https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/energy-green-tech-news/ en-us The latest news on energy sciences and green technology, energy technology, energy renovation, alternative energy, and green energy. A Berlin-based team from HZB and Center for the Science of Materials Berlin (CSMB) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has set a new record for a tandem solar cell. Using a combination of a CIGS semiconductor layer and perovskite, along with several optimized intermediate layers, the team converted 25.5% of sunlight into electrical energy. The previous record for this combination of materials and this size cell had stood at 24.6%. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-tandem-solar-cell-efficiency-cigs.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:00:07 EDT news702136900 The supply of lithium—the battery material that keeps digital devices humming, EVs racing and renewable energy on the grid—will not meet even half the expected demand by 2040. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-electrochemical-major-harvesting-vital-battery.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:00:08 EDT news702136022 Researchers from North Carolina State University and Rice University have created a nontoxic, stretchable battery that operates by extracting moisture from the ambient environment—even in climates as dry as the desert. The batteries could be useful in Internet of Things (IoT) applications ranging from wearables to advanced surveillance monitors with built-in kill switches. The study is published in the journal Science Advances. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-moisture-driven-tech-power-green.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:00:05 EDT news702053590 Electric vehicle batteries could last twice as long, preventing costly replacement, with a new approach to heating and cooling the batteries, according to a study led by University of Michigan Engineering. The system is designed to work with voltage and charging data that today's battery management systems already collect, rather than requiring new sensors inside the battery. It is best suited for lower-power Level 1 and Level 2 charging, which is common at homes, workplaces and public parking areas, and is expected to cover most EV charging demand. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-smarter-diagnostics-silicon-ev-batteries.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:40:09 EDT news702127861 A new approach to battery recycling could turn today's electric vehicle waste into the building blocks of tomorrow's higher-performing batteries. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an environmentally friendly method to upcycle cathodes from used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries into a more powerful battery material known as lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), which can store more energy than LFP. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-spent-ev-batteries-life-higher.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:40:08 EDT news702122515 Aquifer-based geothermal systems, known as aquifer thermal energy storage, could help ease the environmental stress stemming from artificial intelligence data centers in the United States. Researchers at the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are proposing a new way to keep those facilities cool by using the naturally stable underground temperatures and groundwater as a giant natural "thermal battery." https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-aquifer-thermal-batteries-ai-center.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:00:13 EDT news702053281 Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have developed a way to 3D-print an essential battery component in nearly any shape. Their innovation could free engineers from the constraints of standard rechargeable battery sizes and allow energy storage to be built directly into the devices the batteries power. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-3d-battery-electrolyte-devices-power.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:20:10 EDT news702039001 Data centers, whose expansion is being fueled dramatically by the artificial intelligence boom, have a far bigger carbon footprint than previously estimated, a study said Tuesday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-centers-emit.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:01:20 EDT news702039641 The key to making longer-lasting electric vehicle batteries may not be specialized materials or new chemistry, but simple physical pressure, according to new research. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-physical-pressure-ev-batteries-environmental.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:00:08 EDT news702035581 Storing solar and wind energy to meet the increasing power needs of the electrical grid calls for devices that can deliver power quickly, recharge quickly and last for decades at low cost. A new study led by UCLA has uncovered a technology that could meet all these criteria: a zinc-ion hybrid battery with a 3D-printed electrode that stores more than seven times the charge of similar hybrids. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-team-3d-zinc-ion-hybrid.html Engineering Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:40:13 EDT news701965741 A plastic bottle tossed into a recycling bin could one day help power an electric vehicle, smartphone or renewable energy storage system, according to a team of Penn State researchers. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-plastic-bottles-life-batteries-graphite.html Engineering Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:00:05 EDT news701947741 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 will happen if scores of new data centers come online? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-shifting-center-power-peak-hours.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:00:05 EDT news701701141 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 is less energy-intensive. However, perovskite solar cells ideally need to achieve decades-long warranties, which remains a challenge. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-perovskite-solar-cells-decades-durability.html Engineering Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:01 EDT news701603206 Hydrogen can become a clever way to store renewable energy and power fuel cells—but this introduces the problem of what can store this hydrogen, in turn. Metal hydrides—solids that absorb hydrogen into their crystal structures—are promising candidates to safely hold large amounts of hydrogen and release it when needed. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-ai-physics-blueprint-hydrogen-storage.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:40:03 EDT news701593658 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. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-batteries-fuel-cells-overhaul-emissions.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:00:05 EDT news701452081 Next-generation electronic devices like newer computers and other high-power devices require more energy to run. When they are working hard, the intense heat they generate can limit their performance and reliability. That's why scientists are trying to find better and more sustainable materials to help cool devices down. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-bacteria-based-cooling-material-electronics.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:40:05 EDT news701539981 Researchers have demonstrated how to use the power of the sun to turn plastic waste, such as drink bottles, into clean hydrogen fuel at a scale large enough to be genuinely useful in the real world, using a scalable approach. