Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Coastalwatch

I expect it'll be hard to sell to renewables to Eastern Europe at the desired rate, but if it can be proved to be financially beneficial, to remove coal earlier rather than later then it might just happen.

Eastern Europe coal exit offers a €50bn clean power opportunity

With Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Czechia having dragged their heels over climate legislation for years, BloombergNEF has estimated the most economic route out of the coal habit. It is a path which could see 40% less carbon emissions in 2030 than were recorded last year, with a 47% clean energy power mix.

“To become the world’s first climate-neutral continent, we have to turn the page on coal,” said European Commission executive VP Frans Timmermans. “Letting go of an industry that has provided jobs for decades will not be an easy process but Europe is ready to support it. Poland, Czechia, Bulgaria and Romania can become leaders in the Just Transition and switch from coal to clean [energy] while contributing to [the] industrial leadership of Europe.”

The analysts calculated, following the four nations’ stated NECPs would see renewables advance to 31% of their total energy mix. However, pursuing the least-cost options instead would lead to 47% clean energy in the region and could unlock almost €50 billion of investment opportunities – what the report’s authors described as a “sustainable source of economic growth and income.”

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/07/07/eastern-europe-coal-exit-offers-a-e50bn-clean-power-opportunity/

Martyn1981

A couple of big, and 'nice' ways to help address AGW and some of its many negative impacts.

Protecting 30% of planet could bolster economy, study says

Nearly a third of the world’s oceans and land area could be placed under environmental protections without harming the global economy, and even produce bumper economic benefits if the right policies were followed, according to a global assessment.
Ecosystems around the world are collapsing or hovering on the brink of disaster, with a million species threatened with extinction. But if at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans were subject to conservation efforts, that mass extinction could be avoided and vital habitats restored, scientists estimate.

Spreading rock dust on fields could remove vast amounts of CO2 from air

Spreading rock dust on farmland could suck billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air every year, according to the first detailed global analysis of the technique.
The chemical reactions that degrade the rock particles lock the greenhouse gas into carbonates within months, and some scientists say this approach may be the best near-term way of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Other proposed ways of pulling CO2 from the atmosphere at similar rates include using chemical solvents to capture it directly from the air, or growing energy crops, burning them to produce electricity and then burying the CO2 emissions. The new research suggests ERW (enhanced rock weathering) will be less expensive than either and, unlike energy crops, does not compete with food for land. But the scientists said all approaches may be needed to beat the climate crisis.
Planting trees and adding charcoal to soil also remove CO2 from the air, and these approaches could potentially be used in combination with ERW to maximise the impact. “Planting trees is an excellent option for CO2 removal but is not sufficient on its own,” said the scientists.

ed110220

Martyn1981 said:

A couple of big, and 'nice' ways to help address AGW and some of its many negative impacts.

Protecting 30% of planet could bolster economy, study says

Nearly a third of the world’s oceans and land area could be placed under environmental protections without harming the global economy, and even produce bumper economic benefits if the right policies were followed, according to a global assessment.
Ecosystems around the world are collapsing or hovering on the brink of disaster, with a million species threatened with extinction. But if at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans were subject to conservation efforts, that mass extinction could be avoided and vital habitats restored, scientists estimate.

Spreading rock dust on fields could remove vast amounts of CO2 from air

Spreading rock dust on farmland could suck billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air every year, according to the first detailed global analysis of the technique.
The chemical reactions that degrade the rock particles lock the greenhouse gas into carbonates within months, and some scientists say this approach may be the best near-term way of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Other proposed ways of pulling CO2 from the atmosphere at similar rates include using chemical solvents to capture it directly from the air, or growing energy crops, burning them to produce electricity and then burying the CO2 emissions. The new research suggests ERW (enhanced rock weathering) will be less expensive than either and, unlike energy crops, does not compete with food for land. But the scientists said all approaches may be needed to beat the climate crisis.
Planting trees and adding charcoal to soil also remove CO2 from the air, and these approaches could potentially be used in combination with ERW to maximise the impact. “Planting trees is an excellent option for CO2 removal but is not sufficient on its own,” said the scientists.

Interesting! I'd heard of the idea of enhanced weathering as a way of drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but I've just wondered whether this could be a way of improving agricultural soils? Perhaps even restoring eroded soils. Soils are after all weathered rock plus organic matter in various stages of decay, so with the addition of organic matter (in itself storing some carbon) in theory this should create new soil.

joefizz

silverwhistle said:

michaels said:

A West facing roof.

My terrace house has a South facing roof, but I could find the space  for two or three West facing panels on the shed roof. I don't think it's economically feasible, if only for not wanting to disturb (and dispose of..) the corrugated asbestos cement roof but it would certainly help cover the 16.00 to 19.00h expensive period on Agile!

