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Newsletter (copy 55)
Inside Sweden's fossil-free power system ⚡
Hi,
Here’s some good news to start the day:
In November, wind made up 62% of Lithuania’s electricity output, according to data collated by Ember.
South Africa's High Court has ruled that the country can't open new coal plants because that would violate citizens' rights to a healthy environment.
More than a quarter of new cars sold in the UK in November were fully electric.
Renewables covered 82% of Chile’s electricity needs in November, according to Ember data. Solar comprised 24% of the mix.
The Japanese government says it’s “looking to” reduce emissions by 60% by 2035, relative to 2013 levels, according to local news reports.
China’s coal consumption is now widely expected to peak by 2025, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Battery prices for fully electric passenger cars have fallen below $100/kWh for the first time, according to BloombergNEF. The $100 threshold is considered the point where EVs reach price parity with traditional vehicles.
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Thanks for reading.
Nick Hedley
Editor, The Progress Playbook
Wind turbines generated nearly a third of Sweden’s electrical output in November 2024 — a new record in a country that’s long relied on hydro and nuclear plants for its power needs.
Aside from having one of the cleanest electricity systems in Europe, Sweden also had the continent’s lowest wholesale power prices in November, Ember data shows. The average day-ahead spot price was €40.07 per megawatt hour.
- Read the full story here.
2024 will be the first full year in which low-carbon renewables — wind, solar and hydro — generate more electricity than fossil fuels in the UK, with wind energy close to overtaking gas as the single-largest source of power in the country, according to research group Ember.
- Read the full story here.
India has outpaced China as a destination for clean technology funding in recent months, as efforts to boost domestic green manufacturing help attract investors.
- Read the full story here.
The right combinations of supply- and demand-side policies — involving both incentives and enforceable standards, or “carrots and sticks” — can lead to rapid growth in electric vehicle adoption, according to a new report by non-profit research group RMI.
- Read the full story here.
In an effort to reduce its environmental impact, Microsoft says it’s developed a new data centre design that won’t require water for cooling.
- Read the full story here.
Some analysts see Chinese gasoline consumption dropping by 4% to 5% a year through 2030, with major implications for global oil markets.
- Read the full story here.
Other articles you might find interesting:
Türkiye’s solar surge largely offsets rapid growth in peak demand
Small patches of urban wildflowers boost bee populations and biodiversity, study shows
How the aviation sector can slash the climate impact of contrails — at little cost
Solar installations are now mandatory for large parking lots in France
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