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-scientists-solar-powered-plastic-recycling.html Engineering Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:04 EDT news701523180 Since the early 2000s, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become the predominant rechargeable power source for many mobile devices, electric vehicles, renewable-energy storage grids and more. But the Li-ion batteries in commercial use carry both safety risks and limitations. Julia R. Greer, the Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Materials Science, Mechanics and Medical Engineering at Caltech, whose lab has been working to improve Li-ion batteries, has now established a new path toward making them less dangerous and more environmentally friendly while also boosting performance. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-safer-lithium-ion-batteries-closer.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:40:01 EDT news701447282 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 Boulder. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-seaweed-based-ingredient-dirt-3d.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:40:01 EDT news701426341 The global shortage of freshwater has become a critical challenge. Conventional water treatment relies heavily on fossil fuels and associated infrastructure, which can make it unsuitable for remote and harsh regions. In contrast, solar thermal evaporation is a promising alternative, but its application is limited by material performance and production constraints. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-3d-photothermal-higher-solar-evaporation.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:20:04 EDT news701360385 The aviation industry accounts for a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Biobased, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can mitigate climate impacts, but transitioning to SAF faces critical supply chain constraints. A research team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has developed a method to produce jet-grade fuel from food waste, contributing to a circular bioeconomy. In a paper published in Nature Sustainability, they focus on technical and economic considerations. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-food-jet-fuel-simpler-refining.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:00:05 EDT news701366222 A research team has successfully designed a novel electrolyte for fluoride shuttle batteries based on a new concept. The research is published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-generation-battery-potential-electrolyte.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:03 EDT news701360246 A research team at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) has developed a technology that converts wet spent coffee grounds directly into high-quality biochar in just 90 seconds, with no drying or oil removal required. The breakthrough offers a fast, energy-efficient path to turning high-moisture organic waste into valuable fuel and carbon materials. The study, led by Dr. Taejun Park in collaboration with GodTech Co., Ltd., was published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, one of the world's leading journals in chemical engineering. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-coffee-grounds-high-grade-solid.html Engineering Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:00:02 EDT news701091781 Barcode readers excel at quickly identifying groceries and other products. Could a similar idea work at industrial recycling facilities to make sorting different plastics quicker and more cost-effective? The answer, according to a University at Buffalo research team, is yes. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-scientists-transient-thermal-barcodes-plastic.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:20:01 EDT news701079001 Over the last two decades, annual carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. have declined significantly. In recent years, however, this trend has slightly reversed, likely due to the explosive growth of data centers. As energy-intensive data centers proliferate, their emissions could undo years of decarbonization efforts. According to an analysis of data in the public domain, capturing and storing emissions in underground reservoirs could halt this reversal, researchers report in Energy & Fuels. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-center-emissions-curbed-underground-carbon.html Engineering Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:20:08 EDT news701016122 A team of international researchers has developed a new class of ultrathin polymer membranes that can rapidly and selectively separate complex hydrocarbon mixtures, potentially transforming how crude oil is refined and refinery streams are processed, significantly reducing the energy required for one of the world's most energy-intensive industrial processes. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-ultrathin-membranes-hydrocarbon-slashing-energy.html Engineering Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:40:08 EDT news701010400 AI data centers are power-hungry. Not only do artificial intelligence computations consume enormous amounts of electricity, but a significant amount of energy is also required to cool the semiconductor chips that heat up during operation. As AI chips continue to deliver higher performance, the amount of heat they generate increases rapidly. As a result, conventional air cooling and external copper heat spreaders are approaching their practical limits. To address this challenge, a KAIST research team has developed an ultra-high-efficiency liquid-cooling technology that cools semiconductor chips from within. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-liquid-cooling-technology-semiconductor-chips.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:30:03 EDT news700762501 To accommodate the increasing demand for clean energy, researchers have been developing floating solar panels for rivers, reservoirs and other waterways in recent years. While there is, of course, plenty of land for solar farms, problems arise when these projects clash with farming and nature conservation. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-solar-panels-icy-canadian-winters.html Engineering Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:20:09 EDT news700747132 The world's power grid is straining under the surge in electricity demand from data centers, electric vehicles and renewable energy. And a century-old technology, the power transformer, must support this dramatic increase. A particularly weak link in this is the potential for insulation breakdown, the most frequent indicator of power transformer failures. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-nanoengineered-wood-insulation.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:40:06 EDT news700740673 Batteries are undergoing rapid advances. For example, modern zinc-air batteries have the remarkable ability to use oxygen as energy—but that oxygen isn't stored in the battery itself. Zinc-air batteries take in surrounding oxygen to undergo a reaction to discharge energy called the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). While this convenient strategy is promising, the slow speed of the ORR limits the practicality of these batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-06-strategy-oxygen-reduction-zinc-air.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:20:01 EDT news700485297