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Renewable Energy

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An illustration of a line chart with four lines on graph paper laid on top of a photo of a large, utility-scale solar farm, with solar panels stretching off into the distance. The tint of the photo is dark green. — Amid evolving politics, cleantech financing reaches watershed moment
Money is the key to the energy transition. Today, a greater share is being invested into clean power sources, but less is flowing to new cleantech ideas and startups. Data Dives
Bill Spindle 2 min read

An illustration of a portrait of a woman with short blonde hair surrounded by drawings of solar panels, wind turbines, a clock, trees, an American flag and a pendulum. — With time, a swinging pendulum shapes energy and climate change
The time horizon of addressing climate change and transitioning our massive energy system to cleaner resources is spectacularly mismatched for humanity and its societal pendulum swings. Harder Line
Amy Harder 5 min read

A photo of an older man wearing glasses, looking up hopefully with a little smile on his face. He wears a suit and tie and the light around him is purple. There are other people and screens out of focus in the background. — Exclusive: Bill Gates on Trump’s big bill, AI and more
Gates told Cipher in an exclusive interview that the Trump administration’s recently enacted law rolling back many climate incentives was not as bad as could have been expected. Latest News
Amy Harder 3 min read

An illustration that has six black and white portraits of six people. Background behind those portraits is a deep blue. — The Cipher team reflects on the last four years — and looks ahead
Cipher News has covered the global energy transition with an eye on the possible and a clear-eyed perspective. Latest News
Cipher Staff 7 min read

U.S. leaps over China in battery investment — for now

The role reversal in battery-investment dominance is the result of two converging trends: tax credits in the U.S. and China pulling back its expenditures in the sector. Data Dives

Cat Clifford 2 min read

Illustration that has a line chart in the foreground in color and a black and white background photo of lots of packs of giant batteries lined up as if in a production setting.

Home court advantage: Whirling turbines, solarized schools and of course, food poisoning

For Amena Saiyid, returning to Pakistan to report on clean energy both challenged her as a journalist and gave her an opportunity to see her home country with fresh eyes. Reporter's Notebook

Amena H. Saiyid 4 min read

An illustration of a green notebook with

Pakistan’s wind power is going to waste

Pakistan's wind potential is not being fully utilized. Cipher toured Zephyr Power's 50-megawatt wind farm in the Sindh province to understand the problems facing the wind sector. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

An illustration that includes the Pakistani flag, two wind turbines, and a man in sunglasses standing and talking with his hands in front of some wind turbines.

A decade makes a huge difference in energy investment

Back in 2015, fossil fuels dominated the picture, amassing 30% more investments than electricity generation, grids and storage. Now, that ratio is reversing. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

Illustration of a bar chart with alternating bars of grey and green with a background of dark blue and a green transmission tower and transmission lines running through it.

Here are four fast solutions in the current ‘race’ for power

With the rise of artificial intelligence, increased domestic manufacturing and growing electrification of vehicles and more, electricity demand in the U.S. is expected to soar in the coming years. Explainers

Cat Clifford 5 min read

Illustration of a little grey house with a green lightning bolt on it connected by a green cord to an old-fashioned alarm clock that is ringing, as indicated by red lines coming from it. The background is a swirly light blue.

Haiti’s crisis fuels a solar energy revolution

Haiti’s struggle with severe fuel shortages and an unstable grid has sparked a wave of innovative approaches to expanding energy access. Voices

Evenson Calixte & Isabel Beltran 4 min read

An illustration of the Island of Haiti and the Haitian flag with two solar panels and a green background.

Chinese solar panel imports to Pakistan are soaring this year

Chinese solar panels exports to Pakistan are set to exceed last years's record-breaking total as Pakistanis adopt solar at a record pace to avoid rolling power blackouts and high electricity bills. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration of a green bar chart overlaid on top of a picture of a solar panel with a red tint. There's also a Chinese flag and in the top lefthand corner of the illustration, the green Pakistani flag and a little map of the country.

Solar power is everywhere in Pakistan—here’s what that looks like

To say solar power is booming in Pakistan is an understatement. On a recent trip to my native country, I was overwhelmed by the omnipresence of solar energy in nearly every corner. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 6 min read

Schoolchildren shade their eyes from the strong sunlight as they watch the solar panels hoisted to the roof of their community school in Nar in Northern Pakistan. Photo by Amena H. Saiyid

Solar power is transforming Pakistan

Abundantly cheap, clean electricity is breaking down income barriers here, empowering some of Pakistan’s least privileged groups with new opportunities, comfort and — potentially — more disposable income. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 6 min read

Descending rows of solar panels against the backdrop of the Karakoram Range. These panels pump water to supply the city of Khaplu's residents.

