Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 19, 2022

It is more like a straight line from silica mine, to refining factory, to shimmering batch of shining polysilicon ingots, to panel assembly , to a couple decades generating clean electricity—and then, far too often, to a landfill. Among those that are recycled, very few have 100% of their material recovered.

Recycling 300

Recycling Government Renewable Energy Regulations 300

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 25, 2022

Electric vehicles (EVs) can eliminate tailpipe emissions altogether and so are an attractive option for reducing both global-warming and smog-forming air pollution. While EVs can have no tailpipe emissions, there are emissions from electricity generation. Driving on electricity produces far fewer emissions than using gasoline.

Electricity 318

Electricity Air Pollution Climate Change Carbon Emissions 318

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2023

But pre-COVID, most days I used an electric bike to handle the 11-mile round trip to and from the Oakland UCS office. Using an electric bike gave me the opportunity to get to the office as quickly as with a car, with virtually no pollution and the added bonus of some outside time. But why are electric bikes important?

Electricity 305

Electricity Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Recycling 305

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Recovering these materials from retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries is an alternative source to mining. Essentially, the materials recovered through battery recycling can replace future material supply that would otherwise need to be extracted from the earth to meet demand.

Recycling 228

Recycling Electricity Technology Technology 228

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

Importantly, the BIL invests in electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling and repurposing– important strategies for increasing the sustainability of EVs. . The Department of Energy recently announced 10 recycling and repurposing projects that will receive a total of $73.9 million in funding.

Recycling 247

Recycling Electricity Technology Technology 247

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Lithium-ion batteries are essential for decarbonizing transportation through electric vehicles and building a resilient, renewable energy grid through energy storage batteries. Increasing the reuse and recycling of batteries at their end of life is essential to increasing the sustainability of batteries and creating a circular economy.

Recycling 219

Recycling Clean Energy Renewable Energy Electricity 219

Environment + Energy Leader

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

Also, in 2020, all the electricity it purchased to run its plants worldwide came from renewables. The post BMW Is Driven to Cut CO2 Emissions and Rely on Recycled Parts appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. Between 1995 and 2020, BMW reduced its CO2 emissions by 53%.

Recycling 246

Recycling 2030 2020 Electricity 246

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 18, 2025

The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association reports Sycamore International , a successful local electronics recycling company, has expanded its operation into solar reuse and recycling. Sycamore will test solar material, and separate equipment that can be reused from that which needs to be recycled.

Recycling 97

Recycling Solar Power 2025 Electricity 97

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Bidirectional EVs Could Be the New Standard Electric vehicles (EVs) should be a clean transportation and a clean energy solution. This could let drivers use these batteries to power critical appliances during emergencies, their homes during power shutoffs, or even the grid when electricity demand is high.

Fossil Fuels 192

Fossil Fuels Recycling Clean Energy 2004 192

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

From cars and trucks to buses and trains, electric vehicles are playing an increasingly vital role in decarbonizing mobility and reducing oil dependence However, this transition brings with it a significant challenge: the immense pressure on battery supply chains. The current battery supply chain faces several pressing challenges.

Regulations 130

Regulations Recycling Deforestation Clean Energy 130

Environment + Energy Leader

OCTOBER 1, 2022

The post Air Canada Aims to Decarbonize Using Electric-Hybrid Aircraft and Sustainable Aviation Fuels appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. The coalition's mission is to accelerate the deployment and use of sustainable aviation fuel technologies to reach 10% of the global jet aviation fuel supply by 2030.

Electricity 246

Electricity 2030 Technology Technology 246

Environment + Energy Leader

OCTOBER 1, 2022

The post Air Canada Aims to Decarbonize Using Electric-Hybrid Aircraft and Sustainable Aviation Fuels appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. The coalition's mission is to accelerate the deployment and use of sustainable aviation fuel technologies to reach 10% of the global jet aviation fuel supply by 2030.

