When faced with increasing pace, consider slowing down

1.75C above preindustrial levels: that's the findings for January 2025 of the globe-watching Copernicus Climate Change Service. The Guardian said climate scientists were shocked, because they thought La Niña would have a cooling effect on the planet.

Various theories related to our complex multivariate world abound: for example, shipping companies switching to cleaner fuel in 2020 may have reduced the pollution in clouds that was actually reflecting significant heat from the sun back into space.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service, by the way, is a project of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and among their cool contributions is finding old paper weather records to digitize for model improvement and essential research in support of the Paris climate accords.

If these scientists are seeing things change faster than expected, what's a good way for us to respond? Smart thinker April Rinne says in her book Flux, paradoxically, to slow down.

In an excellent podcast interview with Ross Dawson, Rinne said "In a world where the pace of change is increasing externally, all the forces that are hitting us, we need to learn how to internally regulate our pace, slow down our pace. This way, we can not only minimize burnout, anxiety, fatigue, and all the rest, but also make better decisions, reduce the number of foolish mistakes we make, and see the full picture and what really matters."

This isn't about slowing down the urgent action that's clearly needed, it's about taking a deep breath and slowing down our thinking in order to improve it. Thinking long and hard about what the best next action could be in your work.

As another wise friend of mine once said: "This is reality and we're going to deal with it."

And now we offer you the best updates from around the green tech and sustainability world today. Email subscribers get 3 just for you.

-Marshall Kirkpatrick

Earth Catalyst: We provide thought leadership support systems and bespoke consulting for green tech and sustainability organizations.

 

Today and every day, our system scans over 1,000 green tech and sustainability organizations for updates. Below, you'll find:

• A Visual of the Day

• A digest-style Table of Contents for 160 selected updates from around the green tech and sustainability world

• (If you subscribe by email) 3 personalized selections just for you and your work

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Visual of the Day

Earth's Digital Twin

Climate and weather models are made up of thousands of 3-dimensional grid cells which are represented by mathematical equations that describe physical processes. From NOAA - visit it while you still can.

How do scientists model Earth's complex climate systems? This technical illustration shows how climate and weather models divide Earth into 3D grid cells - described in the article as "sort of like pixels that come together to make the big picture" - to compute everything from solar radiation to water flow.

While these models run complex physics on supercomputers, the Australian researchers explain there's still a fascinating challenge: teaching AI to predict climate conditions we've never seen before.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (14 stories) - Land rights conflicts span continents as FBN funds regenerative farming; Acen plans NSW solar-grazing; Australian seaweed cuts cow methane 70%; Indonesia converts forests; Mexico bans GM corn

  
  

• Carbon (11 stories) - Record heat despite La Niña, Danish carbon capture guide adds DAC, TerraFixing's container tech, as Hansen study warns of accelerated warming; WEF and AI scaling impacts assessed

• Circular (5 stories) - Modern Synthesis secures $5.5M for bacterial materials, Archive raises $30M for resale tech, while Amazon artisans repurpose fallen trees amid plastic recycling concerns

  
  

• Ecosystems (20 stories) - Habitat threats span Bangladesh wetlands, Montana sagebrush, Colorado forests and Ecuador's páramos, while TradeAware tackles deforestation monitoring and UNESCO sites face heat risks

  
  

• Efficiency (4 stories) - Tax credits drive mass home upgrades while Google, DOE and wind operators leverage AI and thermal storage for data center and grid optimization

  
  

• Finance (6 stories) - Banks' fossil-to-green ratio hits 0.89:1; $2.1T clean energy investment record; WEF Davos tackles nature finance; EU simplifies taxonomy rules

  
  

• Grid (16 stories) - Utilities explore nuclear expansion and SMRs in Arizona, while IONATE and Storion Energy advance grid tech; DTECH tackles AI power demands as virtual power plants gain ground through Leap and Australian leadership

  
  

• Indigenous (8 stories) - National Park Service's Sams steps down as partnerships grow with Pomo tribes, fire coalitions, and indigenous food programs from California to Mato Grosso

  
  

• Industry (15 stories) - Solar market volatility hits GCL and Enphase; Brimstone and Sublime Systems advance clean cement; DMEGC launches new TOPCon cells; major expansions from Indian solar firms; EU gets 15-point industrial plan; Exxon seeks Texas tax breaks; IKEA expands supplier renewables program

  
  

• Policy (37 stories) - Trump administration disrupts climate funding and regulations across USAID, DOE, EPA, and federal lands while G7 nations increase fossil fuel subsidies and UK, Australia advance nuclear plans

  
  

• Renewables (9 stories) - Record CIGS-perovskite efficiency, Danish solar mapping tool, Potentia's Australian renewables buy, Samsung's NSW solar-battery project, NJ wind setback, Turkish solar auction, Meta-Enel wind deal, DOE's GeoBridge launch, LEGO's solar expansion

  
  

• Transport (14 stories) - BYD overtakes Tesla in global EV sales while DHL partners with Neste on sustainable aviation fuel; Tesla Model Y remains bestseller despite price cuts and market challenges

Agriculture

Land rights conflicts span continents as FBN funds regenerative farming; Acen plans NSW solar-grazing; Australian seaweed cuts cow methane 70%; Indonesia converts forests; Mexico bans GM corn

• 2025 | January Newswrap: Updates from LVC members worldwide (Via Campesina) - Global peasant movement reports widespread land rights conflicts, violence against farmers, and food sovereignty initiatives across multiple continents in January 2025 monthly roundup.

