Ford's F-150 Lightning moves EVs squarely into "Average Joe" consumer-land; Ford & SK Innovation JV'ing on 60 GWh gigafactory; Highview Power inks $1 bn of long-term storage deals; the IEA says we must move a lot faster to attain 1.5 degrees C; Vistra to exit gas plants move to solar/storage; Vestas and friends to develop fully recyclable wind blades.

1) Ford F 150 Lightning has a number of great attributes, including a vehicle-to-house capability, the ability to drive power tools, & a trunk!

2) Ford & SK Innovation launch JV to develop 60 GWh battery plant in U.S.

3) Crogenic storage company Highview Power developing a 350 MW/2.1 GWh set of projects in Spain at $1 bn.

4) IEA: if we want to stay at 1.5°C by 2050, govts are going to have to redouble clean tech efforts. An estimated 630 GW solar and 390 GW of wind needed by 2030, plus storage and EVs.

5) Power plant owner Vistra done with new gas plants putting $1+ bn of solar and battery storage into TX & CA.

6) Vestas and allies achieve full recycling of wind turbine blades by splitting & recycling both fiber and epoxy in composite blades. Plan is to offer a fully-scoped solution ready for industrial adoption within 3 years.

U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shuts down entire network following a ransomware cyber attack - the cyber battlefield widens; CA Q1 EV sales over 9%, with Tesla way in lead; NIO will bring EVs & battery swap network to Norway; AES to supply Google VA data centers w/90% clean energy on hourly basis; Talen Energy jumps into energy storage; Ford drops more money into solid state battery tech; Salesforce requires its suppliers to prove meaningful carbon reduction compliance

1) U.S. pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shuts down network in face of ransomware cyber attack - the cyber battlefield extends to non-state actors

2) CA EV sales at 9% of total. Tesla's Model Y and 3 crush competition

3) NIO to bring EVs and battery swapping network to Norway

4) AES will supply Google w/90% carbon free energy mix on an hourly basis

5) Talen Energy to build out 1 GW of standalone energy storage on existing footprint, w/projects from 20-300 MW

6) Ford with add'l equity investment in Solid Power, developer of solid state EV batteries

7) Salesforce making suppliers prove meaningful carbon reduction compliance. Sustainability Exhibit says suppliers have 90 days to show plan, & one section has remedies related to a "climate breach."

Hawaiian islands posting solid renewables numbers, w/Maui at 50.8%; CAISO briefly hits 94.5 % renewables in April; Australia's solar pushing prices consistently negative in Q1; Hydrostor developing two 500 MW/5,000 MWh compressed air storage facilities in California; Hyundai & We Drive roll out bi-directional charging for 150 vehicles in Netherlands; Kia Motors & SK Innovations to develop a circular economy w/EV batteries; SEIA develops tool to help solar developers verify ethical supply chain.

1) HECO renewables numbers surge, w/Maui at 50.8%, Oahu 30%, Big Island at 43.4%.

2) California notches 94.5% renewables record last Saturday in April.

3) South Australia Q1 market prices between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. were -$12/MWh.

4) Hydrostor developing two 500 MW/5,000 MWh compressed air storage facilities in CA.

5) Hyundai and We Drive testing EV sharing and bi-directional charging w/150 EVs in the Netherlands.

6) Kia Motors and SK Innovations to develop a circular economy around EV batteries.

7) SEIA addresses issue of forced labor, offers tool to help developers trace modules and verify an ethical supply chain.

XLinks eyes 10.5 GW renewables project in Morocco, to connect w/UK via 3.6 GW subsea cable; Chile's 110 MW CSP plant comes online; In (southern) Chile, large green NH3 plant planned; Thyssenkrupp wins green ammonia deal w/CF Industries in LA; Orsted & ATP bid on N Sea wind island; SDG&E goes for two H2 projects; China's Longi exports record 24.53 GW PV panels in Q1; U.S. Q1 sales of pure electric, plug-in hybrids, & hybrids total 7.8% of all sales.

1) UK-based company Xlinks looking to build 10.5 GW wind/solar complex in Morocco, ship power to UK via 2,400 mile, 3.6 GW, HVDC subsea line.

2) 110 MW concentrated solar project connects to grid in northern Chile.

3) Consortium eyes $3 billion green NH3 project in southern Chile, w/1.8-2 GW of wind tied to 1.4 GW electrolyzer.

4) Thyssenkrupp wins 20 MW electrolyzer deal to supply green NH3 to CF Industries' complex in Louisiana by 2023.

