Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere
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The April, 2024 edition of Green Energy Times has gone to press and will be available wherever it is distributed.
The onlline full edition can be seen HERE.
Individual articles will be uploaded soon.
Headline News:
- “A Golden Age Of Renewables Is Beginning, And California Is Leading the Way” • California has had a record-breaking string of days in which the combined generation renewable sources has exceeded demand on the main electricity grid for anywhere from 15 minutes to 9.25 hours per day. The implications are spectacular. [Scientific American]
- “Share Of Electricity Generated By Fossil Fuels In Great Britain Drops To Record Low” • Fifteen years ago, gas and coal power made up 75% of the electricity mix, while renewables were only 2%. Last year only a third of Great Britain’s electricity came from fossil fuels, and 40% from renewables. There are times when over 90% is from renewables. [The Guardian]
- “US Unveils Five-Year Offshore Leasing Plan” • US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a new five-year schedule of offshore wind leasing rounds, with up to 12 lease sales by 2028. Four lease sales in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and near US territories will take place this year, one each in 2025 and 2026, two in 2027, and four in 2028. [reNews]
- “US Interior Department Finalizes Rule to Streamline And Modernize Offshore Renewable Energy Development” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement finalized updated regulations for renewable energy development on the US Outer Continental Shelf, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. [CleanTechnica]
- “Strict Rules Stop Green Hydrogen Production Diverting Clean Power From The Grid. What Are They?” • Green hydrogen must be made from green electricity. But its makers must ensure more than that. Renewable hydrogen is only produced when sufficient renewable energy is available, and is not diverting clean energy away from the grid. [Energy Post]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Mercedes-Benz Explores Pairing eSprinter Vans With E-Cargo Bikes For Last-Mile Deliveries” • A pilot program uses a special Mercedez-Benz eSprinter electric van as a mobile micro-depot to bring standardized container modules to transfer points. A container is off-loaded onto an ONO electric cargo bike which makes the last-mile deliveries. [CleanTechnica]
 Delivery EVs (Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Vans)
- “CATL Claims Grid Battery Will Experience No Degradation In First Five Years” • CATL’s TENER is the first mass-producible energy storage system with zero degradation in the first five years of use. Featuring greater safety, five-year zero degradation, and a 6.25 MWh capacity, TENER will accelerate adoption of energy storage technologies. [CleanTechnica]
- “Wasting Renewables: Where Is Europe In The Race For Clean Energy Transition?” • Europe is not yet on track with its energy transition goals, but it is best positioned to succeed in reaching them, according to French multinational energy management company Schneider Electric. It needs to increase its renewable capacity to phase out of fossil fuels. [Euronews.com]
- “Queensland Passes Legislation To Deliver On Renewable Energy And Jobs” • The Queensland Government has passed the transformation of Queensland’s energy grid into law, which they have stated will create over 100,000 new jobs in manufacturing, renewable energy generation, power transmission, and industries of the future. [PACE Today]
- “Alaska Groups Awarded $125 Million For Solar Projects” • Several Alaska organizations are set to share in $125 million in federal funding so low-income and disadvantaged communities can be powered by solar projects. Awards are going the Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Housing Finance Corp, and tribal solar projects. [Anchorage Daily News]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Renewables To Thank For Weeks Of No Load-Shedding” • In the past three weeks there has been no load-shedding in South Africa. The good performance was due to deliberate plans by the government and utility Eskom to deal with power outages. The Energy Action Plan is starting to bear fruit, with the contribution of renewable energy projects. [ITWeb]
- “China Faces Huge Energy Transition Challenge” • China is proving itself a global green energy leader, but it is expected to depend heavily on fossil fuels in 2050. DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook China says the country’s build out of renewable energy is unrivalled, but fossil fuels will still make up 40% of its energy mix in 2050. [reNews]
- “High Interest Rates Are Challenging The Global Transition To Renewable Energy” • After a period of low interest rates from 2009 to 2022, central banks have sharply raised interest rates to fight inflation. The higher cost capital has profound implications for the energy and natural resource industries, said a report from Wood Mackenzie. [pv magazine USA]
- “Earth Day 2024 Report Card” • Earth Day offers an annual opportunity for citizens, experts, and lawmakers to celebrate the planet, examine our impact on the changing environment and demand a push toward a sustainable future. To make a united step forward, awareness of the mounting climate crisis is vital, one scientist told ABC News. [ABC News]
- “Biden Unlocks $7 Billion Solar Investment On Earth Day” • On Earth Day 2024, President Joe Biden announced $7 billion in grants through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant competition. The competition is a key component of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund of the Inflation Reduction Act. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
 Earth Day Poster by a fourth grade artist.