• Cows eat seaweed, planet breathes easier (Yale Climate Connections) - Australian company develops seaweed feed supplement that reduces cow methane emissions by 70% through minimal dietary changes.

• Expected ban on Mexican GM corn fetches praise — and worry over imports (Mongabay) - Mexico set to constitutionally ban domestic GM corn production while continuing US imports, sparking concerns over native corn variety protection.

• Indonesia targets 2.3m hectares of protected forests for food & biofuel crop production (Mongabay) - Indonesia plans to convert 2.3m hectares of protected forests for food and biofuel production, sparking environmental concerns over biodiversity loss.

• Protestas de trabajadores agrícolas y aliados en una audiencia sobre pesticidas en California (Inside Climate News) - California farmworkers and allies protest at pesticide hearing, demanding stricter regulations on cancer-causing fumigant 1,3-D used in strawberry fields.

• Restoring Degraded Lands (Revolve) - Spanish farmers combat desertification in Andalusia through regenerative farming practices, as AlVelAl association leads landscape restoration project.

• Solar plus sheep plus massive battery: Agrivoltaic project seeks green tick for New England (RenewEconomy) - Philippines company Acen seeks approval for 320MW solar farm with 1,400MW battery in NSW's New England region, planning to combine sheep grazing between solar panels.

• The Social Tree (REVOLVE) - Spanish farmers combat climate change and rural exodus through regenerative agriculture practices in olive and almond farming, boosting soil health and local employment.

• Urgent action needed to ensure UK food security, report warns (The Guardian) - UK food security faces urgent threats from climate change, global instability, and trade disruptions, requiring immediate policy action and increased domestic production, warns new report.

• A Kenyan scientist/entrepreneur shares her journey through Deep Science Ventures’ alt-PhD program (AgFunderNews) - Kenyan scientist-entrepreneur Winnie Wambugu combines running seed potato startup Nakuru Tubers with Deep Science Ventures' alternative PhD program focused on agricultural innovation.

• María del Campo: The Image of Colombian Cacao at the International Theobroma for Peace Congress (CGIAR) - Colombian cacao farmer icon María del Campo represents sustainable chocolate production and women's leadership at International Theobroma for Peace Congress.

• New FBN pilot offers land loan rewards to farmers switching to regen ag practices (AgFunderNews) - Farmers Business Network launches pilot program offering discounted land loan rates to farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices, backed by $750,000 Walton Family Foundation investment.

• To Breed Heat-Proof Cows, Nigerian Farmers Source Brazilian Bull Genes (Yale E360) - Nigerian farmers importing Brazilian Girolando bull semen to breed heat-resistant, high-milk-yielding cattle for tropical climate adaptation.

• Veganism has deep roots in Japan’s history. It’s beginning to resurface. (Grist) - Japan's historical Buddhist-era veganism resurfaces amid climate concerns and tourism demands, despite deep cultural attachment to meat consumption.

Carbon

Record heat despite La Niña, Danish carbon capture guide adds DAC, TerraFixing's container tech, as Hansen study warns of accelerated warming; WEF and AI scaling impacts assessed

• ‘Unexpected’: January Breaks Temperature Record Globally, Startling Scientists (Earth.org) - January 2025 breaks global temperature records at 13.23°C despite La Niña cooling pattern, marking 18th month above 1.5°C pre-industrial levels.

• Carbon capture, transport and storage | Technology descriptions and projections for long-term energy system planning (Energy Central) - Danish Energy Agency releases comprehensive 2023 technology guide for carbon capture, transport and storage systems, including new chapter on Direct Air Capture.

• Carbon Removal Challenge Info Session: A conversation with Vida Gabriel PhD, Founder at TerraFixing! (OpenAirCollective) - TerraFixing founder discusses innovative shipping container-sized direct air carbon capture technology designed for cold climates in Carbon Removal Challenge webinar.

• Drying and rewetting cycles substantially increased soil CO2 release (ScienceDaily) - Japanese study finds soil drying-rewetting cycles increase CO2 emissions up to 3.7 times, raising concerns about climate change impacts on soil carbon release.

• Head in the Clouds: Photos Capture Views From the Top (Atmos) - Himalayan cloud formations documented in photo series reveal climate modeling challenges and water cycle importance for 800 million people.

• Is the World Getting Warmer Faster? (Heatmap News) - Climate scientist James Hansen's new study warns global warming is accelerating faster than models predict, forecasting over 2°C rise by 2045 due to reduced aerosol cooling effects.

• Reflections from Davos: Scaling Carbon Markets with Innovation and Action (Rubicon Carbon) - World Economic Forum highlights AI-driven carbon market scaling and need for immediate action in global climate initiatives.

• The emissions risks of AI data center buildout (WattTime) - AI data center expansion could consume up to 12% of US electricity by 2028, risking 180M tonnes of annual CO2 emissions without strategic clean energy planning.

• What’s the difference between climate and weather models? It all comes down to chaos (The Conversation) - Weather and climate models use identical physics-based principles but differ in prediction goals, with weather focused on short-term accuracy and climate on long-term patterns.

• Why personal climate action matters – according to experts (The Conversation) - Experts explain how individual climate actions create ripple effects through social influence and complement larger systemic changes, despite corporate attempts to shift blame to consumers.

