Renewables

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

Latest in Renewables

Airport with green and solar roof.

Environment

Rethinking our roofs, parking lots, and sidewalks could save money and lives Rethinking our roofs, parking lots, and sidewalks could save money and lives

By Angely Mercado

Testing the Goods: Horizon MiniPak Portable Fuel Cell Charger

Environment

Testing the Goods: Horizon MiniPak Portable Fuel Cell Charger Testing the Goods: Horizon MiniPak Portable Fuel Cell Charger

By Sarah Parsons

The Last Drops: How to Bridge the Gap Between Oil and Green Energy

Environment

The Last Drops: How to Bridge the Gap Between Oil and Green Energy The Last Drops: How to Bridge the Gap Between Oil and Green Energy

By Paul Roberts

4 New Technologies That Will Carry The Weight Of War

Technology

4 New Technologies That Will Carry The Weight Of War 4 New Technologies That Will Carry The Weight Of War

rooftop solar panel on house

Environment

Power companies are lobbying to make rooftop solar more expensive Power companies are lobbying to make rooftop solar more expensive

Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms

Environment

Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms

By Angely Mercado

Environment

A Bright Solar Future Will Be Flawed and Imperfect A Bright Solar Future Will Be Flawed and Imperfect

By Jeremy Deaton

5 Questions You Should Have About Elon Musk’s New Solar Roofs

Environment

5 Questions You Should Have About Elon Musk’s New Solar Roofs 5 Questions You Should Have About Elon Musk’s New Solar Roofs

By Mary Beth Griggs

solar panel factory on the moon

Environment

Solar Panels Grown On The Moon Could Power The Earth Solar Panels Grown On The Moon Could Power The Earth

The inside of a backpack that's also a DIY WiFi hotspot.

Environment

Be your own hotspot Be your own hotspot

By Mike Outmesguine

We’re doing a great job of creating renewable energy—but we don’t have the infrastructure to actually use it

Environment

We’re doing a great job of creating renewable energy—but we don’t have the infrastructure to actually use it We’re doing a great job of creating renewable energy—but we don’t have the infrastructure to actually use it

rows of offshore wind turbines

Environment

Offshore wind has huge potential. Here’s how it could change the US. Offshore wind has huge potential. Here’s how it could change the US.

This century-old technology could be the key to unlocking America’s renewable energy future

Environment

This century-old technology could be the key to unlocking America’s renewable energy future This century-old technology could be the key to unlocking America’s renewable energy future

By James Dinneen

Construction workers install solar panles.

Environment

How Biden’s jobs plan will be put to work for the environment How Biden’s jobs plan will be put to work for the environment

A conceptual solar canal.

Environment

Solar panels and water canals could form a real power couple in California Solar panels and water canals could form a real power couple in California

By Shaena Montanari

investigator examines Reactor Unit 3 at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant

Environment

10 years after Fukushima, outdated nuclear power plants are still the norm 10 years after Fukushima, outdated nuclear power plants are still the norm

By Kurokawa & Meshkati/The Conversation

Electricity lines over a deep, gloomy forest with gas rising.

Environment

4 sustainability experts on how they’d spend Elon Musk’s $100 million climate commitment 4 sustainability experts on how they’d spend Elon Musk’s $100 million climate commitment

By Sara Kiley Watson

Health

The pandemic could end Texas’s oil boom—and start something better The pandemic could end Texas’s oil boom—and start something better

By Justin Miller/Texas Observer

A solar installer

Environment

California shut off power grids this week, but not because of clean energy California shut off power grids this week, but not because of clean energy

By Jeremy Deaton/Nexus Media

a graphic illustration of green wires

Environment

This new device seems to pull electricity out of thin air This new device seems to pull electricity out of thin air

Switching to renewable energy is actually cost-effective

Environment

Switching to renewable energy is actually cost-effective Switching to renewable energy is actually cost-effective

Does Hyundai’s rooftop solar panel change the fuel-economy equation?

