January. [The Well News]

¶ “Dominion Energy Looking At Connecting Data Center Directly To Connecticut Nuclear Plant” • Dominion Energy is exploring the possibility of connecting a data center directly to a nuclear plant, Millstone Power Station in Waterford, Connecticut, as the tech sector hunts for carbon-free electricity to power artificial intelligence applications. [NBC 7 San Diego]

Have an especially magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Can Markets Stop The Climate Crisis?” • In 2020, the IEA declared that solar power had become the “cheapest electricity in history.” In 2024, renewable energy has still not supplanted fossil fuels. This is the paradox at the heart of Brett Christophers’s new book, The Price Is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won’t Save the Planet (Verso, 2024). [Sierra Club]

Wind turbines (Milada Vigerova, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuclear Plant Trips Due To Fire, And Battery Storage Steps In To Stabilises The Grid” • What happens when a giant nuclear power station suddenly goes off line? It’s a question that market operators have to ask themselves all the time, and one Australia’s Coalition might want to put should its fanciful nuclear plan every come to pass. [RenewEconomy]

Science and Technology:

¶ “New “Supercell” EV Batteries Have All The Energy Density For 20% Less Cost” • Atomic Layer Deposition is a cost-cutting factor behind Forge Battery’s new “Supercell” EV batteries. The process was primarily confined to labwork, but now the nano-materials specialist Forge Nano, Forge Battery’s parent company, has it developed commercially. [CleanTechnica]

Atomic layer deposition system (Courtesy of Forge Nano)

World:

¶ “Extended Drought Parches Sicily, And Farmers Worry About Being Forced To Sell Off Animals” • Crippling drought from a nearly rainless year, coupled with record heat, is pushing farmers to the limit. For one, every day is a struggle to find water, with frantic phone calls, long trips to far off wells and long waits for municipal tankers. [ABC News]

¶ “Lofty Sustainable Aviation Fuel Climate Goals Lose Altitude” • Today there is only enough sustainable aviation fuel available to supply about 0.5% of the demand. In addition, however, airplane manufacturers have so many orders for next generation, more fuel efficient aircraft, that it may take a decade or more to fill all the orders. [CleanTechnica]

Hydrothermal Liquefaction (Firefly Green Fuels image)

¶ “Ethiopia Says ICE Vehicle Import Ban Continues As Part Of New Economic Reforms, Only EV Imports Allowed!” • Some months ago, Ethiopia became effectively the first country in the world to ban the import of internal combustion engine vehicles. Ethiopia’s motivation? A high fossil fuel import bill of over $5 billion a year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Philippines Announces Renewables, Energy Storage Auction” • The Philippine DOE announced it will hold a storage-focused green energy auction in the fourth quarter of 2024. The auction’s remit will cover integrated renewable energy and energy storage systems. Integration allows renewable energy plants to optimise their operations. [pv magazine Australia]

Philippine solar PVs (Beeveevee, Wikimedia Commons, cropped)

¶ “Solar Sees Brighter Full-Year Prospects” • China’s PV industry may see robust growth in installed capacity this year with new installations ranging between 190 and 220 GW, driven by the increasing electrification of energy use and the shift toward low-carbon power consumption, according to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association. [China Daily]

¶ “New England Renewable Energy Zone Scoping Report” • The Energy Corporation of New South Wales scoping report for the New England renewable energy zone [area of NSW] was released for public consultation. It will be delivered in stages to unlock a transfer capacity of 6 GW with Stage 1 to deliver 2.4 GW by 2031 and more to come. [pv magazine Australia]

New England, NSW (Kiwifruitboi, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Wind And Solar Power Overtake Fossil Fuels In EU” • In the EU, wind and solar energy overtook fossil fuels for the first time during the first half of 2024. Analysis from think tank Ember shows that wind and solar generated more electricity than fossil fuels during the first six months of 2024, the first time this has happened in a half year period. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “One Dead In New Colorado Blaze As Containment Expanded On Huge California Fire” • California firefighters battling the largest active wildland blaze in the nation made notable progress on containing it but still have a long way to go before it is put out. The Park Fire in Northern California grew into the fifth largest wildfire in the state’s history. [ABC News]

