August 11 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Plastic Made From Sugar Can Be An Alternative To Harmful Microplastics” • A Massachusetts lab, CJ Biomaterials, ferments sugar to make plant-based polymers that microbes will consume. These alternatives to traditional plastics made of fossil fuels are seen by some as one of many solutions needed to confront global plastic pollution. [ABC News]

Plastic tableware (Alanthebox, public domain)

• “FEMA Says It’s Providing Water Trailers To Puerto Rico Amid Water Crisis” • The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that it’s providing water trailers to Puerto Rico as the island grapples with a water crisis. The trailers will be distributed for up to 30 days initially, following the Puerto Rican government’s request for federal support. [ABC News]
• “CATL Battery For Electric Aviation Passes Important Safety Test” • CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, has developed a battery for use in electric aircraft. In particular, this battery is designed for passenger eVTOL aircraft (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). The battery has now passed an important safety test in China. [CleanTechnica]
• “Drought Declared In ‘Almost Three-Quarters’ Of England, UK Government Says” • Some 71.3% of England is in drought, the UK government said. This year, the nation experienced its driest July on record, with a fifth heatwave and scant rain forecast for the week ahead. Farmers battling low crop yields warned of possible food shortages. [Euronews]
• “Drought Forces Water Restrictions Across Nearly 70% Of France, Government Says” • “As France is experiencing a particularly severe drought, the effects of climate change continue to increase pressure on water resources,” the ministry for ecological transition said, adding that “nearly 70% of French territory is subject to restrictions on water use.” [Euronews]

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August 10 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “AI Making Renewable Energy Generation More Reliable” • Through real-time analysis of rainfall, wind, solar conditions, and other data, an AI “commander” is making renewable energy generation in China more stable and reliably dispatchable. The model aims to help tackle challenges such as intermittency and instability facing green power output. [China Daily]

Wind turbines in Hunan (Huangdan2060, public domain)

• “Western Europe Sets New Temperature Record As Heat Waves Continue To Pummel Region” • Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July on record as climate change fuels an historic summer of heat, drought, and wildfires across the region, the EU’s global warming monitor said. Europe is warming faster than any other continent. [Euronews]
• “Cadeler In €805 Million Deal For Two New Installation Vessels” • Cadeler signed firm contracts with COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard for two new T-class offshore wind installation vessels for about €805 million together. Cadeler said the vessels will be built at the shipyard in Qidong, China, with delivery scheduled for 2030 and 2031. [reNews]
• “As Extreme Heat Spreads To The Midwest, The East Coast Remains Hot And Sticky” • Continuing high temperatures in Colorado caused 72 people to be treated for heat-related illnesses at the Tacos and Tequila festival in Colorado Springs, including seven who had to be hospitalized, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said. [ABC News]
• “Are Heat Domes Getting More Common In North America?” • Yes. The number of heat domes in North America has increased every year since 1940, a study found. The rise in heat domes comes with an increase in extreme heat due to human-caused climate change. Their number in northwestern North America is projected nearly to double by 2080. [The Colorado Sun]

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August 9 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Wildfire Smoke Poses Growing Risk To Pregnant Women As Climate Change Worsens” • A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Health tracked exposure to fine particulate matter from US wildfires from 2003 to 2019. It found that emissions from transport and industry fell in that time, smoke from wildfires offsets some of the gains. [Euronews]

Statue of Liberty in a smoky sundown (Chris Barbalis, Unsplash)

• “World’s Largest 12.8-GWh Battery Storage Cluster Activated in China” • Sources at Envision told Cleantechnica that its 4-GWh flagship plant could very well be “the world’s largest single-site electro-chemical energy storage facility.” It serves as the central anchor for a network of energy storage installations distributed across energy production centers. [CleanTechnica]
• “Renewable Energy Equipment Now Duty-Free for Import in Cuba” • A range of renewable energy components, including solar panels, transformers, lithium-ion batteries, and other batteries, can now be imported into Cuba without incurring customs duties. The plan is for this exemption to be in effect until December 31, 2027. [CubaHeadlines]
• “Harvesting Rainwater From Rooftops Could Cut The Number Of Heatwave Days And Reduce AC Reliance” • Rooftop rainwater could be a secret weapon to address urban heat. Researchers at The University of Manchester modeled capturing rainwater from rooftops and spraying it onto buildings during hot weather, reducing a need for air conditioning. [Euronews]
• “Twenty Thousand Flee Wildfires As British Columbia Declares State Of Emergency” • British Columbia has declared a state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than twenty thousand people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada. Dozens of them were rescued by aircraft. [ABC News]

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August 8 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “US Battery Storage Capacity Averaged 70% Growth Over The Last Three Years” • Battery storage capacity in the US grew a lot over the last three years, with an annual average growth rate of 70%. By the end of 2025, the US had battery storage capacity of 43.6 GW operating. Over the first six months of 2026, operators added another 8.3 GW. [CleanTechnica]

Growth in utility batteries (EIA image)

