Our special fifth-anniversary episode! This week, we take a trip down memory lane to reflect on five years of clean energy news, predictions, and surprises. James takes us through just how much progress has been made in clean energy since we started the podcast five years ago. The growth is staggering, even compared to the most optimistic 2020 predictions!

The Baltic states have officially disconnected from the Russian power grid and joined the EU grid. Workers literally cut the cord and took pieces home as souvenirs, along with safety, security, and peace of mind.

Celebrating Five Years
Our first show aired on February 12, 2020, in Brian’s bomb shelter studio, where we recorded the first five episodes.

How Predictions Held Up
Back in 2020, some clean energy forecasts missed the mark—by a lot:

• A 2020 climate report estimated 2.5 million EVs on the road by 2030. We’re at 85 million today, with four years to go.

EV Boom in Five Years

• In 2020, 2.9% of new car sales in Canada were EVs—by the end of 2024, it was 13.2%.
• There were only 4 million EVs in the world when we started. Now, 4 million EVs are sold every two months.

China’s Rapid Growth

• In 2020, China exported 1 million cars. By 2024, that number skyrocketed to 6.4 million.
• When we started the podcast, there were 8 million EVs worldwide. Now, China alone produces 238,000 plug-in vehicles every day!

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The Lightning Round

• Ozempic is reportedly messing with climate predictions by reducing food consumption. Less food, less pollution!
• Over $2 trillion was invested in the global energy transition in 2024—a record-breaking amount.
• The U.K. would need a forest twice the size of London to offset its airport expansion emissions.
• Oxford University, at 699 years old, is replacing gas heating with heat pumps to cut carbon emissions.
• The Baltic states successfully cut ties to the Russian power grid and are now fully synchronized with the EU grid.

Thank you for five years of listening! Here’s to the next five!

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Canada’s unprecedented existential crisis caused by bizarre actions from the White House. It could be worse—we could be Greenland. Meanwhile, the long-awaited geothermal power plant near us is finally set to come online next year, initially providing 5MW of power—just enough to keep James’ heated socks toasty.

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• Out of Spec YouTube channel

We also take a deep dive into an EV YouTuber’s trip to China and uncover just how far behind we are in EV technology. Spoiler: it’s bad, but still not as bad as Greenland. Plus, while Indian Railways celebrates 100 years of electrification, some North American officials are still convinced electric trains don’t exist.

Also on the show this week:

• Turning fiber optics into smart sensors.

• James rigs up his old electric car to defrost his windows.

• And much more!

The latest U.S. policies have thrown Canada into turmoil, with jobs disappearing and small businesses shutting down. The idea of Canada becoming the 51st state is floating around, but what would that mean? With an additional 343 seats in the U.S. House and 2 in the Senate, plus 345 electoral votes, Canada would fundamentally alter the political landscape—potentially preventing another Republican presidency. But would Americans ever accept us?

The long-awaited geothermal power plant near us will start producing electricity next year. Initially generating 5MW, this marks a significant step in clean energy for the region. Read more: Deep Earth Energy and SLB Canada partnership.

Kyle Connor from Out of Spec recently tested EVs in China, where battery swapping is a common practice due to the lack of home charging in massive apartment complexes.

Researchers are developing technology that repurposes fiber optic cables to monitor and optimize the electrical grid. Read more: Electrek article.

• China’s EV charging points surged by 49% to 12.8 million in 2024.

• The UK now has 8GWh of operational battery energy storage, with nearly 20GWh under construction.

• 60 million AAA members in the U.S. and Canada can now get preferred pricing at ChargePoint stations.

• Tesla’s sales are plummeting in California while the broader EV market continues to grow.

• PV-powered EVs can extend their range by up to 30%, with real-world tests showing an additional 530 km of range.

• Enhanced geothermal is expected to reach a levelized cost of $80/MWh by 2027, eliminating the need for coal and nuclear as baseload power sources.

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That’s our show for this week! Email us at CleanEnergyShow@gmail.com, follow us on social media @CleanEnergyPod, and don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast app. See you next week!

The United Arab Emirates is building the world’s largest solar farm with battery storage, capable of providing 1 GW of consistent baseload power, just like a nuclear reactor. We also explore why some trees survive wildfires while entire neighborhoods are reduced to ash, and why Washington State’s e-bike subsidy program is turning heads with its innovative lottery system.

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Plus, we reflect on five years of podcasting and take a deep dive into the state of electric vehicle adoption worldwide. Norway is set to hit its 100% zero-emission vehicle goal this year, while the U.S. and Canada struggle to keep pace. We’ll also discuss how EV price parity is reshaping the global auto industry and why fast charger costs are finally coming down.

Highlights from this week’s episode:

• Renaming the Gulf of Mexico: A humorous take on geopolitics as James suggests Canada reclaim the Gulf as “The Gulf of Southern Canada.”
• UAE’s Solar Mega-Project: How the largest solar-plus-storage project compares to traditional baseload power sources.
• Wildfire Survivors: Why some trees remain standing amid devastation and how homes can be better protected from fire risks.
• Washington State’s E-Bike Lottery: A unique approach to e-bike subsidies that could make cleaner transportation more accessible.
• EV Adoption Trends: Norway leads the pack with near-total EV adoption, while China outpaces North America in price competitiveness and sales growth.
• Listener Feedback: A shoutout to Ian, who reconsidered a winter EV road trip, and Ronnie, who shares insights on nuclear energy from a viral TikTok.

The Lightning Round:

• Volkswagen may partner with a Chinese EV manufacturer in Germany.
• Extreme heat in Europe is predicted to cause more deaths despite milder winters up north.
• France hit 95% carbon-free electricity production in 2024, driven by nuclear power.
• Solar energy overtakes coal for the first time in the EU.

Fast Facts:

• Texas solar power increased by 64% in one year.
• China’s renewable energy investments dwarfed its nuclear developments in 2024.

Book Nook:
James revisits Ducks by Kate Beaton, a poignant memoir about working in Alberta’s oil sands.

Connect With Us:

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