Articles tagged with Energy Infrastructure
Researchers developed a new model to predict storm damage, allowing for effective resource allocation and reduction in societal consequences. The framework can be applied to various infrastructure systems and weather events, promoting better preparedness and response.
New research suggests nuclear power can provide low-cost energy and replace natural gas as a backup source, enabling faster decarbonization in countries with poor wind resources. The analysis found that nuclear is the cheapest way to eliminate all electricity-system carbon emissions nearly everywhere.
KAUST researchers simulate microgrid cyberattacks to assess impact and develop detection methods. Effective methods identify anomalous conditions associated with attacks, enabling swift isolation of affected subsystems.
Researchers from West Virginia University are developing a new composite transition joint using 3D printing to reduce stress on power plant systems. The goal is to increase the flexibility and reliability of thermal power plants.
The seminar on geothermal energy held by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) showcases the growing interest in the renewable source among oil and gas professionals. The event highlights opportunities for oil and gas experts, market trends, challenges, and potential solutions for scaling geothermal energy globally.
Researchers have designed a novel thermal armour that successfully inhibits the Leidenfrost effect up to 1,150°C and achieves efficient liquid cooling across a wide temperature range. The breakthrough has significant implications for applications in aerospace, space engineering, and next-generation nuclear reactors.
A novel plan to deploy smart transactive energy systems on the US power grid could reduce daily load swings by 20-44% and save consumers up to $50 billion annually. By coordinating with utilities, consumers can dynamically control big energy users like heat pumps and electric vehicle charging stations.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich have developed a new neutron-based method to detect clogs in underwater pipelines non-destructively. This approach uses prompt gamma neutron activation analysis to measure hydrogen concentration, allowing for the detection of blockages and hydrate formation.
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.
The study found that most USSE facilities were installed on grasslands, pastures, and agricultural lands, potentially impeding Florida panther dispersal. Restoration of dispersal corridors and gene flow is critical to the species' survival, benefiting biodiversity and resiliency at the landscape-scale.
A study analyzing major US electric utility pledges suggests that if implemented, these reductions could lower power sector emissions by 30% by 2050. However, about one-seventh of the pledged cuts are redundant and would be required under existing state regulations.
Historical state-level analysis finds that increased party competition leads to higher spending on infrastructure, human capital, literacy, earnings, and longevity. States with more party competition tend to have lower infant mortality, higher life expectancy, and greater social well-being.
The Gulf Coast is expected to experience more frequent sequential landfalls, with Louisiana and Florida being the most at risk. This will lead to intensified stresses on infrastructure, ecosystems, and people, as well as reduced recovery time between disasters.
Researchers explore harnessing China's wind energy to produce carbon-free green hydrogen at a lower cost than coal-derived black hydrogen. Shifting from black to green hydrogen could reduce 100 million tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2030.
A new nine-state regional coalition will develop and provide hands-on training, exercises, and materials for students and professionals to protect critical infrastructure from computer attacks. The coalition aims to grow a skilled workforce in the region's rural areas.
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.
New research suggests tidal stream power can provide 11% of the UK's current annual electricity demand, with potential environmental impact comparable to climate change. To achieve this, around 11.5 GW of tidal stream turbine capacity is required, with major grid infrastructure needed for development.
Scientists at Cornell University have developed a method to optimize turbine spacing in offshore wind farms, reducing wake effects and increasing power production. The research aims to support the rapid expansion of offshore wind energy in the US and Europe, with potential to generate over 7,000 terawatt hours per year.
Researchers at Princeton University urge for increased policy support and investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce energy sector emissions. Current storage capacity is insufficient to meet ambitious decarbonization targets, highlighting the need for strategic planning and characterization capabilities.
Researchers at Arizona State University explore alternative approaches to catalysis, a chemical process crucial for industrial applications. The study aims to develop synthetic catalysts that can improve on nature's designs, leading to the production of carbon-neutral fuels.
A recent study from Lund University reveals that inadequate infrastructure hindered the adoption of electric cars in the early 20th century. Electric cars were cheaper to drive and emitted less CO2 than gasoline cars, but access to local electrical infrastructure was a major factor in their popularity.
