Interesting Ideas

When President Donald Trump decided to stop practically the entire US offshore wind industry in its tracks, he achieved the expected outcomes in terms of lost jobs and missed opportunities to harvest more kilowatts from the sea. Nevertheless, the global wind industry continues to flex its muscles, and the latest ... [continued]

The post US Misses The Offshore Wind Boat And Aquaculture, Too (Shocker!) appeared first on CleanTechnica.

New electric cars from BMW and Mercedes target the hottest segment of the new car market -- family capable SUVs.

The post BMW & Mercedes Offer Family Friendly Electric Cars appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Rich Stockdale says model of ‘regenerative capitalism’ would maximise profits by planting trees, restoring peatlands, and installing windfarms across its estates

The founder of an investment firm buying large estates across Britain to restore woods and peatland has said it is “unashamedly and proudly” capitalist, and plans to make tens of millions of pounds in profit.

Rich Stockdale, the chief executive of Oxygen Conservation, said his model of “regenerative capitalism” was a “force for good” because it would offer investors significant profits by planting trees, restoring peatlands, operating solar farms and holiday homes and installing new windfarms across its estates.

Studies show crustaceans can learn, remember, solve problems and form relationships

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Crustaceans are a festive season staple for many families, particularly in Australia where an estimated 18.5m kilograms of prawns and more than 150,000 lobsters are eaten over Christmas and new year.

Globally, trillions are caught and consumed each year. Australia is a major producer, with prawn, lobster and crab industries valued at more than $1bn.

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For all the doom and gloom settling over the vehicle electrification movement in the US, a few bright spots continue to seep through. The latest news involves a new EV from the California-based global automaker Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. — wait, Faraday who? The Long Road To Faraday Future ... [continued]

The post It’s A Heckuva Good Time To Launch A New EV In The US, Says Faraday Future appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Thousands of farms set to go bankrupt as grain farmers in particular hit by trade disruptions caused by price hikes

Donald Trump, having promised to “NEVER LET OUR FARMERS DOWN”, appeared to come through for them this month when he unveiled a $12bn aid package. Industry leaders say thousands of farms will still go bust this year.

While the US president has vowed to increase domestic farm production, and even claimed this formed a “big part” of his plan to lower grocery prices for Americans, many US farmers are grappling with mounting financial issues – compounded by Trump’s agenda.

India has been somewhat disappointing in its transportation electrification. It’s a bit funny, or strange, since the country announced several years ago it was going to be the first 100% electric nation, and it is ridiculously far away from that while Norway is basically already there and China is more ... [continued]

The post India Gets 7-Seat Electric SUV for … $32,900! appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Unexpected arrival is a boon for birdlife in New Zealand, where there are only 500 takahē left

A pair of rare native New Zealand takahē birds who were believed infertile have stunned staff at the world’s largest urban eco-sanctuary, after hatching a “miracle” chick.

The roughly seven-week old chick was discovered inside Zealandia, a fully fenced eco-sanctuary 10 minutes from Wellington’s city centre, in November, but its arrival has been a closely guarded secret to ensure its safety.

VinSpeed High-Speed Railway Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, a unit of Vietnam’s Vingroup conglomerate, has signed a strategic cooperation and technology transfer agreement with Siemens Mobility GmbH to advance high-speed rail development in Vietnam. The accord, agreed in Hanoi on December 17, establishes a framework for technology transfer, design ... [continued]

The post High-Speed Train Coming to Vietnam Soon appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Hyundai Motor unveiled two documentary films showcasing the achievements of its cooperation with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) across 12 countries One film sheds light on WFP’s operations in the Philippines and the role of donated Hyundai IONIQ 5 electric vehicles (EVs) in those efforts The other film shows ... [continued]

The post Hyundai Motor Highlights WFP Partnership Achievements in Films on IONIQ 5’s Role in Sustainable Humanitarian Operations appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The first ever mass deployment of mother reef bricks aims to rebuild habitats – and could reshape the North Sea

Allie Wharf’s career unfolded amid conflict. As a senior foreign producer for Newsnight, she reported on Iraq and Afghanistan. Just two years ago, she was filming mass graves in Ukraine.

But burnt out by wars, and after a detour farming ducks in Tanzania, Wharf has now settled on the quiet north Norfolk coast. Here, alongside her life and business partner, Willie Athill, she has embarked on a different kind of mission: the creation of Europe’s largest natural oyster reef.

