Tag: techxplore

France’s most powerful nuclear reactor finally comes on stream France on Saturday connected its most powerful nuclear power reactor to the national electricity grid in what leaders hailed as a landmark moment despite years of delays, budget overruns and technical setbacks. Go to techxplore

Heat waves and bushfires can be a dangerous mix for the electricity grid: How to shore up supplies The Australian summer has started to unleash its power. On Monday, the Victorian town of Walpeup reached 47.1°C, and towns in Queensland, western New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory all hit temperatures above 45°C.…

Machine learning helps researchers develop perovskite solar cells with near-record efficiency An international team of scientists has used machine learning to help them develop perovskite solar cells with near-record efficiency. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes how they used the machine-learning algorithm to help them find new hole-transporting materials to…

Rising carbon emissions may lead to decreased wind power potential in autumn in South Korea As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, a recent study has shed light on the potential impacts of climate warming in East Asia on the regional future wind power potential (Wpot). Go to techxplore

Researchers unlock potential of desert plants for cleaner efficient energy Researchers have found a more sustainable way to produce energy using plants that can survive in dry conditions such as deserts. Go to techxplore

Chinese firms take on EV truck challenges Dominant in the electric car sector, Chinese companies have been quietly consolidating their position in the lesser-watched trucking scene—but foreign tariffs and a perceived quality gap could signal roadblocks ahead, experts warn. Go to techxplore

Prototype device produces critical fertilizer ingredient from thin air, cutting carbon emissions The air around us contains a powerful solution for making agriculture more sustainable. Researchers at Stanford University and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia have developed a prototype device that can produce ammonia—a key fertilizer ingredient—using wind energy to…

EU conservatives seek to stall 2035 combustion engine ban The largest group in the European Parliament, the conservative EPP, joined calls Wednesday to “reverse” a ban on combustion engine vehicles starting in 2035, citing the struggles of the automotive industry. Go to techxplore

High efficiency meets sustainability: Next-generation tandem solar cells The development of perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells made of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes is the basis for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Go to techxplore

EPA awards $144 million to California to phase out big diesel trucks The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $144 million in grants to fund 13 projects in California to help the state wean off fossil fuels and phase out big rigs that run on diesel. Go to techxplore

Stabilizing ligand enables 22% efficiency in all-inorganic perovskite cells An international team of physicists, chemists and electronic engineers reports that a stabilizing ligand enables all-inorganic perovskite cells with an efficiency of up to 22%. In their study, published in the journal Nature, the group came upon the idea of introducing para-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide (PTSH) as a…

Investigating sodium superionic conductors for solid-state sodium batteries Life would be easier if batteries charged in seconds, stored more energy, lasted longer, and were overall safer to use. As such, highly efficient solid-state batteries are currently a hot topic in the field, with many car companies even promising to offer them in future vehicles. Go…

New type of battery could outlast EVs and still be used for grid energy storage There’s a big push underway to increase the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries powering EVs on the road today. By law, in the US, these cells must be able to hold 80% of their original full charge after eight years of…

Recovering rare earth metals from waste permanent magnets Korea imports 95% of its core minerals such as lithium, nickel, and rare earths. Rare earths, in particular, are characterized by chemical, electrical, magnetic, and luminescent properties that can be achieved by adding only a small amount, and their use has recently increased significantly as core materials…

Poll measures support for revenue-sharing plan on renewable energy Democrats and Republicans don’t see eye-to-eye on much. And they often don’t agree on various aspects of renewable energy. But a recent report finds there is one area in which they’re pretty much in sync: how certain national proceeds should be divvied up. Go to techxplore

Burned rice hulls could help batteries store more charge A closer inspection of ash from burned rice hulls, the hard outer layer of rice grains, revealed a form of carbon that could nearly double the energy density of typical lithium-ion or sodium-ion batteries. Go to techxplore

Monitoring system could help cities manage emissions without banning older vehicles How can vehicle emissions be reduced without necessarily having to change cars? A new monitoring system, developed by Politecnico di Milano and described in a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, offers a concrete answer that makes sustainable mobility accessible to all. Go…

Nitrogen-doped catalyst technology could accelerate hydrogen fuel cell commercialization A research team has developed a breakthrough technology that dramatically improves the durability of alloy catalysts, a critical component in fuel cells. By incorporating nitrogen into the alloy structure, the team addressed the high cost and low durability of platinum (Pt) catalysts, two major obstacles to…

Nonproliferation innovation makes international impact at Kazakh nuclear site Kris Gaines is on a nonproliferation mission: to make it easier for more countries to eliminate highly enriched uranium, or HEU, thus neutralizing the inherent threat of its potential for nefarious use. As a nuclear nonproliferation specialist and project manager at the Department of Energy’s Oak…

Proton batteries: An innovative option for the future of energy storage A team of scientists at UNSW Chemistry have successfully developed an organic material that is able to store protons—and they have used it to create a rechargeable proton battery in the lab. Go to techxplore

Energy strategy could help advance low-carbon road transport while keeping it economically competitive Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have presented a concept for decarbonizing transport while keeping it economically competitive. Increasing the utilization of carbon dioxide from biogas plants plays an important role. Go to techxplore

Scientists predict bright future for fly ash in water treatment The world has the potential today to sustainably manage nearly one billion tons of ash waste it produces every year and turn it into a useful material for water treatment applications, according to a study by scientists from the University of Sharjah published in the…