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Science and Technology:

¶ “Rondo Energy Is Working On Ways To Decarbonize Process Heat” • Rondo Energy is commercializing systems that reduce the carbon footprint of industrial systems that rely on process heat. According to the US DOE, industrial process heat is the use of thermal energy to produce, treat, or modify manufactured goods. [CleanTechnica]

Processing waste heat (Courtesy of Rondo Energy)

World:

¶ “Ford Launches Sporty New Capri EV … Across The Pond” • Ford has cooked up a surprise: an electric makeover of the ultra-cool Capri, which personified the era of sleek, rocket-to-the-moon automotive design in the 1960s and 1970s before coming to an end when the dot-com boom descended on the 1980s. It is for the European market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 Completes EV Rally Tour Of The UK” • A battery-powered Mercedes-Benz eActros tractor proved its readiness for work in the UK in a gruelling five-day journey of 1,400 miles around the country. Hauling a standard road trailer loaded to 40 tonnes, the eActros 600 easily met the challenge of the EV Rally event. [CleanTechnica]

Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 (Mercedes-Benz image)

¶ “Countertrade Model Cuts Danish Wind Curtailment” • A countertrade arrangement across the Danish-German border has reduced curtailment of Danish turbines and also reduced power prices. Previously,up to 1,000 GWh of electricity from Danish hardware was stopped annually due to a lack of expansion in the German electricity grid. [reNews]

¶ “China Wind And Solar Capacity Nearly Twice The Rest Of The World’s” • At present, China has 339 GW of renewable generating capacity under construction. That is “nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined,” accordin to a report by Global Energy Monitor. The US, in second place, is building a total of just 40 GW, the monitor said. [DW]

Wind farm in Xinjiang (taylorandayumi, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Record Growth ‘Only Way’ To Hit COP28 Target” • To stay the course, the world will now have to grow renewables capacity at a minimum 16.4% rate annually through 2030, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency publication Renewable Energy Statistics 2024. To do that growth must reach levels that are unprecedented. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Wildfire Risk Rises As Western States Dry Out Amid Ongoing Heat Wave Baking Most Of The US” • There risk of wildfires is rising in the West as heat and low humidity dry out the landscape in a protracted heat wave that is expected to continue baking the are. More than 142 million people in the country were under heat alerts on July 10. [ABC News]

Wildfire (From the EPA)

¶ “Seeking Carbon-Free Power, Virginia Utility Considers Small Nuclear Reactors” • Virginia’s largest utility said it will explore the use of small nuclear reactors to help meet growing electricity demands while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A project to build the first SMR in Idaho was terminated last year due to cost increases and a lack of subscribers. [ABC News]

¶ “Shell And EDF File Atlantic Shores Bid In NJ Solicitation” • The Shell and EDF partnership Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind has submitted a proposal into New Jersey’s Fourth Offshore Wind Solicitation. The proposal concerns the Atlantic Shores Projects 1&2, which have a combined capacity of 2,800 MW. All permit approvals are expected this year. [reNews]

New Jersey (Cameron Smith, Unsplash)

¶ “1.3 Million Without Power In Houston As Sweltering Heat Follows Beryl” • More than 1.3 million electrical customers in the Houston area are without power as sweltering temperatures set in after the destruction left by Hurricane Beryl. The main utility company in the area, CenterPoint Energy, warned “it will take days” to restore power to everyone. [ABC News]

¶ “Californian Commission Adopts Offshore Wind Plan” • The California Energy Commission adopted its Strategic Plan for a pathway to develop 25 GW of offshore windpower by 2045 to help the state meet its climate goals. The strategic offshore wind plan will now be submitted to the California Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature. [reNews]

Floating offshore wind turbines (Principle Power image)

¶ “LPO Announces Conditional Commitment To ENTEK Lithium Separators To Build Indiana EV Battery Separator Plant” • The US DOE Loan Programs Office announced a conditional commitment of up to $1.2 billion for a direct loan to ENTEK Lithium Separators LLC. If finalized, the loan will provide funds for a plant in Terre Haute. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Construction Begins On Colorado Solar Farm” • Construction has begun on a 257-MW solar project in Colorado, which will be one of the largest power plants of its kind in the state when it is completed. Platte River Power Authority and turnkey solutions partner Qcells USA Corp, broke ground on the Black Hollow Solar project on 10 July. [reNews]

Colorado solar (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Amazon Says It Now Runs On 100% Clean Power. Employees Say It’s More Like 22%” • Amazon announced that it had met a goal to run on 100% renewable electricity seven years early. But a report from the group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice argues that only 22% of the company’s data centers in the US actually run on clean power. [Fast Company]

¶ “Biden Signs Bill Bolstering Nuclear Power” • President Biden signed a bipartisan bill aimed at bolstering the nation’s nuclear power in what supporters describe as a historic win for the sector. The nuclear package is expected to speed up the timeline for licensing new nuclear reactors and cut fees that companies have to pay to do so. [MSN]

Have a comprehensively superb day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Some Things About The EU Tariffs On Chinese EVs You May Not Know” • “Our friends at WysokieNapiecie.pl visited China a few weeks ago to get more information on the EU tariffs on Chinese EVs, and they’ve provided the following content for CleanTechnica. It includes … some information and context that I haven’t seen elsewhere.” [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull production (Courtesy of BYD)

World:

¶ “Strike A Balance: Trade Agreements For Supply Chains To Be Resilient And Responsible” • To secure the demand for battery minerals, the EU needs to set the right trade framework to boost resilience, sustainability, and mutual benefit. A new report and briefing explore how Free Trade Agreements can be one way to strike this balance. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Good News, Bad News: Last Coal-Fired Generating Station In Alberta Closed” • As recently as 2021, Alberta still got most of its electricity from coal-fired thermal generation. Now Genessee 2, the last dedicated coal plant in Alberta, went offline. But Alberta did this by switching coal plants to burn natural gas, and it is restricting wind power. [CleanTechnica]

Genessee Two, Alberta (Capital Power image)

¶ “Juniper Green Secures PPAs For 480 MW Of hybrid Wind-Solar” • Juniper Green signed power purchase agreements with NTPC and Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd for 290 MW and 190 MW of hybrid wind-solar projects, respectively. The NTPC project will be Juniper’s largest hybrid project so far, with 210 MW of solar and 80 MW of wind. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Global Warming Alert: Earth Has Passed 1.5°C Milestone” • According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, average global temperatures between July 2023 and June 2024 were the highest on record, creating a year-long stretch in which the Earth was 1.64°C hotter than in pre-industrial times. “This is not good news at all.” [CleanTechnica]

Protest sign (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)

¶ “President Marcos: Use Dams To Generate Renewable Energy” • President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr called on dam operators across the Philippines to maximize their facilities not only to provide water but also to generate renewable energy. He made his appeal during the Upper Wawa Dam impounding ceremony in Montalban. [Philippine News Agency]

¶ “Transition Bro Gwaun Turbine Paves The Way For Exciting Plan” • In Wales, Transition Bro Gwaun put up a community wind turbine in a joint-venture with Parc y Morfa Farms in 2015. So far, it has so far generated £76,000 of profit that has been reinvested in the local community. Now, two other towns plan to do the same. [The Western Telegraph]

Fishguard, Wales (Nick Russill, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EDF Pulls Out Of UK Mini-Nuclear Reactor Race” • French energy giant EDF was one of six firms shortlisted last October for UK government support to deliver new types of nuclear reactors to provide cheap and clean energy. However, EDF has withdrawn from a competition to construct mini-nuclear reactors in Britain, the company said. [Business Recorder]

¶ “ACT Electric Fleet Powered Grid In Energy Crisis” • Sixteen ACT Government fleet EVs fed power back into Australia’s grid during a major power emergency in 2024. The response proves the viability of vehicle-to-grid technology, which was tested as part of the Realising Electric Vehicles to Grid Services trial which began in 2020. [Mirage News]

Car charging (Tommy Krombacher, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “US Offshore Wind Farm Progress” • Of the 7,200 MW of capacity reported in May in EIA’s latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, projects off the coast of New Jersey totaling about 2,400 MW were canceled last December. However, others totaling 4,800 MW are still active and are in various stages of development. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Don’t Recycle Those Old Wind Turbines … Re-Use Them!” • End-of-life issues have begun to bedevil the US wind industry as wind turbines get old. But help is on the way. Re-powering older wind farms with new equipment is one way to salvage at least some parts of an old wind turbine for re-use instead of dumping them in a landfill. [CleanTechnica]

Re-using and recycling wind turbines (US DOE image)

¶ “Georgia’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Surge Is A By-Product Of Federal Investments” • Data released by Atlas Public Policy and the CHARGE coalition confirm that Georgia’s clean energy commitments for personal transportation electrification lead the nation. Georgia’s shift to clean energy has been fueled in large part by Federal Investments. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “LS Greenlink Unveils US Cable Factory” • LS Greenlink has announced it will build a new $681m cable production facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. The company is the US subsidiary of South Korean manufacturing company LS Cable & System, and the new plant represents the first offshore wind manufacturing plant for the state of Virginia. [reNews]

Factory (LS Cable & System image)

¶ “First Project In 1.3-GW Indiana Solar Complex Is Nearing Operation” • Doral Renewables is about to put its 400-MW Mammoth North Solar project into operation. The Mammoth North Solar project is the first phase of the 1.3-GW Mammoth Solar complex. It will be the largest operating solar installation in Indiana. [Solar Power World]

¶ “US Offshore Wind To Invest $65 Billion By 2030” • The US is projected to invest $65 billion in offshore wind projects by 2030, which will support 56,000 domestic jobs. According to the American Clean Power Association’s 2024 Offshore Wind Market Report, there are 12 GW of projects being developed with active offtake agreements. [reNews]

Have a splashingly resplendent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Demystifying Coal Repurposing In The Energy Transition” • Alongside retirement, “repurposing” coal plants is surfacing as a key strategy in emerging markets for regulators, utilities, and plant owners to achieve net-zero targets and moderate climate change, especially where access to low-cost clean technology and financing is limited. [CleanTechnica]

Power plant in Niederaußem (Wim van ‘t Einde, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Nova Scotia’s First Large Battery Energy Storage Facilities” • Canadian Solar Inc announced that e-STORAGE, a part of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiary CSI Solar Co, Ltd, signed a contract from Nova Scotia Power to develop energy storage projects at three sites in Nova Scotia: Bridgewater, Waverley, and White Rock. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar And Wind Uptake To Reach 5.4 TW (AC) From 2024 To 2033” • From 2024 to 2033, developers will bring more than 5.4 TW (AC) of new solar and wind capacity online, increasing the cumulative global total to 8 TW (AC), as the world endeavors to electrify economies and meet decarbonisation targets, according to analysis by Wood Mackenzie. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power (Kay Dittner, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Ten Largest EV Battery Producers In The World” • One company has absolutely run away with the trophy for largest EV battery producer in the world. That would be Chinese battery giant CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd). In fact, two Chinese companies, CATL and BYD, produce over 53% of all EV batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Statkraft Signs PPA For Major Yorkshire Solar And Battery Project” • Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable power generator, entered a ten-year power purchase agreement with international investor FP Lux Group for the 80.6-MW Scurf Dyke Solar Farm and an adjacent battery storage system near Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire. [Energy Live News]

Solar farm (Statkraft image)

¶ “China’s Renewable Energy Boom Strains Its Power Grid” • In China, rapid expansion of wind and solar power has exacerbated regional power imbalances, leading to the need to curtail surplus renewable energy at times. To address this challenge, the Chinese government is enhancing its long-distance power transmission connections. [Transformers Magazine]

¶ “PM Announces Solar-Power Package For Balochistan Farmers” • In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that an agreement was reached between the federal and Balochistan governments, under which 28,000 agricultural tube wells in the province would be changed over to run on solar power within three months. [Business Recorder]

Balochistan has its surprises (Junaidkori, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Ukraine Has Lost The Capacity Of Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant For A Decade” • The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant will be able to be restarted only seven to eight years after it is liberated, as it depends on the reconstruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, according to Prime Minister’s adviser Yuriy Boyko. [Ukraine Business News]

¶ “Reeves To ‘Scrap England’s Onshore Wind Ban’” • The new UK Labour government is set to lift the de-facto ban on onshore wind in England, Rachel Reeves will declare in her first major speech as Chancellor. Reeves will make the pledge as part of an overhaul of the planning system that she will outline later today, according to the BBC. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Josh McCausland, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Hurricane Beryl Tracker: Death Toll Rises To 6 In Texas, Over 2 Million Without Power” • Tropical Storm Beryl is tearing across Texas after making landfall in the state as a Category 1 hurricane. At least six people have been killed by fallen trees or by drowning and over 2 million customers lost power in Texas due to heavy rain and powerful winds. [ABC News]

¶ “Community Solar Benefits Low Income Communities And Renters” • A study by researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the NREL that analyzed data from eleven states found people who adopt community solar are 6.1 times more likely to live in multifamily buildings, are 4.4 times more likely to rent. [CleanTechnica]

Peacham Community Solar (Image via YouTube)

¶ “In 2023, USA Had Battery Recycling Facilities Capable Of Reclaiming More Than 35,000 Tons Of Battery Materials” • As of 2023, the US had enough domestic battery recycling capacity to reclaim 35,500 tons of battery materials. More facilities are being planned for the next two to four years to reclaim an additional 76,000 tons. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Energy Is Powering America More Than Coal For The First Time Ever” • American energy generation has got just a bit cleaner this year. Data from the EIA suggests that wind power is a bigger source of electricity than coal for the first time ever. Data from the agency says that wind was responsible for 47.7 TWh of energy in April, vs coal’s 37.2 TWh. [Quartz]

Wind farm (Jonny Clow, Unsplash)

¶ “In A First, A Solar Microgrid Will Directly Power An Industrial Plant” • In Ravenswood, West Virginia, Titanium Metals Corp, or Timet, is building a facility to cast titanium parts for airplanes and other things. Just next door, BHE Renewables is preparing to install arrays of solar panels and large battery systems of a solar microgrid for the titanium facility. [Canary Media]

¶ “US Battery Market Is On Track For Its Best Year Yet” • The US battery sector is off to the best start to a year it has ever seen. In the first quarter of 2024, nearly 1.3 GW of battery storage was installed at US power plants, homes, and commercial facilities, according to data from the American Clean Power Association and Wood Mackenzie. [Canary Media]

Have an astonishingly easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Without A Massive Grid Upgrade, The Coalition’s Nuclear Plan Faces A High-Voltage Hurdle” • The CSIRO and others say a nuclear power plant of any size would not be operational in Australia until after 2040. If transmission lines are congested at that future point, nuclear power plants may not be able to send all their electricity to the grid. [The Conversation]

High Voltage Lines in South Australia (Solarence, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “June Sizzles To Thirteenth Straight Monthly Heat Record. String May End Soon, But Dangerous Heat Won’t” • The Earth’s streak of thirteen record-breaking hot months continued in June, EU climate service Copernicus said. There’s hope that the planet will soon see an end to the record-setting part of the heat streak, but not the climate chaos that it brought. [ABC News]

¶ “IEA Makes More of Its Data And Statistics Freely Available through Upgraded Countries And Regions Pages” • In another major step towards making more IEA data freely available, the IEA upgraded the Countries and Regions section of its website by adding a comprehensive range of statistics at the global, regional and national levels. [CleanTechnica]

World weather patterns (NASA image)

¶ “Electric Car Companies Push Back Against Restrictive Trade Policies” • As new trade policies in North America and Europe seek to stem the tide of cheap electric car models and subsidized batteries from China, Chinese companies are exploring ways to blunt those policies. The march of commerce will not be easily stanched if they have any say. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Labour And Climate Celebrate Big Wins In UK” • Britain’s Labour Party won the UK general election by a landslide, ending 14 years of Conservative Party rule. The time has come in which Labour and climate activists will be working together toward common goals. The next prime minister, Keir Starmer, has a 326-seat majority in the parliament. [CleanTechnica]

Abingdon-on-Thames (Benjamin Elliott, Unsplash)

¶ “A New Horizon: Former Oil Expert Advocates For Renewable Energy Careers In Wales” • Naomi Bowen worked in oil and gas for over 14 years. She recently moved into the renewable energy sector to help in the fight against climate change. Now, she wants to encourage prospective school leavers to choose this industry to start their career journey. [Wales 247]

¶ “DVC To Add 4 GW Of Solar Power Capacity By 2030” • The Kolkata-headquartered Damodar Valley Corp. plans to invest ₹20,000 crore ($2.4 billion) by 2030 to install around 4 GW of solar capacity. Overall, it plans investments worth ₹50,000-60,000 crore by 2030 to enhance thermal, pumped storage and solar power capacities. [pv magazine India]

Solar panels with coal plant in the background (DVC image)

¶ “New Report Reveals Staggering Increase Of Wind And Solar Power Generation In Last Five Years: ‘A Historic, Permanent Shift’” • Think tank Ember said the EU increased wind and solar power generation by 46% from 2019 to 2023. Last year, the EU set a binding target of at least 42.5% renewable energy sources by 2030, with an aim to reach 45%. [MSN]

¶ “Wavepiston And Ørsted To Collaborate On Combined Wind And Wave Energy” • Danish company Wavepiston has started a collaboration with Ørsted to investigate the potential for co-location of offshore wind and wave energy in Denmark. The collaboration will analyze the benefits of combining offshore wind and wave energy. [renewableenergymagazine.com]

Offshore windfarm (Wavepiston image)

¶ “Russian Troops Seize Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Amid Warnings Over Spread Of Radioactive Waste” • Russia has seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear exclusion zone after an intense fight, the Ukrainian government said. “It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians.” [Yahoo News UK]

¶ “Wind Provided 34% Of Irish Power In 2024” • The June Wind Energy report shows Ireland’s wind farms provided 34% of the country’s electricity in the first half of 2024. The latest figures published by Wind Energy Ireland show wind power generation in June 2024 was the third highest on record for a June month, totaling 771 GWh. [reNews]

Wind turbines in Ireland (Nordex image)

US:

¶ “What The Heck Is Going On With Ford Electric Car Demand And Forecasting?” • Zach Shahan: “Ford said that it was adjusting its EV plans to be a bit less ambitious. I found it particularly odd at the time since Ford’s electric vehicles actually had a strong 4th quarter. But hey, I didn’t have insight into what was coming in terms of Ford demand like Farley did, right?” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Torrid Heat Bakes Millions Across US, Setting Records And Fanning Wildfires” • A long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the US persisted on Sunday, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that caused the death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley and held the East in its hot and humid grip. [ABC News]

Death Valley (Pablo García Saldaña, Unsplash)

¶ “Motorcyclist Dies From Heat Exposure In Death Valley As Temperature Reaches 128°F” • A visitor to Death Valley national park died Sunday from heat exposure and another motorcyclist in the same group was hospitalized in Las Vegas for “severe heat illness” as the temperature reached 128°F (53.3°C) in eastern California, officials said. [The Guardian]

