Seaver Wang
@wang-seaver.bsky.social
Director, Climate and Energy at the Breakthrough Institute. 王思維. He/him. Oceanographer turned solution seeker. Ecomodernism is the way. PhD in Earth and Ocean Sciences.
Pinned
Seaver Wang
@wang-seaver.bsky.social
· Jul 22
Taking Inventory of Critical Mineral Stockpiling
The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
thebreakthrough.org
Should a US national critical minerals reserve program act more like the National Defense Stockpile or more like the Strategic Petroleum Reserve? Major new report by my team deep dives into this question, looking at 15 minerals relevant to energy.
My thoughts🧵:
thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
My thoughts🧵:
thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
An interesting observation: Japan + Germany are about tied for the 4th + 5th most solar PV capacity globally at ~91+GWdc each, but Japan only has two PV farms >200MW and Germany only one. Relatively few superlarge deployments.
Land-abundant countries have it easier I guess. 🧵
Land-abundant countries have it easier I guess. 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
An interesting observation: Japan + Germany are about tied for the 4th + 5th most solar PV capacity globally at ~91+GWdc each, but Japan only has two PV farms >200MW and Germany only one. Relatively few superlarge deployments.
Land-abundant countries have it easier I guess. 🧵
Land-abundant countries have it easier I guess. 🧵
A friggin exciting breakthrough in clean aluminum smelting. Reducing the power consumption of this new cell technology is more straightforward. The daunting obstacle is that this cell type is not drop-in compatible for existing facilities, so we're talking all-new plants globally (or more tweaking).
More on Elysis and their cleaner Alum. smelting process. Interesting that it increases energy used, because you aren't getting the chemical energy from the carbon. Thus, it is more more vital to use clean power.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
November 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A friggin exciting breakthrough in clean aluminum smelting. Reducing the power consumption of this new cell technology is more straightforward. The daunting obstacle is that this cell type is not drop-in compatible for existing facilities, so we're talking all-new plants globally (or more tweaking).
"Wetlands? Who needs those?"
For all the China infrastructure simping on here among ex-China climate/enviro folks, y’all don’t have the guts to actually copy it.
Ezhou Huahu ('flower lake') Int’l Airport, "China's 1st cargo-focused int’l airport" east of Wuhan.
30.331, 115.036
For all the China infrastructure simping on here among ex-China climate/enviro folks, y’all don’t have the guts to actually copy it.
Ezhou Huahu ('flower lake') Int’l Airport, "China's 1st cargo-focused int’l airport" east of Wuhan.
30.331, 115.036
November 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"Wetlands? Who needs those?"
For all the China infrastructure simping on here among ex-China climate/enviro folks, y’all don’t have the guts to actually copy it.
Ezhou Huahu ('flower lake') Int’l Airport, "China's 1st cargo-focused int’l airport" east of Wuhan.
30.331, 115.036
For all the China infrastructure simping on here among ex-China climate/enviro folks, y’all don’t have the guts to actually copy it.
Ezhou Huahu ('flower lake') Int’l Airport, "China's 1st cargo-focused int’l airport" east of Wuhan.
30.331, 115.036
Hearing that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan has received approval from Niigata prefecture to restart, re-upping my recent thread on the status of Japan's reactors under construction + awaiting restart:
(K-K Units 6 + 7 already have safety approvals to restart)
(K-K Units 6 + 7 already have safety approvals to restart)
Some recent buzz re: a possible new Japan nuclear build, but what's the update on JP nuclear restarts + projects being built?
TEPCO's Higashidori site near the idled but operable Tohoku plant hasn't even poured a concrete basemat yet. Debatable to say it's under construction.🧵
TEPCO's Higashidori site near the idled but operable Tohoku plant hasn't even poured a concrete basemat yet. Debatable to say it's under construction.🧵
November 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Hearing that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan has received approval from Niigata prefecture to restart, re-upping my recent thread on the status of Japan's reactors under construction + awaiting restart:
(K-K Units 6 + 7 already have safety approvals to restart)
(K-K Units 6 + 7 already have safety approvals to restart)
This morning's quick research dive: as best as I can tell, large reservoir hydroelectric dams require on average ~5x the concrete per GW of generation capacity that nuclear does.
The variation among dams is also remarkable. Baihetan and Xiluodu relatively efficient.
