The hottest Renewable Energy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Climate & Environment Topics

Reading List 02/06/2026

Construction Physics • 12318 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. US construction productivity is slipping because technological progress is slow, land-use rules are restrictive, and measurement problems hide the full picture.
  2. House price growth tracks average income growth more than median income, so affordability problems are tied to top-end income gains; renting costs less than owning in major metros and builders are pushing big programs to fill a large housing shortfall.
  3. Federal permitting uncertainty is delaying many wind and solar projects, but political opinion and industry moves are nudging solar forward, with new domestic panel manufacturing, landfill and rooftop deployments, and legislative proposals to create permitting certainty.

We interrupt the madness for a note from the rational world

The Crucial Years • 3537 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. India looks likely to skip a big coal buildout and scale solar and electrification because new solar is cheaper than running old coal plants. That shift can cut fuel imports, clean city air, and power fast economic growth.
  2. Clean energy and new technologies are gaining ground worldwide — from big solar booms and minigrids to EVs and promising battery and smart-window innovations. That makes energy cheaper, more reliable, and less dependent on imported fossil fuels.
  3. Hostile political choices and cuts to science are raising energy costs and slowing progress at the same time climate impacts like worsening droughts and floods are growing more damaging. That mix makes the clean-energy transition both urgent and geopolitically important.

The Scottish island that bought itself

The Novelleist • 890 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🌐 International Renewable Energy
  1. Communities can buy and own the land they live on: on Eigg residents formed a trust to buy the island, sell 99-year leases to locals, and use the income to reinvest in the community.
  2. The trust acts like a tiny government with representatives from residents, the local council, and a wildlife trust, and it runs infrastructure and services. They built a renewable energy grid and manage tourism so money benefits locals instead of absentee landlords.
  3. Scotland scaled this idea with public funds and land-reform laws that give communities first rights to buy land, leading to hundreds of community-owned estates. This creates many small, self-supporting, resident-controlled places that could be a blueprint for better cities.

Energy Cheat Sheet

Construction Physics • 85601 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Energy is the ability to do work, like moving or changing things. Everything we do requires energy, and we can't create or destroy it, only change its form.
  2. Most of the energy we use gets wasted, with many losses occurring during energy transformations. Only about a third of the energy consumed goes towards useful work.
  3. Hydrocarbons, like oil and gas, are easy to store and transport, but as we shift to electricity, we need better storage solutions to manage fluctuations in supply and demand.

A grinding, pivotal year ahead

The Crucial Years • 4025 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. The 2026 midterm elections are pivotal and could either entrench authoritarian power or give people the leverage needed to protect democracy and advance climate policy.
  2. The federal government is actively blocking renewable projects and privileging fossil-fuel interests, using shaky national-security and political rationales that hurt jobs, energy independence, and the climate.
  3. Despite political headwinds, clean-energy momentum keeps growing — cheaper solar, rooftop adoption, booming e-bike use, and agrivoltaics are real wins — while huge fossil projects like the Alaska LNG pipeline look risky and likely to burden taxpayers.
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Solar as Solidarity

The Crucial Years • 2471 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Small plug-in solar systems are cheap, quick to install, and can supply meaningful electricity for apartments and homes. They provide portable, reliable power during outages and help people become more self-reliant.
  2. Current rules and utility restrictions block plug-in solar in many places, but changing laws would make these systems far cheaper and more accessible. Campaigns and state bills are working to legalize plug-in solar so renters and apartment dwellers can benefit too.
  3. Large-scale solar and battery storage are essential to cut emissions and save money, but national policies, tariffs, and industrial choices determine how fast deployment happens. Places that support deployment see rapid growth, while hostile policies or trade barriers can slow progress.

Shasta La Vista, Baby

Doomberg • 6846 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Renewable Energy
  1. Shasta County is one of the most conservative areas in California and often feels disconnected from the state's overall progressive politics.
  2. A new ballot measure has been passed that could change how residents in Shasta County are represented in Congress, making it more likely that their views will be overshadowed by those from more liberal areas.
  3. There is significant local opposition to a large wind farm project planned for Shasta County, which has become a point of contention amidst ongoing discussions about renewable energy and local control.

Can We Afford Large-scale Solar PV?