Technology

Does Hyundai’s rooftop solar panel change the fuel-economy equation? Does Hyundai’s rooftop solar panel change the fuel-economy equation?

Wind turbines do not cause cancer

Environment

Wind turbines do not cause cancer Wind turbines do not cause cancer

By Kaitlin Sullivan

Environment

The Green New Deal is more feasible than you think The Green New Deal is more feasible than you think

Loblolly pine trees in North Carolina

Environment

Tree resin could replace fossil fuels in everything from printer ink to shoe polish Tree resin could replace fossil fuels in everything from printer ink to shoe polish

By Marlene Cimons

Cloudy solar panels smog energy

Environment

Air pollution is choking solar energy around the world Air pollution is choking solar energy around the world

By Katarina Zimmer

a cracked phone screen

Environment

Your future smartphone could fix its broken screen by pulling carbon from the air Your future smartphone could fix its broken screen by pulling carbon from the air

By Marlene Cimons

Scientists want to put ‘speed bumps’ in hurricane alley to slow down storms

Environment

Scientists want to put ‘speed bumps’ in hurricane alley to slow down storms Scientists want to put ‘speed bumps’ in hurricane alley to slow down storms

By Marlene Cimons

This machine could turn your power walking into usable energy

Environment

This machine could turn your power walking into usable energy This machine could turn your power walking into usable energy

By Marlene Cimons

California is set to go carbon-free by 2045

Environment

California is set to go carbon-free by 2045 California is set to go carbon-free by 2045

Adding clean energy to the Sahara could make it rain (and not just figuratively)

Environment

Adding clean energy to the Sahara could make it rain (and not just figuratively) Adding clean energy to the Sahara could make it rain (and not just figuratively)

By Mary Beth Griggs

This bacteria could boost solar panels on cloudy days

Environment

This bacteria could boost solar panels on cloudy days This bacteria could boost solar panels on cloudy days

By Marlene Cimons

If we’re going to capture our carbon emissions, we might as well put them to use

Environment

If we’re going to capture our carbon emissions, we might as well put them to use If we’re going to capture our carbon emissions, we might as well put them to use

By Marlene Cimons

Environment

With wind farms, bias is in the eye of the beholder With wind farms, bias is in the eye of the beholder

By Jeremy Deaton and Owen Agnew

Compact fiber-optic hubs

Environment

In photos: updating New York’s vast and fragile telecom backbone In photos: updating New York’s vast and fragile telecom backbone

By Corinne Iozzio

Nuclear reactors the size of wastebaskets could power our Martian settlements

Science

Nuclear reactors the size of wastebaskets could power our Martian settlements Nuclear reactors the size of wastebaskets could power our Martian settlements

By Mary Beth Griggs

Can we actually stop using fossil fuels?

Environment

Can we actually stop using fossil fuels? Can we actually stop using fossil fuels?

By Leslie Kaufman

Tesla actually built the world’s biggest battery. Here’s how it works.

Environment

Tesla actually built the world’s biggest battery. Here’s how it works. Tesla actually built the world’s biggest battery. Here’s how it works.

Scientists use light to purge defects from solar cells

Environment

Scientists use light to purge defects from solar cells Scientists use light to purge defects from solar cells

By Jeremy Deaton

Almost every country in the world can power itself with renewable energy

Environment

Almost every country in the world can power itself with renewable energy Almost every country in the world can power itself with renewable energy

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

A border wall made of solar panels wouldn’t actually be good for the environment

Environment

A border wall made of solar panels wouldn’t actually be good for the environment A border wall made of solar panels wouldn’t actually be good for the environment

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Desert critters avoid noisy wind farm turbines

Environment

Desert critters avoid noisy wind farm turbines Desert critters avoid noisy wind farm turbines

By Mark D. Kaufman

A Tesla charging station

Technology

The worst thing about electric cars might not be an issue for much longer The worst thing about electric cars might not be an issue for much longer

By Marlene Cimons

Wyoming is basically trying to outlaw clean energy

Environment

Wyoming is basically trying to outlaw clean energy Wyoming is basically trying to outlaw clean energy

