In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Stuart Braun questions whether the technologies intended to solve one environmental crisis depend on chemicals that create another. As nations globally move to ban forever chemicals, should renewable energy technologies be exempt for the sake of saving the climate? Can we go green without forever chemicals? … Continue reading The ‘forever chemicals’ hidden in the clean energy transition
Category: batteries
Batteries: a threat to the grid or the key to its future?
On the Euronews website, Liam Gilliver discusses about a new report that claims that the battery boom could trigger power outages, but experts say the risk is ‘tiny’. Warnings about batteries causing blackouts are overstated, while batteries are becoming essential to making much larger amounts of wind and solar usable. Batteries can save Europe’s … Continue reading Batteries: a threat to the grid or the key to its future?
Energy storage: Europe’s missing link to energy security
In an article on the Oil Price website, Haley Zaremba discusses how energy storage is the missing link between Europe’s renewable-energy expansion and genuine energy security. EU Locks In Plan To Triple Energy Storage Capacity By 2030 The EU has agreed to nearly quadruple its energy storage capacity, from 55 GW today to a … Continue reading Energy storage: Europe’s missing link to energy security
Making solar power available on demand
In an article on The Conversation website, Vera Moerbeek, Doctorante en physique, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS); Université de Perpignan Via Domitia writes about the next generation of energy storage: thermal batteries using thermophotovoltaics (TPV) that could make solar power dispatchable without relying on lithium-ion batteries. What are your views? How next‑generation … Continue reading Making solar power available on demand
Electric vehicles: separating legitimate concerns from misinformation
Stuart Braun writes on the Deutsche Welle website about countering common myths about electric vehicles, especially around batteries, critical minerals, fires and supply chains, while putting these concerns into context. Claims that electric vehicle batteries are tainted by exploitative mineral supply chains are discrediting non-fossil cars as electrified road transport booms. Are electric car … Continue reading Electric vehicles: separating legitimate concerns from misinformation
How a sunburn inspired a breakthrough in energy storage
Stranger things have happened, no doubt. But a sunburn had that eureka moment. Chris Baraniuk writes on the BBC News website about the breakthrough in energy storage. How sunburn inspired a new way to store energy The sun does shine, sometimes, in Boston – but not like this. When chemistry professor Grace Han first … Continue reading How a sunburn inspired a breakthrough in energy storage
Energy in Demand News, May 10-11, 2026
It is encouraging that the OECD has published a Data Explainer that details the need for governments to step up policies promoting more efficient energy use. It focuses on 13 energy efficiency policies, including minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), public financing mechanisms for buildings and industry (e.g. green mortgages, vendor credits), fuel economy standards and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 10-11, 2026
Renewables can now deliver 24/7 power — and compete on cost
Craig Saueurs writes on the Euronews website about the mix of renewables and storage now challenges fossil fuels on price according to a new report from IRENA. Round-the-clock renewables: New report says clean energy now challenges fossil fuels on price The cost of battery storage has dropped more than 90 per cent since 2010, … Continue reading Renewables can now deliver 24/7 power — and compete on cost
Why batteries may save the world
Paul Krugman, an American economist who is the Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and in 2008 was sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to new trade theory and new economic geography, writes on Substack of the growing importance … Continue reading Why batteries may save the world
Energy transition: turning air conditioning units into home battery systems
Terry Slavin writes on the Reuters news website about how air conditioners can play a more positive role in our energy transition. How AC maker Carrier wants to turn air conditioners from energy hogs to grid assets Summary 40% of U.S. grid is reserved to meet heating and air conditioning peak demand By pairing … Continue reading Energy transition: turning air conditioning units into home battery systems