• Scientists simulate asteroid collision effects on climate and plants (ScienceDaily) - Climate model shows medium-sized asteroid strike would cause 4°C cooling and marine algae blooms while disrupting terrestrial plant growth for 3-4 years.

Circular

Modern Synthesis secures $5.5M for bacterial materials, Archive raises $30M for resale tech, while Amazon artisans repurpose fallen trees amid plastic recycling concerns

• Bags… from bacteria? Modern Synthesis raises $5.5m to expand biomaterials platform (AgFunderNews) - London biotech startup Modern Synthesis raises $5.5m to scale production of bacteria-based nanocellulose materials for sustainable luxury fashion.

• Bringing Life to Materials to Replace Plastics and Leather: Why We Invested in Modern Synthesis (Medium) - London biotech startup Modern Synthesis raises $5.5M to scale production of bacterial nanocellulose as sustainable leather and plastic alternative for fashion industry.

• Handcrafted woodwork helps save an Amazonian reserve, one tree at a time (Mongabay) - Brazilian Amazon community transforms fallen trees into artisanal woodwork, providing sustainable income for 18 families in Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve while combating deforestation pressures.

• Resale Tech Platform Archive Raises $30 Million to Reduce Environmental Impact of Retail (ESGtoday) - Circular economy startup Archive raises $30M Series B funding to expand its retail resale platform helping brands reduce environmental impact through secondhand sales.

• The ‘recycled’ plastic in your shoes, shirts, and bags? It’s still destined for the landfill. (Grist) - Plastic products marketed as 'recycled' are actually being downcycled into non-recyclable items destined for landfills, challenging industry claims about plastic recycling.

Ecosystems

Habitat threats span Bangladesh wetlands, Montana sagebrush, Colorado forests and Ecuador's páramos, while TradeAware tackles deforestation monitoring and UNESCO sites face heat risks

• Better government policies could help as migratory birds lose habitat in Bangladesh (Mongabay) - Bangladesh's migratory bird populations face steep decline due to habitat loss from livestock grazing, duck farming and mangrove plantations in key wetland areas.

• Burning for Better in Southwest Montana (Fire Networks) - Montana rancher partners with state agencies for 1,300-acre prescribed burn project to restore sagebrush habitat and reduce wildfire risk in Mill Gulch.

• Fireforest: A New Film on Forest Management and Wildfire (FireNetworks) - New documentary "Fireforest" showcases how prescribed burns and forest thinning successfully protected Colorado communities during 2020 Cameron Peak Fire.

• In Ecuador, a mountain shrub could hold the key to restoring a precious ecosystem (Mongabay) - Ecuador's first frailejon nursery aims to restore threatened páramo ecosystem and water security through pioneering propagation of endemic mountain shrub.

• LiveEO | Meet us at Deforestation-Free Summit 2025 (LiveEO) - Company to showcase satellite-based deforestation monitoring solution TradeAware at UK summit for EU Deforestation Regulation compliance.

• Mapped: How ‘natural’ world heritage sites are threatened by climate extremes (Carbon Brief) - Nearly all UNESCO natural world heritage sites face extreme heat threats by 2100 under high-warming scenarios, with tropical regions most at risk.

• Nature-Positive Development and Generous Urban Design (Gonzaga Climate Institute) - CEO Juliet Sinisterra outlines Spokane University District's nature-positive urban development strategy incorporating ecosystem services and biophysical boundaries in city planning.

• On the edge: Massachusetts home at peril of tumbling into bay from erosion (The Guardian) - Massachusetts oceanfront home worth millions faces imminent collapse into Cape Cod Bay due to accelerated coastal erosion from climate change.

• Reef Madness (Bluedot Living) - USC scientist proposes controversial plan to save Caribbean coral reefs by introducing foreign species as native corals face extinction from rising ocean temperatures.

• SOA and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy Launch the Ocean Leaders Fellowship (SOA) - Sustainable Ocean Alliance launches Ocean Leaders Fellowship program for 40 young professionals, offering leadership training and UN conference access through partnership with Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

• SOA to Co-Host the 2025 Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit in South Korea (SOA) - Sustainable Ocean Alliance to co-host 2025 Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit in Busan, South Korea, focusing on youth-led ocean sustainability solutions.

• Why is this endangered dolphin being killed to make “love perfumes”? | Wild Targets (Mongabay) - Endangered pink river dolphins in the Amazon are being illegally killed for their oil to make "pusanga" love perfumes, driven by cultural myths and urban shamans.

• Birds of a Feather Talk Together (Nautilus) - Research reveals migratory songbirds communicate across species during night flights, using vocal signals to potentially share navigation information.

• It seems the end of everything is upon us. Is no one coming to our rescue. How about … the molluscs?! | First Dog on the Moon (The Guardian) - Polish scientists use molluscs as natural water pollution monitors to protect public water supplies.

• A cattle ranch is the unlikely scene for saving a fox found only in Brazil (Mongabay) - Brazilian cattle ranch becomes unlikely sanctuary for endangered hoary fox through innovative conservation project combining research and community engagement.

• How citizen science is shaping international conservation (The Conversation) - Global citizen science initiatives transform conservation policy through data collection and monitoring, from local air quality improvements to international biodiversity frameworks.

• Oregon wildlife crossings gain momentum (Environment America) - Oregon legislators consider wildlife crossing bill with strong public support to reduce animal-vehicle collisions across state's 70,000 miles of roads.

