Portugal’s new government brings forward 80% renewables target to 2026

Good News Notes: “Portugal will aim to increase the share of renewables in electricity production to 80% by 2026, four years earlier than previously planned, its new government announced ahead of the country’s latest solar auction. The target represents a significant acceleration in decarbonising the country’s power sector; between 2010 and 2022, the share of…

Solar cell innovation generates 1,000x more power

Good News Notes: “The photovoltaic effect of ferroelectric crystals can be increased by a factor of 1,000 if three different materials are arranged periodically in a lattice. This has been revealed in a study by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). They achieved this by creating crystalline layers of barium titanate, strontium titanate and…

The Century-Old Renewable You’ve Never Heard Of

Good News Notes: “Japanese island of Kumejima to work as an English teacher after graduating from a business school in landlocked Arizona. Now he runs a power plant fueled by ocean water. “I don’t have an engineering degree, and I do all the maintenance for our electricity,” he said. “It’s relatively easy.” The plant, which…

‘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….

Indo Kordsa’s energy to be generated with 5 MWp Solar Rooftop by TotalEnergies

Good News Notes: “PT Indo Kordsa Tbk (Indo Kordsa), a subsidiary of Kordsa group and a major supplier for the premium tire reinforcement material for the automotive sector in Southeast Asia, has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to provide a rooftop-mounted solar system for the company’s production buildings, warehouse and office buildings in Citeureup, Bogor, Indonesia. PT…

Diesel Killing Locomotive of the Future Runs on Solar Power

Good News Notes: “The creators of the solar-powered locomotive of the future were aiming to set a Guinness record for speed last weekend, and that is more than just your ordinary attention-getting stunt. Demonstrating the functionality of PV panels on rail cars could help set the stage for solar power to knock diesel fuel out…

Cement firm works with GE’s renewables unit on wind turbine recycling

Good News Notes: “General Electric’s renewables unit and LafargeHolcim, the world’s biggest cement manufacturer, have struck a deal to explore the recycling of wind turbine blades. A memorandum of understanding will see the companies focus on exploring “circular economy solutions.” Business practices connected to the notion of a circular economy have gained traction in recent years,…

An energy revolution for Israel: Solar power to be cheaper than fossil fuel

Good News Notes: “Gilad Yavetz, CEO of Enlight Energy, called it “an energy revolution” for Israel. On Tuesday, his company and two others were awarded the country’s first-ever contract to build photovoltaic power stations backed up by battery storage that will generate electricity at a lower cost than fossil fuels.” View the whole story here:…

Shell Sets Net-Zero Target for 2050, Emphasizing Power and Renewables

Good News Notes: “Shell on Thursday announced a net-zero emissions target for 2050, becoming the second major European oil company after BP to embrace such a goal. An expanded power business will make the biggest contribution to the shift but renewables investment will play a major role. The British-Dutch firm will also target ‘Scope 3’ emissions, which encompass the end…