The variation among dams is also remarkable. Baihetan and Xiluodu relatively efficient.
November 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This morning's quick research dive: as best as I can tell, large reservoir hydroelectric dams require on average ~5x the concrete per GW of generation capacity that nuclear does.
The variation among dams is also remarkable. Baihetan and Xiluodu relatively efficient.
The variation among dams is also remarkable. Baihetan and Xiluodu relatively efficient.
LNG tankers + storage tanks use thin foil layers of a special alloy called Invar with a low coefficient of thermal expansion, 36% nickel with some grades ~5% cobalt.
Anyone know if liquified hydrogen tanks use Invar, or is a different alloy needed? I'm seeing different things.
Anyone know if liquified hydrogen tanks use Invar, or is a different alloy needed? I'm seeing different things.
"China builds the world's biggest energy projects" with a twist. Unless Chinese firms have started selling them abroad, I believe China is the only country operating the world’s largest 270000 cubic m LNG storage tanks, now built at a few new terminal phases all <2 yrs old.
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
LNG tankers + storage tanks use thin foil layers of a special alloy called Invar with a low coefficient of thermal expansion, 36% nickel with some grades ~5% cobalt.
Anyone know if liquified hydrogen tanks use Invar, or is a different alloy needed? I'm seeing different things.
Anyone know if liquified hydrogen tanks use Invar, or is a different alloy needed? I'm seeing different things.
"China builds the world's biggest energy projects" with a twist. Unless Chinese firms have started selling them abroad, I believe China is the only country operating the world’s largest 270000 cubic m LNG storage tanks, now built at a few new terminal phases all <2 yrs old.
November 21, 2025 at 1:49 AM
"China builds the world's biggest energy projects" with a twist. Unless Chinese firms have started selling them abroad, I believe China is the only country operating the world’s largest 270000 cubic m LNG storage tanks, now built at a few new terminal phases all <2 yrs old.
Reposted by Seaver Wang
‘Corning’s Michigan facility began producing silicon ingots & wafers Q3’2025…plans to ramp daily production to 1 million wafers in Q4…first domestic production of ingots/wafers in nearly a decade…publicly announced 10/2024 - construction likely commenced prior…remarkably fast by U.S. standards’
Corning Leads U.S. Domestic PV Wafer Supply|Manufacturing|Solarbe Global
By the end of October 2025, Corning announced that its Michigan facility had begun producing silicon ingots and wafers in the third quarter of 2025, with pl ...
www.solarbeglobal.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
‘Corning’s Michigan facility began producing silicon ingots & wafers Q3’2025…plans to ramp daily production to 1 million wafers in Q4…first domestic production of ingots/wafers in nearly a decade…publicly announced 10/2024 - construction likely commenced prior…remarkably fast by U.S. standards’
Crystalline silicon solar doesn't use cadmium. None. Zero. This myth arose from confusion over different solar techs 15 yrs ago but won't die.
Electric connex in panels may use some lead-tin solder, but one should worry more about lead/solder/brass fittings in home/local water pipes. And paint.
Electric connex in panels may use some lead-tin solder, but one should worry more about lead/solder/brass fittings in home/local water pipes. And paint.
November 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Crystalline silicon solar doesn't use cadmium. None. Zero. This myth arose from confusion over different solar techs 15 yrs ago but won't die.
Electric connex in panels may use some lead-tin solder, but one should worry more about lead/solder/brass fittings in home/local water pipes. And paint.
Electric connex in panels may use some lead-tin solder, but one should worry more about lead/solder/brass fittings in home/local water pipes. And paint.
I don't suppose anyone is aware of a database or resource that records the brand and model of solar PV modules used in specific big utility-scale solar installations?
I expect no global database exists, but curious if there is one for the EU, US, other countries, or states.
I expect no global database exists, but curious if there is one for the EU, US, other countries, or states.
November 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I don't suppose anyone is aware of a database or resource that records the brand and model of solar PV modules used in specific big utility-scale solar installations?
I expect no global database exists, but curious if there is one for the EU, US, other countries, or states.
I expect no global database exists, but curious if there is one for the EU, US, other countries, or states.
Korea is flexing here with this highly artistic floating solar farm, newly commissioned days ago.