Construction Physics • 27768 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Solar energy can supply a significant part of electricity demand, with estimates suggesting it could meet 30-40% without needing a lot of extra infrastructure.
  2. Affordable batteries are crucial as they help balance supply and demand, not just for solar but for any energy system.
  3. If the costs of solar panels and batteries keep dropping, we might be able to meet up to 80% of electricity demand with solar, which makes the future of solar power look promising.

Inside the Interconnection Queue

Construction Physics • 27559 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Renewable Energy
  1. There are currently over 11,000 energy projects waiting to connect to the US electrical grid, with a total capacity that is nearly double what currently exists. This shows a huge demand for new power sources.
  2. The waiting time for projects has increased to over 5 years, causing delays in getting new energy infrastructure built. This bottleneck is a significant issue for the growth of renewable energy projects.
  3. Most upcoming projects are focused on renewable energy like solar, wind, and batteries, representing around 90% of planned capacity. This shift highlights a strong move towards cleaner energy across many states.

We could produce a lot of electricity on the land used for biofuels

Sustainability by numbers • 620 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Putting solar panels on the roughly 32 million hectares now used for biofuels could generate about 32,000 TWh, which is roughly the world’s current annual electricity demand.
  2. That same land could easily power an all-electric global car and truck fleet (around 7,000 TWh), showing solar plus electrification is far more land-efficient than growing biofuels.
  3. Biofuels cannot realistically decarbonize aviation: using all current biofuels for jets would at best cover about one-third of demand, and collecting all waste cooking oils would only supply roughly 4%.

Stability in Chaos: A Solar Food Dehydrator

OK Doomer • 101 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. The world keeps cycling through political, economic, and climate crises, so having clear plans and basic preparedness gives you real stability. Knowing what to do and how to do it cuts anxiety and lets you work at your own pace.
  2. Multiple ways to preserve food are essential, and solar food dehydrators are especially useful because they work without reliable electricity. They’re practical to build yourself using simple DIY guides.
  3. A practical survival manual is being expanded with cleaner layouts and more informational pages, plus plans for electrical wiring and solar panels to power systems like aquaponics. A print edition is close to ready.

An Eerie Light

The Crucial Years • 3457 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. America's relationship with science is changing. Instead of supporting scientific exploration, there seems to be a trend towards cutting funding for important research, which is really concerning.
  2. Fairness in society is declining, with actions that reverse progress made in terms of equality. This includes moves against voting rights and support for disadvantaged communities, showing a shift away from promoting fairness.
  3. A sense of servility is growing, where companies and individuals seem to be bowing down to those in power instead of standing up for democratic values. It's important to resist and push for change where we can.

Whales Die, While Officials, Media, and Environmentalists Lie

RESCUE with Michael Capuzzo • 7567 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Whales are dying along the East Coast due to offshore wind turbines and oil & gas drilling, raising concerns about environmental impacts.
  2. There is uncertainty and disagreement among experts and agencies about the connection between offshore wind activities and whale deaths.
  3. Offshore wind projects may have limited impact on global emissions and climate change, but they are still considered integral for state plans.

The Cleantech Revolution

Renewable Revolution • 799 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  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.

More from a sense of duty...

The Crucial Years • 3059 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. It's important to show our duty as citizens, even if things seem tough. Making calls to our Senators about energy policies can make a difference.
  2. Legislation aimed at slowing down clean energy is harmful to everyone, risking jobs, increasing electricity costs, and making it harder to fight climate change.
  3. We need to rebuild support for renewable energy like solar power and take collective action to make our voices heard, especially in response to bad legislation.

Power Down Blunder

Doomberg • 7469 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Australia has great potential for renewable energy like solar and wind, but things aren't going as smoothly as planned.
  2. As they keep adding more renewable energy sources, the country is facing rising electricity prices and shortages, especially during peak demand times.
  3. The government is now asking people to cut back on using appliances like dishwashers to help the struggling energy grid.

Buzzzzzzzzz

The Crucial Years • 2959 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Insect populations are declining rapidly, mainly due to climate change and shifting weather patterns. This affects entire ecosystems since many animals, like birds, rely on insects for food.
  2. Solar farms are proving to be beneficial for both insects and birds. They provide a safe habitat where insects can thrive, which in turn helps increase bird populations in those areas.
  3. Using solar panels on farmland could replace inefficient corn production while providing all the energy the U.S. needs. This shift can help combat climate change and support biodiversity.