Headline News:
- “Europe’s First Commercial-Scale Floating Offshore Wind Farm Secures All Planning Approvals” • With onshore consent, Green Volt has all its planning approvals and remains on track to be Europe’s first floating offshore wind farm. Green Volt will include up to 35 floating wind turbines, providing up to 560 MW of capacity. [Offshore Wind]
 Floating turbines (Green Volt Floating Offshore WindFarm)
- “Climate Advocates Want To Solve Their ‘Biggest Problem’ In The US: Turning Out Voters” • During a recent effort to turn out voters who care about climate change, a biology professor told ABC News she used to lobby lawmakers directly to take action on climate change, but they told her voters don’t care about it. Now she’s trying to prove them wrong. [ABC News]
- “Australia Targets 6 GW Of New Renewables In ‘Largest Ever’ Tender” • The Australian government said a new national Capacity Investment Scheme tender process will open in May seeking 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects to replace aging coal power generation in the National Electricity Market. [pv magazine International]
- “Europe Is The Fastest-Warming Continent, At Nearly Twice The Average Global Rate” • Europe is the fastest-warming continent and its temperatures are rising at roughly twice the global average, two top organizations monitoring the climate said in a report. They warned of consequences for human health, glacier melt, and economic activity. [ABC News]
- “Largest Floating Solar Array In Australia Switched On” • The 350-kW system at Gippsland Water has 644 solar panels and floats on a treatment lagoon at the Drouin wastewater treatment plant. Gippsland Water said it is the largest floating solar array in Australia, and the solar panels result from the its commitment to renewable energy. [Energy Magazine]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Queensland Looks To Cut Emissions By 75% In A Decade In Rare Show Of Bipartisanship” • Queensland is looking to harness its power as the Sunshine State for something more than the skin cancer capital of the world. Cutting emissions by 75% by 2035 and a renewable energy target of 80% by 2035 have been enshrined in law in a bipartisan vote. [ABC]
 Queensland wind farm (Queensland government image)
- “Wind Farms Require Far Less Land Than Previously Believed” • Decision-makers have hesitated to embrace wind farms, partly because of a belief that the wind farms require vast tracts of land. However, a remarkable study conducted by researchers at McGill University reveals that this belief may be based on outdated and inaccurate information. [Earth.com]
- “Data Centers Fuel AI And Crypto But Could Threaten Climate, Experts Say” • Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency take a lot of power. At complexes, which typically span 100,000 square feet, the increased energy usage could jeopardize the fight to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change, experts told ABC News. [ABC News]
- “Tesla Model Y Cheaper Than Ever In USA” • A week ago, the Tesla Model Y had a base price below the average selling price of a new car in the US. In fact, taking the US EV tax credit into account, the Model Y was essentially $10,000 cheaper than the average selling price of a new car in the US, which is $47,244. Now the Model Y is even cheaper. [CleanTechnica]
- “’Uncharted Territory’: El Niño To Flip To La Niña In What Could Be The Hottest Year On Record” • El Niño is likely to give way soon, a NOAA scientist said. For the US, this climatological flip-flop will likely mean a greater risk of major hurricanes in the Atlantic as well as areas of drier-than-usual weather in southern portions of the country. [Live Science]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Mexican Presidential Frontrunner Would Focus On Water And Renewable Energy” • Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum said that if she is elected, her administration would focus on water management and renewable energy as part of a plan to boost the country’s sustainability. She is strongly favored to win the June elections. [Yahoo News Canada]
- “Nearly 200 Clean Energy Companies Urge Congress To Pass Siting, Permitting, And Transmission Reform Before The 2024 Election” • Nearly 200 solar and storage companies sent a letter to congressional leaders calling for legislation to improve project siting, permitting, transmission, and access to public lands for solar and solar plus storage projects. [CleanTechnica]