5) Ørsted and ATP to jointly bid in upcoming tender for Danish N Sea Island.

6) SDG&E announces storage project & two hydrogen facilities as part of net zero plan.

7) China's LONGi Solar w/2020 PV shipment record of 24.53 GW.

8) U.S. Q1 EVs, plug-ins & hybrids at 7.8% of total sales, up from 4.8% in 2020. Pure EVs at 99,000 vehicles.

Volvo to make 1st cars in world from fossil-free steel; Fiat runs short on batteries, cuts EV productional Turing plant by 1/3; GM & LG Chem in on $2.3 billion investment in 2nd battery factory in Tennessee; NetPower with new turbine to burn CH4 in pure O2 environment, capturing CO2; Chevron jumps into offshore wind game, with focus on new floating wind tech; NERC reports 25% of U.S. reporting utilities downloaded tainted version of SolarWinds software.

1) Volvo will produce cars from Swedish steel co SSAB's hydrogen-based steel.

2) Fiat needs more batteries, cutting weekly output of its EV 500 model from 300 to 210.

3) GM and LG Chem announce a $2.3 billion investment in 2nd battery factory in Tennessee, bringing total output to 70 GWh/yr.

4) NetPower announces plans for two natgas plants combusting methane within a pure oxygen environment, and capturing carbon for storage.

5) Chevron finally throws its immense weight into renewables, to develop a floating offshore wind platform.

6) NERC indicates 25% of U.S. utilities downloaded hacked SolarWinds software. Feds may create NTSB equivalent to formally investigate events and contributing factors, and oversee fixes.

UPS subsidiary Flight Forward to buy 10 vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft; GM continues to investigate new battery tech to cut costs & improve performance; Norway's wealth fund finally buys a big renewable (offshore wind) project; 85% of new cars registered in Norway in March were electric; 6% of new EU bus sales had a plug as well; VW indicates EV bi-directional capability may come as early as next year

1) UPS subsidiary Flight Forward buying 10 vertical take-off & landing electric aircraft. These VTOLs will be used out of Atlanta by 2024 to replace Cessnas that delivery short-haul speed freight.

2) General Motors testing multiple battery chemistries, technologies, and manufacturing processes to make less expensive and better batteries w/longer range.

3) Norway's $1.3 trillion wealth fund commits to buy 50% of 752-MW offshore wind farms from s Ørsted for about $1.6 billion.

4) 85% of all March car registrations in Norway were electric.

5) 6.1% market share of new EU bus registrations were electric.

6) VW's EVs may go bidirectional as early as next year.

Siemens Gamesa gets 1st firm order for 100 of its 14 MW turbines; Orsted announces big offshore wind-to-H2 plan for industry on Dutch/Belgian border; China now up to 550 EV battery swap stations; Finnair looking at buying electric short-haul planes; Biden admin goes big on transmission and transportation in proposed infrastructure bill

1) Siemens Gamesa notches 1st firm order for 100 x 14MW turbines for N. Sea project, online by 2026.

2) Ørsted announces 2GW of offshore wind and 1 GW of electrolyzers to supply H2 to ind'l cluster in Europe.

3) China now has 550 EV battery swap stations.

4) Finnair expresses interest in buying 20 electric short-haul aircraft from Swedish aerospace startup Heart Aerospace.

5) Biden Administration goes big w/infrastructure bill, w/$174 billion plan to "win the EV market," & create domestic supply chain for EVs. It also looks for 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, 50,000 electric transit vehicles, & electrification of at least 20% of school buses. Also an ITC for transmission to catalyze growth of 20 GW of high-voltage lines. The plan targets $180 bn of research investment for "technologies of the future" & $35 bn for research/innovation to address climate change & adaptation.

Biden & team targeting 30 GW of offshore wind; MA w/new climate plan; Britain's Crown Estate developing leasing round for floating wind projects in Celtic Sea; Biden team targeting reduction in solar costs w/R&D investments; NEV PUC approves $2.5 bn 600-mile transmission project to accelerate renewables; Australia adds 31,000 resi batteries in 2020; US DOE launches $75 mn Grid Storage Launchpad facility for long duration storage; NREL black-starts a grid w/batteries & solar

1) Biden Admin looks for 30 GW offshore wind, in line w/targets of East Coast states.

2)MA Governor signs aggressive climate bill w/efficient appliances & buildings, environmental justice, & 5,600 MW offshore wind.

3) Britain's Crown Estate w/new leasing round for floating wind projects in Celtic Sea.