¶ “HECO Retiring 35% Of Firm Generators On Maui By 2028, Replacing With Renewable Energy” • Hawaiian Electric is gearing up for a transformative decade on Maui, as it plans to retire 88 MW of its fossil fuel generators, roughly 35% of the island’s firm capacity. State environmental regulations and ageing generators are driving the change. [Maui Now]

Have a sincerely lighthearted day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Researchers Unveil Innovative Technology That Outperforms Conventional Solar Panels Using Both Sun And ‘Cold Universe’ Energy” • Penn State researchers developed a way to harvest solar energy in a solar cell (like normal) but also direct heat away from Earth using “radiative cooling,” sending infrared light off into outer space. [The Cool Down]

Solar panels with reflectors (Image from Penn State University)

¶ “Key Drivers For Thermal Energy Storage Technologies In Industry” • Industries have long used fossil fuels to produce heat for their processes or to fuel power plants to generate electricity from natural gas, oil, and coal. That heat produces about 25% of global emissions. The emissions could be reduced by thermal energy storage. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

World:

¶ “The Frequency And Magnitude Of Extreme Wildfires Have Doubled In Last 20 Years, Study Finds” • The frequency and magnitude of extreme wildfires – the most damaging to climate, society, and ecosystems – appear to have doubled over the past 20 years, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. [ABC News]

Wildfire near Athens in 2021 (Anasmeister, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EVs Take 28.2% Share In The UK – Tesla Still Leads” • June’s auto market saw plugin EVs take 28.2% share in the UK, up from 25.1% year on year. Battery EVs grew modestly, but plugin hybrids grew more strongly. Overall auto volume was 179,263 units, well below pre-2020 seasonal norms. Tesla was the UK’s leading battery EV brand. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Model S Has 430,000 Miles On One Battery” • One of the many false claims some EV critics make is that somehow EV batteries just magically and suddenly stop working after a while. A YouTube video on the AutoTrader channel is about a Tesla Model S that has 430,000 miles on it using just one battery, and it’s still going. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model S (Matt Henry, Unsplash)

¶ “Germany Set To Overhaul Subsidy Regime For Renewable Energy” • Germany’s coalition government is set to overhaul the way renewable energy is subsidised so that power producers would get one-off support for their investment costs instead of a guaranteed price for power they produce, a finance ministry document showed. [Bangladesh Post]

¶ “President: Uzbekistan Plans To Increase Renewable Energy Share To 40% By 2030” • President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at the informal summit of the Turkic States Organization in Shusha about the country’s plans to increase the share of renewable energy in the overall energy balance to 40% by 2030. [UzDaily.uz]

Shavkat Mirziyoyev (МВД Узбекистана, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Gulf Nations Make Significant Strides In Renewable Energy Integration” • The Gulf countries, endowed with abundant solar and wind energy resources, have leveraged these assets in their renewable energy portfolios to varying extents, and achieved significant progress toward their ambitious targets, according to Fitch Ratings. [arab times – kuwait news]

¶ “Bangladesh To Import 1,000 MW Of Renewable Power From India” • The Bangladesh government signed an MOU with India to import 1,000 MW of renewable electricity. It also plans to tap Nepal and Bhutan for its energy needs. To have renewables meet 10% of all the electricity it needs by 2025, it will need 2,600 MW of green energy by then. [Outlook Planet]

Dhaka, Bangladesh (Austin Curtis, Unsplash)

¶ “Russia Is Firing Artillery From A Captured Nuclear Power Plant, Leaving Ukraine Reluctant To Shoot Back” • Russian troops are firing artillery at Ukrainian targets from a nuclear power plant, The New York Times reported. Russia selected the Zaporizhzhia site because it made it difficult for Ukrainian troops to retaliate, Ukrainian officials said. [Yahoo Movies UK]

US:

¶ “US Gets More Offshore Wind Farms And A New WIV, To Boot” • The US offshore wind industry has faced some choppy waters in past years, including demonstrably false accusations of whale-killing and the impact of a maritime law dating back to 1920. Nevertheless, the clouds are clearing, despite opposition from various groups. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbines (Courtesy of EDF-RE)

¶ “Evacuation Orders Issued For Latest California Wildfire Amid Scorching Heat Wave” • Evacuation orders have been issued due to a wildfire in central California, the latest among more than a dozen blazes burning in the state amid a scorching heat wave. The French Fire near Yosemite National Park has burned over 900 acres since erupting Thursday. [ABC News]

¶ “Professor Details Florida’s State-Directed Changes In Science Textbooks” • Ken Miller, a science textbook author and professor emeritus of biology at Brown University, told the Orlando Sentinel in an article published Friday that his publisher was told by state officials that some references to “climate change” had to be removed from the text. [Newsweek]

Have an enormously cool day.

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World:

¶ “Globally, 48% Of Volvo Cars’ Sales Now Plugin Vehicles” • Yet another automaker highlighting its EV sales growth last quarter is Volvo Cars. Its data shows that 48% of all the cars it sold in June were plugins! Volvo’s overall sales grew 8%, but its plugin vehicle sales grew a whopping 41%. That tells us that Volvo’s non-plugin vehicle sales actually declined. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 cloud blue exterior

¶ “EVs Take 56.5% Share In Sweden, Going Nowhere, Backwards” • June’s EVs took 56.5% share in Sweden, down year on year from 59.2% in June 2023. The battery EV share fell YOY, while the plugin hybrid share was flat, and both lost volume. Overall auto volume was 25,401 units, down 10% YOY. The Tesla Model Y was the best selling battery EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU Tariffs On Chinese EVs Commence, But Discussions Ongoing” • There are discussions ongoing between Chinese government officials and EU officials and administration in regard to tariffs on battery-electric cars produced in China. But in the meantime, the tariffs, ranging from 17.4% to 37.6%, are now in effect. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Yuan Plus (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0) 

¶ “What Labour Means For Your Energy Bills” • The average British home currently pays yearly energy bills of £1,568 thanks to the Ofgem set price cap, with this figure set to rise later in the year. Labour’s energy policy is to launch a state-funded company called GB Energy, is intended to save every household £300 on their power bills. [This is Money]

¶ “Digital World Driving Growing Demand For Renewable Generation” • The world’s reliance on the internet, the shift to cloud computing, and the emergence of AI all fuel increasing demand for data centers. The IEA projects that by 2026, data centers will consume more than 800 TWh annually, more than double what they used in 2022. [pv magazine Australia]

Data center with rooftop solar (Iron Mountain image)

¶ “End Subsidies For Fossil Fuel: RE100” • An official of the RE100 renewable energy initiative called on the government of Taiwan to remove subsidies for fossil fuels to further boost the development of the renewable energy market. RE100 director of energy Sam Kimmins was welcoming the Hon Hai Technology Group to the RE100 family. [Taipei Times]

¶ “Europe’s Largest Solar Power Plant Connects To Transmission Grid” • Europe’s largest solar power plant was established south of Leipzig. The Witznitz Energy Park, with a capacity of 650 MW, is tied to the 50Hertz transmission grid. The facility injects electricity directly while also helping to maintain grid stability around the clock, even at night. [Energy Global]

Saxony (Michael Gäbler, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “‘Based On Facts’: Kean Sceptical On Nukes” • Incoming Climate Change Authority chair and former NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean has poured cold water on the Coalition’s nuclear plans, arguing that a turn to atomic energy would take “far too long” and be “far too expensive.” He said he would take a “pragmatic approach” to energy policy. [Yahoo]

¶ “Nations Pressed To Reach ‘Historic’ Climate Agreement” • The Emirati head of the UN’s climate conference pressed countries to strive for common ground and reach a “historic” deal by early next week. It is rare for UN climate talks to end as scheduled but COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber set the ambitious goal of having a deal in place by 11 am (0700 GMT) on Tuesday. [MSN]

Net Zero Nuclear Event (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BH-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “West Coast Historic Heat Wave Could Break All-Time Records” • The western US is facing a historic heat wave with alerts issued not just for areas inland, but also normally cooler coastal places like Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The heat wave could break all-time records. The record heat will not stop this weekend, with more expected next week. [ABC News]

¶ “Pongamia Trees Grow Where Citrus Once Flourished, Offering Renewable Energy, Protein” • As parts of the Florida citrus industry have all but dried up over the past two decades due to two fatal diseases, some farmers are planting pongamia trees, a climate-resilient species that can produce plant-based proteins and a sustainable biofuel. [ABC News]

Pongamia trees (Jumanous, CC-BY-SA 3.0a)

¶ “Fossil Fuel Crazies Ask Supreme Court To Protect Them From CARB” • The lunatics in the fossil fuel industry, who destroy the environment as they seek obscene profits, have banded together to do a full frontal assault on the California Air Resources Board that for decades has been working to lower emissions from the cars and trucks on California roads. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US EPA And NMED Inspections Find Widespread Emissions at Oil & Gas Facilities in the Permian Basin Area” • The US EPA Region 6 and the New Mexico Environment Department posted reports for 124 facilities the two agencies inspected in the New Mexico Permian Basin area in April. A total of 75 of the facilities had non-compliant emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Pumpjacks (Zorin09, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “New Panel Charged With Helping Massachusetts Meet Its Renewable Energy Goals” • Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the formation of a new panel charged with guiding the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The Energy Transformation Advisory Board includes a broad array of representatives. [Caledonian Record]

¶ “New York May Miss 70% Renewable Electricity Goal Of 2030: Draft Report” • A draft report on the status of renewable energy in New York casts doubt on whether limiting fossil fuels to no more than 30% by 2030 is possible. The report is from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Department of Public Service. [NEWS10 ABC]

Have an intensely relaxing day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Battery Chemistry From Nyobolt Promises Faster Charging For Electric Cars” • Nyobolt, a battery company in Cambridge, UK, has some news that came to us at CleanTechnica via CNN. Nyobolt claims it developed a battery that can be charged in five minutes or less and is durable enough to power an electric car for 600,000 miles of driving. [CleanTechnica]

Charging with a Nyobolt battery (Courtesy of Nyobolt)

World:

¶ “Europe Is Slapping Tariffs On Chinese EVs” • The EU is imposing sharply higher customs duties on EVs imported from China. EVs are the latest flash point in a broader trade dispute over Chinese government subsidies and Beijing’s burgeoning exports of green technology to the 27-nation EU bloc. A final decision will be made in four months. [ABC News]

¶ “Hurricane Beryl Earliest Category 5 Hurricane Ever, And Other Facts” • Climate insecurity is rising, including larger, more frequent hurricanes. The latest example is Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 hurricane. In fact, as the title notes, this is the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic. And that’s not Hurricane Beryl’s only record. [CleanTechnica]

Predicted Hurricane Beryl path (NOAA image).jpg

¶ “Our Obsession With Growth Is Killing The Planet – UN Report” • Olivier De Schutter is a Belgian legal scholar working on economic and social rights. He submitted a report to the UN that warns humanity’s obsession with growth is enriching elites and killing the planet. We need an economy based on human rights, the report argues. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What Falling Sales? Global EV Sales Grew 23% in May!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 23% in May 2024 from May 2023. There were 1.3 million registrations. Battery EVs were up by 17% YOY, while plugin hybrids jumped 37%. Plugins represented 20% share of the overall auto market and are in the disruption zone. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Pontus Jerand Wernhammar, Unsplash)

¶ “China Could Lead The World To Net Zero” • China, with 18% of the global population, uses 26% of the world’s primary energy and emits 33% of the world’s energy-related CO₂. Renewables are poised to supplant coal massively over the next three decades, however. The effects of the energy transition unfolding in China will echo globally. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Labour Party Wins UK General Election With Promising Implications For The UK Green Economy” • The Labour Party has won the UK General Election, making Sir Keir Starmer the country’s new Prime Minister, and former PM Rishi Sunak conceded defeat. The result has promising implications for the UK green economy. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Renewable energy (Courtesy of NREL)

¶ “Hydro-Québec Announces $9 Billion Wind Power Project” • Hydro-Québec announced its plans to create a $9-billion wind farm in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. It could become one of the largest in North America. The area of 5,000 sq km could generate up to 3,000 MW as part of the utility’s strategy to increase wind power capacity. [CBC]

¶ “Germany Gives Apartment-Dwellers Legal Right To Solar Power” • Germany’s lower house of parliament has passed legal amendments allowing apartment owners and tenants to install solar systems on their balconies, as the country seeks to increase uptake of the energy form. More than half of the population of Germany live in rented homes. [Yahoo News UK]

Balcony power (PantheraLeo1359531, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Ford Electric Vehicle Sales Report: Take That, Haters!” • Ford Motor Company issued its mid-year sales report this week. To the surprise of no-one who is actually counting, EV sales are up. There is one surprise, though, and it has something to do with Ford CEO Jim Farley’s widely reported hopes for a small car renaissance in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Hit With Penalty Due To Failure To Comply With EPA CO₂ Emissions Over A 6-Year Span” • The US EPA announced that General Motors agreed to retire roughly 50 million metric tons of GHG credits to resolve excess CO₂ emissions identified through EPA’s light-duty vehicle in-use testing program. GM will pay a $145.8 million penalty. [CleanTechnica]

2015 Cadillac Escalade (AlBargan, CC BY-ND 2.0)

¶ “FBI Warns Of Growing Cyberthreats Targeting US Renewable Energy Sector” • The FBI is warning of increased cyberthreats against the US renewable energy sector. With increased adoption of renewable energy driven by federal incentives and such local initiatives as Virginia’s ambitious energy goals, the sector has become a prime target. [GovInfoSecurity]

¶ “Renewable Energy Projects On Books In Northern Nevada” • Completion of NV Energy’s Greenlink West power transmission line from Southern Nevada to the Fort Churchill substation will enable renewable energy development in northern Nevada. Two projects are slated to add over 1,100 MW of solar PVs and storage to the state’s grid. [Nevada Appeal]

Children learning about PVs (Flickr.com, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “New Renewable Energy Facility In Upstate New York Creates Electricity With Dairy Manure And Food Waste” • State and local leaders cut the ribbon yesterday on a new renewable energy facility at Lent Hill Dairy Farm in Steuben County. Over 35,000 gallons of food waste and about 90,000 gallons of manure will be recycled per day at the facility. [Feedstuffs]

¶ “Constellation Talking To Pennsylvania On Three Mile Island Restart, Sources Say” • Constellation Energy is in talks with the Pennsylvania governor’s office and state lawmakers to help fund a possible restart of part of its Three Mile Island power facility, the site of a nuclear meltdown in the 1970s, three sources familiar with the discussions said. [MSN]

Have a fruitfully productive day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Let’s Put Sheldon Whitehouse In The White House!” • After the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision on immunity, Senator Whitehouse took to social media to express his outrage. He said, “We face three huge threats: persistent internal attacks on our democracy, unbridled climate upheaval, and a captured Court with some deeply corrupt justices.” [CleanTechnica]

Photo provided by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s office

World:

¶ “Hurricane Beryl Forecast: Storm Slamming Jamaica With Life-Threatening Conditions” • Hurricane Beryl is slamming Jamaica with life-threatening impacts. As of Wednesday evening, Beryl remains at Category 4 criteria, with winds now at 130 mph as it starts its push away from Jamaica, passing near the island’s southwest corner. [ABC News]

¶ “EVs Take 85.3% Share In Norway – Tesla Takes Top Spots” • The June auto market saw plugin EVs take 85.3% share in Norway, down from 90.9% year on year. Battery EVs took 80.0% share, down from 82.2% YOY, despite volume growth. Overall auto volume in June was 17,512 units, up 12.5% YOY, while year-to-date volume remains 8% down. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Murphy Zheng, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Research With Insurers And Pension Funds Shows A Desire To Invest Across A Range Of Renewable Energy Technologies” • A survey of UK pension funds and insurers that manage a total of over £350 billion in assets shows a preference for diversification of renewable energy assets. Nearly 90% of survey respondents plan to invest more in onshore wind. [IFA Magazine]

¶ “Record Electricity From Green Power In Germany” • At 140 TWh, more renewable electricity was generated in Germany in the first half of 2024 than ever before, accounting for 65% of net public electricity generation, data from the Fraunhofer Institute shows. Fossil fuels output continues to decline as do the prices for electricity on the exchange. [CleanTechnica]

Sunset and turbine (Joseph-Evan-Capelli, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Government Approves Direct Sales Of Renewable Power” • Renewable power can be sold through private transmission lines without having to go through Vietnam Electricity. Solar, wind, biomass, micro-hydropower, geothermal, wave, and tidal energy plants are included in a government decree on direct power purchase agreements. [VnExpress International]

¶ “India Solar Power Output Growth Slows As Coal Generation Jumps” • Growth in power generation from solar installations in India declined over the first half of the year while coal generation rose by 10.4% in the period. Solar output growth was the slowest in six years. Coal generation, on the other hand, surged with an increase in demand. [OilPrice.com]

Bhadla Solar Power Plant (Sarvajanik Puralekh, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “European Energy Secures Solar PPA From The Danish State Railways” • A solar park is set to be built in eastern Denmark after Danish State Railways has signed an agreement with European Energy to buy some of the power. The Lidsø Solar Park, which will be at Rødby Harbour in Lolland Municipality, will be one of the biggest in Denmark. [pv magazine International]

¶ “75% Of Italians Are Against Nuclear Power” • Some 75% of Italians are against nuclear power, a poll shows. Italy abandoned its nuclear power program in 1987, a year after the Chernobyl disaster, but the government’s plan for the Green transition features a mixture of renewable sources including 10% nuclear, which officials said will come small reactors. [MSN]

Florence (Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “RE100 Has No Plan To Include Nuclear Power, Says Energy Director” • Sam Kimmins, the director of energy of the Climate Group, a nonprofit that co-launched RE100, told a climate forum in Taipei that the group is often asked whether it will consider nuclear power as a source of renewable electricity as defined by RE100. “The answer is no.” [Focus Taiwan]

US:

¶ “Glaciers On Alaskan Ice Field Melting At ‘Incredibly Worrying’ Pace, Study Finds” • The glaciers on a major Alaskan ice field are melting twice as fast as recorded over a decade ago. Researchers say the rate of ice loss is “incredibly worrying.” The research, led by scientists at Newcastle University in the UK, was published in Nature Communications. [ABC News]

Juneau Icefield (Gillfoto, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Heat Wave Sets In On West Coast With Worst Yet To Come” • Heat alerts were issued for 21 states from Washington to Florida on Wednesday, with more than 90 million on alert for extreme weather. The dangerous heat is just beginning in the West, but it has already claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy who was hiking in Phoenix on Tuesday. [ABC News]

¶ “Biden-Harris Admin Over $600 Million Available For Projects That Reconnect Communities” • US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the third round of the popular Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The program’s most recent funding has more than $600 million available. [CleanTechnica]

Introducing an electric bus (Courtesy of the EPA)

¶ “The State Of Electric School Bus Adoption In The US” • More than 21 million US children ride school buses, and over 90% of which run on diesel fuel. Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen, with proven links to serious issues for both physical health and cognitive development. With more electric school buses on the road, these risks can be reduced. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Approves $475 Million For Port Upgrades” • A $10 billion piece of climate bond legislation, SB 867, was approved by California lawmakers. It includes $475 million for upgrades to make the state’s ports floating wind-ready. The investments in upgrade swill be crucial for the Golden State’s goals of 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045. [reNews]

