Energy Sector News

[navguy12]

An excellent example of regulatory capture. From the article:

The government spoke with about 200 people before deciding to pause applications, Mr. Neudorf said, including landowners, stakeholder groups, consumer advocates and power providers that rely heavily on natural gas.
But the Canadian Renewable Energy Association – the main group that advocates for wind, solar and energy storage solutions around the country – only found out after the government made its decision public.

The O&G apologists comments in the comments section are breathtaking, especially when there are 100s of “orphaned (oil) wells“ quietly polluting the Alberta countryside.

Alberta to pause new solar and wind power projects for six months amid review of end-of-life rules

The move will affect projects bigger than one megawatt as the province looks at issues including where they can be built and the impact on the power grid

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[bruce4000]

WTI $79/bbl
Brent $83 /bbl
NL TTF gas €29 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Sanctions at work

US sees price cap on Russian oil working despite upturn in prices

The United States remains confident that the Group of Seven's price cap on Russian oil is working to squeeze Moscow's revenues and stabilize energy markets despite a recent upturn in prices, a senior U.S. Treasury official said on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

Hope at work

Amazon deforestation falls over 60% compared with last July, says Brazilian minister

Marina Silva welcomes progress but says climate crisis means upcoming regional summit needs to produce real action

www.theguardian.com

More hope : global data for H1-2023 show EV now at 19% so not far away from the full year 21% the S-curve [that I get a best-fit with] predicted, and still 6-months to run (13% BEV, 6% PHEV) ... so up from 13% in 2022

World EV Sales Now 19% Of World Auto Sales! - CleanTechnica

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 38% in June 2023 compared to June 2022, rising to 1,260,00 units. In the end, plugins represented 19% share of the overall auto market (13% BEV share alone). ...

cleantechnica.com

also

Tesla BEV Competition Developments

I was driving next to a brand new ID4 I’m in my MYP We both came up to the stop light Wow the VW electric motors are noisy

teslamotorsclub.com

and

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687019722242506752

One island at a time

DOE makes $450M available for residential solar, battery systems in Puerto Rico

This summer, Puerto Rico experienced rolling blackouts 570 times more frequently than the North American average, according to the Department of Energy.

www.utilitydive.com

and

Australian island shifts to renewables with completion of 1.5 MW solar farm

The completion of a new 1.5 MW solar farm has brought Tasmania's King Island closer to achieving a permanent shift to 100% renewable energy.

www.pv-magazine.com

Eskom woes drive solar installs

South Africa closes in on 4.41 GW of rooftop solar capacity

News statistics from South African utility Eskom show that the country added 1.82 GW of new distributed-generation PV capacity in the first six months of this year. However, PV analyst Chris Ahlfedlt warns that the published numbers could also include some utility-scale projects.

www.pv-magazine.com

Energetic foundations ?

Carbon-cement supercapacitors for bulk energy storage

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a scalable bulk energy storage solution with inexpensive, abundant precursors – cement, water, and carbon black. Their supercapacitors have high storage capacity, high-rate charge-discharge capabilities, and structural strength.

www.pv-magazine.com

Deep water floaters >200m

Ingka Investments, KEPCO Join UtsiraVIND Floating Consortium

Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, have joined the UtsiraVIND consortium, which will be bidding in the upcoming tender in Norway for the Utsira Nord area.

www.offshorewind.biz

Aviation liquids

Biden administration split over ethanol's role in aviation fuel subsidy program

The Biden administration is divided over whether to grant a request from the U.S. biofuel industry that would make it easier for sustainable aviation fuel made from corn-based ethanol to qualify for subsidies under the White House's signature climate law, according to two sources familiar with...

www.reuters.com

Having just driven through US corn country where everyone drives pickups and big SUV’s (not cross overs) and passing Ethanol plants and endless corn fields, it’s clear that EV’s are seen as bad for their economy. If Ethanol can be blended with aviation fuel for long haul heavy aircraft (which are not viable for batteries), then maybe more EVs would be accepted in these areas as Ethanol for light vehicles declines. Assumes Ethanol is actually less co2.

 

[petit_bateau]

Assumes Ethanol is actually less co2.

It is a tough call that one.

Especially when, as nat-gas based fertilisers get withdrawn, the natural consequence is that foodcrops become less prolific & abundant.

So ultimately it becomes a competition: maize into a rich person's Gulfstream fuel tank, or a poor person's cornbread staple diet.

Which is the implied sum in carbon pricing.

(I don't have an answer - this is not really my area - but I get the shorter and longer term issues you raise).

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $82/bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €29 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Norway has replaced Russia as one of the biggest sources of natural gas imports in the European Union, accounting for around 25%. However, demand remains below average despite the recent heat waves. During the first half of the year, natural gas use declined 18% for power generation, fell 13% in the industrial sector and dropped 5% in the residential and commercial sector, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. At the same time, gas storage sites in Europe are at around 85% of capacity, remaining elevated for this time of the year

Heatwaves in southern cone

Winter heatwave in Andes is sign of things to come, scientists warn

Human-caused climate disruption and El Niño push temperature in mountains to 37C

www.theguardian.com

Energy wars

Starmer says Sunak’s lack of investment in wind power is ‘gift to Putin’

Labour leader claims Conservatives’ onshore turbine ban costs families £180 each and makes UK reliant on gas imports

www.theguardian.com

Fusion USA

US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in a fusion reaction

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility achieved the feat using lasers to fuse two atoms

www.theguardian.com

Talking DAC

‘We're a world that's built on fossil fuels and emissions are our enemy’: Carbon Engineering talks direct air capture

Energy Monitor sat down with Carbon Engineering’s Amy Ruddock to talk about the future of carbon removal technology direct air capture.

www.energymonitor.ai

UK EV pollitics

Weekly data: the UK is ahead of most EU countries for new EV sales

With market share of UK EVs already projected to exceed government targets, it makes little sense to weaken ZEV targets.

www.energymonitor.ai

Chinese solar juggernaut

Chinese PV Industry Brief: Daqo, Longi note earnings impact of polysilicon prices

Daqo and Longi report that lower polysilicon prices have affected their earnings. Aiko Solar, meanwhile, has announced a 120% year-on-year increase in its net results for the first half, with shipments reaching 18.7 GW.

www.pv-magazine.com

Greek solar

RWE, PPC to build 280 MW of additional solar in Greece’s former coal region

German and Greek electric utilities have decided to build 280 MW of new solar capacity in Greece’s former coal region in Western Macedonia. This is in addition to solar farms the two utilities are already jointly building in the country, in pursuit of their 2 GW solar target for former Greek mines.

www.pv-magazine.com

To waive or not ?

NYISO warns FERC waiver for Hecate’s 650-MW storage project could set bad precedent

Hecate Grid said it will abandon the $300 million battery storage project on Staten Island if it doesn’t receive a one-year extension to meet some of the grid operator’s interconnection requirements.

www.utilitydive.com

Actual real turbines offshore USA

Vineyard Wind 1 Turbine Installation About to Start

The installation of GE's Haliade-X 13 MW wind turbines at the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind project site in Massachusetts is expected to start next week, according to WCVB Channel 5 Boston and other US media who reported on updates shared by Avangrid's project team during a boat tour of the...

www.offshorewind.biz

Mind those turbine losses

Siemens Energy books $2.4 billion in charges on wind turbines

Siemens Energy on Monday said problems recently unveiled at its wind turbine unit would cost it 2.2 billion euros ($2.4 billion), well short of worst-case estimates but still casting doubt over whether it will keep the struggling business.

www.reuters.com

Ukraine rail

Ukrainian Railways: ‘in-house production can also serve EU integration’