4) Biden administration aiming for 60% reduction in solar costs by 2030;

5) Nevada, PUC OKs $2.5 bn, 600-mile, GreenLink transmission project supporting expansion of renewables.

6) Australia installs 31,000 battery systems in 2020, w/cumulative total at 110,000 installations;

7) DOE readies $75 million Grid Storage Launchpad facility at PNNL in Washington State, w/ 30 research labs;

8) NREL shows batteries & renewables capable of black-starting a power grid.

Renault joins Veolia & Solvay in battery recycling effort; Audi to stop R&D on combustion engines; Texas wind farms lose billions in Feb freeze; CA agencies warn renewable investments vastly insufficient to meet 2045 goals; IRENA warns on similar issue globally, w/$131 tn needed to meet 2050 1.5 degree target; SPP hits new renewable mark; VW lays out EV manifesto w/battery cost reduction of 50% & 6 gigafactories

1) Renault Group teams up w/waste & recycling co Veolia & chemical group Solvay, to recycle li-ion batteries.

2) Audi ceases investments in new internal combustion engines; Mercedes as well.

3) Dozens of Texas wind farms lose billions of dollars in February freeze, owing to contract structures obligating deliveries.

4) CA agencies: state behind in necessary investments for decarbonized grid by 2045. Meanwhile, state IOUs push back against net metering.

5) IRENA cites enormous gap to close if world to stay at 1.5°C target by 2050. Investment must increase to estimated $131 trillion by 2050 to avert catastrophic climate change.

6) SPP sets new renewables record (wind) at 81.39% on 3/14.

7) VW's Power Day highlights plan for six 40 GWh battery factories in Europe, w/battery cost cutting goal of 50%.

GM plans evolution to lithium metal batteries; DOE to focus on battery technology research; offshore Vineyard Wind project moves through federal environmental review; VW to increase emphasis on recycling battery materials; Salzgitter AG to create wind-to-hydrogen steel plant

1) GM President Mark Reuss indicates company will evolve battery tech to lithium metal.

2) DOE will devote billions of dollars to new EV and battery R&D through its Loan Program Office, a strategic move to claw back some dominance from China.

3) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management completes analysis of 800-MW Vineyard Wind Project off Massachusetts.

4) VW increases focus on recycling used batteries, initiating a pilot battery recycling program in Salzgitter, Germany.

5) Salzgitter AG, one of Europe's largest steel producers, announces wind-to-hydrogen steel plant, w/30-MW wind farm & two Siemens 1.25-MW electrolyzers. Goal is to eliminate carbon in iron ore smelting and reduce CO2 emissions by around 95% by 2050.

Xcel files plan to build $1.7bn, 560 mile line to coordinate w/3 utilities to bring CO renewables to load centers; six SE US utilities to collaborate in build-out of EV charging network; Texas actors squabble as ratepayers suffer; Highview power advances liquid air long-duration storage.

1) Xcel Energy files a plan w/regulators $1.7 billion 560-mile transmission project to move renewable energy to load, will collaborate w/3 other utilities.

2) FERC Chair Richard Click says U.S. won't reach GHG goals w/o high-voltage transmission lines to integrate more renewables.

3) AEP, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy, Southern Co, & TVA create Electric Highway Coalition to develop network of EV fast chargers across SE U.S.

4) Texas actors point fingers, w/gas & utility operators disagreeing on root causes. W/o intelligent & combined oversight, don't expect improvements soon.

5) ERCOT is in a bind, and $2.5 billion short-paid. Moody's downgrades and notes current protocols dictate uplift payments will be recouped in 80 years (not a typo).

6) Frozen air storage company Highview Power claims a dozen firm projects in pipeline, at roughly 400 MW and 4 GWh. Another 60 projects possible. Let's hope some are in Texas.

Montgomery County, MD to lease 326 bi-directional e-buses; Hydrogen Council reports 228 H2 projects in pipeline, w/value > $300 billion; FERC gives prelim approval to 2.2 GW, $3.6 billion Navajo Energy Storage pumped-hydro project; NY's Port of Albany eyeing $200 mn facility to manufacture offshore wind towers; Dragos reports growing number of state-sponsored cyber actors, w/increased focus on utilities; USPS awards Oshkosh 10-yr contract for electric delivery vehicles

1) Montgomery County votes to lease 326 e-buses that will be bi-directional.

2) Hydrogen Council counts 228 H2 projects in pipeline, worth $300 bn, w/concentration in Europe.