Researchers at West Virginia University have developed a solid oxide electrolysis cell that can produce high-purity green hydrogen from water. The technology has the potential to reduce carbon emissions in industrial applications, including manufacturing and power generation.
Clean geothermal power could become as important as fossil fuels, with new technologies and repurposed oil and gas expertise crucial to its development. Industry leaders emphasize the need for collaboration between geothermal and oil and gas professionals.
A new study suggests that computing and ICT could be responsible for a greater share of greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought, potentially surpassing the aviation industry. The researchers argue that historical evidence shows ICT's footprint has increased despite efficiency gains.
A global inventory reveals oil refineries emitted 1.3Gt CO2 in 2018, with potential emissions of 16.5Gt by 2030 if no mitigation strategies are adopted. Researchers recommend improving refinery efficiency and upgrading technologies to reduce emissions.
The Basque Country has significant potential for recovering and reusing industrial waste heat, with Bizkaia province showing the highest concentration. The research found that 90% of companies with waste heat temperatures above 400°C can recover their investment within five years.
Countries lagging behind in renewable energy adoption risk lower industrial competitiveness and economic instability. Uneven transition patterns can exacerbate existing international tensions, making it difficult for late decarbonizers to catch up with early movers.
A new Science article assesses the technological progress of colloidal quantum dots, which have become industrial-grade materials for a range of technologies. Advances include first demonstration of colloidal quantum dot lasing, discovery of carrier multiplication and pioneering research into LEDs and luminescent solar concentrators.
A US-based study reveals that Americans generally support transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. However, they are less accepting of having these infrastructures built near their homes, with a preference for distances of over 5 km/miles from residences.
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has patented a multicore fibre optic monitoring system for 5G networks, optimizing energy consumption while preserving data transmission capacity. The system can monitor temperature changes, energy distribution, and communication channel state using a single optical signal.
A research team from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Purdue University developed bio-inks for biosensors that can localize critical regions in tissues and organs during surgery. The new biosensors allow for simultaneous recording and imaging, which could be useful during heart surgery to guide surgical interventions.
A space physicist from UTA is collaborating with an international team to study the impact of coronal mass ejections on earth's magnetic field and technological systems. The research aims to improve forecasting and mitigation capabilities for solar flares, which can cause widespread blackouts.
Researchers are developing a bio-inspired hydrofoil turbine that harnesses the power of natural river flows to generate electricity. The system aims to provide a more efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional renewable energy sources.
The summit will discuss strategies for Biden's infrastructure programs, their implications on the Korean New Deal, and opportunities for grand economic collaboration. It will also feature talks on integration of US national infrastructure investment plans and Korea's Digital Green New Deal.
Scientists at UChicago and Argonne National Laboratory are developing AI-assisted systems to recover energy, nutrients, and freshwater from municipal wastewater. The goal is to reduce energy consumption and become energy positive at a national scale, benefiting underserved communities in Chicago's South Side and the Great Lakes region.
A winning consortium led by Ben-Gurion University and Arizona State University will receive up to $6 million under a U.S.-Israel Energy Center research funding grant. The project aims to develop technologies to mitigate cyberattacks on energy infrastructure using data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Professor Amro M. Farid, a Dartmouth associate professor, has been awarded the 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar award in Australia. He will work on the 'Architecting Australia's Nexus Infrastructure of Energy, Water & Hydrogen' project to contribute to the country's national hydrogen strategy.
The EU is funding a research project led by Saarland University's Jan Reineke to develop safer and more secure computer systems. The goal is to redefine the interface between software and hardware, making it both efficient and secure for critical areas like airbag controls and energy supply.
The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals will have both positive and negative impacts on the world's forests. Positive impacts are associated with education, well-being, and social progress, while damaging impacts are linked to energy, infrastructure, and transportation.
A new machine learning approach simulates atom dynamics in materials like aluminum, enhancing computational materials discovery. The automated method uses active learning to iteratively build a diverse training dataset, emulating highly accurate quantum simulations at reduced computational cost.
The Brenner base tunnel is being investigated for its geothermal potential, with researchers aiming to use drainage water for climate-friendly heating and cooling of houses. The project aims to develop a sustainable system that can be implemented in other existing tunnel structures.
