Paper-thin solar cell can turn any surface into a power source
Researchers develop a scalable fabrication technique to produce ultrathin, lightweight solar cells that can be seamlessly added to any surface.
Mining for the clean energy transition
MIT Conference on Mining, Environment, and Society convenes academics, industry, policymakers, and NGOs to discuss challenges of supplying the materials for clean energy.
A simple way to significantly increase lifetimes of fuel cells and other devices
MIT researchers find that changing the pH of a system solves a decades-old problem.
MIT’s solar car team wins American Solar Challenge for the second year in a row
The team credits strategy and team building for keeping the lead in a tight race.
Explained: Why perovskites could take solar cells to new heights
This family of crystalline compounds is at the forefront of research seeking alternatives to silicon.
Helping renewable energy projects succeed in local communities
PhD student Jungwoo Chun works toward a more sustainable future through research, teaching, and public service.
Expanding energy access in rural Lesotho
MIT alumni-founded OnePower is building minigrids to power villages across the small, mountainous country.
Energy storage important to creating affordable, reliable, deeply decarbonized electricity systems
MIT Energy Initiative report supports energy storage paired with renewable energy to achieve clean energy grids.
Engineers enlist AI to help scale up advanced solar cell manufacturing
Perovskite materials would be superior to silicon in PV cells, but manufacturing such cells at scale is a huge hurdle. Machine learning can help.
A new heat engine with no moving parts is as efficient as a steam turbine
The design could someday enable a fully decarbonized power grid, researchers say.
New England renewables + Canadian hydropower
Power flowing both ways across the border offers a pathway to clean electricity in 2050.
MIT Energy Conference focuses on climate’s toughest challenges
Annual student-led conference looks at prospects for decarbonizing some of the most difficult industries, including aviation and cement production.
How to clean solar panels without water
A new cleaning method could remove dust on solar installations in water-limited regions, improving overall efficiency.
New power sources
Thirty-six million people in the U.S. use an energy system developed by a handful of activists in the 1990s. An MIT scholar examines this unusual story.
Solar-powered system offers a route to inexpensive desalination
Passive solar evaporation system could be used to clean wastewater, provide potable water, or sterilize medical tools in off-grid areas.