3)FERC issues permit for 2.2 GW, $3.6 billion Navajo Energy Storage pumped-hydro project, w/transmission from now-defunct Navajo coal plant, w/10 hours of supply to markets in AZ, CA, & NV. Water to come from Lake Powell.

4) NY Port of Albany looking at $200 mn factory for offshore wind towers, w/ up to 150 manuf'd annually over anticipated 30-year period.

5)Cybersecurity firm Dragos sees increase in new threat groups, w/growing focus on power sector.

6) USPS awards Oshkosh Defense contract to delivery betw 50,000 & 165,000 electric delivery vehicles over 10 yrs.

Norway's TECO 2030 planning on fuel cell gigafactory for ship propulsion; Vestas investing in a wooden wind tower company to decarbonize supply chain; Ford going all in on EVs in Europe, with completely all-electric lineup by 2030; geothermal company Eavor gets a $40 million investment from BP, Chevron others to advance its novel geothermal loop technology.

1) Norwegian company TECO 2030 to build a fuel cell 'giga factory' to serve ships, with 1.2 GW of output per year. A 3x400-kW maritime fuel cell set-up will be deployed in vessels.

2) Vestas investing in a wooden wind tower company Modvion to decarbonize its supply chain. Modvion makes laminated veneer lumber towers that are assembled modular fashion on site, claiming ability to reach 120 meters.

3) Ford fully committed to EVs in Europe, with all passenger vehicles in Europe to be all-electric by 2030. Company will spend $1 billion of to convert Cologne, Germany plant into first European EV facility.

4) Geothermal company Eavor gets $40 million investment from BP, Chevron, others for horizontally drilled, miles-long, deep geothermal loops. This tech requires no pumps and creates dispatchable electricity supply.

ERCOT struggles w/cold, resorts to rotating outages; Australia eyeing 1.2 GW battery; UK awards 8 GW of offshore wind; MA considering RFP for 1,600 MW offshore wind; Vestas announces 15 MW turbine; GE wins $6.7 mn DOE grant for printing of 3D blades; Australia adds 2.6 GW of rooftop PV; US ITC votes to ban battery maker SK Innovation from US mkt, leaving Ford & VW scrambling; Shell says peak oil behind it

1) Temps plummeted & wholesale prices hit $9,000/MWh as ERCOT system struggled, leaving millions w/o power. All types of assets failed, including wind, gas, coal, & perhaps nukes

2) Australian developer secures 30-year lease for 1.2 GW battery in New South Wales, but it's competing w/govt's planned 1 GW gas facility

3) UK awards 8 GW offshore wind to RWE, BP, EnBW, Total, Grupo COBRA 7 Flotation Energy

4) Massachusetts drafting RFP for up to 1,600 MW offshore wind

5) Vestus introduces 15.0 MW offshore turbine

6) GE scores $6.7 million DOE award for research, design, & manufacture 3D-printed wind blades

7) Australian rooftop solar up 18% in 2020, w/334,000 installs & 2.6 GW

8) US ITC votes to ban electric battery supplier SK Innovation from the US. Bad news for Ford and VW

9) Shell confirms peak oil in 2019

Ford announces major new commitment to EVs and autonomous driving; U.S. e-bus fleet starts to grow; Vineyard Wind permitting back on track; Denmark greenlights artificial offshore wind island; South Korea targets world's largest offshore wind project; China with modular wind tower at 170 meters; and German researchers create hydrogen storage paste.

1) Ford to increase EV investments from $11.5 billion to $22 billion w/ add'l $7 billion for autonomous vehicles.

2) U.S. now has 1,000 full-size electric transit buses, w/ another 1,775 on order, led by CA.

3) US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to resume review for 800 MW Vineyard Wind 1 project, after Vineyard swaps out 9.5 MW Vestas machines for 13 MW GEs turbines.

4) Denmark moves forward w/artificial island energy hub, 50 miles off shore: Phase one w/ about 3,000 MW, & full buildout of 10,000 MW.

5) S. Korea planning on $43.2 billion 8.2 GW offshore wind complex.

6) Spanish infrastructure company Esteyco completing a telescoping wind tower in China's Henan province, w/170 meter hub height.

7) Fraunhofer researchers in Dresden, Germany have developed a hydrogen storage paste they claim offers high energy densities with applicability for vehicles.

