(Photo courtesy: Vivint Solar)
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less. Produced by Renewable Energy World and Tigercomm, This Week in Cleantech will air every Friday in the Factor This! podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts.
This week’s episode features Syris Valentine, who reported in Grist on private capital that has followed the Inflation Reduction Act.
This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Riley Neugebauer!
1. How China Came to Dominate the World in Solar Energy — The New York Times
China installed more solar panels last year than the U.S. has in its history, its wholesale prices for panels sold were slashed nearly in half, and exports of fully assembled panels climbed 38%, while its exports of key components almost doubled. This year, they plan to do more by accelerating solar farm construction, as well as wind and hydroelectric construction.
In contrast, Europe and the U.S. face higher electricity prices and regulatory hurdles. The Inflation Reduction Act helped the U.S. compete with the Chinese solar market, but Europe has fallen behind.
2. Emissions hit a record high in 2023. Blame hydropower — MIT Tech Review
Last year, the world added 20 GW of hydropower capacity, but the amount of electricity generated from hydropower fell due to drought across the globe. Climate-disrupting fossil fuels were used to fill the gap. In fact, 2023 saw energy-related carbon pollution grow by 1.1%, and hydropower’s shortfall accounted for 40% of that rise.
Global climate disruption will lead to more drought, less snowpack, and more variability in precipitation, which means we cannot rely on hydropower generation to remain consistent.
3. How changes to Hawaiʻi’s home battery program could hinder its clean energy transition — Grist
Hawaiian Electric plans to reduce incentives for households with home batteries when they deliver power to the grid during peak demand. The utility wants to integrate those batteries into a virtual power plant and subsidize household participation. But these new rates would pay battery owners less than the retail price of electricity.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
4. Does Rooftop Sola
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