The U.S. could dramatically increase solar and wind power without expensive energy storage. The key is to overlay high-voltage direct current power lines on our system of regional grids.
A solar array goes up in New York. Is this the best place to locate solar, given the relatively clean New York state grid?
Lucas Braun
Tristan R. Brown, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The wind and solar industries scored a huge win by getting extended tax credits, but research shows this isn’t the best policy for lowering emissions through renewable energy.
The Herbert solar plant in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The panels face the sun squarely and constantly.
SunPower Corp
South Africa has been slow to adopt renewable energy sources. One option, which has proved successful elsewhere, would be to install solar photovoltaic panels on rooftops in low-income areas.
Small solar panel installations can provide electricity and jobs, while not adding to emissions.
Manukrishna CK/Praveen R/Wikimedia Commons
Ben Parr, The University of Melbourne and Don Henry, The University of Melbourne
Much of India’s huge population is still without electricity, perhaps making climate action a tough sell. But India’s vision for green development chimes well with the world’s climate agenda.
Many utilities see rooftop solar as a threat, but solar power can actually lower the cost of power they – and their consumers – need to pay during hours of high demand.
Renewable energy developers choose sunny locations, which can be near protected lands.
jsmoorman/flickr
Integrated research is key to sustainable development, which helps Africa resolve its energy woes.
Australia has 1.4 million solar rooftops. But it is with the addition of battery storage that energy grids will really be revolutionised.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
New prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has stressed the importance of embracing ‘disruptive’ technologies that shake up existing business models. Solar power and battery storage is one of the most enticing options.
Australia has some catching up to do to match the rest of the world on large-scale solar.
Brookhaven National Laboratory/Flickr
New funding for large-scale solar could be backing a winner, but only with the right leadership.
To no one’s surprise, a US study found that solar panel cells produce infrasound and low frequency noise which is way below audibility.
AAP/Dean Lewins
Internoise is the world’s premier research conference for acousticians. The 2015 meeting is being held right now in San Francisco. Buried among the hundreds of papers is one that you could easily take…
Will alternate solar technologies get a boost if solar overall grows?
Walmartcorporate/flickr
Hillary Clinton’s renewable energy plan is ambitious but, on a technical level, doable. Would it foster more solar technology innovation?
Townsville’s roads (pictured) may have their busy periods but is it the best place to start a solar charged ‘electric super highway’?
Flickr/John Skewes
Ramping up investment in renewable energy would put Australia on a footing with competitors such as China, Germany and California, which are set to reap the economic benefits of this emerging sector.
Is the sun setting on Britain’s energy ambitions?
Tommy Clark
Environment minister Greg Hunt wants the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to focus on new technologies, not wind and solar. But that’s not what it was set up to do, and Australia already has an agency for that.