Have a uniformly funny day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Refuting Myths About Nuclear And Renewable Energy” • The proponents of Nuclear energy are attempting to discredit renewable energy and promote nuclear energy and fossil gas in its place. This article refutes several of the myths they are disseminating that are receiving little or no challenge in the mainstream media. [Pearls and Irritations]

Nuclear plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “When It Comes To Power, Solar Is About To Leave Nuclear And Everything Else In The Shade” • Whereas nuclear power is barely growing, and is shrinking as a proportion of global power output, The Economist reported solar power is growing so quickly it is set to become the biggest source of electricity on the planet by the mid-2030s. [MSN]

World:

¶ “Europe EV Sales Report – Volkswagen Is Recovering Its Mojo” • Some 226,000 plugin vehicles were registered in Europe in May, a figure that is down 10% year over year, which is a more significant slip than what the overall market experienced (-3% YOY). Tesla carries most of the blame, as its deliveries crashed 35% YOY in May. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.4 (Ssu, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “47% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China – EV Sales Report” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market, with plugins scoring 816,000 sales in a 1.7-million-unit overall market. That’s up 33% year over year. Battery EVs were up 22%, while plugin hybrids jumped 55% in May. The year-to-date tally is around 3.3 million units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Many Small Countries At Risk Of Devastation And Death From Climate Change” • For years, climate scientists have been telling us that climate change means the temperature of the oceans is rising, which would cause worse storms. Hurricane Beryl set records for its timing, the speed with which it gathered strength, and much more. [CleanTechnica]

Hurricane Beryl (Screenshot)

¶ “Renewables Accounted For More Than Half Of European Power Generation In 2024 So Far” • New research showed that renewables accounted for more than 50% of all power generated in Europe during the first half of 2024. Nuclear energy’s share was stable, contributing 24% to the region’s energy mix. Fossil fuels provided just 26%. [edie]

¶ “Maersk Launches Offshore Wind Installation Company” • Maersk Offshore Wind will provide installation services to the offshore wind market with a vessel based on a state-of-the-art offshore Wind Installation Vessel concept. Maersk said the design and concept are estimated to reduce the installation time of offshore wind turbines. [reNews]

Wind Installation Vessel (Maersk Offshore Wind image)

¶ “Ocean Winds Delivers First Power At Moray West” • Ocean Winds has delivered first power from the 882-MW Moray West offshore wind farm off north-east Scotland. The project is on track to become fully operational in 2025. Around 40 Siemens Gamesa 14.7-MW turbines remain to be installed at the 60-unit project in the Moray Firth. [reNews]

¶ “Rio Tinto Leans Into Solar PV For End-Of-Life Mines” • Rio Tinto has finished building a 3.5-MW solar farm in Canada and will begin construction on two more solar projects in Australia’s Northern Territory, as the company installs solar PVs to support end-of-life operations at various mines. The Canadian project is for the Diavik diamond mine. [RenewEconomy]

Diavik diamond mine (Rio Tinto image)

¶ “Mingyang To Supply Waterkant Turbines” • Luxcara signed a preferred supplier agreement with Chinese wind turbine maker Mingyang Smart Energy for the turbines for the approximately 270-MW Waterkant offshore wind farm in German waters. The reservation agreement covers sixteen machines with up to 18.5-MW capacity apiece. [reNews]

US:

¶ “’Project Poppy’ Brings Diesel-Killing Electric Truck Battery Factory To Mississippi” • The deep red state of Mississippi is set to host a new battery factory for electric trucks featuring new lithium iron phosphate technology. If all goes according to plan, the new venture will serve as the biggest single job creation engine in state history. [CleanTechnica]

Electric trucks in PACCAR’s Kenworth line (Kenworth image)

¶ “Google Falling Short Of Important Climate Target, Cites Electricity Needs Of AI” • Three years ago, Google set out a plan to address climate change by going “net zero” by 2030. Now a report from the company shows it is nowhere near meeting that goal, and in fact its emissions are growing. The company blames the energy needs of AI. [ABC News]

¶ “Michigan HOAs Can’t Ban Solar Panels Under Newly Passed Bill” • A bill awaiting Gov Gretchen Whitmer’s signature would prohibit homeowners associations from banning rooftop solar panels and other “energy-saving equipment.” The proposed Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act passed along party lines in the Democratic-led Legislature. [Bridge Michigan]

Rooftop solar system (Vivint Solar, Unsplash)

¶ “Feds Give OK To Two Wind Farms Off New Jersey’s Coast” • Federal authorities approved the construction of up to 195 wind turbines off of New Jersey’s coast in a victory for Governor Phil Murphy’s wind energy agenda. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved two offshore wind farms ten miles from Atlantic City. [New Jersey Monitor]

¶ “Scientists Discover Clean Energy Offers United States Nearly $250 Billion In Health Savings” • Imagine getting paid $249 billion just for doing the right thing. Well, that’s what the US earned over the last few years by increasing its use of renewable energy such as wind and solar power, according to an article in The Guardian. [The Cool Down]

Have a totally okay day.

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Opinion:

¶ “High Crimes: The Case For Charging Fossil Fuel Companies With Criminal Acts” • Four Authors at Public Citizen released a position paper that examines charging Big Oil with climate homicide. Bringing criminal charges against these companies may seem like a giant leap into the unknown, but the analysis in the paper is extensive and exhaustive. [CleanTechnica]

Burning fossil fuel (Travis Leery, Unsplash)

¶ “Creation Of Local Renewable Zones Is What Australia’s Energy Transition Needs” • The Queensland government’s launch of ‘Local Renewable Energy Zones’ may prove to be significant for energy market innovation. Distributed energy resources could be the largest source of generation, storage, and firming capacity by 2050. [RenewEconomy]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Algae Biofuel Fans Get Another Do-Over” • The big investors ditched algae biofuel last year, with ExxonMobil among those making a rush for the exits. However, among the small fry hope springs eternal. The US DOE is still forging ahead with new algae-related programs for development, and a consortium in the EU is cranking up as well. [CleanTechnica]

Algae biofuel in a laboratory (Fuelgae image)

World:

¶ “How Unprecedented Ocean Temperatures Are Affecting This Year’s Hurricane Season” • Warmer-than-usual sea temperatures have allowed for the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane on record to barrel through the Atlantic Basin. Sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic, where hurricanes form, are two to three degrees Celsius higher than normal. [ABC News]

¶ “Dynamics Of Electric Mobility Transition In Kenya” • Kenya is rapidly emerging as the East African e-mobility leader amid the bourgeoning EV market on the continent. With President Ruto’s endorsement during the last Africa Climate Summit, where he drove an EV to the venue, the Kenyan EV ecosystem has made rapid strides. [CleanTechnica]

President of Kenya in an Autopax Air EV Yetu (Citizen TV on X)

¶ “SJVN’s Green Energy Arm Signs Deal With AM Green To Supply 4.5 GW Renewable Energy For Its Ammonia Plants” • In what is one of the world’s largest green energy supply contract, state-run SJVN’s green energy arm will supply 4.5 GW of energy to AM Green Ammonia Holdings for one of the world’s largest green ammonia plants. [MSN]

¶ “Maserati Is First To Put A Battery Electric Convertible Into Production” • There are lots of choices if you want an electric SUV, compact SUV, or sedan. If you want an electric convertible today that is not a retrofitted Jaguar XK-E, you have one choice and one choice only. Open up your wallet and say hello to the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore. [CleanTechnica]

Maserati electric convertible (Maserati image)

¶ “German Industry Turns To Solar In Race To Cut Energy Costs” • Since the war in Ukraine began and Russian fossil fuel exports to Germany fell, Berlin has passed laws to speed up solar power expansion in an effort to cover 80% of the country’s energy from renewables by 2030. German companies are getting around high energy costs with solar PVs. [1470 & 100.3 WMBD]

¶ “Irish Families To Get Free Hot Water Thanks To Harnessing Of Surplus Renewable Energy” • Over 150 Galway families will soon have their homes supplied with free tanks of hot water by harnessing surplus renewable energy. Their homes will be fitted out with EnergyCloud enabled smart devices powered by surplus renewable energy. [Connacht Tribune]

Homes in Galway (Chan Hyuk Moon, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “French Nuclear Giant Scraps SMR Plans Due To Soaring Costs, Will Start Over” • The French nuclear giant EdF, the government owned company that manages the country’s vast fleet of nuclear power stations, has reportedly scrapped its plans to develop a new design for small nuclear reactors because of fears of soaring costs. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Puerto Rico Approves Electricity Rate Increase Weeks After Massive Blackout” • Puerto Ricans were hit with a 4.6% increase in electricity rates through September, in a blow to 3.2 million people who struggle with chronic power outages as the territory’s grid keeps deteriorating. For clients who consume 800 kWh, the new rate will be 23.77¢/kwh. [ABC News]

San Juan (Andreea Munteanu, Unsplash)

¶ “The Ports of Long Beach And Los Angeles Invest $25 Million for 207 Truck Chargers” • The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will provide $25 million for a partnership with regional air quality agencies to jump-start charging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty drayage trucks in one of the most populous regions in the nation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BOEM Approves 2.6-GW New England Wind 1&2” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved Avangrid’s New England Wind 1&2 Construction and Operations Plan for a total capacity of up to 2,600 MW. The COP authorises construction and operation of two wind energy projects off the US east coast and is BOEM’s final approval of the sites. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Bob Brewer, Unsplash)

¶ “Mercury Marine Goes Electric With Its New Family Of Avator Motors” • New motors in Mercury Marine’s Avator lineup are on the smaller side with ratings from 750 watts up to 11 kW. That’s roughly 1 hp up to 14.75 hp for those of you still measuring power for boats in farm animals. Mercury believes these small motors will find solid market traction. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wendy’s Inks Deal With Solar Company To Cut Restaurant Emissions” • The Wendy’s Company is partnering with solar provider Ampion Renewable Energy for clean energy at its US restaurants and franchises, the companies announced. Over a hundred restaurants in three stattes will get 30% to 100% of their electricity from solar power. [Restaurant Dive]

Have a movingly successful day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “China Makes History With Installation Of Record-Breaking Wind Turbine In Open Water” • China installed an 18-MW wind turbine earlier this month off the shore of Guangdong province. It is the largest wind turbine ever by power rating, and experts expect it to produce enough electricity to meet the annual needs of 36,000 homes. [The Cool Down]

Blade installation (Dongfang Electric Corporation image)

¶ “Energy Efficiency: Why Are We Wasting Two-Thirds Of The Energy In Fossil Fuels?” • The folks at RMI, formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Institute, tell us that we waste about two-thirds of all the energy in the coal, oil, and methane we extract from the Earth every year. Wasting energy, released as heat, is unavoidable when we burn fuel. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Arctic ‘Dirty Fuel’ Ban For Ships Comes Into Force” • A ban on the dirtiest and most climate-damaging fuel for ships has come into effect in Arctic waters. Heavy Fuel Oil is a tar-like but cheap oil widely used in shipping around the world. However, HFO is particularly damaging in the Arctic, where its black smoke makes snow and ice melt faster. [BBC]

Tanker (Bernd Dittrich, Unsplash)

¶ “China To Meet Its 2030 Renewable Energy Target By End Of This Year: State-Owned Researcher” • China’s solar and wind energy will provide the momentum needed to meet its 2030 renewable targets this year, a state-owned researcher’s forecast shows. China will add 70 GW of wind capacity and 190 GW of solar by the end of 2024. [South China Morning Post]

¶ “Massive Trove Of Manganese Discovered On The Sea Floor: Implications For EV Batteries” • Benchmark, a market research firm, expects an eight-fold increase in demand for magnesium for batteries over the coming years. Japanese researchers found a huge new cache of manganese nodules on the ocean floor, and the race is on to harvest them. [CleanTechnica]

Manganese nodules on the ocean floor (USGS image)

¶ “Nxtra By Airtel Joins RE100 Initiative And Commits To 100% Renewable Energy” • Nxtra by Airtel joined the RE100 initiative and committed to operating on 100% renewable electricity. With this, Nxtra is the 14th Indian company, and the country’s only data center organisation, pledged to RE100. Nxtra’s Its aim is to be net-zero by 2031. [digital terminal]

¶ “Google And BlackRock Partner To Boost Solar Power In Taiwan” • Google and BlackRock’s Climate Infrastructure arm joined forces on solar power development in Taiwan. They are targeting a 1-GW solar pipeline, significantly boosting clean energy on the island’s grid and supporting Google’s goal of 24/7 carbon-free operations. [W.Media]

Solar panels at a car park (SSJF01, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Gunvor And Quercus Announce Partnership To Develop Solar In Italy” • Gunvor Group, a leading global energy commodities trading company, together with Quercus Real Assets Limited, the London-based renewable energy specialist, have announced a partnership targeting development of up to 3 GW of solar PV capacity in Italy. [Lelezard]

¶ “Eolus Seeks Permit For 2.2-GW Skidbladner Floater” • Eolus has applied to the Swedish government for permission to build the 147-turbine, 2,200-MW Skidbladner floating offshore wind farm 20 km north of Gotska Sandön. The estimated electricity production is 11.7 TWh per year. It is less than half of the offshore wind capacity Eolus plans for Sweden. [reNews]

Early floating offshore turbine (Lo83, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Bangladesh Can Meet Entire Electricity Demand By Solar Energy: Study” • Bangladesh could generate enough solar energy to meet its entire electricity demand, contrary to the myth of land scarcity, as the country’s abandoned land, rooftops, water bodies, and arable land can be used to produce a significant amount of solar power. [The Business Standard]

¶ “Germany Achieves 58% Renewable Energy Share In First Half Of 2024” • Germany achieved a new record for renewable energy generation, covering some 58% of its electricity consumption in the first half of 2024 with wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower. The share of renewable energy has increased from 52% in the first half of last year. [ZAWYA]

German wind turbines (M.Minderhoud, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Study On US Attitudes Toward EV Adoption Mirrors GM’s Sustainability Goals” • A study by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago reveals that high prices and limited charging infrastructure are major barriers to EV adoption. This is consistent with GM’s sustainability goals. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Colorado Aims To Reduce Light Pollution With Dark Sky Month” • Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced Dark Sky Month to raise awareness of a serious problem affecting people, animals, and plants without many of us even noticing. It’s just a proclamation that carries symbolic meaning, but at the same time brings attention to the issue. [CleanTechnica]

Light pollution (Paige Weber, Unsplash)

¶ “Thumbs Up For 1.2-GW Delaware Offshore Wind Law” • The US offshore wind industry welcomed the passage of a bill before the Delaware legislature that sets a 1200-MW state target. Trade group Oceantic Network said the Delaware Energy Solutions Act of 2024 encourages regional cooperation, and could streamline transmission development. [reNews]

¶ “Senate Poised To Send Bill Boosting Nuclear Power To Biden’s Desk” • The Senate is poised to send an energy bill to President Biden’s desk that could allow for more nuclear power to be built in the US. The legislation seeks to reduce fees for companies that are proposing to build nuclear reactors and establish a prize that aims to incentive nuclear deployment. [Yahoo]

Have a profoundly lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Climate Records Keep Getting Shattered. Here Is What You Need To Know” • Month after month, global temperatures are setting new records. Scientists and climate policymakers are meanwhile warning of the growing likelihood that the planet will soon exceed the warming target set at the landmark Paris 2015 climate talks. [MSN]

Supercell (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Do The Research And End The Nuclear Hype In NB” • New Brunswick’s ARC nuclear project is in trouble. If NB Power and the provincial government reviewed available research, they would learn that neither sodium-cooled nor molten salt reactors have ever been operated successfully on a commercial electricity grid. [NB Media Co-op]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Breakthrough Solar Power Technology Could Replace Fossil Fuels In Heavy Manufacturing” • An advanced proof-of-concept technology uses synthetic quartz crystals to trap solar energy at temperatures over 1,000°C, demonstrating a potential to provide clean energy for carbon-intensive industries like metal, cement, and chemicals manufacturing. [Yahoo News UK]

Cement kilns (LinguisticDemographer, public domain)

World:

¶ “Japan Looks Farther Out To Sea For Overdue Wind Power Boost” • Japan isn’t close to being on track to meet its fiscal 2030 target of a 46% greenhouse gas reduction from 2013 levels. Fossil fuels still consist of 69% of the nation’s power mix, with just 24% coming from renewables. Windpower, especially offshore, needs a boost from parliament. [The Japan Times]

¶ “The 2024 Fiat 500e: An Italian Classic That (Still) Rides on Style” • The author’s wife is sensible, practical, measured, and understated. She could have whatever she chose, but she wanted a compact electric car. Do you know what car she went with? A powder blue 2017 Fiat 500e. Do you know why? Because it was cute. … That’s it. … It was cute. [CleanTechnica]

2024 Fiat 500e (Courtesy of Fiat)

¶ “Basic Energy Injects P13.6 million For Wind Project” • Basic Energy Corp is setting aside more funding for the development of the 50-MW wind power project in the Philippine provence of Batangas. The Board of Directors of Basic Energy approved the allocation of P13.6 million ($233,000) for Mabini Energy Corp, a subsidiary overseeing the project. [Philstar.com]

¶ “Renewable Energy 44.7% of EU Electricity Production in 2023 – Now #1!” • Eurostat released electricity data from 2023, and it shows that 44.7% of EU electricity was produced from renewable resources last year! Natural gas production was down, a lot. Coal production was down even more. Even production from oil and petroleum products was down. [CleanTechnica]

Windpower (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)

¶ “Village Leader Spearheads Renewable Energy Project” • A story at One Earth, diesel-fueled pumps had been used by past heads of a village in Java to divert water from the nearby Elo River, but the cost of oil meant that they could only operate for a month per year. The village has installed solar-powered pumps to take up the load. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Five Billion People Affected By Extreme Heat Due To Climate Change In Nine Days Of June” • Globally, nearly 5 billion people endured extreme heat from June 16 to June 24, a consequence of climate change exacerbated by emissions from fossil fuels, says a report from Climate Central, a US-based nonprofit organization focused on climate science news. [Saudi Gazette]

Hot day (Alexander Fastovets, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Commercial Electricity Demand Grew Fastest In US States With Rapid Computing Facility Growth” • US Consumption of electricity in the commercial sector has recovered from levels of the pandemic. But the growth in commercial electricity demand is centered in states with rapid development of large computing facilities such as data centers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Model Y Much Cheaper Than These Three Competitors” • Since the Tesla Model 3 Long Range is gaining eligibility for the $7,500 US tax credit, this is a good time to compare costs among competitors. It turns out that the Tesla Model Y is much cheaper now than they are, and that’s without even taking into account long-term fuel costs. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Tesla image)

¶ “PACE Loans Are Expanded For Energy Efficiency And Wind Resistance Improvements To Homes” • Florida Gov DeSantis signed legislation expanding the universe of improvements covered on July 1. With hurricane season underway, a low-cost loan program was expanded allowing property owners to better prepare homes for storms. [Florida Politics]