47.2 MW of capacity located near the 50 MW Imha hydroelectric dam. The modules are arranged into the shape of Korea’s flag and the Mugunghwa, Korea’s national flower.
47.2 MW of capacity located near the 50 MW Imha hydroelectric dam. The modules are arranged into the shape of Korea’s flag and the Mugunghwa, Korea’s national flower.
November 17, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Korea is flexing here with this highly artistic floating solar farm, newly commissioned days ago.
47.2 MW of capacity located near the 50 MW Imha hydroelectric dam. The modules are arranged into the shape of Korea’s flag and the Mugunghwa, Korea’s national flower.
47.2 MW of capacity located near the 50 MW Imha hydroelectric dam. The modules are arranged into the shape of Korea’s flag and the Mugunghwa, Korea’s national flower.
Chatting with many international peers in recent months (Taiwan/JPN/Indonesia/range of EU) and many feel geothermal is desirable as an idea but see their domestic potential as limited to a few 100s of MW/maybe a GW...
Geothermal may have to challenge those conceptions to grow globally?
Geothermal may have to challenge those conceptions to grow globally?
November 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Chatting with many international peers in recent months (Taiwan/JPN/Indonesia/range of EU) and many feel geothermal is desirable as an idea but see their domestic potential as limited to a few 100s of MW/maybe a GW...
Geothermal may have to challenge those conceptions to grow globally?
Geothermal may have to challenge those conceptions to grow globally?
350 may not have been particularly relevant for the past several years now, but nevertheless this feels like the end of an era.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
E&E News: Green group 350.org suspends US operations, cuts global staff by 30 percent
The group will keep three U.S. positions open in hopes of reviving operations in the future.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
350 may not have been particularly relevant for the past several years now, but nevertheless this feels like the end of an era.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
We happen to have some satellite images for office decor (not my idea actually!)
We have one of the Mt Whaleback iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western AUS. Largest single surface iron mine globally, part of 3rd largest iron ore complex by output.
Note 2km scale.
-23.36 119.66
We have one of the Mt Whaleback iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western AUS. Largest single surface iron mine globally, part of 3rd largest iron ore complex by output.
Note 2km scale.
-23.36 119.66
November 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
We happen to have some satellite images for office decor (not my idea actually!)
We have one of the Mt Whaleback iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western AUS. Largest single surface iron mine globally, part of 3rd largest iron ore complex by output.
Note 2km scale.
-23.36 119.66
We have one of the Mt Whaleback iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western AUS. Largest single surface iron mine globally, part of 3rd largest iron ore complex by output.
Note 2km scale.
-23.36 119.66
Regular reminder: we have many reasons to conserve the Amazon or ocean algae, but "the air we breathe" isn't really one of them.
Just hypothetically, burning all biomass on Earth only shifts atmospheric oxygen from 20.9%➡️20.4% and CO2 from 400➡️900ppm.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Just hypothetically, burning all biomass on Earth only shifts atmospheric oxygen from 20.9%➡️20.4% and CO2 from 400➡️900ppm.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
The Amazon Is Not Earth’s Lungs
Humans could burn every living thing on the planet and still not dent its oxygen supply.
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Regular reminder: we have many reasons to conserve the Amazon or ocean algae, but "the air we breathe" isn't really one of them.
Just hypothetically, burning all biomass on Earth only shifts atmospheric oxygen from 20.9%➡️20.4% and CO2 from 400➡️900ppm.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Just hypothetically, burning all biomass on Earth only shifts atmospheric oxygen from 20.9%➡️20.4% and CO2 from 400➡️900ppm.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Reposted by Seaver Wang
Q cells is one of the few companies to be certified to the sustainability and carbon footprint EPEAT standards we developed.
us.qcells.com/blog/qcells-...
us.qcells.com/blog/qcells-...
November 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Q cells is one of the few companies to be certified to the sustainability and carbon footprint EPEAT standards we developed.
us.qcells.com/blog/qcells-...
us.qcells.com/blog/qcells-...
Remarkable how cavalier China's industrial ecosystem can be with large capital projects.
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Remarkable how cavalier China's industrial ecosystem can be with large capital projects.
