Energy

How telecoms can control energy costs as 5G expands – Business Insider

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How telecoms can control energy costs as 5G expands – Business Insider

Everybody knows that 5G is a hot commodity, but the telecom gear that enables it requires a considerable array of heat-emitting and power-consuming infrastructure. While energy consumption per unit of data — a key industry metric — is lower for 5G than 4G, 5G's increased data input means it uses 3.5 times more power than 4G. Though the race is on to deploy 5G network infrastructure, telecom providers recognize that power costs are rising for 5G gear such as base stations and massive antenna arrays.

Some good news for the coal industry for a change. 

NPR

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California’s Ancient Redwoods Face New Challenge From Wildfires And Warming Climate : NPR

After this year's historic wildfires, California's oldest state park — Big Basin Redwoods — looks more like a logging village than an iconic hiking and camping mecca.

There's a near constant buzz of chainsaws. Rumblings from trucks and logging skidders fill the air as crews busily cut charred, fallen trees and chop down "hazard trees" rangers worry will topple on to the park's roadways.

It's estimated the wildfire, awkwardly named the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, burned through 97% of Big Basin's more than 18,000 acres, scorching its 4,400 acres of ancient redwoods and obliterating most of the park's infrastructure for camping and recreation.

When might the world exceed 1.5C and 2C of global warming? | Carbon Brief

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Analysis: When might the world exceed 1.5C and 2C of global warming? | Carbon Brief

Our analysis shows that:

The world will likely exceed 1.5C between 2026 and 2042 in scenarios where emissions are not rapidly reduced, with a central estimate of between 2030 and 2032.

The 2C threshold will likely be exceeded between 2034 and 2052 in the highest emissions scenario, with a median year of 2043.

In a scenario of modest mitigation –where emissions remain close to current levels – the 2C threshold would be exceeded between 2038 and 2072, with a median of 2052.

Shell CEO Hopeful Biden Will Speed Up Climate Change Fight

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Shell CEO Hopeful Biden Will Speed Up Climate Change Fight

“I’m quite hopeful that with the new administration coming in, there will be change of sentiment and hopefully a change of direction,” Ben van Beurden said in the Web Summit conference. Without increased cooperation “I don’t think we are going to succeed in the energy transition.”

While it’s too early to say what exactly President-elect Joe Biden’s energy policies will be, his vow to rejoin the climate deal “is a pretty good start,” Van Beurden said. Some of Biden’s ideas are “not bad,” but it will be important to see how the practicalities of these policies play out.

Mega Solar

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I am really not convinced that these mega solar industrial solar facilities ☀️ popping up in the Mohawk Valley really are that great for the environment. While it might give the liberal politicians something to brag about, I’m not convinced yet that they are displacing much fossil fuels or reducing climate change. And I think these tariff schemes that that the marketers are selling to green minded consumers are just scams.

I do think there is benefits both to the grid, homeowners and the environment for roof top solar but that’s a vastly different beast then these industrial solar facilities that are gobbling up forest and farm land and polluting my social media feeds with their scammy advertising.