¶ “UPPCO Announces Plans To Transition To Renewable Energy By 2040” • Upper Peninsula Power Company says it is commited to plans to meet sustainable energy solutions required by statutes of Michigan over the next 16 years. UPPCO intends to transition 60% of power delivery to renewable energy sources by 2035, with a full transition by 2040. [Keweenaw Report]

Have a gracefully helpful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Chinese Car Innovation Rate Is Kind Of Bonkers” • “Chinese automakers are expected to go from 59% market share within the Chinese auto market to 72% market share by 2030.” And “Chinese EV producers have been rolling out new electric cars at a fast pace, very fast. It seems like a new electric car rolls out in China every week, if not every day!” [CleanTechnica]

BYD EVs in Shanghai (Zotyefan, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Cooling Solutions For Cities That Lower Surface And Air Temperatures” • City surface and air temperatures are in critical need of cooling. More than 300 million people live in cities of the US, where climate change has made them vulnerable, amidst asphalt and buildings that absorb and retain heat. Here are some mitigation strategies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Coating Technologies Crucial For Offshore Wind Farms” • In 2023, BloombergNEF reported that investment in offshore wind totaled more than $76 billion worldwide. To protect such vast investments, effective anti-corrosion protection is essential for equipment that must withstand the relentless fluctuations of tides, weather, and wind. [POWER Magazine]

Installation vessel (Rob Webbon, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Portugal Has 28% Plugin Vehicle Share” • After previously checking out Spain, we turn west, to its neighbor, Portugal, for a new EV sales report. As a Southern European market with low purchase power, one would think that this would be another market lingering in the back of the group, struggling to reach double digits. Think again! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Leading Baltic States To Energy Security” • In recent years, Baltic countries have had a solar generation boom. Now the region’s nations seek to kill two birds with one stone. They aim to break away from energy dependence on Russia amid growing security concerns while they maximize the transition to green energy. [pv magazine International]

Tallinn, Estonia (Hongbin, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “NHPC And ENGIE Are To Add 400 MW Of Solar Capacity In Gujarat” • State-owned NHPC and ENGIE announced signing of PPAs with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd for two solar projects of 200 MW each. NHPC said it signed a power purchase agreement with GUVNL for a 200-MW solar power project in a renewable energy park at Khavda. [Outlook Planet]

¶ “Germany And Morocco Sign Hydrogen And Renewables Pact” • Germany and Morocco signed a pact on climate and energy to boost cooperation in renewable energy facilities and hydrogen production in the North African country. Morocco has excellent conditions to host solar and wind power generation capacity and to produce green hydrogen. [OilPrice.com]

Aït Benhaddou, Morocco (Toa Heftiba, Unsplash)

¶ “Infinity Power To Develop 4 GW Of Renewable Energy In Cameroon” • Infinity Power has entered a memorandum of understanding with the Cameroon West Regional Council to establish up to 4 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2035. The move is part of the company’s strategy to expand its renewable energy footprint in Africa. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “China Three Gorges Renewables To Invest $11 Billion In Integrated Power Project” • China Three Gorges Renewables plans to invest $11 billion in a huge integrated power project in China with solar, wind, and coal power capacity plus a storage facility. The company plans to build the 16-GW energy complex in Inner Mongolia. [OilPrice.com]

Three Gorges Dam (Hugh, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “World On The Brink As ‘Shelling Destroys Key Equipment’ At Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant” • The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was damaged after being shelled, increasing fears that a catastrophic release of radiation is “dangerously close.” ZNPP is the biggest nuclear facility in Europe and has been under Russian control since March 2022. [MSN]

US:

¶ “GreenPower Delivers First Of 37 Electric School Buses For West Virginia School Districts” • GreenPower Motor Company Inc, a manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, delivered the first Type D BEAST electric school bus made at its plant in South Charleston, West Virginia to a school district in the state. [CleanTechnica]

GreenPower school bus (GreenPower Motor Company)

¶ “Tesla Gets Order To Stop Polluting Excessively in California – 112 Notices of Violation Since 2019” • It seems that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is getting a bit fed up with a problem at the Tesla Fremont factory and Tesla’s unwillingness to correct it. The district published a news release, as it tries to get Tesla to address the problem. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Crowley Christens The First Fully Electric Tugboat In The USA” • Joined by diverse partners and industry supporters, Crowley christened the eWolf, America’s first all-electric ship assist harbor tugboat. Operating with zero-emissions and other sustainable technology, the tugboat delivers the high-power capability, safety, and efficiency. [CleanTechnica]

Crowley electric tugboat (Crowley image)

¶ “Bakers Island Lighthouse Shines Bright, Thanks To A Grant” • In Massachusetts, the historic Bakers Island Light Station at the entrance of Salem Sound runs on 100% renewable energy, thanks to a $45,000 sustainability grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. The grant funded an off-grid solar array and battery storage system. [CSRwire]

¶ “US To Hold Central Atlantic Lease Sale” • The US Department of the Interior announced it will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale in the Central Atlantic. The areas to be auctioned on 14 August 2024, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management could generate up to 6.3 GW of clean, renewable energy and power up to 2.2 million homes. [reNews]

Have a comfortably fulfilling day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Many Climate Refugees Will Become Climate Nomads – This Must Be Planned For” • Most people don’t take climate change seriously, so their first experience may be a shock. But repeated insane heatwaves or winter storms might make them want to live in someplace safe. We will have climate refugees, and places that aren’t prepared will be caught flat footed. [CleanTechnica]

Climate nomad camp (BLM, Public Domain)

World:

¶ “AlixPartners Predicts Chinese Automakers Will Have 33% Market Share By 2030” • AlixPartners’ 2024 Global Automotive Outlook suggests that traditional automakers who see themselves as perennial market leaders are in for a very bumpy ride in the next few years as Chinese car makers increase their share of the world’s new car market to 33%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Record-Breaking Global Offshore Wind Capacity Rises 24% in 2023” • In 2023, despite the macroeconomic challenges faced by the sector in some key markets, the wind industry installed 10.8 GW of offshore wind capacity, taking the global total to 75.2 GW. New capacity increased 24% on the previous year, a growth rate that could continue to 2030. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind turbines (Jesse De Meulenaere, Unsplash)

¶ “132 MW Of Solar Power Added To National Grid In First Five Months Of 2024” • In Sri Lanka, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says 132 MW of solar capacity were added to the National Grid in the first five months of 2024. Providing a breakdown of solar generation, the minister said over 1000 MWh was generated by solar by June 2024. [Newswire]

¶ “EDF Subsidiary Invests In Italian Floater” • Edison, owned by EDF has signed an agreement with Blunova SpA (Carlo Maresca Group) for the joint development of a floating offshore wind power project in Italy. They created Wind Energy Pozzallo to develop a floating offshore wind plant with a capacity of 975 MW off the coast of Pozzallo, Sicily. [reNews]

Foundation of a floating wind turbine (US DOE, public domain)

¶ “BC Announces Its First Solar Rebate Program” • The world’s governments have been giving incentives for solar systems for decades. Now British Columbia will offer rebates up to $10,000 to households and up to $150,000 to organizations for the first time next month. Solar system owners will also be able to feed energy to the grid. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

¶ “Forecourt Operator Circle K Signs Deal With EDF To Buy Electricity From Its Solar Farms” • Petrol station owner Circle K signed a deal to use solar energy from EDF Renewables Ireland to power its network from October. Circle K committed to buy electricity for the 168 branches it owns in Ireland from three EDF solar farms until 2036. [The Irish Times]

Ireland (Aldo De La Paz, Unsplash)

¶ “Enel Launches Northern Italy’s Largest Solar Power Plant” • The Trino solar power plant is in Piedmont. Its site, formerly that of a nuclear power plant shut down after the 1987 vote banning atomic energy, is now home to 160,000 PV panels. The plant will generate around 130 GWh per year, supplying green energy to around 47,000 homes. [energynews.pro]

¶ “Europe And North America Could Trade Solar Power Via World’s Biggest Subsea Interconnector” • Three European businessmen are proposing a subsea power interconnector to link Europe with North America. The world’s biggest subsea energy interconnector would harness the sun’s movement across the sky. [Balkan Green Energy News]

Atlantic Ocean (Jacob Buller, Unsplash)

¶ “Australian Capital Territory Commits To 100% Renewables, Rejects Nuclear” • The Australian Capital Territory legislative assembly has passed a motion expressing a commitment to power Australia with 100% renewable energy as soon as possible, and ensure the ACT remains free of nuclear power and nuclear waste. [pv magazine Australia]

US:

¶ “The Non-Passenger Side Of The EV Industry” • Large vehicle electrification could reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in US cities while it reduces upkeep and maintenance costs for fleet operators. So the Biden administration encouraged almost $1 billion in grants for deployment of commercial vehicle electrification. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus charging depot (Provided by Highland Fleets)

¶ “$16.7 Million for Marine Technology Innovation Through the Inflation Reduction Act” • The Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $16.7 million in funding of twelve awards to support the development of innovative new technologies and public-private partnerships as part of the Marine Life and Ocean Technology Transition programs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Surpass 30% Of US Electrical Generation For The First Time” • A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data newly released by the US Energy Information Administration confirms that solar power has continued its decade-long streak as the fastest-growing source of electricity in the US, growing to 8.4% of the total. [Solar Power World]

Solar farm (Kyle Mesdag, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “White Cap Announces 10-Year Solar Power Pact” • White Cap, a leading distributor of specialty construction supplies and safety products for contractors, agreed to buy the majority of electricity generated annually by a 114-MW solar system, through a 10-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement. The system is being built in Lamar County, Texas. [Industrial Distribution]

¶ “Providence Is Poised To Build The Future Of Offshore Wind” • The future of offshore wind is unfolding here in New England, and Rhode Island is poised to play a key role. The northeastern region hit a milestone this year by sending 100% clean power to the grid from Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first large offshore wind farm. [The Providence Journal]

Have an ingeniously insightful day.

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

Science and Technology:

¶ “Reducing The Strain On The Power Grid” • Technology is transforming the batteries in EVs into versatile assets for storing excess renewable electricity and making it available for demand spikes. Millions of EVs can be used as a huge energy system that can help support the grid. After years of talk, we can see tangible results. [The Santa Barbara Independent]

EV plugged in (Michael Fousert, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “A Tale Of Two Countries And Why One Is Holding The Agricultural Sector Responsible For Its Emissions” • In New Zealand, agriculture will be excluded from its national carbon pricing system. Denmark is set for one of the world’s first carbon taxes on agriculture. What’s the difference between the two? We can examine that here. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Lithium Mining In Argentina: Jobs Vs Environment” • Lithium extraction in Salinas Grandes is relatively cheap and effective, but it begs the question of sustainability and long-term impact. The Harvard International Review asked whether lithium mining will benefit the globe and its inhabitants or lead to societal and environmental harm. [CleanTechnica]

Salinas Grandes (Florian Delée, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Volvo’s Electric Trucks Reach 80 Million Kilometers In Five Years” • Volvo’s electric trucks have driven more than 80 million kilometers or 2,000 laps around the world since Volvo launched its first electric truck models in 2019. These trucks have reduced CO₂ emissions while improving the working environment for drivers significantly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Is To Leapfrog From Coal To Renewables Without Relying On LNG As Bridge Fuel: Study” • Liquefied natural gas is unlikely to be the transition fuel that will help China ditch coal, but the onus will fall on renewable energy because of the sector’s faster-than-expected progress and its ability to compete on costs, according to a study. [South China Morning Post]

Shanghai (Li Yang, Unsplash)

Australia:

¶ “Queensland To Pilot Second Local Renewable Energy Zone” • The Queensland government announced a second A$40 million ($26 million) investment in a local renewable energy zone pilot project in Townsville, 1,300 km north of Brisbane. The project will include an 8.4-MW, 18.8-MWh battery system and up to 2.8 MW of solar capacity. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “’Resilient’ Renewable Micro-Grid To Power Town Threatened By Bushfires For Up To Five Days” • Work has started on a solar and battery based microgrid that will help ensure the supply of more reliable, resilient and renewable power to one of the Victorian towns hardest hit by the 2019-2020 Black Summer of bushfires. [One Step Off The Grid]

Victorian countryside (Courtesy of Upper Murray, Inc)

¶ “Transmission Lines To Power Up Renewable Energy Zone” • Transmission lines spanning hundreds of kilometers have been approved to connect a key renewable energy precinct in New South Wales to the grid, paving the way for work on the project to begin. The area should attract around $20 billion in private investment for at least 4.5 GW of capacity. [MSN]

¶ “Community Battery Switches On To Help Power Apartments With Excess Rooftop Solar” • The City of Melbourne switched on the first of three community batteries for central business district apartments. They are designed to accelerate the city’s transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030, speeding its way to net-zero emissions by 2040. [RenewEconomy]

Melbourne CBD (Nazareth College, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Nuclear Push Would Drag Out Energy Transition, PM Warns” • The federal opposition outlined plans to build seven nuclear reactors across five states if it wins the next election. But the proposal risks further delay to Australia’s energy transition, said the prime minister, who warns it would undermine certainty for business and industry. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Few Have Flood Insurance To Help Recover From Devastating Midwest Storms” • Climate change produces wetter rainstorms, like those that hit the upper Midwest. But federal data shows that across the flooded states of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, the government has only issued about 26,500 flood insurance policies combined. [ABC News]

Flood in Nebraska (Army Corps of Engineers, public domain)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Has Announced $1.8 Billion in Infrastructure Grants Across the Country” • US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced $1.8 billion in awards from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity discretionary grant program for 148 projects across the country. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Waymo Goes Big In San Francisco” • Waymo’s progress may go under the radar a bit compared to Tesla’s Full Self Driving progress, but Waymo actually is offering robotaxi service in some areas. Now, in San Francisco, the company is making a big step forward by opening up its service to anyone in the public who wants to use it. [CleanTechnica]

Waymo car (Waymo image)

¶ “More Winning For Electric Vehicles: New $5 Billion Love Letter To Rivian From VW” • The EV industry’s leading car maker may have a sales problem, but others in the industry have not been suffering. Volkswagen announced a $5 billion joint venture with the US EV maker Rivian. And that is not the only recent big boost for Rivian. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “National Grid Renewables Launches South Dakota’s Largest Solar Project” • National Grid Renewables announced the start of operations at a 128-MW solar project in Pennington County, SD. As the largest solar project in the state, the Wild Springs Solar Project stands as a significant milestone in renewable energy development. [Environment+Energy Leader]

Have a fascinatingly fruitful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “’Certified Gas’ Is The Latest Greenwashing Scam From The Methane Industry” • After methane monitors became available that promised to detect methane leaks, the industry took up a marketing strategy of selling “certified gas” it claims is free of leaks at a premium. But the monitoring systems have yet to be proven effective in real world use. [CleanTechnica]

Gas facility (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Doctors Treat Thousands Of Heatstroke Victims In Southern Pakistan As Temperatures Soar” • A days-long intense heat wave has disrupted normal life in Pakistan, especially in its largest city, Karachi, where doctors at various hospitals treated thousands of victims of heatstroke, health officials said. Temperatures soared as high as 47°C (117°F). [ABC News]

¶ “BYD Celebrates The One Millionth Installation Of Its Home And Small Commercial BatteryBox Energy Storage Product” • BYD sells the home storage unit called the BatteryBox. Launched in 2015, BYD says the BYD BatteryBox series is now a leading residential energy storage system worldwide, and now has over one million installations! [CleanTechnica]

Celebrating the millionth BatteryBox (BYD image)

¶ “Boost To Local Renewable Energy In Queensland A Win For Renters And Environment” • Queensland Government funding aims to unlock the renewable potential of communities and households, largely through solar and batteries, to reduce energy bills and emissions, addressing both climate change and the cost of living. [Queensland Conservation Council]

¶ “The 300-MW Zhong Neng Powers Up In Taiwan” • The 300-MW Zhong Neng offshore wind farm, a project of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and China Steel Corporation, delivered first power. Zhong Neng is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year, when it will provide clean energy to about 300,000 households in Taiwan. [reNews]

Turbine in Zhong Neng offshore wind farm (James Fisher image)

¶ “Wind Turbine Recycling Hub In Repurposed Warehouse Turns Renewable Energy Greener” • A 100-year-old engineering works in Glasgow is getting a new lease of life as home to a wind turbine processing facility that will help Scotland’s renewables industry become even greener. It will be a recycling hub for old, defunct wind turbines. [The Scotsman]

¶ “North Macedonia Announces $500 Million Project To Build Country’s Largest Wind Farm” • North Macedonia’s government announced a $500 million project with renewables investor Alcazar Energy Partners to build the largest wind farm in the country. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the project would boost energy independence. [ABC News]

Ohrid, North Macedonia (Bojan Bogdanovski, Unsplash)

¶ “Coal-Free In 14 Years As Renewables Rush In: New Blueprint Shows How To Green The Grid – Without Nuclear” • Burning coal for power will end in Australia within 14 years. To replace it will require faster deployment of solar and wind, storage, new transmission lines and some firming gas capacity, the Australian Energy Market Operator says. [The Conversation]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Secures Type Certification For 15-MW Turbine” • Siemens Gamesa has been awarded type certification for its 15-MW wind turbine. The manufacturer achieved first power from the 15-MW offshore turbine prototype at the Oesterild test site in Denmark in March 2023. Since then, the turbine has undergone thorough testing. [reNews]

Siemens Gamesa turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)

US:

¶ “LCOE Of Solar And Wind Still Super Cheap – New Lazard Report” • Lazard recently released its latests analysis of LCOE (levelized cost of energy) for different power sources. As has been the case for the past several years, solar and wind power remain highly competitive (aka cheap), despite a slight rise in costs for the least expensive systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Could Provide Up To $14,000 In Incentives For Low-Income EV Buyers” • The California Air Resources Board unveiled a Driving Clean Assistance Program that offers major incentives to people who purchase or lease a new or used clean vehicle and meet certain income guidelines. The incentives can total as much as $12,000. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai EV (Hyundai, Unsplash)

¶ “Utilities: Batteries Are Most Commonly Used for Arbitrage And Grid Stability” • Electricity utilities increasingly report using batteries to move electricity from periods of low prices to those of high prices, a strategy known as arbitrage, according to new detailed information recently published by the US Energy Information Administration. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vineyard Wind: 136 MW Now Grid-Connected” • Electric utility Avangrid Inc and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners say 10 turbines at the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore project are now delivering up to 136 MW of power to the Massachusetts grid. When the project is completed, it will be able to provde up to 806 MW. [North American Windpower]

Block Island wind farm (Ionna22, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Industry Thumbs Up For California Offshore Strategy” • The California Energy Commission’s final strategic plan to deploy large scale offshore wind in the state won praise from Offshore Wind California, which called the effort a “watershed.” The plan lays out steps to achieve goals of 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045. [reNews]

