Energy Digest

Michigan has brought a lawsuit against major oil and gas companies alleging antitrust violations that aim to hobble the growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy, joining nearly a dozen other states in taking on ExxonMobil and its peers. The suit claims Big Oil is driving up energy costs by colluding to suppress competition from cleaner technologies. This approach differs from similar lawsuits brought by other states, which focus on deception or misrepresentation regarding climate change risks.

The White House is leaning on coal power to support its plans, which is counteracted by new energy storage solutions. New energy storage technologies are effectively rendering Trump's reliance on coal power obsolete and unsustainable in the long term. This shift marks a significant blow to the administration's pro-coal agenda.

VE Motion's electric trailer axles can cut truckers' diesel fuel bills in half, offering fleets a low-cost path to electrification. The battery-powered system allows for up to 50% reduction in fuel use, making it an attractive option for heavy trucks. This technology is available commercially and aims to facilitate the transition to more sustainable transportation methods.

The US federal government has approved a $2 billion pumped storage hydroelectric project on a 4,300-acre site within the Yakama Nation's traditional territory in Washington state. The project is located on a sacred site and faced ongoing legal challenges from the nation.

Ameren Missouri has secured approval to build a hybrid energy facility, the Big Hollow Energy Center, which will combine an 800 MW simple-cycle natural gas power plant with a large-scale battery storage facility at a single site in Jefferson County, Missouri. The project's total capacity is not specified beyond its combined output.

A Chinese airborne wind energy system called SAWES has completed a grid-connected test flight, marking an important milestone in the development of a floating turbine. The system, operated by Beijing Lanyi Yunchuan Energy Technology Co., successfully passed testing and confirmed its ability to connect to a power grid. This achievement follows previous tests conducted five months prior.

The Philippines plans to auction an additional 25 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2035 through its flagship green energy auction program. The country has also announced plans for four upcoming auctions, including one focused on rooftop solar in Visayas and Mindanao, another on solar on canals, agrisolar, and solar on stilts over fish ponds. This will be the fourth round of GEA-6, which was set to launch in the first quarter of this year.

Adding solar panels to semi-trailers is a simple solution to reduce emissions from refrigerated trailers, which currently rely on polluting diesel gensets. The idea involves mounting rooftop solar panels on the trailer's roof, allowing it to generate electricity and power its cooling systems while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This concept could be a game-changer for the logistics industry in terms of environmental sustainability.

The Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its 2009 ruling that established greenhouse gases as a threat to public health, citing them as "illegal." The decision reverses landmark environmental laws made by the Obama and Biden administrations aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Greenhouse gases are no longer considered pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

Risen Energy's new 131 kW/261 kWh C&I storage unit features silicon carbide and full liquid cooling, improving efficiency by 40% through the use of SiC MOSFETs. The unit also boasts a system round-trip efficiency of 90%. This upgrade positions the product as a higher-efficiency option for behind-the-meter applications in commercial and industrial settings.