Electricity 246

Electricity 2030 Technology Technology 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 29, 2023

This transition will require an increase of minerals used in batteries that power our electric vehicles (EVs), trucks, and buses. When these electric transportation modes retire, the batteries’ usefulness continues. Even with diminished capacity, they can be reused, refurbished, or repurposed and then eventually recycled.

Recycling 155

Recycling Electricity Technology Technology 155

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

They demand electricity to charge while climate-fueled disasters are jeopardizing energy reliability. And there is a snowball of retired EV batteries on the horizon without a responsible party in charge of recycling them. EVs are abundant in much of the state, but polluting, old vehicles remain in lower-income neighborhoods.

Nitrogen Oxides 286

Nitrogen Oxides Recycling 2004 Clean Energy 286

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Learn how this Benton, Columbia County-based manufacturer has implemented system controls, electricity management programs, waste heat capture, air quality upgrades, and recycling programs to boost efficiency and sustainability.

Recycling 97

Recycling Waste Electricity 2024 97

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Solar panels generated almost 4 percent of electricity in the US in 2021, up from less than 1 percent in 2015. In some places that number is much higher; for example, 17% of California’s electricity generation came from solar in 2021. Even more encouraging, by 2030, the solar industry aims to generate nearly a third of US electricity.

Carbon Monoxide 307

Carbon Monoxide Electricity Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy 307

Physics World

JUNE 28, 2021

A device that can generate electricity while desalinating seawater has been developed by researchers in Saudi Arabia and China, who claim that their new system is highly efficient at performing both tasks. However, this has typically resulted in a trade-off between efficient electricity generation and efficient desalination.

Electricity 145

Electricity Waste Cooling Solar Power 145

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Last December, the European Union (EU) agreed on a comprehensive battery policy that aims to make electric vehicles (EVs) more sustainable. Included in the regulation are requirements for mineral sourcing, life cycle emissions, information sharing, and recycling.

Law 237

Law Recycling 2030 Regulations 237

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 24, 2023

A global transition to electric transportation is underway and momentum is growing. But what is the outlook for jobs in an electric transportation future? 4 electric vehicle and the VW Tiguan gasoline vehicle. Traditional and new auto manufacturers are bringing more and more models to market.

Electricity 339

Electricity Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Recycling 339

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Rare earth elements, or REEs, are important parts of a wind turbine’s permanent magnets , located in the center of the blades in the electrical box (called the nacelle). Recycling rare earth elements. Supporting rare earth element recycling. Workers in a mine shaft in Bawsaing, Myanmar. Source: Ian Watkinson/Imaggeo.

Recycling 148

Recycling Renewable Energy Technology Technology 148

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 30, 2024

SMRs are nuclear reactors that are “small” (defined as 300 megawatts of electrical power or less), can be largely assembled in a centralized facility, and would be installed in a modular fashion at power generation sites. What are SMRs? Some proposed SMRs are so tiny (20 megawatts or less) that they are called “micro” reactors.

Nuclear Power 363

Nuclear Power Electricity Waste Cooling 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 12, 2022

A wind turbine includes a foundation, a tower, electrical wiring, a nacelle between the blades, and the blades themselves. Can wind turbine blades be recycled? The good news is the steel, iron, aluminum, copper, concrete, and electronic components of wind turbine foundations, towers, and wiring can be completely recycled.

Recycling 234

Recycling Wind Power Technology Technology 234

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 13, 2024

The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads has been increasing at an exceptional rate, reaching 9.5 At this point, there are several great options for the battery: it can be reused, repurposed, or recycled. CA Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Advisory Group report. million EVs sold around the world in 2023.

Recycling 179

Recycling Electricity Waste 2023 179

Environmental Leader

AUGUST 30, 2022

It also hopes to ensure its product supply chain only uses renewable electricity by 2030. . The post Apple Is Tackling Climate Change by Using Renewables, Increasing Recycling, Limiting Waste appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Climate Change 116

Climate Change Recycling Waste 2030 116

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 16, 2023

At that time, even the largest solar arrays in the world measured only in the hundreds of kilowatts, enough to generate the equivalent of the electricity needs of just a few tens of thousands of US households. Last year, solar accounted for almost 5 percent of US electricity. Single projects can be hundreds of megawatts.

