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Solar and wind energy require low-cost grid storage to be economic at high penetrations. Sodium–metal chloride batteries have been produced commercially for more than 25 years with more than 1 GWh sold, but their current cost point is too high for utility-scale grid storage. Inlyte Energy has optimized this technology for low-cost grid storage.
Asmae Berrada, a professor of energy at the International University of Rabat, discusses her work on gravity energy storage and its potential in renewable energy systems.
When scaled down to the nano- or micrometre range, microdroplets feature a high surface area-to-volume ratio and exhibit properties such as strong interfacial effects, electric fields, acidic environments, radical generation and enhanced reducing power. These features accelerate reaction rates and enable otherwise unfavourable CO2 conversion reactions under mild conditions.
Depending on policy design, carbon dioxide removal could either perpetuate fossil fuel consumption and slow emission reductions or, if paired with rapid emission reductions, accelerate net-zero attainment and minimize overshoot periods. Policies that simultaneously and separately mandate emission reductions and near-term carbon dioxide removals could help to prevent mitigation deterrence, while supporting the upscaling of carbon dioxide removal.
Shreya Singh discusses how diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy can be used for real-time monitoring of carbon dioxide conversion intermediates.
Energy Star has transformed the market for energy-efficient products and buildings by establishing clear, trusted standards that drive innovation, reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the programme faces potential cuts, understanding its impact is crucial to maintaining progress in reducing energy use and promoting sustainable practices.
An article in Communications Engineering describes an approach to understanding clinker phases during cement production, with potential to reduce waste during manufacturing.
Leveraging experimental methods, such as randomized controlled trials, can inform energy and climate policy delivery in the European Union and maximize its effectiveness.
Urgent action is needed to tackle microplastic pollution in aquatic environments. Prioritizing physical capture over degradation can mitigate environmental and health risks, and valorizing captured microplastics into valuable materials could contribute to a circular carbon economy.
The increasing demand for data centres risks greatly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. To prevent this problem from happening, data centres need to transition from being consumers to being prosumers.
Zilong Wang explains how distribution of relaxation times can be used to deconvolute impedance data and help understand key electrochemical processes in batteries and fuel cells.
Jing Ming explains how neutron total scattering can be used to detect defects in solid electrolytes and help prevent disruptions in the diffusion of oxide ions in solid oxide fuel cells.
Clean technologies need to be scaled to make a difference, but going from lab- and pilot-scale to a commercial product or service is difficult. Our first Down to Business articles describe the challenges experienced by those on this journey and offer perspective to those just beginning.
With growing investment in technological options for durable, large-scale carbon removal projects, there is an opportunity for planners to consider what equitable models of carbon removal development and deployment might look like in practice.
Dilip Rijal describes how combining machine learning with density functional theory helps with the design and development of sustainable aviation fuels.
