Research on clean and renewable energy. Covers 3D-printed energy storage, fossil-fuel transition, affordable renewable power, and battery innovation.
Imperial College London scientists have developed a new type of membrane that can improve water purification and battery energy storage efforts. The new approach uses low-cost plastic membranes with many tiny hydrophilic pores, making them more selective and efficient than current technology.
A new analysis by ORNL and collaborators found that a single-step catalytic conversion process can produce blendstocks at $2/gigajoule and $1.44/GJ in the future, competitive with conventional jet fuel. The process uses a zeolite catalyst to directly convert wet ethanol into hydrocarbon chains.
A survey of stakeholders in the wind energy field reveals a consensus on prioritizing biodiversity protection over climate change concerns. Stakeholders agree that measures to make wind energy production ecologically sustainable should be taken, with most suggesting increased research and improved efficiency.
A new integrated conversion process reduces emissions by 40-96% using ethanol, making biofuels more sustainable. Researchers developed a one-step conversion method to lower costs and environmental footprint.
The US Department of Energy has awarded approximately $80 million over three years to strengthen the nation's energy infrastructure. The funding aims to bolster the reliability and resilience of energy systems through various projects, including malware detection and advanced sensors and data analytics.
Researchers say nanomaterials hold the key to improving energy storage technology, which is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. The technology can help stabilize energy supply and demand, making it possible to manage intermittent energy generation from solar and wind power.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County took top spot in the DOE's CyberForce Competition with its impressive cybersecurity skills. The competition aimed to inspire and develop the next generation of energy sector cybersecurity professionals.
Researchers are developing new metal conductors to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), addressing limitations such as high cost and poor performance. The new technology, funded by a $1 million DOE grant, aims to improve OLED displays with enhanced brightness and flexibility.
A new Harvard study estimates climate and health benefits from renewable energy installation vary greatly by country. The study suggests that companies, investors, and policymakers can use this framework to make strategic decisions around achieving sustainable development goals.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have made a breakthrough in finding catalysts for renewable energy production. They discovered new molecules that can increase the efficiency of water splitting, reducing the
Oak Ridge National Laboratory will lead two new projects and collaborate with seven more to enhance the nation's power grid reliability and resilience. The research focuses on developing efficient solutions for hardening the grid against disruption and making it more resilient when events occur.
A new Harvard study identifies the Upper Midwest as ideal for wind turbines and the Great Lakes/Mid-Atlantic region for solar power to achieve maximum benefits. The research, funded by Harvard University's Climate Change Solutions Fund, provides a guide for policymakers, businesses, and utilities on where to deploy renewable energy.
Researchers identify three grand challenges in wind energy research: understanding wind resources, addressing turbine and system dynamics, and designing wind plants for grid reliability. Addressing these challenges is crucial for advancing the state of the art in wind plant energy output.
The study uses a unique processing technique to create a polymer film capacitor with record-high energy density, promising a step change in the field of dielectric capacitors. This innovation could enable efficient and low-cost electric energy storage systems for intermittent renewable energy sources.
Researchers will explore ways to use renewable energy to increase usable water resources and produce ammonia for fertilizer. The project aims to create a multifaceted economic system sustaining small town and rural communities and maintaining agricultural production.
The Midwest Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition aims to promote the adoption of hydrogen and fuel cells in the region. The coalition will facilitate technology demonstrations and encourage collaboration among researchers and developers to accelerate the adoption of these clean energy technologies.
Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design proposed a novel probabilistic dispatch strategy to minimize generation costs while ensuring constraint satisfaction in modern power grids. The approach significantly decreases the probability of constraint violation without impacting nominal power generation cost.
The article emphasizes the need for cross-disciplinary research on renewable energy storage and solar energy conversion. Scientists discuss ways to remove carbon from energy sources, crucial to avoiding climate change's worst consequences.
UIC researchers have successfully developed a fully rechargeable prototype of a lithium-carbon dioxide battery, demonstrating its potential for advanced energy storage systems. The battery's efficiency and long-lasting cycle life are significantly improved due to the use of new materials and a hybrid electrolyte.
The new Energy-Water Desalination Hub will focus on early-stage research and development for energy-efficient and low-cost desalination solutions. NAWI aims to recycle 90% of nontraditional water sources, promoting a circular water economy. The hub will advance novel technologies and prioritize high-impact projects.
