Rice University's student-led Rice Wind Energy team took second place overall at the 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition. The team designed and built a powerful wind turbine, achieving over 20 watts of power in the wind tunnel, and hosted community outreach initiatives to promote renewable energy.
A new two-layer active balancing strategy improves energy transfer efficiency and speed by redistributing energy among cells. The layered structure integrates inductor and transformer circuits to balance both within and between battery cell groups, achieving faster equalization and increased energy efficiency.
Researchers at Dongguk University have created a graphene coating that supercharges zinc-ion batteries for grid use, overcoming safety issues and enabling high-performance industrial energy storage. The new technology supports roll-to-roll manufacturing, bringing affordable energy storage closer to commercialization.
Global CO2 emissions from industry can be reduced by up to 5% through improved energy management and social constructions of energy efficiency. The key findings highlight the importance of system-wide processes, increased knowledge dissemination, and corporate culture changes in achieving this goal.
Researchers from OIST and Hebrew University developed a novel method to measure energy usage during movement using video and 3D-tracking via deep learning. This innovative approach expands the study of movement energy in ecology, physiology, and beyond, enabling the accurate measurement of energy consumption in smaller animal species.
Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) reduce inequality, foster trust, and empower citizens by turning energy infrastructures into platforms for social equity and ecological resilience. Policymakers must prioritize inclusive governance to ensure no community is left behind in the fight for a just energy transition.
SourceELSP·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy·TypeCase study·DateApr 10, 2025
A study published in Science Advances has revealed promising alternative pathways to overcome photorespiration, which can reduce crop productivity by up to 36%. The researchers identified mechanisms that could improve plant productivity while adapting to climate change and growing global food demands.
Researchers have developed a new type of metamaterial that stores large amounts of energy through twisting rods, with enthalpy levels 2-160 times higher than other materials. The material has potential applications in various fields such as spring-based energy storage, shock absorption, and flexible structures.
A recent study by Concordia researchers found that solutions journalism in Canadian alternative media outlets is often constrained by institutional lack of support and daily pressures. Despite its benefits, the practice requires strong nurturing environments to flourish.
A comprehensive global assessment of ocean current energy identifies high power density areas off the East coast of the U.S. and Eastern coast of Africa, suitable for generating electricity from ocean currents. The study highlights the importance of expanding data collection to refine understanding and unlock the full energy potential ...
Experts discuss scientific and technological challenges in the energy transition, including solar technologies, hydrogen, batteries, grid management, and future energy sources. The joint paper recommends innovations leading to next-gen photovoltaic technology, green hydrogen production, and AI-powered grid management.
Researchers from the University of the Basque Country have developed a hybrid supercapacitor using carbon from Pinus radiata waste, offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for improving conventional lithium-ion capacitors. The system stores high-power energy and can withstand many charge-discharge cycles.
A new analysis of social media posts reveals that public support for solar energy remains high, but has become increasingly polarized. The study found that attitudes toward solar energy are largely being driven by politics, with significant differences in support across regions and states.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions has published an expert consensus statement recommending two preferred alternative access techniques for transaortic valve replacement (TAVR), including transcarotid and transcaval access. The guidelines aim to improve outcomes for patients with inadequate femoral vascular ac...
The partnership aims to develop AI-driven tools to improve investment decisions, enhance system stability through intelligent forecasting, and deploy smart optimisation algorithms. The collaboration seeks to address key challenges in smart energy storage by integrating Trinasolar's expertise with NTU's leading research.
Researchers developed a quantitative evaluation method for energy resilience in disasters by simulating power outage scenarios in buildings with solar power generators and storage batteries. The study found that energy resilience is highest when the power outage coincides with daylight hours.
Researchers have developed a flexible dual-band electrochromic device that integrates energy storage, reducing building energy consumption. The device offers excellent performance in various climate zones, providing substantial energy savings through selective modulation of light and heat across multiple wavelengths.
Researchers found that neurons conserve energy by regulating mRNA and protein number and location based on molecule length, longevity, and other properties. This helps minimize energy expenditure for synthesis, transport, and degradation.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology found that cobalt-free studded tires can grip ice and packed snow without causing significant damage to road surfaces. The alternative stud material reduces airborne particles by 20 percent, a potential improvement for driver health.