On wind power, China blows past rest of world

China greenlit far more wind energy projects in the first three months of this year than any other country. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

An illustration of a horizontal bar chart in the background and three red wind turbines in the foreground.

Fake news causes headaches for Europe’s wind industry

False narratives around the impact of wind energy have morphed from small-scale opposition to globally coordinated campaigns targeting the technology as a whole. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

An illustration that has a wind turbine in the center and a shadowy figure pointing to a phone off to the left, with a social media thumbs down icon above the figure and shadowy protestors to the right of the wind turbine. The background is a dark-ish blue color.

Solar energy is beyond politics

Recent debates have cast support for solar energy as a partisan issue. But the benefits of solar don’t belong to one political party. Voices

JD Dillon 3 min read

An illustration of a solar panel going into a

Renewables rebrand as an energy-security must-have

The desire for energy independence and stable homegrown power sources has led to a shift in the narrative around renewable energy from one about emissions reductions to one about energy security. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

An illustration of a robot hand holding up a rectangular box with a shield and a lock on the front as well as a depiction of a solar panel and a wind turbine. The box is green and the background is blue.

Trump’s former FERC chair: Compromise key to AI energy race

Solar energy plus battery storage, with natural gas backup, is the only “plausible path forward” in the near-term, said Neil Chatterjee, a former top energy regulator during the first Trump administration. Latest News

Cat Clifford 5 min read

An illustration of a robot with

Why tariffs pose a bigger risk to renewable energy than fossil fuels

Tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump will likely hit the supply chains for wind and solar much harder than supply chains for fossil fuels. Data Dives

Cat Clifford 2 min read

Thumbnail for the data dive showing renewables are more vulnerable to tariffs.

In Argentina’s vast and little populated middle, I saw the energy transition in action

During three weeks of reporting, Bill Spindle saw two faces of Argentina’s fast-expanding energy industry. Reporter's Notebook

Bill Spindle 3 min read

An illustration of an open spiral notebook with the words

Behind the scenes: moving massive wind turbines

Anca Gurzu shares her experience of visiting a key Danish port for Europe's offshore wind turbines. Reporter's Notebook

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

An illustration with a light blue backdrop. On it, there's a spiral notebook with the words

Clean energy manufacturing is the path to mineral security

To build their own supply chains for critical minerals, the EU and U.S. will need to first ensure there is large and ongoing mineral demand from the clean technology industry. Voices

Milo McBride 3 min read

An illustration where some squares from the periodic table float on top of a blue background. The most prominent square reads

Geothermal is the rare renewable energy winning favor in Trump’s America

With roots from the oil industry and a clean profile, geothermal is emerging as the one renewable energy the Trump administration actually likes. Latest News

Cat Clifford 6 min read

Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaking at the Geothermal House DC MAGMA event hosted by nonprofit geothermal advocacy organization Project InnerSpace on Tuesday March 4.

The energy transition garnered record investment last year, but the pace slowed

Clean energy investment rose to a record last year, breaking $2 trillion for the first time. But the pace of growth slowed, even as China racked up record gains. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

An illustration that has a stacked bar chart in the foreground and wind turbines in the background.

CERAWeek revisited: What a difference a decade makes

In 2016, energy producers at this giant energy conference were worried about supply far outstripping demand. This year, attendees obsessed about the opposite: the seemingly insatiable amount of energy the country needs. Latest News

Bill Spindle 3 min read

Illustration: An aging man with long white hair holds up a clock that goes from 2016 to 2025 and has a smokestack in it emitting lots of smoke. The background behind the man, who is in black and white, is green and dotted with icons: an oil drum, a shipping container, an oil jack, the state of Texas, and a little decal that reads

CERAWeek and the power of plenty

'More, more, more' has been the mantra of the giant energy conference CERAWeek by S&P Global this year, writes Bill Spindle from the event in Houston. Reporter's Notebook

Bill Spindle 3 min read

An illustration that has a notebook, with the words

Renewable energy costs fall further

Despite political turmoil and economic uncertainty, costs of renewable energy worldwide are still declining — and those decreases could accelerate. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

Illustration of a bar chart against a dark background.

