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 research team has introduced a new concept device termed the Gas Capture and Electricity Generator (GCEG), which produces electrical power as greenhouse gases are adsorbed from the atmosphere. This innovation goes beyond conventional approaches that merely capture greenhouse gases, transforming them into a usable energy resource. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-gas-battery-pollution-electricity-air.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:20:08 EDT news695923382 The stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz in the past few weeks has choked off roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply, triggering the worst global energy crisis since the 1970s. Beyond the immediate shock, the disruption has underscored how tightly the global economy remains tethered to fossil hydrocarbons—and how urgently alternatives are needed. One of the most promising routes for diversifying fuel production from crude oil is using renewable electricity for electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high-value products such as ethylene that today come almost exclusively from petroleum refining. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-biowaste-coatings-crustacean-shells-boost.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:00:11 EDT news695922121 Visitors to this year's Hannover Messe can experience a sudden drop in temperature at first hand—all brought about by simply stretching a metal alloy and then releasing it again. The underlying elastocaloric technology offers a cleaner, greener alternative to traditional cooling and heating systems. Professor Paul Motzki and his team at Saarland University are key players in the field and are driving developments ever closer towards real-world applications. Working with 3D-printing specialists led by Professor Dirk Bähre, they are also developing novel, energy-efficient geometries for the cooling elements. The team is showcasing their technology at Hannover Messe from 20 to 24 April (Hall 11, Stand D41). https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-energy-efficient-cooling-elements-3d.html Engineering Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:00:01 EDT news695923022 The current environmental crisis is not only linked to climate change, but also to inadequate waste management and the intensive consumption of natural resources. In 2023, approximately 2.3 billion metric tons of municipal solid waste were generated, and this figure is projected to reach 3.8 billion metric tons by 2050. A significant portion of this waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, releasing greenhouse gases. In the case of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), 35% is incinerated, contributing to approximately 534 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-sustainable-concrete-rice-husk-ash.html Engineering Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:40:10 EDT news695903281 A Korean research team has developed a two-electrode-based real-time diagnostic technology capable of precisely analyzing the causes of performance degradation in anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) systems under actual operating conditions. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-electrode-method-tracks-electrolysis-degradation.html Engineering Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:40:09 EDT news695902741 Land use concerns outweigh proximity worries when it comes to local public support for new solar developments, new research suggests. A team at the University of Rhode Island used the example of a 2019 municipal referendum on a utility-scale solar proposal in the town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, to understand why citizens with pro-solar attitudes voted against the proposal. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-solar-gap-pro-citizens-local.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:40:06 EDT news695899381 As wind and solar power expand rapidly worldwide, researchers are confronting a growing challenge: how to effectively integrate them into the power grid. Wind turbines and solar panels have what economists call zero marginal cost, meaning producing additional units of electricity requires no fuel once installed. At the same time, this renewable energy varies greatly with the weather and can create operational challenges for grid operators. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-survey-solar-power-grids.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:40:04 EDT news695896382 While sustainable solar energy can potentially meet our global power needs, it has one major flaw. When sunlight disappears, solar panels stop generating electricity. The problem is that while they do an excellent job of converting light into power, they are not so good at storing the energy they collect. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-wood-solar-power-sun.html Energy & Green Tech Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:00:01 EDT news695305452 By using biomass intelligently, Switzerland could meet a substantial percentage of its own gas needs. This is the conclusion reached by a study led by the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. Gas imports could be significantly reduced as a result, making Switzerland less dependent on the global market. The study was commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and published at the beginning of this year. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-swiss-biomethane-potential-domestic-energy.html Energy & Green Tech Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:00:03 EDT news695564769 Fusion power plants are sites at which electricity could be generated via a process known as nuclear fusion, which entails the merging of two atomic nuclei into a single heavier nucleus. This process is known to generate very high amounts of energy, such as the energy required to light up the sun and other stars, yet its potential for the production of electricity has yet to be demonstrated. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-fusion-power-competitive-renewables.html Business Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news695467315 A research team at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon has demonstrated how a classic technique can be repurposed to measure the material degradation of photoelectrodes in real time. This new method enables continuous and precise detection of subtle material losses. The technique can directly determine material degradation rates under realistic operating conditions. The researchers have presented their results in the journal EES Solar. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-technique-solar-cell-materials-corroding.html Energy & Green Tech Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:00:01 EDT news695564819 Solar cells, devices that convert sunlight into electricity, are now widely used in many countries. While most existing solar cells are based on silicon, energy engineers have been working on other devices made of so-called perovskites. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-perovskite-solar-cells-certified-efficiency.html Engineering Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:04 EDT news695564953 Imagine a battery that stores more power, lasts longer, and remains safe even under stress. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago have discovered how to boost the energy density and cycle life of the power cells that form the core of all-solid-state batteries. This next-generation battery technology holds promise for transforming transportation. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-scientists-boost-solid-state-battery.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:20:01 EDT news695645923 Every year, power plants and factories release billions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. Methods exist to capture that CO₂ using chemical solutions and, separately, to convert pure CO₂ into useful fuels and chemicals. But doing both steps at once, in a cost-efficient and scalable way, has been difficult. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-triples-capture-ditches-silver-zinc.html Engineering Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:20:03 EDT news695650141 A transparent radiative cooling film technology that dissipates heat directly to the outside without consuming electricity has been developed to reduce vehicle overheating during summer. The technology was validated through real-vehicle experiments conducted under diverse conditions—including different countries, seasons, and both parking and driving scenarios—and demonstrated the ability to lower cabin temperatures by up to 6.1°C and reduce cooling energy consumption by more than 20%. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-transparent-cooling-car-cabin-temperature.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:40:04 EDT news695647989 Research published in the Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis has reviewed the potential for microwave assisted pyrolysis (MAP) to convert problematic waste materials such as tires, plastics and fiber, into fuels and high-end carbon materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-microwave-energy-fuel-graphene-faster.html Business Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:04 EDT news695638486 A first national-scale study on the lifetime impact of New Zealand's electricity, transport, and heat sources shows road transport is a "prime target" for electrification. Scientists looked at how 15 energy sources affect things like global warming potential, resource scarcity, and cancer-causing toxicity. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-impact-zealand-power-sources-cradle.html Energy & Green Tech Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:03 EDT news695627161 Offshore wind energy generation is a central pillar of Europe's energy transition. At the same time, it is placing increasing demands on models that are expected to reliably predict future wind power production and its impact on the atmosphere. A study by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon now shows that both atmospheric boundary conditions and technical decisions made during the development of wind farms can lead to significant differences. The various turbine parameters have a particularly strong influence on the calculations, as the associated reduction in wind speeds has a substantial impact on the results. The researchers' findings were published in the journal Wind Energy Science. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-turbine-parameters-significant-differences-offshore.html Engineering Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:20:04 EDT news695577781 EU researchers are turning carbon emissions from urban waste into everyday household products—from cleaning liquids to leather. Europe's cities emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Two essential urban services—waste incineration and wastewater treatment—are among the biggest contributors to municipal CO2 emissions in the EU. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-urban-consumer-products.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:01 EDT news695563681 A research team led by Prof. Yoonseob Kim, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has reported a significant breakthrough in lithium metal battery (LMB) technology. The team has successfully synthesized a novel single-crystalline 3D borate covalent organic framework (B-COF), which demonstrates exceptional performance as a solid-state electrolyte, thereby enhancing the performance of solid-state lithium batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-crystalline-electrolyte-safer-lithium-metal.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:06 EDT news695569801 An Australian study has found that electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology can significantly reduce household electricity costs and lessen the need for large, costly home battery systems. Researchers from Flinders University, Adelaide University and Murdoch University investigated how using an EV as a mobile energy storage unit influences the optimal sizing of rooftop solar (PV) and home battery storage in grid-connected residential homes. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-electric-vehicles-key-efficient-home.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:40:05 EDT news695568062 Expectations are rising for all-solid-state batteries—the "dream battery" with low fire risk—not only for electric vehicles but also for various fields such as robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). A research team at KAIST has presented a new design principle that simultaneously overcomes the limitations of solid electrolytes, which were previously vulnerable to air exposure and suffered from low performance. This technology is gaining significant attention as it can enhance both battery safety and charging speeds, demonstrating the feasibility of commercializing next-generation all-solid-state batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-oxygen-anchoring-air-stable-solid.html Engineering Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:20:01 EDT news695563663 South Africa would seem like the perfect place for widespread uptake of solar energy. The country is sunny, with high solar generation potential. Solar is a clean, reliable source of power that can help people reduce their dependence on polluting fuels like paraffin and diesel. Switching to solar also cuts electricity bills, which have more than doubled over the last 10 years. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-south-africans-solar-power-panels.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:20:06 EDT news695560682 Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will play a critical role in decarbonizing the aviation industry. Among SAF production pathways, alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) stands out for its scalability, supported by abundant feedstock availability and a well-established bioethanol industry. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-reveals-potential-cellulosic-feedstocks-sustainable.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:20:01 EDT news695536142 Achieving aerospace industry net-zero emissions by 2050 requires rapid scaling of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. Leveraging existing infrastructure, proven technologies like Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ), and low-carbon intensity feedstocks such as switchgrass and miscanthus can support this transition and help achieve near-term emissions reduction targets. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-sustainability-outcomes-scale-aviation-fuel.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:02 EDT news695535602 Energy bills in the UK are still expected to rise in the coming months, putting more pressure on household budgets despite the shaky ceasefire in the Gulf. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-solar-panels-wont-slash-energy.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:40:05 EDT news695476738 Switching Hawaiʻi's power plants from oil to liquefied natural gas (LNG) may not deliver the dramatic drop in electricity prices that some proposals promise, according to a new analysis by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), released April 14. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-natural-gas-modest-gains-big.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:20:06 EDT news695468416 On many coastlines around the world, piles of discarded oyster and mussel shells are a common sight—the leftovers of a global seafood industry that produces millions of tonnes of waste each year. At the same time, hidden in rocky deposits far from the coast, a very different sort of resource—rare earth elements—is plentiful. These metals are in soaring demand as they are essential for technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and most modern electronics. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-power-seashells-oyster-recapture-rare.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:00:03 EDT news695476961 Recent progress in advanced energy manufacturing has opened a new path for lithium battery design. A joint research team led by Associate Professor Eric Jianfeng Cheng of Tohoku University has published a review in Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports, that highlights the potential, the pitfalls, and different perspectives of 3D printing's role in manufacturing lithium batteries. The article provides a systematic roadmap for how 3D printing may redefine next-generation lithium batteries. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-lab-industry-3d-future-lithium.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:01 EDT news695477997 Hydrogen is a clean-burning gas that could help to tackle climate change by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. But storing and transporting hydrogen is expensive and technically challenging, typically requiring high-pressure gas tanks or cryogenic systems that operate at very cold temperatures. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-depleted-oil-fields-hydrogen-storage.html Engineering Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:20:06 EDT news695488381