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Explore English articles about Energy.
NUS has developed a reactor that rapidly heats only a metal filament, much like an incandescent light bulb, and applied it to ammonia decomposition, polyolefin decomposition, and methane conversion. The design separates high-temperature activation from low-temperature product control, but continuous operation and lifetime verification remain necessary for industrialization.
A concept that breaks through the 30-minute flight limit of small drones by supplying RF power while the drone remains landed has won a US Air Force STTR contract. As laser-based systems handle long-range, high-power delivery, radio-wave systems—resilient to obstructions—are emerging as the choice for sustained surveillance in urban environments.
The world's first quantum-technology-integrated substation, now operating in Hefei, China, uses quantum sensors and quantum computing to detect minute grid anomalies and perform high-speed power flow calculations. With communication security also secured through quantum cryptography based on the laws of physics, it stands as an innovative proof-of-concept supporting next-generation power infrastructure.
SMR developer X-energy has signed an investment agreement with SGL Carbon to secure a stable supply of nuclear-grade graphite. By building an international division of labor in which material is manufactured in France and processed in the US, the companies aim to double production capacity and strengthen the supply chain for the commercialization of next-generation reactors.
US startup FAST Metals has developed technology to extract rare earths and other critical minerals from aluminum refining's toxic waste at low cost. The effort to turn the 4 billion tons of waste sitting around the world into a resource aims to both cut environmental harm and build a supply chain independent of China.
An analysis of 4,283 U.S. facilities found 97.5% concentrated within metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas. The strongest association was with local power generation capacity, and former fossil-fuel regions showed a higher share of facilities under development.
A model estimates that if China's retired EVs were fully collected and processing efficiency improved, recycled materials could cover 89% of 2050 lithium demand for EVs. Nickel would reach only 35%, revealing the limits that differ by material.
Factorial Energy has signed an MOU with SK On to leverage existing manufacturing infrastructure toward mass production of its high-performance solid-state batteries. While aiming for early commercialization of next-generation cells that are notoriously difficult to manufacture, the non-binding nature of the partnership also hints at just how high the mass-production wall remains—and how cautious the industry continues to be.
New geological modeling and 3D analysis of China's Bayan Obo deposit suggest rare earths may extend more than twice as deep as previously expected. A new theory proposing two overlapping volcanic events that supersized the deposit has also emerged, with hopes that potential resources could be several times larger than current estimates.
Fusion venture Thea Energy has received $20 million in US government support to begin building a mass-production line for its proprietary planar high-temperature superconducting magnets. This technology compensates for complex geometry through control systems, shifting the manufacturing bottleneck from individual prototypes to uniform mass production, with the aim of accelerating the construction of a demonstration reactor.