Park Fire (Cal Fire image)

¶ “Solar Power, Electric Shuttles, And EV Chargers Project Begins In Fresno” • The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission joined with global technology firm Nuuve to electrify its vehicles and develop solar power capacity. The system will have 56 EV chargers and use V2G technology for about 50 electric shuttles at the Fresno, California, site. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How This Nebraska Activist Is Making Sure Rural America Gets In On The Renewable Energy Boom” • Nebraska-based activist Jane Kleeb believes rural America is where the nation’s green future will be built. She just wants to make sure that rural Americans are engaged, compensated, and celebrated during this massive infrastructure transition. [Fast Company]

Jane Kleeb founded Bold Nebraska (Courtesy of Bold Alliance)

¶ “Republican Weirdos Want To End The Weather Service” • We take the National Weather Service for granted. We get its data, often indirectly through third parties like news stations, weather apps, and cable TV. There are people who imagine getting rid of these vital services, hoping that private companies will pick up the work instead. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables ‘Cheaper And Faster’ Than Methane, Says The Nation’s Largest Utility” • There has been a lot of discussion recently about the growth in power grid demand in the US, after roughly two decades of relatively small growth. The anticipated demand increase is largely driven by electricity-hungry artificial intelligence chips. [pv magazine USA]

Have a majestically serene day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Secretary Pete Actually Grasps Public Policy; This Should not Be Unusual” • At an event, Secretary Pete was asked whether it might be a good idea just to embrace the cheap EVs that can be available from China. Without going off into any weird tangents, he gives a solid answer, showing his work, and he explains the challenge America faces. [CleanTechnica]

Pete Buttigieg (Maryland GovPics, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “The Day In History When The US Turns Its Back On Fossil Fuels Is Almost Here” • Policies play a critical role in determining whether clean technologies gain acceptance and how quickly that acceptance leads to them replacing old polluting technologies that have made the Earth less habitable for humans. America is now at an inflection point. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Half of Car Sales in China Are Now Plugins!” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market, with plugins scoring 876,000 sales in a 1.76-million-unit overall market. That’s up 23% year over year. Battery EVs were up by just 1% in June, while plugin hybrid EVs jumped 70% in the same period, to a record 393,000 units. The top car is the BYD Song. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song L (JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Bluetti Enhances Rural Education With 250 Solar Power Kits Donation” • Bluetti, a global renewable energy firm, has donated 250 solar power kits to Teach For Nigeria through its Lighting An Africa Familyproject. The donation is step taken to address the acute issue of power shortages affecting learning in underserved communities. [Businessday NG]

¶ “PPC Announces New Wind Power Plant In Romania” • PPC Group announced the construction of a 140-MW wind farm in the area of Deleni in Vaslui province, eastern Romania, a region of high wind speeds. The new wind plant is designed with 23 GE Vernova 6.1 MW turbines and will be connected to the grid by the end of 2025. [eKathimerini.com]

Wind energy in Romania (Sandri Alexandra, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Methane Is Turbocharging Unnatural Disasters – Australia Must Get Serious About Reducing Emissions” • Methane is the second most significant climate pollutant after carbon dioxide. Australia signed up to the methane pledge in October 2022, but it has no official methane reduction targets, nor any agreed strategy to deal with it. [Climate Council]

¶ “Coal Giant Signs Solar Farm Maintenance Contract To Train Staff In Green Energy Future” • Stanwell Corp, the Queensland government-owned coal power giant and the country’s second largest greenhouse gas emitter, is looking to the green energy future with new intensity after signing up for its first solar farm operations and maintenance contract. [RenewEconomy]

Coal mine (Adani Mining Australia, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

UK:

¶ “UK’s Renewable Energy Hits Record High” • The UK has set records for renewable energy, the latest government data show. In 2023, renewables produced 46.4% of the country’s electricity, up from 41.5% in 2022. This is the third time that renewables surpassed fossil fuels, which provided 36.7% of electricity, down from 40.8% the year before. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Labour Gets Plaudits For AR6 Cash Injection” • The UK’s Labour government was praised for increasing the budget by 50% for this year’s Allocation Round 6 renewables auction. Industry experts and green groups welcomed the move by Keir Starmer’s administration, which puts the funding available at almost £1.6 billion, with £1.1 billion for offshore wind. [reNews]

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

¶ “UK Energy Bible Shows Demand Plummets To 1950s Levels” • The UK saw a notable decline in overall energy demand, going to levels not seen since the 1950s. Domestic sector consumption dropped by 6% to its lowest point in over 50 years. Industrial sector consumption dropped by 1.1%, service sector consumption also fell by 1.3%. [Energy Live News]

US:

¶ “USA’s First All-Electric Police Fleet” • The South Pasadena Police Department became the nation’s first law enforcement agency to completely replace its gasoline-powered vehicles with nonpolluting EVs. The city’s zero-emission police fleet of twenty new Teslas will rely on a bank of new EV chargers installed at the South Pasadena City Hall. [CleanTechnica]

EVs of the South Pasadena Police fleet

¶ “DC Court Of Appeals Overturns FERC Pipeline Approval” • The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was wrong to approve a proposal by Williams Cos to construct a $1 billion pipeline that would traverse five mid-Atlantic states and serve up to 3 million customers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Return To Office’ Scams Shift The Cost Of Business To Workers And The Environment” • Commuting to jobs that we could just as easily do at home means pointless emissions, and eliminating pointless travel means an emissions-free outcome. Some companies decided that forcing remote workers into the office could save a little money. [CleanTechnica]

Traffic jam in Denver (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Oak Ridge Nuclear Reactor Hermes Is Under Construction To ‘Transform Our Energy Landscape'” • As nuclear power sees a resurgence of investment as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, Oak Ridge has emerged as a hub for technology like the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration reactor. The $100 million investment is now under construction. [Knoxville News Sentinel]

¶ “Owner Of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant Clashes With BGE And Other Maryland Utilities Over Data Centers” • Advocates for building data centers in the state believe they will be a boon for the state economy, but Constellation’s plans put it at odds with its former corporate sibling Baltimore Gas and Electric Co, along with other utilities. [Energy Central]

Have an acceptably perfect day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Is A Toxic Idea … Here’s Why” • Clean energy has already come to Victoria, generating 40% of our electricity in 2023! It’s on our rooftops, co-existing on farms, embraced by local businesses, and stored for later use by batteries. It’s the most affordable form of energy, and it’s growing fast. Nuclear energy could threaten our progress. [Environment Victoria]

Windpower (Camila Fernández León, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Thousands Protest Serbia’s Deal With The EU To Excavate Lithium” • Thousands of people rallied in several towns in Serbia to protest a lithium excavation project the Balkan country’s government recently signed with the EU. The deal is fiercely criticized by greens and opposition groups in Serbia, who say it would cause environmental damage. [ABC News]

¶ “Landslides Caused By Heavy Rains Kill 24 And Bury Many Others In Southern India” • Landslides triggered by torrential rains in southern India have killed 24 people, and many others are feared trapped under the debris, officials said. Bad weather is hampering rescue operations. Scientists say climate change is making monsoons more erratic. [ABC News]

Heavy rain (Tim Mossholder, Unsplash)

¶ “VW And Rivian to Form Joint Venture” • The formation of a joint venture between Volkswagen and US EV maker Rivian was cleared by the Bundeskartellamt, along with VW’s acquisition of a minority share of Rivian Automotive Inc. Each will hold a 50% share in the joint venture, which is to develop a new generation of EV architecture. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Dacia Spring Electric Car Costs Less Than £15,000” • The 2024 Dacia Spring EV is a small electric car with a price under £15,000 in the UK. It may be exactly what those who appreciate the cheapest EVs want – a very compact EV with the lowest price and lightweight (a bit over 2,000 pounds). Its motor and battery are small, keeping the weight down. [CleanTechnica]