(There is an audio glitch at 1:05 but is only lasts 10 seconds - Sorry)

Saudi Arabia aims to lead in hydrogen exports; GM aspires to produce only electrics by 2035; EV sales notch record gains in 2020; So do global corporate PPAs; BlackRock continues to push on carbon

1) Saudi Arabia plans to be the biggest exporter of hydrogen on earth, starting w/blue hydrogen & moving to green. First blue H2 cargo went to Japan in 9/20.

2) GM announces "aspirational plans" to phase out production of internal combustion vehicles by 2035 and to be carbon neutral by 2040.

3) The IEA's preliminary numbers: 2020 global EV sales soared to over 3 million, w/market share of over 4%, & cumulative 10 million EVs to date. ICE sales fell by 14-15%.

4) BNEF: corporations notched record 23.7 GW of green PPAs in 2020, up 18%, w/130 different cos in mix. U.S. purchases down from 14.1 GW to 11.9 GW, but MENA countries crushed it, going from 2.6 GW to 7.2 GW.

5) BlackRock (almost $8 tn worth of assets under management) CEO Larry Fink comments the reallocation of assets in the sustainable space happening faster than anticipated, w/$228 bn invested in 1st 11 months of 2020, up 90% YOY. Warns, "There's no company whose business model won't be profoundly affected by the transition to a net zero economy."

Vattenfall converting site of 1,600 MW coal plant to H2 hub; Thyssen Krupp nails big electrolyzer contract in Quebec; Nel forecasts huge cut in electrolyzer costs; Biden Administration to revise social cost of carbon to guide policy decisions; 2020 sees half trillion dollars in cleantech investments; UAE to make green aluminum from solar power

1) Vattenfall to convert 1,600 MW German coal plant near Hamburg, Germany into hydrogen hub, w/100 MW of electrolyzers.

2) ThyssenKrupp secures HQ order for 88 MW H2 plant, ready by late 2023.

3) Norwegian electrolyzer company Nel plans to cut the costs of electrolyzers by 75% in new 2 GW facility. Assuming cost of renewables at $20 per MWh, Nel projects green H2 at $1.50/kg by 2025, on par with gray H2.

4) Biden Administration tells federal agencies to review and update "social cost" of carbon, as part of decision-making process.

5) Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports 2020 clean energy tech investments hit a record $501 billion, w/$300 billion in renewables and $140 billion in EVs and infrastructure.

6) The UAE will produce aluminum using solar energy, w/560 GWh of solar to yield 40,000 tons of aluminum, & scope for significant expansion.

Massachusetts Climate Bill vetoed by Gov Baker; Equinor to test open sea floating solar; Total & Engie team up on French hydrogen project; Equinor scores huge offshore wind deal in NY; Kauai goes for more solar plus pumped hydro, boosting total renewable supply to 80%

1) Mass Gov Baker vetoes Legislature's climate bill.

2) Equinor to test an open ocean floating solar tech in the North Sea.

3) Total & Engie commit to French H2 project w/40 MW electrolyzer and 100 MW of PV too produce 5 tons of green hydrogen daily.

4) Equinor scores big in NY offshore wind deal(s) at 2.5 GW.

5) Kauai signs w/AES to develop a 35 MW PV system joined with 240 MWh of pumped hydro-energy storage, boosting island share of renewables to over 80% (from 55% by the end of 2019).

NIO announces ET7 sedan w/new 150 KWh solid state battery w/625 miles range; German crushes Dec EV sales; Orsted et al. announce grant for offshore wind/H2 in N. Sea; DOE Sunshot Initiative 10 yrs on; MA goes all in on climate, offshore wind, and EVs

1) NIO Day in China: NIO announces sedan w/solid state battery at 625 miles of range by 2022, & amped up battery swap program (1.5 mn swaps to date).

2) Germany nails 43,000+ EV sales in Dec, 660% over prior Dec. In 2020 194,000 EVs sold (13.5% of all new cars)

3) Ørsted, Siemens Gamesa, ITM Power, & Element Energy garner €5 million funding to pilot combined wind turbine and electrolyzer system on offshore platform.

4) Ten years on, US DOE SunShot Initiative did pretty well, Aimed at cutting installed solar costs by 2020 to $1/W for utility-scale PV, $1.25/W for com'l rooftop, and $1.50/W for resi rooftop, they hit the utility numbers. Commercial resi was in mid-$2 range, and resi around $3, held back by economies of scale but also permitting, interconnection, and inspection costs.

5) MA passes climate legislation calling for 2050 net zero emissions, and setting 5-year targets. Offshore wind goal now at 5,600 MW & all new cars sold must be electric by 2025.