New study reveals quantum mechanical processes facilitate energy transfer and charge separation in photosynthetic organisms. This understanding can inform the design of artificial photosynthesis units for unprecedented solar energy efficiency.
Lithuania is undergoing a significant energy transformation to reduce its reliance on imported fuels and increase the share of renewable energy in its mix. The country has made notable progress in increasing its renewable energy share, with 70% of electricity coming from renewable sources in 2023.
The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate collaboration on key carbon-neutral technologies. The two institutions aim to produce meaningful collaborative results, with a focus on solar energy, hydrogen, and energy storage.
The collaboration aims to drive innovation in renewable energy technologies, focusing on advancements in solar, wind, and other new and renewable energy systems. Research efforts will also study microgrid technologies, grid management solutions, and explore energy-efficient buildings and processes.
Researchers at TU Wien discovered a new energy band that remains connected by an 'umbilical cord' when one allowed energy range splits into two separate bands. This phenomenon is bound to occur in materials with large electron interaction, opening up a new perspective on technologically highly interesting classes of materials.
The US Department of Energy awards $107 million to six projects in the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives, supporting commercial fusion energy development. Several privately funded fusion companies complete early critical-path science and technology milestones in the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program.
A new study reveals the potential of federal reservoirs to host enough floating solar panels to generate up to 1,476 terawatt hours, or enough energy to power approximately 100 million US homes a year. This could help meet the country's solar energy needs and provide more reliable and resilient energy to the power grid.
Researchers at SeoulNational University of Science & Technology propose two new designs for energy-efficient vibration energy harvesters that boost power output and efficiency. The designs use a repulsive magnet pair, yoke, and optimized coil placement to maximize magnetic flux change, leading to higher power generation.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new technology to lower power consumption for modern memory devices, enabling an electric-field-based writing scheme. The proposed technology could provide an alternative to traditional RAM and is a promising step towards implementing practical magnetoelectric (ME)-MRAM devices.
The Microelectronics Energy Efficiency Research Center for Advanced Technologies (MEERCAT) will focus on energy efficiency, exploring solutions that bridge sensing, edge processing, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Sandia is leading one of the eight energy efficiency-related research projects within the center.
A special collection addresses solar energy's environmental and technical issues, combining atmospheric science and solar engineering expertise.
A recent study from Peking University found that modern clean energy sources may exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly for low-income households. The researchers recommend policy solutions like phased clean energy transitions and targeted energy subsidies to ensure a more equitable transition.
The global energy return on investment for agriculture increased from .68 to .91 between 1995 and 2019, reflecting improvements in efficiency. However, the ratio has plateaued since 2014, indicating that more energy is required to produce food than it provides in calories.
Researchers found that animal-based products account for nearly 60% of agriculture's energy footprint worldwide. Despite improving efficiency, the world still relies heavily on fossil fuels to produce food, posing a risk to energy security and food supply.
A recent study optimizes industrial park energy systems with hybrid energy storage to enhance economic performance, reliability, and carbon reduction. The research team developed a detailed model for the system and proposed an active operation strategy that uses energy storage output as decision variables.
A UCF researcher is developing a thermochemical energy storage system to reserve solar energy for future use and contribute to the global transition to clean energy. The system uses chemical reactions to absorb or release heat, making it an advantageous way to store energy at high temperatures.
A randomized clinical study found that an opioid-free treatment pathway is both safe and effective for bariatric surgery patients. The alternative method, which combines three different medicines, significantly reduces the need for opioids during treatment.
Scientists at PPPL used a new method to develop plasma configurations that lose fewer energetic particles, addressing a major issue in stellarator designs. The alternative approach uses a proxy function to predict particle movement and has been applied to stellarators for the first time.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is partnering with the UK's Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and private fusion company Tokamak Energy Ltd. to upgrade the privately owned ST40 facility for $52 million. This collaboration aims to advance fusion science and technology needed for a future fusion pilot plant.
The Koc University-Esas Center for Alternative Investments (KUES) will focus on private equity, venture capital, and real estate investments. The center aims to nurture qualified human resources through PhD, master’s, and undergraduate programs.
A new study suggests that India's growing technology innovation and economic expansion will likely reduce its efforts to transition to renewable energy sources. The country's high demand for energy and reliance on non-renewable sources may outweigh the benefits of clean energy.