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways (UZ) has shown resilience by launching the production of many rail components which became unavailable. Now, it seems that the company is ready to adapt its facilities to produce components suitable for the country’s...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $80/bbl
Brent $83 /bbl
NL TTF gas €30 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

ZNPP - no explosives seen

IAEA experts see no explosives on roof of Zaporizhzhia units 3 and 4 : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

International Atomic Energy Agency staff have, after weeks of requests, been given access to the rooftops of reactor units 3 and 4 at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and "observed no mines or explosives".

world-nuclear-news.org

Cherenkov

SHINE demonstrates Cherenkov radiation from fusion : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

SHINE Technologies of the USA says it has demonstrated clearly visible Cherenkov radiation produced by fusion for what is believed to be the first time. Historically, fusion has been demonstrated and detected with instruments instead of a visible light.

world-nuclear-news.org

Curtailment

Weekend Read: Curtailment crisis in Cyprus

The typical volume of excess clean power wasted daily on the island has rocketed since last year. With a fossil fuel industry veteran heading the energy department after February’s presidential election, what prospect is there of a green transition?

www.pv-magazine.com

Antarctic weather

‘Virtually certain’ extreme Antarctic events will get worse without drastic action, scientists warn

Record low sea ice levels, the collapse of ice shelves, and surface temperatures 38.5C above average cited as concerns in new review

www.theguardian.com

China coal

China's July coal imports surge as heatwaves drive power use

China's coal imports remained at elevated levels in July after overseas purchases nearly doubled in the first half of 2023, as utilities continued to bring in cheaper supplies to meet peak summer power demand, data showed on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

US generation adds

Developers added 16.8 GW of U.S. utility-scale generating capacity in first-half 2023 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

www.eia.gov

Ukraine grain

Only the EU can ensure the success of Ukrainian grain exports

While proposals, some feasible, others not, for Ukrainian grain export alternatives fall like rain, the EU seems the only one able to provide a successful solution to the challenge. “Exporting Ukrainian grain via the Baltics is possible only if the European Commission undertakes coordination,”...

www.railfreight.com

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

US generation adds

Developers added 16.8 GW of U.S. utility-scale generating capacity in first-half 2023 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

www.eia.gov

I'd note that actual solar activation has been lagging planned solar for a while so I'm not optimistic that the 2nd half of the year will match or be close to the planned numbers.

 

[navguy12]

Curtailment

Weekend Read: Curtailment crisis in Cyprus

The typical volume of excess clean power wasted daily on the island has rocketed since last year. With a fossil fuel industry veteran heading the energy department after February’s presidential election, what prospect is there of a green transition?

www.pv-magazine.com

This situation frustrates me to no end; it is just one example where the fossil fuel interests keep hobbling the switch to renewables.

They are an island and, in 2023, still planning to build out gas fired thermal plants for commissioning in 2028 instead of installing batteries between now and then.

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $83/bbl
Brent $86 /bbl
NL TTF gas €34 (up from €30) /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

European natural gas futures jumped over 8% to more than €33 per megawatt-hour, the highest in two weeks driven by concerns about dwindling LNG flows, which outweighed the fact that gas storage is at record levels. Gas flows into a major US export terminal dropped on Tuesday, suggesting a possible outage. Also, there's a risk that supply will be redirected to Asia in September, October, and November due to higher prices and there might be less LNG available this month. However, in Europe, fuel reserves are more than 87% full, the highest ever for this time of year. The European Union wants them to be 90% full by November, and many countries, like Spain and the Netherlands, have already met or exceeded this goal. Germany and Italy are almost there. France is at 78% because they had problems with energy supplies during strikes earlier this year. (see also JohnKempReuters chartbook below)

The irony, fossils now think CCS won't work / are too expensive

Biden's carbon proposal is unworkable, US power sector warns

U.S. power plant owners warned the Biden administration on Tuesday that its sweeping plan to slash carbon emissions from the electricity sector is unworkable, relying too heavily on costly technologies that are not yet proven at scale.

