11.9 GW of wind capacity installed in the Americas in 2018
Total installed wind capacity in North, Central, and South America increased to 135 gigawatts (GW) in 2018 with the addition of 11.9 GW of new wind capacity, an increase of 12% on 2017.
Nations
Grid-scale solar power tripled in Australia in 2018 as renewables met 20% of energy output
“2018 will go down as the year that fossil fuels began an inexorable decline in Australia’s electricity supply.”
The U.S. Postal Service begins piloting its first ever all-electric vans
The first vehicle in the 1-year pilot is already running parcels around in Fresno, California, with 3 of the remaining vehicles planned for deployment in Fresno and the 3 remaining vehicles being deployed in Stockton later this year.
U.K. carbon emissions down 37% since 1990
A final report of the U.K.’s carbon emissions from 1990-2017 has found that CO2 levels have fallen again.
Germany to close all 84 of its coal-fired power plants by 2038
Germany, one of the world’s biggest consumers of coal, will shut down all 84 of its coal-fired power plants over the next 19 years to meet its international commitments in the fight against climate change, a government commission said.
Renewables in Britain to overtake fossil fuels by 2020
The renewable energy sector in Britain saw levels of generation increase by 12.7 TWh (15%) in 2018, subsequently impacting levels of conventional power generation fell by 7% from 140.3 TWh in 2017.
U.S. coal retirements in 2019 to hit at least 6 gigawatts
The U.S. Energy Information Administration also believes that around 13.7 GW of coal was retired in 2018, the second-highest amount of coal capacity retired in a year.
2018 Congressional Farm Bill effectively legalizes hemp in the U.S.
Promoters have long extolled the virtue of the grassy weed as one of the cheapest and most important crops for solving the world’s problems around sustainability and health with it’s alleged ability to treat numerous symptoms and diseases.
India plans to add 500 GW of renewable energy capacity within 10 years
India will auction off 40 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind capacity every year until 2028, part of the country’s goal to produce 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
U.S. wind power to exceed hydropower in 2019 for first time ever
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects wind energy capacity to increase from 96 GW at the end of 2018 to 107 GW by the end of 2019, and 114 GW by the end of 2020.