Offshore wind blows back, community carbon capture and dangerous sponsorships
In this issue:
Offshore gets a second wind
Offshore wind hasn’t been receiving the best headlines of late, nevertheless 2024 saw a 15% increase in operational capacity, which now stands at 80.9GW globally, according to RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse report. China carries more than 50% of that total with the UK showing the next highest capacity. There is a further 22.7GW currently in the pipeline.
Businesses planning to improve disclosures
Despite the likelihood pressures on mandatory disclosures will ease significantly in the US now that there is a Trump administration and there are also pressures in Europe to relax the Green Deal, it’s refreshing to hear businesses seem to be stepping up to fill the void. A global survey of 1,600 executives by Workiva tells us 85% of companies are planning to strengthen their climate disclosures this year. The survey found 97% of the respondents believe sustainability reporting will deliver a competitive advantage within two years. The survey also found 96% of (222) institutional investors believing stronger sustainability reporting contributes to stronger financial performance.
Community carbon capture
Having localised, atmospheric carbon capture and conversion may not be as far away as it sounds. Cambridge University scientists have developed transportable carbon capture units that convert the captured CO2 into syngas, usable for fuel or pharmaceuticals, without the need for high temperatures or pressures. The units capture CO2 at night and then convert it into the syngas during the day. The stand-alone units run off solar energy, do not require any other inputs and output a valuable product from a damaging one.
Al Gore on tour
Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project will be back on tour in 2025 leading up to COP30 in Brazil. The tour is set to visit Paris (March), Nairobi (June), Rio de Janeiro (August) and Ulaanbaatar (October). Each event comprises 3 days of presentations and workshops.
The fastest charging EV on the road
Chinese manufacturer, Zeekr, is claiming the record for EV charging. In real-world tests its 7X SUV model charged from 10% to 80% in less than 10 minutes. The battery is a 75 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate unit and charges through an 840kW-rated charger. In the tests, the vehicle charged at 200kW before ramping up to a peak of 460kW, maintaining an average charge rate of 400kW. This rate equates to around 34Kms of range per minute on the charger.
The power of slime
We’re not talking about the children’s toy but a similarly textured material developed by scientists at the University of Guelph. Their slime can generate electricity when manipulated and while powering light bulbs isn’t on the cards yet, the developers believe there is strong potential for things like shoe insoles to measure a person’s gait or for artificial skins on robots that could sense pressure.
Did you know ……
Globally, the sport of soccer emits roughly the same emissions as Austria? Scientists for Global Responsibility estimate the combined emissions of the industry amount to between 64 and 66 million tonnes a year. The main areas of emissions are transport (team and supporter travel), construction (of facilities such as stadia and training facilities) and sponsorship (through relations with oil companies and airlines). The report links relationships with this last group as particularly harmful as it promotes many high-emitting businesses and normalises high-emitting activities.