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Americans Move to More Solar and Wind Power in 2021
In 2021, Americans used 5 percent more energy than in 2020. Solar and wind energy production increased drastically this past year, with jumps of 20 percent and 11 percent, respectively; biomass-derived energy also increased by 7 percent. These increases contrasted with hydro, geothermal and nuclear power, which decreased by 12 percent, 4 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
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Harnessing Wave Energy
Most wave energy devices only capture energy in one direction, such as an up-down motion, but waves have some movement in multiple directions.
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Industrial Clusters Help Advance Energy Transition
Industrial clusters as geographic areas that comprise co-located companies representing either a single or multiple industries. The proximity of multiple industrial energy consumers creates an opportunity to scale low-carbon technologies through multi-stakeholder collaboration and can yield sizeable economic opportunities.
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China’s Dominance of Electric Vehicle Supply Chains Jeopardize U.S. Energy Transition
While Russia holds significant leverage in influencing oil and gas prices, it pales in comparison to China’s position in several strategic industries critical to the energy transition. A case study shows China’s ‘soft power’ in move to cleaner alternatives.
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Can Africa Satisfy Europe's Energy Demand?
As the war in Ukraine rages on, the European Union is desperately searching for alternative energy sources. Africa has abundant reserves, but experts say the continent’s energy sector needs urgent reforms and help.
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Germany: €3 Billion for Floating LNG Terminals
Berlin plans to lease four liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to wean itself off Russian gas. The decision comes as the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline now sits unused at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
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Global Natural Gas Demand Set to Decline in 2022 as Russia’s War Disrupts Markets, Economies
The world’s demand for natural gas is set to decline slightly in 2022 as a result of higher prices and market disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The downward revision to the IEA’s earlier forecast amounts to 50 billion cubic meters, the equivalent of about half of last year’s US liquefied natural gas exports.
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You've Heard of Water Droughts. Could “Energy” Droughts Be Next?
In a new modeling study, researchers show how widely wind and solar potential vary by season and year, suggesting that backup energy sources may be needed as the world shifts to renewables to bring carbon emissions to zero.
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Can Nuclear Generation Help Reduce European Reliance on Russian Gas?
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency and the European Commission have come up with plans to rapidly reduce the European Union’s imports of Russian natural gas. While the International Energy Agency anticipates that EU nuclear generation could increase by 20 terawatt hours (TWh) (or 2.7 percent) in 2022, the European Commission only mentions nuclear as a potential source of hydrogen.
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Marine Energy Is Finally Here
Is marine energy finally here? The simple answer is yes, the ocean—specifically clean energy generated from waves, tides, and ocean and river currents—can help save the planet. Revamped software offers marine energy industry the data it needs to succeed.
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What Does It Mean to Be Energy Independent?
“‘Energy independence’ is a political slogan, not an economic or technical concept with a clear definition,” Berkeley’s Andrew Campbell says. “I understand that politicians use the term ‘energy independence’ to imply that a country is insulated from global energy markets. However, this is rarely the case.”
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Can Germany Wean Itself Off Russian Gas?
Experts are divided on how quickly Germany could cut imports of Russian energy and stop funding President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. How vulnerable would such a move leave Europe’s largest economy?
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Texas Warns Firms They Could Lose State Contracts for Divesting from Fossil Fuels
A new law prohibits the state from contracting with or investing in companies that divest from oil, natural gas and coal companies.
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Electric Truck Hydropower: Flexible Solution to Hydropower in Mountainous Regions
Mountain regions have a large potential for hydropower that cannot be harnessed effectively by conventional technologies. Researchers developed an innovative hydropower technology based on electric trucks that could provide a flexible and clean solution for electricity generation in mountainous regions.
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Small-Scale Renewable Energy Sources Could Cause Power Failures
Renewable energy that feeds into the main power grid could destabilize the system and potentially cause power failures according to a new study.
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The long view
Trump Is Fast-Tracking New Coal Mines — Even When They Don’t Make Economic Sense
In Appalachian Tennessee, mines shut down and couldn’t pay their debts. Now a new one is opening under the guise of an “energy emergency.”
Smaller Nuclear Reactors Spark Renewed Interest in a Once-Shunned Energy Source
In the past two years, half the states have taken action to promote nuclear power, from creating nuclear task forces to integrating nuclear into long-term energy plans.