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Energy Week #557 – 1/25/2024
Minute 0: Introduction
Thursday, January 18
Caterpillar on milkweed (Lee Walston, Argonne National Laboratory)
Minute 2
¶ “Agrivoltaics In Action: Evidence Shows Solar Panels Nurture Habitats And Farms, Too” • An organized effort to stop rural solar development is still sputtering along, but the case for converting marginal farmlands into clean energy powerhouses is getting stronger. The key element is the emerging science of agrivoltaics, which nurtures farms. [CleanTechnica]
Montana (Matthew Lancaster, Unsplash)
Minute 5
¶ “Montana Supreme Court Upholds Climate Ruling That Said Emissions Can’t Be Ignored” • Montana’s Supreme Court has rejected an attempt by the state’s Republican governor to block a landmark climate ruling that said regulators must consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing permits for fossil fuel development. [ABC News]
Bison don’t mind wind turbines (Credit to Pete Ferrell)
Minute 8
¶ “A Cash Crop That Never Runs Out” • The 7,000-acre Ferrell Ranch in Beaumont, Kansas, has 50 wind turbines. The ranch had survived years when drought dried up income by relying on oil revenues, but today the wind turbines are providing a reliable cash crop for the ranch. Yale Climate Connections spoke with Pete Ferrell. [Yale Climate Connections]
Friday, January 19
Offshore wind farm (Van Oord image)
Minute 10
¶ “Europe Celebrates 4.2-GW Record Offshore Wind Haul” • The European offshore wind industry brought online a record 4,200 MW of offshore wind capacity in 2023. The amount was up 40% from the 1.7 GW installed in 2022, according to figures published by trade association WindEurope. Of the 4.2 GW total, 3 GW was installed in the EU. [reNews]
Community solar garden (ItaliaCalcio2008, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Minute 13
¶ “Insects Thrive In Restored Habitats Near US Solar Energy Facilities” • Researchers from the Argonne National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory went on a mission to explore the ecological impact of PV solar energy sites, especially those restored with native grasses and wildflowers. The result is buzzing with life. [Earth.com]
Panama City (Mattias Hill, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Minute 16
¶ “Panama Launching 500-MW Renewable Energy And Energy Storage Scheme” • Panama has launched a 500-MW tender auction for renewables and energy storage, the first in Central America to include storage. Winning bidders are to have projects operational by 1 September 2026, for existing renewable projects and new solar PV plants. [Energy-Storage.News]
Saturday, January 20
Solar + storage system (Mortenson image)
Minute 19
¶ “Largest Solar And Storage Project In US Activated” • Terra-Gen and its contractor, Mortenson, announced activation of the Edwards & Sanborn Solar + Energy Storage project, the largest solar and storage project in the US. It has a solar capacity of 875 MW (DC) and nearly 3.3 GWh of energy storage. It is in California and has a 1.3 GW capacity. [pv magazine USA]
Snow (Annie Nyle, Unsplash)
Minute 22
¶ “Why Cold Air Outbreaks Are Still Happening Amid Global Warming” • It may be counterintuitive, but extreme cold blasts like much of the US is now having will continue to occur even as global temperatures soar to record levels. Research shows that climate change may bring more frequent and intense heat waves, but freeze events will still happen. [ABC News]
Super-sized electric truck (Courtesy of Scania)
Minute 24
¶ “EU Reaches Deal On Near Phaseout of Diesel Trucks” • In the EU, lawmakers agreed to CO₂ emissions targets for heavy-duty vehicles that will phase out almost all sales of new diesel trucks by 2040. Under the new guidelines, manufacturers will have to cut the average emissions of new trucks by 45% in 2030, 65% in 2035 and 90% in 2040. [CleanTechnica]
Sunday, January 21
Wind farm in WA (Harry Cunningham, Unsplash)
Minute 27
¶ “Southern Western Australia Gears Up For Major Renewable Energy Projects” • In the southern region of Western Australia, the landscape of renewable energy is witnessing a transformation with two major projects nearing completion. One is the 76-MW Flat Rocks Windfarm. The other is a groundbreaking pumped hydro project in Walpole. [BNN Breaking]
Old growth forest (Jenny Walsh, Unsplash)
Minute 30
¶ “Old Forests, Critically Important For Slowing Climate Change, Merit Immediate Protection From Logging” • Forests are an essential part of Earth’s operating system. In the U.S., forests take up 12% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions annually and store the carbon long term in trees and soils. They should be protected as soon as possible. [Phys.org]
