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Renewables

All articles tagged with #renewables

Iran Crisis in a Renewables World: Fewer Oil Shocks, New Mineral Chokepoints
world3 hours ago

Iran Crisis in a Renewables World: Fewer Oil Shocks, New Mineral Chokepoints

A thought experiment imagines the US–Israel–Iran crisis unfolding in a world powered largely by wind, solar and batteries. In this renewables-dominated system, energy is more domestically produced, transportation is electric, and heating relies on local renewables, muting the oil-price spike and inflation seen today. The immediate macro shock would be weaker, with oil still traded but less central to daily energy use; electricity would largely continue, and household bills would be more stable. Geopolitics would shift from controlling oil chokepoints to managing diversified, distributed grids and supply chains for minerals like lithium, cobalt and rare earths, which could create new chokepoints in processing hubs and semiconductor plants. Community consent and stronger environmental standards would give local actors greater leverage over projects. Overall, decarbonisation could yield greater energy resilience and geopolitical stability, but energy security would still be contested, now around minerals and domestic grid resilience rather than a single strait like Hormuz.

via The Conversation|
#decarbonisation#energy-security#geopolitics
Mountain village powers through war with its own tiny hydro network
world14 days ago

Mountain village powers through war with its own tiny hydro network

In western Ukraine’s Ust-Chorna, a trio of micro-hydroelectric plants has kept the village’s lights on through wartime blackouts, illustrating both the promise and limits of Ukraine’s shift to decentralized green energy. While residents benefit from reliable power and potential new income from small producers, debates over electricity prices, environmental impact, and the durability of government incentives linger as Kyiv nudges more communities toward local, renewable generation amid ongoing attacks on centralized grids.

via The Kyiv Independent|
#blackouts#decentralization#micro-hydro
US urges IEA to drop net-zero modeling
energy-and-climate14 days ago

US urges IEA to drop net-zero modeling

At a closed-door IEA ministerial in Paris, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged the agency to abandon net-zero emissions scenarios, arguing such targets are unrealistic. The push drew muted pushback as European ministers stressed continued renewables expansion; Wright’s hardline rhetoric has faced rejection from several countries, and talks on the issue will continue.

via politico.eu|
#climate-modeling#energy-and-climate#iea
Michigan targets oil giants in antitrust bid to slow clean energy transition
law16 days ago

Michigan targets oil giants in antitrust bid to slow clean energy transition

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a federal-state antitrust lawsuit against BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and the American Petroleum Institute, accusing a cartel-like conspiracy to delay the adoption of cleaner technologies (solar power and electric vehicles) to protect fossil fuels and keep energy costs high. The complaint frames an antitrust violation rather than climate misinformation, but experts say proving an actual agreement and damages will be challenging and could hinge on discovery; the suit faces potential motions to dismiss and questions of timing. The case echoes other climate lawsuits and comes amid a broader push in Congress for liability shields for oil interests.

via Ars Technica|
#antitrust#climate-policy#electric-vehicles
UK bets big on solar with record 4.9GW auction win
energy22 days ago

UK bets big on solar with record 4.9GW auction win

Britain awarded a record 4.9GW to 157 solar projects in a renewables auction (also funding onshore wind and tidal bids) as part of a push to hit about 45-47GW of solar by 2030 and expand storage, while local opposition to large solar farms and lingering questions about meeting the 2030 clean-power target persist; the package includes plans for a Local Power Plan and up to £1bn for local energy projects to empower communities.

via BBC|
#auction#energy#renewables
AI’s Power Boom Could Spike U.S. Emissions—If Renewables Don’t Step In
technology1 month ago

AI’s Power Boom Could Spike U.S. Emissions—If Renewables Don’t Step In

UCS modeling shows AI-driven data centers could raise US electricity demand 60-80% by 2050, with data centers making up more than half the rise by decade’s end and potentially pushing power-plant CO2 emissions up 19-29% over the next decade under current policies. Reinstating wind/solar tax credits could cut emissions by over 30% and gradually reduce wholesale electricity costs by 2050; more aggressive decarbonization and grid upgrades would raise costs a bit but avert up to $13 trillion in climate damages. Policy uncertainty—particularly under the current administration—complicates renewables deployment, but storage and on-site generation could help keep consumer rates down.

via WIRED|
#ai#data-centers#emissions
China and India See First Coal Decline in Half a Century as Renewables Surge
energy-and-environment1 month ago

China and India See First Coal Decline in Half a Century as Renewables Surge

China’s coal-fired power fell 1.6% and India’s by 3% last year—the first declines in both since the 1970s—thanks to a record surge in solar and wind that met rising demand. China added over 300 GW of solar and 100 GW of wind, while India added 35 GW solar, 6 GW wind and 3.5 GW hydro. Together they drove more than 90% of the rise in global carbon emissions from 2015 to 2024, so a sustained fall in coal use could help curb global emissions, though weather and demand variability could reverse gains; the IEA cautions coal may stay near peak until 2027 due to gas prices and other pressures.

via The Guardian|
#china#coal#emissions
US carbon emissions rebound in 2025, fueled by heating demand and data-center growth
environment1 month ago

US carbon emissions rebound in 2025, fueled by heating demand and data-center growth

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose about 2.4% in 2025 versus 2024, ending a decade-long decline as a cold winter boosted heating demand and electricity use from data centers and crypto mining, with higher natural gas prices boosting coal power; solar surged 34% and zero-carbon sources supplied roughly 42% of electricity, though experts warn the uptick could foreshadow more emissions if fossil fuels remain dominant and Trump-era rollbacks haven’t yet taken effect.

via NBC News|
#climate-change#coal#emissions
Japan Balances Nuclear Power Expansion with Renewables
energy-and-environment2 months ago

Japan Balances Nuclear Power Expansion with Renewables

Japan is shifting its energy strategy to maximize nuclear power while significantly expanding renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal, aiming for a 100% renewable target in Fukushima by 2040, despite the controversial history with nuclear energy post-Fukushima disaster and ongoing debates about decarbonization efforts.

via The Guardian|
#climate-goals#energy-and-environment#fukushima
Fossil Fuel Emissions Climb Despite Renewables, but China's Growth Stabilizes
environment3 months ago

Fossil Fuel Emissions Climb Despite Renewables, but China's Growth Stabilizes

Global fossil fuel emissions are projected to increase slightly in 2025, but the growth rate has slowed over the past decade due to a boom in renewable energy, especially solar power, which is helping to stabilize electricity sector emissions. While this offers hope for curbing global warming, current policies suggest that warming could still reach 2.6°C by the end of the century, highlighting the urgent need for more decisive climate action.

via BBC|
#climate-change#emissions#environment