Dacia Spring EV (Courtesy of Dacia)

¶ “TotalEnergies Grows Hydropower Portfolio” • TotalEnergies is to take stakes in hydroelectric assets in several African countries, by acquisition of Scatec’s subsidiary SN Power. TotalEnergies will get minority stakes in two projects that are under development, 260 MW in Rwanda and 360 MW in Malawi, through the SN Power acquisition. [reNews]

¶ “Investor Concerns Remain In Australia As Renewable Energy Project Pipeline Grows” • Growth in Australia’s renewable energy sector is strong, with 43 GW of projects working through the National Electricity Market connection process. Concerns about uncertainties surrounding approval processes remain and could impact investor confidence. [pv magazine International]

Wind farm (Bernd Dittrich, Unsplash)

¶ “King Charles’ Wind Farm Ban ‘Could Be Overturned By Prince William'” • King Charles III could have his effective ban on wind farms on the near-530 square kilometres of royal land in England overturned by his son, Prince William, who is said to be considering allowing major renewable energy developments on the property. [Latest renewable energy news]

¶ “Spain Approves 28 GW Of New Renewables Sites” • Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge granted to 283 renewables projects the Administrative Construction Authorisation, in accordance with the deadlines established by Royal Decree-Law 23/2020. The projects had to be authorized before July 25. They total 28 GW. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Daniel Morris, Unsplash)

¶ “EDF Cuts Nuclear Output Due To High Water Temperatures” • The 2.6-GW Golfech nuclear plant in southern France will cut its electricity production from 31st July until 5th August because of elevated water temperatures in the Garonne River. EDF, the plant operator, announced that the reduction might be adjusted based on changes in weather. [Energy Live News]

US:

¶ “Homeowners Are Increasingly Re-Wilding Their Homes With Native Plants, Experts Say” • More and more homeowners opt to “re-wild” their homes, incorporating native plants and decreasing lawn care to make properties more sustainable and encourage natural ecosystems to recover, says Plan It Wild, a New York native landscape design company. [ABC News]

Wildflowers (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

¶ “BOEM Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement For Wind Energy Project Offshore Maryland” • In support of the Biden–Harris administration’s goal of 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the BOEM announced the availability of its final Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed wind project off the coast of Maryland. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Timet To Power Titanium Factory In West Virginia With Local Solar Installation” • Titanium Metals Corporation, widely known as Timet, is constructing a new factory on the site of a former aluminum smelter in West Virginia. Timet is working with BHE Renewables to install a solar array and battery storage system next door. [CleanTechnica]

Proposed facility (Courtesy of Timet and BHE Renewables)

¶ “Green Hydrogen Could Make Texas Offshore Wind Happen, Finally” • Like a bolt out of the blue, the US firm Hecate Energy reached out to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, asking for the right to develop two federal offshore wind energy areas assigned to Texas. The state’s emerging green hydrogen industry may have interested Hecate. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ameresco Installs Colorado BESS Fleet” • Ameresco finished construction of multiple battery systems in collaboration with United Power, an electric co-op serving Colorado’s northern Front Range. Eight systems will provide battery storage capacity of 78.3 MW, 313.34 MWh to the United Power electric system at multiple locations. [reNews]

Have a thoroughly prosperous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Atomic Fallacy: Why Nuclear Power Won’t Solve the Climate Crisis” • Professor MV Ramana writes, “Although climate change scares me, I am even more scared of a future with more nuclear plants. … For over a decade now, many of my colleagues and I have consistently explained why these reactors would not be commercially viable.” [Literary Hub]

Weather (Eugene Triguba, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “The Galapagos Islands And Their Unique Creatures Are At Risk From Warming Waters” • Warming oceans affect the food sources of many unique seagoing animals in the Galapagos. The marine iguanas have a harder time finding the algae they prefer. Sea turtles struggle to nest. Young have as harder time growing up as fewer nutrients are available. [ABC News]

