#renewable

a lot of criticism towards Andy Burnham related to North Sea drilling completely miss the point. he isn't being lobbied by oil & gas companies, but by leaders of two major Labour-affiliated trade unions who represent oil & gas workers. same people who called refusal by pro-green Miliband to drill in North Sea "madness" and called him being chancellor akin to having "noose around the neck". #ClimateChange #Politics #UnitedKingdom #UK #Ecology #Environment #Renewable #AndyBurnham

If we have to have these things #Renewable powered is the smarter way. So good on Chris Bowen for ensuring this. #AusPol. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/05/chris-bowen-vows-to-override-queensland-and-nt-to-force-renewables-powered-ai-datacentres

Molten salt and human sweat: the weird #batteries that could store renewable energy | #Renewable #energy | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/19/molten-salt-human-sweat-weird-batteries-store-renewable-energy?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Going with the flow: Renewable energy battery breakthrough https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3dyd4l8250o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss #Energy #Renewable #Science

Chinese solar company says its new cell has an efficiency of 35.5 percent https://www.engadget.com/2218081/chinese-solar-cell-efficiency-35-5-percent/ #SolarEnergy #Renewable #TechNews

https://www.autonocion.com/us/tower-china-wind-farm-power/ We need one of these in #regionofwaterloo it is windy af here. We could save so much on energy costs..... #solarpunk #renewable #windenergy

Energy storage is hard. It's also necessary to pair with many #renewable sources like solar, wind, and tidal, which do not provide continuous power. There are a few ways to do it, such as salt pits to store heat and pumping water uphill for hydroelectric power on demand. Now there's one more: lifting concrete slabs and then lowering them to spin turbines: https://boingboing.net/2026/07/06/post-china-built-a-40-story-tower-that-stores-wind-powe.html

#solarpunksunday #solarpunk #green #renewable #renewableenergy #fossilfuels Sustainable solar-powered desalination! “Desalination has always been an energy-hungry way of turning salt water into fresh water, making it largely the preserve of wealthy countries with abundant fossil fuel reserves. Yet, an outdoor demonstration prototype in China has managed to exhibit year-long stability with zero utility energy costs, thanks to a new type of photothermal material.” https://thewaterdigest.com/chinese-tech-makes-desalinating-seawater-cheaper-than-producing-bottled-water/

#News: #AI and the #fossilfuel lobby are flooding #Australia with fake climate news to stop increaase in #renewable energy 🛑🔥🧐 #ClimateChange #greenwashing #misinformation @palmoildetectives@mastodonapp.uk https://theconversation.com/fake-news-on-everything-from-whales-to-wind-farms-australia-is-flooded-with-climate-misinformation-278989?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

US home battery installations hit record high in early 2026 https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/07/us-home-battery-installations-hit-record-high-in-early-2026/ #Energy #Renewable #Tech

🔋 Finland's 'sand battery' survived its first brutal winter. But the viral story gets one big thing wrong.

What's real:

• Polar Night Energy built a commercial thermal battery in Pornainen, Finland (5,000 people)
• 2,000 tons of crushed soapstone heated to 500-600C
• 1 MW power, 100 MWh capacity
• 100% oil reduction (literally zero oil used now)
• 70% CO2 emissions cut, 60% less wood chip combustion
• Survived winter 2025-2026 without interruption
• 5 projects across Finland, 9M euros funding

What's misleading:

1. It stores HEAT, not electricity. The 100 MWh is thermal energy. It can't power your lights or EV - it heats buildings via district heating. 'Store electricity in sand' implies grid-scale electrical storage, which this isn't.

2. It's not sand - it's crushed soapstone (a byproduct from Finnish fireplace manufacturing). Better heat capacity and density than plain sand. 'Sand battery' is branding.

3. The 80-90% round-trip efficiency is company-claimed, not independently verified. And it's electricity-to-heat-to-heat, not electricity-to-electricity. Comparing it to lithium-ion (90-95%) is apples-to-oranges.

4. The underlying tech (packed-bed thermal storage) is decades old. What's new is the application, branding, and business model.

The sand battery isn't competing with your Powerwall. It's competing with oil boilers - and it's already winning.

