The European Renewable Energy Directive may lead to vast new cutting of the world's forests as a result of additional wood needed just to supply 5 percent of Europe's energy. This is expected to increase greenhouse gas emissions by 10 to 15 percent in Europe's energy use by 2050.
Renewable biofuels have huge potential, but two main challenges need to be overcome: developing efficient microbial cell factories and converting biomass into sugars. The study suggests that improving these processes could make biomass-derived hydrocarbons a real alternative to fossil fuels.
Researchers at St John's College, University of Cambridge, successfully split water into hydrogen and oxygen using semi-artificial photosynthesis, producing more solar energy than natural photosynthesis. This innovation could revolutionize renewable energy production with a green and unlimited source of energy.
A new study sets a deadline of 2035 for governments to take decisive climate action to limit global warming below 2°C. The research found that even with strong renewable energy growth, humanity will likely cross the point of no return unless drastic emissions reductions are made immediately.
A new study reveals that Europe's power system can comfortably generate at least 35% of its electricity using renewable energy alone without major impacts on prices or system stability. The research, which analyzed 30 years of meteorological data, found that Europe could use renewables for more than two-thirds of its electricity by 2030.
The UK will build multidisciplinary collaborations between universities and industry through three £5m energy research hubs focused on Offshore Renewable Energy, Bioenergy, and Energy Networks. A new solar network will facilitate knowledge exchange and bring together researchers from 19 universities and 70 partners.
A new study from Indiana University finds that states requiring utilities to increase renewable energy see expansion of renewable facilities and generation, particularly solar. The research highlights the importance of policy design features such as stringency and planning processes in driving renewable energy development.
A new type of flow battery developed by Stanford researchers uses a liquid metal at room temperature to store renewable energy from wind or solar sources. The technology has the potential to deliver energy quickly and affordably, with possibilities for further improvement in terms of cost, efficiency, size, and safety.
A recent study suggests that Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) can be the key to China meeting its climate commitments. CSP can store energy relatively inexpensively and dispatch it day or night, making it a more cost-effective option than traditional renewable energy sources like wind power and PV. The study found that substituting CSP f...
Longer solar contracts can leverage free fuel in solar power, reducing operating expenses (O&M costs) by up to 2 cents per kWh. This can lead to lower price bids for utility-scale renewable energy projects, making them more competitive.
A UCLA-led energy research center will accelerate research on new types of chemistry and materials for rechargeable batteries, increasing capacity, stability and safety. The center aims to impact intermittent renewable energy sources and electric vehicles.
Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University are developing a web-atlas of available wind and wave energy in the coastal zones of Russia's 13 seas. The project aims to improve the stability and reliability of renewable energy sources, providing insights for the design of hybrid power stations.
Scientists from FAU are investigating a novel approach to storing solar energy in a single molecule, enabling the creation of an 'energy-storing solar cell'. The research focuses on the use of norbornadiene-quadricyclane storage system and intramolecular reactions to store and release electrical energy efficiently.
Researchers have developed a new method to study electrocatalysts, enabling the precise mechanism of electrocatalytic reactions to be understood. This breakthrough can lead to more efficient and sustainable chemical processes using renewable energy.
Indigenous communities in Canada are increasingly adopting community-led renewable energy infrastructure, leading to improvements in economic and social development. The study found that small-scale renewable energy projects demonstrated positive environmental and economic outcomes, offering a blueprint for future larger projects.
Researchers found that local population involvement and fair decision-making processes are critical to successful low-carbon energy transitions. This includes communication channels, information sharing, and addressing concerns of those affected by the change.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working on a project to refine a specific type of utility-scale solar energy technology that can supply renewable energy without batteries for storage. The goal is to reach temperatures greater than 700 C, which would boost efficiency and lower electricity costs.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a method for producing advanced biofuels through gasification, which could replace 10% of the world's aviation fuel. The technology can be applied to existing plants and could produce 346 TWh of biogas per year if sufficient biomass is available.
The FLASC prototype is a world-first offshore renewable energy TLP with integrated energy storage. It stores energy generated by wind turbines, solar PV, and other sources using pressurised seawater and compressed air.
A team of scientists has responded to criticisms on the feasibility of 100% renewable electricity systems, finding that technical solutions exist to address concerns about grid stability and variability. The study reveals that these solutions are affordable, especially given the decreasing costs of wind and solar power.