The FDA is advancing alternative methods, such as in vitro ocular irritation tests and computational models, to reduce animal use in product safety assessments. These new approaches have been validated and adopted by the agency, leading to more effective regulatory decisions.
The SRI and University of Houston-affiliated project aims to develop a modular microreactor technology that converts carbon dioxide into methanol using renewable energy sources. The project has the potential to transform sustainable fuel production, offering a clean alternative for sectors like transportation.
A recent study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that nuclear energy can lead to a more affordable energy system overall. It can reduce the need for costly power grid expansions and energy storage, while lowering environmental impacts and air pollution.
Researchers developed a new approach for harvesting and storing solar energy efficiently using molecular solar energy storage systems. The system increases solar energy storage efficiency by more than one order of magnitude.
Florida Atlantic University's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center is establishing a blue energy hub to develop and test ocean current energy technologies. The project aims to improve the nation's competitiveness in marine energy technology and create jobs.
The latest DESI data reveals a dynamic behavior of dark energy known as quintom-B, which can be explained by modified gravity theory. This study suggests that dark energy may not be a cosmological constant in the traditional sense.
A Korean research team developed an energy system model optimized for Korea's environment to predict the optimal proportion of hydrogen energy needed to achieve national carbon neutrality by 2050. The KIER-TIMES model suggests that hydrogen energy needs to account for 27% of overall energy supply, with forecasts indicating a rise to 25%.
Building a renewable energy system for the AtLAST telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert could cover 66% of nearby San Pedro de Atacama's electricity demand. The system would reduce local reliance on fossil fuels and provide affordable renewable energy, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Researchers developed a model to project Italy's energy storage needs for a renewable energy system, accounting for daily and seasonal fluctuations. The model suggests that increasing short-term energy storage capacity is critical for decarbonizing the power sector.
Researchers developed a framework to measure how water systems can adjust their energy use to balance power grid supply and demand. They found that water systems could shift up to 30% of their energy use during peak demand times, leading to significant cost savings.
Argonne researchers have developed a new design for a sodium-ion oxide cathode that overcomes the performance issue of repeated discharge and charge. The team found that fine-tuning the heat treatment conditions eliminated cracks in the particles, maintaining high energy storage capacity.
A new study suggests that using state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies can enable Europe's construction sector to almost eliminate its carbon emissions by 2060. Employing technologies like solar energy and heat pumps can reduce total energy used for heating and cooling buildings by up to 97%.
A Korean research team has developed an AI-powered approach to establishing a 'carbon-neutral energy city' by implementing an energy management algorithm and system. The system achieved an 18% reduction in electricity costs and improved the stability of the power grid, particularly in addressing Low-Probability High-Impact Events.
A recent study highlights alternative splicing as a key regulatory mechanism in plant secondary metabolism, influencing the synthesis of essential metabolites like terpenoids and flavonoids. The research provides new insights for bioengineering approaches to enhance plant performance and metabolite production.
A UCL-led research team has crystallized the first alternative DNA structure from the insulin gene, revealing its shape and structure. The discovery suggests that different variants in the insulin gene can form different DNA structures, which could affect insulin function and potentially play a role in diabetes development.
The research team developed a Zero Energy-based transparent radiative cooling technology that maintains transparency while enabling cooling without using electricity. They also created a Plus Energy-based smart window technology that generates electricity through the friction generated by raindrops on rainy days.
Researchers developed alternative criteria using a prediction model to identify people with the most to gain from lung cancer screening. The study found that high-benefit groups include those who smoked for a long duration but at a lower intensity, heavy smokers who quit over 15 years ago, and racial and ethnic minority groups.
A new study shows that empowering women through energy care work can transform community-led renewable energy programmes, promoting gender equality. The research highlights the importance of valuing multiple voices and incorporating diverse practices of care into energy transition policies.
Researchers explore clean energy investments as a means to stabilize and enhance portfolios during fluctuating market conditions. The study found that clean energy indices play unique roles in the global financial system, affecting information transmission and resilience.
The MEASURES project in Ghana provides insights into the impact of informal economy, climate migration, and rising temperatures on energy system planning. The researchers developed an energy system model for Accra, which yielded cost-, carbon- and resilience-optimized energy system capacity and operational planning decisions.