Energy & Green Tech news

Energy & Green Tech

Swiss nuclear plant shut down due to heat wave

The reactors at Europe's oldest nuclear plant were shut down Friday, its Swiss operator said, after the heat wave roasting Europe sent temperatures soaring in the river used for cooling.

Energy & Green Tech

Shifting data center power to off-peak hours could cut grid costs in the age of AI

The number of U.S. data centers is growing, largely to power artificial intelligence programs. That has led to concern about the environmental consequences of data centers—and their impact on the energy grid itself. What ...

Energy & Green Tech

Batteries and fuel cells would overhaul emissions from semis and other heavy vehicles

Although electrified versions of vans, buses and semis cost more upfront on average than their diesel-powered counterparts, the overall calculus behind adopting greener vehicles is currently in flux.

Engineering

Energy-saving membrane can separate crude oil at room temperature

An international research has developed a membrane technology that could significantly reduce the energy required for crude oil refining by replacing part of the century-old distillation process.

Energy & Green Tech

Pushing past lithium-ion performance limits

A growing demand for energy storage is pushing lithium-ion batteries to their limits, advancing next-generation technologies through innovative materials research.

Energy & Green Tech

Seaweed-based ingredient helps turn dirt into 3D-printed walls

An ingredient that gives ice cream a creamier texture could make natural earthen materials like clay and sand easier to 3D print into durable structures, according to new research led by scientists at the University of Colorado ...

Energy & Green Tech

E-learning helps regulators navigate a changing grid

It is the second day of a massive heat wave. Across the region, thermostats are cranked, air conditioners are laboring, and wind turbines have gone still. Without warning, a summer storm moves in, and the solar generation ...

Energy & Green Tech

How digital participation can aid the energy transition

The active involvement of citizens, stakeholders and municipalities is essential for the success of the energy transition. Digital participation platforms promise broader access to planning processes. However, a new study, ...

Energy & Green Tech

AI bot offers speedy, revenue-saving building energy modeling

Buildings researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have released a new AI-driven, autonomous bot that could help speed up the energy modeling process for commercial building construction. ...

Energy & Green Tech

Turning extreme heat into large-scale energy storage

Thermal batteries can efficiently store energy as heat. But building them requires a carefully designed system with materials that can withstand cycles of extremely high temperatures, without succumbing to problems like corrosion, ...

Business

From solar panels to solar markets: Why business models matter

Amanda Bankel's doctoral thesis explores why low-carbon technologies like solar panels do not spread as quickly as expected, even when they are affordable and technologically mature. The study shows that the problem is often ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

Lead-free thin films turn everyday vibrations into electricity

Powerful electronics don't have to come at an environmental cost. Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed high-performance, lead-free piezoelectric thin films directly on standard silicon wafers. Their ...