Renewable Friday: Has Carbon Really Peaked Yet?

I promised more tipping points toppling today, and here they are

Various authorities have said so, maybe, and we have repeated them here. The news gets steadily more definite.

"Climate scientists hail 2023 as ‘beginning of the end’ for fossil fuel era: Cautious optimism among experts that emissions from energy use may have peaked as net zero mission intensifies" via @Guardian: https://t.co/7JDvejnbcg

— Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) September 12, 2024

Good morning with good news: World CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity fell about 1.5% in June & July 2024, compared to June & July 2023!

Megatonnes of CO2e
July 2024: 1297  June: 1145      
July 2023: 1315  June: 1166

World Grid CO2 Down! pic.twitter.com/OIpkyhJpGP

— John Raymond Hanger  (@johnrhanger) September 11, 2024

Accountabiity

This is a truly important bill.
Basically: should Big Oil be liable for the climate damage they've knowingly caused, or should taxpayers foot the bill? Because someone's paing for all those roads and bridges that get washed out https://t.co/znjZfi2hiL

— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) September 12, 2024

Renewables

The rise of renewables – like solar, wind & hydro – means they’re set to overtake coal in global electricity generation for the 1st time in 2025

This may result in a small drop in CO2 emissions from the power sector in 2025, after a slight rise in 2024 👉 https://t.co/l40Iwi8Xpv pic.twitter.com/IRPmqcEuQu

— International Energy Agency (@IEA) September 10, 2024

Oil prices to keep falling as demand weakens, says IEA head https://t.co/EmQVFbpfEP

— FT Energy (@ftenergy) September 12, 2024

Global electricity use is set to rise strongly this year & next, reflecting its expanding role in energy systems worldwide

And solar PV alone is on track to meet half of demand growth through 2025

More in our Electricity Mid-Year Update ➡️ https://t.co/PRgzpLDwhe pic.twitter.com/fxmP1EpBN9

— International Energy Agency (@IEA) September 9, 2024

Good climate news this week
1 UK renewables auction secures enough power for 11m homes
2 Singapore ups renewables ambition, will import 70% more low-carbon power from Indonesia
3 China boosts Africa green financing by US$51bn, promises 1m jobs
4 UK’s new tax regime for North Sea… https://t.co/Z2LlJB4O71

— Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) September 9, 2024

We're pleased to support @cfconferences at the UK and European Offshore Wind Policy & Investment Summit!  Gain insights on policy, investment, and technology in offshore wind. Network with industry leaders and shape a sustainable future. #OffshoreWindhttps://t.co/IcVzF03Ze8 pic.twitter.com/vYisQmXgBE

— UKSIF (@UKSIF) September 11, 2024

✅Positive news for a new #offshorewind farm in the U.S.

🌊New England Wind selected to provide 791 MW of clean, reliable power by 2029.

👷‍♀️It will produce enough electricity to power 400,000 homes.

Let’s keep driving the global #energytransition!https://t.co/JBfsCVKhPy pic.twitter.com/V2ahRGMXHH

— Iberdrola Renewables (@Iberdrola_En) September 11, 2024

Good morning with good news: US has under construction 73.7 GW of utility-scale solar, wind & storage in 569 projects across 48 states! Wow!

Top 6 states:
TX 19.2 GW
CA 7.1 GW
WY 5 GW
NM 4.8 GW
VA 4 GW
AZ 4 GW

Another 89.1 GW of solar, wind & storage is in advanced development! pic.twitter.com/VmNn6We5QG

— John Raymond Hanger  (@johnrhanger) September 10, 2024

Storage

Since 2010, battery costs have fallen by more than 90% — offering opportunities to cut emissions in road transport & electricity

In 2023, electric car sales rose to almost 14 million. And battery storage deployment in the power sector more than doubled 👉 https://t.co/zLJ6wuy6SL pic.twitter.com/SfbgpEihNH

— International Energy Agency (@IEA) September 11, 2024

Yes!!
from 30 minutes
1million homes
to
14 days
10 million homes, industry and offices pic.twitter.com/52S5MsEZx3

— Wim Fleuren (@Wim_Fleuren) September 11, 2024

EVs and Chargers

Lost in the 'EVs are stalling' narrative is the fact all car sales are down

In Europe 3 million less cars are being sold than pre-pandemic & 1/3 of all plants are running at half capacity

EVs are in fact the only ray of light in that dark picturehttps://t.co/XZvcSZaqrQ pic.twitter.com/wjCwZPNzer

— Justin Guay (@Guay_JG) September 11, 2024

After years of lobbying against EU electric vehicle proposals @VW now complaining EU hasn't done enough to create necessary EV infrastructure - almost beyond parody https://t.co/ykRjGjv1oO

— Ed King (@edking_I) September 12, 2024

Sustainable Agriculture

Researchers at @swanseaphysics have developed a new tool to help find the best #SolarPV materials to support both energy generation and crop growth ☀🌱#Agrivoltaics can generate clean energy while also enhancing food securityhttps://t.co/qWcvQxtjnR pic.twitter.com/teqmRFLBLh

— SUNRISE (@SUNRISEnet1) September 11, 2024

Agrivoltaics — where solar energy and food is produced on the same tract of land — have graduated from small-scale pilot projects to mega installations involving an increasingly wide array of crops and livestock.https://t.co/f13ZM53Ijz

— Nick Hedley (@nickhedley) September 11, 2024

Green Industry

Innovations are emerging, such as fossil-free steel and hydrogen-powered production. Volvo, in partnership with SSAB, has already developed the world’s first vehicle made from green steel, marking a major milestone. pic.twitter.com/0NisRvFnOK

— Mobility Transformation Forum (@transportforum) September 12, 2024

Partnering with @gunungrajapaksi, IFC aims to unlock green steel markets and reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors.

