Energy and Green Technologies

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

147 Articles

Energy Vault’s Gravity Project Faces a Tough Test Against Chinese Storage Batteries

An analysis of the 25 MW, 100 MWh Rudong project concludes that gravity storage is technically feasible, but requires far more space, capital, equipment, and embodied construction carbon than a Chinese battery system providing the same four-hour service.

2026-09-09

Energy and Green Technologies

Google DeepMind Alumni Found Fusionality to Accelerate Control Systems in Fusion Reactors

Swiss company Fusionality has raised $3.7 million, or CHF 3 million, to develop control systems and simulation environments that help fusion companies build power plants capable of supplying electricity to the grid more quickly. The company is initially focusing on magnetic-confinement reactors, using artificial intelligence to improve specific parts of the control system rather than manage it entirely.

2026-09-09

Energy and Green Technologies

Google Connects Data Center Expansion in Finland to Nuclear and Renewable Investments

Google announced new energy partnerships in Finland, including an agreement to extend the life of the Loviisa nuclear power plant through 2050, support for wind projects with a combined capacity of 629 megawatts, and a 94-megawatt battery system. The company says that selecting data center sites and investing in flexible, low-carbon sources aim to limit the impact of new demand on the grid and prices.

2026-09-09

Energy and Green Technologies

Expanding Transport Electrification Could Reduce Europe’s Dependence on Energy Imports by Around a Quarter by 2040

A study prepared by Transport & Environment concludes that a higher-electrification pathway for transport could reduce the European Union’s dependence on energy imports in the transport sector by about a quarter compared with the current level. The study warns that weakening vehicle-emissions standards would push Europe to rely more on scarce imported alternative fuels.

2026-09-08

Energy and Green Technologies

R3 Lithium Reopens Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Facility in Georgia

The startup R3 Lithium acquired the Covington facility in Georgia, formerly operated by Ascend Elements, and began operating it to produce lithium carbonate from spent batteries and scrap. The company raised $15 million in Series A funding and says it has future purchase agreements worth more than $1 billion.

2026-09-08

Energy and Green Technologies

Bluecore Energy Raises $50 Million to Develop Floating Nuclear Reactors for Ports

Bluecore Energy raised a $50 million seed round just two months after emerging from stealth mode to develop small nuclear reactors installed on floating barges. The company is currently undergoing review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard in preparation for obtaining approval for the design of a floating nuclear power plant.

2026-09-08

Energy and Green Technologies

$1.9 Billion U.S. Loan to Restart Nuclear Plant That Could Power Google Data Centers

NextEra Energy secured a $1.9 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to finance the rehabilitation of the Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa, targeting its restart in 2029. The financing comes amid a race among technology companies to secure stable, low-emissions electricity for expanding artificial intelligence data centers.

2026-09-08

Energy and Green Technologies

Google and Cathay Pacific Test the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Avoid Contrails in the Asia-Pacific Region

Google and Cathay Pacific have begun an expanded trial using artificial intelligence to adjust aircraft altitudes and avoid areas where long-lived contrails form. Google says more than 80 test flights achieved an estimated 40% reduction in the warming impact of these contrails, while verification continues of whether the approach can be applied on a broader operational scale.

2026-09-07

Energy and Green Technologies

Hydrogen Trucks Face a Crucial European Test Led by Germany

Toyota and several industrial and energy companies are preparing to announce a new collaboration in Germany aimed at building a hydrogen ecosystem for heavy-duty trucks, as green ammonia import projects and vehicle trials expand in Europe and North America. However, the collaboration’s operational and economic details remain undisclosed, while battery-electric trucks remain a leading competitor.

2026-09-07

Energy and Green Technologies

From Electric Cars to Garden Robots: Multiple Paths to Sustainability at IFA Berlin

A report from IFA Berlin explores a diverse range of sustainability technologies, including Xiaomi electric cars, building panels made from coconut waste, garden-care robots, and energy-storage systems. The key takeaway is that the adoption of green technologies depends not only on reducing emissions, but also on meeting users’ needs for convenience, cost, and safety.

2026-09-05

Energy and Green Technologies

Solar and Storage Are Changing the Texas Power Grid Reliability Equation

An analysis based on ERCOT data and Heatmap News coverage indicates that the growth of solar power and battery storage helped Texas get through the hot summer of 2026 without issuing calls for conservation. The article also highlights the expansion of virtual power plant models and Octopus Energy’s investment in Uplight to support distributed energy resource management.

2026-09-05

Energy and Green Technologies

Hydrogen Learning Curves May Count the Wrong Doublings

Recent study and analysis show that the decline in the cost of hydrogen projects cannot be estimated solely on the basis of doubling the installed capacity of electrolyzers. Growth may result from increasing stack and plant sizes, while a large share of the cost remains outside the stack itself, in equipment, engineering, construction, and electrical systems.

2026-09-05

Energy and Green Technologies

New Tests of Donut Lab’s Solid-State Battery Record 409 Wh/kg

Donut Lab says new tests support its battery being solid-state and bipolar, with an energy density of 409 Wh/kg and 804 Wh/L. However, cycle life and performance at −30°C remain among the key claims unsupported by published data in the material.

2026-09-04

Energy and Green Technologies

Environmental Organizations Join Lawsuit Against Project to Convert Scattergood Plant to Hydrogen Operation

Three environmental organizations have joined a lawsuit accusing the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power of failing to comply with California environmental law when approving the conversion of the Scattergood gas plant to burn a blend of hydrogen and methane. The move follows the Los Angeles City Council’s rejection of an appeal against project approval on August 4, 2026, paving the way for litigation proceedings to resume in September.

2026-09-03

Energy and Green Technologies

Equinor commissions its largest battery project in the United States with a capacity of 100 megawatts

The Citrus Flatts Energy Center in South Texas has begun commercial operations, adding 100 megawatts of capacity and 200 megawatt-hours of storage capacity to the ERCOT grid. The project will operate under a commercial model based on purchasing and storing electricity, then selling it and providing grid services.

2026-09-03

Energy and Green Technologies

Realta Fusion Agrees with U.S. Utility to Explore 200-Megawatt Fusion Plant

Realta Fusion announced a partnership with Madison Gas and Electric to explore building a nuclear fusion power plant in Wisconsin in the mid-2030s, as utilities race to secure stable electricity sources to meet growing demand, including demand from artificial intelligence data centers.

2026-09-03

Energy and Green Technologies

PacWave South Wave Energy Testing Facility Opens off the Oregon Coast

The U.S. Department of Energy has opened PacWave South, the first open-water, grid-connected testing site dedicated to wave energy devices off the coast of Oregon. The site aims to reduce the cost and complexity of testing and accelerate the development of marine technologies that still face a shortage of real-world data.

2026-09-03

Energy and Green Technologies

Nine U.S. States Pave the Way for the Spread of Plug-In Solar Power Systems

Nine U.S. states have passed legislation making it easier to use plug-in solar power kits, opening a new market for renters and residents of multifamily buildings. Adoption remains tied to electrical safety, the positions of landlords and utilities, and the availability of equipment with reliable certification.

2026-09-02