A University of Toronto engineering team has designed a most efficient and stable process to convert climate-warming carbon dioxide into ethylene, a key chemical building block for plastics. The breakthrough catalyst uses a thin copper-based material and improves energy efficiency and selectivity.
Researchers at UCF develop new method for producing ammonia, a vital ingredient in fertilizers, using renewable energy and reducing high-energy barriers. The new approach, utilizing palladium hydride catalysts, may inspire other reactions for renewable energy conversion.
A new study by ICTA-UAB analyzes the impacts of substituting fossil fuels for cleaner energies on lifestyles. The researchers conclude that renewable energy sources must grow at a rate two to three times current projections to maintain net energy per capita.
A recent study found that less than 2% of pages in leading biology, chemistry, and physics textbooks discuss climate change. The research team analyzed over 15,000 combined pages from current editions of 16 undergraduate textbooks published between 2013 and 2015, concluding that there is a significant lack of emphasis on renewable ener...
A team of renewable energy experts at the University of Exeter has developed a new method to produce hydrogen from sunlight using a revolutionary photo-electrode. This breakthrough could create a virtually limitless energy source with zero carbon emissions and double the energy density of fossil fuels.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory found that nuclear power plants can adjust to changing demand for power, enabling the use of more renewable energy. This flexibility can lower electricity costs for consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The High Throughput Experimental Materials (HTEM) Database contains detailed properties and synthesis conditions of inorganic materials, accelerating material science advancement globally. NREL's large-scale database makes it easier for researchers without expensive equipment to explore new materials.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are developing a renewable energy approach for synthesizing ammonia, which is essential for fertilizers and food production. The new process utilizes plasma in combination with non-noble metal catalysts to generate ammonia at milder conditions than the traditional Haber-Bosch process.
USU chemists design a molecule featuring a pi-electron conjugation unit as a two-electron storage anolyte for AORFBs, enabling total use of organic materials. The battery delivered high voltage, impressive energy efficiency, and capacity retention.
Researchers at Imperial College London caution against relying on over-optimistic renewable energy models that predict whole systems can run on near-100% renewables by 2050. Despite increasing UK energy production from renewables, the lack of firm and dispatchable backup energy systems poses reliability issues.
A recent study found that hydropower in the Mekong River Basin has median greenhouse gas emissions of 26 kg CO2e/MWh, comparable to other renewable energy sources. However, nearly 20% of hydropower reservoirs have higher emissions than fossil fuels, and social and environmental impacts must be evaluated case-by-case.
Researchers at Concordia University developed a method to optimize energy consumption in buildings, reducing carbon emissions by 59% while cutting costs by 75%. The study used hydro-powered heat pumps and lake cooling as renewable energy sources, demonstrating the potential for net-zero energy usage.
Researchers have created an alternative and cheapest anode material for excellent and ultra-stable alkaline water electrolysis. The new core-shell nanostructured electrocatalyst replaces precious metals, achieving highly efficient oxygen evolution activity and ultrastability.
The study proposes three methods for consistent power among all sectors in 20 world regions, matching supply and demand in 30-second increments. It suggests solutions with no added hydropower turbines and no storage in water, ice or rocks, avoiding blackouts at low cost.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a novel method to create supertough renewable plastic with improved manufacturability. Quantum computers are expected to use dramatically less energy than current supercomputers, reducing energy usage by more than one million kilowatt hours.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed an economical and high-yielding way to produce furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a critical chemical for making renewable plastics.
Renewable energy generation causes grid frequency fluctuations due to variable wind speeds and photovoltaic feed-in. Power trading appears more significant in grid frequency fluctuation than renewable feed-in, with small grids showing larger fluctuations.
Researchers developed a novel strategy to produce aromatic polyesters from Escherichia coli strains using microbial fermentation and synthetic biology. The engineered E. coli strain can produce various high-valued aromatic polyesters from renewable biomass, offering a sustainable alternative for the bio-plastic industry.
Microgrids in Alaska provide electricity for over 200 communities, generating more than 2 million hours of operating experience annually. Renewable energy sources reduce energy costs and improve resilience in the face of grid failures or sabotage.
A new study suggests that unconventional spaces like rooftops, salt-affected land, and contaminated sites can generate renewable energy while sparing valuable agricultural land. The research found that these land-sparing sites in the Central Valley could exceed state energy demands up to 13 times for photovoltaics.
