By Sujita Sinha , Interesting Engineering.  Excerpt: Scientists in France have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform clean energy production. Beneath the soil of Folschviller, in the Moselle region, researchers have uncovered an astonishing 46 million tons of natural hydrogen ...providing a new source of carbon-free fuel. The discovery was made by scientists from the GeoRessources laboratory and the CNRS while they were searching for methane. Instead, at a depth of 4,101 feet (1,250 meters), they found an enormous deposit of white hydrogen. This form of  hydrogen  is naturally occurring and does not require industrial production, unlike green hydrogen, which is made using renewable energy, or gray hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels. To put this discovery into perspective, the newly found deposit represents more than half of the world’s annual gray hydrogen production—but without the environmental costs. If extracted efficiently, this resource coul...

By Sofia Moutinho , Eos/AGU.  Excerpt: In September 2018, a wildfire ravaged nearly 2,000 hectares of shrubland surrounding Pichu Pichu, an inactive volcano in the Peruvian Andes. It wasn’t the first time. In recent years, this unique ecosystem has increasingly suffered from fires primarily caused by human activities such as deforestation and slash-and-burn agriculture. A  new study published in the  Spanish Journal of Soil Science  has revealed that these fires not only damage vegetation but also harm the soil. Even 4 years after the 2018 fires, the study found, vulnerable volcanic soil had not recovered....  Full article at https://eos.org/articles/wildfires-pose-a-threat-to-volcanic-soils-in-the-peruvian-andes . 

By Alessandro F. Rotta Loria , Nishu Devi et al, Wiley, Advanced Sustainable Systems.  Excerpt: This lab-grown “sand” could help reduce the construction industry’s climate footprint. Northwestern University. Sand may seem like an infinite resource, but it’s an essential ingredient in building materials and we’re actually depleting it fast , Now, researchers have devised a way to grow sand-like materials from seawater—and by doing so, lock away carbon and reduce the construction industry’s environmental footprint. Currently, the sand used in concrete, gravel, paints, plasters, and other materials is taken straight from sandy spots like coastlines and riverbeds. But a team of researchers has figured out how to make calcium- and magnesium-based minerals like those in sand—“not by digging into the Earth, but by harnessing electricity and CO 2 ,” lead author Alessandro Rotta Loria explains in a statement. First, the researchers applied an electric current to seawater, which naturally c...

By Stephen Key , Forbes.  Excerpt: Lonnie Johnson...After nearly three decades of self-funded, against-all-odds research, the  Hall of Fame inventor  and his team have delivered a game-changer: A true  all-solid-state battery  that is safer, more powerful, and cheaper than today’s standards—meaning it has the potential to transform energy storage for electric vehicles, renewable power, and more. ...“I’ve had this long-term interest in energy and awareness of the impact our use of fossil fuels has had on the environment,” he shared in an interview. That vision drove him to launch Johnson Energy Storage (JES) and chase a dream others deemed too daunting: A solid-state battery that’s safer, more powerful, and cheaper than what’s available today. ...Unlike other “solid-state” contenders that sneak in liquid electrolytes or rely on pricey, unstable materials, Dr. Johnson’s glass electrolyte delivers by boasting higher conductivity, suppressing dangerous shorts, and t...

By Leo Collis, The Cool Down (TCD).  Excerpt: The National Bank of Canada is pressing ahead with lending for renewable energy projects as part of efforts to reach net-zero targets. Investment Executive  reported on the bank's commitment, which will see CA$20 billion allocated by 2030. The publication observed that this announcement comes at a time when United States President Donald Trump has indicated an intention to repeal  clean energy programs  and slow the transition to pollution-free energy....  Full article at https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/national-bank-renewable-energy-lending/ . 

By Jijo Malayil , Interesting Engineering.  Excerpt: One of the most powerful underwater tide-riding turbine projects has secured funding from the European Union’s Innovation Fund. NH1 project by tidal energy developer Normandie Hydroliennes in France has been granted €31.3 million in funding from the European Union’s 2023 Innovation Fund. The grant will fast-track NH1, one of France’s first commercial tidal energy pilots, boosting marine renewables. The project aims to install four horizontal-axis turbines in Normandy, delivering 34 GWh annually to the French grid by 2028....  Full article at https://interestingengineering.com/energy/underwater-tide-riding-turbines-project-funding-boost .