MORE ENERGY MATTERS

Sometimes our political system can quickly act.  Diane Feinstein's funeral is still to come, and Laphonza Butler was yesterday sworn in as the newest member of the U.S. Senate.  Now, if New Jersey can act decisively, there can be another new senator.

Then there is that other side of Congress, where the Republicans are in turmoil.  In this transition, Rep. Patrick McHenry is their transition leader, but that is only to lead their party to a new speaker.  You would think that the current #2 Rep. Steve Scalise would be the logical candidate, but people like Rep. Jim Jordan are among a bunch positioning themselves for this role.  Perhaps next week the House might vote on the next speaker.

If you think Republicans are in trouble, across the Atlantic, Britain's Conservatives are also headed for doom.  They have their fifth leader in six years with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.  Well, he has lost control, and all polls project that their 14 years of control will be terminated by the Labor Party next year.

From Energy Matters of the American Energy Society.  Members can get Winds of Change.  Costs $129 to join.  Report can be purchased for $189.

Why Winds of Change?

Total global OSW capacity is 59,009 MW from 292 operating projects and about 11,900 operating wind turbines. However, the United States has not (yet) adopted this powerful clean energy source at any meaningful scale. Most of the sector's activity is focused on the eastern seaboard. Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island is the only region in the US that has a fully operational offshore wind system (five 6-megawatt turbines just south of the island’s Mohegan Bluffs), while the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is in its demonstration phase and won't be fully operational until 2026.

But there are signs that the sector is poised to grow, especially along the US West Coast. 

Further:

- The lithium deposit at Thacker Pass on the Oregon/Nevada border might be the largest in the world. AES Members have access to the peer-reviewed research.   - Solar panels in North Africa generate about three times more energy than in Europe, all else being equal including the solar panels.   - On the one hand, climate tech startups in Southeast Asia raised more than US $1 billion, an 80% increase compared to 2021. On the other hand, this total is less than 3% of global climate funding.

- Congress is considering the Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development Act, which will provide $12B to support RD&D for carbon removal technologies. The program would compliment other federal efforts to support this emerging sector, such as the Carbon Negative Shot.   

- Desalination facilities in Saudi Arabia consume 1.5 million barrels of oil per day. 

- More than half of all US groundwater sites are depleted; related, lawn grass is the largest irrigated crop in the US.

- A severe drought in Panama has forced the Canal to reduce transits to 32 ships per day.

- Keep an eye on galvorn; it is a material that might be stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and has the conductivity of copper. 

- Morocco exports solar-generated electricity to Spain via two transmission lines; meanwhile, Morocco has agreed to the Xlinks (Abu Dhabi) megaproject with the EU, which will transmit 10,500 megawatts of electricity generated by energy farms in the Moroccan desert through 2,300 miles of high-voltage submarine transmission cables to utilities in Portugal, Spain, France, and SW England.

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Typhoon Koinu attained a strength of 130 MPH and just slammed into southern Taiwan.  Sustained winds are now down to 96 MPH.

There should be a weakening as Koinu heads towards Hong Kong.

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