@bermdan.bsky.social
Just arrive! I plan on going through "Still No Miracles Needed" by @mzjacobson.bsky.social in detail to see if I missed anything new. Will probably be posting a good bit about this book in 2026.
January 29, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Just arrive! I plan on going through "Still No Miracles Needed" by @mzjacobson.bsky.social in detail to see if I missed anything new. Will probably be posting a good bit about this book in 2026.
A bill has been introduced in California which will allow for plug-in solar. I guess Germany has a lot of this. It allows people to just plug-in (like an appliance) solar panels to offset usage.
I know this field a bit. I support it. Details below
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
solarrights.org/plug-in
I know this field a bit. I support it. Details below
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
solarrights.org/plug-in
Plug Into the Sun!
Plug-In solar are portable solar panels that hang from a balcony or sit in a yard or patio. Let's bring this to California!
solarrights.org
January 29, 2026 at 6:20 PM
A bill has been introduced in California which will allow for plug-in solar. I guess Germany has a lot of this. It allows people to just plug-in (like an appliance) solar panels to offset usage.
I know this field a bit. I support it. Details below
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
solarrights.org/plug-in
I know this field a bit. I support it. Details below
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
solarrights.org/plug-in
Reposted
New study uses satellite and ground measurements to show electric vehicles reduce NO2 air pollution over cities.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Zero-emissions vehicle adoption and satellite-measured NO2 air pollution in California, USA, from 2019 to 2023: a longitudinal observational study
Using a natural experiment, we found that within-ZCTA increases in ZEV registrations
were associated with reductions in NO2 air pollution measured by satellite and replicated
with ground-level monitor...
www.thelancet.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:05 PM
New study uses satellite and ground measurements to show electric vehicles reduce NO2 air pollution over cities.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
This sounds to me like they're able to compress refrigerant to very high levels and gain improved efficiency. Could save a lot of GHGs (it would seem).
www.slashdot.org/story/451790
www.slashdot.org/story/451790
Startup Uses SpaceX Tech to Cool Data Centers With Less Power and No Water - Slashdot
California-based Karman Industries "says it has developed a cooling system that uses SpaceX rocket engine technology to rein in the environmental impact of data centers," reports the Los Angeles Times...
www.slashdot.org
January 26, 2026 at 8:15 AM
This sounds to me like they're able to compress refrigerant to very high levels and gain improved efficiency. Could save a lot of GHGs (it would seem).
www.slashdot.org/story/451790
www.slashdot.org/story/451790
Reposted
U.S. would reach 100% renewable energy across all sectors by 2148 at recent pace-China by 2051
Main barriers to the US achieving a buildout as fast as China’s “are social and political, not technical or economic”
pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/01/09/u...
Paper
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Main barriers to the US achieving a buildout as fast as China’s “are social and political, not technical or economic”
pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/01/09/u...
Paper
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
U.S. would reach 100% renewable energy by 2148 at recent pace
China is outpacing the U.S. toward 100% renewables for all energy uses and is on track to reach that standard by 2051, versus 2148 for the U.S., projects a study of 150 countries by Stanford professor...
pv-magazine-usa.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:03 PM
U.S. would reach 100% renewable energy across all sectors by 2148 at recent pace-China by 2051
Main barriers to the US achieving a buildout as fast as China’s “are social and political, not technical or economic”
pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/01/09/u...
Paper
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Main barriers to the US achieving a buildout as fast as China’s “are social and political, not technical or economic”
pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/01/09/u...
Paper
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Reposted
I didn't realize that conventional drilling techniques can drill that deep in a cost efficient manner (3-5 km).
Geothermal might actually be quite drone resistant as well. I wonder how much of the machinery could be buried with the pipe? DoD backing for an electricity grid could propel it forward.
Geothermal might actually be quite drone resistant as well. I wonder how much of the machinery could be buried with the pipe? DoD backing for an electricity grid could propel it forward.
January 2, 2026 at 11:47 PM
I didn't realize that conventional drilling techniques can drill that deep in a cost efficient manner (3-5 km).
Geothermal might actually be quite drone resistant as well. I wonder how much of the machinery could be buried with the pipe? DoD backing for an electricity grid could propel it forward.
Geothermal might actually be quite drone resistant as well. I wonder how much of the machinery could be buried with the pipe? DoD backing for an electricity grid could propel it forward.
