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Slam the door shut: Improving building energy by evaluating building airflow

Scientists from Incheon National University identified interzonal airflow across household entrance doors as a dominant factor in calculating heating loads. They found that strong stack effect and weather-driven airflow rates were larger than external infiltration rates, making conventional airtightness measures unreliable.

SourceIncheon National University·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2021

Rice expert: Using carbon is key to decarbonizing economy

Pasquali proposes splitting hydrocarbons to produce clean hydrogen energy and solid carbon materials, which could replace materials with large carbon footprints. This transition would generate robust growth in manufacturing jobs and improve production efficiency.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 5, 2021

Manganese could make luminescent materials and the conversion of sunlight more sustainable

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed new luminescent manganese complexes with promising properties, including improved efficiency and stability. These findings offer a potential solution for more sustainable energy production and could lead to the creation of water-soluble variants for medical applications.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2021

New record-breaking thermoelectric material

Seoul National University researchers have created a new record-breaking thermoelectric material using tin and selenium elements, overcoming previous limitations with high performance and toxicity concerns. The material achieves a thermoelectric figure of merit greater than 3.1 and power generation efficiency exceeding 20% in bulk form.

SourceSeoul National University·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 2, 2021

Scholars gauged energy inequality among Eurasian Economic union member states

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.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateJul 30, 2021

Optimizing phase change material usage could reduce power plant water consumption

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a method to cool steam turbines using phase change materials, potentially reducing fresh water usage. By leveraging machine learning techniques, they created a system that can predict when and how much of the PCM will melt and freeze, maximizing cooling power and capacity.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalJournal of Energy Resources Technology·TypeNews article·DateJul 29, 2021

Breathing new life into fuel cells

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a new method to improve oxygen reduction in fuel cells using iron-based single-atom catalysts. This breakthrough could unlock a level of efficiency never before realized, enabling large-scale deployment of fuel cells and their nearly limitless potential applications.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Catalysis·DateJul 28, 2021

Visualizing a city's energy use

A new model estimates annual energy use intensity of 209 structures in Pittsburgh with only a 7% error rate. The Urban Building Energy Model can aid policy makers in setting energy goals and efficiency regulations for commercial buildings.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalEnergy and Buildings·DateJul 22, 2021

Fully renewable energy feasible for Samoa - Otago study

A University of Otago study reveals that high proportions of renewable generation coupled with energy storage is technically and economically viable for Samoa's electricity system. The results show that setting targets below 100% and considering biomass options can make renewable energy more attractive and affordable.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateJul 21, 2021

Hybrid redox-flow battery with a long cycle life

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.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateMay 31, 2021

Getting "wind" of the future: Making wind turbines low-maintenance and more resilient

A team of researchers developed a method to detect simultaneous sensor and actuator faults in wind turbines, eliminating the need for redundant hardware components. The approach uses a state observer model to identify discrepancies between the original system and its duplicate, enabling real-time fault detection and correction.

SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateMay 18, 2021

Will your future clothes be made of algae?

A team of researchers from the University of Rochester and Delft University of Technology has developed a novel, environmentally-friendly material made of algae that can be used in various applications. The material is tough, resilient, eco-friendly, biodegradable, and scalable to produce.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 3, 2021

Bitcoin price boom 'locking in' vast energy consumption

The surging Bitcoin price is driving increasing energy consumption, with estimates suggesting the entire network could consume up to 184 TWh per year. This 'lock-in' effect means that even if the price crashes, energy consumption remains high, threatening international safety and exacerbating climate change.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateMar 10, 2021

Low-level jets create winds of change for turbines

Researchers found that low-level jets can increase power production by up to 30% when positioned below turbines. Turbines placed above or at the same height as LLJs experience reduced efficiency due to blocked airflow. The study highlights the importance of optimizing turbine height for maximum energy capture.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateFeb 23, 2021

Does Goal 7 Energy for All need a rethink?

New research by Copenhagen Business School finds that poor planning and execution of decarbonisation strategies in emerging markets challenges the aims of Goal 7. The study highlights the need for governance in energy democracy, allowing marginalized communities to participate in renewable energy investments. This can be achieved throu...

SourceCopenhagen Business School·JournalJournal of International Business Policy·DateFeb 8, 2021

Supercapacitors challenge batteries

A team of researchers from TUM has developed a highly efficient supercapacitor using a novel, powerful and sustainable graphene hybrid material. The new energy storage device achieves an energy density of up to 73 Wh/kg and performs better than most other supercapacitors at a power density of 16 kW/kg.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJan 4, 2021

Study confirms contribution of bioenergy to climate change mitigation

A study by a cross-border team of researchers confirms that biofuels can contribute significantly to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlights the potential of switchgrass cultivation for cellulosic ethanol production as comparable to reforestation and grassland restoration on a per-hectare basis.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 18, 2020