Solar Power 296

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Technology 296

Environment + Energy Leader

MAY 3, 2023

The joint venture will help recover valuable reusable materials from batteries as electric vehicles and clean energy use increase in the region.

Recycling 130

Recycling Clean Energy Electricity Waste 130

Circle of Blue

NOVEMBER 1, 2021

This hotly contested referendum is focused on the future of electric power in the region. The electric company Central Maine Power got its state and federal permits and began construction on a high-voltage transmission line called New England Clean Energy Connect. The state of Maine also has a ballot measure linked to water.

2021 278

2021 Electricity Environmental Protection Politics 278

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

19 Public Meeting On Blythe Recycling & Demolition Site Landfill Permit Renewal In Schuylkill County DEP To Hold Dec. Million To 126 Municipalities To Support Local Recycling Programs Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Awards $44,755 In Recycling Mini-Grants PA Resources Council To Hold Nov. 26 to Nov.

Air Pollution 95

Air Pollution Recycling Natural Gas Conservation 95

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 24, 2024

Over the past year, I have written a lot about electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, answering common questions , reviewing the European Union’s gold standard battery recycling policy , and establishing principles for strong EV recycling policy generally. Electric vehicles are the future.

Recycling 148

Recycling Technology Technology Electricity 148

Enviromental Defense

MAY 24, 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) play an important role in reducing carbon pollution from transportation. But there are some false and half true claims being made about electric vehicles. Here we will separate fact from fiction about electric vehicles. Question: Do Electric Cars work in cold weather? grams of CO2 per kilometre.

Electricity 104

Electricity Fossil Fuels 2030 2010 104

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Sleek solar panels forged from silver and silica from the depths of the Earth translate the sun’s blindingly fiery light energy into electricity. While most energy storage for the US electricity grid today is in the form of pumped hydro systems , batteries are a growing piece of the storage pie. Batteries help store surplus energy.

Wind Power 216

Wind Power Renewable Energy Electricity Clean Energy 216

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

On February 8, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority announced it will soon make the switch to solar with the help of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Solar Center’s G.E.T. Businesses that go solar are hedging against volatile electricity pricing because the cost of solar, once the upfront equipment costs are paid, is nearly free.

Recycling 108

Recycling Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy 108

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 17, 2024

PaEN] -- Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay Video: PA Riparian Forest Buffer Projects Plants Its 1,000th Acre! Of Environmental Professionals Host Dec. Million In Grants To Support 307 Recreation, Land Conservation, Tree Planting Projects Across Pennsylvania; Next Grant Round Opens Jan.

Conservation 83

Conservation Electricity Recycling Waste 83

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 10, 2023

Planning for an equitable clean energy and transportation transition in California :   Every success brings new challenges: for example, 1 out of every 5 cars sold in parts of California is electric. based on our Equitable Grid Principles.

Fossil Fuels 268

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 268

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 7, 2024

2023 was a milestone year for electric car sales in the US. Sales figure from VELOZ The top selling passenger car AND top selling light truck in CA in 2023, according to California New Car Dealers Association , were both electric vehicles with the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y taking the top spots…as they also did in 2022.

Electricity 361

Electricity Climate Change 2023 Environmental Protection 361

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 7, 2022

Lithium-ion batteries are efficient, compact, and have a long lifespan – all factors that enable electric vehicles (EVs), which are powered by these batteries, to be a great substitute for their gasoline counterpart. Transportation is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable Energy 234

Renewable Energy Recycling Technology Technology 234

Environment + Energy Leader

DECEMBER 5, 2022

The goal is carbon neutrality for its internal operations and the electricity it produces by 2030. While Vestas conspicuously helps other enterprises achieve their energy goals by making and selling wind turbines, it is quietly trying to decarbonize its internal operations.

2030 264

2030 Electricity Renewable Energy Recycling 264