Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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In a ‘bone-headed’ move, the UK to roll back gas car phase-out and other net zero policies
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering weakening the UK’s commitments to net zero in a bombshell policy shift. The UK’s gas car phase-out rollback Sunak is preparing to present the rollbacks in a speech he’s expected to deliver in days. Downing Street isn’t denying the rollbacks. After seeing documents, the BBC says he may…
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Underwater robots have been secured for the US’s first floating offshore wind farm
Autonomous underwater robots have been contracted to survey the site of the US’s first floating offshore wind farm. In December, Norwegian energy giant Equinor won a 2-gigawatt (GW) lease in Morro Bay, California, in the first-ever offshore wind lease sale on the US West Coast. It was also the first US sale to support commercial-scale…
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What’s the problem with Siemens Gamesa’s onshore wind turbines? [Update]
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has big problems, and it’s going to cost the company billions – what’s wrong with its onshore wind turbines? Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA is Siemens Energy AG’s wind turbine unit, and it’s one of the world’s largest wind turbine makers. Its turbine problems are expected to result in up to…
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4 reasons why the US’s offshore wind problems are temporary
The US offshore wind industry has had some significant problems lately – but here’s why that’s not going to stop the young sector in the long run. According to the US Department of Energy’s 2023 Offshore Wind Market report from August, around 27 power offtake contracts totaling more than 17 gigawatts (GW) of potential energy were signed…
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This is what the US clean energy manufacturing boom looks like IRL
Check out this cool new interactive map that shows where and how clean energy manufacturing is mushrooming across the US. Where the new US clean energy manufacturing is The interactive map was created by the US Department of Energy (DOE) – check it out here – and you can filter by technologies (batteries, EVs, offshore…
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The Port of Baltimore just bought an electric wheel loader
Maryland’s Port of Baltimore is buying an electric wheel loader from electric heavy equipment developer and maker HEVI. The Port of Baltimore is one of the US’s busiest shipping ports, and it was the busiest US vehicle-handling port in 2022. The East Windsor, New Jersey-based HEVI is supplying the Port with a new GEL-5000 electric wheel…
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Solar panel exports are breaking records – now let’s install them
Solar panel exports from China grew by 34% in the first half of 2023, with 114 gigawatts (GW) shipped worldwide, compared to 85 GW in the same period last year, according to a new analysis by energy think tank Ember. We need to get them online ASAP. Chinese solar exports represent around 80% of the…
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US renewables’ annual capacity additions to triple in 10 years – WoodMac
With the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) driving the economic competitiveness of renewables, annual capacity additions will nearly triple in 10 years to 110 gigawatts (GW), asserts Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac). US renewables’ annual capacity growth Speaking at the RE+ conference in Las Vegas, Chris Seiple, vice chairman, power and renewables for Wood Mackenzie, said: The…
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Chinese solar giant Trina is opening a 5 GW factory in Texas
China’s Trina Solar, one of the world’s largest solar panel makers, has announced it will build a 5 gigawatt (GW) solar panel factory in Texas. The factory will be in Wilmer, southeast of Dallas. The $200 million facility will be more than 1 million square feet in size and will create 1,500 local jobs. Trina…
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IKEA is kicking off a solar car park push in the US
IKEA today announced that it’s adding solar car parks, more solar on store rooftops, and battery energy storage systems to seven of its US stores. IKEA has been installing solar at its US stores for more than a decade. Its Paramus, New Jersey, store is the first of seven units included in this new solar…
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