Full fact-check: https://hermez.prose.sh/finland-sand-battery-survived-winter

#science #energy #renewable #Finland #engineering #CleanEnergy

The tiny #Caribbean isle of #StKitts and #Nevis has launched a major initiative to achieve 100% #renewable electricity generation. https://www.energylivenews.com/2026/06/09/st-kitts-and-nevis-aims-for-100-renewable-energy/

🚌⚡🔋 First Bus has launched a UK-first trial using its electric bus depots to help balance the National Grid by changing when buses are charged. The scheme began at the #Glasgow depot and will expand to Great Yarmouth later this spring. By charging vehicles when excess renewable energy, particularly #Scottish wind power, is available, and reducing demand at peak times, the depots can help cut #renewable #energy curtailment and support a more flexible electricity network. The trial is being run with Optimo Energy, whose platform adjusts charging in response to live grid conditions while keeping buses ready for service. First Bus said the project could improve the efficiency of electrification, support grid stability and create new revenue opportunities through energy flexibility markets. https://news.firstbus.co.uk/news/first-bus-launches-uk-first-trial-to-support-national-grid-using-electric-bus-depots

#News: #AI and the #fossilfuel lobby are flooding #Australia with fake climate news to stop increaase in #renewable energy 🛑🔥🧐 #ClimateChange #greenwashing #misinformation @palmoildetectives@mastodonapp.ukhttps://theconversation.com/fake-news-on-everything-from-whales-to-wind-farms-australia-is-flooded-with-climate-misinformation-278989?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Solar panels are creating an unexpected effect by forming rainfall clouds and thriving oases in the middle of the desert #Erneuerbare #Renewable #GoodNews ecoportal.net/en/solar-panels-… The article published in Science has detailed how massive solar arrays in the Sahara Desert have started to trigger increased rainfall and vegetation growth. They drastically lower the temperature around the sand that they sit on, effectively “greening” the desert. As the warm air around the panels has nowhere else to go but up, they naturally form massive rainclouds in a part of the world known for its dryness.

Seven countries now generate 100% of their electricity from renewable energy "Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo" Canada is on the list of 50 countries producing over 50% of their electricity with #renewable #energy https://www.the-independent.com/tech/renewable-energy-solar-nepal-bhutan-iceland-b2533699.html

undefined | Here’s how Denmark compares to other countries as fuel prices rise and what role green energy plays by TheCopenhagenPost Fuel prices across Europe have surged since the escalation of the war in Iran, but the magnitude of the increase differs sharply from country to country. Denmark, while experiencing a smaller percentage jump than several of its neighbours, still finds itself among the continent’s most expensive markets for gasoline and diesel. The relative moderation in price growth has prompted analysts to examine whether the nation’s extensive green‑energy infrastructure is buffering consumers from the full impact of the crisis. For Danish commuters, the higher cost of petrol translates into noticeably deeper pockets. Drivers report needing to allocate a larger share of their household budgets to fuel, especially those who travel regularly between suburbs and the capital. Although the price rise is less steep than in places such as Italy or Spain, the absolute level of fuel costs remains high enough to affect everyday mobility, prompting a rise in interest for alternative transport modes and greater scrutiny of household expenses. The lingering question is how much Denmark’s investment in wind, solar and other renewable sources can shield its citizens from future oil‑price shocks. While the green‑energy mix does reduce overall dependence on imported fossil fuels, the country’s still‑significant reliance on road transport means that fuel price volatility continues to hit consumers. Policymakers are therefore weighing further incentives for electric vehicles, expanded public‑transport options, and additional renewable capacity to ensure that the green transition can serve as a more effective hedge against external market turbulence. Read more: undefined #denmark #europe #renewable #electricvehicles

Africa’s Solar Revolution Powers Millions Without Waiting for the Grid #Erneuerbare #Renewable #GoodNews microgridmedia.com/africas-sol… This quiet transformation is accelerating faster than anyone expected. In 2025, Africa installed approximately 4.5 gigawatts of new solar capacity, a 54% year-on-year increase marking the fastest growth rate ever recorded.

Let's talk about #Microsoft reaffirming its commitment to 100% of its electricity consumption with #renewable #energy purchases. First, this is a good thing, especially in light of their plans for data center expansion. It's not just empty promises, they actually did achieve this for the first time last year. Look, I don't like everything Microsoft does, but they do deserve some credit here. Having said that, matching is not the same as 24/7 carbon-free electricity... https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/microsoft-keep-buying-enough-renewable-energy-match-all-its-electricity-needs-2026-02-18/

I find it kind of neat to think that the #solar (and #renewable) power uprising is unstoppable at this point it does not matter if you don't think it's worth it, in the long run solar always wins due to near-zero operating expenditures, and in the short term solar also wins because even high efficiency panels are literally cheaper than plywood these days. and if you're worried about the nights: guess what, (e.g LiFePo4) battery cells are now also like 50-100$ per kWh. Fossil fuels are losing.