SUNCAT researchers have made significant breakthroughs in converting CO2 into chemicals, fuels, and plastics using electrochemical reduction. By increasing the surface area of copper-based catalysts, they've improved selectivity and efficiency, offering a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found agrivoltaics significantly impacted air temperatures, direct sunlight and atmospheric demand for water, leading to improved crop growth and reduced water loss. The system also increased energy production efficiency by cooling solar panels with crops underneath.
A new study by researchers at the Institute for Transformative Sustainability Research (IASS) in Potsdam shows that many regions and municipalities in Europe can meet their electricity demand using renewable energy systems. However, achieving complete self-sufficiency would require large shares of land to be assigned to electricity gen...
A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences found that air pollution under clear skies significantly reduces the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface. The study highlights the negative impact of air pollution on renewable energy harvesting and associated economic burdens, as well as its effects on air purity.
A new study published in Joule finds that taxing carbon emissions would lead to improved energy efficiency, with potential reductions of up to 30% in energy usage by 2100. This innovation could motivate people to develop more efficient ways to use energy, making it easier to solve the climate problem.
The NYU Tandon team discovered a way to improve the efficiency of organic electrosynthesis, a process that can easily integrate with renewable energy sources. By applying artificial intelligence to optimize the reaction, they achieved a 30% improvement in adiponitrile production.
A UH engineer offers two winning proposals to the US Department of Energy to enhance the nation's electric grid, focusing on accommodating variable renewable energy generation. His projects include reconfiguring transmission networks and upgrading energy management systems with microgrids.
Researchers suggest that reaching an 80% reduction in building CO2 emissions by 2050 requires highly energy-efficient technologies, new operational approaches, and electrification of fossil fuel-based systems. The study identifies two promising avenues for reducing emissions: energy-saving retrofits and smart software optimization.
New analysis reveals Europe's onshore wind farms could supply enough energy for the world until 2050, producing 497 EJ of power. The study identifies Turkey, Russia, and Norway as having the greatest potential for future wind power density.
Krishnan Rajeshwar, a prominent chemistry professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to electrochemistry. He received the Electrochemical Society's 2019 Electrodeposition Research Award for his outstanding research in electrodeposition.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have identified orbital-moment quenching as a tool to enhance magnetization and magnetic anisotropy in samarium-cobalt magnets, potentially leading to improved performance and high-temperature durability.
MIT researchers quantify cost targets for energy storage to enable solar and wind power with storage to reach competitiveness with other on-demand energy sources. The study finds that energy storage costs need to fall below $20/kWh to achieve cost-competitive baseload power over a twenty-year period.
New research challenges long-held assumptions about whole-tree harvesting, finding it does not deplete soil and lead to weaker forest ecosystems. The study demonstrates that residue removal has few effects on forest ecology in managed stands, making biomass energy from whole trees a more sustainable option.
The Supergen ORE Hub has awarded £1 million to UK universities to support ambitious research projects in offshore renewable energy. The funding aims to tackle key engineering challenges and explore the transfer of research findings between sectors.
A mathematical model confirms that renewable energy accelerates economic growth in Myanmar, while non-renewable energy has a minimal impact. The study suggests increasing green energy use can lead to economic growth of up to 0.3 units per unit increase.
Researchers at Tokyo Tech create sensitized thermal cells (STCs) that can generate electric power using the Earth's crust heat. The team found that the battery can recharge itself when opened, making geothermal energy a promising renewable source.
A new PSU study found that shifting to renewable energy can increase energy poverty, particularly in nations with increasing inequality. Renewable energy consumption reduces carbon emissions more effectively in contexts of increased inequality, whereas it has a lesser impact when inequality is decreasing.
A new study finds that fossil fuels' ratios of extracted energy to produced energy are lower than previously thought, especially at the finished fuel stage. The study warns that declining EROI may lead to a 'net energy cliff', where available energy declines rapidly.
A recent study by the University of California, Davis, reveals 20 overlooked advantages of distributed solar energy, such as carbon sequestration and improvements for pollinator habitats. The study provides a framework for analyzing solar projects and highlights the potential of rooftop solar to benefit both humans and wildlife.
