Researchers propose a novel evaluation framework to assess energy neutrality in wastewater treatment plants, integrating energy efficiency and recovery. The study evaluated 970 plants in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, identifying 98 energy benchmark plants and 112 fully energy self-sufficient facilities.
A University of Surrey expert emphasizes the economic case for solar energy, citing IRENA data that shows 61% of US coal capacity costs more to operate than building new renewables. Retiring uneconomic coal plants and replacing them with renewables can save significant costs and reduce emissions.
Researchers propose a new way to store renewable energy by speculatively performing computations in large data centers when energy is abundant, and retrieving the results later. This approach offers better efficiency than traditional battery storage methods and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A new report by Berkeley Lab outlines systemic changes needed to advance equity in electric utility regulation. The report recommends considering energy justice goals, allocating funding for low-income households, and accounting for energy inequities in designing electricity rates.
A study by Oregon State University has discovered a method to enhance the round-trip efficiency of compressed air energy storage, which could be crucial for renewable energy. The researchers developed a thermochemical energy storage scheme that captures heat in chemical bonds, resulting in a higher energy density and improved performance.
Researchers compared the energetic strategies of humans and great apes, finding that humans are less efficient at acquiring food due to their high-intensity activities. However, this inefficiency is compensated by a higher return rate on energy investment, making human subsistence strategies successful.
Human subsistence strategies may have facilitated social and cultural development by allowing for high-throughput energy acquisition. Humans expend large quantities of energy to acquire energy at exceptionally rapid rates, leaving free time for social and cultural development.
Researchers have developed a compact solar-powered battery that can be directly recharged with solar energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The battery uses a heterostructure electrode made from molybdenum disulphide and oxide, which enhances surface area for efficient absorption of solar energy.
Researchers from Tokyo Tech propose a new carbon-based energy storage system that uses CO2 as the primary source. The system achieves high volumetric energy density and charge-discharge efficiency compared to hydrogen storage systems.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of California, Berkeley, describe advances in understanding phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Better understanding liquid state physics may help accelerate technology development for the energy sector.
A new study reveals that disabled households in the European Union consume 10% less energy than other households while being 5% more likely to experience energy poverty. The research highlights the need for greater consideration of disabled people's needs in planning for sustainable energy policies.
Researchers found that packaging neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles is a major source of energy consumption, even when the vesicles are filled and inactive. The process, known as proton efflux, continues to consume energy due to a 'leaky' energy threshold set by evolution.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by exciting an unattainable energy transition in an artificial atom using laser light. The radiative Auger process allowed them to stimulate electrons to emit energy and transfer it to another electron, achieving a seemingly impossible transition.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a concept for large-scale energy storage that is safe, cheap and sustainable. The technology uses wood-based electrodes and a new type of water-based electrolyte, achieving a world record for energy storage with organic electrodes in water-based electrolytes.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab are developing next-generation materials and systems for thermal energy storage, which could be a viable alternative to batteries. The technology has the potential to reduce demand on the electricity grid from thermal loads and free up resources for other applications.
The study compared traditional mining and innovative synthesis methods for producing a single carat diamond, revealing that energy consumption varies widely between the two. While some synthetic methods are more efficient than mining, others consume significantly more energy.
Research has shown steady progress toward achieving large energy gain in fusion reactions, a crucial milestone for commercial fusion energy. Recent advancements in laser-driven devices and lower-cost private concepts have significantly increased performance thresholds, surpassing early tokamak designs.
Researchers found that combining resource diversification, excess generation, building efficiency, and demand flexibility can reduce or eliminate long-duration energy storage in some regions. This approach enables the achievability of a fully renewable system with technology building blocks accessible today.
Researchers found that incorporating energy efficiency measures can minimize long-duration storage, reducing the need for renewable resources. By optimizing mix of renewables, oversized generation capacities, and energy efficiency investments, achieving 100% renewable energy becomes more achievable and cost-effective.
The new Atlantic Marine Energy Center, led by UNH, will focus on wave and tidal energy conversion, as well as ocean sensing and aquaculture. The center aims to advance marine renewable energy technologies through research, education, and outreach.
A survey of 1,000 people in five Southeast Asian countries found that more than half were against nuclear energy development. The study suggests that trust in entities and risk perceptions are key factors influencing public opinion on nuclear energy.