• Predators are running out of prey. Cracking down on poaching is an effective counteroffensive (Anthropocene) - Research shows increased anti-poaching patrols in Zambia could double lion populations within a decade by protecting prey species from bushmeat hunters.

• World’s smallest otter makes comeback in Nepal after 185 years (Mongabay) - Asian small-clawed otter confirmed in Nepal for first time since 1839, marking significant conservation milestone for world's smallest otter species.

• Water is the other US-Mexico border crisis, and the supply crunch is getting worse (The Conversation) - US-Mexico border faces severe water crisis as climate change and population growth strain shared rivers and aquifers, threatening 30 million residents.

Efficiency

Tax credits drive mass home upgrades while Google, DOE and wind operators leverage AI and thermal storage for data center and grid optimization

• 2.3 million families used efficiency tax credit to reduce energy costs in 2023 (Environment America) - 2.3 million American families utilized home efficiency tax credits in 2023, saving average $130 annually while reducing peak electric demand equivalent to five large power plants.

• Are We Smart Enough to Curb AI’s Environmental Impacts? (Climate One) - Google's sustainability chief and ethics expert discuss AI's surging energy and water consumption amid rapid growth, exploring solutions for environmental impact reduction.

• Reducing Data Center Peak Cooling Demand and Energy Costs With Underground Thermal Energy Storage (CleanTechnica) - DOE-funded project explores underground thermal energy storage to reduce data center cooling costs and peak energy demands while improving grid resilience.

• Smart monitoring is the key to unlocking more value from wind energy (Renewable Energy World) - Advanced analytics and AI-powered smart monitoring systems enable wind farms to optimize maintenance, reduce downtime, and maximize energy production through predictive maintenance.

Finance

Banks' fossil-to-green ratio hits 0.89:1; $2.1T clean energy investment record; WEF Davos tackles nature finance; EU simplifies taxonomy rules

• Banks improving clean energy finance ratios, still well short of net-zero pace: report (BloombergNEF) - Global banks' low-carbon to fossil fuel financing ratio improves to 0.89:1 in 2023 but remains far below 4:1 target needed for climate goals.

• Energy Transition Investment Soars to $2.1 Trillion in 2024 (BloombergNEF) - Global energy transition investment hits record $2.1 trillion in 2024, led by electrified transport, renewable energy, and power grids, though falling short of $5.6 trillion annual target needed for net-zero goals.

• King Energy Receives Breakout Cleantech Company Award (King Energy) - Colorado cleantech firm wins Breakout Company Award for innovative commercial solar roof rental model generating $110M in property value while avoiding 16,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

• Threading the line between risk and opportunity, sectoral transitions and a health check-in: top nature headlines during Davos in 2025 (Nature4Climate) - World Economic Forum's 2025 Davos meeting spotlights nature finance and corporate climate action, with only 10% of major companies showing tangible progress on climate and biodiversity goals.

• WE ARE HIRING: Manager, Innovation and Pipeline Development (Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance) - Organization seeks manager to develop sustainable coastal investment initiatives and expand ocean nature protection projects.

• EU Platform on Sustainable Finance Releases Proposals to Reduce EU Taxonomy Reporting Burden by a Third (ESG Today) - EU Platform on Sustainable Finance proposes one-third reduction in taxonomy reporting requirements to simplify sustainability disclosure framework.

Grid

Utilities explore nuclear expansion and SMRs in Arizona, while IONATE and Storion Energy advance grid tech; DTECH tackles AI power demands as virtual power plants gain ground through Leap and Australian leadership

• Arizona Utilities Announce Effort to Add More In-State Nuclear Power (PowerMag) - Arizona's three major utilities launch joint initiative to explore nuclear power expansion, including SMRs and large reactors at retired coal plant sites, targeting operation by early 2040s.

• Australia tops ranks in VPP readiness, but lags on smart meters (RenewEconomy) - Australia ranks first globally in virtual power plant readiness but falls behind in smart meter adoption and regulatory frameworks needed to maximize distributed energy resources.

• DTECH event focused on data centers and AI opens registration (Renewable Energy World) - DTECH conference in San José to address AI data centers' growing power demands and grid reliability challenges, opening registration for May 2025.

• Enhancing grid resiliency with solid dielectric switchgear (Renewable Energy World) - Solid dielectric switchgear emerges as key technology for enhancing grid resilience through maintenance-free operation and environmental benefits compared to traditional oil and gas-insulated alternatives.

• Georgia Power to Keep Coal, Gas Power Plants Running Longer as Demand Climbs (PowerMag) - Georgia Power extends coal and gas plant operations into late 2030s, citing surging electricity demand from industrial growth and grid reliability concerns.

• IONATE Raises $17 Million to Help Grids Meet Decarbonization and AI Needs (ESGToday) - UK startup IONATE raises $17M Series A funding to develop smart transformer technology and software for modernizing power grids to handle increased renewable energy and AI demands.

• Is your business helping future energy? (BusinessGreen) - SSE outlines how businesses can support UK grid resilience through demand flexibility services and smart energy management as power system evolves toward net zero.

• New Flow Battery Venture Joins Red & Blue States In Common Cause (CleanTechnica) - Georgia and Massachusetts firms launch Storion Energy venture offering leased vanadium electrolyte to reduce flow battery costs for utility-scale renewable energy storage.