Canoo delivery van (Courtesy of Canoo)
Minute 32
¶ “Canoo Delivers First Of 9300 Electric Vans To Kingbee” • Canoo makes groundbreaking EVs in Oklahoma. For now, it is focusing all its energy on building vans that can be used by tradespeople and delivery services. Walmart is a prime customer. Another is Kingbee, which just placed an order 9,300 Canoo LTV 130 delivery vans. [CleanTechnica]
Monday, January 22
Energy (Arteum.ro, Unsplash)
Minute 35
¶ “The Energy Transition Has Reached A Critical Inflection Point” • The transition to net zero is a complex process that requires significant changes in the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy. Many countries and companies have set net zero targets for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or earlier. But the transition has its challenges. [CleanTechnica]
Off-grid system in Bangladesh (IMF, Flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Minute 38
¶ “Bangladesh Solar Power Surge Set To Unlock Thousands Of Green Jobs” • After years of slack progress, renewable energy in Bangladesh has recently seen a strong turnaround on the back of more affordable solar power. Over 3 GW are now in operation. That momentum is expected to create 3,000 to 4,000 new green jobs in the next few years. [Eco-Business]
Weather (Neda Astani, Unsplash, cropped)
Minute 40
¶ “A Mostly Renewable Electricity Grid Is Highly Feasible” • Australia’s electricity could be over 95% renewable by 2035, according to the latest release of Australia’s electricity market operator’s Integrated System Plan. Many people are sceptical, firmly believing that 24×7 baseload generators are essential. But experiments say they’re wrong. [Cosmos Magazine]
Tuesday, January 23
Sheep and solar panels (Courtesy of Lightsource bp)
Minute 43
¶ “Lowering Energy Costs And Emissions In Rural America” • Updates are needed with climate change. So the NRDC endorsed the REAP Modernization Act, introduced by Senators Tina Smith and Ben Ray Luján and Representatives Abigail Spanberger and David Valadao, and the Rural Energy Equity Act, introduced by Senator Peter Welch. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbines (RTG, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
Minute 46
¶ “NI Saves £243 Million From Wind Power In 2023” • Wind Energy Ireland, with the help of energy specialists Baringa, reported that Northern Irish wind farms saved £243 million in 2023. The Irish renewable energy organisation confirmed in its annual report that 35% of the whole island’s electricity was provided by wind farms. [Current News]
Volkswagen ID. Buzz in Brazil (Courtesy of Volkswagen AG)
Minute 48
¶ “BEV Sales Shoot Past All Expectations in Brazil In December, Rise 700%!” • Not long ago, Brazil’s battery EV sales were just symbolic: a fraction of a fraction. But the second half of 2023 has broken record after record, breaking all expectations and closing in on 3% battery EV share of the overall automobile in December, 700% growth YOY. [CleanTechnica]
Wednesday, January 24
Ford F-150 Lightning in snow (Ford image)
Minute 51
¶ “Brighter, Whiter Snow Could Help Offset Global Warming. PNNL Scientists Study Why” • While research has shown that global warming is leading to a decline in snowpacks, a study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory suggests the news may not be as grim as originally thought. Expectations for cleaner snow is one reason. [CleanTechnica]
Coffee beans (Michael Burrows, Pexels)
Minute 54
¶ “New Coffee Genetic Map Promises Better Brews” • The most complete genetic map yet of Arabica coffee was pieced together by researchers in Italy. Arabica coffee is the world’s most popular drink. The new insights into the plant’s genetic code will help in breeding new coffee crops. And they may lead to coffee plants that can cope better in a warming world. [BBC]
Agricultural technology (USDA, CC0 1.0)
Minute 56
¶ “More Internet Access From Elon Musk’s Starlink Can Enhance Sustainable Agritech” • The rise of precision agriculture could boost yields and profit margins while reducing reliance on fertilizer and other inputs, among other benefits. A hitch is that 30% of farm acreage in the US does not possess reliable WiFi access. Starlink can handle that. [CleanTechnica]
Minute 59: Finis
Notes: Energy Week #557 – 1/25/2024
George Harvey, blogger, author, and journalist for Green Energy Times and CleanTechnica, computer engineer
Tom Finnell, electrical engineer, transmission grid expert, world traveler, philanthropist, and philosopher
Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind Power, Solar, Batteries, Nuclear, Coal, Oil, Gas, Climate Change
Energy Week with George Harvey and Tom Finnell 