¶ “Massachusetts Senate Approves Bill To Expand Reliance On Renewable Energy” • The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill aimed to expand adoption of renewable energy in a bid to help Massachusetts meet its climate goals, including reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Supporters say the proposal will help lower utility bills. [Bowling Green Daily News]

Have a monumentally efficacious day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Rooftop-Ready Perovskite Solar Cells Are Coming To The Residential Market” • Oxford PV, a spin-off based on Oxford University perovskite solar cell research, has been working on tandem silicon-perovskite solar cells. It reported that its new residential-sized solar module achieved an ”unprecedented” solar conversion efficiency of 26.9%. [CleanTechnica]

Silicon-perovskite solar cell (Courtesy of Oxford PV)

World:

¶ “British Columbia Sues PFAS Makers” • The government of British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against manufacturers of the so-called “forever chemicals,” the chemicals often referred to as PFAS. These chemicals are involved in widespread pollution of drinking water, and when they get into our bodies, they cause a variety of health problems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Sealion 06 Launched in Australia” • The Sealion 06, now being released in Australia, has some interesting features. It can drive in EV only mode with a range of around 90 km (56 miles). In series mode, the 1.5 liter petrol motor acts as a generator. And in parallel mode, both electric and petrol are delivering power to the wheels through a wet clutch. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seal (Matti Blume, CC-BY-SA 4.0, Cropped)

¶ “European Union Allocates €3 Billion For Renewable Energy Projects” • The EU announced a €3 billion ($3.2 billion) funding boost for renewable energy projects, the largest disbursement through its Modernisation Fund to date. The funding aims to upgrade energy systems and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a range of sectors. [Power Technology]

¶ “L&T To Develop 185-MW Solar PV Project In India” • The power transmission and distribution vertical of Larsen & Toubro is set to build a grid-connected 185-MW solar photovoltaic plant with a 254 MWh battery storage system in Kajra, Lakshisarai district, Bihar. L&T’s renewable EPC portfolio has a cumulative capacity of 18 GW peak. [Asian Power]

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

¶ “Shree Cement Reneweable Power Capacity Reaches 1 GW” • Shree Cement, the third-biggest cement producer in India, has announced that it achieved 1,000 MW of installed capacity when it commissioned a 19.5-MW solar plant in Andhra Pradesh. The 1-GW capacity includes a mix of solar, wind, thermal, and waste heat recovery. [Saur Energy International]

¶ “UK-First Trial Shows Dynamic EV Charging Pricing Can Help Manage Renewable Energy” • An EV charging trial by UK Power Networks, Octopus Energy, and EV.Energy is proving consumers hold the key to balancing energy supply and demand across the country. Already underway, the trial involves more than 1,500 EVs to help manage demand. [Fleet World]

EV charging in England (Vauxford, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Iran Calls For New Nuclear Talks Amid Worsening Middle East Crisis” • Iran appealed for new negotiations toward reviving a multilateral nuclear agreement against the backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions and unrest in the Middle East. The appeal came Monday in a statement addressed to the president of the UN Security Council. [Newsweek]

US:

¶ “Arcadis Completes Charger Installation For bp pulse’s First High-Speed EV Gigahub In The US” • Arcadis, a leading global design and consultancy organization for natural and built assets, announced the completion of bp’s latest high-speed EV charging site, at the company’s North America headquarters in Houston, Texas. It is called a “Gigahub™.” [CleanTechnica]

bp pulse chargers

¶ “Climate Hazards Are Raising Your Household Consumer Costs” • Along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts, sea levels have risen at least 6 inches since 2010. It might not sound like much, but it is forcing groundwater to rise, which leads to elevated risks of overflowing septic tanks. It is just one example of the costs of climate change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New EV Depot Capable Of Charging 96 Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks Launched By Prologis/Maersk” • Prologis and Maersk opened an EV charging depot that will be able to charge up to 96 heavy-duty electric trucks at once, with a range of about 240 miles per charge. The charging depot is near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. [CleanTechnica]

EV depot (Prologis image)

¶ “Heat Dome Scorches Cities Coast To Coast As Dangerous Temperatures Enter Second Week” • From coast to coast, sixty-five million Americans are under heat alerts as a life-threatening heat dome continues for its second week. The West, Northeast, and Southeast all saw daily record temperatures shattered this past weekend. [ABC News]

¶ “The Fastest-Growing Career In The US Is In Wind Power. Here’s What Employees Make, What It’s Like, And How To Land A Job” • Federal data indicates wind-turbine technician is the fastest-growing job in the US. While the absolute number of new jobs isn’t that big, it represents a projected 45% increase between 2022 and 2032. [MSN]

Rail Splitter Wind Farm (© EDP Renewables North America)

¶ “Detroit Plans Solar Power On Vacant Lots Throughout The City” • Detroit is to use vacant land, which it has in abundance, for something the city needs: clean and relatively inexpensive energy. With approval by the City Council, three neighborhoods eventually will see solar arrays on a total of 104 acres (42 hectares) of land. [ABC News]

¶ “Louisiana’s Largest Industries Tired Of Waiting For Renewable Energy” • Frustrated with the lack of renewable energy from utilities in Louisiana, some of the largest corporations doing business in the state have banded together to acquire their own solar power. Their plan includes what is called a sleeved power purchase agreement. [dailyworld.com]

Have a magically happy day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Overcoming The Volatility Of Renewable Energy: Researchers Explain Why Green Hydrogen Is ‘The Best’” • A research team at the Energy AI and Computational Science Laboratory in the Korea Institute of Energy Research say green hydrogen is the most effective way to overcome the volatility of a renewable energy grid combining solar and wind power. [MSN]

Wind farm (Anastasia Palagutina, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Twelve EU Countries Will Fail to Comply With 2030 National Climate Targets” • Without prompt action, twelve EU countries will miss their national climate targets under the Effort Sharing Regulation, according to a study. Seven more countries are at risk of not meeting their goals. Germany and Italy are the two worst performing countries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU And China Holding Talks On Electric Car Tariffs” • China and the EU have agreed to start talks on the planned imposition of tariffs on EVs made in China and imported into the European market, senior officials from both sides said. China gives its EV makers subsidies that let them sell at prices so low that EU car makers are uncompetitive. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seal (Michael Förtsch, Unsplash)

¶ “Two Thirds Of Renewables Applications In The UK Fail To Get Through Planning Stage” • The Renewables Pipeline Tracker by Cornwall Insight shows that between 2018 and 2023, 63% of the UK’s applications to build renewable projects failed to make it through planning, but were abandoned, refused, withdrawn, or expired. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Brookfield Targets $10 Billion Of Renewable Assets Under Management In India In Four Years” • Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management, one of the largest investors in renewable power and climate transition assets, plans to increase its renewable energy assets under management in India to over $10 billion within the next four years. [pv magazine India]

Mountains in India (Aditya Siva, Unsplash)

¶ “Vattenfall Dements Onshore Foundations Deal” • Vattenfall and Cemvision entered an agreement for near-zero emission cement for turbine bases. The new cement could reduce CO₂ emissions by 95% compared to traditional cement and can be used in power distribution and prefabricated concrete elements as well as hardware foundations. [reNews]

Australia:

¶ “Australian Capacity Tender Flooded By 40 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects” • Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said that over 40 GW of renewable energy projects were registered in the first national Capacity Investment Scheme tender, which aims to increase dispatchable renewable capacity for Australia’s clean energy transition. [pv magazine International]

Wind turbine in Australia (Kshithij Chandrashekar, Unsplash)

¶ “Edify Plans Solar And Storage Complex Near Queensland Coal Plant” • Australian renewables developer Edify Energy plans to take advantage of existing infrastructure to maximise its access to the power grid by siteing a 200-MW solar farm and four-hour battery energy storage system near the Callide coal-fired power station. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Nuclear Plan A ‘Big Danger’ To Investment In Renewables” • In Australia, the opposition coalition has pledged to build seven nuclear plants across five states on the sites of coal-fired power stations if it wins the federal election. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said, “The big danger is that Peter Dutton will distract and divert investment.” [The New Daily]

Rooftop solar (Daniele La Rosa Messina, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuclear Lobby Concedes Rooftop Solar Will Have To Make Way For Reactors” • The nuclear lobby in Australia has conceded one aspect of the nuclear power plan that the federal Coalition does not like talking about – that the rooftop solar embraced by households and businesses will have to make way for the reactors planned by the Opposition. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Bill Nye Says Record-Breaking Extreme Heat ‘A Taste Of The Normal Of The Future’” • After a week of record-breaking heat in the US, science educator Bill Nye told “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz that the extreme weather is “a taste of the new normal.” Heat and floods have been amplified by climate change caused by human activity. [ABC News]

Hot day (Syed Muazzam Ali Taqi, Unsplash)

¶ “Senate In Massachusetts Passes Bill Curtailing Use Of Plastics Including Bags, Straws” • The state Senate in Massachusetts has passed a wide-ranging bill curtailing the use of plastics, including carry-out plastic bags at retailers. A growing number of states are addressing concerns about plastics that harm wildlife, pollute waterways, and clog landfills. [ABC News]

¶ “Sheep And Solar: A ‘Beautiful Symbiotic Relationship’” • It’s quite appealing to think that agrivoltaics could meet 20% of US electric generation with less than 1% our farmland. Of course, vegetation must be managed to maintain electricity production. This is increasingly done with sheep. Combining sheep and solar has multiple benefits for farmers. [CleanTechnica]

Sheep and solar panels (Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “$20 Billion Potential Savings From Targeted Electrification” • As California transitions to all-electric appliances, the most cost-effective way to reduce pollution from buildings, state leaders face a choice: Keep pouring billions into new gas infrastructure that is likely to be underutilized or realign our spending with the clean energy transition. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US EPA, DOE Announce $850 Million to Reduce Methane Pollution from the Oil & Gas Sector” • The US EPA and US DOE announced that applications are open for $850 million in federal funding for projects to help monitor, measure, quantify, and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors, as part of the Investing in America agenda. [CleanTechnica]

Have a simply magnificent day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “How To Power the South Pole By Using Renewable Energy Technologies” • Researchers at two US DOE laboratories – NREL and ANL – looked at how a combination of solar modules, wind turbines, and battery storage could provide a cost-effective way to expand research capabilities at the South Pole while reducing costs significantly. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels set up vertically (Silvana Ovaitt, NREL)

World:

¶ “Petrol Sales In Norway Drop 8% Year Over Year” • Norway has been the European leader in terms of EV market share, with even 90%+ of sales being plugin sales in recent years. The majority of vehicles on its roads, though, are still fossil-powered. It takes time for cars to be retired. Now we see that in Norway, sales of petrol fell 8% in May, YOY. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Yin & Yang Of Delivery Vans: Electric Vs Diesel” • Two news stories have opposite messages about delivery vehicles and emissions. One, from Transport & Environment, says delivery fleet emissions in the UK are rising as more diesel-powered vans are added. In the other, UPS says it is adding 100 battery electric vans to its Paris delivery fleet. [CleanTechnica]

UPS delivery van in Paris (UPS image)

¶ “Europe Battery Factory Plans Are In A Shambles” • Reuters had some shocking news about BMW and its EV plans. It said BMW cancelled a €2 billion ($2.15 billion) order for battery cells from Northvolt, saying, “Northvolt and the BMW Group have jointly decided to focus Northvolt’s activities on the goal of developing next generation battery cells.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tajikistan Plans To Leverage Kazakhstan’s Experience In Renewable Energy” • Tajikistan plans to leverage Kazakhstan’s experience in renewable energy, Azernews reports. The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Sharifa Khudobakhsh, stated this at a meeting of the parliaments of the two countries. [AzerNews]

Tajikistan (hey emmby, Unsplash)

¶ “Azerbaijan’s Green Energy: A Promising Shift In Electricity Production” • In the first five months of 2024, Azerbaijan made significant strides in its renewable energy sector. The Energy Ministry said the share of green energy in the nation’s electricity has increased to 14%. The installed capacity of renewable energy in Azerbaijan is now 1,748.6 MW. [AzerNews]

¶ “Ukraine Rushes For Solar Panels As Russia Hits Its Power Grid” • Waves of devastating Russian drone and missile attacks again crippled Ukrainian power plants, causing blackouts and forcing Ukrainians to plan for the worst. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that all hospitals and schools in Ukraine must be equipped with solar panels “as soon as possible.” [Kyiv Post]

kyiv (Eugene, Unsplash)

¶ “NCRTC’s Solar Power Initiatives Reduce CO₂ Emissions By 3,100 Tons Annually” • In India, the National Capital Regional Transport Corporation is installing solar power along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, according to officials. Its 3-MW capacity reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 3,100 tonnes per year. [Outlook Planet]

¶ “Iceland’s Ice Is Melting So Fast It’s Boosting Hydropower” • Iceland gets more than 70% of its electricity from hydropower fed by glacial meltwaters. So as the Earth heats up and glaciers melt faster, hydroelectric plants have more water to spin turbines and power the grid. It is a silver lining for a country mourning the decline of its glaciers. [Scientific American]

Reykjavík (Tom Podmore, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuclear Reactor Build Could Cost Up To A$600 Billion” • Building seven nuclear power plants under the opposition’s proposal could cost up to A$600 billion ($4.67 billion) while delivering just 3.7% of Australia’s 2050 energy, an industry body says. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has promoted his plan for nuclear without detailing costs. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Conservationists Tout Indiana Old Mines, Brownfields To Develop Renewable Energy” • In a report called “Mine the Sun,” The Nature Conservancy says the quickest way for Indiana to gain energy independence is to utilize unused sites, such as abandoned mines, brownfields, or dumpsites, to develop solar and wind farms. [95.3 MNC]

Solar array (Chelsea, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Energy Giant Doubles Order From Qcells’ Georgia Solar Panel Plant ” • A little more than a year ago, a Virginia energy company announced plans to buy millions of Georgia-built solar panels in the largest “community solar” purchase in US history. This week, Summit Ridge Energy said it plans to nearly double that huge commitment. [AJC.com]

¶ “88-2: Only Markey And Sanders Oppose ‘Expensive, Risky’ Nuclear Power Expansion” • Just US Senators Ed Markey and Bernie Sanders voted against legislation that one scientist warned this week “will only increase the danger to people already living downwind” of nuclear power facilities. The legislation is on its way to the president’s desk. [Common Dreams]

Have a superbly unruffled day.

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World:

¶ “Major Power Outage Hits Balkan Region As Countries Swelter In An Early Summer Heat Wave” • A major hours-long power outage hit much of the Balkans as the southern European region sweltered in an early heat wave that sent temperatures soaring to over 40°C (104°F). Several countries were left with almost no electricity for hours. [ABC News]

Evening in Kotor, Montenegro (Dragisa Braunovic, Unsplash)

¶ “Canada Follows Europe, China, And The USA With Provisions Against Greenwashing; Oil & Gas Industry Freaks Out” • The Canadian government is taking significant steps to combat greenwashing with the introduction of new provisions in Bill C-59. The Oil & Gas Industry is circling the wagons, or maybe advancing to the rear, in confusion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Shell Opens Megawatt Charger for Trucks And Vessels in Amsterdam” • Shell developed its first megawatt charger at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam. Both electric trucks and electric ships can use the charging system. The capacity of the megawatt charger is equal to about three regular 350-kW fast chargers that trucks use. [CleanTechnica]

Megawatt charger (Image from Shell)

¶ “Hunter Water Signs Renewable Energy Deal With AGL” • NSW-owned Hunter Water announced it’s entering into a Retail Renewable Power Purchase Agreement with AGL. AGL will provide renewable energy and certificates from a wind farm to power Hunter Water’s largest sites, with a goal of hitting 100% renewables by 2030. [Government News]

¶ “Philippines Emerges As Southeast Asia Renewable Power Pacesetter” • The Philippines has leapfrogged its Southeast Asian neighbors to become a regional leader in clean-power projects as fewer investment restrictions and green-minded policies attract investment. Changes have helped secure a pipeline of 99 GW of wind and solar developments. [The Japan Times]

Manilla (Alexes Gerard, Unsplash)

¶ “Global Data Center Electricity Use To Double By 2026: IEA Report” • Data center electricity usage is set to double by 2026, an International Energy Agency report says. It blames the rise of demand on such workloads as AI and cryptocurrency mining. Data centers consumed 460 TWh in 2022, but that could rise to 1,000 TWh in 2026. [Data Center Dynamics]

¶ “EnBW And Total Win Leases In €3 Billion German Offshore Tender” • EnBW and TotalEnergies have won development rights in the latest German offshore wind tender after agreeing to pay just over €3 billion in total lease fees. EnBW secured the 1-GW N-12.3 site in the German North Sea, and a RWE-TotalEnergies partnership won area 1.5GW N-11.2. [reNews]

North Sea (Robert Katzki, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “FEMA Is Ready For An Extreme Hurricane And Wildfire Season, But Money Is A Concern, Mayorkas Says” • The head of the Homeland Security Department said the agency tasked with responding to disasters is prepared for what is expected to be an intense hurricane and wildfire season, but he’s concerned about looming budget shortfalls. [ABC News]

¶ “Coal Capacity Factor Drops from 55% to 35% in 10 Years in PJM” • Use of the coal fleet in PJM, the largest US wholesale electricity market, has fallen over the last decade, driven largely by higher relative fuel costs. Since 2013, the PJM operators have retired about 34 GW of coal capacity and switched about 2 GW of coal capacity to other sources. [CleanTechnica]

PJM, based on EIA data

¶ “USDOT Awards Nearly $60 Million in Advanced Vehicle Technology Grants to Arizona, Texas, And Utah” • The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced that it is awarding $60 million in grants to advance connected and interoperable vehicle technologies. The grants are to recipients in Arizona, Texas, and Utah. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Some US Regions At Risk Of Energy Shortfalls In Extreme Summer Conditions” • Parts of the US could be at risk for power supply shortages if electricity demand peaks are higher or if less electricity is generated than expected, according to the 2024 Summer Reliability Assessment by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. [CleanTechnica]

Areas at risk – Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Sunrise Wind Receives Final Approval From US Department of the Interior” • Sunrise Wind, New York’s largest offshore wind project, had its construction and operations plan approved by the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. It is the final permit needed from BOEM to move the project forward. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Driving On Sunshine: Car Cover Charges EVs With Solar Power” • Solar company GoSun has rolled out a foldable car cover that harnesses the power of the sun to add miles of range for EV drivers. The solar cover, which can charge EVs with electricity generated by the sun, is said to be able to provide about 30 miles of energy. [NBC Los Angeles]

GoSun car cover (Image from GoSun)

¶ “New York Approves Plan To Add Six Gigawatts Of Energy Storage By 2030” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Public Service Commission has approved a new framework for the state to achieve 6 GW of energy storage by 2030. The nation-leading amount is at least 20% of the state’s peak power load. [Power Engineering]

¶ “Georgia Power Customers Paying Extra After Completion Of State’s Nuclear Power Plant” • As temperatures rise, so does your electric bill. Georgia Power customers are getting hit twice this summer with the increased costs associated with cooling their homes plus a 5% increase that went into effect on May 1 when plant Vogtle’s fourth unit came online. [Yahoo]

