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.
Microsoft announces its largest wind energy purchase
Microsoft announced on Monday its largest purchase of wind energy to date in two agreements together representing 237 MW, bringing the company’s total investments in wind energy projects in the US to over 500 MW. Microsoft has been consistent in its ambitions to green its operations, Read More...
Beautiful solar structures: The future of urban design
Clean energy sources are often relegated to places where people cannot see them, like far in the ocean or on the roofs of buildings. But what if they were instead made into aesthetically-pleasing structures meant to be seen on the street? What if art could be combined with the production of solar Read More...
A new process to turn the waste heat of power plants into electricity
In most power plants, most of the energy produced ends up as heat. Some of this heat is then used to produce electricity but much of it typically gets lost when it escapes into the atmosphere. A group of researchers has developed a new material that can be used to turn waste heat into electricity. Read More...
Las Vegas is getting some new streetlights, and they will be powered by your feet
A New York startup has built four streetlights at a Vegas intersection that will be powered entirely by renewable energy. During the day, the lights will run on solar energy. But at night, they will be powered by the kinetic energy of all the people walking by them. The streetlights are a trial Read More...
Aruba commits to 100% renewable energy
While many nations are taking steps toward energy independence, Aruba is diving in. In 2012, the small island nation pledged to transition to 100 percent renewable energy within eight years. Justin Locke is director of the island energy program at the Carbon War Room, an international nonprofit. He Read More...
Smart windows save energy and promote productivity
Windows play a key role when it comes to saving energy. The principle loss of energy in buildings is through windows: A pane of glass can lose or gain up to 10 times the amount of heat than a same sized wall space. Smart windows are changing that. On sunny days, they automatically tint to block Read More...
Renewables are outpacing coal in India
But there are still challenges to overcome around financing. But there are still challenges to overcome around financing. bnef coal financing india net metering private equity solar lanterns venture capital Elon Musk Unveiled a Solar Roof and Didn’t Address Any Pressing Questions Dow Chemical Read More...
Renewable energy to hit 9 percent of U.S. total in 2017
U.S. renewable-energy generating capacity is not only growing, but it is beginning to erode coal's share of the electricity-generating mix, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The agency predicts renewable energy—particularly solar power—to continue growing. Read More...
Trump cannot halt the market forces driving the clean energy revolution
The fact that Donald Trump will soon take over as president of the U.S. doesn’t mean the country will start burning more coal. Yes, the new president has made promises to revive coal industry. However, ultimately market forces will drive to the cheapest energy sources. And as of now, solar and Read More...
Cloud-tracking cameras to tackle dips in solar power output
A new way to tackle the much-maligned unpredictability of solar energy is being deployed at a solar farm opening today in Western Australia – cloud-tracking cameras. The 1MW solar farm at Karratha airport, made possible by a $2.3m grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena), has Read More...