Discover how this will boost low-carbon steel production in Indonesia and support the country's transition to a greener future: https://t.co/SwR2wXVBFA pic.twitter.com/6mWgicZuGN

— IFC (@IFC_org) September 10, 2024

Mingyang's got approval for 1st phase of a million ton green ammonia/methanol project in Hainan CZ9 zone. 1.5GW offshore wind to be installed here.
It built a 0-carbon industrial park in Henan which has China's 1st PEM electrolysis line.
Huge investment by MY in offshore wind &… pic.twitter.com/FJIvyEGTUJ

— tphuang (@tphuang) August 31, 2024

China will expand its national carbon trading market to include steel, aluminum, and cement industries at the end of the year, to push the polluting sectors to reduce emissions https://t.co/0UUFndRxGA

— Bloomberg Green (@climate) September 9, 2024

Countries and Regions

"China’s carbon emissions set for structural decline from next year: Emissions by world’s most polluting country could peak this year after surge in clean energy investments" via @Guardian: https://t.co/dqx7EMuMRX

— Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) September 12, 2024

The world’s oil demand growth is slowing sharply from its post-pandemic rebound

This is largely coming from decelerating growth in China — which has long been a driver of global oil demand.

More on this trend in our new commentary → https://t.co/vEhNKf7DlO pic.twitter.com/Gxw4OekRRV

— International Energy Agency (@IEA) September 12, 2024

Dude got fact checked by an entire nation’s official gov account: https://t.co/918twC69TC

— Emily Mayer (she/her) (@emilymayerSC) September 11, 2024

European Investment Bank invests in solar, wind in South Africa: The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) are each investing €100 million ($110.8 million) in small- and… https://t.co/Rxv8aopxxg #Renewables #Energy #Technology pic.twitter.com/rGoz3k0buc

— pv magazine (@pvmagazine) September 13, 2024

The solar pump revolution could bring water to millions of Africans but it must be sustainable and fair.https://t.co/vP2zA3Pz9i

— Dr Paul Dorfman (@dorfman_p) September 9, 2024

Hornsea 3, the world’s biggest offshore wind farm,  ‘massive UK success story’ nearing completion. https://t.co/AkydF6liPb

— Dr Paul Dorfman (@dorfman_p) September 9, 2024

The UK government‘s target for near zero emissions electricity by 2030 will require monumental change.

Doubters will say that it‘s impossible. But if you said 10 years ago that in 2024 coal would be gone many would have laughed at you. pic.twitter.com/ijdvYVEzS2

— Jan Rosenow (@janrosenow) September 9, 2024

Good morning with good news: Poland's Coal generation fell from 90% in August 2015 to 52.7% in August 2024!

Wind & solar jumped from 5% in August 2015 to 28% in August 2024.

Solar was 2.5% of Poland's electricity in August 2020 and 18% in August 2024.

Rapid decarbonization! pic.twitter.com/OF9Vell7t2

— John Raymond Hanger  (@johnrhanger) September 12, 2024

THIS IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT:

The EU now generates more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels.

Graph from @NatBullard data @EmberClimate pic.twitter.com/e1597p40Gg

— Jan Rosenow (@janrosenow) September 9, 2024

In America's first multi-state #OffshoreWind auction, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have procured nearly 2.9 GW of #CleanEnergy from three projects:

☑️ 1,287 MW from @SouthCoastWind
☑️ 791 MW from @NewEnglandWind1
☑️ 800 MW from @VineyardOFSHR https://t.co/xFZNoSfs4X

— American Council on Renewable Energy (@ACORE) September 9, 2024

I grew up in Pennsylvania, and it's not a "pro-fracking" state.

I remember when my grandparents couldn't drink the water in their home for over a month because nearby fracking had contaminated it.

Clean energy employs 8X more people in PA than gas.https://t.co/AyZyzQRDK0

— Molly Morabito 🌅 (@morabito_molly) September 11, 2024

Denial and Obstruction

“In fact, all the refined metals needed to reach net zero by 2050 will add up to less than the amount of coal mined in 2023 alone”

Renewables are not only our most powerful climate action tool, a 100% renewable energy world also cuts environmental destruction from fossil fuels… https://t.co/NOaUOdDwMT

— Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) September 11, 2024

Today, @NatResources Republicans dishonestly argued their bill would “streamline” environmental and community review of federal projects—and by streamline, they actually mean totally eliminate.

We need a bipartisan approach to update the permitting process, not partisan games. pic.twitter.com/nLGLvckRrm

— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) September 11, 2024

Climate defenders everywhere are being penalised for trying to protect the planet, when the true culprits are profiting from people’s suffering.

Double standards and hypocrisy are destroying our planet.

Read more in the @guardian: https://t.co/x9mO2F7O8c pic.twitter.com/U6PL2XMKsx

— Greenpeace International (@Greenpeace) September 11, 2024

NEW STUDY: Methane emissions from U.S. oil/gas operations are 3X higher than presumed.

In the Permian Basin, fully 10% of the methane extracted goes straight into the atmosphere.😳

US oil and gas emissions from nearly one million aerial site measurements https://t.co/OEeAsmf3sa

— Dr. Sandra Steingraber 🏳️‍🌈 (@ssteingraber1) September 11, 2024