Have a perfectly refreshing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Pyrolysis Is The Latest Climate-Killing Plastics Scam From ExxonMobil” • Fossil fuel companies are touting a new way to deal with plastic waste called pyrolysis, and to hear the industry spin it, it is the greatest thing since ice cream. It is nothing short of a flimflam, the point of which is to keep profits high for fossil fuel companies. [CleanTechnica]

Plastics, part of the climate crisis (Courtesy of the US DOE)

¶ “Dutton’s Nuclear Option Is Nothing But A Power Grab” • Peter Dutton’s nuclear gambit is about power but not necessarily about electricity. Those now in charge of the Coalition have judged that the path back to governing Australia is to stoke and exploit fears about power prices, cost of living, and renewables not being enough to keep the lights on. [Riotact]

Science and Technology:

¶ “What The ‘Warming Stripes’ Tell Us About Climate Change” • Created by climate scientist Ed Hawkins, the “warming stripes” are visual representations of annual or monthly temperature anomalies for a specific location or region over the past 100+ years. The visualization uses a color scale to represent anomalies of temperatures. [Earth.Org]

Warming stripes with temperatures (RCraig09, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Award-Winning Software Tool Improves Cyber Defense Using Machine Learning” • An award-winning project helps utilities and manufacturers prevent cybersecurity attacks from affecting the US electric power grid. The software identifies cybersecurity vulnerabilities in firmware and improves the defense of devices and the electric system. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Some Interesting Insights From Uganda’s 2024/2025 National Budget” • Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development released a national budget with some interesting features. They give us a good look into the country’s electricity generation landscape, its current state, and its plans to grow the electric mobility ecosystem. [CleanTechnica]

Kiira Motors electric coache (Courtesy of Kiira Motors)

¶ “Equinor And Oceanex Bag Licence For 2-GW Oz Floater” • The Australian government has offered Equinor and Oceanex a feasibility licence for a 2-GW floater in the Hunter offshore wind area in New South Wales. Should the project go ahead, it would employ around 3,000 workers during construction and create around 200-300 permanent local jobs. [reNews]

¶ “Europe Unveils Solar Academy” • The European Commission has launched the European Solar Academy, the first in a series of EU Academies to be set up under the Net-Zero Industry Act to develop the necessary workfoce and skills along the net zero value chains. The PV manufacturing sector is expected to need 66,000 skilled workers by 2030. [reNews]

Solar array (First Solar image)

¶ “UK Offshore Wind Farms Vulnerable To Cyberattacks” • The Alan Turing Institute issued a warning about the vulnerability of offshore wind farms to cyberattacks, highlighting potential risks to the UK’s renewable energy goals. The research shows that old software and the remote sites of wind farms put them at risk of cyber threats. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Domestic Solar Power Output Up 80% In A Year” • Electricity generated from domestic rooftops in Ireland is up 80% in a single year, a new report has found. According to the current Scale of Solar report, solar energy could power 280,000 homes this year. Overall solar power output, including energy from commercial solar farms, went up by 43%. [Newstalk]

Solar tiles in Ireland (Stephen Craven, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Europe’s Solar Power Surge Hits Prices, Exposing Storage Needs” • Wholesale power markets in most of Europe turned out zero or negative prices for a record number of hours in the first five months of this year. The mismatch between demand and supply as solar power generation soars, could potentially help shift investment to storage solutions. [MSN]

US:

¶ “EnergyX Announces Major Lithium Development In Ark-La-Tex Region” • Energy Exploration Technologies Inc (EnergyX) announced a major lithium project, Project Lonestar Lithium. The project aims to solidify EnergyX’s position as a leader in the global energy transition and bid to help secure the US battery supply chain. [CleanTechnica]

EnergyX plant (Courtesy of EnergyX)

¶ “The Electric Revolution Of Gardening Tools Is Here” • If you go to your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or Farm & Fleet store, you will find brands of battery electric gardening tools that will do almost any gardening job as well or better than your old corded or gas-powered tools. Old gas-burning machines can be replaced with electric! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volkswagen ID.4 Is The Third Most American Car! The Tesla Model Y Is Still Number One!” • What is the car with the highest proportion of its parts produced in the USA? It’s the Tesla Model Y. The number two place is taken by the Honda Passport. But it is really interesting to see that Volkswagen took the number three place this year with the ID.4. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.4 (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “NY Unveils New Onshore Solicitation” • Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new large-scale onshore renewable energy solicitation for New York. The process seeks proposals for the development of large-scale land-based renewables projects which are expected to spur billions of dollars in clean energy investments and create thousands of jobs. [reNews]

¶ “Carter’s Nuclear Energy Measure Set To Become Law” • A bipartisan bill sponsored by US Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA) to establish requirements concerning international nuclear energy cooperation and safety is headed to the president to be signed into law as part of larger legislation, the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023, S. 870. [Ripon Advance]

Have a harmoniously balanced day.

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

Opinion:

¶ “Isn’t Engaging In Ecocide A Crime? Shouldn’t Corporations Be Held Accountable?” • Some ‘super corporations’ cause lasting, severe, and widespread environmental devastation, but are not held accountable for the biodiversity loss and damage they cause. They are engaging in ecocide, and we should hold them liable for their actions. [CleanTechnica]

Pollution (Daniel Moqvist, Unsplash)

¶ “There’s One Real Coalition Energy Policy Now: Sabotaging Renewables” • For all the acres of words being written about Peter Dutton’s fantasy of seven nuclear plants, no such plants will ever be built in Australia. Yesterday’s announcement by Dutton […] was really about creating a cover for the one solid Coalition energy policy that currently exists. [Crikey]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Polyphase Wireless Power Transfer System Achieves 270-kW Charge, Sets A World Record for Electric Light-Duty Vehicles” • Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory successfully demonstrated the first 270-kW wireless power transfer to a light-duty EV. The demonstration used a polyphase wireless charging system developed at ORNL. [CleanTechnica]

Demonstration (Carlos Jones, ORNL, US DOE)

¶ “Climate Change Stoked US, Mexico Heatwave, A Report Says” • Human-induced climate change made recent extreme heat in the US southwest, Mexico and Central America around 35 times more likely, scientists say. The World Weather Attribution group studied excess heat between May and early June, when the US heatwave was mainly in the Southwest. [BBC]

World:

¶ “Superyachts For The Super Rich Cause A Whole Lot Of Environmental Damage” • Many of the super rich crave the unparalleled luxury that superyachts offer. While they may gratify their appetites in such floating homes, they don’t often pay much attention to the greenhouse gas emissions that they create as they do. [CleanTechnica]

Superyacht (Arno Senoner, Unsplash)

¶ “Digital Edge And Peak Energy Partner For Renewable Energy In Data Centers” • Digital Edge (Singapore) Holdings Pte Ltd and Peak Energy Investments Ltd announced a collaboration to bring renewable energy to Digital Edge’s data center operations in Asia. The initial effort is to develop a 500-MW pipeline of renewable energy capacity. [Digital News Asia]

¶ “Principle Power Inks South Korean MOU” • Principle Power signed an agreement with shipyard HSG Sungdong to advance serial manufacturing of its floating wind foundations in South Korea. The non-exclusive MOU outlines cooperation by the companies on engineering developments for mass production of the WindFloat technology. [reNews]

Manufacture of WindFloat foundations (HSG Sungdong image)

¶ “Wärtsilä Launches World’s First Large-Scale 100% Hydrogen-Ready Engine Power Plant” • Wärtsilä launched the world’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant. According to the IEA World Energy Outlook 2023, hydrogen is an essential component of future power systems to reach net zero emissions by 2050. [Green Car Congress]

¶ “European Energy Seeks Green Light For 1.1-GW Solar Plant” • The largest solar power project planned for Australia’s main electricity grid has reached a new milestone. European Energy is seeking a green light under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to build a 1.1-GW Solar Farm in Queensland. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar plant (European Energy image)

¶ “Group Will Invest $100 Billion In Energy Transition Over Next Decade: Gautam Adani” • The Adani Group plans over $100 billion of investments in energy transition projects and towards building a manufacturing base to produce the key components needed for a green energy generation, group chairman Gautam Adani said. [The New Indian Express]

US:

¶ “East Palestine Train Derailment Spread ‘Hazardous’ Pollution To 16 States: Study” • On Feb 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. It sent toxic chemicals into a region that is 14% of the US land area, where 110 million people live, a study published in Environmental Research Letters says. [ABC News]

Derailed and burnt cars (NTSB, public domain)

¶ “US DOE Leads Effort to Improve the Cybersecurity of Energy Supply Chains” • The US DOE has released new Supply Chain Cybersecurity Principles, developed in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory. The principles establish best practices for cybersecurity throughout the supply chain that supports energy infrastructure. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “One City, Two Offshore Wind Hubs, 9000 MW” • New York City’s boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island, are both set to host hubs for offshore wind farms. Both claim to be among the largest in the US. They are further evidence that that US offshore wind industry is back on its feet, despite interferance of the fossil fuel industry and other setbacks. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore wind hub (Courtesy of Atlantic Offshore Terminals)

¶ “US Energy Storage Market Soars 84% In Q1” • The US energy storage market set a first-quarter record for capacity installed in Q1 2024, with 1,265 MW deployed across all segments, according to a report from Wood Mackenzie and ACP. This is the highest storage capacity ever installed in a first quarter in the US. It is an 84% increase from Q1 2023. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Holtec Confirms Pilgrim Worker Was Contaminated” • An incident that exposed a worker at the shuttered Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station to airborne radioactive contamination has been confirmed by the spokesman for Holtec International, Patrick O’Brien. Holtec is the company that has been decommissioning the plant. [The Provincetown Independent]

Have an outstandingly merry day.

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World:

¶ “BYD And Ampersand To Collaborate On Electric Motorcycles In Africa” • BYD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ampersand, one of Africa’s leading EV energy tech companies, to collaborate in the electric motorcycle sector. Ampersand will use BYD’s high-tech battery cells to build around 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026. [CleanTechnica]

Electric motorcycle production (Ampersand image)

¶ “Queensland Pilots Local Renewable Energy Zone” • The Queensland government is piloting a Local Renewable Energy Zone in the state’s Sunshine Coast region. It is providing $40 million for the Caloundra LREZ project, which will deploy up to 18.8 MWh of battery storage at 8.4 MW and support up to 2.8 MW of added solar PVs. [Government News]

¶ “Solar PV Installations Will Reach Up To 660 GW In 2024” • Global PV installations will be 600 to 660 GW (dc) in 2024, says analysis from PV expert Bernreuter Research. “Once market participants come to the conclusion that the crash of the solar module price has reached its bottom, demand will accelerate,” says Johannes Bernreuter. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Seven Countries Now Generate 100% Of Their Electricity From Renewable Energy” • According to newly compiled figures, seven countries, Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, produced more than 99.7% of the electricity they consumed using hydro, solar, wind, or geothermal power. [MSN]

¶ “DTEK’s Subsidiary DRI Buys 126-MW Solar Power Project In Romania” • Renewable energy company DRI, a subsidiary DTEK Group in the EU, acquired its third project in Romania. The 126-MW solar farm in Văcărești in Dâmbovița county is expected to become operational next year. DRI’s goal for Romania is to reach 1 GW by 2028. [Balkan Green Energy News]

Solar array (DRI image)

¶ “NSW Targets Road Upgrades For Wind Blades And Towers In Big $3.5 Billion Climate And Energy Spend” • The government of New South Wales set aside $128.5 million in the state budget to upgrade roads from the port of Newcastle to renewable energy zones to support transporting giant wind turbine blades, towers, and other heavy equipment. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “US Acknowledges Northwest Dams Devastated The Region’s Native Tribes” • The US government acknowledged, for the first time, the harmful role it played over the past century in building and operating dams in the Pacific Northwest. Though they made electricity, he dams ruined Native American tribes by flooding villages and blocking salmon runs. [ABC News]

Columbia River (Ben Vaughn, Unsplash)

¶ “Hyundai To Start Manufacturing IONIQ 5 Electric SUVS At New Georgia Plant This Fall” • Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to start making IONIQ 5 electric SUVs at its new plant in Georgia this fall. It was the first time the South Korean car maker identified which model of EV it will produce at its $7.6 billion EV and battery plant west of Savannah. [ABC News]

¶ “Toyota And Pepco Team Up To Research Vehicle-To-Grid Technology In Maryland” • Toyota Motor North America and local energy utility Pepco are working together to research vehicle-to-grid systems for battery EVs. This effort will explore bidirectional power flow technology that will allow battery EV owners to charge or support the grid. [CleanTechnica]

Charging a Toyota (Toyota image)

¶ “Record High Temperatures Prevail As Heat Dome Spreads Across The US” • A heat dome is expected to bring temperatures in the 90s to much of the country, breaking records as it does, by this weekend. A heat dome is a ridge of high pressure that traps warm air beneath it and blocks milder weather systems from moving through. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US DOE Announces Over $41 Million In Funding To Deliver Clean Energy Solutions To Market” • The US DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions announced $41.4 million in funding for fifty impactful projects across seventeen National Laboratories to further clean energy. The funding is coorinated through a set of DOE program offices. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panes in California (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Octopus Energy To Invest $2 Billion In US Clean Power” • Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest electricity supplier, announced plans to invest $2 billion in renewable energy projects across the US by the end of the decade. Octopus Energy’s entry into the US clean power market begins with acquisition of two solar farms for a total capacity of 100 MW. [Business Matters]

¶ “Mississippi Just Got Its First Utility-Scale Wind Farm” • Wind energy development has long been stuck in the doldrums in the Southeastern US. Until very recently, nine states in the region had exactly 0 MW of commercial wind capacity, even as turbines spread across every other US state. Mississippi, however, has just bucked that trend. [Canary Media]

Wind turbines in Mississippi (AES Corp)

¶ “Fort Liberty Transitions To Mostly Solar Power, Clean Energy Partnering With Duke Energy” • Duke Energy and Fort Liberty say they’re partnering to use clean energy and solar power at the installation and several other military bases in the Carolinas. President Biden’s plan is to power the federal government with 100% clean electricity by 2030. [ABC11 Raleigh-Durham]

¶ “Capito-Led Nuclear Energy Bill Heads To President’s Desk” • The US Senate passed legislation that includes a bill to advance deployment of nuclear power led by Sen Shelley Moore Capito and two Democratic colleagues. It passed the House 393-13 last month and the Senate by 88-2 on Tuesday. Now it’s off to the president for his signature. [Dominion Post]

Have a noticeably superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tariffs And The Volvo EX30: Who’s Winning Here?” • The Volvo EX30 is precisely the kind of electric car America needs. It’s a compact SUV that is agile, with good range and excellent power, at a price that many buyers will find affordable. It is also a target of the new US tariffs that make importing cars made in China virtually impossible. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 (Matti Blume, SA-BY-CC 4.0)

¶ “Big Batteries Are Solving A Longstanding Problem With Solar Power In California. Can They Do The Same For Australia?” • In 2019, large-scale batteries started appearing in California’s grid. The sector has seen tremendous growth, soaring 1,250% in five years, from 770 MW to 10 GW. And the batteries are starting to push gas out of the market. [menafn]

World:

¶ “$20 Billion For European Offshore Substations” • Around 137 substations will be installed in waters off continental Europe this decade, requiring $20 billion in total investment, according to Rystad Energy analysis. Offshore substations are particularly beneficial for projects over 200 MW in capacity and located more than 15 km from shore. [reNews]

Substation installation (Ørsted image)

¶ “Southern China Faces Heavy Floods, And Landslides Kill At Least Nine” • Southern China is reeling from heavy rains that triggered landslides killing at least nine people, knocking out power for entire villages, and burying crops. Meanwhile, some northern parts of China are battling drought, as the country faces two extremes of severe weather. [ABC News]

¶ “Low-Carbon Steel: Volkswagen AG & Vulcan Green Steel Enter Into Partnership” • Volkswagen AG and Vulcan Green Steel have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a partnership for low-carbon steel. The partnership is one of a series of initiatives by the Volkswagen Group to expand the use of green steel in its vehicle production. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Vulcan Green Steel image)

¶ “47% of New Cars Sold in Netherlands in 2024 Have a Plug” • In a negative month in the overall market (down 14%), May’s Dutch plugin registrations also dropped by 13% YOY, to 13,174 units. The Dutch plugin vehicle market reached 47% last month, in line with the year-to-date average. Pure battery EVs represented 74% of all plugin sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Actis Launches Peruvian Renewables Player” • Sustainable infrastructure investor Actis has launched a renewables-focused independent power producer in Peru. The Orygen brand will commence operations with a 2.2-GW installed capacity of diversified energy, including one of Peru’s largest renewable energy portfolios. [reNews]

Solar system in Peru (Enel Generacion Peru image)

US:

¶ “Southern New Mexico Wildfire Leads To Evacuation Of Village Of 7,000” • Residents of a village in southern New Mexico were ordered to flee their homes Monday without taking time to grab any belongings due to a fast-moving wildfire. Public Service Company of New Mexico shut off power to part of the village due to the fire. [ABC News]

¶ “Judge Orders Railway To Pay Washington Tribe Nearly $400 Million For Trespassing With Oil Trains” • BNSF Railway must pay nearly $400 million to a Washington state Native American tribe. A federal judge had found that the company intentionally trespassed by running 100-car trains carrying crude oil across the tribe’s reservation repeatedly. [ABC News]

BNSF Railway (Eddie Bugajewski, Unsplash)

¶ “Wisconsin Republicans Put PFAS Polluters First, Constituents Second” • Wisconsin Republicans are showing how far they will go to protect corporate polluters. They are withholding $125 million designated for cleanup of widespread contamination by PFAS in drinking water and said they will only release the funds in exchange for immunity for polluters. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Google Agrees To Buy 115 MW Of Geothermal Power From Fervo And NV Energy” • Google signed an agreement with NV Energy to buy 115 MW of renewable energy from a geothermal facility operated by Fervo Energy. The energy will go to Nevada data centers. Fervo Energy uses horizontal drilling techniques developed by the oil and gas industry. [CleanTechnica]

Project Red (Courtesy of Fervo Energy)

¶ “Green Wave Of Renewable Energy To Crash The Red State Party” • The political divide in the US may seem pretty cut and dried in relation to renewable energy. But the energy transition is gaining steam in practically every state, regardless of their lawmakers. Louisiana and Tennessee provide the latest in a long series of examples. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Clean Energy Mandate For Vermont Utilities Becomes Law After Democrats Override Veto” • Lawmakers overrode a veto of Vermont’s renewable energy standard. It has a multi-year plan that requires utilities to have 100% renewable portfolios by 2035. It also mandates that more of the power come from in-state generation projects. [Vermont Public]

Vermont lighthouse (Gautam Krishnan, Unsplash)

¶ “Equinor Solidifies New York Offtake Contract For Empire Wind 1” • Equinor has announced the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the renewable power generated by the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project. (The capacity is 2.1 GW – GHH.) [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Scientists Say Bill Will Endanger People ‘Living Downwind’ Of Nuclear Plants” • The Senate is set to vote on a bill supporting nuclear power. One nuclear safety expert says, “This is not about making the reactor licensing process more efficient, but about weakening safety and security oversight across the board, a long-standing industry goal.” [Common Dreams]

