RWE Ditches U.S. Offshore Wind, and That Should Scare Everyone
(oilprice.com)
Germany's RWE just pulled the plug on its U.S. offshore wind business.
Germany's RWE just pulled the plug on its U.S. offshore wind business.
Scientists Develop Artificial Leaf, Uses Sunlight to Produce Valuable Chemicals
(newscenter.lbl.gov)
Researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) along with international collaborators have brought us one step closer to harnessing the sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuel and other valuable chemicals.
Researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) along with international collaborators have brought us one step closer to harnessing the sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuel and other valuable chemicals.
The United States operates the largest nuclear power plant fleet
(eia.gov)
In 2024, U.S. utilities operated 94 nuclear reactors with a total net generating capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts (GW), the largest commercial nuclear power generation fleet in the world.
In 2024, U.S. utilities operated 94 nuclear reactors with a total net generating capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts (GW), the largest commercial nuclear power generation fleet in the world.
Oregon house votes to protect consumers from data center power costs
(oregonlive.com)
The Oregon House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to shield residential ratepayers and small businesses from the costs of providing electricity to large data centers.
The Oregon House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to shield residential ratepayers and small businesses from the costs of providing electricity to large data centers.
Fossil fuels fall below 50% of US electricity for the first month on record
(ember-energy.org)
Washington DC, April 4th – The US hit a new record low for fossil fuels in the electricity mix last month as solar and wind reached a record high, according to new data from global energy think tank Ember.
Washington DC, April 4th – The US hit a new record low for fossil fuels in the electricity mix last month as solar and wind reached a record high, according to new data from global energy think tank Ember.
China's Coal Generation Dropped 5% YoY in Q1 as Electricity Demand Increased
(cleantechnica.com)
China’s coal-fired electricity generation took an unexpectedly sharp turn downward in the first quarter of 2025, signaling a potentially profound shift in the world’s largest coal-consuming economy.
China’s coal-fired electricity generation took an unexpectedly sharp turn downward in the first quarter of 2025, signaling a potentially profound shift in the world’s largest coal-consuming economy.
U.S. Gas Exports to China Stopped After Beijing Imposed Tariffs
(nytimes.com)
China has stopped buying liquefied natural gas from the United States after imposing a 15 percent tariff on these shipments on Feb. 10, ship tracking data shows, in the latest sign that Beijing continues to decouple from the U.S. economy.
China has stopped buying liquefied natural gas from the United States after imposing a 15 percent tariff on these shipments on Feb. 10, ship tracking data shows, in the latest sign that Beijing continues to decouple from the U.S. economy.
Electric Propulsion's Dirty Secret: Why Lithium Can't Fly (Or Float) Profitably
(kumarletter.com)
Lithium propulsion for aircraft and boats is fundamentally unprofitable across the entire U.S. grid. The numbers don't lie: 60× worse energy density than jet fuel, 3.3× higher operating costs, 22% reduced asset utilization, and payback periods that consume 2/3 of the asset's lifespan. Anyone claiming otherwise is ignoring basic physics or hiding most of the energy and economic costs.
Lithium propulsion for aircraft and boats is fundamentally unprofitable across the entire U.S. grid. The numbers don't lie: 60× worse energy density than jet fuel, 3.3× higher operating costs, 22% reduced asset utilization, and payback periods that consume 2/3 of the asset's lifespan. Anyone claiming otherwise is ignoring basic physics or hiding most of the energy and economic costs.
Four charts sum up the state of AI and energy
(technologyreview.com)
While it’s rare to look at the news without finding some headline related to AI and energy, a lot of us are stuck waving our hands when it comes to what it all means.
While it’s rare to look at the news without finding some headline related to AI and energy, a lot of us are stuck waving our hands when it comes to what it all means.
Interior orders offshore wind project halted as Trump seeks 'no windmills'
(thehill.com)
The Interior Department is halting an offshore wind project approved by the Biden administration as President Trump has called for “a policy where no windmills are being built.”
The Interior Department is halting an offshore wind project approved by the Biden administration as President Trump has called for “a policy where no windmills are being built.”
Trump admin halts $5B NY offshore wind project mid-build
(electrek.co)
In its most aggressive attack against offshore wind yet, the Trump administration halted the $5 billion Empire Wind 1, already under construction off New York’s coast.
In its most aggressive attack against offshore wind yet, the Trump administration halted the $5 billion Empire Wind 1, already under construction off New York’s coast.
Hydrogen vs. Battery Buses: A European Transit Reality Check
(cleantechnica.com)
Two more hydrogen bus trial failures crossed my screen this morning, so I thought I’d share. Both are in Europe, but while one is in the capital of the EU, the other is across the Channel in the heart of the United Kingdom’s oil and gas industry. While I’m at it, I’ll provide a rundown on where all of the EU’s funding has gone, and what the constant refrains are.
Two more hydrogen bus trial failures crossed my screen this morning, so I thought I’d share. Both are in Europe, but while one is in the capital of the EU, the other is across the Channel in the heart of the United Kingdom’s oil and gas industry. While I’m at it, I’ll provide a rundown on where all of the EU’s funding has gone, and what the constant refrains are.
Advantages and Challenges of Nuclear-Powered Data Centers
(energy.gov)
Nuclear power has the potential to be a great partner for data centers but there are some hurdles to clear.