Milder weather led to a bloom in the invertebrates in south Cornwall and Devon, wildlife charity says

Record numbers of sightings of one of the world’s most intelligent invertebrates over the summer have led the Wildlife Trusts to declare 2025 “the year of the octopus” in its annual review of Britain’s seas.

A mild winter followed by an exceptionally warm spring prompted unprecedented numbers of Mediterranean octopuses to take up residence along England’s south coast, from Penzance in Cornwall to south Devon.

As rising seas salinise the soils of the Venice lagoon, scientists and chefs are turning to long-forgotten wild herbs

On the scrubby banks of the rural swathes of the Venice lagoon, an evening chorus of cicadas underscores the distant whine of farmers’ three-wheeled minivans. Dotted along the brackish fringes of the cultivated plots are scatterings of silvery-green bushes – sea fennel.

This plant is a member of a group of remarkable organisms known as halophytes – plant species that thrive in saltwater. Long overlooked and found growing in the in-between spaces – saltmarshes, coastlines, the fringes of lagoons – halophytes straddle boundaries in both ecosystems and cuisines. But with shifting agricultural futures, this may be about to change.

Restaurants, bars and shops are happy to be back after Storm Claudia – but there are fears for the future

“It was heart-wrenching,” says Andrea Sholl, recalling the Friday night last month when flood waters started rising inside Bar 125, the restaurant she and her husband, Martin, own in the Welsh border town of Monmouth.

The Sholls and a couple of colleagues were still clearing up after a busy evening serving diners when the building started to fill with water at about 1am.

Waymo has gotten into the holiday spirit and is trying to attract more riders — or at least reward and brighten the days of existing riders — with a special Mariah Carey holiday mode. “We’re thrilled to launch our latest artist collaboration with award-winning global superstar, songwriter, singer, best-selling author ... [continued]

The post Waymo Tries to Pull in More Riders with Mariah Mode appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Researchers have realised the records are a ‘goldmine’ to study changes in environmental conditions

Yangang Xing had never heard of organ-tuning books, but his colleague Andrew Knight often played the pipe organ at churches as a teenager.

When the pair, who are researchers at Nottingham Trent University, set out to study how environmental conditions in churches had changed over time, Knight explained that all over the country many organs had notebooks full of data tucked away in their recesses.

This article was first published by The Reengineer

November saw plugin EVs take 38.4% share of the UK auto market, up from 35.3% year-on-year. BEVs grew in volume by just 3.6% YoY, while PHEVs grew 15%. Overall auto volume was 151,154 units, down some 2% YoY. Tesla was the UK’s leading BEV brand for the month. November’s sales ... [continued]

The post EVs Take 38.4% Share Of The UK – Ford Makes Push appeared first on CleanTechnica.

River Dart, Devon: It probably came here for the shoals of grey mullet, but just for a second, it’s more interested in me and my paddleboard

There’s a lull between the storms, and for the first time in days it’s calm enough to take out my stand-up paddleboard. It’s 7.30am, and on this sheltered tidal creek on the River Dart, the water is barely moving: a gentle pulse in the scum line along the beach is the last gasp of the tide’s energy.

When I join the main course of the Dart, the water state changes. Here the river is thick with leaves and smashed twigs, and it’s moving with purpose. A day’s worth of Dartmoor rain is flowing downstream, encouraged by the tide, which has just begun to ebb. I shorten my stroke, working hard to maintain momentum. My aim is to paddle a couple more masochistic kilometres upriver, then turn and enjoy an effortless glide downstream.

November saw plugin EVs take 98.4% share in Norway, up from 94.9% year on year. BEVs alone took 97.6% share. Overall auto volume was 19,889 units, up some 70% YoY. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in November. November’s auto market saw combined EVs take 98.4% share in ... [continued]

The post EVs Take 98.4% Share In Norway – BEV Fleet Overtakes Diesel appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Zambia’s grid is mostly powered by renewables. 87% of its installed capacity, which now stands at around 3.9GW, is from renewables. In terms of the contribution from renewables to electricity generation, about 93% of the renewable component is from hydro, and 6% from solar. Overall, renewables contributed 89% of the ... [continued]

The post Zambia Wants To Add 2.3MW Of Solar Coupled With A 4.16MWh Battery To Each One Of The Country’s 156 Constituencies appeared first on CleanTechnica.