The Impact of China-US Technological Innovation, Transportation, and Power Generation on Energy, Environment, and Economic Growth Sustainability

China and the United States have the highest demand for fossil fuel energy for transportation and power generation, which promotes growth while also damaging the environment. Policymakers, and environmental scientists, are increasingly interested in understanding key strategies to improve energy efficiency to mitigate fossil fuel energy demand and sustain the environment and growth. In this context, this study uses augmented mean groups (AMG) and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimators to reveal the impact of China-US technological innovation, transportation infrastructure, and power generation on fossil fuel energy demand and fossil fuel energy intensity from 1995 to 2020. Besides, the …

Solar Means Business 2024

For well over a decade, corporations large and small have been critical to the growth and advancement of the U.S. solar industry.

Currently, corporate procurement represents over 18% of total U.S. solar capacity, and 20% of all installations in 2023 had a corporate offtaker. These businesses are a cornerstone of renewable energy demand in the United States and are driving new deployments, creating new energy demand, and shaping the U.S. energy transition.

Solar Means Business tracks U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) installations that support commercial activities at U.S. facilities. The report focuses on America’s largest companies but includes available data for …

A Lightning Moment For Industry

Industrial companies make the products we use every day, and heat is an important part of many manufacturing processes. Rotating kilns heat limestone to make cement, industrial boilers pasteurise milk or activate chemical processes; iron ore is turned into iron in blast furnaces, and pulp is dried in a furnace to create paper sheets. A quarter of global energy demand is for industrial heat, and almost all of it is currently generated using fossil fuels. Industrial heat contributes almost 20% (6 gigatonnes) to yearly global CO2 emissions.

Industrial heat below 400°C is called low- to medium temperature heat, and is …

Transportation and Mobility Energy Demand Outlook

Transportation and mobility demand is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades, driven by multiple factors, including population and economic growth, and urbanization. Transportation can be defined as a means of moving people and goods from one place to another using various modes i.e. cars, trains, planes and ships. In contrast, Mobility refers to the ability, affordability, and accessibility of people or goods to move freely across regions and countries using various transportation options.

The demographic shift in the coming decades necessitates enhanced infrastructure development to accommodate diverse transportation options and meet the growing demand for mobility. Urbanization will …

NEA and METI International Workshop on Joint Utilisation of Underground Research Laboratories for R&D Projects

The NEA and METI International Workshop on Joint Utilisation of Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) for R&D Projects was organised in the JAEA Horonobe International Communication House (Horonobe) and Surfeel Hotel Wakkanai (Wakkanai), Japan, from 1 to 3 November 2022.

The event focused on the development of URLs in various countries to support their national deep geological repository (DGR) projects and discussed challenges and needs in international co-operation. The overall objective was to strengthen international co-operation and to advance the development of final disposal solutions for radioactive waste and spent fuel through joint R&D in URLs. The workshop gathered experts representing …

Aligning Utility Strategies with Customer Preferences: Research-Backed Insights on EV Managed Charging

To help utilities understand this landscape, Franklin Energy conducted extensive research to gain a comprehensive understanding of customer preferences and concerns related to EV charging and in particular, managed charging. This research involved a secondary analysis of existing EV driver research, including data analysis of charging behaviors and peak usage times, and a review of existing utility managed charging program designs, along with available demand response impact comparisons. Finally, Franklin Energy conducted a statistically significant survey of EV owners and near-term buyers to determine their charging practices, preferences, and perceptions of common utility managed charging programs. Leveraging these insights, utilities …

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Should Use Available Information to Measure the Effectiveness of Its Groundwater Efforts

EM is responsible for addressing hazardous and radioactive waste from nuclear weapons production and energy research at DOE sites. Contaminated groundwater at these sites poses threats to public health and the environment, making groundwater cleanup critical to EM’s mission.

GAO was asked to review EM’s groundwater cleanup efforts. This report examines (1) the groundwater cleanup requirements at selected EM sites; (2) the scope, cost, and schedule for groundwater cleanup; and (3) the extent to which EM measures groundwater cleanup progress.

GAO examined four sites selected to represent a variety of facility types at different stages of the cleanup process governed …

Innovation at the Horizon: Accelerating Innovation of Emerging Hybrid CDR Technologies

Innovation at the Horizon: Accelerating Innovation of Emerging Hybrid CDR Technologies (November 2024) provides a snapshot of current hybrid carbon dioxide removal (CDR) activities across the United States, with a focus on potential innovation breakthroughs. This report is the fourth in the Frontiers of CDR series—which includes —Rock Solid, From the Ground Up, and Uncharted Waters. This work follows on those earlier reports that explored underexamined pathways for CDR in mineralization, terrestrial, and marine environments.

Innovation at the Horizon focuses on hybrid CDR measures, which incorporate state-of-the-art technological enhancements to leverage natural processes for carbon absorption, conversion, and storage in …

Using Technology to Illuminate the Path to Sustainability

If enterprise-wide sustainability strategies are to be successful, companies must move beyond the days of siloed data. The goal of creating a centralized sustainability data system is now within reach thanks to a new generation of cloud-based technologies. Aided by the latest AI, these systems have real-time access to trusted data and can create an immediate impact against the value chain.

Through interviews with chief sustainability officers and subject matter experts, combined with the use of third-party data, this report explores how to advance from sustainability compliance to an AI-driven sustainable business strategy. It addresses the following topics:

– Why …

Real-Time Platforms for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response within Countries: National Guidance to Enhance Cross-Border Information Exchange and Co-ordination of Protective Actions

The NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) assists NEA member countries in identifying critical and emerging issues in radiological protection, analysing their possible implications for policy, regulation and practices, and contributing to the development of approaches for their resolution. The Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM), working under the auspices of the CRPPH, established the Expert Group on the use of Real-Time Platforms (EGRT) for member countries to collaboratively address improving cross-border co-ordination by sharing experience in the use of real-time information platforms in nuclear and radiological Emergencies Preparedness and Response (EPR). The establishment of the …