BIZARRE: 10 - What They Never Told You

India's power system just passed a historic tipping point

India’s clean energy capacity has crossed fossil-fuel capacity for the first time, with 331.7 GW of clean capacity versus 302 GW of fossil-fuel capacity, according to Ember and Global Energy Monitor data. However, coal still dominates electricity generation, supplying around 70% of India’s power, because coal plants can operate continuously…

The Economic Times · Aug 17

South Africa is overlooking solar technology that can keep generating electricity after sunset

South Africa’s coal-fired power stations are retiring. The country must replace a huge amount of electricity over the next two decades. Currently, coal still supplies 74% of the country’s power. But the government’s national energy plan has largely overlooked one technology South Africa is particularly suited to build: concentrating solar…

The Conversation · Aug 16

Gulag prisoners built this town during WW2, it grew into a USSR mining centre of over 10,000 people; before the end of the Soviet era brought its decline in 1996

Once a vibrant Soviet town dedicated to coal mining during World War II, Kadykchan was home to a lively community complete with schools and houses. Its downfall was triggered by the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, further exacerbated by the mine's closure in 1996. Now, it lies deserted, serving as…

The Economic Times · Aug 15

Coal demand to touch 1.6 bn tonnes by 2030; need transparent, market-driven pricing: Official

India's coal consumption is set to hit 1.6 billion tonnes by 2030, prompting the need for clear market-oriented pricing strategies. Establishing a coal exchange will create a neutral trading ground for buyers and sellers, enabling fair price determination. This initiative aligns with the nation's goals of enhancing energy reliability and…

The Economic Times · Aug 14

Could Germany run some of its coal-fired power plants longer?

Germany delayed an interim report on its lignite power exit, raising market expectations. This delay allows for assessing gas plant tenders and potential security of supply risks. The government can extend lignite plant operations until 2033 if needed. Germany faces challenges ensuring consistent power supply due to intermittent renewables. Opposition…

The Economic Times · Aug 14

In 2021, an Ohio family set out to restore 60 acres of abandoned mine land; five years later, native trees are bringing it back to life

In a small rural corner of Jackson County, Ohio, where the hills still bear the scars of coal mining, one family chose to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary this year not with fireworks or parades, but with shovels, seedlings and a promise to heal the land. Their 60-acre property, a former…

The Times of India · Aug 14

Govt's Rs 7,280 crore rare earth magnet scheme draws 20 bids, including L&T, Coal India, ReNew

Twenty bids were received for the government's rare earth magnet manufacturing scheme. This initiative aims to establish 6,000 metric tonnes of domestic production capacity. The scheme will support industries like electric vehicles and renewable energy sectors. It seeks to build a complete value chain from oxide to finished magnets. The…

The Economic Times · Aug 13

Coal washery workers celebrate pay agreement after lockouts

Nineteen workers have stared down months of lockouts.

Newcastle Herald · Aug 13

India fuels worldwide jump in planned coal production

Rise in new mine proposals, mainly in states of Odisha and Jharkhand, comes despite plateau in global demand

The Guardian - UK · Aug 13

In 1969, US engineers buried an experimental nuclear reactor under a grassy mound in Nebraska; the reactor still lies underground today

In the late 1950s, the United States Atomic Energy Commission built an experimental nuclear power plant near the small town of Hallam, Nebraska, hoping to prove that a sodium-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor could reliably generate electricity for the commercial grid. It never quite worked as planned. Persistent technical failures forced operators…

The Times of India · Aug 12