www.reuters.com

China deflation

Chinese economy slips into deflation as recovery falters and demand slows

Consumer price inflation data shows prices fell by 0.3% year-on-year in July

www.theguardian.com

July conflagration

July was world’s hottest month on record, climate scientists confirm

Global average temperature exceeded previous record by substantial margin

www.theguardian.com

Oops, ice all going, gone

Fears over Antarctic sea ice as yearly ozone layer hole forms ‘very early’

Experts say larger-than-normal hole could cause further warming of Southern Ocean and heighten damaging effects of 2022 Tonga volcano eruption

www.theguardian.com

Another one under-predicting install rates, France

France aims for 48.1 GW of solar by 2030, 140 GW by 2050

The French government says it plans to install 48.1 GW of solar by 2030 and 140 GW by 2050. About 45 GW of the mid-century total will be generated via installations on wasteland, while 35 GW will come from rooftop installations.

www.pv-magazine.com

JohnKempReuters gas stocks chartbook

https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/lbvgogddlvq/EUROPE%20GAS%20INVENTORIES%20(AUGUST%202023).pdf

Dreadful fossils

Opinion: as Europe burns, the centre-right is backing away from climate action. Why?

Are Europe's centre-right politicians right to think that even with the current extreme weather, voters are tired of policies supporting climate action?

www.energymonitor.ai

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Another one under-predicting install rates, France

France aims for 48.1 GW of solar by 2030, 140 GW by 2050

The French government says it plans to install 48.1 GW of solar by 2030 and 140 GW by 2050. About 45 GW of the mid-century total will be generated via installations on wasteland, while 35 GW will come from rooftop installations.

www.pv-magazine.com

The article mentioned wasteland and rooftops, but didn't say how much on parking lots.

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $83/bbl
Brent $86 /bbl
NL TTF gas €37 (up again) /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Private jets

Private jets are awful for the climate. It’s time to tax the rich who fly in them | Edward J Markey

Private flights pollute up to 14 times more than commercial ones – yet are taxed less. Let’s change that

www.theguardian.com

Hawaii burning

Hawaii wildfires: how did the deadly Maui fire start and what caused it?

Rapidly moving fires that exploded on Tuesday night on the island of Maui have killed dozens and displaced thousands

www.theguardian.com

US-China

Biden bans range of US high tech investments in China citing national security risk

The order – to be implemented next year – restricts investments in semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum tech and AI

www.theguardian.com

and

Biden’s China investment ban: who’s targeted and what does it mean for the 2024 US election?

New measures from the US Treasury will target several key sectors including semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence

www.theguardian.com

China storage

New pumped-storage capacity in China is helping to integrate growing wind and solar power

www.eia.gov

Wedge issues

'Greenlash' fuels fears for Europe's environmental ambitions

A growing 'greenlash' against Europe's environmental agenda has not so far derailed its decarbonisation plans, but looming elections could put future climate and nature measures at risk.

www.reuters.com

Budapest bypass

Freight route bypassing Budapest makes slow steps forward

The much-anticipated freight-dedicated rail line bypassing Budapest and connecting Hungary’s eastern and western regions is undertaking an essential step towards its implementation. The Hungarian Railway Association HUNGRAIL launched a public procurement procedure to assess the environmental...

www.railfreight.com

 

[navguy12]

H2 and long distance shipping:

Full clean ahead: can shipping finally steer away from fossil fuels?

Electric ships, hydrogen, ‘air lubrication’ and even good old wind power are reducing emissions, but campaigners say true change will ‘take guts’

www.theguardian.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $82/bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €36 (up again) /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Wedge politics

UK government's flip-flopping on 2030 ban a cause for concern

Michael Gove insisted this week that the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is an “immoveable” deadline for the government.

www.energymonitor.ai

and

As Europe burns, the centre-right is backing away from climate action. Why?

