Climate Change

ChatGPT & DALL-E generated panoramic image of an electric European semi trailer covered in circuitry driving on a highway through the Alps

EU Wisely Stiffens Road Freight & Passenger Emissions Guidance

A month ago, I spent some time assembling statistics on major geographies’ split of domestic freight tonnage across different modes: road, rail, and water. I was surprised to find that road freight was so much more dominant in Europe than rail compared to other major geographies. I think of Europe … [continued]

Slide from Michael Barnard's presentation on transmission under the auspices of the ISGF

HVDC, Reconductoring, & Smart Balls Supercharge Grids

Under the auspices of the India Smart Grid Forum, the think tank founded as an umbrella organization over India’s 28 state utilities to provide thought leadership, share leading practices, and bring international insights to India, I’m delivering bi-weekly webinars framed by the Short List of Climate Actions That Will Work. With the … [continued]

ChatGPT & DALL-E generated panoramic image of a Caribbean underwater view with a coral reef being printed by a large 3d printer

From Bones To Reefs: Pioneering Coral Conservation

Recently I hosted Professor Amy Wagoner Johnson, a US materials scientist who is leading a global research project on coral reef restoration on my podcast Redefining Energy – Tech. In the theme of providing transcripts of presentations I’m giving in various places for people who prefer the written word, this is … [continued]

US offshore wind stakeholders are ready for a comeback in 2024 after suffering a series of blows last year.

What Does A Pathway Toward More Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets Look Like?

As a necessary step to remain on track to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, the world must achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Renewable energy targets have been variously contentious, in flux, and ambitious since the Paris Agreement. Moreover, within … [continued]

ChatGPT & DALL-E generated panoramic image of a hot air balloon tethered to the ground by an electricity cable covered in sparks

Compressed Gas For Electricity Storage Claims Are Mostly Hot Air

Three years ago, I published my projection of grid storage demand and solutions through 2060. At the time, various compressed gas electricity storage solutions such as compressed air, liquid air, and liquid carbon dioxide were in my also-ran technologies. My review of the literature over the preceding years had made … [continued]

"Depaving" by STORM Outreach is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Impervious Surfaces Lose Appeal, Depaving Movement Gains Momentum

Urban pavements, which help to maintain clean and secure streets, generate large amounts of runoff that aggravate flooding and degrade the quality of surface water. In the context of the ecological and climatic crisis, they also contribute to the creation of heat islands in cities, less water infiltration, less CO2 storage … [continued]

Photo by Carolyn Fortuna / CleanTechnica

Renewable Projects Show The Way To Move The Planet Toward Zero Emissions

A zero emissions future is fascinating, isn’t it? It’s a world of change and reinvigoration, a chance to reflect and renew. Individual technical options, or “pathways,” for decarbonizing specific industries are necessary and starting to take place. Aligning investment and innovation cycles helps to reduce the residual emissions burden from … [continued]

ChatGPT & Dall-E generated panoramic image visually captures the metaphor of green hydrogen being akin to Champagne, highlighting their shared attributes of rarity and value.

Hype Taxi Using Massive European Grants To Pay For Champagne-Scale Hydrogen Costs

In the crazy world of hydrogen-for-transportation plays, some endeavors stand out. Ballard’s $1.3 billion in losses, $55 million a year, since 2000 with no profits ever is one. The $1.2 billion that California received as a hydrogen hub which is going to go down the drain because it’s being spent … [continued]