These types of climate technologies could receive a bump under Trump

Clean energy technologies long considered compatible with oil and natural gas are likely to have a leading edge in the U.S. The shifting landscape has been evident in Houston this week at an annual energy confab. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid & Bill Spindle 5 min read

An illustration of an oil drilling machine (

Power demand to tariffs: Five themes to watch at CERAWeek

As the event gets underway today, anticipation is running higher than normal because of the head-spinning changes in Washington as President Donald Trump’s administration puts its mark on United States energy policy. Latest News

Bill Spindle 3 min read

An illustration with six bubbles against a blue background. The bubbles contain a cargo ship, electricity towers, an oil jack, a judge's gavel, a stack of documents and the words

Batteries had a banner 2024, but the outlook this year is less certain

Battery manufacturing drew more investments than any other type of cleantech production in the United States last year, owing to demand in the power and transportation sectors. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

An illustration showing a bar chart against a black back drop with a battery symbol in the top lefthand corner and a pile of cash in front of the bar chart.

How United Nations climate conferences work

In partnership with Encyclopædia Britannica, Cipher will be publishing occasional articles offering background and context on important climate programs, technologies and leaders. This article is the first in the series. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 6 min read

An illustration that has a globe in one corner, multicolor puzzle pieces in another, a document with a blue ribbon on another corner, and people talking around a table in the other corner.

Cipher roundup: Funding freeze, IRA, tariffs, layoffs and Russia

Cipher’s reporters have been following the latest energy and climate developments. We’re providing a high-level look at where things stand on several key topics, including quick analysis from our team and top news stories. Latest News

Cipher Staff 7 min read

A drawing of a tornado filled with clean energy tech — a wind turbine, a solar panel, etc., and a woman with a green lasso around the tornado, pulling on it. She has a green swizzle above her head to suggest confusion.

Europe races to boost industry as Trump, climate and geopolitics loom

Europe's Clean Industrial Deal aims to revitalize the bloc's industrial sector and boost cleantech while also accelerating decarbonization. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

An illustration showing the European Union flag and currency with colors in yellow and blue.

How to protect clean energy projects against extreme weather

The trials of floating solar projects in India point to a broader trend: extreme weather exacerbated by climate change is increasingly impacting the clean energy projects intended to help combat climate change worldwide. Explainers

Anuradha Varanasi 4 min read

A photo of solar panels floating on the surface of a lake under serene blue skies.

In rural India, this reporter saw two sides of the country’s energy transition

Contributor Anuradha Varanasi reflects on the reporting trip she took to a massive floating solar park in Central India. Reporter's Notebook

Anuradha Varanasi 2 min read

A woman stands on a white plastic float next to rows of solar panels hovering over smooth water. The lake stretches back far in the distance behind her.

Solar’s dizzying investments return to normal level

China's investments in solar factories plunged after reaching a high in 2023. U.S. investments, meanwhile, are steadily rising. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

An illustration that has a bar chart in the foreground and a photo of a man standing in front of a solar panel in a factory setting in the background. The photo is tinted light blue.

In rural India, a clean energy project is displacing families — again

After a massive floating solar plant was built on a giant reservoir in rural India, local villagers no longer fish on large swaths of the lake. The same villagers were displaced 20 years ago when the same reservoir was first created by a new dam that flooded their original villages. Latest News

Anuradha Varanasi 6 min read

Eerie image at night of a dead tree sticking out of a lake in rural India with the top of a submerged temple visible in the background

Land is hard to find for solar farms. Asia’s answer? Float them.

The solar farm on the Omkareshwar dam reservoir in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is part of a rapidly growing trend across Asia of building large-scale solar farms not on land, but over water. Explainers

Anuradha Varanasi 5 min read

A photo of islands of solar panels floating on a large lake, photo taken from the air.

Side-stepping, not leapfrogging: Africa’s cleantech innovation paradox

People in Africa are finding creative ways to embrace clean technologies while bypassing traditional infrastructure issues. But these quick wins need to be woven into a broader strategy for long-term development. Voices

Rose Mutiso & Joel Nana 4 min read

An illustration of someone on an electric motorcycle riding up a street toward a building with solar panels on the roof, and there's a South African flag on waving next to the road. There are also palm trees and a green overlay. Delicate white circles highlight the electric motorcycle and the solar panels.

