Energy & Green Tech news

Engineering

New design approach may help slash the price of ultra-durable concrete

Concrete, although the most common building material in the world, is brittle and can easily crack under tension. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a special class of concrete known for its dense structure and extreme ...

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.

Engineering

Perovskite solar cells need decades-long durability. New work shows which fast-aging tests come closest

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) could conquer the mass market within a few years, perhaps even being produced in Europe. Their large-scale production is highly cost-effective, and unlike silicon solar cells, their production ...

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.

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, ...

Engineering

Energy-efficient process delivers rare-earth element for magnets

Neodymium is a rare-earth element essential for producing the strongest permanent magnets, which are widespread in defense technologies, hard drives, medical imaging devices, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines and more. ...

Energy & Green Tech

What are 'rare earths' for?

Crucial for making smartphones, fighter jets and electric cars, "rare earth" metals have become a strategic bargaining chip since main producer China this year introduced restrictions on their exports.

Electronics & Semiconductors

Green electronics: Smart sensor tag protects sensitive goods

Researchers from Empa, EPFL and CSEM have developed a green smart sensing tag that measures temperature and humidity in real time—and can also detect whether a temperature threshold has been exceeded. In the future, this ...

Energy & Green Tech

Virtual battery model paves way for electric vehicle simulations

Studies on integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into local energy markets have been hindered by the high computational complexity associated with EV modeling. Seyed Mahoor Ebrahimi's doctoral dissertation at the University ...

Engineering

Climate-friendly metals can come from deep-sea ores

The demand for metals will increase significantly in the coming years, primarily because the climate-friendly transformation of the economy is only possible through the electrification of industrial processes, transport and ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

Mirror-image molecules boost organic solar cell performance

Organic solar cells are made from conductive polymers, which makes them cheap, light, and flexible. However, one drawback is that their efficiency lags behind the best silicon devices—but this may soon change—as researchers ...

Engineering

Coffee waste helps make lower carbon concrete

RMIT researchers are advancing new ways to cut the carbon footprint of infrastructure by turning everyday organic waste into useful construction materials.

Energy & Green Tech

Quantifying compounds in biogas for cleaner energy

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed a new analytical method that can detect even tiny amounts of critical impurities in biogas. This procedure can be used even by small biogas plants without the ...

Business

How to predict future energy demand

When Lukas Dahlström returned to Gotland to start his doctoral program at the GRASS graduate school, it was like coming full circle. He grew up on the island and has long been interested in science and sustainable development. ...