
Energy Policy News — ScienceDaily Energy Policy. Read the latest research and energy policy recommendations from scientific organizations around the world.
- In calculating the social cost of methane, equity matterson April 21, 2021 at 4:46 pm
A new study reports that the social cost of methane – a greenhouse gas that is 30 times as potent as carbon dioxide in its ability to trap heat – varies by as much as an order of magnitude between industrialized and developing regions of the world.
- Early deaths rising in workers using methylene chloride paint stripperson April 19, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Researchers and physicians have found that early deaths of workers using methylene chloride paint strippers are on the rise. The solvent is widely used in paint strippers, cleaners, adhesives and sealants.
- Experts’ predictions for future wind energy costs drop significantlyon April 15, 2021 at 3:41 pm
Technology and commercial advancements are expected to continue to drive down the cost of wind energy, according to a new survey. Experts anticipate cost reductions of 17%-35% by 2035 and 37%-49% by 2050, driven by bigger and more efficient turbines, lower capital and operating costs, and other advancements.
- Biocrude passes the 2,000-hour catalyst stability teston March 25, 2021 at 2:12 pm
A large-scale demonstration converting biocrude to renewable diesel fuel has passed a significant test, operating for more than 2,000 hours continuously without losing effectiveness.
- Dow-like index for energy prices might help smooth transition to clean poweron March 24, 2021 at 3:33 pm
Since the early industrial revolution in the mid-1700s, fossil fuels have acquired an ever-growing footprint in energy production. However, the environmental concerns of fossil fuels use and their inevitable depletion have led to a global shift toward renewable energy sources. These transitions, however, raise questions about the best choice of renewables and the impact of investing in these resources on consumer cost.
Solar Energy News — ScienceDaily Solar Energy Information. Read the latest news and techniques for efficient solar photovoltaic power, new solar energy systems and more.
- Solar panels are contagious – but in a good wayon April 21, 2021 at 4:45 pm
The number of solar panels within shortest distance from a house is the most important factor in determining the likelihood of that house having a solar panel, when compared with a host of socio-economic and demographic variables. This is shown in a new study by scientists using satellite and census data of the city of Fresno in the US, and employing machine learning.
- Green hydrogen: ‘Rust’ as a photoanode and its limitson April 19, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Researchers have now analyzed the optoelectronic properties of rust (haematite) and other metal oxides in unprecedented detail. Their results show that the maximum achievable efficiency of haematite electrodes is significantly lower than previously assumed. The study demonstrates ways to assess new photoelectrode materials more realistically.
- Sunlight to solve the world’s clean water crisison April 16, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Researchers have developed technology that could eliminate water stress for millions of people, including those living in many of the planet’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
- Transparent nanolayers for more solar poweron April 15, 2021 at 3:41 pm
There is no cheaper way to generate electricity today than with the sun. Solar cells available on the market based on crystalline silicon make this possible with efficiencies of up to 23 percent. With even higher efficiencies of more than 26 percent, costs could fall further. An international working group led by photovoltaics researchers now plan to reach this goal with a nanostructured, transparent material for the front of solar cells.
- Solar and wind power could mitigate conflict in northeast Africaon April 8, 2021 at 5:14 pm
A new study shows that several disagreements between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt around Africa’s largest hydropower plant, the new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), could be alleviated by massively expanding solar and wind power across the region.
Batteries News — ScienceDaily Read the latest research on everything from new longer life batteries and batteries with viruses to a nano-size battery.
- Mapping performance variations to see how lithium-metal batteries failon April 19, 2021 at 3:01 pm
Scientists have identified the primary cause of failure in a state-of-the-art lithium-metal battery, of interest for long-range electric vehicles: electrolyte depletion.
- A new material enables the usage of ‘calcium’ for batterieson April 6, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Scientists have developed a new fluorine-free calcium (Ca) electrolyte based on a hydrogen (monocarborane) cluster that could potentially realize rechargeable Ca batteries.
- New batteries give jolt to renewables, energy storageon April 5, 2021 at 6:34 pm
Researchers have been exploring the use of low-cost materials to create rechargeable batteries that will make energy storage more affordable. Now, they have shown that a new technique incorporating aluminum results in rechargeable batteries that offer up to 10,000 error-free cycles.
