Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – It is coming out that the US and Iran have been talking privately in Oman about a range of bilateral issues, including prisoner exchanges and Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment program. This news emerged, according to Barak Ravid at Axios in the form of a complaint from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin […]
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Energy
Using electric water Heaters to store renewable Energy could do the work of 2 million home Batteries – and save us Billions
By David Roche, University of Technology Sydney | – Australia’s energy transition is well under way. Some 3 million households have rooftop solar and sales of medium-sized electric cars are surging. But as we work towards fully electric households powered by renewable energy, have we overlooked a key enabling technology, the humble electric water heater? […]
Germany gets 1/3 of its Electricity from Wind, 48% from Renewables in First Quarter
( Clean Energy Wire ) – Wind power has become Germany’s most important electricity source again in the first quarter of 2023, according to an analysis by the statistical office Destatis. Onshore and offshore turbines supplied nearly one third (32.2%) of the electricity produced between January and March, while total electricity production was 7.8 percent […]
Carbon Dioxide in our Atmosphere hits High not seen for Millions of Years, threatening Accelerated Global Heating
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Monday that parts per million of carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere averaged 424 ppm in the month of May, reaching a level not seen for millions of years. In May 2022 it was only 421 ppm so this is a tremendous […]
Thumbing Nose at US, Saudi Cuts Oil production, Helping Russian War Effort, as Maduro Visits Riyadh
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia has taken several steps sure to annoy Washington in just the past week. Iran has reopened its embassy in Riyadh. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros has come for a visit to the kingdom just before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s […]
Number of Solar PV Panel Installations in Germany hits 3 Million, can cover 10% of Electricity Demand
By Jessica Bateman | – Clean Energy Wire / Bloomberg ( Clean Energy Wire ) – The number of solar panel systems in Germany hit three million on Monday (29 May), with total solar PV installed capacity reaching more than 70 gigawatts (GW), according to industry association BSW Solar. With this capacity, the country can […]
India, 3rd biggest CO2 Emitter, will Pause new Coal Plants for 5 Years in favor of Batteries, New Solar
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Sibi Arasu at the Associated Press reports that the Indian government is going to pause new coal plants for 5 years in favor of concentrating on new battery power. This step is a huge about-face for India, and it matters. Some 73% of Indian energy still comes from coal, and […]
Tipping Point? Global Investments in Low-Carbon Energy Outstrip Fossil Fuel Commitments by 1.7 to 1 for First Time in World History
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Globally, investors will sink $1.7 trillion into low-carbon energy this year — for the first time more than will be invested in fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the IEA, said, “For every dollar invested in fossil fuels, about 1.7 dollars are […]
Offshore wind in the Midwest? Some Great Lakes leaders think so
By Alex Brown – ( Michigan Advance ) – Years from now, when Chicagoans stroll the Lake Michigan waterfront, they may see the blades of wind turbines glinting on the horizon. Clevelanders could glimpse wind farms over Lake Erie. And cities like Milwaukee and Buffalo could be vying to attract a burgeoning offshore wind industry on the […]