Exploring the $1.8 trillion global investments in clean energy, the podcast discusses challenges in reaching net zero targets and the rise of geoengineering. It delves into hydrogen-powered vehicles, grid enhancing technologies, and the obstacles in utilizing hydrogen for industrial use.
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Quick takeaways
Investments in clean energy are growing rapidly but still far from what's needed for net-zero goals.
Geo-engineering gaining traction as a climate solution, but raises concerns about risks and ethical implications.
Deep dives
Geo-engineering gaining traction in climate discussions
Geo-engineering techniques like stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening are gaining attention as potential solutions to combat climate change. While these methods offer promise in reflecting sunlight and reducing temperatures, they also pose significant risks politically and scientifically. The shift towards considering geo-engineering reflects the urgency to address climate challenges but raises concerns about the unintended consequences and ethical implications of altering the atmosphere.
Hydrogen-powered cars facing challenges in California
The closure of hydrogen refueling stations for passenger cars in California signals potential hurdles for hydrogen-powered vehicles. With limited demand and infrastructure support, hydrogen-powered cars like Toyota's Marai have struggled to gain widespread adoption. This development suggests that electric vehicles may be a more viable and practical alternative for passenger transportation.
Grid enhancing technologies revolutionizing energy infrastructure
Grid enhancing technologies (GATS) are proving instrumental in optimizing energy grid capacity and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources. Reports indicate that GATS could enable significant new solar, wind, and storage projects while offering substantial cost savings across energy markets. By leveraging GATS, utilities can enhance grid efficiency and accommodate the rising demand for clean energy solutions.
Exploring the potential of geologic hydrogen extraction
The emerging trend of geologic hydrogen extraction, also known as white hydrogen, is gaining momentum in the energy sector. Companies like Colama are securing substantial investments to research and develop geologically stored hydrogen resources. While the feasibility and economic viability of this technology remain uncertain due to challenges in extraction and transportation, increased attention and investment indicate a promising future for geologic hydrogen as a potential energy source.
Global investments in the energy transition – from the buildout of factories and power projects to project finance and government debt – hit nearly $1.8 trillion last year.
That’s almost as big as the GDP of South Korea. It’s nearly 20% more than the year before, and nearly eight times more than a decade ago. But even with those record levels of spending, we are astonishingly behind what’s needed to stay on a net-zero trajectory this decade.
This week, we’ll talk about what’s growing, what’s lagging, and what the trillion-dollar scale means at the ground level.
Then, geoengineering is nudging closer to the mainstream of scientific and environmental discourse. Are we giving up, or just being realistic?