Reposted
New paper:
China's current rate of Wind-Water-Solar (WWS) installations puts it on a trajectory to transition to 100% WWS across all energy sectors by 2051
US & India won't get there until past 2130
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
China's current rate of Wind-Water-Solar (WWS) installations puts it on a trajectory to transition to 100% WWS across all energy sectors by 2051
US & India won't get there until past 2130
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
December 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
New paper:
China's current rate of Wind-Water-Solar (WWS) installations puts it on a trajectory to transition to 100% WWS across all energy sectors by 2051
US & India won't get there until past 2130
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
China's current rate of Wind-Water-Solar (WWS) installations puts it on a trajectory to transition to 100% WWS across all energy sectors by 2051
US & India won't get there until past 2130
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Reposted
11/ Major insight: ALL energy transition studies have been wrong for batteries & the system impact, as the used Reference scenario has used the least cost battery cost for the previous five years. The battery cost decline has been much faster than expected www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/11/t...
The future arrived early: Why our energy cost forecasts need to catch up
While solar modules and batteries have become icons of rapid progress, most energy models are still stuck in the past. A new global analysis shows that the cost of renewable energy has fallen far fast...
www.pv-magazine.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
11/ Major insight: ALL energy transition studies have been wrong for batteries & the system impact, as the used Reference scenario has used the least cost battery cost for the previous five years. The battery cost decline has been much faster than expected www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/11/t...
Reposted
According to EIA data, increases in BTM output have exceeded decreases in grid demand, indicating that BTM PV can account more than 100% of the decrease. This doesn't mean other factors don't also contribute to decreases in demand (e.g., weather changes).
bsky.app/profile/mzja...
bsky.app/profile/mzja...
CA and NV have DECREASED their year-on-year grid electricity demands by growing roof PV more than new grid demands (datacenters, EVs, heat pumps) have increased
CA has the 3rd-most data centers and by far the most EVs
Other states could take a lesson in how to avoid increases in grid demand
CA has the 3rd-most data centers and by far the most EVs
Other states could take a lesson in how to avoid increases in grid demand
December 28, 2025 at 8:19 PM
According to EIA data, increases in BTM output have exceeded decreases in grid demand, indicating that BTM PV can account more than 100% of the decrease. This doesn't mean other factors don't also contribute to decreases in demand (e.g., weather changes).
bsky.app/profile/mzja...
bsky.app/profile/mzja...
Reposted
Grid demand is down because the growth of behind-the-meter PV (rooftop PV) electricity production has avoided people's needs to use grid electricity. This is an obvious solution to the growth of grid demand in other states due to datacenters and EV and electric heat pump adoption.
December 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Grid demand is down because the growth of behind-the-meter PV (rooftop PV) electricity production has avoided people's needs to use grid electricity. This is an obvious solution to the growth of grid demand in other states due to datacenters and EV and electric heat pump adoption.
Not looking good for US EV makers if they retreat from EVs because of the expiration of EV subsidies. They become very vulnerable to Chinese EV alternatives. At some point only import restrictions can save them as they may not be able to compete.
www.slashdot.org/story/450631
www.slashdot.org/story/450631
Retreating From EVs Could Be Hazardous For Western Carmakers - Slashdot
Western carmakers retreating from electric vehicles amid softening government mandates could find themselves in a precarious position as Chinese rivals continue gaining ground in the EV market they're...
www.slashdot.org
December 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Not looking good for US EV makers if they retreat from EVs because of the expiration of EV subsidies. They become very vulnerable to Chinese EV alternatives. At some point only import restrictions can save them as they may not be able to compete.
www.slashdot.org/story/450631
www.slashdot.org/story/450631
Wow! This is really bad news for Florida. A current circulation breakdown caused rapid hurricane expansion.
Seems like a localized feedback loop (what scientists have been warning about). Might have devastating affects on insurance (I guess).
www.slashdot.org/story/444840
Seems like a localized feedback loop (what scientists have been warning about). Might have devastating affects on insurance (I guess).
www.slashdot.org/story/444840
Study Finds 'Pressure Point' In the Gulf Could Drive Hurricane Strength - Slashdot
alternative_right shares a report from Phys.org: Driven by high temperatures in the Gulf, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified from a Category 3 to Category 5 before making landfall in Southwest Florida...
www.slashdot.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Wow! This is really bad news for Florida. A current circulation breakdown caused rapid hurricane expansion.
Seems like a localized feedback loop (what scientists have been warning about). Might have devastating affects on insurance (I guess).
www.slashdot.org/story/444840
Seems like a localized feedback loop (what scientists have been warning about). Might have devastating affects on insurance (I guess).
www.slashdot.org/story/444840
Reposted
FYI, Demand Response for data centers is taking shape.
As a software guy it seems to me that we can move most data center loads to RE if we pass some laws around it.
When I purchase cloud compute most of the time I don't care if it runs in CA vs Washington or Nevada.
bsky.app/profile/berm...
As a software guy it seems to me that we can move most data center loads to RE if we pass some laws around it.
When I purchase cloud compute most of the time I don't care if it runs in CA vs Washington or Nevada.
bsky.app/profile/berm...
Computer software (including AI workloads) can be pushed to locations where RE is available. Or even temporarily suspended.
Demand Response at its finest:
www.slashdot.org/story/445200
Demand Response at its finest:
www.slashdot.org/story/445200
Google Agrees To Pause AI Workloads To Protect the Grid When Power Demand Spikes - Slashdot
Google will pause non-essential AI workloads to protect power grids, the advertising giant announced on Monday. From a report: The web giant already does this sort of thing for non-essential workloads...
www.slashdot.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM
FYI, Demand Response for data centers is taking shape.
As a software guy it seems to me that we can move most data center loads to RE if we pass some laws around it.
When I purchase cloud compute most of the time I don't care if it runs in CA vs Washington or Nevada.
bsky.app/profile/berm...
As a software guy it seems to me that we can move most data center loads to RE if we pass some laws around it.
When I purchase cloud compute most of the time I don't care if it runs in CA vs Washington or Nevada.
bsky.app/profile/berm...
Computer software (including AI workloads) can be pushed to locations where RE is available. Or even temporarily suspended.
Demand Response at its finest:
www.slashdot.org/story/445200
Demand Response at its finest:
www.slashdot.org/story/445200
Google Agrees To Pause AI Workloads To Protect the Grid When Power Demand Spikes - Slashdot
Google will pause non-essential AI workloads to protect power grids, the advertising giant announced on Monday. From a report: The web giant already does this sort of thing for non-essential workloads...
www.slashdot.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Computer software (including AI workloads) can be pushed to locations where RE is available. Or even temporarily suspended.
Demand Response at its finest:
www.slashdot.org/story/445200
Demand Response at its finest:
www.slashdot.org/story/445200
The Trump Regime seems to think that destroying climate monitoring equipment will reduce home insurance and home mortgage rates.
I challenge anyone to find an insurance/mortgage broker who will lower rates for lack of information.
www.slashdot.org/story/445246
I challenge anyone to find an insurance/mortgage broker who will lower rates for lack of information.
www.slashdot.org/story/445246
NASA Satellites That Scientists and Farmers Rely On May Be Destroyed On Purpose - Slashdot
The Trump administration has reportedly directed NASA to draw up plans to shut down its Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite missions, which provide vital climate and agricultural data for scientists...
www.slashdot.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The Trump Regime seems to think that destroying climate monitoring equipment will reduce home insurance and home mortgage rates.
I challenge anyone to find an insurance/mortgage broker who will lower rates for lack of information.
www.slashdot.org/story/445246
I challenge anyone to find an insurance/mortgage broker who will lower rates for lack of information.
www.slashdot.org/story/445246
This is one of the reasons why it won't make much sense to build non-local grid storage in the future. Local storage will be plentiful and transmission line maintenance is priced at inflation+.
www.slashdot.org/story/445384
www.slashdot.org/story/445384
California Successfully Tests 'Virtual Power Plant', Drawing Power From Batteries in 100,000 Homes - Slashdot
"California's biggest electric utilities pulled off a record-breaking test..." reports Semafor, "during the 7pm-9pm window that is typically its time of peak demand as people come home from work."
P...
www.slashdot.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
This is one of the reasons why it won't make much sense to build non-local grid storage in the future. Local storage will be plentiful and transmission line maintenance is priced at inflation+.
www.slashdot.org/story/445384
www.slashdot.org/story/445384
I guess the math works out for Google to build what sounds like compressed air batteries.
www.slashdot.org/story/450461
www.slashdot.org/story/450461
Google Launches CO2 Battery Plants for Long-Duration Storage of Renewable Energy - Slashdot
In July Google promised to scale the CO2 batteries of "Energy Dome" as a long-duration energy storage solution. Now IEEE Spectrum visits its first plant in Sardinia, where 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxi...
www.slashdot.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I guess the math works out for Google to build what sounds like compressed air batteries.
www.slashdot.org/story/450461
www.slashdot.org/story/450461
Food nutrients will be changing with higher levels of CO2. Not for the better.
