Seven Pacific island nations are advocating for heftier levies on global shipping emissions to be included in the International Maritime Organization's Net-Zero Framework. The United States and Saudi Arabia are leading efforts to make changes to the deal, with the US threatening sanctions on non-compliant governments. Liberia's proposal for transitional fuels like natural gas and biofuels has US support, while the Pacific countries are pushing for a universal levy on all ship emissions to fund a just transition to a greener shipping industry. Greece and Cyprus initially abstained from a vote on a new shipping emissions levy, but Greece later expressed support after meetings with the US and Saudi Arabia. The International Maritime Organization warns that without a universal levy, there could be a patchwork of regional levies on pollution, making a universal levy the most credible way to meet climate goals and distribute revenues for green investments globally.
Tag: United States
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The UK has just thrown its weight behind community energy. Australia should too
The shift to renewable energy in regional Australia is met with opposition, but community energy projects like the Manilla Solar Project offer a different approach by involving locals in governance and financing. These projects can bridge polarized communities and provide agency and benefits to residents, filling the "missing middle" in Australia's renewable energy transition. The importance of community energy projects is highlighted, with success stories in countries like Denmark, Germany, and the United States. The UK's Local Power Plan serves as a model for supporting community and local energy projects, emphasizing the need for community participation in energy projects to be embedded in policy and system planning for trust and resilience. Eleanor Buckley advocates for Australia to adopt a similar approach to support mid-scale community energy projects.
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What a Decade of Outages Teaches Us About Where Resilience Must Begin
The article discusses the impact of extreme weather events on the electricity grid in the central United States, leading to longer and more consequential power outages as climate change intensifies. Counties with higher social vulnerability experienced more power outages, emphasizing the impact of social factors on outage burden. The analysis underscores the need for intentional resilience investments, such as community microgrids and decentralized energy systems, to reduce the impact of outages during extreme weather events. The data confirms the urgent need to address climate issues and points to where efforts should begin, prioritizing resilience and addressing inequities in grid design for the safety and stability of communities in the face of a hotter, stormier future.
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UK study finds azimuthal trackers boost floating PV performance
A University of Exeter study found that azimuthal tracking systems deliver the largest energy gains and lowest levelized cost of energy for floating solar PV plants in the UK, with a 26.9% increase in production compared to fixed systems. This makes floating solar a competitive option for marine-based renewable energy. Meanwhile, in the United States, Texas has become one of the top states for solar energy production due to its abundant sunlight, large land area, and decreasing costs of solar technology. The expansion of solar power in Texas is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
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38 Coastal, Remote, & Island Communities To Pursue Energy Reliability via Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project
The Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) is supporting various coastal, remote, and island communities across the United States in addressing their unique energy challenges. Through strategic energy planning, communities are working on projects to strengthen energy systems against extreme weather events, explore new local generation options, and design microgrids for outage protection. The program focuses on improving energy efficiency, lowering costs, incorporating renewable energy sources, and aligning with traditional values. ETIPP continues to expand its regional presence and assist communities in developing reliable and affordable energy systems to enhance resilience and security.
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First Solar Expands Its CdTe Solar Cell Footprint In The US
First Solar, a US firm, is expanding its operations to meet the demand for its CdTe solar cell technology, which has advantages in manufacturing costs and durability, leading to an increase in its share of the US utility-scale solar market. The US Department of Energy is promoting CdTe technology as a sustainable and economical form of photovoltaic technology, with a focus on efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, a research team at New York University developed a method to prevent damage to solar cells during manufacturing, increasing their electrical output by 13% and overall power generation. With supportive federal policies, the US solar industry could further benefit from advancements in CdTe technology, making solar energy the least expensive and fastest way to add power generation capacity to the nation's grid.