NREL will develop a new low-cost flow battery using organic energy storage materials to overcome limitations of current flow batteries. The goal is to increase energy density and reduce cost, enabling widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that upgrading airtightness to a uniform level could achieve as much as $33 billion in annual energy savings. Reaching the IECC standard would yield the most benefit, with significant energy cost savings and reduced airflow in homes.
The new institute explores basic science of energy conversion on nanoscale, with potential to discover new ways of generating energy. Scientists will explore biological systems and build hybrid/artificial systems to revolutionize energy science.
The US Department of Energy has launched guidelines for home energy professionals, including standard work specifications and professional certifications. The new standards aim to improve the quality of weatherization services and provide better career paths for workers.
The new journal aims to cover topics where technology, fuels, and resources intersect with social processes and influences. It will examine communities of energy users, people affected by energy production, and social institutions.
Scientists tracked energy from the sun to Earth's magnetosphere using eight NASA spacecraft, including ARTEMIS and THEMIS. The research provides insights into substorms and their impact on space weather, with energy flows lasting up to half an hour and covering areas 10 times larger than Earth.
A team of environmental engineers at the University of Texas at Arlington has received a grant to study the feasibility of landfill gas-to-energy in Ghana. The project aims to adapt a sensor system to boost methane production and create an alternative energy source.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new connection between stacked solar cells that can handle high-intensity solar energies without losing voltage. This breakthrough could improve the overall efficiency of solar energy devices and reduce production costs.
The report identifies substantial opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving scarce water resources by generating renewable energy. It highlights the potential for water sector innovation to increase renewable energy capacity, particularly in states like California.
Frontiers' new journal in Energy Research will publish rigorously peer-reviewed articles on various topics related to energy systems, including nanotechnology solutions, policies, and storage. The journal aims to provide a free-to-access platform for researchers to share their findings with the scientific community.
A research team led by Wayne State University aims to update the Highway Capacity Manual with the Michigan left turn design, enabling its adoption by other countries. The project will develop equations, text, and software for four alternative designs, improving traffic flow and safety.
A Penn State University team wins the US Department of Energy poster competition using only 1000 commonly used words, explaining how energy from sunlight is captured by plants and stored in plant cell walls. The team's creative approach helped them win first prize out of 31 submissions.
A new study explores how 'Energy Theater' helps learners understand complex physics ideas, including energy flow and conservation. The activity allows students to personify energy and visualize its changes in a dynamic system.
Research suggests that vitamins and minerals, such as B and D, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, can improve mood and reduce fatigue. Supplementing with these nutrients may provide an alternative to psychiatric medicines for symptom relief.
The US Department of Energy has commissioned the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility to investigate and develop technology for wind plants. The facility will host research on improving wind plant performance, with a focus on reducing energy losses due to complex wind interactions.
The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is a new research center that aims to boost clean energy technologies on a smarter grid. The facility will house experimental laboratories and outdoor test beds, including a petascale supercomputer, to support large-scale modeling and simulation. Advanced Energy Industries has already sign...
The E2e Project, a joint initiative of the Energy Institute at Haas and MIT's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, aims to evaluate and improve energy-efficiency policies and technologies. The project seeks to provide valuable guidance to government and industry leaders, as well as consumers, on how to make smart choices.
The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of converting switchgrass into jet fuel economically and in large quantities. The process is expected to result in a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to current production methods.
A scientist suggests an alternative approach to calculating microbial growth thermodynamics, citing discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results. The Battley free energy equation offers a more realistic representation of real-world conditions.
Many GPs incorrectly view nicotine as more harmful than smoke, despite understanding that smoking is riskier. This misunderstanding may influence advice on alternative nicotine products.
Researchers at PNNL and BPA identified two unique methods and two sites in eastern Washington for compressed air energy storage. These plants can store wind energy produced at night and release it when demand is high, providing flexibility to balance the region's highly variable wind energy generation.
New York University physicists have found that energy is released and dispersed in magnetic materials through a process akin to forest fires. By manipulating magnetic fields, they were able to control the speed of this process and understand how energy is sustained and spreads.
