Researchers at KAIST have developed zinc oxide-based micro energy harvesting devices that can harness mechanical energy to generate electricity. The devices, known as nanogenerators, were found to be more efficient when insulating layers such as aluminum nitride were inserted into the zinc oxide material.
Leading conservation scientists argue that nuclear energy should be part of the energy mix to mitigate climate change. The researchers evaluated different energy scenarios and found that nuclear power performs well compared to renewables, considering factors like safety, cost, scalability, land transformation, and emissions.
Eight seed grants support promising new research in clean technology and energy efficiency, focusing on photovoltaics, nanoscale heat transmission, power electronics, and sustainable energy systems. The projects aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste heat.
Researchers say that improved storage technologies and hybrid systems could address the variable nature of alternative energy, making them more cost-effective and efficient. Advanced energy storage and smart-grid connections are being explored to match different forms of renewable energy and provide a consistent power supply.
The new Lab-Corps program aims to accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies from national laboratories to the marketplace. The program will partner with five national labs and provide funding, equipment, and expertise to help innovators bring their ideas to market.
Antonio Luque will receive the Karl W. Börner Solar Energy Medal of Merit at a ceremony on March 13, 2015. Luque is being recognized for his work in developing high-efficiency solar cells and stimulating the adoption of renewable energy in Spain.
Researchers at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have demonstrated a novel method for converting mechanical vibrations into electrical energy. This technique utilizes the charging phenomenon between bodies with different work functions, generating power that can be harnessed using external circuits or semiconductors. The technol...
The US Army and NREL have validated energy savings for net zero energy installations, reducing energy consumption by 25% and annual costs by up to $300 million. Six pilot sites achieved net zero energy, with varying approaches to energy efficiency and renewable energy production.
Researchers at TUM developed a new process combining membrane separation processes to reduce energy consumption in powdered milk and whey production. By achieving higher dry matter concentrations, they can cut the energy consumed in subsequent evaporation and drying steps.
The US Navy has awarded a contract to the University of Washington to develop marine renewable energy technologies, aiming to generate power from tides and waves. The four-year project will focus on developing tools for predicting and tapping energy at naval facilities worldwide.
Researchers at Arizona State University are developing a cost-effective carbon capture technology using an electrochemical technique. The goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by more than half, with the potential to spur economic development in renewable energy and energy security.
Energy drinks have been linked to high caffeine levels, which can cause heart palpitations, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is also a significant risk factor for adverse health effects.
Engineers at TUM have developed a light-weight torque vectoring transmission for electric vehicles, which recovers braking energy more efficiently. The system, used in select top model cars with combustion engines, also enhances road handling dynamics and driving pleasure.
A French scientist has developed an open source simulation method to calculate the actual cost of relying on a combination of electricity sources. The study found that an optimal mix contains a large amount of nuclear power and a small amount of fluctuating energies like wind and solar.
The Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University has awarded $10.5 million to seven research projects focused on advancing renewable energy technologies. These projects include the development of high-energy batteries, solar cells, and sustainable fuels.
Researchers found a 37% reduction in energy consumption when using the Persuasive Technology and Energy Delegate (IPTED) method, which combined real-time feedback with peer social influence. The study showed that this approach can significantly reduce energy use among students if implemented in residential halls.
A study by University of Nottingham researchers found that smart meters displaying individual and communal energy usage can lead to feelings of shame, anger, and guilt among housemates. This may result in increased conflict and negative emotions, particularly when one or more housemates are free-riding on others' energy usage.
Scientists at PPPL identified how magnetic reconnection transforms magnetic energy into particle energy, with 50% conversion rate. The process involves electron energization and creation of electrically charged field that powers ions.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released an updated compendium of experimental cetane numbers, which provides vital information for the development of new, low-carbon fuels and compatible engines. The update includes additional measurements on a larger number of compounds, along with data quality assessments.
Scientists at DTU Physics successfully captured protein quakes that dissipate solar energy throughout entire protein molecules, validating a long-standing hypothesis. This breakthrough has implications for harnessing solar energy in solar cells and other light-absorption systems.
