Renewable energy

Conceptual sketch of the upgraded MIT Central Utilities Plant, as viewed from Portland Street

Mass. Department of Environmental Protection set to approve application for Central Utilities Plant upgrade

Public hearing scheduled for May 22.

May 3, 2017

Clean power planning

A new study details why it’s prudent to invest in carbon-free electricity now.

April 20, 2017

Engineers at MIT have found a way to cut the cost of solar-powered drip systems by half, by optimizing the drippers. Furthermore, these new drippers can halve the pumping power required to irrigate, lowering energy bills for farmers. Pictured is an example of a current drip system.

Watering the world

New design cuts costs, energy needs for drip irrigation, bringing the systems within reach for more farmers.

April 19, 2017

A joint team of American, Israeli, and Jordanian students worked together to study possible integrated pumped hydro reverse osmosis (IPHRO) system site locations around the world.

Combined energy and water system could provide for millions

Analysis shows system could economically bring fresh water and renewable energy storage to drought-stricken coastal regions worldwide.

April 18, 2017

Zhu Zhenqi (left), president of ENN Energy Research Institute, and Robert Armstrong, director of the MIT Energy Initiative, sign the agreement for ENN's membership in MITEI's Center for Energy Storage Research.

ENN Group becomes MIT Energy Initiative member to advance energy storage technologies

ENN Group, one of China’s largest private energy companies, will join MITEI’s Center for Energy Storage Research.

April 13, 2017

A scene from the Masdar Institute campus in Abu Dhabi

Visiting UAE professors describe “life-changing” experiences at MIT

Junior faculty members from Masdar Institute plan to share insights with their own students in Abu Dhabi.

April 13, 2017

“Virtual batteries” could lead to cheaper, cleaner power

Coordinating smart appliances and electric cars may help balance supply and demand in the power grid.

March 24, 2017

3 Questions: Lourdes Melgar on Mexico’s energy reform

MIT alumna, Robert Wilhelm Fellow, and former Mexican government official discusses opportunities and challenges of recent reforms.

March 22, 2017

At the Friday evening “Energy Showcase,” participants tried out a virtual reality demonstration put on by Shell, one of the conference sponsors.

Making energy storage so simple it’s “boring”

Inexpensive, reliable, and forgettable storage systems could enable boom in renewables, say speakers at MIT Energy Conference.

March 7, 2017

Left to right: Gabriela Schlau-Cohen, Rafael Jaramillo, David Hsu, Nuno Loureiro

New faculty strengthen, broaden MIT’s energy expertise

MIT's newest faculty bring a wide array of energy interests and developments to the Institute.

February 7, 2017

Kevin Kung, a Tata Fellow and PhD candidate in biological engineering, feeds rice husks into the torrefaction reactor in his lab at MIT. A thermochemical process will convert the biomass to a more energy-dense form, making it easier to transport and use as fuel.

Tapping the hidden value of farm waste

MIT researchers are developing mobile torrefaction technology that can convert biomass into clean-burning fuel, unlocking potential income for farmers.

January 25, 2017

Mapping out a low-carbon future

Energy scenarios provide useful decision-support tools for policymakers and investors.

January 19, 2017

“Diesel is the preferred fuel because of its high energy density and the high efficiency of the engines that run on diesel,” professor Gregory Stephanopoulos says. “The problem with diesel is that so far it is entirely made from fossil fuels.”

A step toward renewable diesel

Chemical engineers program yeast to convert plant sugars into oils.

January 16, 2017

MIT President L. Rafael Reif (left) and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi

MIT and Eni extend energy collaboration

In Rome, MIT President Reif and Eni CEO Descalzi discuss low-carbon breakthroughs and future research.

January 16, 2017

C. Adam Schlosser, MIT research scientist and Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change deputy director

Modeling plausible futures

MIT research scientist C. Adam Schlosser assesses long-term risks to regional water and energy systems.

January 10, 2017

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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