Are Europe's centre-right politicians right to think that even with the current extreme weather, voters are tired of climate action?

www.energymonitor.ai

and

North Sea governments should stop “propping up” oil and gas

Governments should be introducing measures to phase out oil and gas, according to new research focused on the North Sea energy transition.

www.energymonitor.ai

and

‘Setback’ ordinances could cut US wind potential by 87%, solar by 38%: NREL

Restrictive setback ordinances could cut the nation's renewable energy potential 42%, to 93 TW from 161 TW, according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

www.utilitydive.com

They spend decades telling everyone the delay is to allow carbon capture and hydrogen, do nothing, then cry

PJM, MISO, others warn of ‘significant power shortages’ from EPA’s power plant carbon rule

The agency’s proposed limits on power plant carbon emissions rely on “green” hydrogen and carbon capture, technologies that may not be widely available, four grid operators told the agency.

www.utilitydive.com

Standby for greenwash in Saudi

Saudi Arabia to power green hydrogen project with 2.2 GW of solar

Sungrow has agreed to supply inverter technology for a 2.2 GW solar plant under development in Oxagon, Saudi Arabia. The PV installation, which will be the largest in the Middle East upon completion, will provide power for Neom Green Hydrogen Co.'s (NGHC) $8.7 billion green hydrogen project.

www.pv-magazine.com

Good Brazil

Brazil imported 7.8 GW of solar modules in H1

Brazilian consultancy Greener says that Brazil imported 7.8 GW of solar modules in the first half of this year, down 21% year on year. However, it says a reduction in distributors' inventories and module prices could drive up cost competitiveness in the second half.

www.pv-magazine.com

 

[navguy12]

WTI $82/bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €36 (up again) /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Wedge politics

UK government's flip-flopping on 2030 ban a cause for concern

Michael Gove insisted this week that the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is an “immoveable” deadline for the government.

www.energymonitor.ai

and

As Europe burns, the centre-right is backing away from climate action. Why?

Are Europe's centre-right politicians right to think that even with the current extreme weather, voters are tired of climate action?

www.energymonitor.ai

and

North Sea governments should stop “propping up” oil and gas

Governments should be introducing measures to phase out oil and gas, according to new research focused on the North Sea energy transition.

www.energymonitor.ai

and

‘Setback’ ordinances could cut US wind potential by 87%, solar by 38%: NREL

Restrictive setback ordinances could cut the nation's renewable energy potential 42%, to 93 TW from 161 TW, according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

www.utilitydive.com

They spend decades telling everyone the delay is to allow carbon capture and hydrogen, do nothing, then cry

PJM, MISO, others warn of ‘significant power shortages’ from EPA’s power plant carbon rule

The agency’s proposed limits on power plant carbon emissions rely on “green” hydrogen and carbon capture, technologies that may not be widely available, four grid operators told the agency.

www.utilitydive.com

Standby for greenwash in Saudi

Saudi Arabia to power green hydrogen project with 2.2 GW of solar

Sungrow has agreed to supply inverter technology for a 2.2 GW solar plant under development in Oxagon, Saudi Arabia. The PV installation, which will be the largest in the Middle East upon completion, will provide power for Neom Green Hydrogen Co.'s (NGHC) $8.7 billion green hydrogen project.

www.pv-magazine.com

Good Brazil

Brazil imported 7.8 GW of solar modules in H1

Brazilian consultancy Greener says that Brazil imported 7.8 GW of solar modules in the first half of this year, down 21% year on year. However, it says a reduction in distributors' inventories and module prices could drive up cost competitiveness in the second half.

www.pv-magazine.com

I think much of the political pushback is being fed by a fossil industry recognizing they will be replaced with a viable alternative and thus are really pushing all sorts of political agendas (including the moratorium on new renewable builds in Alberta).

