Exciting sustainable developments

... I dunno if I'm going to be able to keep up with the changes coming out. Go Ford!

"Ford released an all-new electric crate motor for DIY enthusiasts who want to build their EV dream car or truck. To show off one of the many possibilities of this $3,900 EV engine, Ford debuted a custom 1978 F-100 pickup highlighting just how capable its e-crate engine can be.

Forget Tesla. Build your own EV dream car with Ford"

https://www.reviewgeek.com/102215/f...gCt1ZDt_4XQCV6Joj--6n8lcwM#Echobox=1637125218

 

She's launched and operational ... autonomous is interesting. No crew required, which is pretty much the way of the future - already there in most manufacturing and mining.

"Zero emissions and, soon, zero crew: the world's first fully electric autonomous cargo vessel was unveiled in Norway, a small but promising step toward reducing the maritime industry's climate footprint."

https://techxplore.com/news/2021-11...SFv-PO0mwn5y6RU8kTIq3iMjTqsT6JdiONDjYQX7uDTYY

 

Yep - technology advancements are occurring thick and fast

A new type of charging cable could charge electric cars in 5 minutes — way less than Tesla's Superchargers

 

Okay - it was only for short-ish periods on one day, and included major industrial operation demand - but this is a fantastic start. Now they need to work on storage for those times when the sun ain't shining and the wind ain't blowing ... and replace the very small amount of "on demand" gas used with green hydrogen gas

Rooftop solar helps send South Australia grid to zero demand in world first

 

Geothermal power readily available in Australia ... who would've thought. Bet the coal mine sitting on top was desperate to keep it secret ...

There's an enormous geothermal pool under the Latrobe Valley that can give us cheap, clean energy

 

Super exciting ... hubby used to work with most of the people in this episode, and is now working on green hydrogen steel processes

The Tipping Point | Veena Sahajwalla

 

I'm a huge fan of Hemp. Can be used for everything from clothing and linen to building materials and packaging

A new building in France makes the case for hemp to replace concrete

 

Not sure where I'd put the two dogs, groceries and surfboard tho

Lithium-carbon battery tech enables an e-moped to recharge in 90 seconds

 

I do wonder how noisy it is ... but imagine the power it could generate in industrial sites, on train lines and along motorways

"Wind turbine wall" turns power generation into an aesthetic feature

 

This is why I'd holding off things like a new car or additional solar panels ... technology is ramping up, with costs coming down

An active phase of a catalyst based on amorphous iridium hydroxide exhibited efficiency 150 times that of its original perovskite structure and close to three orders of magnitude better than the common commercial catalyst, iridium oxide

“We found at least two groups of materials that undergo irreversible changes that turned out to be significantly better catalysts for hydrogen production,” Feng said. “This can help us produce hydrogen at $2 per kilogram and eventually $1 per kilogram ..."

One production gets below $1/kg, it's cheaper than fossils to produce ... next stage ... shipping

Advanced Catalysts for Clean Hydrogen Production Developed

 

A site to bring you joy or get your blood boiling depending on the action or inaction.

RenewEconomy

 

Yep - government just needs to get out of the way

 

Not "new" new technology, be great to see it implemented ... Australia with a few of those abandoned coal mines available in the near future

Kentucky Coal Mine Converted to Giant Energy Storage Project

 

And they said it couldn't be done.

"South Australia set an impressive new renewable energy record in the final days of 2021, with the state’s solar and wind farms and rooftop solar systems supplying an average of just over 100% of local demand every day for a period of almost one week.

The unprecedented uninterrupted stretch of 100%-plus renewable energy output in South Australia was documented by data analyst Geoff Eldridge at NEMlog. Eldridge confirms that the state’s renewables share averaged slightly over 100% of demand (101%) for a period of 156 hours, or 6.5 days, ending on Wednesday December 29."

South Australia sets smashing new renewables record in final days of 2021

 

The past decade has seen stunning change. The next 10 years will be breathtaking

 

Reminds me of a discussion I had once with a person who was researching AI and robotics for many years. He basically said we are conservative and while we have done proof of concept, we overestimate how long an idea will take to get to production. Usually we suggest 10 years but there is always someone who takes up the technology, runs with it and, bingo, it's two to five years.

National Electricity Market dashboard.

NEM data dashboard

Sadly the ACT is so inconsequential we don't even make the list!. However, we have achieved something. Go Canberra!! Yippee.

"The ACT's 100% renewable electricity target
In 2020, the ACT achieved its goal to source 100% of its electricity from renewable generators.

The ACT's 100% renewable electricity target was the most ambitious renewable electricity target in Australia. It delivers nearly all of the greenhouse gas emission reduction needed for the ACT to reach its nation-leading target of a 40 per cent reduction on 1990 levels by 2020. Tasmania is the only other Australian State or Territory to achieve 100% renewable electricity to date."

Cleaner energy - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment

 

Interesting how vehemently the fossil industry is pushing back - and how dismissive the LNP government has been. Nothing surprising there but, as a forward thinking progressive, I find it disappointing.

Glad to be proving them wrong

As for the getting things to market - humans regularly overestimate what they can achieve in a day, and underestimate what they can achieve in a year ... 100% green hydrogen is shovel ready for the Kurri plant and is the ambition of Labor, yet the LNP is still pushing for 10% hydrogen 90% fossil mix

 

Yes, prices need to come down a long way ... and it will. Be pretty cool as carparks too ... A 1-mile stretch of road is being built in Detroit that can charge electric cars as they drive — if owners install a special receiver

 

... wonder how soon well be mining our garbage tips for raw materials

New 2D polymer is light as plastic, stronger than steel

 

Give this a go to recycle your old batteries (not car batteries!)

Battery types accepted - B-cycle