• New York could reach 8.5 GW of grid flexibility in 2040 zero-emissions scenario: Brattle Group (Utility Dive) - New York could achieve 8.5 GW of grid flexibility from EVs, HVAC systems and distributed energy by 2040 under zero-emissions scenario, says Brattle Group study.

• Rarely used oil, coal helped power New England during recent cold snap (EIA) - New England relied on rarely-used oil and coal power plants during January cold snap as natural gas supplies tightened, supplemented by nuclear and Canadian imports.

• Virtual power plant company Leap recognizes opportunity in the PJM market (Renewable Energy World) - Virtual power plant company Leap enters PJM market to enable distributed energy resource participation and grid balancing through automated software platform.

• Why is my Con Edison bill so high? (Brooklyn SolarWorks) - Con Edison customers face continued electricity rate hikes with 9.1% increase in 2023 and additional increases planned through 2026, driven by infrastructure upgrades and clean energy initiatives.

• Wind droughts show the need for low-carbon flexible generation (Drax) - UK's recent wind droughts expose urgent need for low-carbon flexible power generation as gas dependency poses price, security and climate risks.

• ARIES: Energy Solutions at Any Scale (CleanTechnica) - NREL engineer Annabelle Pratt leads ARIES platform development for testing grid-scale energy solutions, enabling utilities to evaluate distributed energy systems before deployment.

• BC Hydro launches ‘major’ seismic upgrades at Ladore Dam (Renewable Energy World) - BC Hydro begins $379M seismic upgrade project at Ladore Dam to ensure post-earthquake reliability and safety through 2029.

• LiveEO | Meet us at Distributech 2025 (LiveEO) - Satellite intelligence company to showcase Treeline vegetation management solution for power grid monitoring at Distributech 2025 in Dallas.

Indigenous

National Park Service's Sams steps down as partnerships grow with Pomo tribes, fire coalitions, and indigenous food programs from California to Mato Grosso

• 2024: A Year of Growth and Connection for the Fire Networks (Fire Networks) - National fire management coalition reports expanded training programs, indigenous partnerships, and community resilience initiatives across US in 2024, reaching over 1000 practitioners.

• Alimentação tradicional nas escolas de Mato Grosso gera renda e fortalece cultura, saúde e meio ambiente (ISA) - Traditional foods in Mato Grosso schools boost income, strengthen indigenous culture, and promote environmental sustainability through local sourcing program.

• Celebrating 10 Years of the Blog! (Fire Networks) - Fire adaptation and resilience blog celebrates 10 years of community knowledge sharing with over 680 published stories from practitioners worldwide.

• Community Weaving for Eco-Cultural Restoration: Partnering with Tribes in Lake County, CA (Fire Networks) - California nonprofit partners with Pomo tribes to restore Lake County watersheds through traditional ecological knowledge and community-based workshops.

• Engaging Communities with Prescribed Fire: Lessons Learned from PBA Outreach in Fire-Prone Areas (Fire Networks) - California's Watershed Center shares lessons from prescribed burn outreach workshops, emphasizing trauma-informed communication and community engagement in fire-prone areas.

• Indian villages seek to protect ecosystem by opting out of state’s development push (Mongabay) - Two Indian villages petition for eco-sensitive status to protect biodiversity-rich Western Ghats ecosystems from tourism and infrastructure development.

• The Indian education of Charles Sams (High Country News) - First Indigenous National Park Service Director Charles Sams III reflects on traditional Native education and his work integrating Indigenous perspectives into national parks before stepping down.

• The Warmth That Keeps Us Coming Back (Fire Networks) - Fire leader reflects on importance of hospitality and human connection in firefighting culture amid growing health concerns for firefighters exposed to smoke and carcinogens.

Industry

Solar market volatility hits GCL and Enphase; Brimstone and Sublime Systems advance clean cement; DMEGC launches new TOPCon cells; major expansions from Indian solar firms; EU gets 15-point industrial plan; Exxon seeks Texas tax breaks; IKEA expands supplier renewables program

• China Solar PV News Snippets: GCL SI Forecasts 65% YoY Drop In Profits & More (TaiyangNews) - GCL System Integration forecasts 49-65% profit drop for 2024 despite revenue growth, citing industry oversupply and falling solar product prices.

• Clean cement startup Brimstone can make another key material: alumina (Canary Media) - Clean cement startup Brimstone develops process to produce domestic alumina from carbon-free rocks while maintaining cement production capabilities.

• Disease surges in Indonesia community on frontline of world energy transition (Mongabay) - Respiratory infections surge 24-fold near Indonesia's Weda Bay nickel industrial park as local residents report worsening air quality and environmental degradation.

• DMEGC’s Advanced TOPCon Cell-Based Multi-Application Modules (TaiyangNews) - DMEGC unveils advanced TOPCon solar cells with edge passivation technology and specialized anti-glare modules for airports and agrivoltaic applications.

• Exxon is quietly planning a new $8.6 billion plastics plant in Texas (Grist) - Exxon seeks $250M in tax breaks for $8.6B Texas plastics plant amid local environmental concerns and global plastic reduction efforts.

• Focused Energy, Livermore Lab Join in Support of Fusion Research (POWER Magazine) - Focused Energy partners with Lawrence Livermore Lab to develop fusion fuel simulation model under DOE's INFUSE project, aiming to optimize commercial fusion power production.

• IKEA Expands Program to Support Suppliers’ Switch to 100% Renewable Energy (ESGToday) - IKEA expands renewable electricity program to 14 new countries including US, aiming to help suppliers achieve 100% renewable energy across value chain by 2030.

• India Solar PV News Snippets: Jupiter To Expand Solar Cells & Module Capacity & More (TaiyangNews) - Multiple Indian solar companies announce major expansions including Jupiter's $237M cell/module facility and Welspun's $1.55B floating solar project in Odisha.

• Joint Letter for the Clean Industrial Deal to Deliver on Decarbonisation & Competitiveness (CleanTechnica) - Alliance of 16 organizations proposes 15-point plan to EU Commission for Clean Industrial Deal to boost European cleantech manufacturing and industrial decarbonization.

• Sublime System’s first commercial deployment by WS Development (Latitude Media) - WS Development completes first commercial deployment of Sublime Systems' low-carbon cement in Boston office building, demonstrating viability of novel decarbonization technology.

• TCL TZE & Maxeon Solar Technologies To Collaborate On MAX8 Technology (TaiyangNews) - TCL TZE acquires Maxeon's Philippines manufacturing subsidiary for $58.6M while partnering on next-gen MAX8 solar technology development.

• The first commercial construction project for low-carbon cement (The Green Blueprint) - Boston's largest net-zero office building pioneers first commercial use of Sublime Systems' low-carbon cement in major construction project.

• Three influential voices reunite for Open Circuit (Latitude Media) - Former Energy Gang podcast hosts Jigar Shah, Katherine Hamilton, and Stephen Lacey launch new weekly show 'Open Circuit' to decode energy transition developments.

• Enphase Energy Meets Revenue Guidance For Q4 2024 (TaiyangNews) - Enphase Energy reports $382.7M Q4 2024 revenue driven by US market growth, while European demand softens.

• LiveEO | Meet us at Decarbon2025 (LiveEO) - Satellite monitoring company to showcase SurfaceScout pipeline monitoring solution at Berlin's DECARBON 2025 oil and gas decarbonization congress.

Policy

Trump administration disrupts climate funding and regulations across USAID, DOE, EPA, and federal lands while G7 nations increase fossil fuel subsidies and UK, Australia advance nuclear plans

• ‘How can ordinary people push the government of Mexico to follow the Paris Agreement?’ (Yale Climate Connections) - Mexican citizens achieve climate action through local initiatives like Huatulco's successful eco-tourism model rather than direct federal pressure on Paris Agreement compliance.

• ‘Really worried’: flood-weary north Queensland prepares for more rain as Albanese and army arrive (The Guardian) - North Queensland braces for more flooding as PM Albanese and army arrive with emergency support while two deaths confirmed and one person missing.

• “No future”: Climate projects face existential threat after Trump’s aid shutdown (Climate Home News) - Trump administration freezes USAID funding, threatening $500 million in annual climate projects and grants for developing nations.

• A Key Federal Agency Has Stopped Approving New Renewables Projects (Heatmap News) - Army Corps of Engineers halts permitting for 168 renewable energy projects nationwide pending Trump administration feedback on executive order.

• Augusta communities speak out against Solvay chemical plant expansion (Southern Environmental Law Center) - Augusta residents protest Solvay chemical plant expansion over increased toxic emissions in predominantly Black community already facing high pollution levels.

• California wildfire fund at risk of depletion over possible utility link to Eaton Fire (Renewable Energy World) - California's $21 billion wildfire fund faces potential depletion as utility equipment suspected in devastating Eaton Fire.

• Clean air policies having unintended impact driving up wetland methane emissions by up to 34 million tons (ScienceDaily) - Clean air policies reducing sulphur pollution inadvertently boost wetland methane emissions by up to 34 million tons annually, requiring stricter human emission controls.

• Clean energy stakeholders descend on Capitol to lobby for IRA tax credits (Utility Dive) - Solar and clean energy industry groups lobby Congress to protect IRA tax credits amid potential budget cuts.

• Directive From New Interior Secretary Weakens Public Land Protections to Push Fossil Fuels (Inside Climate News) - New Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issues directive weakening public land protections and environmental regulations to expand fossil fuel development on federal lands.

• EPA Is for “Extreme Pollution Agency”: Moms Make News (Moms Clean Air Force) - Environmental advocates warn EPA under new administrator Lee Zeldin risks becoming "Extreme Pollution Agency" amid rollback of clean air protections.

• Escape Into the Story: Three Longform Reads for Your Weekend (Fire Networks) - Three longform StoryMaps explore wilderness fire management, Texas wildfire resilience, and fire adaptation partnerships through interactive digital storytelling.

• Fossil fuel subsidies now more than $A2 trillion just in G7 countries (RenewEconomy) - G7 nations' fossil fuel subsidies surge 15% to $A2 trillion since 2016, breaking pledge to phase out by 2025.

• Keir Starmer unveils plan for large nuclear expansion across England and Wales (The Guardian) - Labour PM Keir Starmer announces major nuclear power expansion plan across England and Wales, including small modular reactors for AI datacentres by 2032.

• Lawsuit Challenges Federal Approvals for New Oil, Gas Drilling on California Public Lands (Friends of the Earth) - Environmental groups sue U.S. Bureau of Land Management over approval of 29 new oil drilling permits in California's San Joaquin Valley, citing public health and environmental concerns.

