Solar generation up 36% in the first two months of 2022

Good News Notes: “The solar PV train has left the station with strong momentum in 2022, showing 36% year-over-year growth through February when compared to the first two months of 2021. This marks significant growth despite a year of challenges for the industry. This figure includes both large-scale and small-scale generation, as reported by the Energy Information…

Instant Long Duration Energy Storage: Just Add Carbon Dioxide

Good News Notes: “Long duration energy storage has yet to make a significant dent in the global energy profile. To date, the only widespread form of storage technology that can last longer than a few hours is the century-old “water battery,” in the form of hydropower reservoirs and their cousins, pumped hydro reservoirs. On the plus side, hydropower dams and…

Credit Suisse To Halve Fossil Fuel Funding

Good News Notes: “Swiss banking major Credit Suisse plans to slash its exposure to the fossil fuel industry by half by 2030. The bank said, as quoted by Reuters, it had already reduced its exposure to the industry by 41 percent between 2020 and 2021, and currently had some $2.6 billion in loans outstanding with oil, gas,…

Germany Targets 100% Renewable Power Generation By 2035

Good News Notes: “Germany will target to have all its electricity provided by renewable energy sources by 2035, according to a new draft policy that speeds up the timeline for ending fossil fuel-powered generation before 2040. Germany, the largest economy in Europe, said in a major shift of energy policy this weekend that it would…

‘Ocean battery’ targets renewable energy dilemma

Good News Notes: “A wind turbine sitting idle on a calm day or spinning swiftly when power demand is already met poses a problem for renewables, and is one researchers think can be tackled under the sea. In one vision, offshore wind farms could use seawater to essentially store energy until it’s needed, helping wean humanity off fossil fuels….

Germany powering down three nuclear plants in shift to renewables

Good News Notes: “Germany will be shutting down three of its six remaining nuclear power stations on Friday as it moves away from nuclear power in favor of renewable energy. The nuclear reactors in the cities of Grohnde, Brokdorf and Gundremmingen will be shut down and disconnected on the evening of Dec. 31. According to S&P…

Australia pours funding into advanced inverter capability batteries

Good News Notes: “Australia is looking to accelerate demonstration of advanced inverter capabilities on battery projects at scale as it continues to search for new ways to provide stability to the electricity system and enable the grid to operate with higher shares of intermittent renewables. Building on its previous investments in both grid scale batteries…

Mayor Wu Signs Ordinance To Divest City Funds From the Fossil Fuel Industry

Good News Notes: “At her first bill signing, Mayor Michelle Wu today signed an ordinance requiring the City of Boston to divest from fossil fuel, tobacco, and private prison industries by the end of 2025. The ordinance, co-sponsored by then-Councilor Wu, Councilor Edwards and Councilor O’Malley, was unanimously approved by the Boston City Council last…

Tampa Convention Center to get solar panels as TECO pivots from fossil fuels

Good News Notes: “The Tampa Convention Center will soon play a key role in providing clean energy to the city, with the building’s roof presenting a 250,000-square-foot opportunity. Monday morning, the mayor and TECO announced plans for a large solar array on top of the waterfront building. “Looking down from a tall building at the convention center, wide-open space,…

Greening deserts: India powers renewable ambitions with solar push

Good News Notes: “As camels munch on the fringes of Thar desert, an oasis of blue solar panels stretches further than the eye can see at Bhadla Park — a cornerstone of India’s bid to become a clean energy powerhouse. Currently, coal powers 70 percent of the nation’s electricity generation, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra…