VW CEO says EU is losing competitiveness while urging clean energy investments
VW brand CEO, Thomas Shafer, says Europe, Germany in particular, is “rapidly losing” its competitiveness as it falls behind in the race to a clean energy economy.
Expand Expanding CloseThe first ‘utility scale’ renewable energy plant combining solar and wind generation with battery storage opens in the US
A utility-scale renewable energy plant using wind and solar combined with battery storage opened last week, a US first, with the potential of powering 100,000 homes with clean, reliable energy. The project gives us a glimpse into the future as the US shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.
Expand Expanding CloseRenewables met 100% of the rise in global electricity demand in the first half of 2022
Renewables met all of the rise in global electricity demand in the first half of 2022, preventing any growth in coal and gas generation, according to a new report published by London-based energy think tank Ember.
Expand Expanding CloseHere are some examples of how recent climate initiatives are boosting the US economy
Several landmark climate initiatives have been passed since 2021, injecting trillions into the US economy. Even though it has been less than a month since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, we already see some of the powerful effects rippling across the economy.
Expand Expanding CloseFord and DTE Energy announce largest renewable energy purchase in US history
Ford and DTE Energy are taking a massive step in the fight against climate change. The automaker and Detroit-based energy company DTE Energy are announcing today a new clean energy agreement, the largest of its kind.
Expand Expanding Close5 key things to know about the do-or-die COP26 climate summit
COP26, also known as the United Nations Climate Change Conference UK 2021, kicks off Sunday October 31, and officially runs until Friday, November 12. It’s being held in Glasgow at the Scottish Event Campus (pictured). Here are five things everyone needs to know about this crucial summit.
Expand Expanding CloseEGEB: UK sales of EVs jumped to 11K in June, 1 in 10 now electric
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- Battery electric cars now account for 11% of the UK market – tied with diesel.
- The US consumed more electricity powered by renewables than by coal in 2020, reports the EIA.
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The UK government ceases funding fossil-fuel projects abroad — mostly
The CDC Group, the British government’s development finance institution, will end most fossil-fuel financing abroad. It says it will invest only in companies that align with the Paris Agreement to achieve net zero by 2050.
Renewables surpass coal in US power generation every day in April, making EVs greener
April 2020 was the first month in history that renewables generated more electricity than coal on every day of the month. That’s based on new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and compiled by the nonprofit Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
EGEB: LED lighting helps the homeless, Cleveland is going green, South Dakota’s new wind farm, more
In today’s EGEB:
- LED lighting installed to help homeless in Washington, DC.
- Cleveland is working to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.
- Hand County, South Dakota, approves a new wind farm.
- We list the Top 5 sectors for renewable-energy jobs.
Clean energy scorecard shows few US cities on pace to meet climate goals — where does your city rank?
A newly released report tracks the progress of American cities when it comes to clean energy efforts, and finds that fewer than a dozen are currently on pace to meet greenhouse gas emission goals.
35 million electric cars could store 20% of UK’s solar-generated electricity by 2050
A new report envisions a number of energy scenarios for the UK as it aims for net zero emissions by 2050, and one future path involves using 35 million electric cars to store a large amount of renewable energy.
EGEB: Bill for 50% US renewables by 2035, renewables surpass coal in US, European solar rebound
In today’s EGEB:
- A newly introduced bill calls for at least 50% of electricity generation from renewables by 2035.
- As expected, US renewable electricity generation surpassed coal for the first time in April.
- The European solar market is rebounding.
GE gas plant to close 20 years early, become battery storage site — sign of the times?
General Electric will demolish a California natural gas-fired plant with 20 years remaining in its useful life, deeming the plant “uneconomical” as inexpensive solar and wind grab a larger share of power in the state.
US renewable capacity surpasses coal for the first time despite Trump’s promises, gap due to widen
US electricity generation capacity from renewable energy sources surpassed coal for the first time this April, and that gap looks to grow substantially during the next three years.
GE bet on fossil fuels, lost nearly $200B in misjudging renewable energy transition, study says
General Electric’s profitability collapse over the past few years can be largely attributed to the company’s inability to judge the accelerating pace of the global energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewables, a new study claims.
‘World’s largest’ renewable energy storage project proposed for Utah
A newly introduced renewable energy megaproject combining multiple storage technologies is being billed as the world’s largest, and it looks to make its home in central Utah.
Renewable energy costs hit new lows, now cheapest new power option for most of the world
Plummeting costs have made renewable energy sources the most inexpensive option for new power generation throughout most parts of the world, according to a new study.
Global renewable investments stall, ‘rapid boost’ needed to reach Paris Agreement goals
Worldwide investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency stalled in 2018, with experts saying a “rapid boost” is required to keep Paris Agreement goals in sight.
Renewable energy capacity stalls worldwide after nearly two decades of annual growth
The world added as much renewable energy net capacity in 2018 as it did in 2017. While that ties a record high, it’s also the first time in nearly two decades that additions didn’t see an increase from the prior year.
Jay Inslee’s clean energy plan: 100% clean electricity by 2035, zero emission vehicles by 2030
Washington governor and Democratic presidential candidate Jay Inslee has released his 100% Clean Energy for America plan, an ambitious proposal befitting his position as the candidate running on climate change.
Renewable energy to outpace coal for first time ever in US
Another tipping point in energy seems to be on the horizon, as renewable energy in the US is expected to surpass coal in electricity generation for the first time this month.
100% renewable energy across all sectors possible by 2050 with solar leading the way, study says
A global transition to 100% renewable energy is possible across the electricity, heat, transport and desalination sectors by 2050, and it can be done for cheaper than the current global energy system, a new study claims.
Renewable electricity could achieve majority of emission reductions needed to meet climate goals
A combination of renewable energy and electrification can reach 75% of the energy-related emission reductions necessary to meet global climate goals established by the Paris Agreement, a new report suggests.