Plus: California to ban new gas cars and trucks from 2035; Tesla battery improvements; the dark side of green energy
Hi Everyone,
I have combed through all the stories on China’s carbon neutrality pledge to bring you two must read stories that help make sense of it all. Go to the my comments to learn more.
We are enjoying some glorious Fall weather here in Calgary. I’ve been back working from the office since August and I have to say that it brings a sense of getting closer to normal – just with masks when walking around in the office. It’s really nice to be able to see and talk to colleagues not seen for months.
Continue forwarding this on to colleagues, friends and family and encourage them to subscribe.
Thanks and have a great couple weeks,
Peter
Observations, Comments & Questions
- In what many are declaring to be a landmark pledge for climate action, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during a speech (full text available here) to the UN General Assembly that China would aim to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
- This pledge cannot be directly compared to net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) commitments of others like the UK and EU. The reason is that China has focused on CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions represent about 75% of GHGs, with methane and other gases making up the remainder. BNN Bloomberg (via Financial Post) offers an excellent explanation worth reviewing to understand the difference: It’s Time to Stop Confusing Key Climate Terms. I thought this captured the difference nicely: “Here’s one way to quantify the difference between CO2 goals and GHG goals: to have a 50% chance of stabilizing global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the world has to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gases in 2067, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including the use of negative emissions later in the century.”
- Bloomberg (via Financial Post) goes further to give insight into the magnitude changes China would need to make building out renewables, reducing fossil fuel use – especially coal, expand use of electric vehicles, hydrogen and pursue carbon offsets. China Wants to Be Carbon Neutral By 2060. Is That Possible
- California was in the news a lot lately. Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order requiring that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state from 2035 be zero-emissions vehicles. The current context, however, is that California grid is struggling to manage demand while making the switch to more renewables, trying to import power from neighboring states that want it for themselves. The result has been rolling blackouts and calls for more big batteries to store energy from renewables to use in early evening peak demand. This piece from Desert Sun offers insights: Q&A: Why California is facing power outages, rolling blackouts again
- Walmart declared its ambition to target net zero by 2040. Shortly thereafter, Walmart Canada placed a pre-order for 130 Tesla semi trucks.
- Canada’s Liberal minority government, in it’s speech from the throne said it “will immediately bring forward a plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 climate goal. The Government will also legislate Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. (p. 24, available here). Meanwhile, in the Province of BC, shortly after announcing an early election, Premier Horgan pledged to legislate its commitment to net zero by 2050 if re-elected.
- Put this next one in the category of “Don’t Read Everything You Believe”. I credit Robert, a colleague who shared this line with me – as the challenge to all of us to widen our perspectives and be deliberate to read and listen to those with a view different than our own. It especially is true for where we get our news. I encourage you to watch this 50 min video: The Dark Side of Green Energy. In the context of all the ambitions to achieve net zero emissions, we must recognize the trade-offs with other environmental costs. I submit this video offers a view into the challenge of managing those other environmental impacts.
Technology
Energy Storage
Tesla claims it can drive battery costs down even lower with new material science innovations | TechCrunch
The upshot: a reduction in cost of the cathode and anode materials, while boosting performance that on its own could extend the range of its batteries by 20%, Tesla said.
German utility RWE may use salt caverns as renewable flow batteries | RenewEconomy
A subsidiary of German electric utility RWE is to investigate the possibility of utilising vast salt caverns currently used for gas storage as potential large-scale organic flow batteries for electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
Solar and Wind
World’s most powerful turbine to anchor largest offshore wind farm | RenewEconomy
Plans to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm using the world’s most powerful turbines have been taken up a notch after GE announced its newly upgraded 13MW Haliade-X units would be used for the 3.6GW Dogger Bank project in the UK.
EDF to invest £50bn to grow low carbon generation to 12GW by 2035 | Current News
EDF has announced £50 billion of investment in low carbon electricity to support the UK’s net zero transition.
French consortium developing first completely recyclable wind turbine blades | RenewEconomy
The world’s first 100 per cent recyclable wind turbine blades could soon hit the market, with a consortium of French companies committing to close the gap to full recyclability through new innovative materials.
Transportation
Tesla secures massive order of Tesla Semi electric trucks from Walmart | Electrek
Tesla (TSLA) has secured a massive order of 130 Tesla Semi electric trucks from Walmart Canada.
Ford announces $1.8 billion investment to produce ‘fully battery electric vehicles’ in Canada | Electrek
The announcement is part of a deal between Ford and Unifor, an important general trade union in Canada, on a new national labour agreement. The automaker didn’t confirm which electric vehicles it plans to produce in the Oakville, Ontario plant.
Electrifying California Cars Could Crush the Grid, or Save It | BNN Bloomberg
Electrifying all new cars in California could be an immense burden on the state’s struggling power grid — or a whole new line of defense against blackouts. It all depends on the time of day vehicles charge.
New SUV is next step in VW’s post scandal electric offensive | JWN Energy
Volkswagen is unveiling a battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice.
Daimler to retool century-old engine plants in electric shift | AutoNews
Daimler has entered discussions with its powerful German labor unions to convert key engine and transmission factories for the electric-vehicle era.
Hyundai to bring H2 trucks to US markets in 2022 | electrive.com
Hyundai has announced plans to sell hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks in the United States by 2022. The Korean company has confirmed its focus on H2 fuel cell for commercial vehicles, aiming to increase global FCEV sales yearly to 500,000 units in 2030
Airbus unveils hydrogen designs for zero-emission flight | JWN Energy
European planemaker Airbus SE unveiled three designs it’s studying to build hydrogen-powered aircraft as it races to bring a zero-carbon passenger plane into service by 2035.
Policy
China aims for ‘carbon neutrality by 2060’ | BBC
Mr Xi outlined the steps when speaking via videolink to the UN General Assembly in New York. The announcement is being seen as a significant step in the fight against climate change. China is the world’s biggest source of carbon dioxide, responsible for around 28% of global emissions.
California moves to ban sale of all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 | The Driven
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order directing the state to ban the sale of all internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035 in a move which is expected to “drastically” reduce demand for fossil fuels in California.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer vows state will be carbon neutral by 2050 | Energy News Network
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order this week that targets 2050 as the deadline for her state to reach carbon neutrality.
Carbon Border Tax Emerges in EU as Weapon to Protect Green Deal | BNN Bloomberg
The first glimpse is emerging of a levy the European Union is drawing up to ensure its Green Deal environmental rules aren’t undone by nations with weaker standards.
Consumers
Walmart announces net zero by 2040 | Electrek
Walmart says it will reach net zero by 2040 by taking the following steps: Switch entirely to EVs by 2040; Harvesting enough wind, solar, and other sources to power its facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2035; Switching to cooling equipment that uses low-impact refrigerants; Protect, manage, or restore at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030.
World’s largest cement manufacturer commits to science-based targets and net-zero pathway | edie
LafargeHolcim has joined the SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C, committing to science-based targets aligned to the highest ambition of the Paris Agreement, with a long-term trajectory of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.