Alternative energy

This desalination plant in Israel, called Sorek, is currently the world's largest, producing 625,000 cubic meters of fresh water per day. Boris Liberman, chief technology officer of IDE Technologies, the company that built this and several other huge desalination plants in Israel and California, was among the speakers at MIT's Low Carbon Desalination Workshop, which explored the potential for redu...

How to achieve “green” desalination

Workshop explores ways to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint of seawater desalination plants.

October 19, 2016

This aerial view shows a similar solar farm in North Carolina, using the same type of solar panels, illustrating what the new project will look like when it is completed by the end of this year.

MIT to neutralize 17 percent of carbon emissions through purchase of solar energy

Partnership of three local organizations could set a sustainability example for others to follow.

October 19, 2016

While climate change may boost crop yields in some “breadbasket” regions, extreme heat and drought linked to a changing climate are likely to increase the frequency of major crop failures. Water stress is expected to increase in most regions due to pressures from population and economic growth as well as from climate change.

Even if the Paris Agreement is implemented, food and water supplies remain at risk

Report projects impacts of 2015 Paris climate agreement, identifies emissions paths/technology advances needed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

October 4, 2016

MIT spinout EverVest has built a data-analytics platform that gives investors rapid, accurate cash-flow models and financial risk analyses for renewable-energy projects.

Calculating the financial risks of renewable energy

Financial-modeling software for sustainable-infrastructure projects could boost investment in sector.

September 15, 2016

Maria Zuber, MIT vice president for research, welcomes GE to MIT as a new Sustaining Member of the MIT Energy Initiative. Zuber discussed MIT’s Plan for Action on Climate Change and the importance of industry engagement in solving global climate and energy challenges.

MIT Energy Initiative welcomes GE as new member and participant in Low-Carbon Energy Centers

GE’s membership marks continued progress on goals of MIT’s Plan for Action on Climate Change to engage industry in solving global challenges.

August 30, 2016

GE Power President and CEO Steve Bolze (right) with MIT Energy Initiative Director Robert Armstrong.

GE joins MIT Energy Initiative to develop advanced technology solutions for transforming global energy systems

GE commits to five-year, $7.5 million membership, including participation in MITEI’s Low-Carbon Energy Centers.

August 30, 2016

A silicon solar cell with silicon-germanium filter using a step-cell design (large) and a gallium arsenide phosphide layer on silicon step-cell proof-of-concept solar cell (small).

New solar cell is more efficient, costs less than its counterparts

Exposed in step-like formation, layers of new photovoltaic cell harvest more of sun’s energy.

August 29, 2016

New method developed for producing some metals

Using electricity rather than heat can reduce both energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

August 24, 2016

In an invited report and presentation at the White House ahead of the Paris climate negotiations, Jessika Trancik of the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society described an analysis that she and her colleagues at MIT and Tsinghua University performed, including results that demonstrate a mutually reinforcing cycle between emissions-reduction policies and technology development.

Reducing emissions, improving technology: A mutually reinforcing cycle

An MIT study on the connection between technology development and emissions-reduction policies informs Paris climate negotiations.

August 8, 2016

The ability to ferment low-cost feedstocks under nonsterile conditions may enable new classes of biochemicals and biofuels, such as microbial oil produced by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (shown here, oil in lipid bodies is stained green and cells walls stained blue).

Microbial engineering technique could reduce contamination in biofermentation plants

Approach could lower cost and eliminate need for antibiotics during biofuel production.

August 4, 2016

MIT nuclear science and engineering professors Jacopo Buongiorno (left) and Dennis Whyte will lead a multidisciplinary team working on a Future of Nuclear Energy Technologies study.

Buongiorno, Whyte win Sloan Foundation grant

$1M Sloan Foundation grant supports NSE-led Future of Nuclear Energy Technologies study

July 13, 2016

Professional rider and founder of Mirai EV of Japan Yosihiro Kishimoto rides the electric bike designed by the KOMMIT Electric Vehicle Team.

Team led by MIT engineers places second at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Motorcycle completes 12.5 miles, 156 turns for a second-place finish in the race's Electric Bike Division.

July 11, 2016

President L. Rafael Reif (left) with Khalid Al-Falih

MIT hosts visit from leading Saudi Arabian minister

Discussion focuses on the country’s long-term future and policy plans.

June 24, 2016

By patterning a solar absorber with tiny holes with diameters less than 400 nanometers, an MIT-Masdar Institute team has enhanced the range of solar energy that the device can absorb. Here, Masdar Institute postdoc Jin You Lu characterizes the nanoporous solar absorber using UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

New solar absorber could improve efficiency of solar thermal technology

Masdar Institute-MIT team develops device that harnesses more sunlight, enhancing efficiency of heat production.

June 13, 2016

“Researchers and practitioners have struggled to compare the costs of different [energy] storage technologies, because of the multiple dimensions of cost and the fact that no technology dominates along all dimensions," says Jessika Trancik, the Atlantic Richfield Career Development Assistant Professor of Energy Studies at MIT.

Energy storage for renewables can be a good investment today, study finds

Systems that bank energy can add value to solar and wind projects.