January 11 NEC Energy News
¶ “Renewable Additions Up 50% To New Record In 2023” • Global renewable power additions rose by almost 50% on the year to an estimated 507 GW in 2023, spurred by “continuous policy support,” energy watchdog the IEA said. The additions, three-quarters of which were solar power, set a record high for a 22nd consecutive year. [Argus Media]
¶ “UK Government Plans Further Nuclear Power Expansion” • The government hopes to boost the nuclear power industry with the biggest expansion of the sector in 70 years. The government claims that this would lower bills and improve energy security. [Really‽] Many of the UK’s reactors are scheduled to be retired over the next decade. [BBC]
¶ “Australia’s Forrest Promises Investments For 14 GW Of Clean Energy” • Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has committed to launch projects helping to deliver 14 GW of clean energy in the country by the end of the decade. That is a third of the government’s renewable energy target. The additions will be wind, solar, and battery projects. [Reuters]
¶ “How Passenger Electric Planes Could Become A Reality Within The Next Decade” • The race to decarbonize aviation is heating up, with researchers finding a way to make passenger airplanes operate on 100% electric power. One new plane will be able to hold 90 people and fly up to 500 miles without having to stop to recharge. [ABC News]
¶ “More And More US Homes Facing Flood Risk” • The list of the nation’s most flood-prone homes is growing longer. NRDC’s updated Losing Ground dashboard now includes data on severe repetitive loss properties from the inception of the National Flood Insurance Program through late 2022. With a changing climate, the trends are worrying. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Clean Electricity Is Driving Down US Emissions” • America’s electrical grid is increasingly powered by renewable energy, and this helped slash the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions last year, even as the wider economy grew, according to new estimates by Rhodium Group. The report says that US emissions dropped by 8% in 2023. [Canary Media]
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