Germany’s morass of underground cables are hindering its efforts to go green: Germany’s 5.7 mn km of unmapped underground utility cables and pipes are hindering efforts to install new high-speed cables to connect wind turbines, solar panels, and EV charging stations to the grid, Bloomberg reports. Germany — currently lagging behind its neighbors in its wind and solar expansion — lacks a central registry mapping wires and pipes for power, gas, telecom, water, and sewage. This is presenting a challenge for planners, builders, and internet providers to determine where the high-speed cables can go. The country has a target of sourcing 80% of its power generation from green sources by 2030.

China eying Afghani lithium: China is looking to invest USD 10 bn in Afghanistan’s lithium mining sector, which is estimated to amount to USD 1 tn in value, Khaama Press reported. China is focusing on downstream investments to maintain dominance over lithium and other minerals essential for EV battery manufacturing. Chinese companies have made sizable investments in lithium mining in Latin America in the past five years including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and Chile. It's also turning to Africa for mineral assets, including cobalt and copper.

China is EV king: China continues to dominate EV sales, with 60% of global EV sales taking place in the country in 2022, according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency. Over half of EVs on the road globally are in China, the report added.

REMEMBER- Copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium — critical minerals for EV and battery storage production — are expected to see a massive jump in demand in the coming years as countries roll out their plans for energy transition.

India still ♥️ fossil fuels: Coal is set to account for nearly 54% of India’s power mix by the end of the decade with new coal production plants needed alongside renewables assets to shore up the country’s energy needs, Bloomberg reports, referencing a report by the country’s Central Electricity Authority. India will need to source some 46 GW from fossil fuels to secure its power needs by the end of the decade in spite of its planned renewables deployments — which are expected to total 500 GW by the end of the decade, Bloomberg writes. Fossil fuels currently make up nearly three-quarters of the country’s power production capacity and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration’s new strategy will weaken its previous commitment to decommission some 25 GW worth of coal assets by 2030, committing only to decommissioning 2 GW worth of assets, the business news service notes.

The report follows plans to halt commissioning of new coal plants: The Indian government is looking to amend its National Electricity Policy in a bid to remove a clause allowing the development of new coal-burning plants as the country looks to divest from fossil fuels, Reuters reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The new policy would not have an effect on the 28.2 GW of new coal-based power currently in the pipeline. If approved, the new legislation would leave China as the sole remaining country with plans to install new coal-fired capacity, the newswire notes.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • The World Bank will provide a USD 300 mn no-interest loan to Kenya’s sole power distributor Kenya Power to help the utility provider repay debts and upgrade its outdated transmission network. (Business Daily)
  • A delegation from UAE visited the US state of Texas to mull bilateral investment in cleantech startups and renewable energy. The UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi is on a US tour meeting several key bodies and discussing potential partnerships in clean energy. (Wam)
  • Indonesia plans to launch a carbon exchange in the second half of 2023 under its plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. (Reuters)
  • The UK will earmark GBP 80 mn (some USD 102 mn) for the Amazon Fund in a bid to help combat deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. (Reuters)
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