This Week in Cleantech: Key Developments in Clean Energy and Climate
In a world rapidly shifting towards sustainable energy, understanding the latest in clean energy and climate change is crucial. This week, significant stories include innovations in geothermal energy, challenges in hydropower, and efforts to revitalize nuclear energy.
The weekly podcast “This Week in Cleantech,” hosted by Paul Gerke from Factor This and Mike Casey from Tigercomm, dives into these topics, shedding light on the evolving landscape. Special guest Amy Harder from Axios discusses a noteworthy marketing push by an oil industry group during the new season of Paramount’s “Landman.”
Highlighting innovation in agriculture, Glenna Gannon, an assistant professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, earns the title of “Cleantecher of the Week.” Gannon’s research project successfully cultivates crops such as potatoes, kale, and spinach beneath solar panels in Alaska, advancing agrivoltaics.
Hydropower’s Global Struggles
As global electricity demands surge, hydropower plants face mounting pressure, ranking as the third-largest electricity source after coal and natural gas. However, their functionality is increasingly compromised by weather extremes. Droughts restrict their operations, while floods can damage vital equipment, leading to outages. Countries like Canada, China, and the U.S. have witnessed diminished hydropower outputs recently. In 2023, the global hydropower capacity fell by an amount equivalent to the annual consumption of Chile or the Philippines. Read more here.
Geothermal Energy’s Expanding Role
Post the 1973 oil crisis, Iceland invested heavily in geothermal energy, which now supplies over a quarter of its electricity, mostly complemented by hydropower. Previously limited to geologically favorable regions, geothermal energy is now poised for broader application due to technological advancements. In Zambia, efforts are underway to convert copper and salt mines into geothermal wells, addressing the country’s hydropower-reliant grid affected by droughts, and providing consistent clean energy. Discover more here.
Nuclear Power Revival
The Trump administration announced a $1 billion loan to Constellation Energy aimed at reviving a nuclear reactor at the former Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, which ceased operations in 2019. The restart, anticipated by 2027, involves substantial upgrades, including cooling tower renovations and the installation of a main power transformer. Constellation has already initiated infrastructure inspections and equipment orders, alongside hiring hundreds of workers. Read further details here.
Methane Emission Reduction Challenges
Despite commitments from around 160 countries to cut methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, progress remains sluggish, per a report by the UN Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Methane’s potent heat-trapping capacity, 80 times that of carbon dioxide in its first 20 years, underscores the urgency of its reduction. The energy sector could potentially cut methane pollution by 86% by 2030, but enforcement and financial gaps hinder progress, as noted by Clean Air Task Force Director Jonathan Banks. Explore more here.
Oil Industry’s Strategic Advertising
The American Petroleum Institute, a leading oil industry lobby group, is investing heavily in advertising during the second season of Paramount’s “Landman,” which debuts this Sunday. The group believes the show casts the industry in a favorable light amid increasing public support for drilling, countering years of environmental opposition. Learn more here.
Original Story at www.renewableenergyworld.com