Researchers have been exploring tribocatalysis as an alternative clean energy technology. The process converts mechanical energy into electrical energy through the triboelectric effect, with potential applications in material synthesis and energy conversion. Further research is needed to fully develop this promising field.
Researchers at NTU Singapore develop a method to encase algae protein in liquid droplets, tripling artificial photosynthesis efficiency and generating more energy. The technology has the potential to make solar cells more efficient and pave the way for sustainable energy production.
A new study examines alternative scenarios and their potential impact on climate mitigation targets. The research suggests that retaining low-energy practices in lifestyle and business could reduce climate mitigation challenges, while missing these opportunities would lead to a more difficult energy transition.
A new study by University of Utah researchers found that energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments had limited impact on reducing CO2 emissions. However, policies aimed at improving energy efficiency had no effect, while investment in renewable energy sources led to increased levels of CO2 emissions in the residen...
A new project at Lehigh University aims to improve waste-to-energy conversion processes using AI and spectroscopy. The team will develop a rapid detection and analysis system for municipal solid waste streams, enabling real-time characterization and process control.
A WVU-led research team will test the potential of geothermal energy by drilling three miles into the ground. The project aims to reduce carbon footprint and decrease energy costs for the university, with potential implications for industries across West Virginia.
A team of HKUST researchers has developed a low-cost, lightweight, and non-toxic battery that can harness solar energy and store it in a single device. The battery uses a lead-free perovskite material that absorbs light to generate charges, offering a promising solution for sustainable energy storage.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a wave energy converter that doubles the power harvested from ocean waves, overcoming technical challenges and unlocking vast untapped potential. The dual-turbine design is cost-effective and requires no special syncing technology.
A novel material has been engineered to achieve high power and energy densities, potentially reducing charging times from hours to minutes. This breakthrough could address the need for electrochemical energy storage devices capable of handling high charging rates and high capacity.
A new study documents distinct changes in daily energy expenditure throughout the human lifespan, from birth to old age. The research, based on a large cohort of humans, reveals that energy expenditure varies significantly across life stages, with rapid increases during infancy and childhood, followed by a plateau through adulthood.
Researchers have detected the birth and growth phases of high-energy runaway electrons in tokamaks, which can cause damage to the machines. The new diagnostic tool enables scientists to understand the energy content of the plasma and potentially prevent the electrons' damage.
A new study analyzes how access to modern energy services evolves over time under different socioeconomic growth scenarios and policy scenarios that meet climate mitigation goals. The researchers found that socioeconomically diverse households in different regions have distinct preferences for energy services, highlighting the need for...
The study found that energy intensity significantly drove electricity consumption growth in the EAEU, with Kazakhstan and Russia contributing to increased energy consumption. Armenia and Belarus showed a decrease in energy intensity due to declining fossil fuel consumption and green energy development.
Researchers have developed a new, efficient on-body energy harvester that produces 300 millijoules of energy per square centimeter without mechanical input. The device is powered by lactate in sweat and can be worn on the finger, making it suitable for self-sustainable wearable electronics.
Scientists at KAIST developed a laser system generating highly interactive quantum particles at room temperature, which can recycle lost energy to achieve lower threshold energy levels. The system exploits parity-time reversal symmetry, allowing energy loss to be used as gain for high-efficiency and low-threshold lasers.
Researchers have successfully synthesized macroscopic thick three-dimensional porous graphene films using high-energy electron beams. The resulting material exhibits excellent electrochemical storage capacity and photothermal performance, making it suitable for applications in supercapacitors and solar photothermal anti-icing.
Common pitfalls in internet energy analysis include oversimplification, conflation of internet usage with energy demand, projecting too far into the future, and overgeneralization. These errors can lead to inaccurate predictions of massive energy growth in IT, which often doesn't materialize
The LIGHT-CAP project aims to develop new nanotechnology-enabled architectures for solar energy conversion and storage. Researchers will apply cutting-edge materials to build systems capable of absorbing sunlight, converting it into electric charges and storing the associated energy in a sustainable way.
A novel energy storage solution featuring pipes and anchors could store intermittent renewable energy from offshore wind power plants. The technology offers a promising alternative to conventional battery systems with lower costs per megawatt hour.
Researchers at Purdue University are working on mimicking the process of photosynthesis to harness sunlight directly into usable energy. The goal is to create a clean and efficient fuel source that could replace traditional forms of renewable energy like wind power and solar panels.
A new six-year HyTEM program aims to develop greener energy grids, increase skills critical for advancing sustainable energy, and create jobs. The program will provide training to navigate complex contexts, policies, and regulations, enabling the integration of distributed energy resources in hybrid microgrids.
A new study provides fine-grained methods for measuring income and racial disparities in energy use intensity. The research found that households in low-income non-white neighborhoods report higher energy use intensity, reflective of lower energy efficiency and lower participation in rebate programs. Cities can now apply this method to...
Researchers analyzed fine-scale energy use data to reveal significant racial and income disparities in urban energy use. Block groups with higher poverty rates exhibit significantly higher annual energy consumption, particularly for temperature-sensitive applications.
KTU's rooftop solar plant project, selected from 2,500 entries worldwide, combines multiple energy sources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative aims to educate students on renewable energy and mitigate climate change.
A team of researchers from the University of Freiburg has developed a non-aqueous All-Manganese Flow battery with a long cycle life, achieving an energy density roughly twice that of previous batteries. The new design uses sustainable manganese as its active material and has shown promising results for stationary energy storage.
Researchers from Heriot-Watt University developed AI algorithms to optimize community energy assets, using multi-agent systems and cooperative game theory. The models provide fair ways to share joint gains among community members, considering individual contributions and needs.
An exoskeleton device removes kinetic energy during the knee swing phase of walking, reducing metabolic cost by 3.3% and generating up to .25 watts per gait cycle. This approach converts wasted energy into useable electricity, providing a net metabolic benefit.
Advanced small modular reactors offer flexible electricity generation and can meet Washington's fluctuating electricity demand. The technology has matured and is economically competitive in a carbon-free electricity sector.
Researchers developed a holographic light collector that captures unused solar energy and increases the amount of solar energy converted by solar panels over the course of a year. The collector directs specific colors of sunlight to solar cells within the panel, resulting in an estimated five percent increase in annual yield.
Scientists at PNNL have demonstrated the potential of low-cost organic compounds for storing massive amounts of energy to be fed into the electric grid. The researchers showed that fluorenone, a common compound found in candles, can operate continuously for 120 days and lose less than 3% of its energy capacity after 1,111 full cycles.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth developed a cutting-edge technique to measure energy use in developing embryos using timelapse video pixels. The method captures detailed changes in energy usage as an energy signature, providing a greater breadth of biological response.
The new software suite Quest helps utility companies and businesses evaluate energy storage scenarios and model its potential. Energy storage systems increase grid stability and reliability by capturing energy when produced and saving it when needed.
To reach its goal of 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, New York state will need to utilize lower-grade agricultural land and dual-use (agrivoltaics) options for solar energy development. This approach can help alleviate public concerns and mitigate negative economic activity in rural communities.
A new IIASA-led study investigates the potential of polycentric governance in facilitating citizen participation in energy transition. The research found that providing citizens with options to make choices about services affecting their communities increases trust in decision makers, while also increasing awareness and willingness to ...
A study reveals that the Finnish energy transition is shaped by mental models drawing from competition, hierarchy, and continuous economic growth. These myths, such as The Rock Solid and Big Brother, have roots in shared deep beliefs about reality construction and shape the energy marketing system.
Researchers have found that using topological insulators in transistors could reduce switching energy by half and the overall energy used by each transistor by a factor of four. This breakthrough could lead to substantial reductions in computing energy consumption, as the industry continues to strive for sustainable technologies.
A team of researchers has created a thermal power nanogenerator that converts abundant thermal energy into electrical energy without any solid moving parts. This innovation, known as the TA-LM-TENG, has the potential to be used in various applications such as waste heat recovery and space power systems.
A new study reveals that energy models play a significant role in shaping the energy transition, influencing policy decisions and informing energy futures. Policymakers are increasingly relying on modeling outputs to define energy and climate targets, while researchers demand greater transparency to protect model credibility.
Researchers have developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices, offering a sustainable and continuous energy source. The system consists of stretchable metal antennas that convert ambient radio waves into electricity, which can be used to power health-monitoring sensors.