July 23 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Nuclear Power Plants Are Struggling To Stay Cool” • In this heatwave, it’s no longer possible to use river water to cool reactors without killing aquatic life. A few weeks ago, EDF began powering down some reactors. Heat-related cuts, malfunctions, and maintenance have reduced the nuclear power output in France by nearly 50%. [Ars Technica]

Cooling towers (Markus Distelrath, Pexels)

• “Japan’s Nuclear Regulator Approves Treated Fukushima Water Release Plan” • Japan’s nuclear regulator officially approved a plan to discharge into the sea water that has been contaminated but treated from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Huge amounts of the water have been accumulating since the Fukushima disaster of 2011. [The Japan Times]
• “Wind Power Returning To Open Seas, Now With AI” • A 20% savings in fuel efficiency for a two-day retrofit is noteworthy, and that explains why Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd, a leading shipping company, is adding more wind power to its roster of cargo ships. “K” Line also expects to leverage artificial intelligence for greater improvements. [CleanTechnica]
• “Vertical Solar Systems Reduce The Need For Electricity Storage” • Solar panels are usually installed facing south at an angle. In a new study, a research team from HTWK Leipzig shows it would make sense in the future to primarily install bifacial solar modules vertically and to use agricultural land for this, for example. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Vertically installed, bifacial solar modules (Next2Sun GmbH)

• “Temperatures Of 40°C Expected This Weekend In China” • Parts of China are set to experience searing temperatures over the next ten days as a heatwave takes hold. In some provinces, authorities are predicting levels to rise to at least 40°C (104°F). The national government has warned that there could be forest fires in the hot weather. [BBC]
• “Ford Has Battery Supply For 600,000 EVs A Year, Will Add LFP Batteries From CATL” • Ford released details of a $50 billion investment in EVs between now and 2026, when it expects to be selling 2 million EVs a year. Ford says it has commitments from three battery manufacturers that will allow it to build 600,000 EVs per year by the end of 2023. [CleanTechnica]

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