Have an enchantingly useful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “A Window Of Opportunity Is Opening For General Motors” • After examining recent developments, Juan Diego Celemín Mojica wrote, “If I’m right, and if GM does not mess up, it may well be one of the winners in this transition and recover lost ground by the latter part of this decade. Let’s look at the factors that prompt me to say this.” [CleanTechnica]

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 3LT (Courtesy of GM)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Seven Things To Know About Residential Storage Batteries” • Are residential storage batteries a wise choice? The answer is, “It depends.” Canary Media, in cooperation with EnergySage, has put together a guide listing seven questions every homeowner needs to ask before making a decision on whether to add a residential storage battery to their home. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Goodbye Big Oil, Hello Big Solar” • Bloomberg contributor David Fickling has an interesting perspective on energy. He writes that the world’s seven largest solar companies are already supplying more total energy than the seven largest oil and gas companies. That is probably a surprise to most readers, so let’s look into his thinking. [CleanTechnica]

Pumpjack (Jeff W, Unsplash)

¶ “Bolt, TRí, And Watu Partner To Provide Drivers With Electric Three-Wheeler Pilot Program In Tanzania” • It is estimated that 500,000 internal combustion engine 3-wheelers in Tanzania. The good news from Tanzania is that this important sector is being electrified. One of the leaders in this space is TRí. TRí has just unveiled the E2. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind And Solar Power Half The Cost Of Coal And Gas, One-Third The Cost Of Nuclear, Says Lazard” • New data out of the US has confirmed that large-scale wind and solar are significantly cheaper sources of electricity generation than coal and gas. They even undercut fossil fuels on price with the addition of energy storage, in some cases. [RenewEconomy]

Willow Springs wind farm in Texas (Ørsted image)

¶ “Analysis-Industry Fears EU Carbon Border Tax Will Penalise British Green Energy” • British wind and solar farms exporting power to continental Europe could face carbon emissions fees from 2026 – even though they don’t produce any emissions – unless the UK and European Union can agree changes around the EU’s carbon border tax. [WKZO]

¶ “Iberdrola Obtains Permit For 274-MW Portuguese Project” • Iberdrola has obtained the final environmental approval from the Portuguese government to build a 274-MW wind farm in the country. The project in Vila Real and Braga will create the largest “hybrid” clean energy scheme in Portugal, with its windpower added to a pumped storage facility. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Iberdrola image)

¶ “Assam Secretariat Goes Green with Solar Power: Achieves A First in India” • In a significant environmental move, the Assam secretariat has been declared India’s first green state government headquarters. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma marked this achievement with the inauguration of a 2.5-MW solar project on the secretariat building. [ETV Bharat]

¶ “Too Much Of A Good Thing? In Spain Green Energy Can Exceed Demand” • Spain’s total wind generation capacity, its prime renewable source in recent years, has doubled since 2008. Solar energy capacity, meanwhile, has increased by a factor of eight over the same period. But there are concerns that there are times when supply exceeds demand. [BBC]

Spanish wind turbines (Roy Luck, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “RWE Unveils 350-MW Welsh Battery Plan” • RWE has taken the wraps off a 350-MW battery storage system on its land next to Pembroke Power Station in Wales. The proposed development would be on a 5.1 hectare site south of the power station, with 212 battery containers, 106 power conversion systems, and other associated infrastructure. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Potentially Deadly Heat Wave Envelops Most Of The Nation” • More than 55 million people across the nation were under an alert for extreme heat on Sunday and through most of the week ahead as temperatures are forecast to hit triple digits in some parts of the country. An Excessive Heat Watch was issued Sunday for parts of New England. [ABC News]

Heat wave (Lucian, Unsplash)

¶ “Wildfire Near LA Spreads To Over 14,000 Acres, Sparking Evacuations” • The Post Fire, a wildfire in southern California, doubled in size overnight, causing the evacuation of more than 1,000 campers from a park, closing a popular recreation area on Father’s Day and threatening a major freeway in and out of Los Angeles, authorities said. [ABC News]

¶ “Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Restoration Projects Continue In Florida” • After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, federal and state agencies came together to form the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council. It is still restoring the Gulf of Mexico to the condition it would have been in if the spill had not happened. [CleanTechnica]

Oyster restoration project (NOAA image)

¶ “Bollinger Motors Announces Sale Of Eighty Bollinger B4 Chassis Cabs To Momentum Groups” • Bollinger Motors, Inc, a manufacturer of commercial EVs, announced that it has reached an agreement to sell eighty all-electric Class 4 commercial trucks to Momentum, a leader in fleet management and EV charging systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Fifteen Years Behind China On Nuclear Power: Report” • The US is lagging behind China by up to fifteen years in the development of advanced nuclear power technology, primarily due to Beijing’s advantage due to its state-backed approach to technology and extensive financing, a report from a foundation based in Washington says. [MSN]

Have a beautifully tranquil day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Environment Canada Says It Can Now Rapidly Link High-Heat Weather Events To Climate Change” • Environment and Climate Change Canada says it can now quickly identify links between events of extreme heat and climate change. It can estimate the degree to which human-induced climate change played a role within a week. [CBC]

Where does weather come from? (NASA, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Electric Cars Reach 20% Penetration In The Australian Capital Territory” • The Australian Capital Territory, home of Canberra, the nation’s capital, has the highest rate of EV ownership per capita in the country. It is similar to that of the state of California. At the end of 2023, over 20% of new cars registered in Canberra were EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Honda And MC to Establish New EV Company, ALTNA Co, Ltd” • Honda Motor Co., Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation have announced plans to establish a 50/50 joint venture company, ALTNA Co, Ltd, in July 2024. The JV arises from an MOU the two companies signed last October to discuss creating businesses to address EV market growth. [CleanTechnica]

Honda N-VAN e (Image from Honda)

¶ “UBC $23 Million Energy Hub Combines Hydro, Solar, And Hydrogen” • Metro Vancouver has a hydrogen fueling station that operates on renewable energy thanks to a new $23-million hydrogen energy centre at the University of BC. The Point Grey campus is home to the Smart Hydrogen Energy District, the first of its type in the province. [Times Colonist]

¶ “Approval Fast Tracked For First Of Huge Solar And Wind Projects To Power Giant Iron Ore Mines” • The government of Western Australia has fast-tracked approval for a 150-MW solar project, the first of at least 3 GW of wind, solar, and storage that it hopes to approve under new rules designed to accelerate its green energy transition. [RenewEconomy]

Mining (Albert Hyseni, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Wind Power The Fulcrum For Renewable Energy Companies” • Vietnam’s industrial and construction sectors are projected to have a robust growth in electricity consumption in 2025. Wind power will be a major focus in the country’s electricity sector. The share of wind power is targeted to increase greatly, from 5% in 2022 to 19% by 2030. [Theinvestor.vn]

¶ “Sindh Govt Tapping Renewable Resources To Reduce Power Tariff” • Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said his government is committed to putting renewables on the fast track so the tariff of Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority may be reduced and made more affordable for the general public. [UrduPoint]

Rural Sindh (Emmanuel Samuel, Unsplash)

¶ “Nuclear Safety, Food Security On Agenda For Second Day Of Ukraine Peace Summit” • Working groups are to discuss nuclear safety, food security, and humanitarian assistance on the second day of a two-day international peace summit on Ukraine. More than 90 countries, along with representatives of international bodies, are participating. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Severe Weather Hits Northern Plains As Major Heat Wave Set To Move Across Country” • A flood watch continues in South Florida as showers are expected after flooding. Thunder storms are hitting the northern plains, bringing a risk of tornadoes. A severe heat wave is under way in the Southwest. Another heat wave is coming to the Northeast. [ABC News]

Weather (Andras Kovacs, Unsplash)

¶ “Ford Revises Dealer Requirements To Sell Electric Cars” • In September of 2022, Ford CEO Jim Farley told Ford dealers they had to invest in the equipment and training needed to sell EVs or get shut out. That plan backfired, and Ford has gone back to the drawing board on its EV strategies, to plan more hybrid models and reduce requirements. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NRDC Report: Cleaner Cars Drive Benefits For Health And Wallets” • The clean car policies of the Biden administration will deliver unprecedented benefits to the American people, which will include billions of dollars of savings, more vehicle options and less pollution, a new report from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) shows. [CleanTechnica]

Mechanic with uncontrolled hair (Image from Ford)

¶ “Ten Tesla Highlights From Shareholder Meeting” • Tesla’s #1 focus is now AI and robotics, and that’s now where it will either massively succeed or fail. However, there were several highlights from the shareholder presentation that seemed worth pulling out and discussing. Here are ten key slides and some short comments about them. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Industry, Clean Power Groups Breathe A Sigh Of Relief As Senate Approves Energy Regulators” • Three nominees to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which had risked losing a quorum, were approved by the US Senate. The votes were cheered by industry, renewable power, and environmental groups alike. [Rhode Island Current]

Have a magnificently creative day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Schumer’s Embrace Of New Nuclear Power Is A Dangerous Betrayal Of Clean, Safe Renewable Energy” • A senate vote on a bad nuclear bill is coming. Wenonah Hauter said, “Every dollar wasted on unproven, enormously expensive nuclear energy schemes is a dollar not invested in truly clean, safe and efficient wind and solar power.” [Food & Water Watch]

Chuck Schumer (Office of Charles Schumer)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Building Energy Around Changing Climate” • Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed free data sets to estimate how much energy any building in the contiguous US will use in 2100. These data sets give planners a way to anticipate future energy needs as the climate changes. One month old, the system is already in use. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Ice-Cold Long Duration Energy Storage System Ready For Takeoff” • Long duration energy storage systems are the key to unlocking more global wind and solar power. The “long” in long duration is the catch, and investors have been reluctant to take a chance on breakthrough technologies. Highview Power has a solution for that. [CleanTechnica]

To reduce curtailing wind farms (Highview Power)

¶ “NIO Power Swap Station 4.0 Now Operational” • The first batch of NIO Power Swap Station 4.0 is live. This generation supports automated battery swap for various brands and models. NIO, ONVO, and all battery swap partners can access the new stations for battery swapping that is more convenient than gas refueling. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Surging Renewables Push French Energy Prices Negative, Shutting Down Nuclear Plants” • French energy prices recently plunged into negative territory, reaching a four-year low of -€5.76/MWh in an Epex Spot auction, according to Bloomberg. The surplus in renewable power led to some French nuclear plants going offline. [The UBJ]

Offshore wind farm (Rolf Otzipka for EnBW, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Offshore Windfarm Zone Off Illawarra Coast Given Green Light In Bid To ‘Power Australia’s Clean Energy Future’” • The Australian federal government gave a green light to an offshore windfarm zone south of Sydney. The country’s fourth such zone, it will have the potential to generate 2.9 GW, or enough power for 1.8 million homes. [The Guardian]

¶ “Countries With The Most Wind Energy Capacity” • Saturday, June 15, is Global Wind Day, a day to celebrate windpower. In 1997 to 2018 windpower capacity increased from 7.5 GW to 733 GW worldwide, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, an international organization dedicated to promoting renewable energy. [US News & World Report]

Westmill Wind Farm (Vieve Forward, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “RMI And GEAPP Reveal 10-Year Roadmap To Over 20 GW Of Renewable Energy Market Opportunity In Nigeria” • RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet unveiled a roadmap showing a market opportunity in Nigeria of over 20 GW of utility-enabled distributed energy over the next 10 years. [RMI]

US:

¶ “Extra Moisture On West Coast Allowing Climate-Sensitive Joshua Trees To Recover: Experts” • Populations of the iconic Joshua tree may be showing signs of recovery after several rounds of atmospheric rivers drenched the West – including deserts in California and Colorado – with record amounts of rain over the past year and a half. [ABC News]

Joshua trees (William Foley, Unsplash)

¶ “Powering 10,000 Homes: Ameresco Celebrates Commercial Solar Operations At Pearl Harbor-Hickam” • Ameresco, Inc announced the commercial operations for Kūpono Solar. The solar and battery storage facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam West Loch Annex, is now operational and supporting Hawaiian Electric’s grid on O‘ahu. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Behind-The-Meter Generation And Storage Offer An Efficient Route To Bus Electrification In New York” • Although adoption of electric buses is increasing, they made up only 2% of the transit bus fleet of the US in 2021. Now the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority is aiming to make all 5,800 of its buses zero-emission by 2040. [CleanTechnica]

Charging in New York (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

¶ “AlphaStruxure And Montgomery County Break Ground On Renewable Energy-Powered Transit Depot” • AlphaStruxure and Montgomery County, Maryland. broke ground on an integrated microgrid infrastructure project featuring electric bus charging and on-site green hydrogen production powered by solar and a battery storage system. [Solar Industry]

¶ “Big Oil And Big Corn Sue EPA Over Exhaust Emissions Rule” • Big Oil has banded together with Big Corn and the nation’s auto dealers to sue the EPA because it has enacted stricter emissions standards designed to keep Americans from breathing the crud that spews forth from the tailpipes of cars powered by infernal combustion engines. [CleanTechnica]

Thank you, Big Oil (Fossil Free Media)

¶ “Solar PVs Could Make Cattle Grazing Lands More Profitable” • West Virginia University researchers are shining a light on the benefits of solar panels on small cattle farms with the support of $1.6 million from the US DOE. Prof Matt Wilson said panels can generate solar energy on grazing lands and also establish more sustainable cattle-raising practices. [Feed Strategy]

¶ “Californians Warned Of $12 Billion Nuclear Bill” • PG&E, the California-based utility company, is looking to spend nearly $12 billion to extend the life of its Diablo Canyon Power Plant until 2030, according to environmental group the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility. The claim is supported by the Environmental Working Group. [MSN]

Have a joyfully grand day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “A ‘Liquid Battery’ Advance” • Robert Waymouth, a Professor in Chemistry, is leading a Stanford team to explore an emerging technology for renewable energy storage: LOHCs, liquid organic hydrogen carriers. Hydrogen can be used to generate electricity already, but Waymouth’s team found ways to use isopropanol to contain and transport it. [Stanford Report]

Isopropanol (Yevhenii Vaskivskyi, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

World:

¶ “Earliest-Ever Heat Wave In Greece Closes Acropolis And Public Schools” • A sweltering heat wave in Greece, recorded as the season’s earliest-ever, has prompted authorities to close public schools, limit outdoor attractions and release safety alerts. In some areas of Greece, temperatures went to well over 100°F (40°C), according to officials. [ABC News]

¶ “In Auckland, Six Of Eighteen Gas Stations In City Core Closed ‘Reasonably Recently’” • New Zealand has been one of the fastest adopters of electric cars. It has some interesting news. According to the news report out of Auckland, which has a population of about 1.66 million, six out of 18 gas stations in the city core there shut down in recent years. [CleanTechnica]

Auckland (Robert Kozak, Pixabay)

¶ “New Analysis Finds Economic Impact Of Global Heating Six Times Greater Than Expected” • In 2018, William Nordhaus won a Nobel Prize for research showing an increase of 1°C in average global temperature would lead to a reduction in global economic input of between 1% and 3%. More recent analysis says the actual reduction is six times that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Suzlon Bags 104-MW Supply Deal In India” • Suzlon secured a deal to provide 33 turbines for a 104-MW wind farm that AMPIN Energy Transition is developing in India. The manufacturer will supply 3.15 MW, S144-140 units on hybrid lattice tubular towers for the site in the Fatehgarh district in Rajasthan. Suzlon will also erect and commission them. [reNews]

Turbine blade in a factory (Suzlon image)

¶ “India Aims For 500 GW Of Renewable Energy Capacity by 2030, Requires $215 Billion Investment” • A report by Moody’s says India needs investments of $190 billion to $215 billion over the next seven years to achieve its target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Transmission and storage will require $150 billion to $170 billion more. [Krishi Jagran]

¶ “Japan Could Be Energy-Independent By 2060 Thanks To Renewables, Rystad Energy CEO Says” • Japan, a major coal and liquefied natural gas buyer, could be energy-independent by 2060 thanks to expansion of solar and wind power together with storage batteries, said Jarand Rystad, CEO of the Rystad Energy consultancy. [Yahoo Finance]

Mt Fuji (Manuel Cosentino, Unsplash)

¶ “Sweden: Green Light For Mareld 2.5-GW Floating Wind Farm” • The Mareld project is a major initiative of Freja Offshore, a 50/50 joint venture between Mainstream Renewable Power and Swedish company Hexicon. The 2.5-GW offshore wind farm is expected to generate 12 TWh of electricity per year when it is fully operational. [energynews.pro]

US:

¶ “DeSantis Declares State Of Emergency As More Than 25 Inches Of Rain Slam South Florida” • Over 2 feet of rain is inundating South Florida, flooding neighborhoods, canceling flights, shutting down roads and forcing residents to evacuate their homes. A flood watch is in effect until Friday evening, as more rain is expected. [ABC News]

Downpour (Christopher, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “US Treasury Department Announces More Than $1 Billion In Upfront Savings For Consumers On EV Sales” • The US Treasury Department and IRS announced consumers saved over $1 billion in upfront costs on purchases of over 150,000 clean vehicles since January 1, 2024. It is a major milestone in the work to lower transportation costs for Americans. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Archer Completes Midnight’s Transition Flight” • Archer Aviation Inc, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, announced that on June 8th its Midnight aircraft successfully completed transition flying at a speed of over 100 mph. Archer has achieved transition with two different full-scale eVTOL aircraft. [CleanTechnica]

Archer Midnight (Archer image)

¶ “New TELO Electric Vehicle Taps Kei Cult For Inspiration” • Mini pickup trucks that conform to Japan’s strict kei-jidōsha standards have become a hot item in the US. The California EV startup TELO Truck has stepped up to fill the gap with plans to launch a mini electric pickup with a sporty, stylish silhouette and a powerful 350-mile battery. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Florida Meteorologists Integrate Climate Change Insights Into Weather Forecasts” • Jeff Berardelli, the chief meteorologist at WFLA-TV in Tampa, dedicates the ‘Berardelli Bonus,‘ a daily segment, to discuss climate-related topics. His approach reflects a broader movement among meteorologists to put context for the weather patterns. [One Green Planet]

Weather (Raquel Pedrotti, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewables Dominate US New Generating Capacity In 2024” • In April, renewables, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower, made up 99.2% of new capacity, says FERC’s “Energy Infrastructure Update.” In the year’s first four months, solar and wind added 7,899MW and 1,825MW, respectively, to make up 99.2% of new capacity. [Energy Live News]

¶ “California Legislators Break With Governor Newsom Over Loan To Keep State’s Last Nuclear Plant Running” • California Legislators signaled their intent to cancel a $400 million loan payment to help finance a longer lifespan for the Diablo Canyon plant. The Governor says the plant is critical to safeguard energy supplies in a warming climate. [ABC News]