- “RTX Partners With ENGIE For Renewable Electricity In Texas Facilities” • RTX has announced an agreement with ENGIE North America to power 12 of RTX’s facilities in Texas with 100% renewable electricity. This deal is RTX’s largest renewable energy procurement to date, nearly doubling the company’s use of renewable electricity. [GreentechLead]
- “New York Cancels Three Offshore Wind Projects” • Provisional contracts for three New York Bight wind projects were cancelled, after it became impossible for developers to move forward, New York State energy planners announced. The cancellations are tied to General Electric’s decision not to proceed with building 18-MW turbines. [WorkBoat]
- “GM Picks Up The Electric Pickup Truck Torch Dropped By Cybertruck” • When you have a powerful electric pickup truck, do you really need to shell out for a home energy storage system as well? The launch began earlier this week with a focus on the new Chevy Silverado electric pickup truck and its bi-directional charging capability. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “ER Visits For Heat Illness Rose In 2023 Amid Record-Breaking Temperatures: CDC” • Heat-related ER visits increased in 2023 in the US compared to previous years. Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, there were 119,605 ER visits for heat-related illnesses, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ABC News]
- “Save Thousands Of Dollars A Year Driving An Electric Car” • The US DOE has a new tool that enables drivers to calculate how much they can save on fuel costs by driving a fully electric or plug-in hybrid. Drivers can enter their ZIP code or state, along with other information. The tool then generates estimates of how much they can save. [CleanTechnica]
- “EIB Lends €150 Million For Renewables In Bhutan” • The European Investment Bank agreed to lend €150 million ($160.2 million) for renewables in Bhutan, to fund solar power along with small to mid-size run-of-river hydropower plants, especially in remote regions. Bhutan is one of only three net carbon-negative countries in the world. [pv magazine International]
- “Queensland Locks 80% Renewable Energy By 2035 Target Into Law” • The Queensland government has passed laws locking in 80% renewable energy generation by 2035, a move it expects will create more than 100,000 new jobs in manufacturing, renewable energy generation, power transmission and industries of the future. [pv magazine Australia]
- “Historic $8.8 Billion Home Energy Rebate Programs to Lower Utility Bills” • The US DOE announced approval of New York’s funding application for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebates. It awarded the state an initial $158 million to implement its rebate program to help families save money on efficient electric appliances. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Alaska’s Wind, Wave, Tidal Resources Could Help State Meet Future Energy Needs” • A 131-page report by 11 researchers in eight different areas, recommends the Alaska office of BOEM assess the potential for ocean energy. Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf holds the potential to generate 3,800 GW of electricity from wind, wave, and tidal resources. [NREL]
 Possible site for offshore energy (Levi Kilcher, NREL)
- “Renewable Energy’s Share In Rwanda Reaches 52%” • Rwanda has made notable progress in providing electricity to its people with 76% of them having access to it. The country is increasingly relying on renewable energy sources for power generation. The installed capacity for renewables has reached 52%, the Minister of Infrastructure announced. [The New Times]
- “Nissan Teases All Solid-State EV Battery For Itself, Renault, And Mitsubishi Motors” • Nissan hasn’t saying what goes into the solid state battery it is developing, but did give some details. It listed a reduction in charging time “to one-third,” while bringing the cost of battery packs down to $75.00/kWh by 2028, with the ultimate goal of $65.00. [CleanTechnica]
- “Fred Olsen Renewables Files Plans For Scottish Hybrid” • Fred Olsen Renewables submitted proposals for a 100-MW hybrid renewable energy project to the Scottish Government. Lees Hill Renewable Energy Park would consist of wind, solar, and battery storage in the Scottish Borders. The developer offered over £7 million in community benefit funding. [reNews]
- “Indigenous Peoples ‘Seek Energy Transition Rights’” • In a published statement, 87 indigenous peoples’ representatives from 35 countries in all regions set out demands for respect for indigenous peoples’ rights, social equity, inclusivity, cultural integrity, full and effective participation, and shared prosperity in the shift to renewable energy. [reNews]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
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