A study found that environmental labels can discourage conservative shoppers from purchasing energy-efficient products, instead promoting financial incentives and energy independence. The research suggests that a tailored message is needed to reach different market segments.
Researchers have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that can regulate natural fluctuations in solar and wind energy. The new battery uses lithium and sulfur molecules and has excellent energy-storage performance through over 2,000 charges and discharges.
A new study has mapped the use of alternative treatments among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, revealing that more than half combine conventional and alternative medicine. The research highlights the importance of understanding how MS patients use both conventional and alternative treatments to manage their condition.
The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched an initiative to build an open-source database of real-world performance from solar facilities. The Open Solar Performance and Reliability Clearinghouse (O-SPaRC) aims to provide critical data on the long-term performance of residential and commercia...
The global solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is making positive strides in reducing its energy debt, with electricity generated by all installed PV panels likely surpassing energy used to manufacture new modules. Continued technological advances and efficient conversion of sunlight into electricity are key factors driving this progress.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab released a guide on planning and financing comprehensive energy upgrades for K-12 schools. The guide covers different financing approaches and contains case studies of successful projects, highlighting the benefits of energy efficiency upgrades in reducing costs and improving student learning environments.
Researchers found that recurrent hypoglycemia enhances neuronal uptake of lactate, allowing the brain to retain normal neural activity. This suggests that lactate supports neuronal function and indicates potential benefits of supplementing alternative fuels during hypoglycemia.
The new HPC data center at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is the first of its kind, boasting an annualized average power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.06 or better. It achieves this by using warm-water liquid cooling and capturing and reusing waste heat to reduce energy consumption.
A new study proposes converting New York's all-purpose energy infrastructure to renewable energy sources like wind, water, and sunlight. The plan aims to reduce pollution-related costs, create local jobs, and save the state billions of dollars annually.
NREL Engineer Ian Metzger named ASHRAE's New Face of Engineering, recognized for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment. The Research Support Facility in Golden, Colorado, also won an ASHRAE Technology Award for its net-zero design, using 50% less energy than traditional commercial buildings.
A new study suggests that achieving the UN's Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) objectives by 2030 could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help limit global temperature rise to 2°C. The initiative includes providing universal access to modern energy, doubling renewable energy globally, and improving energy efficiency.
PNNL researchers are developing a range of innovative clean energy technologies, including thermal energy storage that can store solar heat for up to 10 times longer than traditional molten salts. Additionally, the lab has created lightweight fuel tanks for compressed natural gas vehicles and rare earth-free magnets for electric motors.
Researchers at NCAR are creating a prototype system to forecast sunlight and resulting power every 15 minutes, enabling utilities to continuously anticipate available solar energy. The project aims to improve cloud prediction accuracy, helping utilities tap into solar energy more effectively and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
A University of Texas at Arlington engineer has developed a semiconductor-based process to capture, store and transmit solar energy more efficiently. The new method increases the yield of solar energy by 10 times and improves efficiency fourfold compared to current methods.
Researchers recommend doubling US energy productivity by 2030 through investments in efficiency concepts, modernizing infrastructure, and educating consumers. This can create a million new jobs, save households $1,000/year, and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by one-third.
A new open-source model, InVEST, provides spatially explicit information on offshore wind energy, helping decision makers quantify tradeoffs between energy, transportation, and fishing. The tool is significant for integrated marine spatial planning, enabling informed decisions on wind turbine placement.
A low-carbon hybrid energy system is proposed to integrate coal with nuclear, wind, solar, biomass, and hydro power to reduce CO2 emission and recycle carbon. The system utilizes carbon recycling to produce useful materials while increasing energy efficiency.
Assistant professor Hamed Mohsenian-Rad is designing plug-and-play energy consumption scheduling devices to control energy usage in electric cars and industrial machinery. His research aims to encourage consumer cooperation, support renewable energy integration, minimize generation cost, and maintain electrical power quality.
A bacterial supplement containing lipid-producing Rhodococcus opacus increased circulating triglycerides in weanling pigs, providing an alternative source of energy. This could help strengthen the immune system and fight off infections more efficiently during a critical stage of development.
