Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Coastalwatch

Not sure how long before the trial material can be optimised and used in the real world but an interesting concept if it can successfully be applied for aircraft!

‘Massless’ battery breakthrough for lightweight EVs

A new type of carbon fiber and electrolyte matrix stunned scientists when they tested its properties. Their ‘structural’ battery could be used in electric vehicles and could even address the weight problems that bedevil devices planned for electric-powered flight.

Electric cars are pretty heavy and, therefore, need quite a bit of energy to move. The culprit, is the battery. But what if the chassis itself was rechargeable, rather than a battery added to the structure?

Researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm claim to have taken a significant stride towards making that vision a reality. The ‘massless' batteries envisioned–so called because their weight is not added on top of a vehicle structure–have been the subject of research since 2007. The Swedish researchers say their discovery has improved such devices by a factor of ten.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/03/25/massless-battery-breakthrough-for-lightweight-evs/

EVandPV

Renewables met 97% of Scotland's electricity demand in 2020

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-scotland-56530424

michaels

EVandPV said:

Renewables met 97% of Scotland's electricity demand in 2020

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-scotland-56530424

It is good news but a very misleading headline.

EVandPV

michaels said:

EVandPV said:

Renewables met 97% of Scotland's electricity demand in 2020

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-scotland-56530424

It is good news but a very misleading headline.

In what way ?

michaels

Renewable energy in Scotland generated the same amount of power as 97% of Scottish electricity usage.  However of Scottish electricity usage probably about 60% was generated by renewables.  A very good number.

https://www.scottishrenewables.com/our-industry/statistics

Martyn1981

I think this news is actually quite big, as it not only reinforces the Canadian carbon tax, but does so legally based on the argument that the problem is man made, and thus a Gov needs to act, and has the authority to do so.
Every ruling like this helps to enforce the need for action and clarify what is the cause of the problem. This clarity helps remove doubt (and FUD) and will hopefully lead to the necessary action, and public understanding (hopefully?)

Supreme Court Of Canada Upholds National Carbon Tax

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Richard Wagner said the federal government is free to impose minimum pricing standards because the threat of climate change is so great that it demands a coordinated national approach. He agreed that climate change is a pressing matter of national concern and said it is constitutionally permissible for Ottawa to take the lead on a threat that crosses provincial boundaries. “Climate change is real. It is caused by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities, and it poses a grave threat to humanity’s future,” Wagner wrote. If Canada’s Parliament was prohibited from addressing the emissions issue, “irreversible harm would be felt across the country,” he added, especially in communities and regions most vulnerable to the effects of global warming.

Martyn1981

michaels said:

Renewable energy in Scotland generated the same amount of power as 97% of Scottish electricity usage.  However of Scottish electricity usage probably about 60% was generated by renewables.  A very good number.

https://www.scottishrenewables.com/our-industry/statistics

A thought springs to mind!

Martyn1981

An overall mark for the World is probably "B- could do better", but RE continues to grow in deployment, and fall in cost, so the direction of travel is good, and an economic cliff edge is probably being approached now for new FF generation.

'Record 260GW' of clean power added in 2020

A record of over 260GW of new renewable energy capacity was installed in 2020, despite the impact of Covid-19, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

“Costs are falling, clean tech markets are growing and never before have the benefits of the energy transition been so clear.
“This trend is unstoppable, but as the review of our World Energy Transition Outlook highlights, there is a huge amount to be done.
“Our 1.5 degree outlook shows significant planned energy investments must be redirected to support the transition if we are to achieve 2050 goals.
“In this critical decade of action, the international community must look to this trend as a source of inspiration to go further.”

michaels

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56657299

Great Britain's electricity system was the greenest it had ever been at lunchtime on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, its operator has said.

Sunny and windy weather, coupled with low demand for power, led to a surge in renewable sources of energy, National Grid Electricity System Operator said.

It meant renewable energy sources made up almost 80% of Britain's power.

I thought this was great news, 80% non-carbon leccy over the Easter period which demonstrates that the grid can already cope with very high proportions of RE.

Coastalwatch

Hydrogen continues to attract investors in the search for emissions free energy and no less than below with air travel. Providing it's green hydrogen then its great to see. Lets hope the timescales indicated are not too ambitious.

ZeroAvia scores further funding for hydrogen aircraft development

Electric aircraft propulsion specialist ZeroAvia announces having raised $24.3 million (€20.5Mn) in a new round of funding for hydrogen plane development. The fresh capital comes from new investor British Airways as well as several existing financiers, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Shell.

ZeroAvia intends to use the funds to accelerate the development of larger hydrogen-electric engines for aircraft with more than 50 seats. This follows the announcement in December that the UK Government’s Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), and Innovate the UK, had awarded a £12.3m grant ($16.3m) to deliver a 19-seat hydrogen-electric powered aircraft to be market-ready by 2023. The company announced its $21.4 million Series A funding round simultaneously, alongside the opening of new offices in the UK.

https://www.electrive.com/2021/04/06/zeroavia-scores-further-funding-for-hydrogen-aircraft-development/