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
Weiqiao starts building a 470,000 tons/yr aluminum smelter in Binzhou, Shandong in 2014
It's built by Feb 2017
By 2020 it's being torn down
2024: a totally new workshop is using the site 🧵
Reposted by Seaver Wang
someone went up to sarah mcbride in front of the u.s. congress, hurled her deadname at her loudly and called her a pedophile repeatedly, posted video of the exchange to x, and it is now going wildly viral
i will not share the video
but if you’re not speaking up about this, you’re hurting yourself
i will not share the video
but if you’re not speaking up about this, you’re hurting yourself
November 7, 2025 at 3:08 AM
someone went up to sarah mcbride in front of the u.s. congress, hurled her deadname at her loudly and called her a pedophile repeatedly, posted video of the exchange to x, and it is now going wildly viral
i will not share the video
but if you’re not speaking up about this, you’re hurting yourself
i will not share the video
but if you’re not speaking up about this, you’re hurting yourself
That a detestable so-called "Christian" activist recording himself harassing Rep Sarah McBride in public has gone so grotesquely viral is unnatural. I feel we're being botted + pushed towards hate.
Simultaneously such identity-based persecution is clearly real, intensifying and terrifying.
Simultaneously such identity-based persecution is clearly real, intensifying and terrifying.
November 7, 2025 at 3:36 AM
That a detestable so-called "Christian" activist recording himself harassing Rep Sarah McBride in public has gone so grotesquely viral is unnatural. I feel we're being botted + pushed towards hate.
Simultaneously such identity-based persecution is clearly real, intensifying and terrifying.
Simultaneously such identity-based persecution is clearly real, intensifying and terrifying.
Our new report explores potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.
If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.🧵
thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.🧵
thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
Abundant Fuel for Abundant Reactors
thebreakthrough.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Our new report explores potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.
If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.🧵
thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.🧵
thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
“Enviro groups are gravely mistaken if they think they can promote better mining/refining/manufacturing of renewables + EVs while ignoring the elephant in the room. Globally many unethical supply chains leverage China as a chief refuge from accountability”
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
Six Things the Climate Movement Gets Wrong About China
The China conversation we all keep dodging
www.breakthroughjournal.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
“Enviro groups are gravely mistaken if they think they can promote better mining/refining/manufacturing of renewables + EVs while ignoring the elephant in the room. Globally many unethical supply chains leverage China as a chief refuge from accountability”
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
No reason a society shouldn’t have both! And I worry that we risk ending up with neither… but at the end of the day if you could only pick one, some things are worth more than 50,000 km of high-speed railway.
November 4, 2025 at 10:38 PM
No reason a society shouldn’t have both! And I worry that we risk ending up with neither… but at the end of the day if you could only pick one, some things are worth more than 50,000 km of high-speed railway.
Grand plan to end opposition to transmission projects:
Romanticize the heck out of transmission. Loving shots of transmission in backdrop/enviro shots of every movie, TV show + commercial until people subliminally get warm fuzzy feelings every time they see high-voltage pylons.
Romanticize the heck out of transmission. Loving shots of transmission in backdrop/enviro shots of every movie, TV show + commercial until people subliminally get warm fuzzy feelings every time they see high-voltage pylons.
November 2, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Grand plan to end opposition to transmission projects:
Romanticize the heck out of transmission. Loving shots of transmission in backdrop/enviro shots of every movie, TV show + commercial until people subliminally get warm fuzzy feelings every time they see high-voltage pylons.
Romanticize the heck out of transmission. Loving shots of transmission in backdrop/enviro shots of every movie, TV show + commercial until people subliminally get warm fuzzy feelings every time they see high-voltage pylons.
Reposted by Seaver Wang
People want a fast energy transition but also talk about one that's fair + just. The prevailing selective discourse re: China risks a future with neither. New by me: 🧵
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
Six Things the Climate Movement Gets Wrong About China
The China conversation we all keep dodging
www.breakthroughjournal.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
People want a fast energy transition but also talk about one that's fair + just. The prevailing selective discourse re: China risks a future with neither. New by me: 🧵
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
People want a fast energy transition but also talk about one that's fair + just. The prevailing selective discourse re: China risks a future with neither. New by me: 🧵
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
Six Things the Climate Movement Gets Wrong About China
The China conversation we all keep dodging
www.breakthroughjournal.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
People want a fast energy transition but also talk about one that's fair + just. The prevailing selective discourse re: China risks a future with neither. New by me: 🧵
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/six-things...