• Legislative Leaders Announce Bills to Protect New Yorkers from Exposure to Dangerous PFAS (NRDC) - New York legislators announce five bills to ban PFAS chemicals in consumer products, water, and air following Trump administration's withdrawal of EPA restrictions.

• LiveEO | CMS and LiveEO Publish In-Depth Guide on EUDR Legality (LiveEO) - Law firm CMS and satellite analytics company LiveEO release comprehensive guide helping companies navigate EU Deforestation Regulation compliance requirements.

• LiveEO | EUDR Legal Requirements and Best Practices - The Ultimate Guide (LiveEO) - New comprehensive guide details legal requirements and compliance strategies for EU Deforestation Regulation, focusing on supply chain documentation and risk mitigation.

• LiveEO | Webinar: EUDR for Palm Oil: Leveraging Compliance for Business Growth (LiveEO) - Webinar offers palm oil industry professionals strategies to leverage EU deforestation regulation compliance for business growth and market advantage.

• Living with Smoke in the Greater Yellowstone (Fire Networks) - Greater Yellowstone Fire Action Network develops community smoke-ready plans to help residents manage health impacts during wildfire season through monitoring, communication, and clean air spaces.

• LPO’s next chapter is taking shape (Latitude Media) - Trump administration shifts DOE's $400B Loan Programs Office focus to nuclear and gas while threatening Biden-era clean energy loan commitments.

• Mid-Atlantic States Prepare for More Billion-Dollar Disasters as Trump Considers Cutting Emergency Funding (Inside Climate News) - Mid-Atlantic states prepare for increasing billion-dollar weather disasters amid Trump's threats to cut FEMA emergency funding and climate programs.

• North Carolina launches first-ever statewide electrification incentives (Canary Media) - North Carolina launches $208 million statewide home electrification rebate program targeting low-income households, despite potential Trump administration challenges.

• Oregon Climate Action Commission to Meet Virtually on February 14, 2025 (Oregon Energy) - Oregon Climate Action Commission schedules virtual meeting to discuss transportation legislation, climate bills, and natural lands policy on February 14.

• Renewable energy land rush needs fewer cowboys, more sheriffs (RenewEconomy) - Australia's renewable energy industry needs stricter regulations and professional standards for land agents negotiating with property owners for energy projects.

• Reports: Ministers considering relaxing planning rules to accelerate small modular reactor rollout (BusinessGreen) - UK ministers plan to relax planning rules to speed up deployment of small modular nuclear reactors across more locations.

• San Francisco’s 100% Renewable Electricity Ordinance: What to Do If You’re Not Yet in Compliance (Gridium) - San Francisco mandates large commercial buildings switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2030, with buildings over 250,000 sq ft already required to comply.

• The Carbon Brief interview: Prof Wang Can (Carbon Brief) - Leading Chinese climate expert Prof Wang Can discusses China's carbon neutrality progress, emphasizing action over declarations and highlighting developing nations' climate ambitions.

• The Impact of Investments in Wildfire Smoke Mitigation Efforts (Fire Networks) - Multiple western U.S. communities receive funding for wildfire smoke mitigation projects, establishing clean air spaces and distributing HEPA filters to vulnerable populations.

• The Lights Are Out at EPA Region 4 (CleanEnergy.org) - EPA Region 4 files minimal comments on 122-mile Enbridge gas pipeline expansion to Kingston plant, raising safety concerns from environmental groups.

• The scramble to save critical climate data from Trump’s war on DEI (Grist) - Scientists and academics race to preserve critical environmental justice data and tools as Trump administration rapidly removes climate and DEI resources from federal websites.

• Trump’s funding pause clouds future of Solar For All Program (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Trump administration's funding freeze threatens $7 billion Solar For All Program's rollout to low-income communities, sparking legal challenges from states and nonprofits.

• US scientists feeling ‘stress and fear’ as sweeping Trump orders hit funding (The Guardian) - US scientists report widespread disruption to research funding and fear academic restrictions following Trump executive orders affecting federal grants and DEI programs.

• Utilities await clarity on DOE loans as decisive court battle looms (Utility Dive) - Trump administration's freeze on $23 billion in DOE utility loans creates uncertainty for clean energy projects and grid modernization efforts across 12 states.

• What’s at stake for the environment in Ecuador’s upcoming election? (Mongabay) - Ecuador's presidential election pits incumbent Noboa against González, with both candidates prioritizing security and economy over environmental concerns while supporting continued resource extraction.

• Finding Hope and Connection in Cynical Times (Stanford) - Psychology professor Jamil Zaki discusses social connection research and strategies for building hope in cynical times during UMass Week of Wellbeing lecture.

• Share Your Thoughts on the Future of Downtown Granville Street (Vancouver.ca) - City launches public consultation on 20-year plan to transform downtown Granville Street into pedestrian-friendly entertainment district with increased density and cultural spaces.

• Vietnam faces scrutiny for not sharing enough data on rhino horn trade (Mongabay) - Vietnam under CITES scrutiny for inadequate data sharing on rhino horn seizures and lack of DNA sample exchanges with South Africa.

Renewables

Record CIGS-perovskite efficiency, Danish solar mapping tool, Potentia's Australian renewables buy, Samsung's NSW solar-battery project, NJ wind setback, Turkish solar auction, Meta-Enel wind deal, DOE's GeoBridge launch, LEGO's solar expansion

• ‘World Record’ For CIGS-Perovskite Tandem Cell With 24.6% Efficiency (TaiyangNews) - German researchers achieve 24.6% certified efficiency for CIGS-perovskite tandem solar cell, setting new world record for this technology.

