Renewables(Page 3)

The latest on the energy sources that keep on giving, from solar power to wind farms.

Latest in Renewables

Mars Curiosity Rover selfie photo on Martian surface

The wind on Mars may be a viable power source after all The wind on Mars may be a viable power source after all

Rendering of Redwood Materials' electric vehicle battery recycling campus in South Carolina

A new battery recycling plant could power 1 million EVs per year A new battery recycling plant could power 1 million EVs per year

Sediment running into a river in Alabama from a solar farm construction site. Aerial view.

The hard truth of building clean solar farms The hard truth of building clean solar farms

Erthos in-ground solar panel farm array surrounded by fence

Solar energy company wants to bolt panels directly into the ground Solar energy company wants to bolt panels directly into the ground

NASA Orion spacecraft with unfolded solar panels on wings as it circles the moon. The Earth is far off in the background.

Artemis I’s solar panels harvested a lot more energy than expected Artemis I’s solar panels harvested a lot more energy than expected

By Briley Lewis

Researcher in protective suit, gloves, and hairnet holding up ultrathin solar panel

These powerful solar panels are as thin as a human hair These powerful solar panels are as thin as a human hair

The hai smart Bluetooth showerhead next to text that says "Best of What's New, 2022, Home."

The best home innovations of 2022 The best home innovations of 2022

By John Kennedy, Terri Williams

Energy-efficient heat pumps will be required for all new homes in Washington

Energy-efficient heat pumps will be required for all new homes in Washington Energy-efficient heat pumps will be required for all new homes in Washington

By Carla Delgado

Solaris Float Proteus floating solar panel array on body of water

This new floating solar farm follows the sun like a flower This new floating solar farm follows the sun like a flower

What new mining projects could mean for Alaskan salmon

What new mining projects could mean for Alaskan salmon What new mining projects could mean for Alaskan salmon

By Becki Robins / Undark

Global carbon emissions will peak in 2025, international agency estimates Global carbon emissions will peak in 2025, international agency estimates

By Laura Baisas

Close up of solar panel in green field at sunrise

Global CO2 emissions grew by less than a percent this year thanks to renewables Global CO2 emissions grew by less than a percent this year thanks to renewables

Caltech solar power satellite prototype on space station table with earth horizon in window background

This space-adapted solar panel can fold like origami This space-adapted solar panel can fold like origami

brilliant-10-2022

The Brilliant 10: The top up-and-coming minds in science The Brilliant 10: The top up-and-coming minds in science

By Mara Grunbaum, Yasmin Tayag

Woman sitting down on couch charging smartphone

A new experimental fabric can turn a coat into a mini solar farm A new experimental fabric can turn a coat into a mini solar farm

Siemens Gamesa wind turbine against blue sky backdrop

A wind turbine just smashed a global energy record—and it’s recyclable A wind turbine just smashed a global energy record—and it’s recyclable

Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility

The US’s first utility-scale renewable energy triple threat is online in Oregon The US’s first utility-scale renewable energy triple threat is online in Oregon

By Sara Kiley Watson

Even mining in shallow waters is bad news for the environment

Even mining in shallow waters is bad news for the environment Even mining in shallow waters is bad news for the environment

By Carla Delgado

New cars sold in New York state must be zero-emissions by 2035

New cars sold in New York state must be zero-emissions by 2035 New cars sold in New York state must be zero-emissions by 2035

By Laura Baisas

Industry factory against cloudy sky

Scientists think we can get 90 percent clean energy by 2035 Scientists think we can get 90 percent clean energy by 2035

A century ago, wind power was a farming norm. What happened?

A century ago, wind power was a farming norm. What happened? A century ago, wind power was a farming norm. What happened?

By Hal Harvey & Justin Gillis

Biofuel is a ‘renewable’ resource, but climate change could soon limit its potential

Biofuel is a ‘renewable’ resource, but climate change could soon limit its potential Biofuel is a ‘renewable’ resource, but climate change could soon limit its potential

By Carla Delgado

Solar PV panel up close.

Are solar panels headed for space? Are solar panels headed for space?

Close up of electric vehicle charger plugged into electric car

New ‘super-fast’ method can shave EV battery charging down to minutes New ‘super-fast’ method can shave EV battery charging down to minutes

Everything you need to know about EV tax credits and the Inflation Reduction Act

Everything you need to know about EV tax credits and the Inflation Reduction Act Everything you need to know about EV tax credits and the Inflation Reduction Act

House with solar panels on roof.

How can electrified buildings handle energy peaks? How can electrified buildings handle energy peaks?

By Carla Delgado

In the ceramic box atop a solar tower, a chemical reaction takes place that makes jet fuel.

This solar tower makes jet fuel from sunbeams, water, and gas This solar tower makes jet fuel from sunbeams, water, and gas

The world’s largest hybrid ship will set sail in 2024 The world’s largest hybrid ship will set sail in 2024

By Colleen Hagerty

Offshore wind turbine against cloudy sky

Offshore wind has been slow to take off in the US. Here’s what could change that. Offshore wind has been slow to take off in the US. Here’s what could change that.

Tidal turbine against cloudy sky.

Tidal turbines put a new spin on the power of the ocean Tidal turbines put a new spin on the power of the ocean

By Sara Kiley Watson

Outdoor unit of heat pump

Two new bills could help pump up a climate-friendly system for heating and cooling homes Two new bills could help pump up a climate-friendly system for heating and cooling homes

By Sara Kiley Watson

Red and blue states race to become hydrogen energy hubs

Red and blue states race to become hydrogen energy hubs Red and blue states race to become hydrogen energy hubs

Wind turbines along desert road.

