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.
On the bright side such retrofits with new potlines on the same site are certainly already done in practice! Several plants in Canada like Kitimat, and many plants in China... Not uncommon to see a smelter with older, smaller (possibly decommissioned) potlines next to newer bigger ones.
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
On the bright side such retrofits with new potlines on the same site are certainly already done in practice! Several plants in Canada like Kitimat, and many plants in China... Not uncommon to see a smelter with older, smaller (possibly decommissioned) potlines next to newer bigger ones.
Right, but if cell dimensions are different (very likely given diversity of cells in service) then need to rip out the whole production floor and do new excavation at minimum, and very possibly rebuild potline buildings themselves. Retrofits are certainly possible but it probably means new potlines.
November 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Right, but if cell dimensions are different (very likely given diversity of cells in service) then need to rip out the whole production floor and do new excavation at minimum, and very possibly rebuild potline buildings themselves. Retrofits are certainly possible but it probably means new potlines.
Germany does have a fair pipeline of ~10 solar projects >150MWdc under development or mid-construction.
In contrast, @globalenergymon.bsky.social lists the United States as having 504 solar farms >150MW either operating or under development.
India has 307.
China is China, of course.
In contrast, @globalenergymon.bsky.social lists the United States as having 504 solar farms >150MW either operating or under development.
India has 307.
China is China, of course.
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Germany does have a fair pipeline of ~10 solar projects >150MWdc under development or mid-construction.
In contrast, @globalenergymon.bsky.social lists the United States as having 504 solar farms >150MW either operating or under development.
India has 307.
China is China, of course.
In contrast, @globalenergymon.bsky.social lists the United States as having 504 solar farms >150MW either operating or under development.
India has 307.
China is China, of course.
Meanwhile Germany only has one PV farm above 200MWdc, though it's a big one--Witznitz in Saxony is completing an expansion to 650 MWdc and is sited atop remediated land from the “Witznitz II” lignite coal mine.
It is actually Europe's largest solar PV farm.
51.1727, 12.4024
It is actually Europe's largest solar PV farm.
51.1727, 12.4024
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Meanwhile Germany only has one PV farm above 200MWdc, though it's a big one--Witznitz in Saxony is completing an expansion to 650 MWdc and is sited atop remediated land from the “Witznitz II” lignite coal mine.
It is actually Europe's largest solar PV farm.
51.1727, 12.4024
It is actually Europe's largest solar PV farm.
51.1727, 12.4024
Japan does have one 400MWdc project under construction on the small island of Ukujima west of Sasebo, which will become the country's new largest PV farm once completed.
@globalenergymon.bsky.social doesn't list any other planned projects >200MW. There are two projects >150MW in progress.
@globalenergymon.bsky.social doesn't list any other planned projects >200MW. There are two projects >150MW in progress.
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Japan does have one 400MWdc project under construction on the small island of Ukujima west of Sasebo, which will become the country's new largest PV farm once completed.
@globalenergymon.bsky.social doesn't list any other planned projects >200MW. There are two projects >150MW in progress.
@globalenergymon.bsky.social doesn't list any other planned projects >200MW. There are two projects >150MW in progress.
Japan's next largest solar farm is Setouchi Kirei Mega Solar, at 235 MWdc, built on a plot of flat coastal land east of Okayama.
34.6430, 134.1590
34.6430, 134.1590
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Japan's next largest solar farm is Setouchi Kirei Mega Solar, at 235 MWdc, built on a plot of flat coastal land east of Okayama.
34.6430, 134.1590
34.6430, 134.1590
The above is Japan's current largest solar PV facility, Pacifico Energy Sakuto Mega-Solar with 258 MWdc installed.
You can see how the facility design is constrained by the surrounding topography and forest.
34.9870, 134.2430
You can see how the facility design is constrained by the surrounding topography and forest.
34.9870, 134.2430
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The above is Japan's current largest solar PV facility, Pacifico Energy Sakuto Mega-Solar with 258 MWdc installed.
You can see how the facility design is constrained by the surrounding topography and forest.
34.9870, 134.2430
You can see how the facility design is constrained by the surrounding topography and forest.
34.9870, 134.2430
Fair point although what I think that highlights more is that in the U.S. the ability of industries to build more promptly depends heavily on the state-by-state policy environment!
November 23, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Fair point although what I think that highlights more is that in the U.S. the ability of industries to build more promptly depends heavily on the state-by-state policy environment!
(I only noticed the airport project because I was scanning the local area for the copper smelter my dad interned at while attending college in the early 1980s. Daye Nonferrous Metals in Huangshi, Hubei. Founded 1953. Top pic is from 2003, bottom pic is from 2023.)
November 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
(I only noticed the airport project because I was scanning the local area for the copper smelter my dad interned at while attending college in the early 1980s. Daye Nonferrous Metals in Huangshi, Hubei. Founded 1953. Top pic is from 2003, bottom pic is from 2023.)
Obligatory clarification to the OP that I am not under any delusion that climate/enviro folks want **mass airport** construction in the U.S., Europe, Australia, etc...
Rather take it as an illustration of the obvious: that the policy environment is quite different.
Rather take it as an illustration of the obvious: that the policy environment is quite different.
November 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Obligatory clarification to the OP that I am not under any delusion that climate/enviro folks want **mass airport** construction in the U.S., Europe, Australia, etc...