Even this article in yesterdays America, the Jesuit Review, has a feel to it (that I wanted to comment on) of more fossil industry soft FUD talking points about how the shift to renewables is just too difficult (read it and draw your own conclusions):

Europe’s Green Deal addresses climate change, but does it reach Pope Francis’ vision of ‘integral ecology’?

The Green Deal amends the European Union’s climate, energy, transport and taxation policies with the short term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030.

www.americamagazine.org

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Wedge politics

UK government's flip-flopping on 2030 ban a cause for concern

Michael Gove insisted this week that the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is an “immoveable” deadline for the government.

www.energymonitor.ai

I think it's noisy backbenchers more than anything joining a media clickbait frenzy. (The mistake with the diesel car that was written off by flooding was comical, sad and infuriating).

It's 2023, not 2030, and in 2030 new PHEVs will still be allowed. And then from 2035(?) you'd still be able to buy a used ICEVs or keep driving your own.

As far as I am aware, charger installation is actually now happening relatively rapidly in the UK with even former charging deserts like Wales getting noticeably better coverage.

Give it a few years and I think a price drop in EVs, combined with the improved coverage and reliability (even if it's just because of the Tesla monster), will calm things down. But it might not come early enough for the next election.

 

[petit_bateau]

*** I'm travelling next week, so updates may be intermittent ***

 

[CorneliusXX]

FORM Energy has an agreement for a 10MW/1GWH iron air battery in Minnesota. They also recon levelised cost and cycle life will be substantially better than Li batteries once they scale up. Interesting if they can actually make a stationary storage solution work from just iron/air - It's hard to think of cheaper materials.

Details in the "Just have a think" video below.

Separately - I'm 50/50 on whether this channel is @petit_bateau's side hussle.

 

[MC3OZ]

High quality silicon insulator:-

Aerogel Building Solutions - Aerogel

Manufacturers of top-tier building composites leverage our additives to deliver the highest level of performance.

aerogel.com.au

Building insulation. Our aerogel particles are used as high-performance insulation additives in composite insulation boards and plasters, as well as stand-alone blown-in or poured-in insulation for cavity fill applications.
Architectural daylighting. Translucent LUMIRA® aerogel for fill into polycarbonate, glass and composite glazing units virtually eliminates the concept of a “weak link” in a building’s envelope while illuminating interiors with high quality natural daylight.
Tensile roofing. LUMIRA aerogel enables an unparalleled mix of energy efficiency, natural daylighting and acoustic control in large span architectural tensile structures.

Reinforcing composites​

Fumed silica delivers powerful advantages to fiber-reinforced composite developers in resin flow, fiber wetting, sag resistance and anti-settling. Our hydrophilic and hydrophobic fumed silica can improve the performance of laminating resins and gel coatings used in the manufacture of fiber reinforced composite products, including polyester and vinyl ester laminating resins and gel coatings.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

More Asian floating solar, this time in the Philippines. (8 x 100 hectares is 8km^2; the lake is 911-949km^2)

Acen plans 1 GW of floating solar in Philippines

Acen, a unit of Ayala Group, says it plans to develop 1 GW of floating solar on the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines.

www.pv-magazine.com

Too much sun. Overirradiance.

New study claims PV industry is neglecting overirradiance issues

Overirradiance conditions may affect the operating performance of photovoltaic plants, the stability of the electrical grid, and the efficiency of inverters. A research team has warned these effects are currently not being given proper consideration by the solar industry.

www.pv-magazine.com

Holy solar panels, Batman!

Research shows bats stay away from ground mounted solar plants

New research from the United Kingdom claims that ground mounted PV facilities have a negative effect on bat activity. According to the scientists, the panels may be causing some bats to alter their flight paths, potentially resulting in further fragmentation of the ecological landscape.

www.pv-magazine.com

 

[petit_bateau]

Back from a week visiting folks and enjoying passivhaus tours and such like.

