Renewable Revolution

Renewable Revolution explores the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Recurring themes include rapid technological advancements, decreasing costs of clean technology, the inefficiency of fossil fuels, investment in renewable infrastructure, and the growth of electric vehicles and battery technology. The focus is on global efforts, especially in China, the US, and Europe.

Renewable Energy Clean Technology Energy Transition Investment in Renewables Electric Vehicles Battery Technology Energy Efficiency Global Energy Policies

The hottest Substack posts of Renewable Revolution

And their main takeaways

The Battery Mineral Loop

439 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Energy Recycling Resource Management Innovation
  1. Battery minerals are becoming more efficient and less dependent on mining. Advances in recycling and chemistry can help meet demand without exhausting resources.
  2. In the coming decades, we might reach a point where we won't need to extract new battery minerals at all. We could rely on recycling old batteries instead.
  3. Countries have a big chance to shift from fossil fuel use to sustainable energy. This change can happen faster and cheaper than many think, especially if everyone works together.

The Cleantech Revolution

799 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Fossil fuels Electrification Energy Efficiency
  1. The energy system is changing fast because of renewables, electrification, and efficiency. These changes are happening more quickly than many people think.
  2. Clean technology is getting cheaper and more popular, outpacing fossil fuels. Over the last decade, costs have dropped significantly and energy generation from sources like solar has grown a lot.
  3. Fossil fuels are on the decline. Renewables are set to take over energy generation, making it clear that we need to accelerate our shift to clean energy technologies.

Webinar on The Battery Mineral Loop

119 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Renewable Energy Resource Management Environmental Policy Webinars
  1. There will be a webinar discussing how to reduce the need for new mined battery minerals by 2050. It's a great opportunity to learn more about this important topic.
  2. The webinar is happening on August 22nd at 11:30 AM Eastern Time. Mark your calendar if you're interested in the future of battery minerals.
  3. You can read a detailed report called 'The Battery Mineral Loop' to get more insights before the webinar. It's a good way to prepare and understand the discussion better.

The Race to the Top in Six Charts and Not Too Many Numbers

279 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Technology Economics Policy
  1. China is currently the leader in clean technology innovation and manufacturing, having significantly increased its battery and solar production capacity. It also holds a majority share in global clean energy patents.
  2. All three main regions—China, Europe, and the U.S.—are rapidly deploying clean technologies like solar, wind, and electric vehicles, but China is ahead in terms of growth and scale.
  3. The U.S. and Europe are recognizing the need to catch up in this energy race, with investments in clean technologies expected to grow significantly in the coming years, indicating a shift towards competition.

The Incredible Inefficiency of the Fossil Energy System

339 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Efficiency Fossil fuels Renewable Energy Sustainability Environmental Policy
  1. Fossil fuel energy systems are really inefficient, wasting about two-thirds of energy before it even provides any benefit. This waste amounts to around $4.6 trillion every year.
  2. The main reason for this inefficiency is fossil fuels themselves, particularly in power plants and gas engines, which are responsible for almost half of the total energy waste globally.
  3. New technologies like renewables, local energy sources, and electric vehicles are becoming more efficient. They're replacing fossil fuels because they’re cost-effective and significantly reduce energy waste.
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The Eight Deadly Sins of Analyzing the Energy Transition

1618 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Renewable Energy Climate change Sustainability Technology Innovation
  1. Technology change isn't straight and slow; it can grow rapidly in an S-curve pattern. This means innovations can spread faster than some people expect.
  2. We should focus on the new technologies coming into play instead of just looking at what we have now. What's happening in the present will give us a better idea of what's to come.
  3. Energy efficiency has a bigger impact than many realize. It's important to pay attention to how we can use less energy rather than just relying on new sources.

The Great Reallocation

799 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Renewables Capital Economics Policy
  1. Renewable energy doesn't actually need a huge increase in investment compared to fossil fuels. As fossil fuel spending goes down, the overall increase in spending is only about 2% a year.
  2. Investing in renewables is expected to grow significantly, doubling in the coming years while fossil fuel investments will decline. This shift is possible because renewable technology costs are dropping.
  3. The transition to a cleaner energy system is doable without needing massive funds. The main challenge is making sure that investments focus on developing the right infrastructure and policies.

The Renewable Revolution Continues

459 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Environmental Policy Sustainability Climate change
  1. Clean technology prices have dropped, making solar and wind energy cheaper than before. This is great news for renewable energy as it becomes more accessible.
  2. The global demand for fossil fuels is leveling off, which means they might be losing their place in the energy market. More renewable energy sources like solar and wind are now providing most of the new electricity.
  3. Governments are stepping up their support for clean energy through new policies. As countries commit to increasing renewable energy production, it shows that the push for sustainability is stronger than ever.

X-Change: The Race to the Top

199 implied HN points • 26 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Clean Energy Technology Geopolitics Electric Vehicles Energy transition
  1. China is currently leading the way in clean technology, especially in solar and battery manufacturing, but the US and Europe are increasing their investments quickly.
  2. Europe has a strong position in generating electricity from solar and wind, while China is ahead in electric vehicle sales with plans to grow even more.
  3. The competition between these regions is good for the world as it drives innovation and reduces costs, speeding up the move away from fossil fuels.

