Microsoft has announced a strategic investment in Fortera, a green cement manufacturer, through its Climate Innovation Fund (CIF). The deal secures Microsoft access to Fortera’s ReAct™ low-carbon cement and environmental attribute certificates (EACs), marking a decisive step in the company’s effort to reduce embodied carbon in its datacenter construction footprint. Cement accounts for roughly 7–8% of global CO₂ emissions, making this sector one of the most critical targets for deep decarbonization.

France has taken a major step toward its energy transition with the selection of the consortium led by TotalEnergies, alongside RWE, as the winner of the Centre Manche 2 (AO8) offshore wind tender. Located more than 40 kilometers off the coast of Normandy, this 1.5 gigawatt project will be the largest renewable energy development in France’s history. Once operational, the wind farm will generate around 6 terawatt-hours of green electricity annually, enough to power over one million households, at a competitive rate of €66 per megawatt-hour.

Eco Wave Power Global AB (NASDAQ: WAVE), a frontrunner in onshore wave energy innovation, has announced the inauguration of Israel’s first pilot station harnessing sea waves to generate electricity. This historic event will take place on December 5, 2024, at Warehouse 2 in Jaffa Port, marking a transformative moment in the nation’s renewable energy landscape. Collaborating with EDF Renewables IL, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, and Atarim, Eco Wave Power has crafted a global milestone that not only underscores the viability of wave energy but also Tel Aviv-Yafo’s stature as a hub for technological and environmental innovation.

From food security to defence, project milestone ensures independence of supply chain at time of geo-political uncertainty LONDON, Sept. 9, 2024 - A mining project qualified to be fast tracked by the Norwegian Government is now set to secure critical and strategic minerals, (essential for food security, semiconductors, batteries for EVs, green technologies and defense), having achieved a major milestone which proves the project’s viability. With growth in demand but a reliance on a limited number of producers, such as China and Russia, the creation of a new integrated value chain for critical raw materials in Europe has become a strategic imperative.

The Rockefeller Foundation has unveiled a groundbreaking report highlighting an urgent “Green Power Gap” of 8,700 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable energy that must be generated by 2050 across 72 countries. This report underscores the critical necessity for these nations, predominantly in Africa and Asia, to transition from traditional, inefficient power systems to sustainable energy solutions to meet global development and climate objectives. The report, titled “Green Power Gap: Achieving an Energy Abundant Future for Everyone,” identifies 44 African nations and 20 Asian countries among those needing to bridge this substantial energy shortfall.

As the world grapples with the dual challenges of climate change and energy security, the surge in renewable energy adoption marks a significant turning point in our global landscape. This transformation is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic and social revolution, reshaping industries, communities, and international relations. Recent data highlights an unprecedented rise in the installation and utilization of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydropower. Countries across the globe are setting ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions and transition towards greener energy solutions.

The recent GAO report, “Critical Minerals: Status, Challenges, and Policy Options for Recovery from Nontraditional Sources” (GAO-24-106395), highlights the United States’ reliance on foreign nations, including adversaries, for critical minerals essential for manufacturing and defense. The report identifies nontraditional domestic sources, such as mining wastes, coal by-products, and geothermal brines, as viable alternatives to traditional mining. The recovery of critical minerals from nontraditional sources presents several benefits. These include increased independence from foreign suppliers, stabilization of mineral prices, and the reuse of existing industrial sites, which can reduce environmental impacts associated with new mining operations.

National Geographic announced today an unprecedented collaboration with the world’s foremost natural historian, Sir David Attenborough, to create a feature-length documentary about the state of the world’s oceans. The 98-year-old broadcaster will present and author “DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: OCEAN” (working title), aiming to educate and inspire a global audience about the critical need to restore Earth’s vast, interconnected waters. The documentary, produced by Silverback with support from All3Media International, Ocean Ten Media, Minderoo Productions, National Geographic Society, Pristine Seas, Don Quixote ASBL, and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, is set to debut in theaters in 2025.

PERTH, Australia, July 15, 2024 - Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) and Rio Tinto have agreed to pursue the development of an 80MW solar farm on Ngarluma Country, near Karratha, to supply renewable energy to the company’s iron ore operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The solar farm is the first proposed project the Ngarluma people and Rio Tinto will pursue after a memorandum of understanding was signed to explore opportunities for renewable energy projects on Ngarluma Country.

BRUSSELS, July 12, 2024 - Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, is happy to announce the supply of its state-of-the-art liquid-cooled BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) solution, the PowerTitan, for the 800MWh Vilvoorde BESS project in Belgium. The project will be developed by ENGIE, an international utility group who is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. The system will be one of the largest ever installed in Europe with a power capacity of 200MW/800MWh and is the first BESS project Sungrow will supply in Belgium.