Six new research projects will use technology, data, and information to create better energy strategies and behaviors in public and private non-domestic buildings. The projects aim to reduce UK carbon emissions from such buildings by 18% and final energy consumption by 13%.
A new Stanford study outlines a plan to convert California's all-purpose energy infrastructure to renewable energy by 2050. The plan could create tens of thousands of jobs and save billions in pollution-related health costs while reducing air pollution mortality and global warming emissions.
Finland is developing a new energy system for storing solar and wind energy, targeting greenhouse gas reduction and energy self-sufficiency. The NEO-CARBON ENERGY project aims to create Finnish companies' international RÝ competitiveness and explore business opportunities in the global market.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed office and laboratory spaces that demonstrate high-performance, sustainable building designs and constructions. The campus features facilities with best-in-class energy efficiency and sustainability practices.
Carnegie Institution has been awarded $10 million over four years to support basic research in energy materials, which could lead to new discoveries and solutions to major energy challenges. The program aims to design and synthesize revolutionary materials for energy conversion, storage, and transport.
The Precourt Institute and KQED have developed a two-part e-book series on energy, exploring its basics and applications. The interactive Energy iBooks Textbooks aim to promote energy literacy among students aged 8-13.
Net energy analysis provides a quantitative way to compare energy production with energy required for technology development and maintenance. The technique can identify potential costs and barriers to technology development that conventional financial analysis might not reveal.
A new study suggests that concentrating solar power (CSP) can provide a substantial amount of current energy demand, particularly in the Mediterranean region. CSP systems can store energy as heat and convert it to electricity only when needed, making them more viable for large-scale energy production. The study also found that CSP coul...
The US Department of Energy has renewed funding for Brookhaven's Center for Emergent Superconductivity, aiming to understand the fundamental nature of superconductivity in complex materials. This could revolutionize energy distribution and storage by enabling efficient transport and storage of vast quantities of energy.
The US Department of Energy has awarded $100 million for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) to advance energy production, storage, and use. The selected projects will focus on solar energy, electrical energy storage, carbon capture and sequestration, materials and chemistry by design, biosciences, and extreme environments.
The SHINES project, led by UC Riverside Professor Jing Shi, will investigate new ultrathin films, nanostructured composites, and electrical signal transport. The four-year project aims to advance fundamental advances in energy production, storage, and use.
A new report by NREL found that Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) projects add a value of 5-6 cents per kilowatt hour in California, where renewables will reach 33% by 2020. CSP helps maintain firm capacity and reduces curtailment of variable generation technologies.
Renewable energy capacity surged globally, driven by supportive policies in emerging economies. Over 95 nations now have renewable energy growth policies in place, accounting for 56% of net additions to global power capacity. Renewables accounted for 22% of the world's power production and 19% of global final energy consumption.
The UK Energy Research Centre will continue to drive innovation and research into sustainable future energy systems, with a focus on addressing climate change and increasing energy security. The funding is part of the RCUK Energy Programme, which aims to position the UK for a low-carbon future.
Researchers at University of Southampton have developed a new hybrid energy transfer system that mimics the processes responsible for photosynthesis. The system enables efficient energy transfer over long distances, with potential applications in optoelectronic devices and synthetic systems.
Installing state-of-the-art solar panels on a quarter of a million roofs could meet one-sixth of Scotland's electricity demands, easing the plight of one in three households. The report reveals that harnessing energy from the sun on south-facing buildings could have significant economic, environmental and social impacts.
The NREL-Navy collaboration demonstrated eight energy-efficient technologies, yielding valuable results for the U.S. Navy. Advanced power strips and building retrofits achieved measurable savings, with plug load control technology reducing overall energy consumption by 8% in an office setting.
A new report highlights the need for improved policy support for grassroots environmental projects in the UK. Community energy initiatives, such as solar panels and wind turbines, have potential to make a significant impact on tackling climate change.