Various things that caught my eye this morning whilst emptying my inboxes.

Saudi greenwash/etc propaganda/etc

Vice blocked an article criticising Saudi Arabia. This is why we published it instead | Jemimah Steinfeld

At Index on Censorship, we don’t buy into a global charm offensive that can’t hide the fact that regime opponents are still being jailed, says Jemimah Steinfeld, editor-in-chief of Index on Censorship

www.theguardian.com

and

Saudi LGBTQ refugees live in fear of being kidnapped - Index on Censorship

An article on Saudi Arabia's repressive attitudes was spiked over fears of a backlash. Index has chosen to publish it

www.indexoncensorship.org

Southern data wanted

Scientists lament Southern Ocean ‘data desert’, just as climate crisis brings frightening changes

Loss of sea ice and rising temperatures in the ocean around Antarctica have a huge effect on the Earth’s climate, but the ability to track them is lagging

www.theguardian.com

Meatwash

‘Gigantic’ power of meat industry blocking green alternatives, study finds

Analysis of EU and US shows livestock farmers receive about 1,000 times more public funding than plant-based and cultivated meat

www.theguardian.com

Carbon credit boondogle gagging clauses

Reforesting Scotland doesn’t need multimillionaires, say campaigners

Land reformists dispute assumptions behind plan to address climate crisis by increasing private funding

www.theguardian.com

Peak recession

Mountain treelines are rising due to climate crisis, study finds

Remote sensing technology shows 70% of tree coverage moved uphill between 2000 and 2010

www.theguardian.com

Getting hotter

July 2023 Temperature Update - Berkeley Earth

July 2023 was the warmest month since record-keeping began in 1850. El Niño is strengthening, and 2023 is virtually certain to become a record warm year.

berkeleyearth.org

Read this excellent JohnKempReuters China article closely

Column: China calls for more secrecy on sensitive energy issues

China's top energy official has called for more secrecy in the country’s energy sector to protect national security in an increasingly hostile international environment.

www.reuters.com

Another good JKR catch

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-is-cheap-renewable-electricity-so-expensive/

Train sense

Can a new EU law move people from planes to trains?

Train options don’t show up on search engines. A new EU multimodal ticketing proposal due in September aims to change that.

www.energymonitor.ai

Eskom woes

https://www.energymonitor.ai/tech/renewables/weekly-data-south-africas-unprecedented-rooftop-solar-boom

SMR reality in China

Core module installed at Chinese SMR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

The core module has been installed within the reactor building of the ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project, China National Nuclear Corporation has announced.

world-nuclear-news.org

Chinese solar juggernaut

Prices of China’s PV upstream segments rise, module prices hold steady amid bearish sentiments

In a new weekly update for <b>pv magazine</b>, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

www.pv-magazine.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $82/bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €38 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

China wobbles

China cuts key interest rate amid economic slowdown

Central bank reduces one-year loan prime rate but surprises analysts by leaving five-year rate unchanged

www.theguardian.com

Hydrogen wobbles

Two Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen Projects Withdraw from UK's First Electrolytic Allocation Round

An Ørsted-Phillips 66 partnership and ERM have withdrawn their Gigastack and Dolphyn projects, respectively, from the UK's first electrolytic allocation round (HAR1). While ERM has made the move as it aims at securing alternative funding for a phased multi-unit larger development, Ørsted and...

www.offshorewind.biz

Big wind big money

Multi-Billion-Dollar Investment Needed to Meet Global Offshore Wind Targets by 2026 - Report

The global offshore wind supply chain will require USD 27 billion of secured investment if it is to meet a fivefold growth in annual installations (excluding China) by 2030, according to the global research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie.

www.offshorewind.biz

Money woes

Rich countries ‘trap’ poor nations into relying on fossil fuels

Campaigners criticise ‘new form of colonialism’, where countries in the global south are forced to invest in fossil fuel projects to repay debts

www.theguardian.com