Articles tagged with Renewable Energy
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.
The PEV Scorecard helps communities evaluate their readiness for plug-in electric vehicle deployment, providing feedback and guidance for improvement. The tool offers a comprehensive assessment of charging infrastructure, planning, regulations, and support services.
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.
Scientists from NREL and partners successfully demonstrated self-assembling quantum dots in a nanowire system for quantum photonics. The breakthrough could improve solar cell efficiency, quantum computing, and lighting devices due to the precise positioning of quantum dots within the nanowire.
Lakewood High School won the competition for the first time, defeating Cheyenne Mountain High School in the final round. The team will represent Colorado at nationals on April 25. Over 15,000 students competed, with 10 schools participating for the first time.
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.
Researchers at NREL are developing advanced electric vehicle technology, renewable energy resources for charging, and grid integration to accelerate adoption. Smart charging capabilities enable efficient use of the grid, while bi-directional charging turns vehicles into grid storage devices.
NREL has received four fuel cell hybrid vehicles on loan from Toyota to enhance its research on hydrogen fueling infrastructure, renewable hydrogen production, and vehicle performance. The vehicles will be used to observe extended durability and reliability, critical for commercial success.
Lakewood High School Team 1 won the Colorado High School Science Bowl, defeating Cheyenne Mountain High School Team 1 with a score of 38-16. The team will compete against over 400 students from 70 high schools in Washington D.C. for the national title.
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.
The Advanced Management and Protection of Energy Storage Devices (AMPED) program will focus on optimizing lithium-ion batteries for electric-drive vehicles through improved management and controls. The project aims to increase utilization, life, and cost-effectiveness of Li-ion batteries.
The Helmholtz Energy Alliance aims to ensure a reliable electric power supply through the development of grid management and storage systems. Key findings include the need for new technologies to manage hybrid transmission grids and innovative methods to ensure grid stability.
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 team led by Ames Laboratory will develop solutions to domestic shortages of rare earth metals and other critical materials for U.S. energy security. The Critical Materials Institute will bring together top researchers from academia, national labs, and the private sector to find innovative technology solutions.
A new Department of Energy research facility will test new technologies for offshore wind and ocean power development. The Reference Facility for Offshore Renewable Energy will help verify the accuracy of data from new measurement technologies, providing confidence for potential investors.
The project aims to develop microbes that can convert methane in natural gas into liquid diesel fuel. If successful, this could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower dependence on foreign oil. The research, funded by ARPA-E, involves genetic modification of microorganisms to produce lipids from methane.
A new study by NREL found that CSP with thermal energy storage can lower peak net loads, displacing natural gas-fired generators and reducing the need for coal, adding significant value to utility companies. The report suggests that CSP with six-hour storage capacity can increase operational value by up to $35.80 per megawatt hour.
PNNL has been honored with three 2013 Excellence in Technology Transfer awards for developing innovative technologies such as redox flow batteries for renewable energy storage, radiogel products for targeted radiation therapy to fight cancer, and Ion Mobility Spectrometers for explosives detection. These technologies are expected to be...
The collaboration aims to improve vapor phase upgrading during the biomass pyrolysis process, enabling the production of lignocellulose-based fuels at a competitive cost. The partnership seeks to develop catalytic materials that can convert biomass vapors into liquid fuels suitable for transportation.
The University of Washington has been awarded a $4 million grant to develop bacteria that can turn methane in natural gas into diesel fuel. The team aims to capture wasted natural gas and use bacteria to convert it into energy-rich molecules, which will then be converted into diesel.
The US Department of Energy's NREL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released reports examining solar photovoltaic (PV) pricing in the US. The reports indicate that PV system prices have been falling rapidly over the past decade, with soft costs accounting for 40-50% of residential and commercial PV prices in 2010.
A new study by the University of Delaware and Delaware Technical Community College suggests that a well-designed combination of wind power, solar power, and storage can fully power a large electric grid 99.9 percent of the time by 2030. The study's findings break conventional wisdom on renewable energy being too unreliable and expensive.
Researchers highlight the need for fundamental research in geothermal and shale gas development to overcome challenges and maximize energy recovery. Enhanced geothermal systems and shale gas extraction face roadblocks, including induced seismicity and environmental impact.
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.
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.
A team of researchers has discovered a bacterium that can efficiently degrade hemicellulose, a key component in biofuels. By unlocking this microbe's enzymes, scientists may be able to engineer microbes that can convert more plant material into fuel.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released a 20-year updated version of the US National Solar Radiation Database, providing critical information for solar system designers. The updated database features improved cloud algorithms and an enhanced State University of New York model for gridded data based on satellite observations.
The installed price of US solar photovoltaic systems decreased by 11-14% in 2011 and 3-7% in California's first half of 2012. Module prices fell precipitously since 2008, while non-module costs like installation labor and marketing declined by 30% from 1998 to 2011.
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.
Researchers from ASU will identify suitable locations across the US for perennial biomass energy crops to reduce reliance on food crops and combat greenhouse gas-induced climate change. The five-year project aims to explore sustainability, hydroclimate, crop yield, and economic profitability of large-scale deployment.
A new video protocol has been developed to synthesize durable nanocrystals that can harvest solar energy efficiently. The technique, published in JoVE, focuses on the liquid phase synthesis of two nanocrystals that produce hydrogen gas or electricity when exposed to light.
