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What you need to know

Hungry hungry humans: Since 2018, we used as much material as… the 20th Century

We used a lot of stuff! 500 billion tonnes- 28% of all material consumed since 1900. In 6 years.
What do we do? We watch out. Our use of the world is accelerating. And recycled material decreased from 9.1% to 7.2%. Not good.
Read more: Deloitte/Circular Economy Foundation

MAN’s man mans up: HGVs electric, not hydrogen

Big one. CEO of trucking giant MAN admits hydrogen not happening for big trucks.
Hydrogen: too expensive. Green H2 needs 2-3x more renewable power than batteries for the same range. MAN is close to a 1000km eHGV (as is Tesla).
What will use hydrogen? Cars didn’t happen. Domestic dreams dead in 2023. HGVs falling apart in 2024. Maybe grid storage. Let’s see.
Read more: MAN CEO’s interview in Expansión (Spanish), Electrek (English!)

Norwegians’ EV indulgences: the wages of sin are Teslas?

What? 82% of new cars sold in Norway were electric in 2023. Highest anywhere - because of generous subsidies.
Good guys, these Norwegians! Maybe. The cash is from oil & gas (40% of exports), and they’ve started mining the arctic seabed 🥺. But they drive some sweet Teslas (20% of all new cars).
Debunks the myths at least. EVs don’t work in the cold? They do. Never a mass-market product? They are. Range anxiety? Paah.
Read more: Reuters on Norway’s EV sales

One thing to worry about

The Permafrost Doom Loop! A rollercoaster… to hell. Siberia is warming 2.5x faster than average, and there’s a lot of carbon in the melt. And Canada’s permafrost ain’t perma no more.

If this bad boy crashes our party, it’ll triple atmospheric carbon 🤕.

For bonus scary points, read about ancient zombie viruses waking from the Siberian thaw 🧟 .

One thing to be optimistic about

Renewable energy means cleaner air and might save 5m deaths a year, say cardiologists.

Remember Germany swapping nukes for coal in 2011? Caused more German deaths in ten years than nuclear power worldwide over seventy years. (NBER)

If you’ve got more time, correct someone on this…

Hear “Batteries aren’t recycled”? Shout it down, says Michael Liebriech on X:

• 95% recycling means half of battery minerals will be in use in 130 years

• Expected improvements mean some minerals will be used… forever

Hans Eric’s new database details 370 battery recycling companies. Enthusiasts: read his rant on LinkedIn about the “5% recycled” nonsense.

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My new business is Beaverbrook Energy - supporting commercial & industrial companies in the energy transition. Follow us on LinkedIn ahead of our 2024 launch.

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