[GWSG] Powered balloons; moderate sensitivity; zero C steel; clathrates melting; 70% new EVs; 75% new power renewable

[Tilley, Al]

1. France’s Flying Whales, the US’s Skunk Works, and the UK’s Hybrid Air Vehicles are all well along in developing a new generation of dirigibles to carry air passengers and freight. When electrified they can offer emissions-free flight. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/29/uk-firm-flying-high-as-eco-friendly-airship-project-gathers-pace

2. Using the temperature record since 1970 and controlling for the effect of aerosols, a new study finds that very high climate sensitivity estimates are unlikely. One conclusion is that the Paris targets remain within reach. https://phys.org/news/2020-08-global-trends-inconsistent-high-climate.html

3. Conventional steel manufacture uses coal as a source of heat and of the carbon necessary to the process. Sweden’s Hybrit process used in a new plant produces fossil fuel-free steel through a process based on hydrogen generated electrically. The experimental pilot project intends to lead to an emissions-free Swedish steel industry.  https://phys.org/news/2020-08-global-trends-inconsistent-high-climate.html

4. Newly analyzed samples from the South Atlantic taken 2011-14 demonstrate massive leaking of methane from dissociated methane hydrates on the sea floor. Hydrates constitute “the largest organic carbon reservoir on Earth” and have been implicated in previous climate events. https://phys.org/news/2020-09-massive-methane-gas-seafloor-southern.html
Methane hydrates, or clathrates, are a slush of methane trapped in ice. When the temperature and pressure bring the ice to melting, the methane is released. General projections of likely carbon releases were not presented in the article. Runaway release of methane from clathrates is a climate nightmare.

5. 70% of the passenger vehicles sold in Norway in August were electric. https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/02/norway-in-august-over-70-ev-market-share-and-heading-higher/

6. BloombergNEF estimates that over 75% of the power added globally in 2019 was renewable. Over two-thirds of the new power was either from solar or wind, with solar showing especially strong gains. https://reneweconomy.com.au/wind-and-solar-provide-two-thirds-of-new-capacity-additions-in-2019-bnef-says-24330/

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