X-Change: Batteries

299 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Battery technology Energy Policy
  1. Battery demand is rising rapidly. Sales are doubling every few years, and this growth will help reduce fossil fuel use significantly.
  2. As battery production increases, costs go down and quality improves. This creates a cycle where more sectors start using batteries, from cars to energy storage.
  3. The push for battery technology is a global effort. Countries around the world are adopting and investing in batteries, which is crucial for reaching climate goals.

The IEA's World Energy Outlook 2023

339 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Fossil fuels Energy Policy Environmental Economics Global Warming
  1. Renewable energy is quickly growing and could supply half of all power by 2030. Electric vehicles are also set to increase significantly on the roads.
  2. China's demand for energy is slowing down, which is important because it has been a major factor in global energy growth. This could change where energy demand comes from.
  3. By 2030, we are likely to see big changes in the energy system. The transition to clean energy is already happening, and more investment is needed to reach climate goals.

The ETC report on fossil fuels in transition

239 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Fossil fuels Policy Analysis Sustainability Technological Innovation
  1. Fossil fuel demand has peaked, and we need to reduce it over the next three decades to tackle climate change effectively.
  2. By 2030, we can cut down fossil fuel use significantly with existing solutions, showing that change is not only possible but also necessary.
  3. New fossil fuel exploration is unnecessary because we need to focus on speeding up the transition to renewable energy instead.

The EV Revolution in Five Charts and Not Too Many Numbers

259 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Energy Transportation Technology Policy
  1. Electric vehicle (EV) sales are rapidly increasing, with countries reaching significant market shares in about six years. In 2023, around 20% of car sales will be EVs.
  2. Experts continuously revise their predictions upward for EV growth as prices drop and more people prefer EVs. Many now expect about 40% of cars sold in 2030 to be electric.
  3. The rise of EVs is pushing down sales of traditional gas cars and oil demand. As more EVs are sold, we could see a significant drop in oil use within 15 years.

The IEA’s New Net Zero Roadmap

199 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Environmental Policy Technological Innovation
  1. The IEA's new roadmap shows strong support for reaching net zero, emphasizing action over theory. They are optimistic about the future of renewable energy and the shift away from fossil fuels.
  2. Key actions are needed by 2030 to make progress, including tripling renewable energy capacity and reducing methane emissions. These steps are essential for a successful energy transition.
  3. Investing in renewable energy is cheaper in the long run than sticking to traditional energy sources. This transition not only saves costs but also creates millions of new jobs in the clean energy sector.

The energy transition in five charts

219 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Climate change Energy Policy Environmental Impact
  1. The switch to renewable energy is all about using better technology. Renewables like solar and wind are cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient than fossil fuels.
  2. Renewable energy growth isn’t slow and steady; it’s growing quickly in an exponential way. This means countries and companies need to move fast to keep up.
  3. China is leading the way in renewable energy technology. Their advancements are setting the pace for other countries like the U.S. and those in Europe.

X-change: Electricity

159 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Climate change Sustainability Energy Policy Environmental Economics
  1. Solar and wind energy are growing really fast, but we need to speed up even more to hit climate goals. Continuous growth is happening, and it's pretty exciting!
  2. Even though there are obstacles, the reasons for switching to renewable energy are stronger. Solutions are everywhere, and they're outpacing the barriers we're facing.
  3. The fossil fuel era is coming to an end. By 2030, renewable energy could produce a lot more electricity than fossil fuels, and it’s crucial we keep pushing for change.

The Renewable Revolution

59 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Global Warming Market Trends Policy Impact
  1. The energy transition is happening fast thanks to new technology that boosts renewable energy. It's all about using the sun, wind, and other natural energy sources more efficiently.
  2. China is taking a lead in renewable energy and pushing everyone to improve and innovate quickly in this area.
  3. Market prices will reflect the energy transition in this decade, meaning investments will start focusing more on renewable sources, which is good for the environment.

X-change: Cars

39 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Automotive Electric Vehicles Sustainability Innovation Energy
  1. Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing rapidly, with predictions that they will dominate car sales by 2030. The demand for gas-powered cars is dropping fast.
  2. The cost of owning EVs is becoming similar to gas cars because battery prices are falling. This makes EVs more accessible to more people in different countries.
  3. Even though there are challenges like needing better charging networks, the transition to EVs is happening quickly. Companies are investing heavily in technology and infrastructure to support this change.

The Rise of Batteries in Six Charts and Not Too Many Numbers

2 HN points • 30 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Emissions Reduction Fossil fuels Technological Innovation
  1. Battery sales are increasing rapidly, doubling every couple of years. This growth is driven by more people using electric cars and other battery technologies.
  2. The cost of batteries is dropping while their quality is improving. Over the past 30 years, battery prices have fallen a lot, making them more affordable and effective for various uses.
  3. Batteries are crucial for reducing fossil fuel use and cutting down emissions. They are expected to replace a substantial amount of fossil fuel demand in transport and electricity sectors.