¶ “London Clears The Air, Thanks To Low Emissions Zone Policies” • This week, London published data showing that the air is cleaner in all of London since the new policy went into effect. Concentrations of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide fell significantly in the first six months after London expanded its Ultra Low Emission Zone. [CleanTechnica]

Air quality in London (City of London image)

¶ “Australians Blame Wind And Solar For High Power Bills As Media Campaigns Take Hold” • Australians forget why their power bills are going up, according to an Ipsos survey. Everyday Australians also struggle to understand the transition at all as misleading statements, such as the National Party saying offshore wind turbines kill whales. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “South Africa Now Has More Than 12 GW Of Wind And Solar Generation Capacity!” • South African homes and businesses have added 3,526 MW of rooftop solar in just two years! Data from South Africa’s national electricity utility company, Eskom, show there were about 2,264.5 MW of rooftop solar PV installed in South Africa as of July 2022. [CleanTechnica]

4.8 MW Mall of Africa rooftop solar plant (Courtesy of GridCars)

¶ “China Grid Giant Plans Record Spending To Ease Its Power Bottlenecks” • China’s main grid operator will raise spending to a record to ease transmission bottlenecks, underscoring Beijing’s push to boost use of renewable energy. State Grid Corporation of China will increase spending 13% to 600 billion yuan ($83 billion) this year. [Yahoo Finance Canada]

¶ “Wood Drives €1 Billion Renewables Investment” • Wood Consulting announced it has played a key role in securing more than €1 billion of funding for its clients in Europe, enabling three major clean energy projects to reach final investment decisions. They are wind projects in Lithuania and Sweden, along with a green hydrogen facility in Spain. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Wood Consulting image)

¶ “Taiwan Stops The 936-MW Maanshan-1 Nuclear Reactor” • Taiwan’s national power company Taiwan Power stopped the 936-MW first reactor of the Maanshan-1 nuclear power plant in the Pingtung County. It was commissioned on 27 July 1984, and its 40-year operating licence expired. The 938-MW Maanshan-2 is expected to be stopped on 18 May 2025. [Enerdata]

US:

¶ “The Grid Can Handle More Renewable Energy, But It Needs Some Help” • Medium-voltage converters are still a rather new technology. That means they must undergo extensive testing to ensure they are efficient, affordable, and safe enough to bring into the US power grid. But it is not easy to construct or study medium-voltage devices. [CleanTechnica]

Grid technology (Josh Bauer, NREL)

¶ “Wildfires Break Out Across California: Latest Fire And Smoke Maps” • Wildfires are exploding across the West. In California, the largest of several wildfires in the state is the Park Fire, which is burning in Butte, Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties, north of Chico. As of Sunday night, the fire had grown to 360,141 acres acres and was 12% contained. [ABC News]

¶ “Robotaxi From Waymo And Zeekr Makes It To San Francisco” • Waymo has led the way on robotaxis in the US. But it hasn’t been at the cutting edge in EV technology, as it relied on rather old Chrysler Pacific plugin hybrids and, recently, Jaguar I-PACE electric SUVs. However, now it’s using brand new Zeekr electric vans in San Francisco. [CleanTechnica]

Waymo Zeekr concept robotaxi (Courtesy of Waymo)

¶ “California Experiences Its 100th Day Of Renewable Energy Sources Meeting 100% Of Electricity Demand” • Sunday marked the 100th day of a 144-day stretch that California supplied 100% of its electricity demand with renewable energy for periods of 5 minutes to more than 10 hours. Prof Mark Jacobson of Stanford tracked the times. [Environment America]

¶ “Arizona’s Largest Battery Storage Project Receives Over $500 Million In Financing” • A solar battery and storage company has secured $513 million in funding for a battery storage project in Arizona, according to Electrek. The financing is for construction of 1,200-MWh Papago Storage, which will be the largest battery storage facility in Arizona. [The Cool Down]

Have an inspirationally felt day.

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geoharvey is not tax-deductible.