Rudy M. Baum's thought-provoking editorials tackled global climate change, population growth, and human rights, challenging the scientific community to think deeply about these issues. The symposium featuring eminent scientists and policy experts aimed to continue his legacy of sparking meaningful discourse on contentious science topics.
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.
Concentrator photovoltaics offer promising potential for low-cost electricity in the US desert southwest. The roundtable brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, and government to shape research and innovation in CPV technology.
A new discovery by University of Illinois scientist Hao Feng doubles butanol production while reducing energy costs. The extractive fermentation process uses a non-ionic surfactant to capture and hold butanol molecules, increasing yields by 100% or more.
The US Navy recently defended its use of renewable fuels, citing a 50% biofuels blend during the RIMPAC 2012 exercises. The Navy believes that these resources are crucial for enhancing national security and energy independence.
A USC-led team has developed an air-breathing battery that uses iron plates and oxygen to store energy, reducing energy loss by 4% and making it 10 times more efficient than previous models. The battery's capacity can store between 8-24 hours' worth of energy, with the potential to help California transition to renewable energy sources.
Researchers from the University of Southampton have devised a novel method for forming virtual power plants to provide renewable energy production in the UK. They designed a payment mechanism that incentivizes DERs to join CVPPs with large overall production, utilizing intelligent software agents and proper scoring rules to improve acc...
Researchers from Drexel University have developed a novel electrochemical flow capacitor that combines the strengths of batteries and supercapacitors, addressing scalability issues. The technology allows for rapid charging and discharging ability, enabling efficient storage and delivery of renewable energy.
A group of KIT researchers has been granted €4.25 million to enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells to over 10% using tandem architectures and novel materials. The new generation of solar cells is light, flexible, semi-transparent, and can be produced at low cost.
Researchers in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy analyze China's emerging energy trends, finding increased bioenergy utilization but still dispersed biomass resources. A study on cooking fuel transition suggests universal access to modern fuels could be achieved in urban areas by 2030 for a relatively low cost.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a system that accurately predicts wave power, enabling devices to extract twice as much energy as currently possible. This breakthrough addresses key challenges in marine energy technology, including device durability and efficiency.
Researchers have designed a new device that converts sea wave motion into electrical energy with high power density and robustness. The proposed electric linear planar switched reluctance generator addresses the challenges of low speed and irregular movements in ocean waves.
The Global Energy Assessment outlines 41 alternative sustainable energy pathways that offer viable, cost-effective choices for policy makers. The study finds that a rapid transformation to clean energy technologies is economically viable and can deliver clean energy to 1.4 billion people without increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Research reveals voluntary organizations can successfully change behavior in local settings through collective action and alternative infrastructures. However, scaling up these initiatives to reach the wider public is a challenge, requiring additional government support.
Researchers are working on a space-based solar power system that can beam energy back to Earth through microwaves or lasers, providing a constant delivery of solar energy. The project aims to target remote areas difficult to reach by traditional means, such as disaster zones or outlying regions.
The US approach to clean energy needs a reality check, according to Stanford researchers. Drs. Jeffrey Ball and Kassia Yanosek recommend driving down costs of key technologies and speeding up deployment to make renewable power economically viable. This will require targeted government policy and private sector investment.
The Diesel Reloaded project redefines vehicles as integrated information and communication systems with modular, scalable architecture. It aims to address megatrends in environmental care, urbanization, and demographics by optimizing energy efficiency and adapting human-machine interfaces.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a new technology to predict solar energy output, which could help utilities generate significant savings. The system uses sky imagers to capture cloud conditions and forecast power output in 15-minute increments.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new approach for scheduling and pricing wholesale electric power, aiming to improve reliability and reduce costs in the face of increasing renewable energy sources. The goal is to create better schedules that optimize generation levels and minimize forecast errors.
A team of Stanford engineers has developed a weather model to recommend the optimal placement of four interconnected offshore wind farms off the US East Coast. The grid would have a total maximum capacity of 2000 megawatts, with each farm delivering an individual maximum capacity of 500 megawatts.
The need for stable sources of power in rural areas of developing countries is pressing, with four-fifths of those without domestic electricity living in urban margins. Researchers suggest that renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, could be a viable option to address this issue.
Smart grids can help reduce electricity waste and fight theft by using advanced technology. The Intelligent Microgrid project aims to create a more efficient grid that can adapt to changing energy demands and reduce the risk of theft, resulting in cost savings for consumers.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new family of liquid salt electrolytes called MetILs, which could lead to batteries storing three times more energy than today's batteries. The breakthrough may help integrate large-scale intermittent renewable energy sources into the nation's electric grid.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new tandem polymer solar cell structure, which achieves an unprecedented power-conversion efficiency of 10.6%, surpassing previous records. The device combines multiple cells with different absorption bands to effectively harvest a broader spectrum of solar radiation.
A new building-integrated aquaculture (BIAq) model aims to improve fish farming operations by combining building design, fish ecology, and aquaculture engineering techniques. The model aims to provide an affordable, holistic, and sustainable approach to indoor fish production, reducing energy costs and environmental impact.
A new tool developed by Sandia National Laboratories helps the nation's real estate industry with standardized appraisals of homes and businesses equipped with PV installations. The tool, PV ValueTM, uses real-time lending information and market fluctuations to determine the worth of a PV system.
Pioneering engineers have found a way to produce highly valuable activated carbon from the invasive Marabú shrub, which could help alleviate Cuba's ecological problems and provide clean drinking water for developing countries. The process uses technology developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde.