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Offshore energy boom in China will grow world’s windfarm capacity by more than 12GW in 2021

Windfarm installations are expected to double to record global levels this year, after a short-lived Covid-19 slowdown, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

The group’s annual report found that the world’s offshore windfarm capacity grew by 6.1GW last year, down slightly from a record 6.24GW in 2019, but would rebound to more than 12GW in 2021 powered by an offshore wind boom in China.

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Climate policies commit us to a calamitous 2.9C of global heating, but catastrophic changes can occur at even 1.5C or 2C

If there’s one thing we know about climate breakdown, it’s that it will not be linear, smooth or gradual. Just as one continental plate might push beneath another in sudden fits and starts, causing periodic earthquakes and tsunamis, our atmospheric systems will absorb the stress for a while, then suddenly shift. Yet, everywhere, the programmes designed to avert it are linear, smooth and gradual.

Current plans to avoid catastrophe would work in a simple system like a washbasin, in which you can close the tap until the inflow is less than the outflow. But they are less likely to work in complex systems, such as the atmosphere, oceans and biosphere. Complex systems seek equilibrium. When they are pushed too far out of one equilibrium state, they can flip suddenly into another. A common property of complex systems is that it’s much easier to push them past a tipping point than to push them back. Once a transition has happened, it cannot realistically be reversed.

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Commissioner rebuked by judge presiding over civil case that is being watched closely for its ruling on whether a wind farm can be considered a "nuisance."

The post Court admonishment and site visits feature in wind turbine “nuisance case” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ARENA says it is still bringing itself "up to speed" on CCS technologies, as agency pivots to Angus Taylor's preferred technologies in new investment plan.

The post ARENA “getting up to speed” on carbon capture as it rolls out new investment plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scotland's thriving space sector is trying to have a reduced impact on the planet.

The world is moving away fossil fuels, and there’s nothing Australia can do about it. Racing to dig up and sell whatever fossil fuels we can before the timer stops is not a future-proof strategy. Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Mark Howden, Director, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Japanese company plans to build autonomous battery ships to transfer offshore wind electricity to the main grid.

The post Battery ships: Japanese company’s innovative plan to transfer offshore wind power appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New report identifies which fossil fuel companies and lobby groups are exerting the greatest control over the federal government on climate policy.

The post How carbon lobbyists control the climate policy debate in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia has easily beaten its previous record for the share of renewables on its main grid, reaching 58.3 per cent  just after noon on Thursday – and also setting a new record for the share of wind and solar in the grid. The new record, according to data from OpenNEM, was set at 12.30pm, and […]

The post Australia smashes renewables record again, hits 58.3 per cent on main grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New documents reveal that gas company Santos paid for a specially chartered flight for Keith Pitt to attend a company media event in Darwin.

The post Gas company Santos flew resources minister Keith Pitt on chartered jet to Darwin event, documents reveal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Benoy Thanjan, CEO and founder of Reneu Energy and host of the Solar Mavericks Podcast, spells out the similarities and the stark differences in how Australia and the US are adopting solar.

The post Great Solar Business Podcast: A US perspective on Australian solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Operators say the Orca plant can suck 4,000 tonnes of CO2 out of the air every year and inject it deep into the ground to be mineralised

The world’s largest plant designed to suck carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into rock started has running, the companies behind the project said on Wednesday.

The plant, named Orca after the Icelandic word “orka” meaning “energy”, consists of four units, each made up of two metal boxes that look like shipping containers.

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Argentina wants to trade climate action for debt relief, President Alberto Fernandez told a virtual high-level dialogue on climate action on Wednesday.

Government ministers agreed to cut climate commitments to clinch the deal it has emerged.

Almost 60% of oil and gas and 90% of coal must stay in the ground to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

Despite all the excitement around EUA prices topping €60 for the first time and moving on to a new record above €63.19 this week, let’s remember that coal-fired power generation is actually more profitable in the near term than natural gas. Wait, what? How did *that* happen?

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits sunk to a five-month low this week, as participants said bearish outlooks for the market are putting downward pressure on the physical and futures markets.

Australia's eternal quest to protect its fossil fuel industry has caused an incredible and embarrassing international climate policy incident for the hosts of COP26.

The post UK trade deal: Morrison begins COP26 season by causing a major international mess appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Swiss firm Climeworks on Wednesday launched the world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) and storage plant powered by renewable energy, with the Iceland facility's removal credits already in fiery demand.