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Hi,

Here’s some good news to kick things off (on what’s otherwise a dark day for the fight against climate change) -

• Renewables accounted for 82% of electricity generation in Portugal in the first 10 months of 2024, per data from the grid operator.

• Renewables covered 47% of Australia’s electricity needs in October (on the country’s main grid), according to the system operator.

• 140 Chinese steel companies completed their “ultra-low emission retrofitting” in the first nine months of 2024, the state broadcaster reported.

• The US government has set aside $3 billion to decarbonise the country’s ports.

• The world’s diesel consumption will decline slightly in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency’s forecasts.

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Thanks for reading.

Nick Hedley

Editor, The Progress Playbook

Inside Pakistan’s rooftop solar blitz

Pakistan has quickly become one of the world’s leading solar markets as households and businesses rush to decentralised solutions to counter soaring energy bills and frequent blackouts.

In the first nine months of 2024, the country imported 17GW of solar panels from China, making it the third-biggest market for Chinese panels globally.

- Read the full story here.

Europe’s emissions fall sharply as renewables displace fossil fuels

The European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 8.3% in 2023 as a surge in renewable energy installations helped displace coal.

- Read the full story here.

These companies are harnessing heat from people and data centres to cut emissions

Body heat and waste heat from data centres is being put to use to cut emissions.

- Read the full story here.

A message from our partner, Plentify, which offers intelligent ways to optimise home energy and load management.

Sheep on solar farms may produce better quality wool, study suggests

Sheep that graze in the shade of solar panels may produce better quality wool than those on traditional livestock farms, an Australian study has found.

- Read the full story here.

UK system operator says clean power by 2030 is doable and could reduce bills

It’s technically possible for the UK to achieve its goal of having a clean power system by 2030, and doing so should reduce electricity bills and bolster the country’s energy security, the grid operator says in a study commissioned by the new Labour government.

- Read the full story here.

This organisation pairs former inmates with homeowners — with remarkable success

The Homecoming Project pairs the formerly incarcerated in need of housing with residents for a six-month stay. In exchange, the nonprofit pays the host a monthly stipend of $1,400. None of the participants have returned to prison.

- Read the full story here.

Other articles you might find interesting:

• Germany’s coal consumption continues to fall sharply

• How these countries are unlocking hidden grid capacity to speed up the energy transition

• How the Netherlands built a thriving circular economy

• How Lithuania’s capital is transforming itself into the “Amsterdam of the North

• In numbers: India’s solar energy revolution is now in full swing

• China’s emissions have flatlined amid blistering renewables rollout

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