Spending on utility-funded energy efficiency programs will double by 2025, reaching $9.5 billion, as states in the Midwest and South expand their programs, driven by policies requiring cost-effective energy savings and energy efficiency resource standards.
A new study reveals that photovoltaics (PV) outperform biofuels in terms of energy efficiency, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions. PV systems are 30-200 times more efficient than biomass-based pathways, requiring significantly less land to produce the same amount of energy.
The U.S. Department of Energy's NREL has created the Buildings, Industry, Transportation, Electricity, and Transportation Scenarios (BITES) tool to help users understand the complex issues surrounding cleaner energy. Users can adjust inputs to explore 'what-if' scenarios and compare outcomes to baseline cases.
A recent study published in Pediatrics found that 71% of pediatric patients attending specialty clinics in Edmonton used alternative medicine, while only 42% did so in Ottawa. The study highlights a need for better communication between doctors and parents about alternative medicine use, which can lead to potential drug interactions.
Research by Rodger Thompson finds that a popular dark energy alternative does not fit newly obtained data on the proton to electron mass ratio. This impact our understanding of the universe's accelerating expansion and point to a new direction for further study, potentially leading to a return to Einstein's General Relativity.
Geoscientists highlight the importance of fundamental research in unlocking the full potential of emerging energy sources, including geothermal and shale gas. The development of these resources is hindered by geological and environmental challenges that must be addressed through basic scientific inquiry.
The Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) will combine the R&D firepower of five DOE national laboratories, universities, and private firms to achieve revolutionary advances in battery performance. The project aims to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and lower energy costs.
A team of Harvard engineers and chemists are working on a one-year, $600,000 grant from ARPA-E to develop a new type of storage battery that uses eco-friendly small organic molecules. The technology aims to make stationary energy storage cost-effective, enabling wind and solar power to displace fossil fuels more widely.
The Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has selected 66 cutting-edge research projects to receive $130 million in funding. These projects focus on transformational, breakthrough technologies that can produce game-changing breakthroughs in energy technology and have large commercial impacts.
Researchers unveil creative technologies to capture kinetic energy in Florida's oceans, convert waste thermal energy to electricity, and develop nanophosphor-based grow lights. These innovations could change our sources of energy and improve indoor agriculture.
A new study finds that efficient end-use technologies have the potential to contribute large emission reductions and provide higher social returns on investment. However, current innovation efforts are skewed towards energy supply technologies, which may be less effective in mitigating climate change.
Female leaders in clean energy were honored at the Women in Clean Energy Symposium, including C3E award winners who made significant contributions to policy, innovation, education, and corporate implementation. The event highlighted the importance of local initiatives in advancing national energy plans.
Researchers are developing molten-salt-based CSP heat transfer fluids with low melting points and low corrosivity to generate steam and electrical power efficiently and cost-effectively. The goal is to reach temperatures of up to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit to overcome nocturnal drop in power generation capability.
A Kansas State University doctoral student is developing a high-performance nanostructure of silicon coated onto carbon nanofibers to improve lithium-ion batteries. The material stores roughly 10 times the energy of current electrodes, resulting in a 10-15 percent improvement in battery technology.
The Dark Energy Camera, the most powerful sky-mapping machine ever created, has captured and recorded its first images in Chile. The camera will use data from the largest galaxy survey to study galaxy clusters, supernovae, and dark energy.
Nine Stanford researchers received seed grants to explore promising new technologies in clean energy and energy efficiency. These projects include the development of high-performance batteries, ultrathin solar cells, and methods for capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The research has the potential to impact energy production and use...
A Tel Aviv University researcher has developed a control algorithm that optimizes energy collection from waves by predicting wave height and force. The system doubles the energy previously collected by Wave Energy Converters (WECs), making marine energy more competitive.
Experts surveyed by Near Zero identify reliability as the primary barrier to airborne wind energy, citing need for long-term stability in shifting winds. Government funding is seen as key to accelerating industry growth, with $10 million annual investment potentially cutting years off significant scale deployment.
The NSF is providing $3 million to ASU to develop a doctoral program in energy and equip students with skills to address the energy challenges of the future. The Solar Utilization Network IGERT program will focus on four key research areas: biological conversion, photovoltaics, solar thermal, and sustainable policy.