Weekend Reads - Smart Energy Decisions

Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  June 12, 2021

Weekend Reads: The Green Benefits of a Four-Day Work Week; Policy Action Needed to Keep EVs on Track

It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.

Electric Vehicle Sales Set to Rise Faster Than Ever, but More Policy Action Needed to Get on Track for Net Zero (BloombergNEF) The outlook for electric vehicles is brighter than ever, but governments aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 must do more to spur their adoption. Achieving that goal will require decisive further policy action on all fronts, from accelerating electric car adoption, to expanding charging networks, pushing for battery recycling and new regulations on heavy trucks, as well as encouraging active modes of transport, such as cycling and walking, according to research company BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) latest annual Electric Vehicle Outlook (EVO).

A four-day work week is good for the planet, UK study shows (Footprint Coalition) Shifting to a four-day work week wouldn’t just be a nice thing for employees, it’s also a good policy for planetary health. That’s the indication from a new study published by the UK-based advocacy group Platform with funding from the Alex Ferry Foundation. Moving to a four-day work week by 2025 could cut emissions in the UK by 127 million tons, according to the report. That’s more than the entire carbon footprint of Switzerland and the equivalent of almost every private car in the UK. There’s more benefits to a four-day work week than just reduced carbon emissions. If we make less, we can actually waste less, according to Boston College professor Juliet Schor.

Climate emerges as infrastructure sticking point (The Hill) Climate change is emerging as a sticking point in infrastructure negotiations, as proposals from President Biden and Republicans remain disparate on actions to address the warming planet. Following additional negotiations last week, during which Republicans upped their offer by $50 billion, the White House said it still did not go far enough on climate change. Meanwhile, climate hawks are expressing fear that climate action could fall to the wayside in a push to get bipartisan legislation across the finish line. On Friday, after a meeting between Biden and Republican negotiator Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Capito’s counteroffer “did not meet [Biden’s] objectives to grow the economy, tackle the climate crisis, and create new jobs.”

Webinar: Cost, Sustainability, and Resilience Benefits of the Latest DER Technology: Kroger on its Mainspring Linear Generator Deployments (Mainspring) Wednesday, June 16, 2021. 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Breakthroughs in power electronics are bringing rapid advancements in distributed generation, from load-tracking versatility to improved renewables integration and fuel-flexibility. As a result, companies can achieve increased resilience and the ability to meet sustainability goals, all while significantly reducing energy costs. This exciting webinar featuring Denis George of Kroger, Craig Noxon of Mainspring, and Ittay Arad of NextEra Energy Resources will explore Kroger’s deployment of Mainspring’s new DER technology -- the Linear Generator. REGISTER HERE

Hydrogen Map shows 57 projects are operational globally (Energy Digital) Global Offshore has rebranded Enelift and will invest "a seven-figure sum" in establishing new support hubs in Houston, Dubai, Singapore, Perth and the Caspian during the next six months. The investment will cover oil, gas and renewables, mainly concentrating on manufacturing capability with associated R&D, as well as in stock held in the hubs. The company’s flagship Hinge Lok technology provides aluminium, non-welded light weight transportation cradle for casing and tubing. Enelift now plans to enhance its offering by augmenting its existing solutions with robotics and remote operational and training technology, which will reduce manpower for handling offshore equipment that is transported and stored using the Hinge Lok system.

The spirit of Shell will rise to the challenge (Shell LinkedIn) Should a court single out an energy company to reduce its carbon emissions? On Wednesday 26 May, the District Court in The Hague ruled that by 2030 Shell must reduce its net carbon emissions by 45%, compared to its 2019 level. And not just for its business in the Netherlands, but worldwide. My first response was surprise. After all, Shell has set the pace in our industry by taking responsibility for reducing all our carbon emissions: not just those we produce ourselves, but also those produced when our customers use the energy products we sell, for example, to drive their cars, power their businesses and heat their homes. Over 90% of the emissions we are responsible for come from the use of the products we sell.

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