Germany Is Being Served Up on a Platter to the Far Right

Persuasion • 2240 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Renewable Energy
  1. Germany's energy policies are leading to a decrease in electricity generation, impacting the economy and potentially fueling support for the far right.
  2. The transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar in Germany has not kept up with energy demand, causing reliance on fossil fuels.
  3. The shift away from nuclear power in Germany has resulted in challenges balancing the energy grid and economic consequences, contributing to dissatisfaction and political shifts.

Andrew Leach: The day Alberta almost went dark

The Line • 2220 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Alberta almost faced a power crisis due to project delays affecting wind and solar energy generation.
  2. Cold snap increased electricity demand in Alberta, highlighting the importance of reliable energy sources.
  3. Delays in critical energy projects like Cascade and Genesee expansion contributed to the vulnerability of Alberta's grid system.

Webinar on The Battery Mineral Loop

Renewable Revolution • 119 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  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.

Storage Units

Doomberg • 6525 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Transitioning solely to renewable energy sources is risky because no region has successfully operated a reliable grid using only wind and solar power.
  2. Building storage systems, like batteries, is expensive and may not solve the issues of reliability when renewables aren't producing energy.
  3. Conducting small-scale experiments at home can help individuals understand how much backup power they really need when the grid is unstable.

What happened to global carbon emissions this year?

Sustainability by numbers • 563 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Fossil CO2 emissions went up by about 1% this year. This increase is concerning because we really need those numbers to start going down.
  2. On a positive note, emissions from land use changed and decreased, which helps balance out the rise in fossil emissions. Factors like lower deforestation rates have contributed to this decline.
  3. Despite some positive trends, it's clear we are not on track to meet the 1.5°C climate goal. We need much faster reductions in emissions to limit global warming effectively.

Pushing Back, Short-Term and Long

The Crucial Years • 3667 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. This is a tough time for climate and social justice activists, with funding cuts causing chaos and uncertainty.
  2. There's a rising movement and resolve against harmful policies and actions, with people actively rallying and making their voices heard.
  3. Despite the challenges, the cost of clean energy is falling, giving us a promising opportunity to shift toward renewable resources and fight for change.

Will oil and gas consumption keep rising through 2050?

Sustainability by numbers • 439 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. The IEA's Current Policies Scenario is not a prediction of future events, but a 'what if' model based on existing policies. This means it shouldn't be taken as a definite forecast.
  2. Electric vehicle sales are expected to increase mainly in Europe and China, while the rest of the world might see stagnant growth due to lack of supportive policies and charging infrastructure.
  3. Solar energy deployment is expected to stall at 2024 levels for a long time, but this assumption might be overly conservative given that past projections have often underestimated actual growth.

We Interrupt the Ongoing Crisis for a Smidgen of Good News

The Crucial Years • 3677 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. The new Chinese AI program DeepSeek uses only a small fraction of the electricity needed by similar American AI systems. This could challenge the fossil fuel industry's excuse for building more power plants based on increased energy demands from AI.
  2. Fossil fuel stocks have not been performing well in comparison to the broader market for several years, raising concerns about the industry's future in a world moving towards decarbonization.
  3. In Europe, solar energy has recently outperformed coal for the first time, marking a significant shift towards renewable energy sources in the region.

Survival Illustrated: We're at 90 Pages

OK Doomer • 141 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🚌 Education Renewable Energy
  1. A 90-page PDF of the project is now available with new sections like seed saving and pest management, and the layout has been formalized in InDesign to improve appearance and make printing easier.
  2. The author is moving into sanitation and plans to add more detail on additional crops and batteries, and they’re asking readers for suggestions and typo reports.
  3. They’re planning a ~150-page micro-guide for print by spring covering planting, foraging, rain harvesting, food storage and preservation, emergency sanitation, and basic solar setups, and may release updated print editions annually with an optional dedication page for supporters.