• Denmark Launches New Rooftop Solar Potential Assessment Tool (TaiyangNews) - Denmark launches virtual mapping tool to assess optimal rooftop solar potential using elevation, meteorological and building data.

• Italian and Japanese energy giants snap up landmark Australian wind, solar and battery assets (RenewEconomy) - Italian-Japanese joint venture Potentia Energy acquires 1.2GW Australian renewable portfolio including landmark wind, solar and battery assets from super funds.

• Korea industrial giant plans solar and two battery projects in south west NSW (RenewEconomy) - Samsung plans 250MW solar farm with two large battery storage projects totaling 1400MWh near Hay, NSW, targeting new transmission link between NSW and South Australia.

• New Jersey nixes plans for fourth wind farm award (Renewable Energy World) - New Jersey cancels fourth offshore wind farm solicitation after Shell's withdrawal and Trump administration's permit freeze impacts wind energy goals.

• Turkey Awards 800 MW Solar Capacity In Latest YEKA Auction (TaiyangNews) - Turkey awards 800MW solar capacity across six provinces in latest YEKA auction, requiring 75% local panel content and offering $0.0325/kWh feed-in tariff for 20 years.

• Enel, Meta Announce PPA for Oklahoma Wind Farm (PowerMag) - Enel North America signs third PPA with Meta for 115MW portion of Oklahoma's Rockhaven wind farm to power data centers.

• Introducing GeoBridge, a New Launch Point for Geothermal Information (CleanTechnica) - DOE and NREL launch GeoBridge web portal to provide centralized access to geothermal energy information, resources, and opportunities for diverse stakeholders.

• LEGO Group Plans to Increase its Use of Solar Energy by More than 70% in 2025 (ESGToday) - LEGO Group announces 72% solar capacity expansion across global production sites in 2025, advancing towards net-zero emissions goals.

Transport

BYD overtakes Tesla in global EV sales while DHL partners with Neste on sustainable aviation fuel; Tesla Model Y remains bestseller despite price cuts and market challenges

• 23% Plugin Vehicle Share in Europe — EV Sales Report (CleanTechnica) - European electric vehicle market maintains 23% market share in 2024 despite German incentive cuts, with Tesla Model Y leading sales.

• BYD #1 In World In Plugin Vehicle Sales In 2023 (CleanTechnica) - BYD surpasses Tesla to become world's largest plugin vehicle manufacturer in 2023, delivering 483,000 units in December alone - double Tesla's output.

• BYD Becomes 3rd Best Selling Auto Brand in World! (CHART) (CleanTechnica) - Chinese automaker BYD rises to world's third-best-selling car brand in 2024, growing 41.6% year-over-year while selling only electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

• DHL to Purchase 375 Million Liters of SAF from Neste per Year by 2030 (ESGToday) - DHL signs major deal with Neste to purchase 375 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2030, supporting its net-zero logistics goal.

• Get Your EV Tax Credit While It’s Still Functional (Heatmap News) - Federal EV tax credit program continues operating normally despite Trump administration's attempts to curtail clean energy initiatives.

• Hydrogen Buses Hurt The People They Are Meant To Help (CleanTechnica) - Hydrogen buses prove costlier and less reliable than electric alternatives, leading to reduced service quality and higher emissions while disproportionately impacting low-income transit users.

• India’s EV dilemma: Charging ahead or stuck in neutral? (Energy Central) - India's EV adoption remains slow despite incentives, with charging infrastructure gaps, high costs, and safety concerns deterring widespread consumer acceptance.

• SCOA Sponsors Syzygy Plasmonics’ Pilot Program to Demonstrate Sustainable Fuels Production System (Evok Innovations) - SCOA sponsors Syzygy Plasmonics' pilot program to convert greenhouse gases into sustainable transportation fuels at RTI facility.

• Voltloader Trials Electric Trucks with Sunswap Refrigeration for Sainsbury’s Deliveries (Sunswap) - UK retailer Sainsbury's trials fully electric refrigerated delivery trucks using solar-powered cooling technology in partnership with Voltloader and Strawson Ltd.

• Weakening Fuel Economy Standards Will Cost You More Money (NRDC) - Trump administration's plan to weaken CAFE fuel economy standards would increase consumer fuel costs while benefiting oil companies, contradicting claims about vehicle affordability.

• World EV Sales Report — 17.2 Million Plugins Were Sold in 2024! (CleanTechnica) - Global plugin vehicle sales reached 17.2 million units in 2024, capturing 22% market share with Tesla Model Y leading at 1.2 million deliveries.

• Millions of animals die on roads – does this make driving morally wrong? (The Conversation) - Study examines ethical implications of driving's massive toll on wildlife, questioning moral justification of car use when alternatives exist.

• News on Tesla’s New Factories in Mexico, India, & Netherlands to Build 4 Million Cars a Year (CleanTechnica) - Tesla's planned expansion to build 4 million cars annually through new factories in Mexico, India, and Netherlands fails to materialize amid sales decline.

• Tesla Already Dropping Prices on Model 3 & Cybertruck in 2025 (CleanTechnica) - Tesla cuts Model 3 and Cybertruck prices amid declining sales, offering up to $5,500 in combined discounts and reduced monthly lease payments.