A cross section of the ITER tokamak showing the interior walls lined with tungstenITER OrganizationBreakthrough in Fusion Reactor: Preventing Tungsten InterferenceIn an effort to improve the tokamak fusion reactor known as ITER, researchers have discovered a way to prevent rogue tungsten atoms from breaking off the walls and interfering with the plasma. This breakthrough...
The eVinci microreactorWestinghouseWestinghouse Electric Company is pushing forward with its groundbreaking eVinci nuclear microreactor. Drawing on space nuclear technology, this compact reactor has no moving parts and can be easily replaced for refueling, similar to swapping out a used gas cylinder.As concerns about climate change grow, nuclear energy is making a comeback. Its zero-emission...
In Ultrasonic Joining, two materials like wood and metal are joined by heat produced from the friction of sound wavesWolf/TU GrazNew Bonding Techniques Revolutionize ManufacturingManufacturing could undergo a major transformation thanks to two new techniques developed by scientists in Austria to bond materials in an extremely strong way, eliminating the need for environmentally harmful...
One of three Windfloat Atlantic off-shore floating platformsWindplusThe WindFloat Atlantic project, the first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm with just three turbines off Portugal's coast, has surpassed expectations in its four years of operation. It has generated 320 GWh of electricity, enough to power around 25,000 homes annually.Connected to the grid and operational since...
Mingyang's enormous 20-MW offshore wind turbineMingyang Smart EnergyMingyang Smart Energy announced last week that it has installed "the world’s largest single-capacity offshore wind turbine" in a project in Hainan, China. This turbine generates up to 20 MW, surpassing the company’s earlier 18 MW model from 2023.Mingyang describes the MySE18.X-20MW turbine as lightweight, modular, and...
OceanX under towMingyangThe largest single-capacity floating wind platform in the world has begun its voyage, with the builder releasing images of the operation. Mingyang's OceanX is set to cover 191 nautical miles (220 miles, 354 kilometers) over the next three days to reach its final offshore location."When we first covered Mingyang’s OceanX, its dual-rotor...
The 18650-format potassium-ion battery was launched at the 14th annual Beyond Lithium Conference at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in TennesseeGroup1Most portable electronics and the latest electric vehicles rely on lithium batteries. Texas-based startup Group1 has introduced a more sustainable option with the world’s first 18650 potassium-ion battery.Group1, established in 2021 by experienced battery...
Credit: PixabayFunding Secured for Ambitious Space-Based Energy GridStar Catcher Industries has secured US$12.25 million in seed funding for its ambitious plan to build the world’s first "space-based energy grid." The idea is that a network of satellites would gather energy from the Sun and beam it at high concentrations to other satellites in orbit.Collecting...
MIT researchers Aly Kombargi (left) and Niko Tsakiris (right) with their new hydrogen reactorTony PulsoneMIT scientists have found an intriguing new method to produce hydrogen fuel using soda cans, seawater, and coffee grounds. They believe this chemical reaction could power engines or fuel cells in marine vehicles that use seawater.Hydrogen plays a crucial role...
A graphic overview of the ambitious AAPowerLink project, which is expected to supply its first clean power in the early 2030sSunCableGovernment officials have granted crucial approval to the world's largest renewable energy and transmission initiative. Spearheaded by SunCable, the AAPowerLink project involves constructing a massive solar farm in Australia's Northern Territory.This endeavor aims...