AI Datacenter Energy Dilemma - Race for AI Datacenter Space

SemiAnalysis • 8990 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Renewable Energy
  1. The demand for AI clusters is stressing datacenter capacity and posing challenges for power supply, especially for training with GPUs needing high-speed networking.
  2. The accurate forecast of datacenter power demand associated with the growth in AI infrastructure is essential to plan for necessary infrastructure enhancements and power supply improvements.
  3. Factors like electricity costs, stability of energy supply, and carbon emissions will determine which countries can emerge as leaders in supporting the energy-intensive AI datacenter boom.

Six Things to Know About Your Electric Utility

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 3179 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Utilities have to serve everyone in their area, which limits how much risk they can take on new technologies. They often focus on proven ideas to avoid wasting customer money.
  2. Community opposition can make it really hard for utilities to expand infrastructure. This can slow down projects that are important for energy needs, as people often don’t want facilities near them.
  3. The push for renewable energy is complicated. While renewables can be cheaper, the technology for storing energy isn't perfect yet, leading utilities to still rely on fossil fuels during certain times.

European power reserves: part 2 - aFRR (and how solar is impacting it)

GEM Energy Analytics • 279 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. The automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR) is crucial for keeping the electricity system balanced in Europe, especially in countries like Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
  2. Solar power is increasingly affecting aFRR prices. When there is a lot of solar energy, traditional power plants are less relied upon, which can lead to higher prices for flexibility in power reserves.
  3. As renewable energy grows, power systems will constantly switch between having too much and too little flexibility. This means power reserve prices could go up significantly during sunny periods.

Full Circle

Doomberg • 8635 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Germany's energy strategy has led to a self-induced mess with the dismantling of nuclear reactors and reliance on coal, showing the consequences of climate initiatives on a national scale.
  2. The destruction of Nord Stream pipelines has raised questions about the involvement of political leaders and the lack of clarity or accountability regarding the incidents.
  3. Germany's shift towards expanding gas-fired power plants to compensate for the exit from coal showcases the challenges and complexities of transitioning to sustainable energy sources.

The Incredible Inefficiency of the Fossil Energy System

Renewable Revolution • 339 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  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.

Dirty Secret

Doomberg • 7905 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Global coal demand is smashing records, expected to reach an all-time high in 2023 due to strong demand in emerging economies like India and China.
  2. There seems to be a practical grand bargain between governments and the fossil fuel industry over climate change, with a focus on minimizing coal use in the West and leveraging coal in the developing world.
  3. Despite efforts in renewable energy, coal remains popular due to its cheap, reliable, and storable nature, with the International Energy Agency predicting a decline in demand by 2026 despite current high consumption.

Batteries: how cheap can they get?

aukehoekstra • 262 HN points • 16 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Renewable Energy
  1. Sodium batteries will become significantly cheaper, revolutionizing the electricity grid and boosting the integration of solar and wind energy.
  2. Batteries are continuously improving in terms of production methods and material composition, providing lighter, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective solutions.
  3. Predictions suggest that stationary batteries will become widespread and affordable, reshaping the energy grid into a decentralized and resilient system, supporting renewable energy expansion.

The Eight Deadly Sins of Analyzing the Energy Transition

Renewable Revolution • 1618 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  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.

Climate Change Did Not Cause the L.A. Fires

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2160 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy
  1. Climate change isn't the main cause of the L.A. fires; rather, the amount of flammable material and infrastructure choices play a bigger role. Clearing brush and using fireproof materials in construction can help save areas from fires.
  2. Steven Koonin argues that focusing solely on reducing carbon emissions won't address the immediate fire risks. He believes there are more direct and practical solutions to prevent such disasters.
  3. The discussion highlights differing opinions on climate issues, especially in relation to immediate environmental disasters like wildfires. It's important to consider various factors rather than attributing everything to climate change.

China Can Cause Blackouts In US And Europe Through Solar Inverter Technology, Suggest Officials

Michael Shellenberger • 1105 implied HN points • 16 May 25
🕹 Technology Renewable Energy
  1. Chinese solar inverters can be remotely controlled, raising fears about their use in the US and Europe. This means they could shut down power systems unexpectedly.
  2. There are concerns that Chinese companies must cooperate with their government, which might expose critical infrastructure to risks. This includes sharing data or giving access to foreign authorities.
  3. The growth of solar energy could actually make the power grid more vulnerable to blackouts. More connections might create more weak points that could be targeted in a conflict.