Utilities rely on dirty 'peaker' plants when power demand surges, but there are alternatives
The U.S. is nearing the end of one of its hottest summers on record. Across the nation, heat waves have driven peak electricity demand on some days to levels far exceeding seasonal averages.
23 hours ago
0
1
Radiant cooling device uses significantly less energy than traditional air conditioning
A team of sustainable energy engineers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, working with a pair of colleagues from the GD MIDEA Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., LTD., in China, has developed a personalized ...
Nuclear power plants: A scintillating aerogel for monitoring radioactive gas emissions
A scintillating aerogel enabling real-time measurements with excellent sensitivity to certain radioactive gases, essential to monitoring the proper functioning of nuclear power plants, has just been developed by a group of ...
Sep 4, 2024
0
26
Achieving a supercapacitor through the 'molecular coating' approach
Researchers at Tohoku University have successfully increased the capacity, lifetime durability, and cost-effectiveness of a capacitor in their pursuit of a more power-efficient future. The research is published in the journal ...
Sep 4, 2024
0
28
Researchers discover surprising spin offs of slowing down wind turbines
The cost effectiveness of wind farms could be significantly improved by reducing the speed of wind turbines that are clustered together, which could improve their longevity and also reduce noise pollution.
Sep 4, 2024
0
67
Q&A: Can a centuries-old technology like hydropower meet AI's rising energy demands?
Surging demand for the data and processing power of artificial intelligence is putting a hidden strain on U.S. electrical grids.
Sep 4, 2024
0
1
Aurora borealis can light up the sky and shut down the grid
During a thunderstorm, you can feel rain pouring, see lightning flashing and hear wind howling. Unlike these phenomena, the Aurora Borealis cannot be heard or felt because it occurs through the earth's magnetic field's invisible ...
Sep 4, 2024
0
11
Wind turbines target power shortages in rural Nigeria
A team of five Nigerian researchers have developed an innovation to generate wind power for rural communities—even when wind speeds are low.
Sep 4, 2024
0
0
Coal generates less than 50% of Australian electricity for first time
Coal generated less than 50 percent of Australia's electricity in the last week of August, dropping to a record low as renewable production surged, data showed Wednesday.
Sep 4, 2024
0
1
Opinion: If Australia wants to fast-track 100% renewables, it must learn from Europe's risky path
Even after decades encouraging the growth of renewables, we're still too reliant on coal and gas power stations.
Sep 4, 2024
0
1
DRC is the world's largest producer of cobalt. How control by local elites can shape the global battery industry
The mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is often portrayed as a victim of exploitation by China, the US and Europe in their competition for its minerals, which are critical for the energy transition.
Sep 4, 2024
0
22
UK announces record green energy auction
The UK on Tuesday said it had awarded a record 131 new green infrastructure projects in a single auction, including plans for Europe's two biggest offshore windfarms.
Sep 3, 2024
3
1
Catalyst design boosts performance of anion-exchange-membrane fuel cells
Fuel cells are energy-conversion solutions that generate electricity via electrochemical reactions without combustion, thus not contributing to the pollution of air on Earth. These cells could power various technologies, ...
New alloy surpasses 2025 fuel cell performance targets
Scientists at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology have created a fuel cell catalyst made from platinum and magnesium. The new catalyst, which uses the world's first platinum–magnesium alloy nanoparticles, ...
Sep 3, 2024
0
20
Researchers overcome critical challenges in developing fire-risk-free aqueous zinc batteries
Researchers have developed a key electrode manufacturing technology that can control dendrite formation in aqueous zinc batteries. The team includes Dr. Jung-Je Woo from the Gwangju Clean Energy Research Center at the Korea ...
Sep 3, 2024
0
42
Unraveling grid defection: The game theory behind our shifting energy landscape
Grid defection occurs when it's cheaper for consumers to produce their own power than to buy it from the grid. For example, if a consumer faces high monthly utility fees regardless of their actual usage and can generate power ...
Sep 3, 2024
0
1
Seeing is believing: Your neighbor's choice to go solar might have influenced you more than you think
What made you decide to go solar? Was it a sober assessment of the return on investment? Did you want to cut your power bills? Did you want to do your bit on climate change?
Sep 3, 2024
0
20
Q&A: Is air conditioning a threat to Switzerland's power grid?
The elevated temperatures this summer prompted many of us to crank up the air conditioning. In Switzerland, the energy used for cooling is approaching that for heating. What does that mean for power grids?
Sep 3, 2024
0
1