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Will the future’s super batteries be made of seawater?

We all know the rechargeable and efficient lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries sitting in our smartphones, laptops and also in electric cars. Unfortunately, lithium is a limited resource, so it will be a challenge to satisfy the worlds’ growing demand for relatively cheap batteries. Therefore, researchers are now looking for alternatives to the Li-ion battery. A […]

Less may be more in next-gen batteries

The process of developing better rechargeable batteries may be cloudy, but there’s an alumina lining. A slim layer of the metal oxide applied to common cathodes by engineers at Rice University’s Brown School of Engineering revealed new phenomena that could lead to batteries that are better geared toward electric cars and more robust off-grid energy […]

Zimbabwe set for real solar growth

The government has decided to implement a proper independent power producer development plan for large scale PV, with the help of the World Bank. January 24, 2020Emiliano Bellini The authorities in Harare are seeking consultants for a planned approach to clean energy deployment. Image: damien_farrell/Flickr The World Bank is helping the Zimbabwean government introduce a […]

Watch how to improve perovskite solar cells in 2D!

Saudi researchers claim to have improved the thermal stability and moisture resistance of such devices by replacing 3D hybrid perovskite with two-dimensional compounds. They used organic compound ethanolamine, which is said to provide better results in slowing down the hot-carrier cooling process. January 24, 2020Emiliano Bellini The researchers have claimed another advance in shoring up […]

New York is kicking California’s butt in building electrification

This article is adapted from GreenBiz’s newsletter Energy Weekly, running Thursdays. Subscribe here. Two states on opposite sides of the nation have come to the same conclusion: They cannot meet their ambitious climate goals without electrifying buildings. New York and California are often jockeying to be seen as leaders in the clean economy. Last week, […]

How companies can source nylon more sustainably

In conjunction with the release of the Textile Exchange 2019 Material Change Index, GreenBiz has partnered with Textile Exchange to publish actionable insights for apparel and textile companies looking to source raw materials more sustainably. The entire series may be found here. Nylon was the first fabric made entirely in a laboratory. A synthetic material derived […]

Dear David Attenborough: The bears are at the door

Funny scene from a movie whose name I have long since forgotten: The Saturn V rocket is about to lift off, taking three astronauts to the moon. The NASA announcer does the 10-nine-eight countdown and says, “Blast off!” Nothing happens. The massive crowd gathered to watch the rocket shouts at the rocket with one voice, “Blast […]

How can large asset owners make the most of nontraditional risks?

Asset owners and investment managers pursuing sustainable capital growth face a new world of risk. The challenges, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s most recent Global Risks Report, don’t fit within conventional investment theory. They are nontraditional, from the physical and economic impact of climate change to the unknown path of future technology. Then […]

I Think People Are Misunderstanding Why Tesla [TSLA] Is Valued So Highly

January 23rd, 2020 by Zachary Shahan I love looking at auto sales charts — and creating them — and we do so somewhat obsessively as it concerns electric vehicles and Tesla. From a static point of view today, looking at Tesla’s global sales versus the global sales of Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz (let along Volkswagen […]

Sungrow Crabby With Researcher Over Inverter Security Vulnerability Disclosure

A Brisbane researcher has alleged serious security vulnerabilities in a Sungrow inverter. Sungrow are not happy with him. A few months after I wrote about security in the home renewables space, a Brisbane engineer bought a Sungrow SH5k-20 inverter, decided to “poke around”, and claims to have turned up a crop of serious security vulnerabilities. […]