- Shaken Not Burned
- Posts
- The paradox of building a solar industry in sunny Italy
The paradox of building a solar industry in sunny Italy
Shaken Not Burned
September 19, 2024
Shaken Not Burned
Highlighting changemakers and solutions
Welcome to another week of Shaken Not Burned!
This week Giulia interviews Patrick Donati, co-founder and managing director of solar power producer Terrawatt. Founded in 2021, the startup is developing a portfolio of solar farms in Italy and is close to bringing the first one online.
In a wide-ranging chat, they discuss the EU’s renewable energy targets and the challenges of building a solar industry in sunny Italy. It should be a no-brainer, but instead it’s being hindered by complicated bureaucracy and unsupportive policies. Still, Patrick says there are plenty of opportunities in the sector, which promises to revive areas marred by a combination of poverty and brain drain.
Ultimately, utility-scale solar remains the cheapest form of renewable energy production and can play a crucial role in decarbonising the economy of the EU, Patrick explains. The discussion also touches upon differences and similarities across the various countries in the bloc, using green hydrogen as storage, and the economics of installing batteries.
Thanks for joining us and don’t forget to listen to this week’s episode wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you enjoy the newsletter and if there’s anything you’d like to see more information about, you can email us at [email protected].
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it far and wide, and if this email was forwarded to you make sure you subscribe to our free newsletter here.
What we’ve been reading this week
Our digital information systems are failing us
"As we access information through a single feed, different sources and types of content–individuals, bots, hyperbolic news headlines, professional journalism, fantasy shows, and human or AI generated–all begin to feel the same," writes Silicon Valley veteran Judy Estrin. In a stomach-turning metaphor, she notes the “digital water system” isn’t working and we are drinking sewage water. We desperately need new ways to access information online and strong levels of digital literacy across the population. Reducing misinformation is a key tool to properly address the climate crisis.
Deforestation in Brazil dropped by 16% in a year, but wildfires are reaching record levels
The election of President Lula has been an important step in reversing climate damage in the South American country, but the effects of global warming are ravaging the rainforest. This is because prolonged periods of drought leave the forest dry, when it used to be shrouded in mist. Last month, over 53,000 fires were recorded, 80% more than in August 2023, threatening biodiversity and local communities, which are predominantly Indigenous.
Citigroup raises billions for Adnoc but climate commitments are intact
A new investigation found that Citigroup has helped Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) raise a whopping $3.5 billion without affecting the bank’s climate targets. Citigroup allegedly did so by officially lending the money to companies working in the chemicals sector (with fossil fuel investors), thereby avoiding the scrutiny associated with doing business with oil and gas groups.
Rethinking food waste bans
Most food waste bans at the state level in the US aren’t working, except in Massachusetts, according to a new study. The Eastern state was found to be effective because it has the highest density of food waste processing facilities, uses simple language in communication with stakeholders, and is stronger in enforcement compared to other states. This doesn’t mean the bans should be lifted but, instead, they should be complemented with measures to ensure they work. This is crucial as food loss and waste represent 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
No more fossil fuel ads in The Hague
Some positive news to finish off – The Hague, a city in the Netherlands, is the world’s first city to ban advertisements promoting fossil fuel products. It includes petrol and diesel, aviation and cruise ships. Earlier this year, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ban on such advertisements, similar to what has been done with tobacco.
Reply