Solar power is being installed faster than any other power source in the world. That’s the case in the United States, and that’s the case globally. Solar power is booming. But not all is perfect in the solar industry, not all is sunshine and rainbows. (Sorry for the weak puns.) … [continued]
In our most recent Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that annual electric power generation from utility-scale solar will surpass that from coal for the first time in 2026 within the electricity grid that covers most of Texas. Solar generation is expected to reach 78 billion kilowatthours (BkWh) in 2026 in the … [continued]
NLR Senior Energy Storage Engineer Matthew Keyser holds a sheet of copper discs, one of the metals that comprise the internal short-circuit device recently recognized by NASA’s 2025 Invention of the Year Award. Photo by Ellen Jaskol, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
To Shoot for the Moon, Lab Researchers Must First Learn How To Fail on Earth By Rebecca Martineau Weeks ago, four NASA astronauts completed a pioneering journey around the moon. For 10 days, lithium-ion batteries on Artemis II played an important role in powering various communications, navigation, propulsion, and thermal … [continued]
After the December end-of-incentive sales rush (NEVs are no longer exempt from purchase tax this year), and the following sales slump, high gas prices and a never ending wave of new models has allowed April to reach record EV market share, with plugins surpassing the 60% barrier for the first … [continued]
The Australian government subsidises diesel from primary producers to the tune of AU$11 billion per year. Dr Andrew Forrest of Fortescue Metals has come out swinging, saying that the 18 largest miners receive about one third of this, and don’t need it.As Fortescue heads to real zero, Forrest wants a … [continued]
This figure illustrates the ethylenepyridine linkage between the silicon nanocrystal (Si) and the molecular catalyst cobaloxime (Co). This strong bonding enables formation of a high-energy hybrid electronic state. Image from J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026, 148, 6, 6412-6421.
Semiconductor-Catalyst Combo Captures Energy To Drive Chemical Reactions By Connor O’Neil Plants and algae make their fuel from sunlight. Perhaps we could do the same using semiconductors. A team of scientists at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) made strides in that direction. They discovered a silicon semiconductor coupled … [continued]
Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson announced the National Laboratory of the Rockies’ (NLR’s) two memorandums of understanding with the Colorado School of Mines and University of Utah at NLR’s Partner Forum on May 5, 2026. Photo by Joe DelNero, National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Memorandums of Understanding Combine Facilities and Capabilities To Build Pipelines for Tech Commercialization and Skilled Domestic Workforces By Brooke Van Zandt The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) this week signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Utah that will help strengthen … [continued]
Ford has said it would welcome a return to V-8 engines in Formula 1, taking the sport backwards to 2013 and high carbon emissions.
Toyota’s latest hydrogen truck move is not interesting because it is large. Forty trucks is not a large order in a global transport market. It is interesting because of what sits behind it. Hyroad, formed mostly by ex-Nikola executives, acquired hydrogen truck assets from Nikola’s remains, and Toyota then appeared … [continued]
Last year, BYD sued just over three dozen online influencers. In its opinion, thee 37 influencers had engaged in “repeated online attacks” and used “false or misleading information that it claims has harmed its brand image, disrupted market order, and negatively affected the wider automotive sector.” In other words, they … [continued]
The theme of the week month year has been Chinese electric vehicle producers working to export more of their vehicles ASAP around the world. We’ve also got news now of BYD planning a big wave of plugin vehicles for the European market. In other words, the story continues…. Chinese EV … [continued]