The US Department of Energy has recognized six exceptional scientists and engineers with the 2013 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award for their contributions to research and development supporting energy, science, and national security missions. The award recipients have made significant advances in various scientific fields.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a method to produce solar energy materials directly from sunlight, reducing production costs and time. This process uses a continuous flow microreactor to synthesize nanoparticle inks that make solar cells by printing.
The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) has been recognized as the 2014 Laboratory of the Year by R&D Magazine. The facility showcases a unique combination of an ultra-energy efficient workplace, high-performance computing data center, and sophisticated laboratory spaces.
Researchers from Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed a software platform to bring together small energy providers in a virtual power plant, ensuring reliable grid operation. The system optimizes energy use and storage, allowing for efficient management of distributed energy sources.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed new methods to accurately measure and predict wave conditions in test sites. This breakthrough could significantly enhance wave energy production, a key player in the quest for sustainable renewable energy.
A Stanford University study finds that wind farms can afford lots of grid-scale storage to support up to three days of uninterrupted power. In contrast, the solar industry can only afford about 24 hours of energy storage due to the high energy required for manufacturing solar panels.
The Technology Performance Exchange (TPEx) helps manufacturers and consumers exchange information on building-related products' energy performance. This enables apples-to-apples comparisons of products, supporting the deployment of high-impact technologies.
The Journal of the Energy Institute is now available online, covering topics like combustion engineering, biofuels, and clean coal technology. The partnership aims to make high-quality research accessible to industry professionals and researchers worldwide.
The study analyzed the potential of energy wood resources in the Leningrad region of Russia, finding significant potential for intensification. Maximization of sustainable energy wood supply could create new jobs and business opportunities, but challenges like low productivity and technical accessibility need to be solved.
A new NREL report finds that the value of delivered energy from dry-cooled tower and parabolic trough CSP plants, integrated with thermal energy storage, are quite similar. This technology allows for dispatching solar thermal energy like conventional thermal generation, enabling CSP to respond to changes in supply or demand.
Dan Arvizu, NREL director, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his leadership in the renewable and clean energy sectors. He was cited for promoting national balanced energy policies and making significant advancements in engineering education.
Researchers created a model that projects how much energy can be saved with changes to China's building energy codes, which could reduce fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions. The study found that improvements to codes could reduce building energy consumption by up to 22 percent by the end of this century.
Researchers have built a system that converts the sun's energy into hydrogen fuel and stores it for later use, allowing for nighttime power. The 'solar fuels' system uses natural photosynthesis as inspiration and has the potential to be a major piece of the puzzle for a solar energy future.
Dr. Ben Kroposki, NREL director of Energy Systems Integration, named an IEEE Fellow for his leadership in renewable energy systems integration. NREL analysts also received honors for their work on energy-efficient computing and data sharing.
The study reveals a decrease in global energy inequality, with the distribution of per-capita energy consumption approaching an exponential law. As nations like China move up the curve, energy consumption becomes increasingly concentrated among high-consuming nations.
The NREL Building Agent application allows facility managers to diagnose and adjust for problems based on direct occupant comfort feedback. This integration enables a more active role for occupants in comfort and energy trade-offs, leading to improved building performance and cost savings.
The 2012 Renewable Energy Data Book reports a significant increase in US renewable electricity capacity, with installed capacity over 163 GW and renewables accounting for 56% of new electrical capacity installations. Wind and solar PV were among the fastest-growing electric generation technologies.
Researchers at Duke University designed a power-harvesting device that efficiently captures microwave signals and converts them into electrical current. The device has an energy conversion rate of 37%, comparable to solar cells.
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.
Eleven Stanford researchers have received funding for promising new clean energy and efficiency projects, including studies on hybrid car performance, natural ventilation systems, and smart meter data analysis. The awards total $2.2 million and support early work on concepts with high potential impact on energy production and use.
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.
A new study from MIT and SFI reveals a significant rise in renewable-energy patents, driven by research investments and market growth. Patents for solar and wind energy increased dramatically between 2004 and 2009, while fossil-fuel technologies showed modest growth.