By Eleanor Cummins

How flushing your toilet could help create biofuel

Environment

How flushing your toilet could help create biofuel How flushing your toilet could help create biofuel

By Laura A. Shepard

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737

Environment

Alaska Airlines just flew across the country using wood chips Alaska Airlines just flew across the country using wood chips

By Knvul Sheikh

Solar-powered helicopter

Technology

Solar-Powered Helicopter Takes Flight Solar-Powered Helicopter Takes Flight

By Jeremy Deaton

Environment

The Future Of Energy Is Blowing In The Wind The Future Of Energy Is Blowing In The Wind

By Mary Beth Griggs

A Low-Tech Steam Machine Made Out Of Bubble Wrap And Foam

Environment

A Low-Tech Steam Machine Made Out Of Bubble Wrap And Foam A Low-Tech Steam Machine Made Out Of Bubble Wrap And Foam

By Mary Beth Griggs

Artificial Leaf Scrubs Carbon, Makes Fuel

Environment

Artificial Leaf Scrubs Carbon, Makes Fuel Artificial Leaf Scrubs Carbon, Makes Fuel

By Jeremy Deaton

A New Climate Change Documentary Focuses On Solutions, Not Doom

Environment

A New Climate Change Documentary Focuses On Solutions, Not Doom A New Climate Change Documentary Focuses On Solutions, Not Doom

By Grennan Milliken

How To Make An Ice Cube Into A Battery

Environment

How To Make An Ice Cube Into A Battery How To Make An Ice Cube Into A Battery

By Jeremy Deaton

Businesses Could Make Solar Panels And Electric Cars As Commonplace As Home Computers

Environment

Businesses Could Make Solar Panels And Electric Cars As Commonplace As Home Computers Businesses Could Make Solar Panels And Electric Cars As Commonplace As Home Computers

By Jeremy Deaton

How Algae Can Fuel Planes, Feed Livestock And Fight Climate Change

Environment

How Algae Can Fuel Planes, Feed Livestock And Fight Climate Change How Algae Can Fuel Planes, Feed Livestock And Fight Climate Change

By Jeremy Deaton

A New Solar Cell Converts The Sun’s Heat Into Usable Energy

Environment

A New Solar Cell Converts The Sun’s Heat Into Usable Energy A New Solar Cell Converts The Sun’s Heat Into Usable Energy

By Mary Beth Griggs

World’s Largest Solar Plant Catches Fire

Environment

World’s Largest Solar Plant Catches Fire World’s Largest Solar Plant Catches Fire

By Lindsey Kratochwill

Floating Solar Panels May Be Coming To A Reservoir Near You

Environment

Floating Solar Panels May Be Coming To A Reservoir Near You Floating Solar Panels May Be Coming To A Reservoir Near You

By Kate Baggaley

Rooftop Solar Panels Could Power Nearly 40 Percent Of The U.S.

Environment

Rooftop Solar Panels Could Power Nearly 40 Percent Of The U.S. Rooftop Solar Panels Could Power Nearly 40 Percent Of The U.S.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Solar Cells So Thin They Could Blow Away

Environment

Solar Cells So Thin They Could Blow Away Solar Cells So Thin They Could Blow Away

By Lindsey Kratochwill

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Solar Panel

Environment

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Solar Panel Turn Your Smartphone Into A Solar Panel

From Our Archives: How To Stash Sunlight

Environment

From Our Archives: How To Stash Sunlight From Our Archives: How To Stash Sunlight

Peter Thiel Goes Nuclear

Environment

Peter Thiel Goes Nuclear Peter Thiel Goes Nuclear

Ocean Engineering Facility

Environment

High-Tech Wavepool Simulates The Worst Ocean Waves High-Tech Wavepool Simulates The Worst Ocean Waves

By Mary Beth Griggs

How To Build A House That Saves The Earth And Your Wallet

Environment

How To Build A House That Saves The Earth And Your Wallet How To Build A House That Saves The Earth And Your Wallet

By Sarah Scoles