Low-carbon energy minimizes racial disparities in neighborhoods with air pollution Low-carbon energy minimizes racial disparities in neighborhoods with air pollution

By Carla Delgado

Images from the March 1954 issue of Popular Science.

From the archives: The promising new world of solar power—in the 1950s From the archives: The promising new world of solar power—in the 1950s

By Bill Gourgey

Wind turbines in the ocean to hint what the New York Bight offshore wind farm might look like

The NY Bight could write the book on how we build offshore wind farms in the future The NY Bight could write the book on how we build offshore wind farms in the future

Grass field with homes and wind turbines in the background.

Why ‘rooftop wind’ simply can’t compete with rooftop solar Why ‘rooftop wind’ simply can’t compete with rooftop solar

Glen Canyon dam and Arizona bridge.

Lake Powell’s drought is part of a growing threat to hydropower everywhere Lake Powell’s drought is part of a growing threat to hydropower everywhere

By Sara Kiley Watson

Small brown-black migratory bat help in a person's hand with head facing camera

This itty bitty bat flew across two continents at record speed This itty bitty bat flew across two continents at record speed

Solar panels on a home's roof at sunrise.

Outdated zoning laws are holding renewable energy back Outdated zoning laws are holding renewable energy back

Car owners: here’s when experts say you should switch to an EV

Car owners: here’s when experts say you should switch to an EV Car owners: here’s when experts say you should switch to an EV

Man installing rooftop solar panel.

Ever heard of a microgrid? Here’s why you should start one. Ever heard of a microgrid? Here’s why you should start one.

City bike leaning up against lightpost.

A new climate report finally highlights the importance of our decisions A new climate report finally highlights the importance of our decisions

By Sara Kiley Watson

a residential home with solar panels on the roof

What you need to know about converting your home to solar What you need to know about converting your home to solar

By Whitson Gordon

A small, portable solar panel for charging your devices.

Everything to consider before buying a portable solar panel Everything to consider before buying a portable solar panel

By Natalie Wallington

Rows of solar panels in the Chilean desert.

Dust-repellent solar panels could save billions of gallons of water Dust-repellent solar panels could save billions of gallons of water

By Anuradha Varanasi

Offshore wind farm with sunset and person on paddleboard.

Minimizing offshore wind’s impact on nature is tricky, but not impossible Minimizing offshore wind’s impact on nature is tricky, but not impossible

By Anuradha Varanasi

Smoke rising from Temelin Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic against the setting sun

The war in Ukraine puts new urgency behind Europe’s nuclear energy transition The war in Ukraine puts new urgency behind Europe’s nuclear energy transition

Solar panels on field.

Rusty metal could be the battery the energy grid needs Rusty metal could be the battery the energy grid needs

By Anuradha Varanasi

Oil rig at sunset

What the bans on Russian fossil fuels actually mean What the bans on Russian fossil fuels actually mean

By Sara Kiley Watson

Smoke stack releasing carbon emissions on a sunny horizon

Tech to capture and reuse carbon is on the rise. But can it help the world reach its climate goals? Tech to capture and reuse carbon is on the rise. But can it help the world reach its climate goals?

By Sara Kiley Watson

An Apple MacBook's lithium-ion battery.

We need safer ways to recycle electric car and cellphone batteries We need safer ways to recycle electric car and cellphone batteries

By Anuradha Varanasi

Belo Monte dam in the Amazon lowlands of Brazil

How AI could help bring a sustainable reckoning to hydropower How AI could help bring a sustainable reckoning to hydropower

By Anuradha Varanasi

Heron resting on floating solar panel.

Floating solar panels could be the next big thing in clean energy Floating solar panels could be the next big thing in clean energy

ET interior with superimposed plasma.

In 5 seconds, this fusion reactor made enough energy to power a home for a day In 5 seconds, this fusion reactor made enough energy to power a home for a day

By Sara Kiley Watson

Silhouette of hands during sunset.

Energy from nuclear fusion just got a little bit more feasible Energy from nuclear fusion just got a little bit more feasible

By Angely Mercado

Power lines across sunset and cloud-filled sky.

Utility companies could nix one-third of their emissions by 2050. Here’s how. Utility companies could nix one-third of their emissions by 2050. Here’s how.

By Angely Mercado

rows of offshore wind turbines

The US could reliably run on clean energy by 2050 The US could reliably run on clean energy by 2050

Wind farm along shorelines represent the US shift to clean energy through the CEPP

CEPP could boost the biggest climate policy in US history—if it survives the Senate CEPP could boost the biggest climate policy in US history—if it survives the Senate

By Sara Kiley Watson

solar panels against a blue sky

Solar power got cheap. So why aren’t we using it more? Solar power got cheap. So why aren’t we using it more?

The price of solar panels just went up—here’s what that means for you

The price of solar panels just went up—here’s what that means for you The price of solar panels just went up—here’s what that means for you

By Eleanor Cummins

A new program will incentivize utility companies to tap clean sources, and that’s not the only good news

A new program will incentivize utility companies to tap clean sources, and that’s not the only good news A new program will incentivize utility companies to tap clean sources, and that’s not the only good news

By Angely Mercado

Bulldozer in silica sand mining pit

Super hot sand could help us store renewable energy Super hot sand could help us store renewable energy

By Angely Mercado

transmission lines at sunset

Are mass power outages unavoidable after hurricanes? Are mass power outages unavoidable after hurricanes?

By Neel Dhanesha

ocean wave crashing

This yellow floatie can churn the power of the sea into electricity This yellow floatie can churn the power of the sea into electricity