- Design could enable longer lasting, more powerful lithium batterieson March 25, 2021 at 4:08 pm
MIT researchers have identified a novel electrolyte that could be useful for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, increasing their power per weight without sacrificing the cycle life.
- Electric cars: Recharge your batterieson March 24, 2021 at 1:46 pm
Chemical engineers have learned more about the nature of lithium-ion batteries that could lead to batteries that recharge much faster than before.
Alternative Fuels News — ScienceDaily Alternative fuel sources. From hydrogen cars and microbial fuel cells to break-throughs in bioconversion, browse the latest research in alternative fuels.
- A new material enables the usage of ‘calcium’ for batterieson April 6, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Scientists have developed a new fluorine-free calcium (Ca) electrolyte based on a hydrogen (monocarborane) cluster that could potentially realize rechargeable Ca batteries.
- This hydrogen fuel machine could be the ultimate guide to self-improvementon April 5, 2021 at 4:33 pm
Scientists have uncovered an extraordinary self-improving property that transforms an ordinary semiconductor into a highly efficient and stable artificial photosynthesis device.
- Small robot swimmers that heal themselves from damageon March 24, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Living tissue can heal itself from many injuries, but giving similar abilities to artificial systems, such as robots, has been extremely challenging. Now, researchers have developed small, swimming robots that can magnetically heal themselves on-the-fly after breaking into two or three pieces. The strategy could someday be used to make hardier devices for environmental or industrial clean up, the researchers say.
- New porous material promising for making renewable energy from wateron March 22, 2021 at 3:29 pm
One prospective source of renewable energy is hydrogen gas produced from water with the aid of sunlight. Researchers have developed a material, nanoporous cubic silicon carbide, that exhibits promising properties to capture solar energy and split water for hydrogen gas production.
- Double-duty catalyst generates hydrogen fuel while cleaning up wastewateron March 17, 2021 at 6:17 pm
Hydrogen is a pollution-free energy source when it’s extracted from water using sunlight instead of fossil fuels. But current strategies for ‘splitting’ or breaking apart water molecules with catalysts and light require the introduction of chemical additives to expedite the process. Now, researchers have developed a catalyst that destroys medications and other compounds already present in wastewater to generate hydrogen fuel, getting rid of a contaminant while producing something useful.
Energy Technology News — ScienceDaily Energy News and Research. From super-efficient hybrid vehicles to new energy sources, read all the latest science news from leading energy technology laboratories around the world.
- New pulsed magnet reveals a new state of matter in Kondo insulatoron April 20, 2021 at 1:29 pm
A recent series of experiments leveraged some of the nation’s highest-powered nondestructive magnets to reveal an exotic new phase of matter at high magnetic fields.
- Oxygen migration enables ferroelectricity on nanoscaleon April 15, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Hafnium-based thin films, with a thickness of only a few nanometres, show an unconventional form of ferroelectricity. This allows the construction of nanometre-sized memories or logic devices. However, it was not clear how ferroelectricity could occur at this scale. A study has now shown how atoms move in a hafnium-based capacitor: migrating oxygen atoms (or vacancies) are responsible for the observed switching and storage of charge.
- Tracking the progress of fusion power through 60 years of neutral particle analysison April 15, 2021 at 5:32 pm
A review paper examines the 6-decade history of neutral particle analysis (NPA), a vital diagnostic tool used in magnetic plasma confinement devices such as tokamaks that will house the nuclear fusion process and generate the clean energy of the future.
- Experts’ predictions for future wind energy costs drop significantlyon April 15, 2021 at 3:41 pm
Technology and commercial advancements are expected to continue to drive down the cost of wind energy, according to a new survey. Experts anticipate cost reductions of 17%-35% by 2035 and 37%-49% by 2050, driven by bigger and more efficient turbines, lower capital and operating costs, and other advancements.
- Transparent nanolayers for more solar poweron April 15, 2021 at 3:41 pm
There is no cheaper way to generate electricity today than with the sun. Solar cells available on the market based on crystalline silicon make this possible with efficiencies of up to 23 percent. With even higher efficiencies of more than 26 percent, costs could fall further. An international working group led by photovoltaics researchers now plan to reach this goal with a nanostructured, transparent material for the front of solar cells.