Researchers at NREL discovered distinct roles of small sugars in cellulase activity and stability, shedding light on the functions of glycans attached to proteins. This knowledge can be used to improve enzyme performance for biomass conversion to renewable fuels and products.
Researchers at NREL have created a novel catalytic process to produce renewable acrylonitrile using 3-hydroxypropionic acid, achieving unprecedented yields and eliminating production of hydrogen cyanide. The new method offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional petroleum-based production processes.
Researchers at Harvard's Rowland Institute have developed a system that uses renewable electricity to electrochemically transform carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, with an energy conversion efficiency of up to 12.7%. The device has the potential for industrial applications and could be scaled up to scrub CO2 from the atmosphere.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new catalyst that increases the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis to 64%, converting electrical energy into chemical energy. This innovation addresses two major challenges in renewable energy production, capturing carbon emissions and storing energy from solar or wind power.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University found that treating poultry waste to produce hydrochar generates more net energy than biochar, making it a promising renewable fuel source. The study also showed that higher temperatures during production result in reduced emissions of methane and ammonia.
Sandia engineers have designed a control system that doubles the power absorbed by wave energy converters, making electricity produced from wave energy less expensive. The team applied robotics and aerospace engineering design principles to refine how a wave energy converter moves and responds in the ocean.
Two INRS professors, Shuhui Sun and Federico Rosei, received international recognition for their groundbreaking work on novel materials. Their research focuses on developing renewable energy technologies, with Professor Rosei's discoveries leading to improved solar panels.
Researchers have created a new material that can store renewable energy efficiently. Metal-organic frameworks exhibit conductivity similar to metals, enabling large-scale storage of solar and wind power. This breakthrough could revolutionize intermittent renewable energy sources.
Researchers at MIT have developed an 'air-breathing' battery that can store electricity for months, reducing costs to around $20-$30 per kilowatt hour. The battery uses sulfur and oxygen to generate charge, making it a potential solution for widespread renewable energy integration.
A ceramic-based mechanical pump has been developed that can operate at record temperatures of over 1,400 degrees Celsius, allowing for efficient thermal storage and renewable energy conversion. The pump could facilitate high-efficiency, low-cost storage of renewable energy generated by wind and solar power.
A new battery powered by sulfur, air, water, and salt has been developed to store twice as much energy as a lead-acid battery while being nearly 100 times less expensive to produce. The invention aims to help integrate more renewable energy into the grid, addressing variability challenges.
Researchers at NREL and Johns Hopkins University have developed a methodology to quantify the life cycle land use of natural gas. The study provides quantifiable information on the land use requirements for natural gas production, enabling fair comparisons of energy technologies.
The US Department of Energy has awarded the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center $16 million to develop stress-tolerant sorghum lines for bioenergy production. The project aims to optimize photosynthesis and water use efficiency, leveraging recent investments from DOE to accelerate sorghum feedstock enhancements.
The Colorado State University team aims to increase algal cultivation productivity, optimize biomass composition, and extract different types of algal lipids to reduce upgrading costs. The goal is to double the yield of biofuel precursors from algae to around 3,700 gallons per acre per year.
Researchers from UK and China collaborate on five projects to tackle key challenges in offshore renewable energy, maximizing environmental and socio-economic benefits. The projects will inform technology development and structure resilience to extreme events.
Researchers created algorithms that allow homes to use and share power from renewable energy sources during outages. The system improves grid reliability by prioritizing distribution of power based on forecasts and energy storage availability.
A study led by Argonne National Laboratory found that waste-to-energy production pathways generate less greenhouse gases than decomposing organic waste. Researchers suggest diverting waste to energy can avoid landfill emissions and promote energy independence.
The study outlines infrastructure changes for 139 countries to transition to 100% renewable energy, reducing energy consumption, air pollution deaths, and creating jobs. The roadmap aims to avoid global warming and create energy self-sufficient countries.
Portland State University will study Deep Direct-Use geothermal technology, a new method of harnessing geothermal energy for passive heating and cooling. The study aims to analyze Portland's underlying geology and potential storage capacity for this renewable energy source.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a method to analyze sediment and animal life on the ocean floor, reducing the need for time-intensive identification work. The study found relationships between sediment characteristics and marine animal life consistent across eight sites off the Pacific Northwest coast.