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
"The results, she said, were a shock: although crop yields increase, they become less nutrient-dense. While zinc levels in particular drop, lead levels increase."
www.slashdot.org/story/450383
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
"The results, she said, were a shock: although crop yields increase, they become less nutrient-dense. While zinc levels in particular drop, lead levels increase."
www.slashdot.org/story/450383
Food Becoming More Calorific But Less Nutritious Due To Rising Carbon Dioxide - Slashdot
More carbon dioxide in the environment is making food more calorific but less nutritious -- and also potentially more toxic, a study has found. From a report: Sterre ter Haar, a lecturer at Leiden Uni...
www.slashdot.org
December 21, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Food nutrients will be changing with higher levels of CO2. Not for the better.
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
"The results, she said, were a shock: although crop yields increase, they become less nutrient-dense. While zinc levels in particular drop, lead levels increase."
www.slashdot.org/story/450383
@mzjacobson.bsky.social
"The results, she said, were a shock: although crop yields increase, they become less nutrient-dense. While zinc levels in particular drop, lead levels increase."
www.slashdot.org/story/450383
So shady...
'...cited a study estimating that "electricity prices have increased by as much as 267 percent in the past five years" in "areas located near significant data center activity."'
www.slashdot.org/story/450291
'...cited a study estimating that "electricity prices have increased by as much as 267 percent in the past five years" in "areas located near significant data center activity."'
www.slashdot.org/story/450291
Senators Count the Shady Ways Data Centers Pass Energy Costs On To Americans - Slashdot
U.S. senators are probing whether Big Tech data centers are driving up local electricity bills by socializing grid upgrade costs onto residents. Some of the tactics they're using include NDAs, shell c...
www.slashdot.org
December 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
So shady...
'...cited a study estimating that "electricity prices have increased by as much as 267 percent in the past five years" in "areas located near significant data center activity."'
www.slashdot.org/story/450291
'...cited a study estimating that "electricity prices have increased by as much as 267 percent in the past five years" in "areas located near significant data center activity."'
www.slashdot.org/story/450291
Ford basically gave-up on EV trucks I guess. I bet China hasn't!:
www.slashdot.org/story/450231
www.slashdot.org/story/450231
Ford Ends F-150 Lightning Production, Starts Battery Storage Business - Slashdot
Ford has effectively pulled the plug on the all-electric F-150 Lightning, pivoting away from full-size BEV pickups toward hybrids, range-extended EVs (EREVs), and even data-center battery storage. Ars...
www.slashdot.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Ford basically gave-up on EV trucks I guess. I bet China hasn't!:
www.slashdot.org/story/450231
www.slashdot.org/story/450231
Yet another reason why data centers for LLMs may go into space:
www.slashdot.org/story/450213
www.slashdot.org/story/450213
Electricity Is Now Holding Back Growth Across the Global Economy - Slashdot
Grid constraints that were once a hallmark of developing economies are now plaguing the world's richest nations, and new research from Bloomberg Economics finds that rising electricity system stress i...
www.slashdot.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Yet another reason why data centers for LLMs may go into space:
www.slashdot.org/story/450213
www.slashdot.org/story/450213
Reposted
How do we eliminate emissions from steel and cement?
Here's how
www.youtube.com/shorts/-EQdS...
More info
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
Here's how
www.youtube.com/shorts/-EQdS...
More info
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
How do we eliminate emissions from steel and cement? #renewables #energytransition #wws
YouTube video by Mark Z. Jacobson
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
How do we eliminate emissions from steel and cement?
Here's how
www.youtube.com/shorts/-EQdS...
More info
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
Here's how
www.youtube.com/shorts/-EQdS...
More info
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
I've probably spent 3 hours looking into EV trucks (so not much time), but the Silverado seems like possibly the best truck on the market.
www.slashdot.org/story/445386
www.slashdot.org/story/445386
Chevy Silverado EV Drives 1,059.2 Miles on a Single Charge, Surpassing World Record - Slashdot
"General Motors claimed a new world record for EV driving on a single charge," reports the Verge, "after a Chevy Silverado EV traveled 1,059.2 miles without recharging its battery."
The potentially r...
www.slashdot.org
December 14, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I've probably spent 3 hours looking into EV trucks (so not much time), but the Silverado seems like possibly the best truck on the market.
www.slashdot.org/story/445386
www.slashdot.org/story/445386
China has a MAJOR new hydro plant in the works.
www.slashdot.org/story/445432
www.slashdot.org/story/445432
The Engineering Marvel That China Hopes Will Help Wean It Off Foreign Energy - Slashdot
China has begun construction of a $167 billion hydropower facility on Tibet's Yarlung Tsangpo River that would generate triple the output of the Three Gorges Dam. The project employs a run-of-the-rive...
www.slashdot.org
December 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
China has a MAJOR new hydro plant in the works.
www.slashdot.org/story/445432
www.slashdot.org/story/445432