• “Wildfires Keep Raging As Europe Swelters Under Extreme Heat” • Firefighters were battling multiple wildfires in Serbia on Friday, as temperatures remain extremely high. Serbia was not the only country affected, however. Days of extreme heat with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F) fueled wildfires in several Balkan countries. [Euronews]
• “Rising Temperatures Could Keep More Flights From Taking Off On Time” • Airline passengers know to expect possible flight delays when forecasts call for rough weather. But extreme heat also disrupts flights. On the hottest days, thinner air can make it harder for aircraft to get off the ground safely. Airlines might even remove passengers to save weight. [ABC News]
• “California Produced Over Half Its May Electricity From Solar, A World Record” • California hit a major milestone in May, with over half its electricity coming from the sun. It is believed to be a global first, according to analysis from Ember. And in the first five months of 2026, California made more electricity from solar than from natural gas. [Arizona Daily Sun]
• “New Hampshire Law Empowers Homeowners With ‘Balcony’ Solar Panels” • A state law set to go into effect on January 1, 2027, gives Granite Staters an ability to install so-called “balcony solar” panels. DIY solar power users still need to do their homework to understand the technology, safety requirements, the potential for their home, and possible limits. [NH Business Review]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

August 7 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Europe’s Electricity Prices Spike To €500/MWh” • Intense heat waves are threatening energy security across Europe. A scorching, arid summer is causing high electricity demand for air conditioning just as rivers warm up and dry out. For nuclear and hydropower the consequences are devastating, with prices rising to €500/MWh ($576/MWh). [OilPricecom]

Nuclear plant (Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

• “How Europe’s Drought Exposes ‘Weakness Of Fossil Fuels’ As Poland Is Forced To Shut Down Coal Plants” • Polish utility giant Enea has had to reduce generation at two coal-fired power plants after critically low water levels in the Vistula River limited the cooling water supplies. The move is said to have removed 1.3 GW from Poland’s power system. [Euronews]
• “Trump Administration To Pay $1.22 Billion To Cancel RWE Offshore Wind Leases” • The US will pay German energy firm RWE $1.22 billion to cancel its offshore wind leases off New York, California, and Louisiana. “After careful consideration, it was determined there is no path forward to permit these projects in the US for the foreseeable future,” RWE said. [Euronews]
• “The Ford Fathom Is Here” • Finding a truck for less than $30,000 is nearly impossible in this market, but Ford Motor is betting that cash-strapped Americans will sign up to buy its all-new Fathom. It is an electric midsize pickup with a starting price of $28,350. Ford said it will be the first vehicle to be produced on its Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. [ABC News]
• “Court Overturns Trump Administration’s Wind Pause” • The US District Court for the District of Oregon has ruled in favor of clean energy developers. Judge Karin Immergut, who is a Trump appointee, ruled that DOD’s wind project review freeze “violates statutory and regulatory deadlines” and ordered DOD to resume review of onshore wind projects. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

August 6 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Short-Haul Electric Flights Could Be A European Reality In Less Than Four Years” • European travelers could take electric flights on some of the continent’s most popular routes by the early 2030s, thanks to rapid advancements in tech. Electric and hybrid flights would make short-haul travel more sustainable, and less dependent on imported fuel. [Euronews]

Electric airplane (Elysian Aircraft image)

• “Cause Determined In The Deadly 2025 Eaton Fire” • The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection released a report on the 2025 Eaton Fire. It said the fire was caused by electrical arcing events that took place on a Southern California Edison tower that was out of service. The fire killed 19 people. [ABC News]
• “Climate Change Is Rewriting Europe’s Nuclear Cooling Assumptions” • Romania is redirecting the Danube to get water to one of its four nuclear reactors could keep going for at least two extra days. France had to constrain twelve of its reactors. Switzerland and Hungary have reactors offline. Climate change has effects on nuclear power. [CleanTechnica]
• “Solar Power Is Portugal’s Main Source Of Electricity In July For The First Time” • Last month, renewable sources accounted for 53% of consumption, with solar providing 19% of that energy, followed by hydro (16%), wind (13%) and biomass (5%). Solar power was, for the first time, the main source of electricity for the country. [Euronews]
• “In A First, Utah Got More Power From Solar Than Any Other Source” • Utah’s solar generation eclipsed all other electricity sources for the first time ever in May, after a slow but steady years-long shift away from coal. Energy experts are calling it a win for the environment and the state’s economy. PV panels in Utah produced nearly 1 TWh in May 2026. [Yahoo]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

August 5 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “The Elusive Dream Of Solar Powered EVs Is Not So Elusive After All” • The pursuit of solar-powered EVs has discouraged more than one would-be automaker, but the US startup Aptera has a unique angle. Instead of pitching four-wheeled passenger cars decked out in solar panels, the company has kept the solar panels and removed one wheel. [CleanTechnica]

Aptera (Aptera image)

• “Europe’s Hydropower Nears ‘All-Time-Low’ As Summer Drought Worsens” • Hydropower in the Alpine region is “close to an all-time low,” as Europe’s summer drought worsens. Fueled by climate change, back-to-back heatwaves and scant rainfall have left much of the continent parched. Concerns go beyond energy to food shortages and wildfires. [Euronews]
• “Five Amazon Countries Arrest Hundreds In Major Crackdown On Environmental Crime” • Police from Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru have arrested hundreds of people and seized timber, minerals, and thousands of livestock in one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on environmental crime ever carried out in the world’s largest rainforest. [ABC News]
• “As The Stock Market Soars, European Central Bank Warns Climate Change Threatens Global Economy” • As wildfires are devastating almost every continent and water levels are too low to cool some nuclear power plants, stocks in New York hit an all time high, fueled by a belief that AI will lead to unimaginable abundance. But ECB is assessing damage. [CleanTechnica]
• “Remote Mining Proves Australia’s High-Renewables Energy Future” • Remote mining operations in Australia are showing several off-grid industrial sites are consistently operating at renewable energy penetration rates above 80%, according to Zenith Energy. Mining companies are increasingly investing in hybrid energy systems. [Mining.com.au]

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* This article was originally published here