If its any help I originally had a direct half and half (2kw each) split E/W so batteries in normal days (when the sun actually shines) are fully charged by 10am (1.5kw now, sunny day, 8am). I do have direct line of sight to sunrise, sunset in both directions which helps (reminds me to coppice one of the trees in the back garden to ensure this for winter). IIRC (and its been a while since the sun shone in the evening), Im getting reasonable output (.5kw) right up to 8pm but I am probably further north and further west than most of you.
When I was putting in my south facing extra panels I angled them for best output during the shoulder months, using my previous data to show where the big gaps and drop offs were.

Martyn1981

As planned, Spain is shutting down those coal power stations.

Spain Just Closed 47% Of Its Coal Power Plants, & Will Be 73% Soon

Sometimes it feels like the world is asleep and not jumping on the tremendous potential of low-cost solar power and low-cost wind power to stop global heating and catastrophic climate change. Sometimes you want to jump up and clap with enthusiasm at strong actions moving us forward. Luckily, this story should lead to the clapping.

Spain just closed down 7 of its remaining 15 coal power plants on June 30. That’s a flick of the switch (or something a few switches perhaps) and 47% of the country’s coal power plant capacity was shut down. And more will shut down soon.

Martyn1981

Quick recap on 'the problem' and why we need to act as fast as possible, not just to get CO2 emissions down to zero, but also to reduce atmospheric levels if we are to avoid serious trouble. I always try to be an optimist, but even meeting the Paris Accord targets will mean massive issues for people all over the planet, and we aren't even on target to meet the Paris Accord!

CO2 in Earth's atmosphere nearing levels of 15m years ago

The amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere is approaching a level not seen in 15m years and perhaps never previously experienced by a hominoid, according to the authors of a study.

At pre-lockdown rates of increase, within five years atmospheric CO2 will pass 427 parts per million, which was the probable peak of the mid-Pliocene warming period 3.3m years ago, when temperatures were 3C to 4C hotter and sea levels were 20 metres higher than today.

But it seems we must now go much further back to see what’s ahead.

Some time around 2025, the Earth is likely to have CO2 conditions not experienced since the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum 15m years ago, around the time our ancestors are thought to have diverged from orangutans and become recognisably hominoid.

“This study shows – with a high level of scientific skill – the enormous challenge ahead in meeting the Paris agreement on climate change target of keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5C,” said the WMO secretary-general, Petteri Taalas.

EricMears

So perhaps we need to try and find out what the 'new hominids' did to reduce CO2 levels !

Martyn1981

EricMears said:

So perhaps we need to try and find out what the 'new hominids' did to reduce CO2 levels !

They did nothing, those were natural levels and cycles, before settling into a roughly 180-280ppm cycle which has endured now for about 1 million years, until artificially altered by human actions following the industrial revolution. We are now currently (or should be) in a natural cooling cycle, (not a natural warming cycle as you wrongly claimed a while back), but human actions have forced a rapid warming period via AGW. Remember just because a very small number of people like you deny science, it doesn't change any of the facts.    We should listen to the scientists and experts, not assume we know better.

Martyn1981

I've popped this on here, rather than the BEV thread, as it shows the benefits to air quality from reduced traffic congestion, which if it's possible to address, then some big fast gains may be achievable.

UK air pollution still down despite return to normal traffic – study

Air pollution has remained at lower levels in UK towns and cities despite a return to near-normal traffic levels after the easing of coronavirus restrictions, according to research.

Analysis of data from more than 100 urban roadside locations shows nitrogen dioxide pollution levels were 30% below normal at the end of June, despite HGV traffic being back at 95% of normal levels, vans at 90% and cars at 75%.

Scientists think the small reduction in traffic that remains is enough to cut congestion on the roads and that this has an outsized impact in reducing dirty air. People may be staggering their commutes to work, which would also cut congestion, they said.

Coastalwatch

Quite a list and rallying call for those wishing to see action taken against the effects of AGW in the US.

Given the power of the Oil giants I suspect Biden would need a sizeable majority in both houses before any chance of success could materialise. Can't imagine many rednecks voting for it. But what about the greater majority of US citizens!

Biden-Sanders task force calls for installing 500 million solar modules in next five years

A report from the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force calls for the installation of 500 million solar modules in the next five years.

The report covers renewables, energy storage, energy efficiency and clean transportation.

• Dramatically expand solar and wind energy deployment through community-based and utility-scale systems. Within five years, we will install 500 million solar panels, including eight million solar roofs and community solar energy systems, and 60,000 made-in-America onshore and offshore wind turbines.
• Cut red tape: promote fast and easy permitting for rooftop solar and energy retrofits
• Launch a battery storage and clean energy transmission line moonshot: super charge investment in innovation and deployment of American made battery technology and clean energy transmission lines.
• Improve transmission planning: increase transparency and fairness in power markets for clean energy. Develop and implement a long-term transmission plan to deliver more renewables.
• Adopt scaled-up tax credits for renewable energy projects that meet certain labor standards.

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/07/09/biden-sanders-task-force-calls-for-installing-500-million-solar-modules-in-next-five-years/?utm_source=pv+magazine+USA&utm_campaign=43af523dc4-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_80e0d17bb8-43af523dc4-159341337