Manufacturing

ChatGPT generated image of a stack of burning money in front of a cracked hydrogen storage tank

Debunking The Myth: Electrolyzing Hydrogen For Energy Is Wasteful & Higher Emissions

As the world races toward a decarbonized future, hydrogen is often touted as a clean energy carrier, with proponents highlighting electrolysis as a viable method for its production. The process, which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, can indeed be powered by renewable energy sources, making it … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic digital painting of an aerospace factory interior, depicting workers assembling large jet engines with high-performance cobalt-based superalloy components

Trump’s Tariffs Are Wrecking America’s Supply Chain for Critical Minerals

The Trump administration’s latest round of tariffs is drawing scrutiny, but the real concern isn’t just the cost of Chinese EVs—it’s the impact on the materials those tariffs affect. Nickel, cobalt, and platinum-group elements (PGEs) are indispensable to the U.S. economy, yet the country is overwhelmingly reliant on imports, often … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic photorealistic image of a modern cargo ship with containerized battery systems being winched onto the deck

Debunking The Myth: Hydrogen Is Not A Practical Or Cost-Effective Fuel

Hydrogen has often been hailed as a fuel of the future, promising a clean and versatile energy source capable of decarbonizing multiple sectors. However, a closer look at the technical, economic, and infrastructure challenges associated with hydrogen reveals that these claims may be overstated. While hydrogen can indeed be used … [continued]

Mashup by Carolyn Fortuna/CleanTechnica from "Donald Trump Signs The Pledge" by Michael Vadon, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. + "Elon Musk" by dmoberhaus, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Business Leaders Target The Trump–Musk White House For Damaging Profitability Margins

Instead of embracing the Trump–Musk administration and its supposed pro-business ideology, companies have begun to warn investors in their quarterly reports and conference calls that the effects of federal change in Washington are unsettling and likely to damage profitability margins. Red states seem particularly vulnerable, which is ironic since those … [continued]

ChatGPT generated create a panoramic image of a modern, sleek electric bus with "Electric" on its display on the streets of Madrid

The End of Diesel: Europe’s Buses Are Going Fully Electric — Fast

Electric buses are transforming Europe’s public transportation system faster than many policymakers expected. In 2024, nearly half of all new city buses sold in the European Union were battery-electric, according to a new report from Transport & Environment (T&E). This shift marks a decisive moment in the debate over how … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of the flaming boomerang painted with the American flag, soaring back toward economic and environmental destruction.

Trump’s Tariffs Are An Economic & Environmental Boomerang

The first Trump trade war was a disaster for US cleantech, and it looks like 2025 is setting up to be an encore performance. Between 2018 and 2020, Trump’s tariffs on solar panels cost the US an estimated 10.5 GW of lost solar capacity, delaying the transition to clean energy … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of a Van Hool hydrogen bus labeled "H2" rusting in an abandoned hydrogen refueling station in Flanders

Hydrogen Buses Keep Failing — De Lijn Is Just The Latest To Cut Losses

Founded in 1947 in Belgium, Van Hool was a storied name in bus and coach manufacturing, known for producing a range of vehicles spanning diesel, hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel-cell models. For decades, it supplied public and private transport fleets across Europe and beyond, cementing its reputation as an innovative … [continued]

ChatGPT & Dall-E generated panoramic image visually captures the metaphor of green hydrogen being akin to Champagne, highlighting their shared attributes of rarity and value.

Companion to Cranky Stepdad vs Hydrogen for Energy

Recently I published a simple debunker for many of the hydrogen for energy claims that perpetuate the hype, Cranky Stepdad vs Hydrogen for Energy: How to Respond to Enthusiasts. In the style of John Cook’s Cranky Uncle vs Climate Change — illustrative cartoons and colorful analogies illustrating the debunk — … [continued]