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. Researchers at Kobe University and their collaborators have developed a polymer membrane that allows singly charged ions to pass through rapidly while effectively blocking multiply charged ions, whether positively or negatively charged. The work is published in the journal Science Advances. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-angstrom-scale-channels-membranes-recover.html Engineering Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:20:32 EDT news712502101 China is exporting a record amount of clean energy technology and equipment as the energy crisis from the Iran war drives surging demand for renewables, and that will help reduce global emissions, according to a report released Thursday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-china-exports-tech-big-dent.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:32:19 EDT news712499452 The mining industry is shifting toward battery-powered equipment to improve efficiency, but lithium-ion batteries pose risks due to their high energy density. They can fail, overheat and, in some cases, catch fire, releasing toxic emissions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-virtual-reveals-safety-battery-powered.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:20:06 EDT news712495141 Every electronic device, factory and vehicle generates heat that often goes to waste. What if that energy could be recovered to generate electricity using thin films manufactured without high-temperature processing? Researchers at Tohoku University have taken a step toward making this possible, developing a thermoelectric material that delivers a 250-fold increase in power factor by adding a small amount of titanium to chromium nitride. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-titanium-boosts-thermoelectric-thin.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:12 EDT news712493641 Cornell researchers, working with upstate New York battery company Charge CCCV, also known as C4V, have developed a real-time diagnostic approach to improve one of the most expensive and time-consuming stages of lithium-ion battery manufacturing: forming the battery. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-real-battery-crucial.html Business Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:00:22 EDT news712489621 Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a clean power-generation technology that produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions during operation. Their performance and durability depend strongly on effective water management. Monitoring internal conditions during operation is essential to prevent flooding, in which excess liquid water accumulates within the cell, and membrane dry-out, in which the electrolyte membrane loses moisture. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-impedance-analysis-enables-real-diagnosis.html Engineering Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:20:01 EDT news712487841 A sleek, pilotless, solar-powered airplane that soars through the atmosphere to monitor climate or track wildfires was once just an idea. Now, these high-altitude specialty aircraft are advancing from early prototyping demonstrations toward potential commercial applications, supported by decades of research and development involving Harvard scientists, aerospace engineers and industry collaborators. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-generation-solar-aircraft-batteries.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:00:08 EDT news712421401 Until now, aluminum production has generated significant greenhouse gas emissions. But a new process is emerging that produces aluminum without such emissions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-emission-free-aluminum-production.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:20:05 EDT news712418941 Lowering the cost of green hydrogen production requires catalysts that produce hydrogen efficiently while using smaller amounts of expensive precious metals. A Korean research team has developed a catalyst that brings three or four ruthenium (Ru) atoms together so they can work cooperatively. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-ruthenium-catalyst-platinum-hydrogen-production.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:20:07 EDT news712408441 The periodic table contains more than 100 elements. Combine them in different ways, and the possibilities quickly multiply. For researchers designing materials for advanced nuclear reactors, the abundance presents an opportunity: Could entirely new combinations of elements produce stronger alloys capable of withstanding the extreme heat, radiation and mechanical stress inside a nuclear reactor? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-nuclear-alloys-element.html Engineering Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:00:13 EDT news712408325 A key goal in solar cell research is to improve efficiency toward the Shockley–Queisser limit, the theoretical maximum efficiency for converting sunlight into electricity under specified conditions. Organic solar cells use carbon-based semiconducting materials and offer advantages such as being lightweight, potentially low-cost and suitable for flexible applications. Their power conversion efficiencies have approached 20%, but voltage losses remain a major obstacle to further improvements. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-energy-reveals-boundary-efficient-solar.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:20:01 EDT news712407184 A study led by the University of Oxford has identified a novel semiconductor that overcomes a key limitation of light-harvesting materials. The results, published today (Oct. 28) in Nature, could enable more efficient solar panels with higher outputs. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-semiconductors-sidestep-key-solar-energy.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00:31 EDT news712399502 Gathering lithium, a crucial element in batteries for smartphones, electric cars and the electrical grid, is a time-consuming and energy-intensive process, but new technology could make it much easier. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-cells-tiny-channels-lithium-batteries.html Engineering Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:00:13 EDT news712334821 Many electronic devices use flame-retardant plastic as casing in order to reduce the risk of electrical fires. This plastic is formulated using a metal called antimony along with organic bromide compounds. In fact, 39% of the world's antimony is used to create flame-retardant plastics, most of which will eventually end up as part of the tens of millions of tons of electronic waste generated each year. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-faster-recover-critical-metal.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 27 Oct 2026 15:28:23 EDT news712333659 Aging, obsolete and energy-inefficient buildings are usually prime targets for urban renewal projects. But instead of leveling them and rebuilding a district from the ground up, a new Concordia study proposes a model that would help a neighborhood increase local resource self-sufficiency while reducing the neighborhood's overall carbon footprint. