Energy and Green Technologies

Batteries, renewable energy, grids, climate, and clean technologies.

147 Articles

Google Funds Increased Output at 11 Nuclear Reactors to Add 890 Megawatts to the PJM Grid

Google announced an agreement with Constellation Energy to fund physical and digital upgrades at six U.S. nuclear plants, adding 890 megawatts of capacity before the end of 2032. The partnership includes using Gemini Enterprise to improve planning and operations, as part of Google’s efforts to enable more than 1.5 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by upgrading existing reactors and restarting idled facilities.

2026-10-06

Energy and Green Technologies

Australia Expands Community Battery Funding and Home Electrification

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced additional funding of A$23 million for community battery projects, alongside an A$8.2 million grant to help up to 1,000 homes in Canberra switch from gas to electricity. The Cheaper Home Battery Program is also being expanded to include systems with capacity of up to 1 megawatt.

2026-10-03

Energy and Green Technologies

Vessev Tests a Semi-Flying Electric Ferry Based on Hydrofoil Boat Technology

Vessev tested its VS-9 electric ferry, which lifts its hull above the water’s surface using computer-controlled hydrofoils to reduce drag and improve operational efficiency. The company is targeting the technology for urban transport, hotels, and sightseeing tours, but it remains limited to relatively calm waters and wave heights.

2026-10-03

Energy and Green Technologies

China Targets Large-Scale Solid-State Battery Production by 2030 Amid Warnings About Cost Barriers

China has set a target for the large-scale deployment of solid-state batteries by 2030, but CATL believes that achieving low-cost electric vehicles using the technology will remain more difficult than beginning production. Obstacles include manufacturing maturity, cost reduction, and improvements in performance and stability.

2026-10-03

Energy and Green Technologies

Turkey Prepares to Introduce a Legal Framework for Small Nuclear Reactors During the Current Legislative Session

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced that his country aims to introduce a bill regulating small nuclear reactors after the budget is approved, as part of a plan to build capacity of up to 20,000 megawatts using Turkish technology and personnel. He also revealed that an energy vision through 2040 is being prepared and that the Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center will be reactivated.

2026-10-03

Energy and Green Technologies

A 365-Meter-Tall Wind Turbine Enters the Testing Phase in Germany

The experimental GICON turbine in Germany has reached its full height of 365 meters, making it the tallest in the world, while the company says that operating at greater heights could double energy production compared with a conventional turbine of a similar diameter. This hypothesis still awaits verification after the official commissioning scheduled for November.

2026-10-02

Energy and Green Technologies

Texas Commission Approves Coal Plant Closure and Construction of 1.6 GW of Wind, Storage and Solar

The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved Southwestern Public Service’s plan to close the Tolk coal plant in early 2029 and replace it with projects including 1,100 megawatts of wind power, 322 megawatts of battery storage and 189 megawatts of solar power. Sierra Club says the decision could conserve substantial amounts of Ogallala Basin groundwater and reduce the plant’s emissions, while approval of two peaking gas plants remains in place with cost restrictions.

2026-10-01

Energy and Green Technologies

Kelvin Wave in the Pacific Heads Toward California, Bringing Risks of Rain and Coastal Flooding

A Kelvin wave is moving from the Pacific Ocean toward the western coast of the United States alongside a strong El Niño, potentially raising sea levels near California by 6 to 12 inches and increasing the likelihood of storms, rain, and flooding during the winter.

2026-09-29

Energy and Green Technologies

Ameren Missouri Proposes Greater Reliance on Coal and Gas to Power Data Centers

Ameren Missouri has submitted a long-term power plan proposing the addition of 5,400 megawatts of gas capacity by 2032, while reducing investments in wind and solar power and delaying coal plant closures. Sierra Club believes the plan could increase pollution, costs, and climate risks associated with growing demand from data centers.

2026-09-29

Energy and Green Technologies

The AI Boom Reshapes Climate Tech Financing and Raises Concerns About Marginalizing Other Sectors

New York Climate Week reveals a growing divide within climate tech companies over the expansion of AI data centers. Demand for energy and infrastructure associated with AI has helped several companies attract funding, but it has diverted attention from other climate fields.

2026-09-28

Energy and Green Technologies

Borusan Ventures Invests in Bluecore Energy to Develop Floating Nuclear Reactors

Borusan Ventures participated in a $50 million seed funding round for the U.S. company Bluecore Energy, which is developing small modular nuclear reactors on floating platforms to provide low-carbon power to ports, industrial facilities, and data centers. The technology’s first application is scheduled to be tested at the Port of Long Beach.

2026-09-28

Energy and Green Technologies

Solarlap’s Journey Around Australia Reveals the Conditions for Charging an Electric Vehicle with Solar Power

Andrew Mangano completed a journey around Australia in a Tesla Model 3 Long Range over 42 days, relying on solar-linked charging sites whenever possible. The experience shows that the success of long electric-vehicle journeys depends largely on planning, charger reliability, and the vehicle’s range capacity—not solely on the availability of solar power.

2026-09-28

Energy and Green Technologies

U.S. Energy Information Administration Expects 82.7 Gigawatts of Renewable Energy and Storage Additions Over One Year

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects approximately 82.7 gigawatts of new renewable energy and battery storage capacity to be added over the next 12 months, compared with a net decline of 1.45 gigawatts in fossil-fuel capacity. The data show that renewable energy sources accounted for more than 29% of U.S. electricity generation during the first seven months of 2026.

2026-09-28

Energy and Green Technologies

High-Density Mounting System Enables Construction of an 11-Megawatt Solar Plant on Limited Land

Cultivate Power used a mounting system developed by Planted Solar to build the Bowes Solar project on an irregular 22-acre site in Elgin, Illinois, despite the presence of power lines, railway tracks, and a wetland. The design reduces the land requirement for community solar projects to about two acres per megawatt-peak, enabling the use of land that had previously been difficult to develop.

2026-09-27

Energy and Green Technologies

OceanX Reopens the Debate on Downwind Floating Wind Turbines

The OceanX floating platform demonstrated stable performance during Typhoon Yagi, with nacelle tilt ranging approximately between zero and three degrees despite winds exceeding 41.5 meters per second and waves reaching a maximum of 9.8 meters. However, the test does not yet settle the economic viability of the design, while the use of two turbines on a single platform remains questionable.

2026-09-26

Energy and Green Technologies

Geothermal Energy Gains New Momentum in the United States Despite the Shift Toward Fossil Fuels

The U.S. Department of Energy allocated $99 million to 21 projects involving advanced geothermal energy technologies, including Quaise Energy’s project in Oregon. The development represents a bet on a renewable source capable of providing stable electricity for data centers, while financing, regulation, and commercial viability remain key challenges.

2026-09-26

Energy and Green Technologies

Report: Expansion of AI Data Centers Drives NV Energy to Increase Gas Plans in Nevada

Sierra Club gave NV Energy subsidiary Sierra Pacific Power a D, its worst result since the organization began its assessment, after the company increased its plans to add more than 2.7 gigawatts of gas capacity by 2035 amid expected growth in demand from artificial intelligence data centers. The report warns that the expansion could undermine renewable energy goals and shift infrastructure costs to other consumers.

2026-09-25

Energy and Green Technologies

NASA-developed Technology for Mars Resources Helps Breweries Recover Carbon Dioxide

Systems developed by Pioneer Astronautics as part of NASA research into extracting resources from Mars have become a commercial technology that recovers carbon dioxide from fermentation processes and purifies it for reuse. Applications later expanded to wineries, distilleries, power plants, and helium production.

2026-09-24