Plus: A planetary health diet; the internet of energy shows the way ahead; more solar+storage+AI; the EV investment march
Hi Everyone,
As you can probably imagine, I spend most of my commutes reading energy news, but this podcast is worth listening to, especially if you’re in the utility industry: Where’s the Energy Cloud Going: Neural Grid and the Internet of Energy. Why does it seem like utilities in the US are 5 years ahead of those in Canada?
Yet another collaboration targeting plastic pollution was launched: The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, with over 25 big name companies and $1.5B committed over the next 5 years.
Please, do send me your comments, reactions or insights. Forward on to others who may be interested and encourage them to subscribe.
Thanks,
Peter
Public mistrust of energy companies, government jeopardising energy transition, research finds
Comment: No sooner than I posted last week that consumers show unwillingness to pay to help address climate change, I come across this study in the UK where it shows that consumers are willing to pay 9-13% more, provided energy companies and governments contribute their fair share. Interestingly, transparency of the whole energy system is an issue, along with big corporate profits. Clearly, there are differences depending on the regional context. Check out the link below, where the 6 recommendations and links to the study are provided.
Excerpt: Consumers are willing to pay more towards the low carbon energy transition, but only if energy companies and government accept their share of responsibility, new research has found. …more from Current±
PG&E prepares bankruptcy filing after California wildfires | Reuters
Comment: Astute observers would see the potent mix of climate-related risks leading up to this might suggest PG&E is not the only utility that could be similarly exposed to such an outcome. Ask: Where else are we seeing lots of people wanting to live among forests ripe for burning? Even more important, what can be done to avoid or mitigate the losses like those seen in California, especially human lives.
This development could also set back California’s energy transition ambitions, as PG&E was among the gutsy pioneers making big moves. Among them, PG&E was set to replace 3 gas plants with big battery projects. Who knows what’ll happen to all that now, but it is important to note the economic case was there. So watch for more utilities opting for solar + storage instead of gas.
IRENA issues new report: Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation
I’ve got this one bookmarked in the hope I find some time to better understand the macro forces at play. It was nice to recently see Canada finally joined IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency).
‘Transportation disaster’ looms if cities are caught ‘flat-footed’ by innovation, AVs | Smart Cities Dive
A rather bullish take on autonomous and connected vehicle uptake that worries about a doubling of vehicles miles traveled on the basis of personal ownership model rather than fleets.
Planetary health diet could help save lives and the planet – CNN
Comment: Yet another important and uncomfortable dimension to tackling climate change. This is about as personal as it gets and an area in which we all need to challenge ourselves.
Excerpt: The report suggests five strategies to ensure people can change their diets and not harm the planet in doing so: incentivizing people to eat healthier, shifting global production toward varied crops, intensifying agriculture sustainably, stricter rules around the governing of oceans and lands, and reducing food waste. …more from CNN
Former Fed Leaders, Economists Rally Around Carbon Tax
Comment: This is one policy development area worth paying attention to as it is getting lots of support from across sectors, including oil and gas companies in the US. Check out the really good TED Talk as well.
Excerpt: An all-star roster of former Federal Reserve leaders and White House economic advisers are signing on to a new statement in support of a carbon tax on businesses that sends the revenue to U.S. citizens. …more from Wall Street Journal
TED Talk: A climate solution where all sides can win | Ted Halstead
Solar & Storage
AES Completes Record-Breaking Solar and Battery Plant on Kauai – Greentech Media
Comment: At 100MW, it’s among the bigger utility-deployed batteries, but the solar farm is only 28 MW. Clearly this battery is for more than just frequency regulation and will store solar power generated during the day for use at night. Is it really the worlds largest? In thought I saw bigger ones being developed in Australia.
Tesla proposes microgrids with solar and batteries to power Greek islands – Electrek
Excerpt: Tesla has met with the Greek government to propose ways to modernize the electric grid of the country’s many islands in the Mediterranean sea with microgrids and renewable energy to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
South Australia’s second big battery goes live, charges up – RenewEconomy
Comment: The first big battery by Tesla in Australia exclusively provides frequency regulation services, whereas this second big battery adds the ability to provide back up power to 4500 customers in a blackout.
Largest ever solar farms for Google data centers to be built in Alabama and Tennessee – 9to5Google
Comment: At the equivalent of 65,000 home rooftop systems, Google is helping folks store all their pictures and cat videos guilt free.
Electric Vehicles
China powers up electric car market – BBC
Comment: This is a good window into how China has been growing its EV market to address both air pollution, but also to create a competitive industry.
VW is investing $800 million in US factory to build electric cars – Electrek
Excerpt: Volkswagen has confirmed today that it will be investing $800 million in its factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee to prepare the location for production of new electric cars using the MEB platform.
Faraday Future investor plows $2 billion into NEVS – SAAB’s all-electric successor – Electrek
Excerpt: China’s Evergrande Group, best known in the EV community for having taken a large stake in Faraday Future, is now taking a majority stake in NEVS, SAAB’s all-electric successor.
GM confirms it’s moving away from hybrids to focus on all-electric – Electrek
Excerpt: As part of its renewed electrification effort announced last month, GM confirmed that it was killing the Chevy Volt, which many saw as counter-intuitive – but now the automaker says that it’s part of its plan to focus on all-electric vehicles.
New player claims technology leap in electric vehicle charging – Axios
Comment: Again, manage your enthusiasm on this. I’m including it because I know some of you are interested. Apparently uses AI for an exotic pulse-type charging protocol compared to the steady stream currently in use.
$300 Billion in EVs by 2025 – REUTERS Graphics
Excerpt: A Reuters analysis of 29 global automakers found that they are investing at least $300 Billion in electric vehicles, with more than 45 percent of that earmarked for China. …more from REUTERS
Source: REUTERS Graphics
Montreal Company Unveils World’s First Electric Snowmobile
Check this out at Auto Trader
Source: AutoTrader.ca