Energy
Transitioning to a world powered by renewable energy is key to tackling climate change. Here you can find the latest good news related to our clean energy transition, covering wind, solar, green hydrogen, hydropower, and more.
Total renewable energy capacity boomed in 2016 as prices continue to drop
Thanks to plummeting costs, renewable energy capacity around the world increased by a record 10 percent. New solar power provided the biggest boost – half of all new capacity – followed by wind power at a third and hydropower at 15 percent. It is the first year that the new solar capacity added Read More...
Renewable energy push is strongest in the reddest states in U.S.
These red states are not motivated by a sudden desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nor are they joining solidly Democratic New York, Washington and California in defending the Paris climate agreement that President Trump walked away from last week. Instead, their leaders see tapping the Read More...
Cheap catalysts turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into fuel
Scientists have long dreamed of mimicking photosynthesis, by using the energy in sunlight to knit together hydrocarbon fuels from carbon dioxide and water. Now, a cheap new chemical catalyst has carried out part of that process with record efficiency, using electricity from a solar cell to split Read More...
China and California team up to boost clean energy tech
California steps in where Donald Trump left. The 6th largest economy in the world has formed an unusual partnership with China to work together on clean energy technology, including carbon capture and technology that can keep greenhouse gases in check. They’ll also unite on emissions trading and Read More...
One chart shows how solar energy growth is skyrocketing compared to predictions
In early 2016, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projected that, starting that year, the world would add just 50 gigawatts of added solar energy capacity per year. And in 2017, solar's growth rate would level out and start to decline. But as one clean energy researcher points out, the Read More...
The top 10 states leading the renewable energy revolution in the U.S.
California remains the U.S.’ renewable energy leader, but energy efficiency and renewables are gaining major ground across the country, a new ranking of states and cities shows. Six states now get at least a fifth of their power from non-hydro renewable sources such as wind and solar. The Read More...
Wind rules Scottish energy production, provides 95 percent of electricity
Some Optimist Daily readers write that we dedicate much news space to renewable energy. That’s true. It’s also true that the renewable energy story is possibly the biggest news story of these times. Renewable energy also means a clean environment, no air pollution, better health. The impact Read More...
China completed the world’s biggest floating solar energy farm
Images of the Beijing smog and millions of people wearing masks to be able to breathe are among the more dramatic depictions of air pollution caused by excessive industrialization. Now that China is turning away from industrial manufacturing and towards services, it is focusing on remedying some of Read More...
Hydrogen power to give VTOL drone six-hour endurance
Wirth Research has unveiled the design of its tilt-rotor, vertical take off and landing (VTOL) drone. The company claims its all-new Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) will be the first in the world to use lightweight hydrogen fuel cells as its primary energy source, for a combination of long range and Read More...
Using the sun’s abundant energy 24/7 is no longer a pipe dream
Generating and storing solar energy for less than the cost of fossil fuels is becoming reality. And that changes everything about the energy industry. Recently, Tucson Electric signed a deal with NextEra Energy for 20 years of solar plus storage at less than half of the price of retail electricity Read More...