Have an entirely fabulous day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Drilling Into Magma For Renewable Energy” • Once upon a time, Iceland trailed behind the pack as one of Europe’s most impoverished countries. It had a deprived economy reliant on imported energy sources. Now it’s 100% powered by renewable sources. But it is about to go farther, drilling into magma to get geothermal heat for energy. [CleanTechnica]

Earth burp (ELG21, Pixabay)

¶ “DER: Yet Another Reason Why Renewable Energy Wins” • Distributed energy resources refers to small-scale, local sources of energy, including energy storage. In addition to the potential for cost savings, DER management tools can enable utilities to deploy a grid mix that reduces fossil fuel inputs and maximizes renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Surprising New Renewable Power Source Has ‘Negative Carbon Emissions’” • A surprising renewable power source has “negative carbon emissions,” a study found. By harnessing the power of photosynthesis, a team at Concordia University in Wisconsin developed micro photosynthetic power cells that generate electricity from algae. [MSN]

Algae (Nina Rumbines, Unsplash)

¶ “Aerosols May Affect Climate More Than Previously Thought” • In a study, researchers investigated the ways clouds interact with aerosols, tiny particles in the air from various sources, like dust, smoke, or pollution from cars and factories. This process, the aerosol-cloud interaction, has been identified as the forefront of climate science by the IPCC. [Phys.org]

World:

¶ “Liquid Air Energy Storage Plant To Create 700 Jobs” • Work has begun on a £300m energy plant which will store surplus electricity from wind and solar farms in the form of liquid air. The facility at Carrington near Manchester, a Highview Power design, will create more than 700 jobs in the north-west of England, the firm said. [BBC]

Highview Power has plans (Highview Power image)

¶ “EU Threatens To Hike Tariffs On Imports Of Chinese Electric Cars, Escalating Trade Spat ” • The EU moved to hike tariffs on Chinese EVs, escalating a trade dispute over Beijing’s subsidies for the exports that Brussels worries is hurting domestic car makers. Chinese car makers face duties of as much as 38%, up from the current level of 10%. [ABC News]

¶ “Tata Motors Deploys Over 100 Units Of Tata Ace EV To Magenta Mobility” • Magenta Mobility, with a fleet of EVs in India, took delivery of 100 units of the Tata Ace EV from Tata Motors, an Indian commercial vehicle maker, based on an MOU signed in October 2023. Magenta Mobility aims to deploy 10,000 EVs by September 2025. [CleanTechnica]

Tata Ace EV (Tata Motors image)

¶ “Modular Solar Solution Helps Mining Operation Shift To Renewables” • Remote power specialist Zenith Energy completed a 16.9-MW deployment of Australian maker 5B’s prefabricated Maverick solar technology on a waste rock dump at Northern Star Resources’ Jundee gold mining operation in Western Australia. [pv magazine International]

¶ “DTEK, GE Vernova Sign Wind Power MOU” • DTEK Group announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Vernova to work on wind power projects in Ukraine and the EU. They will also explore modernizing Ukraine’s electricity grid to enhance reliability, minimize energy losses, and create a more flexible future-proofed network. [reNews]

Wind farm (DTEK image)

¶ “The Boss Of The ABC Has Criticised Peter’s Dutton Nuclear Power Plan” • ABC’s chairman Kim Williams launched a searing attack on Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan for Australia. As reported by news website Crikey, the national broadcaster’s boss said the Coalition had announced the policy ‘as a sound bite, with no detail as to emissions targets.’ [MSN]

US:

¶ “US DOE Welcomes New Round Of Innovative Leaders To Peer-Learning Cohorts On Emerging Clean Energy Strategies” • The US DOE announced a new round of leaders from 45 entities that will collaborate on common clean energy opportunities and challenges through the Clean Energy to Communities program’s peer-learning cohorts. [CleanTechnica]

Bean harvest (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “One Home Builder Grows The Entire Heat Pump Water Heater Market By 30%” • Clayton, a leading single-family home builder, decided that nearly all of the 42,000 homes it builds annually will be certified ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Homes. It will use heat pump water heaters, making the market for them significantly larger. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Starts Up 518-MW Texas Hybrid” • Ørsted achieved full commercial operation at the Helena Energy Center, a 518-MW combined wind and solar project in Texas. The Helena Energy Center, in Bee County, comprises the 268-MW Helena wind farm and the 250-MW Sparta solar farm. It has secured contracts with multiple corporate off-takers. [reNews]

Wind farm (Ørsted image)

¶ “US DOE SuperTruck 3 Initiative Seeks To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Of Medium And Heavy Truck By 75%” • Building on the success of the US DOE SuperTruck 2’s efficiency gains, the SuperTruck 3 initiative seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of medium and heavy truck by 75% (lifecycle basis) and reduce the total cost of truck ownership. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “This Coal-Heavy Rural Co-Op Utility Is Buying Its First Solar Plants” • Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, one of the largest rural cooperative utilities in the US, rolled out a set of clean energy commitments it says will deliver 50% renewable electricity by the end of 2025, up from 33% in 2023. It is buying two large solar projects. [Canary Media]

Have an ingeniously inspired day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Research Details Method to Get Efficient, Environmentally Friendly Lithium” • Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering optimized a method for extracting lithium from more dilute sources of the mineral, including seawater, groundwater, and “flowback water” from fracking and oil drilling. [CleanTechnica]

Mudpots near the Salton Buttes (Deborah Bergfeld, USGS)

¶ “World’s Heaviest Soaring Bird Inspires Wind Power Design” • When placed at the tip of a turbine blade, the c-shaped “winglet” inspired by the condor reduces drag, potentially increasing the turbine’s efficiency by up to 10% in optimal conditions, according to a study by mechanical engineers at the University of Alberta, published in the journal Energy. [Tech Xplore]

World:

¶ “Tiger Mosquitoes Behind Dengue Fever Rise In Europe” • An invasive species of mosquito has been found in thirteen EU countries, with experts linking their discovery to a rise in dengue fever in Europe. Climate change is creating favorable conditions for the tiger mosquito to spread, said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. [BBC]

Tiger mosquito (James Gathany, CDC, public domain)

¶ “Unsold Tesla Cars Are Piling Up In America, Australia, And Germany” • Reports of unsold cars started late last month when Channel 7 News in Australia aired video of unsold Teslas piling up at the port of Melbourne. It said Tesla has lowered the price of some cars by as much as A$20,000, but still there were fewer buyers than anticipated. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “VW To Use Old EV Batteries To Build Massive Grid Battery To Store Wind And Solar” • Car maker Volkswagen plans to install large battery storage capacities in northern Germany to store wind and solar power for times of little output, WirtschaftsWoche reported. The head of VW’s technology department said it will begin construction this summer. [The Driven]

Volkswagen EVs and solar garage (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Lithium Miner Switches On Australia’s Biggest Off-Grid Hybrid Renewables System” • The largest off-grid renewable energy generator in Australia, Liontown Resources’ Kathleen Valley remote micro-grid, is operational. The project combines a 16-MW solar farm, a 17-MW, 19-MWh battery, and ultimately 30 MW of wind capacity. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Ørsted Takes FID On Hornsea 3 BESS” • Ørsted has taken the final investment decision on a 300-MW battery energy storage system to be installed on the same site as the onshore converter station for its Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm in Norfolk. The storage system has an energy capacity of 600 MWh. It will use Tesla batteries for storage. [reNews]

Existing Battery energy storage system (Ørsted image)

¶ “Vattenfall-CIP And SSE Winners In 4-GW Dutch Offshore Wind Tender” • The largest offshore wind tender round in Dutch history have concluded on 11 June with the award of the 2-GW Ijmuiden Ver Alpha plot to an SSE Renewables consortium and the 2-GW Ijmuiden Ver Beta site to Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. [reNews]

¶ “European Energy Secures Microsoft PPAs” • European Energy entered several long-term PPAs with Microsoft to offtake energy from wind and solar projects in Sweden and Denmark. They total 180.6 MW and include the region’s first large hybrid wind and solar project. The agreements will deliver over 3.6 TWh during the contract period. [reNews]

Wind farm (European Energy image)

US:

¶ “California Public Utilities Commission Crushes Community Solar With Latest Monopolistic Play” • California utilities have been on a mission to squeeze out distributed solar energy for years, and after success on the residential side with Net Metering 3.0, they moved on to limiting growth of community solar via the California PUC. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Solar Energy Gloves Finally Come Flying Off” • The US power landscape is about to be shaken up to the tune of 4.5 GW of new solar generating and storage projects over the next five years, and three of the most asleep-at-the-solar-wheel states in the nation stand stand to get jarred awake by the sudden influx of investments in clean power. [CleanTechnica]

Entergy’s Chicot Solar Energy Center (Courtesy of Entergy)

¶ “US Department Of Interior’s Clean Energy Progress In Nevada” • The Bureau of Land Management announced that it completed environmental analysis of the proposed Greenlink West Transmission Project in Nevada. Its transmission lines could connect 4 GW of clean energy from the Nevada desert to the Western electric grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Key Bills Head For Veto Override Votes Next Monday” • The Vermont Legislature will reconvene next week on June 17th to vote on whether or not to override the governor’s vetoes of two important environmental bills, and possibly a third. Each will require a two-thirds majority of votes in support for the bill to be enacted. [Vermont Business Magazine]

Vermont State House (Farragutful, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Tennesseans Push Against Proposed Pipeline Extension” • A proposed gas pipeline would cut through Middle Tennessee, but an environmental group is trying to stop it. The pipeline would stretch 122 miles from Smith County to East Tennessee. TVA said the project would ensure greener energy, but activists said there are cleaner options. [Yahoo]

¶ “Gates-Backed Nuclear Plant Breaks Ground, No Guarantee It’ll Have Fuel” • Unwilling to let a little thing like reality stand in its way, Bill Gates’ TerraPower has broken ground on its Wyoming nuclear power plant without any guarantee it will have the fuel needed to run it once it’s finished. The fuel would be high-assay low-enriched uranium. [The Register]

Have a curiously pleasant day.

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World:

¶ “EVs At 18.5% Share In Germany – Backsliding On Transition” • May saw plugin EVs at 18.5% share in Germany, down from 22.9% in May 2023, after the unexpected incentive abandonment in late December. Battery EVs were down 31% in YOY volume, while Plugin Hybrids were up 2%. The best selling battery EV in May was the Volkswagen ID.3. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.3 (Alexander-93, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Company Car Electrification Lagging Behind Private Market For Third Year In A Row” • Company cars drive twice as far as private vehicles, so they account for 74% of all new car emissions. But for the third year in a row, companies are falling behind in the conversion, despite having the financial resources to make the switch to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Climate Backlash Is Here As European Voters Reject Green Policies” • The EU has been a strong supporter for the climate policies agreed to in Paris in 2015, but the voters, particularly those in France and Germany, voted for candidates who are authoritarian and mostly opposed to the climate policies of the past. [CleanTechnica]

Makeup of European Parliament (European Parliament)

¶ “G7 Countries Face Challenges In Achieving 2035 Net Zero Grids” • According to the G7 Power Systems Scorecard, crafted by the climate think tank E3G, all G7 nations but Japan are taking major steps towards ending coal use by 2030. The report finds, however, that no country has clear policies and targets to phase out unabated use of gas. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Consenting Begins For 2-GW Scottish Pair” • Thistle Wind Partners has kicked off the consenting process for the combined 2-GW Ayre and Bowdun offshore wind farms off the coast of Scotland. Ayre is a planned 1-GW floater off the coast of Orkney, while the 1-GW Bowdun will be a fixed foundation wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen. [reNews]

Wind turbine (ABPmer, ABP)

¶ “Liberal Democrats Unveil Plan To Cut Energy Bills” • The Liberal Democrats launched their manifesto, emphasising the urgency of addressing climate change and reducing energy bills. The party describes climate change as an existential threat, citing rising temperatures, wildfires, floods, droughts, and sea levels affecting millions globally. [Energy Live News]

¶ “CEC Calls For New Policies To Support Increased Uptake Of Rooftop Solar, Home Batteries” • The Clean Energy Council is calling for a unified national strategy to “supercharge” the uptake of consumer energy resources including rooftop solar and home batteries in Australia, saying such a move would save more than $22 billion by 2050. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar installation (CEC image)

¶ “Dutton’s Nuclear Plan Wouldn’t Even Meet Net Zero By 2050 Target, Report Finds” • The federal Coalition’s nuclear energy proposal would not just result in the tearing up of Australia’s commitment to the Paris climate treaty, it wouldn’t even be able to deliver net zero emissions on Australia’s main electricity grid by 2050, a report found. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “US Department of Energy Announces National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building” • The US DOE last week announced a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building to advance public and private sector efforts to decarbonize the buildings sector, which is responsible for more than one-third of total US greenhouse gas emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Installation of secondary glazing (Al Hicks, NREL)

¶ “The Most Recent EV Cost Of Ownership Analyses Are Very Appealing” • Vincentric provides the automotive industry with cost of ownership data. Its EV Cost of Ownership Analysis for 2024 found that 20 of 41 (49%) EVs studied had a lower total cost of ownership over five years than their internal combustion engine counterparts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Maui Kūihelani Solar-Plus-Storage Has Begun Generating Electricity” • AES Hawaiʻi commenced operations on Hawaii’s largest solar facility – Kūihelani Solar-plus-Storage on Maui – a project generating enough power for 27,000 homes at 8¢/kWh, the lowest renewable energy cost in the state, according to a company announcement. [Maui Now]

Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage facility (AES Hawaiʻi image)

¶ “Offshore Wind Staging Site Breaks Ground In Brooklyn” • Equinor broke ground on construction at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, kicking off the revitalization of the venerable port facility into a hub for offshore wind on the East Coast and a critical contributor to New York’s ambitious renewable energy plans. [Windpower Engineering & Development]

¶ “Massive Solar Farm With 80 MWh Of Storage Goes Online In Lone Star State” • West of San Antonio, Texas, a 208-MW solar farm has come online, an article published in Electrek says. The facility has 80 MWh of storage and can power 41,600 homes. The Zier solar facility is Cypress Creek Renewable’s largest solar project to date. [The Cool Down]

Solar farm (Cypress Creek Renewables)

¶ “Wyoming Breaks Ground On Bill Gates’ Next-Gen Nuclear Facility” • TerraPower began construction on what is positioned to become America’s first next-generation nuclear power facility, in Kemmerer, Wyoming. It is called the world’s most advanced nuclear facility. The new facility is next to a coal-burning power plant that will switch to gas in 2026. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Nuclear Power Is ‘Overblown’ As An Energy Source For Data Centers, Power Company CEO Says” • The euphoria over nuclear energy as a power source for data centers is “overblown,” the CEO of a major power provider for large tech companies told CNBC in an interview. AES Corporation CEO Andrés Gluski said renewable energy is the future. [CNBC]

Have a expressly beautiful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Dutton Confirms Nuclear Push And Climate Denial Go Hand In Hand: The Pretence Has Gone” • Let there now be no doubt or confusion: Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton confirmed that his Coalition’s push for nuclear energy is firmly linked with his party’s rigid denial of climate science. The pretence that it is anything else is now gone. [RenewEconomy]

Nuclear plant (Jametlene Reskp, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Nuclear Tech Like Bill Gates’ Terra Power Can Be ‘Easily Weaponized’” • An analysis conducted by scientists in the US has found that contrary to popular belief, high-assay low-enriched uranium, touted as the fuel for the next generation of small nuclear reactors, can be easily weaponized. The scientists used material in the public domain for the study. [MSN]

World:

¶ “Diesel Prices Jump 56% As Malaysia Revamps Decades-Old Fuel Subsidies” • Diesel price in Malaysia jumped by more than 50% on Monday as part of a revamp of decades-old fuel subsidies to tighten government spending and save billions of ringgits annually. The restructuring eliminates blanket energy subsidies and redirects them to the needy. [ABC News]

Smog over Kuala Lumpur (Meriç Dağlı, Unsplash)

¶ “As The Need For Copper Rises, Cable Manufacturers Recycle More” • In an industrial suburb of Montreal, a mill owned by Nexans, a cable-making company, has made copper rod from ore for nearly a century. Now it makes an increasing amount of it from used copper, with the rods containing some 14% recycled metal. It hopes to get to 20%. [ABC News]

¶ “EVs Take 24.1% Share In France – Popular BEVs Hit By Stop In Incentives” • May’s auto sales saw plugin EVs take 24.1% share in France, roughly flat from 24.3% year-on-year. The battery EV share was up, while the plugin hybrid share fell. Overall auto sales volume was 141,298, down by 3% YOY. The Peugeot e-208 has a strong lead among battery EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Peugeot e-208 (Miloslav Rejha, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Elli Enters the Industrial Energy Storage Business” • The Volkswagen Group is entering a new business segment with the Elli charging and energy brand, to develop, build, and operate large storage systems together with partners along the value chain. Elli’s storage systems will supply customers and be for arbitrage transactions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Farms Have Generated More Than A Third Of Ireland’s Electricity So Far This Year” • Wind farms generated 35% of Ireland’s electricity in the first five months of this year. The May Wind Energy Report from Wind Energy Ireland has highlighted how renewable energy had powered thousands of Irish homes and businesses. [The Irish Independent]

Wind turbines in Ireland (RTG, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Gulf And AIS To Build Solar-Power Stations For Mountain Villages” • Thai energy company Gulf Energy Development announced on Friday it has launched an initiative with local telco AIS and the Highland Research and Development Institute to build up solar-powered infrastructure in Thailand’s remote mountainous regions. [Developing Telecoms]

¶ “Swiss Approve Law Boosting Renewable Energy Generation” • Switzerland approved a law aimed at accelerating development of renewable energies, as part of the country’s bid to attain carbon neutrality by 2050. Official results showed that just under 69% of Swiss voters backed the law on “a secure electricity supply based on renewable energies.” [MSN]

Solar power in Switzerland (Dominique.bugmann, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Base Power Will Install A Residential Storage Battery For $2,000. What’s The Catch?” • Base Power sells batteries cheaply so it can create a vast network of batteries that it can tap into. Its software monitors the fluctuations in energy prices so it can fill up the batteries when energy is cheap and draw from them when it’s expensive. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Agrivoltaics Hitches A Ride On The Community Solar Train” • The SunSmart Ames Community Solar Project in Ames, Iowa, is a good example of a community solar project that incorporates agrivoltaics for additional benefits. SunSmart was commissioned in 2020. Since that time, it has started to employ fifty sheep to keep the grass down. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics in Hawaii (Merrill Smith, US DOE, public domain)

¶ “State Senator Pitches Bill That Would Expand Access To Solar Power” • In Pennsylvania, state Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49) has reintroduced legislation that would expand access to solar power through a local voluntary program while ensuring adequate ratepayer protection. Senate Bill 1227 would create the PA Local Solar program. [PennWatch]

¶ “Engineers Deploy Off-Grid Solar Tracking Technology To Power EV Charging Station” • A new solar-powered electric vehicle charger installed at Dartmouth College is helping drive us toward a cleaner, healthier future, according to Electrek. This innovative off-grid charging station was designed by Solaflect Energy. [The Cool Down]

Have a radically gorgeous day.

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