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-montreal-neighborhood-food-energy.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:47:51 EDT news712327614 Nuclear power plants are designed to produce electricity steadily for 24 hours a day. But now that nuclear power plants share the electric grid with renewable energy sources that fluctuate based on the weather and time of day, their design is mismatched with modern operational needs. Rather than running constantly, nuclear power plants need to have greater flexibility in when they produce energy and when they pause. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-explore-thermal-energy-storage-nuclear.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 27 Oct 2026 11:20:01 EDT news712314458 What if a battery could become more powerful as it ages? Much like wine developing a deeper flavor over time, researchers in Korea have uncovered the mechanism behind a battery material that can deliver greater usable capacity after repeated charging and discharging. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-unexpected-key-ev-battery-life.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:20:13 EDT news712310461 The Photovoltaic Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a catalytic process that extends the lifespan of perovskite solar cells. The findings were published in Advanced Science. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-lithium-perovskite-solar-cell-lifespan.html Engineering Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:40:05 EDT news712250401 When the clocks go back each October, we gain an hour of sleep and lose an hour of evening daylight. The practice of moving the clocks forward in spring was introduced partly to save energy, by making better use of daylight at the end of the day so there would be less need for artificial lighting. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-daylight-meant-energy-age.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:50:01 EDT news712236533 Hurricane Belle was barreling toward New England in August 1976 when an editor from Foreign Affairs called. Physicist Amory Lovins took the call on a payphone in a shack in the Maine woods, where he spent summers as a camp guide. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-years-amory-lovins-soft-energy.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:10:07 EDT news712233699 Lithium-rich cathode materials are promising candidates for next-generation batteries, as they can store considerably more charge than materials used today in electric vehicles and electronics. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-cation-disorder-lithium-rich-cathodes.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:20:01 EDT news711979681 Researchers at the University of Arkansas and the University of Michigan have reported the creation of a graphene-based energy harvester that uses ambient radiation to run ultralow-power temperature sensors. This is the second sensor created by the team whose overall goal is development of autonomous sensor systems that draw power from multiple sources in the environment—solar, thermal, acoustic, kinetic, nonlinear and ambient radiation. The findings are published in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-ambient-power-battery-free-temperature.html Electronics & Semiconductors Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:01 EDT news711968211 Hydrogen's ability to power a cleaner future hinges not only on finding materials capable of efficiently storing and releasing it, but also on understanding the trade-off between storage capacity and practical operating conditions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-curated-hydrogen-database-reveals-links.html Engineering Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:20:01 EDT news711967896 A research team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed a dynamic integrated interface engineering strategy that enhances the energy density and stability of anode-free lithium metal batteries by reconfiguring key battery interfaces. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-lithium-metal-anode-silver-based.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:01 EDT news711967801 Biogas plants are considered the third pillar of renewable electricity generation in Germany. Unlike solar and wind power, electricity generation from biogas is largely independent of weather conditions and can generally be scheduled. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-driven-biogas-generating-electricity-solar.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:20:02 EDT news711958042 Research led by Trinity, in partnership with Gannon Eco and McGrath Quarries, is transforming "red mud," an industrial byproduct, into a high-performance, low-carbon construction material. The team is now moving from laboratory development to real-world industrial trials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-red-mud-green-concrete-carbon.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:40:05 EDT news711891964 Organic solar cells (OSCs) are devices that convert sunlight into electricity using carbon-based organic materials rather than the silicon used in conventional solar panels. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-molecular-strategy-enables-efficient-scalable.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:00:06 EDT news711905221 Many chemical processes require hydrogen, which is still being produced from fossil fuels. A protonic ceramic electrolyzer cell (PCEC) is a device that can produce hydrogen from water at temperatures that match key industrial processes. Researchers at the University of Groningen recently showed that careful coordination of materials in such a PCEC can double the production of hydrogen with the same electricity consumption. The results are published in Energy and Environmental Science on Oct. 14, 2026. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-hydrogen-production-synergy-materials.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:40:08 EDT news711903001 Colored polyester is difficult to recycle because the dyes are hard to remove without using large quantities of chemicals, water or energy. Researchers have developed a supercritical carbon dioxide treatment that redistributes existing dyes between polyester fibers, creating uniform colors without removing the original dyes. By controlling fiber proportions, they tuned shades and developed a model that accurately predicted color strength. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-recoloring-polyester-supercritical-fiber-recycling.html Engineering Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:20:02 EDT news711904141 The rare earth elements that help power electric vehicles, wind turbines, medical imaging machines and other advanced technologies may be hiding in an unlikely place: industrial wastewater. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-porous-material-recovers-valuable-rare.html Engineering Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:00:08 EDT news711902101