47 stories
All topics
For the first time on record, renewable energy generated more electricity globally than coal, contributing 34.3% of all electricity versus coal's 33.1%, with solar alone covering 83% of the rise in demand.
Chinese solar manufacturer LONGi reached 34.85% conversion efficiency on a perovskite-silicon tandem cell, certified by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory — a milestone underscored by the IEA's State of Energy Innovation 2026.
Japanese researchers have achieved 130% effective efficiency in solar panels by harvesting heat energy that traditional panels waste, potentially transforming renewable energy economics.
Yancey County's Double Island Volunteer Fire Department installed a solar-powered microgrid with battery storage, creating a resilience hub that operates during power outages and reduces energy costs.
Wind and solar produced 30% of EU electricity in 2025, overtaking coal, oil, and gas at 29%, while Norway achieved 97% electric vehicle sales in a landmark year for clean energy.
The world added a record 814 gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity in 2025, up 17% from 2024, as the renewable energy transition accelerates far faster than most experts predicted.
Despite rising emissions, 2025 delivered tangible environmental victories: renewable energy capacity surged to record levels, endangered green sea turtles hit milestone recovery numbers, and tiger populations grew across Asia, reports the BBC.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected water vapor in the atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1e, marking the first confirmed detection of water on a rocky planet in a star's habitable zone outside our solar system.
Costa Rica has set a new national record of 300 consecutive days generating all its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower, wind, and geothermal, surpassing its previous record by over two months.
The 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament has set an all-time viewership record, averaging 10.1 million viewers through its first two rounds — up 7% from last year. One Sunday window drew 19.7 million viewers, the most-watched first-week window in tournament history.
Tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells have reached a certified 34.85% efficiency, far surpassing the ~24% ceiling of commercial silicon panels. Companies like Oxford PV are now shipping commercial modules with efficiencies up to 29%.
Clean power generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the EU in 2025. Wind and solar hit 30.1% vs fossil fuels at 29.0%. China and India both reduced coal generation simultaneously for the first time since 1973.
Hybrid perovskite-silicon solar cells have reached power conversion efficiencies over 34%, far surpassing conventional silicon panels at 24%. The first commercial versions are expected to reach the market in 2026.
The journal Science named the global renewable energy surge its 2025 Breakthrough of the Year. For the first time, renewables surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide, with solar and wind growing fast enough to cover the entire increase in global electricity demand in the first half of the year.
Vineyard Wind, the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, has completed construction off the coast of Massachusetts with 62 turbines capable of generating over 800 megawatts of clean power.
Portugal generated 80.7 percent of its electricity from renewable sources in January 2026, ranking second in Europe behind Norway's 96.3 percent. The achievement demonstrates that large-scale renewable energy transition is achievable for Southern European nations and validates Portugal's aggressive clean energy investment strategy.
When 4-year-old Brinley aimed a flashlight at a construction site across from Cleveland Clinic, the workers shone their lights back — sparking a heartwarming friendship of daily messages, gifts, and cheers.
Astronomers have confirmed GJ 887 d, a super-Earth exoplanet orbiting in the habitable zone of a nearby red dwarf star, making it the second-nearest known habitable zone planet to our solar system.
Engineers at MIT have created a passive solar desalination system that converts seawater to drinking water using only sunlight, with no electricity or filters needed, at a cost competitive with tap water in many developing countries.
A staggering 80.7% of Portugal's electricity in January 2026 came from renewable sources, placing the country second in Europe for clean energy generation — a remarkable achievement for the Iberian nation.
Portugal has surged to the top of the EU renewable energy leaderboard, with a staggering 80.7% of its electricity in January 2026 coming from renewable sources — the country's best result in nine months and a powerful demonstration of what the clean energy transition looks like in practice.
Ten European nations have signed the Hamburg Declaration, committing €9.5 billion to deliver 100 gigawatts of offshore wind energy across the North Sea by 2050 — enough electricity to power approximately 143 million homes and a decisive step off the "fossil fuel rollercoaster."
The International Energy Agency confirmed that solar power is now the fastest-growing source of electricity generation ever recorded, with costs dropping 90% in the past decade and installations surging worldwide.
Verified report based on cited source.
Verified report based on cited source.
Portugal generated 80.7% of its electricity from renewable sources in January 2026, topping the EU leaderboard and saving an estimated €703 million compared to natural gas production.
A new solar-powered desalination system can produce fresh water at a fraction of traditional costs, bringing clean drinking water to water-scarce coastal regions.
The global Cycling Without Age movement now operates in 52 countries, giving nursing home residents the joy of bike rides through trishaw rides piloted by volunteers.
Plug-in balcony solar panels are booming across Europe, allowing renters and apartment dwellers to generate clean energy without rooftop access or landlord permission.
Scientists have achieved a sustained net energy gain from nuclear fusion for the first time, marking a historic milestone toward unlimited clean energy.
Energy companies are repurposing retired wind turbine blades into sustainable tiny homes, addressing both the renewable energy waste problem and the housing crisis.
Renewable energy sources now generate 35% of global electricity, a new record that puts the world on track to meet key climate goals.
Solar energy was confirmed as the fastest growing source of electricity in history in 2025, growing from 1% to 9% of global electricity in just a decade. Combined with wind, renewables overtook coal as the world's leading electricity source for the first time.
A US judge has upheld the right to build offshore wind farms for the fifth time, ensuring the continued growth of renewable energy despite legal challenges.
Europe has reached a significant energy tipping point, with renewable sources now generating more power than ever and accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.
University of Newcastle researchers developed a chemical-free method to extract silver from used solar panels by grinding them into powder and floating silver to the surface in water.
In a remarkable year for planetary science, astronomers confirmed the discovery of over 100 previously unknown moons orbiting planets in our solar system during 2025, reshaping our understanding of the outer planets.
Science Magazine declared the unstoppable rise of renewable energy as 2025's Breakthrough of the Year, with China installing record-breaking solar and wind capacity.
For the first time, renewable sources generated a third of the world's electricity in 2025, with solar and wind leading an accelerating energy transition.
Australia announced it will provide at least three hours of free solar-generated electricity per day to all households — even those without solar panels — thanks to massive renewable energy capacity.
For the first time in history, the combined power of wind and solar has overtaken coal as the leading source of electricity worldwide, marking a crucial energy turning point.
The Ember think tank confirmed solar as the fastest growing source of electricity ever, rising from 1% to 9% of global electricity in just a decade with costs falling 90%.
China's carbon dioxide emissions dropped for the first time during economic growth, as electricity from new wind, solar and nuclear capacity was enough to cut coal-power output even as demand surged.
Northwestern University researchers transformed an industrial waste product into a battery for storing sustainable energy, opening the door for redox flow battery technology.
All 411 buildings owned by the City of Chicago now run on renewable energy or offset emissions, powered largely by the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi.
A Stanford study found that firebricks heated via renewable electricity could replace 90% of fossil fuels burned by heavy industry for heat, named among top innovations of 2024.
Researchers have achieved a world record 33.9% efficiency with tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells, bringing next-generation solar technology closer to commercial reality.
