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Dramatic footage shows the moment an aluminium plant exploded in China's central Henan province after a record-breaking rain storm. Local government officials said Dengfeng Power Group's plant exploded when flood waters from a nearby river breached a wall and entered it

• China floods: death toll climbs as questions raised over preparedness
• ‘I might not make it’: passengers tell of horror as Chinese subway floods
• Death toll rises and thousands flee homes as floods hit China
  

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A major Dutch-headquartered firm has become the latest trading house to expand its emissions business to the Asia-Pacific region, with at least two carbon traders joining from Shell.

The process of manufacturing gallium-doped solar panels was under a patent until last year. It's only now that this method has started to pick up steam. Matthew Wright, Postdoctoral Researcher in Photovoltaic Engineering, UNSW Brett Hallam, Scientia and DECRA Fellow, UNSW Bruno Vicari Stefani, PhD Candidate, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers find ‘significant relationship’ between stony coral tissue loss disease and nearby shipping

A virulent and fast-moving coral disease that has swept through the Caribbean could be linked to waste or ballast water from ships, according to research.

The deadly infection, known as stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), was first identified in Florida in 2014, and has since moved through the region, causing great concern among scientists.

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The politics of this new, extreme individualism will make collective responses to social crises impossible

Soon, a few of the more shameless newspaper commentators will urge the rest of us to “learn to live” with climate breakdown. Soon, a couple of especially sharp-elbowed cabinet ministers will sigh to the Spectator that, yes, carbon emissions should ideally be slashed – but we must make a trade-off between “lives and livelihoods”. Soon, a little platoon of Tory backbenchers will respond to TV pictures of another devastating flash flood or deadly heatwave by complaining about “fearmongering”. “Why is the BBC so doomy?” they’ll ask, as the death toll rises.

Soon, shockingly soon, the cheap shots, the brazen stat-bending and the coprophagic cynicism that have warped British discourse since March 2020 will migrate from Covid to an even bigger and more lethal crisis: the climate emergency. And just as they have helped shape the self-inflicted catastrophe that England has embarked upon this week, so they will work their terrible influence on that one.

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New machine learning models will allow the output of solar farms to be accurately predicted a day ahead of time.

The post Machine learning breakthrough allows day-ahead predictions for solar farms appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Nearly 5GW of coal capacity in NSW and Queensland was missing when Callide coal generator exploded and took out another 2.5GW.

The post Baseload: 5GW of coal capacity missing before Callide coal explosion appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Japan to double renewables targets for 2030 and slashing expected generation from coal and gas, in blow to Australian fossil fuel exports.

The post Japan’s new energy strategy exposes folly of Australia’s “gas led recovery” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Germany’s entire energy demand can be met through renewables alone within ten to fifteen years, says German Institute for Economic Research.

The post Germany can fulfil entire energy demand with renewables in 10-15 years – report appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new study shows carbon pollution on the same route can vary sharply but consumers currently cannot make informed choices

Commercial flying is a real carbon bomb as emissions from commercial aviation are growing rapidly and are on track to triple by 2050, when they could make up about a quarter of the global carbon budget.

But now a new study shows how people could reduce their emissions while still flying on airplanes, if they were able to choose the most carbon-friendly routes.

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Covid has virtually shut down solar installations in three states, as Autonomous fights for survival.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Covid rocks the boat, again appeared first on RenewEconomy.

We have an opportunity to reorient our lives back towards nature, reshaping our economy to benefit all Australians – human and non-human

Australian wildlife. Koalas, platypus, wallabies. We use them as our emblems, put them on our coins, name our sporting teams after them and companies use them as logos. Echidnas, dingoes, kangaroos. They are part of the fabric of our national identity. And so they should be. Most of them are found nowhere else on Earth. Wombats, numbats, bettongs. This continent is home to an amazing diversity of plants and animals, not to mention the unique landscapes they call home. They make Australia what it is and were here long before humans arrived. Antechinus, quolls, phascogales. But do we actually care about them? Of course we do! But can we honestly say that, if we judge ourselves by our actions? Thylacine, Bramble Cay melomys, Christmas Island pipistrelle.

Related: Legal threat stops work on mine project in Tasmania’s Tarkine

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The firm had said in May it would no longer accept the cryptocurrency over environmental concerns.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Massive increase in deployment of wind, solar and battery storage needed over coming decade if world to meet net zero targets.

The post Massive rollout of wind, solar and batteries needed for net zero, says BNEF appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit values lifted off recent lows this week, though market participants reported large offers were backing up in light of the uptick.

More than ten offshore wind farms are currently proposed for Australia. If built, their combined capacity would be greater than all coal-fired power plants in the nation. Sven Teske, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Mark Hemer, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Philip Marsh, Post doctoral researcher, University of Tasmania Rusty Langdon, Research Consultant, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

My new research shows Australia has spent more subsidising fossil fuel research indirectly via research and development tax credits than directly via grants. Will McDowall, Associate Professor, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, UCL Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

WA wants its share in global green hydrogen market to be on par with its share in LNG exports today. But there are shades of blue to the plans.

The post WA targets 12% of global renewable hydrogen export market by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hunter and Latrobe valleys considered particularly suitable sites as union says industry could offer oil and gas workers a career transition

Australia has the potential to develop a substantial offshore wind energy industry from scratch, with abundant resources available near existing electricity substations across the continent, according to a new report.

The Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre said Australia was yet to capitalise on significant offshore wind capacity despite the International Energy Agency nominating it as one of the “big three” likely sources of renewable energy globally alongside solar and onshore wind.

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