Nuclear power has the potential to be a great partner for data centers but there are some hurdles to clear.
Will Peak Demand Roil Global Oil Markets?
(newyorkfed.org)
"Peak oil”—the notion that the depletion of accessible petroleum deposits would soon lead to declining global oil output and an upward trend in prices—was widely debated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Proponents of the peak supply thesis turned out to be wrong, given the introduction of fracking and other new extraction methods.
"Peak oil”—the notion that the depletion of accessible petroleum deposits would soon lead to declining global oil output and an upward trend in prices—was widely debated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Proponents of the peak supply thesis turned out to be wrong, given the introduction of fracking and other new extraction methods.
Global EV adoption fails to cut CO₂
(techxplore.com)
The transition to electric vehicles won't reduce carbon emissions unless countries clean up their electricity grids.
The transition to electric vehicles won't reduce carbon emissions unless countries clean up their electricity grids.
Information Converted to Energy (2010)
(physicsworld.com)
Physicists in Japan have shown experimentally that a particle can be made to do work simply by receiving information, rather than energy.
Physicists in Japan have shown experimentally that a particle can be made to do work simply by receiving information, rather than energy.
Scores of Coal-Fired Power Plants Exempted from Rules by Trump
(bloomberg.com)
The dirtiest coal-fired power plant in the US and dozens of others are being exempted from stringent air pollution mandates as part of US President Donald Trump’s bid to revitalize the industry.
The dirtiest coal-fired power plant in the US and dozens of others are being exempted from stringent air pollution mandates as part of US President Donald Trump’s bid to revitalize the industry.
The Solid-State Shift: Reinventing the Transformer for Modern Grids
(powermag.com)
Transformers have been the backbone of power grids for over a century, but today’s demands for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and smarter grids are exposing their limits.
Transformers have been the backbone of power grids for over a century, but today’s demands for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and smarter grids are exposing their limits.
DOE withdraws, postpones multiple appliance energy efficiency rules
(utilitydive.com)
The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday announced it would withdraw four appliance efficiency standards and officially postpone the effective dates for three other rules, continuing the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency’s appliance efficiency program.
The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday announced it would withdraw four appliance efficiency standards and officially postpone the effective dates for three other rules, continuing the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency’s appliance efficiency program.
Data centres will use twice as much energy by 2030 – driven by AI
(nature.com)
The electricity consumption of data centres is projected to more than double by 2030, according to a report from the International Energy Agency published today. The primary culprit? Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The electricity consumption of data centres is projected to more than double by 2030, according to a report from the International Energy Agency published today. The primary culprit? Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Trump attempts to Reinvigorate America's Coal Industry to power AI data centers
(whitehouse.gov)
In order to secure America’s economic prosperity and national security, lower the cost of living, and provide for increases in electrical demand from emerging technologies, we must increase domestic energy production, including coal.
In order to secure America’s economic prosperity and national security, lower the cost of living, and provide for increases in electrical demand from emerging technologies, we must increase domestic energy production, including coal.
Trump says EU must buy $350B of US energy to get tariff relief
(politico.eu)
The European Union will have to commit to buying $350 billion of American energy to get a reprieve from Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, the U.S. president said late Monday, dismissing Brussels' offer of "zero-for-zero" tariffs on cars and industrial goods.
The European Union will have to commit to buying $350 billion of American energy to get a reprieve from Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, the U.S. president said late Monday, dismissing Brussels' offer of "zero-for-zero" tariffs on cars and industrial goods.
Trump to Sign Order Aimed at Reviving a Struggling Coal Industry
(nytimes.com)
President Trump plans to sign an executive order Tuesday aimed at expanding the mining and use of coal in the United States, in an effort to revive the struggling industry.
President Trump plans to sign an executive order Tuesday aimed at expanding the mining and use of coal in the United States, in an effort to revive the struggling industry.
Coal is dead and Trump's executive order won't revive it – Electrek
(electrek.co)
Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders today to resuscitate the US coal industry – here’s why this is a complete waste of time.
Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders today to resuscitate the US coal industry – here’s why this is a complete waste of time.
'Unstoppable force' of solar power propels world to 40% clean electricity
(news.sky.com)
Clean power provided 40% of the world's electricity last year for the first time since the 1940s, new figures show.
Clean power provided 40% of the world's electricity last year for the first time since the 1940s, new figures show.
Clean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024, report finds
(theguardian.com)
The world used clean power sources to meet more than 40% of its electricity demand last year for the first time since the 1940s, figures show.
The world used clean power sources to meet more than 40% of its electricity demand last year for the first time since the 1940s, figures show.
We should talk more about air-conditioning
(technologyreview.com)
Forget data centers—cooling is the real beast in energy demand.
Forget data centers—cooling is the real beast in energy demand.
Texas Attempt to Kickstart New Gas-Fired Power Is Stumbling
(bloomberg.com)
A Texas experiment to fund new natural gas-burning power plants with $5 billion in public loans is faltering as several of the proposed facilities drop out, threatening the state’s efforts to meet growing electricity demand.
A Texas experiment to fund new natural gas-burning power plants with $5 billion in public loans is faltering as several of the proposed facilities drop out, threatening the state’s efforts to meet growing electricity demand.