[GWSG] LiS batteries; an overview; 90% renewable; zinc-bromine batteries; battery trains; your best action option

[Tilley, Al]

1. Researchers at Australia’s Monash University have developed a lithium sulfur battery which is much more powerful than conventional lithium batteries; the LiS batteries are also lighter and cheaper and have other desirable features.  They will improve the performance of everything from cell phones to autos to ocean liners and airplanes.  Ghove Energy is developing the new battery and expects to have it on the market within two years.
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/11/29/lightweight-fast-charging-lithium-sulfur-batteries-unveiled/
2. In a video at the end of the article above two founders of Clean Technica recall the recent history of the development of renewable energy and look forward to its future place in the US economy, with particular attention to the role of Chinese technical development in global climate action. What may we expect from the fossil fuel industry? From the Trump administration?  The first 40 minutes surveys the situation broadly; the second half deals with Elon Musk and is also rewarding if narrower.
 3. Renewables accounted for almost 90% of new US power capacity in the first three quarters of 2025. Renewables now comprise 30% of our total energy capacity. https://renews.biz/97406/renewables-supply-90-of-us-power-generation/
 4. New Jersey’s Eos Energy Enterprises has been granted a $303 million federal loan for a factory in Turtle Creek, PA, which will produce zinc-bromine batteries for 3-12 hour energy storage. The batteries are non-flammable, do not require cooling to operate at room temperature, do not degrade with age and only slowly with use, are cost-efficient, and use only US-sourced materials. By 2027 the company intends to produce enough batteries annually to provide 8 GWH of backup power, enough to meet the power needs of 130,000 homes. https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/46403-battery-maker-closes-on-federal-303-5m-loan-guarantee-to-manufacture-more-bess/
 5. The development of renewable energy in the US has run somewhat ahead of our distribution capacity. In one area we have surpluses of energy, in another a need but insufficient transmission. SunTrain plans to run trainloads of batteries to replace the transmission lines until they can be constructed. In place of the old coal trains we will have battery trains. https://cleantechnica.com/2024/12/07/renewable-energy-on-rails-scheme-to-cure-transmission-line-blues/
6. If you are wondering what you can do by way of climate action that would be effective, Project Drawdown offers a table comparing the options. https://drawdown.org/solutions/table-of-solutions
You may notice that food and food waste provide the most rewarding areas for action. https://drawdown.org/insights/whats-the-best-climate-action-you-can-take-you-tell-me
The Project has a graph comparing the impact of your twenty best options for climate action.  https://drawdown.org/insights/the-powerful-role-of-household-actions-in-solving-climate-change
The Planetary Health Diet serves the needs of the planet, your health, and world hunger. It is a flexible diet which provides options for modest servings of meat and dairy. The EAT-Lancet Summary Report describes the diet in some detail. https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/eat-lancet-commission-summary-report/
I believe the best way to implement the diet is to follow the general proportions without measuring or counting. If you decide to take meaningful action by following a plant-based diet, the Face Book public group Planetary Health Diet Recipes and Notes has helpful suggestions. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/188kiLcZNY/


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