About Energy
Vertical Solar Panels in Snow
At 65 degrees north the December sun climbs only 1.6 degrees at noon, so panel angle matters. This explainer follows how the old tilt rule met bifacial panels, what vertical panels delivered in Alaska, Norway and Finland, and why snow and cloud still keep yield forecasts uncertain.
Is Wave Energy Commercially Viable Yet? What 2026 Shows
A wave energy device earned its first full DNV certificate in 2026 and a US test site opened, yet wave electricity still costs several times more than offshore wind. We weigh the pilots, King Island’s grid and storm survival to ask: is wave energy commercially viable?
Rocket Lab Introduces Space Solar Cell Without Germanium
Rocket Lab has introduced the Inverted Metamorphic Apex, a space solar cell made without germanium. According to the company, it is 40% lighter than existing cells in its class and converts 31.5% of sunlight into power when new. Germanium has grown scarce and costly.
BARC Method Recovers About 90% of Lithium From Seawater
Researchers at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre removed over 99% of interfering ions from seawater, then recovered about 90% of its lithium with a solvent reused over five cycles. The work remains at laboratory scale.
Airbus and MTU Plan Hydrogen Fuel Cell Engine Joint Venture
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines intend to set up a joint venture for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine. The deal is non-binding and expected to start in 2027, but the release leaves hydrogen supply, cost and an aircraft date open.
Chinese Academy Builds Seawater Hydrogen System
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a system that couples alkaline water electrolysis with low-grade waste heat from hydrogen production to drive seawater distillation, producing both hydrogen and fresh water simultaneously while improving efficiency.
Crescent Dunes Sold for $7 Million: What’s Next for America’s Molten-Salt Solar Tower
Crescent Dunes, the Nevada molten-salt solar tower that cost $975 million to build, changed hands for $7 million in July 2026 after its owner’s second bankruptcy. Four hot-tank leaks kept the plant far below its design output, while China now builds most new plants of its kind.
Maersk and Anemoi Fit the First Rotor Sail to a Container Ship
Maersk is testing a rotor sail on a container ship for the first time, taking a technology already proven on bulk carriers onto a much tighter, crane-heavy deck. Maersk is putting a rotor sail on a container ship for the…
Smart-Home Synergy: Electrified HVAC Meets On-Site Solar
Explore the real-world convergence of modern electric heat pumps and on-site solar systems. Learn how smart thermostats, high Coefficients of Performance, and federal incentives are turning everyday homes into low-emission, energy-resilient powerhouses.
Thermal Energy Storage at Home: Hot Water Tanks as Batteries
Every water heater is a small thermal battery already. This piece walks through how CTA-2045 (US) and EEBUS (EU) turn that into a grid resource, compares Rheem, Mixergy, and Steffes, and runs the honest cost-per-kWh math against a lithium battery — pack price versus installed price included
Floating Solar: Turning Renewable Energy into Living Habitats
Floating solar farms are evolving beyond electricity generation by integrating habitat restoration with renewable energy. The Bomhofsplas project in the Netherlands demonstrates how Biohuts can support aquatic biodiversity while passive water cooling improves photovoltaic performance, highlighting the potential of nature-inclusive solar design.
Cool-Coat Capital: The ROI of Solar-Reflective Roofing
Beyond the environmental hype, solar-reflective paint offers a tangible financial play for property owners. We break down the real-world performance of high-albedo coatings, the cooling energy savings you can actually expect, and why this simple retrofit is becoming a standard in sustainable building management.
Space-Based Solar: The Baseload Fix for a 100% Green Grid
As we push toward a 100% renewable grid, intermittency remains the final hurdle. Space-based solar power offers a bold, orbital solution to provide constant, carbon-free baseload energy. We break down the tech, the timeline, and the reality of beaming power from geostationary orbit.
Beyond Lithium: The Mojave’s Massive Battery-Free Future
As California faces the ‘evening ramp’ energy gap, Hydrostor’s Willow Rock project offers a bold alternative to lithium-ion. By using underground air compression and heat recovery, this 500MW facility could redefine long-duration storage—if it can overcome the massive scale-up hurdles ahead.
Liquid Air Energy Storage Could Outlast Lithium Batteries by Decades
As the UK’s Carrington plant nears completion, we look past the hype of liquid-air energy storage. Can this metal-free, 50-year infrastructure solve renewable curtailment, or do its efficiency limits keep it a niche player in the global energy transition?
Solar-Powered Plastic-to-Hydrogen: A Real-World Reality Check
Solar-driven photoreforming promises to solve the plastic crisis and fuel the hydrogen economy simultaneously. But is it ready for industrial scale? We break down the science, the current lab-tested limitations, and the path to real-world deployment for this dual-crisis solution.
Rewind® PET: Closing the Loop on Polyester Waste
As the fashion industry faces mounting pressure to reduce fossil-fuel reliance, Rewind® PET offers a breakthrough in chemical recycling. By breaking down complex textile blends into virgin-quality monomers, this technology is finally bridging the gap between pilot-scale innovation and commercial-scale circularity.
Hydrogen Aviation: Inside the AEP100 Megawatt Test Flight
The successful test flight of the AEP100 hydrogen turboprop is a major leap for sustainable aviation. We break down the engineering behind this megawatt-class breakthrough, the reality of cryogenic fuel storage, and what this means for the future of zero-emission cargo logistics.
Water-Based Power: The New Frontier for Grid-Ready Energy
Forget land-heavy solar farms. A breakthrough in water-based energy harvesting is turning natural bodies of water into structural electrodes. We explore how this 87% lighter technology is moving from lab prototypes to real-world, bio-fouling resistant energy production.
Renewables vs. DAC: Where Your Climate Capital Works Best
Is Direct Air Capture the climate silver bullet we hope for? A 2026 study suggests otherwise. By analyzing the opportunity cost of carbon removal versus renewable energy, we explore why prioritizing grid decarbonization remains the most effective path to a net-zero future.