Researchers developed multiple feasible technology pathways to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050, with cost estimates ranging from 0.2% to 1.2% of GDP. The study suggests increasing energy efficiency, switching to electric technologies, and deploying clean electricity can help meet this goal.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Lehigh University a $5.3 million grant to renew the NHERI Experimental Facility for another five years. The facility will provide unique experimental resources and data management for studying the effects of natural hazards on civil infrastructure, enabling researchers to develop transformati...
Engineers at West Virginia University are developing a new energy conversion system that can reconcile the supply and demand conflict between renewables and power grids. The system uses hydrogen as a fuel to generate power, addressing the issue of excess renewable energy being dissipated due to storage limitations.
Climate change is expected to increase cooling demand and decrease heating demand globally, while also affecting energy infrastructure efficiency and reliability. Regional differences in climate change impacts are observed, with South Asia and Latin America being the most vulnerable regions.
A study by the University of California, Davis, compares three types of energy providers in California, finding that community choice aggregations (CCAs) purchased more renewable energy but went farther to source it. The study highlights the need for energy providers to prioritize local and renewable sources.
Researchers developed a tool to connect streamgage and reservoir data, providing critical information for managing water systems efficiently. The tool accounts for hydrological connections over large watersheds and can be used by power plant operators, reservoir operators, and water resource managers.
Researchers will develop an adaptive traffic control system leveraging connected vehicles and infrastructures to optimize and manage traffic flow. The goal is to reduce corridor-level fuel consumption by 20 percent, while maintaining a highly operable and safe transportation environment.
Maestro, a predictive software developed by CSEM, analyzes weather forecasts and data from local infrastructure to determine the best time to consume energy. The system can reduce heating costs by approximately 20% and is designed to keep costs down, making it suitable for individual homes and entire neighborhoods.
A new study has quantified the extent of human development in oceans for the first time, mapping an area of approximately 30,000 square kilometers modified by human construction. This footprint is comparable to urbanized land and greater than some natural habitats like mangrove forests and seagrass beds.
Researchers found that those with existing fossil fuel interests oversold the idea of converting gas infrastructure to run on low-carbon hydrogen. To meet net-zero emissions goals for heating, known low-carbon heating options like heat pumps and networks must be prioritized.
A new study by researchers in Potsdam and Zurich shows that smaller scale systems incur a cost penalty of less than 20% compared to continental-scale systems. However, with cooperation between grid operators and neighboring grids, the cost penalties can be reduced, supporting current efforts to establish a European electricity market.
The Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure (PIRI) project aims to deliver a significant drop in CO2 emissions by 2030 while cutting energy bills by up to a quarter. The project combines a next-generation heat network, electricity network, and electric vehicle infrastructure under one smart holistic scheme.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed 3D printed fractal cubes with closely spaced voids that dissipate shockwaves five times better than solid cubes. The innovative design could lead to new types of lightweight armor and structural materials effective against explosions and impacts.
Researchers investigate vulnerability of smart city water and energy systems to cyber attacks, which can cause blackouts and damage. The study aims to develop detection methodologies to counteract such criminal acts using mathematical attack models and big data analytics-based methods.
Researchers successfully demonstrated the feasibility of quantum key distribution systems to enhance cybersecurity and extend range, ensuring compatibility across different vendors. This technology provides a secure solution for utilities without administrative headaches, simplifying operations.
A new study reveals energy development has negative impacts on sage-grouse reproduction, affecting their ability to nest and raise chicks. The study's findings emphasize the importance of preserving sagebrush habitats when positioning renewable and non-renewable energy projects to balance species conservation with energy demands.
Lehigh University's Ganesh Balasubramanian has received an NSF CAREER award to create a predictive framework for manufacturing complex alloys. The project aims to accelerate the manufacturing process by 50% and reduce costs, while also pushing the industry towards smart manufacturing.
A new AI-powered method predicts building energy consumption by analyzing environmental and operational parameters, offering a significant improvement in energy management. The hybrid deep learning model has the potential to be applied in various smart buildings and cities.
The Stanford report outlines a roadmap for 143 countries to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050, reducing worldwide energy needs by 57%, creating 28.6 million jobs, and saving 91% on energy, health, and climate costs. The plan requires an initial investment of $73 trillion but pays for itself over time through energy sales.