The Supergen ORE Hub has received an additional £4 million in EPSRC funding to expand its support for researchers across the UK. This investment will enable the creation of a collaborative approach to address technical, environmental and interdisciplinary challenges in the offshore renewable energy sector.
Researchers have integrated power grid considerations into the model of a newly planned net-zero energy district, enabling expansion of sustainable urban areas. The study found that centralized planning provides a means to proactively ensure reliable electricity service and mitigate daily and seasonal fluctuations.
A new hybrid technology called Optiverter combines photovoltaic power optimizers and grid converters to maximize energy harvest from PV modules. The Optiverter ensures maximum energy production even in heavy or opaque shade, making it a significant improvement over current technology.
Seven new research fellows have joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Innovation Crossroads program, focusing on various energy-related and grid topics. The selected innovators will collaborate with world-class experts and unique capabilities at ORNL to advance their technologies.
A new method enables efficient use of energy by smart homes in a microgrid, reducing overall load and demand for renewable energy. The approach allows smart homes to exchange surplus renewable energy, optimizing energy use and scheduling.
A new Stanford study finds that companies claiming 100% renewable energy don't necessarily reduce carbon emissions by 100%. Hourly accounting methods show wind power produces more emissions reductions than solar power in California. The study highlights the need for hourly data to measure environmental benefits accurately.
DGIST and CNR-ITAE agreed on a memorandum of understanding to share energy research information and promote human resource exchanges. The two institutions will focus on sustainable energy applications and technology-intensive energy use.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new cathode coating that provides extra layer of protection for battery cathodes while maintaining electrical and ionical conductivity. The coating also prevents oxygen release and promotes structural stability, leading to potential energy output increases and longer lifetimes.
A team from Ohio State University has built a more efficient and reliable potassium-oxygen battery that can store excess energy from renewable sources. The battery can be charged at least 125 times, making it a potential solution for long-lasting energy storage in the power grid and cell phones.
A team of experts has reviewed literature on various methods used to characterize lithium-ion battery performance, providing guidance on the most appropriate test method for a given situation. The study aims to improve comparability of battery innovations tailored to different applications.
Scientists at KIT and UoT have proposed a method to produce synthetic fuels from CO2 and water using compact plants in buildings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 'crowd oil' concept could replace significant fossil fuel usage for mobility, with potential CO2 savings of up to 30% of Germany's kerosene demand.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum developed a method to increase bioelectrode stability by operating under an oxygen-free environment. This approach effectively extends the device's lifespan and brings photobiodevices closer to efficient energy conversion.
Chain Reaction Innovations' third cohort of five new innovators will leverage Argonne National Laboratory's resources to develop market-ready businesses. The program aims to accelerate energy and science technologies, with a focus on water sensing, hydrogen technologies, and energy storage.
A study by University of Kent researchers found a direct correlation between increasing solar panel demand and rising silver prices, with the latter accounting for 6.1% of solar panel cost.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have conducted the first global assessment of plastic's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, finding that current strategies are insufficient to curb emissions. Recycling and replacing fossil-based energy with renewable sources offer promising solutions, but significant reductions will require unpreceden...
New research from Lancaster University and international partners suggests that investing in solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage is a better strategy for tackling climate change than developing carbon capture technologies. The study finds that renewable energy systems with storage offer comparable or even superior net energ...
The Cool Coalition aims to inspire ambition and accelerate action on the transition to clean and efficient cooling. By addressing the growing demand for cooling, the coalition seeks to cut global warming, improve people's lives and make huge financial savings.
A new research project aims to develop an automated resilience management system (ARMS) to improve the city's power grid in case of a power outage. The system will utilize distributed solar photovoltaics, distributed energy resources, fault detection sensors, and distribution monitoring equipment to enhance critical infrastructure and ...
Researchers have found that water accelerates the conversion rate of furfural by a factor of two to three. The presence of water enables hydrogenation to occur in the liquid phase instead of on the catalyst surface.
The MIT-led Center of Excellence in Energy will support research collaborations with Egyptian universities to develop innovative solutions for the country's energy challenges. The center will focus on renewable energy, biomass conversion, and sustainable projects.
Scientists have developed a new triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) called SLIPS-TENG, which can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy in harsh environments. The device uses a slippery lubricant-impregnated porous surface to address durability and biofilm coverage issues.