Rather take it as an illustration of the obvious: that the policy environment is quite different.
Rather take it as an illustration of the obvious: that the policy environment is quite different.
E.g. @jerusalem.bsky.social is right:
"The answer to our current process problems is not to envy other nation’s autocratic regimes, it’s to fix our own democracy. We don’t need to become China to build things. We need to become the best versions of ourselves."
www.theargumentmag.com/p/the-china-...
"The answer to our current process problems is not to envy other nation’s autocratic regimes, it’s to fix our own democracy. We don’t need to become China to build things. We need to become the best versions of ourselves."
www.theargumentmag.com/p/the-china-...
The China fetish is getting to be a bit much
There are other countries in the world.
www.theargumentmag.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
E.g. @jerusalem.bsky.social is right:
"The answer to our current process problems is not to envy other nation’s autocratic regimes, it’s to fix our own democracy. We don’t need to become China to build things. We need to become the best versions of ourselves."
www.theargumentmag.com/p/the-china-...
"The answer to our current process problems is not to envy other nation’s autocratic regimes, it’s to fix our own democracy. We don’t need to become China to build things. We need to become the best versions of ourselves."
www.theargumentmag.com/p/the-china-...
Some travel vlog propaganda slop as a bonus.
No, America won’t compete with this, because our social contract is structurally different and frankly, deep down, I don't think we really have any serious desire to change that. "Permitting reform" doesn't even come close.
No, America won’t compete with this, because our social contract is structurally different and frankly, deep down, I don't think we really have any serious desire to change that. "Permitting reform" doesn't even come close.
November 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Some travel vlog propaganda slop as a bonus.
No, America won’t compete with this, because our social contract is structurally different and frankly, deep down, I don't think we really have any serious desire to change that. "Permitting reform" doesn't even come close.
No, America won’t compete with this, because our social contract is structurally different and frankly, deep down, I don't think we really have any serious desire to change that. "Permitting reform" doesn't even come close.
More on the recent approval decision here via @sstapczynski.bsky.social @shokooda.bsky.social:
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Japan’s Top Nuclear Power Plant Set to Win Restart Approval
The world’s largest nuclear power plant has won a long-delayed approval to restart, a watershed moment for Japan and its energy industry after the country witnessed the worst atomic disaster this cent...
www.bloomberg.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
More on the recent approval decision here via @sstapczynski.bsky.social @shokooda.bsky.social:
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
These are biiiiig bois, note the LNG tanker next to the Zhuhai facility for scale. The tanks measure about 100 meters in diameter and stand 65 meters high.
Coordinates:
Qingdao - 35.58 119.77
Zhuhai - 21.90 113.22
Binhai - 34.28 120.27
Ningbo - 29.89 122.09
Coordinates:
Qingdao - 35.58 119.77
Zhuhai - 21.90 113.22
Binhai - 34.28 120.27
Ningbo - 29.89 122.09
November 21, 2025 at 1:49 AM
These are biiiiig bois, note the LNG tanker next to the Zhuhai facility for scale. The tanks measure about 100 meters in diameter and stand 65 meters high.
Coordinates:
Qingdao - 35.58 119.77
Zhuhai - 21.90 113.22
Binhai - 34.28 120.27
Ningbo - 29.89 122.09
Coordinates:
Qingdao - 35.58 119.77
Zhuhai - 21.90 113.22
Binhai - 34.28 120.27
Ningbo - 29.89 122.09
This Fraunhofer report from mid-August!
It only appears to cover Trichlorosilane to Siemens CVD up through rod crushing, so doesn't cover the ingot step alas...
www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/...
It only appears to cover Trichlorosilane to Siemens CVD up through rod crushing, so doesn't cover the ingot step alas...
www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/...
www.ise.fraunhofer.de
November 19, 2025 at 8:26 PM
This Fraunhofer report from mid-August!
It only appears to cover Trichlorosilane to Siemens CVD up through rod crushing, so doesn't cover the ingot step alas...
www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/...
It only appears to cover Trichlorosilane to Siemens CVD up through rod crushing, so doesn't cover the ingot step alas...
www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/...
Similar yes, reduction of anhydrous magnesium chloride!
www.acs.org/education/wh...
www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...
www.acs.org/education/wh...
www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...
Magnesium Extraction from Seawater - American Chemical Society
In the early 1900s, Dow Chemical pioneered an efficient, large-scale process to produce elemental magnesium from brine found in Michigan.
www.acs.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Similar yes, reduction of anhydrous magnesium chloride!
www.acs.org/education/wh...
www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...
www.acs.org/education/wh...
www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...
Polysilicon. >60,000 kWh per ton for solar-grade, >120,000 kWh per ton for semiconductor-grade, though demand for the latter is clearly somewhat correlated with what happens with data centers haha.
If Magrathea scales commercially as I hope then we'll need a magnesium smelter or two.
If Magrathea scales commercially as I hope then we'll need a magnesium smelter or two.
November 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Polysilicon. >60,000 kWh per ton for solar-grade, >120,000 kWh per ton for semiconductor-grade, though demand for the latter is clearly somewhat correlated with what happens with data centers haha.
If Magrathea scales commercially as I hope then we'll need a magnesium smelter or two.
If Magrathea scales commercially as I hope then we'll need a magnesium smelter or two.