This week’s Current Climate, which every Saturday brings you the latest news about the business of sustainability. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Using coal for power may be a 19th century technology, but it’s still heavily in use in the 21st–for now, at least. The International Energy Agency reported last week that global demand for the fossil fuel hit an all-time high this year. The agency estimates that demand grew 1.4% last year, driven by higher demand in China and India as well as decreased output from hydroelectric planets. That said, while coal use may have hit an all-time high, it’s likely also nearing the peak of its use. The IEA estimates that demand will drop next year and plateau until 2026 before beginning a slow decline even if governments don’t try to crack down on its use, thanks to major drops in coal consumption in the U.S. and Europe as well as expected rebounds in hydropower in India and China.
Two quick housekeeping notes: First, we’re moving to Mondays for publication of this newsletter rather than Saturdays, starting today. Also, Current Climate will be going on a holiday break, with the next edition going out January 8. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!
The Big Read
A Norwegian Battery Maker Is Moving To The U.S. To Tap Federal Incentives
Freyr, a struggling Norwegian startup hoping to become a global battery powerhouse using a highly automated cell production system, got shareholder approval to become a U.S. company by the end of 2023, which will help it seek federal incentives for clean energy projects. Named for the Norse god of fertility, Freyr is currently building Giga America, a $2.5 billion battery plant in Coweta County, Georgia, southwest of Atlanta, that will produce cells for use in stationary energy storage systems, electric vehicles and marine products.
Sustainability Deals Of The Week
Carbon Capture: Munich-based Carbon Atlantis and Montreal-based Deep Sky announced a partnership to install a direct air capture unit at Deep Sky’s capture facility in Quebec in 2025. The unit is expected to remove about 260 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Wastewater Treatment: Gas infusion company Prosper Technologies and infrastructure software developer Transcend announced a partnership to develop a more cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment.
Battery Materials: Sila, a maker of battery materials, will supply its silicon anode material to Panasonic’s U.S. battery plants. The startup says it can boost range and cut charging time for electric vehicles.
Energy Storage: The California Energy Commission will be awarding a $30 million grant to battery storage company Form Energy to build a long-duration, 5 megawatt battery system that can supply power to the grid for 100 hours.
The Big Transportation Story
Trucking Industry Doubletalk Hurts Our Lungs And Their Own Bottom Line
Some leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers are talking out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to climate change, publicly promising a shift to electric trucks while – less publicly – trying to undermine the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to cut diesel pollution from heavy trucks.
Other Sustainability News
Much of the focus of lowering transportation-related carbon emissions has been on cars and trucks, and transitioning them to electric propulsion. But what about all the CO2 coming from aircraft? Battery-powered planes aren’t a viable option in the near future, but cleaner fuels can be. So on Friday the U.S. unveiled its first rules for sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, that qualify for generous federal tax credits up to $1.75 a gallon.
Sales of electric vehicles in the U.S. may have climbed above the 1 million unit mark this year, but that rate of growth doesn’t appear likely to continue in the near future.
Interpol and the World Customs Organization led a worldwide effort to make 500 arrests and seize more than 2,000 animals and plants as part of an annual crackdown on global endangered wildlife trafficking.
What Else We’re Reading This Week
Battery Startup ONE Demotes Founder and CEO During Cash Crunch (Bloomberg)
Mexico’s Nuevo Leon state gives Tesla $153 million in incentives for factory (Reuters)
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