The Biden Administration Lays Out It's National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy

1.) The Biden Administration lays out its National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy – a plan for EV charging and hydrogen dispensing stations along major U.S. freight corridors to support increased deployment of medium-duty and heavy-duty zero-emission commercial vehicles over the next couple decades.

2.) Volvo will focus on software to shorten EV charging times, partnering with U.K.-based Breathe Battery Technologies to do so. Testing shows that Breathe’s charging software and battery management systems may reduce charging times by 15% to 30%.

3.) Sulfur battery company Lyten says it has successfully automated its lithium-sulfur battery production line, converting standard lithium-ion manufacturing equipment and processes in only 6 weeks, at less than 2% of the total capital cost. Thus, Lyten could rapidly scale production by converting existing Li-ion gigafactories. Its low-cost sulfur-based battery has no nickel, cobalt, manganese, or graphite, with potentially twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries (though battery life is currently at 300 cycles).

4.) The Ørsted and Eversource 12-turbine 130-MW offshore South Fork Wind project is fully commissioned and delivering energy to New York – the first 100+ MW offshore facility to do so.

5.) Washington state legislators allocate $25 million for development of small modular reactors, supporting utility Energy Northwest’s DOE loan application. Energy Northwest plans to develop up to 12 SMRs generating up to 960 MW of power as early as 2030.

6.) Advanced nuclear company Oklo successfully completes second phase of its Thermal Hydraulic Experimental Test Article testing campaign with Argonne National Laboratory. Testing intended to optimize future reactor design.

7.) Analyst Wood Mackenzie says the SMR pipeline has increased, to a current 22 GW in Q1 2024, with global investment nearing US$176 billion. The US has over twice as many projects as the nearest competitor, with a 30% share of the global pipeline.

8.) Advanced deep geothermal startup Quaise Energy closes $21 Million financing round. Instead of traditional drilling approach,  Quaise plans to vaporize rock with high-powered microwaves. Field demonstrations will start this year, and Quaise will conduct magnetic and seismic surveys to identify advantageous areas for initial commercial pilots.