India is breaking records on renewable energy

India is dependent on fossil fuels — and coal in particular. But the country has emerged as one of the most aggressive deployers of solar energy in recent years. Data Dives

Bill Spindle < 1

An illustration with bright green bar chart in the front with a pink solar panel in the background and a small bird with blue and purple wings perching on the panel. The background is orange.

A re-energized Trump seeks to boost fossil fuel production, dismantle climate programs

In the first 24 hours of his second presidency, Donald Trump laid the foundation for his “America First” energy agenda over the next four years. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

President Donald Trump sits at a desk with the seal of the president of the United States on it and holds up a black folder with two pieces of white paper on it with writing and his large signature in black ink. Vice President JD Vance stands behind him, looking up at the crowd. They are on stage at the Capital One Arena and in the photo you can see red electronic banners that read

As Trump is sworn in, fossil fuels are already booming

The evolving energy systems in the United States are a humbling reminder of the limited power American presidents have over this sector, despite the political rhetoric coming out of Washington. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

A bar chart where the bar on the far left is taller than all the others and has the American flag in it. The background behind the bar chart shows oil rigs nodding in front of a red sunrise.

China has a new sweeping energy law. Here’s what you need to know.

China has just approved a set of sweeping new energy regulations that will set the tone for the country’s future energy development. Explainers

Xiaoying You 4 min read

An illustration that shows a multiple choice test. The question is just the Chinese flag, and the options are a solar panel, a wind turbine, a piece of coal, and a piece of paper representing a law. The answer, which is being hovered over with by a giant mouse cursor is

2025 climate solutions trends: Scrutiny, humility and surprises (probably!)

Amy Harder shares the five global climate solutions trends she's watching in 2025. Harder Line

Amy Harder 5 min read

An illustration of the year

What a board game teaches us about equity and clean energy

Unlike past versions of the game that focused almost entirely on growth, Catan: New Energies requires players to examine the consequences of expansion. Voices

Mahesh Ramanujam 2 min read

An illustration of two dice being rolled in front of a red and yellow backdrop. One of the die has a lightbulb and a wind turbine on it, while the other has a question mark and the word

Oil and gas techniques could unlock geothermal energy’s global potential

Cutting edge technologies to tap the heat beneath the earth's surface could supply as much as 8% of the global electricity mix, according to the IEA's latest findings. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration showing a bar chart, with the bars growing steadily to the right, on top of a photo of a geothermal system. The photo has a green overlay on top of it, making the whole image mostly green.

Why we need digital skills for a green future

Addressing environmental challenges requires advanced technology and, just as crucially, workers with the skills to wield it. Voices

Matt Sigelman & Justina Nixon-Saintil 3 min read

Photo of a worker securing a mount underneath a large solar panel, with the sun high in the sky above.

Northeast leads U.S. in storing energy for long periods

The region boasts at least three of the small handful of grid-scale facilities that can store more than eight hours of power. Most of the battery systems being installed around the country have a maximum storage capacity of just four hours. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

An illustration showing the Northeastern United States and three green dots, one on Nantucket island and two on Long Island, with lines coming from a battery unit with

This one chart shows just how much China dominates in renewable energy

It captured 41% of the global renewables investment share in 2023. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Black and white photo of emissions seen from above the clouds, with a blue and red bar chart superimposed with no labels or values

What utilities can learn from cloud computing and telecom

As the electric grid faces historic demand for power, utility companies can learn a thing or two about reinvention from the evolution of cloud computing and wireless telecommunications. Voices

Astrid Atkinson 3 min read

illustration of man with a lightbulb head in front of a laptop looking at the work of a man with a cloud head next to him, also looking at a laptop. The grade A+ written in large red print on a green background

What Trump’s win means for China’s cleantech industry

The 2024 U.S. election results mean uncertainty — and potential opportunities — to Chinese firms and researchers. Latest News

Xiaoying You 5 min read

A photo of a solar panel in a manufacturing facility with flourescent lighting and workers in the background and big blue Chinese characters on the wall.

Global cleantech market to top $2 trillion by 2035 – IEA

The global clean technology market has more than tripled in the last eight years and, under current policies, is expected to nearly triple again by 2035. Data Dives

Cat Clifford 2 min read

Illustration of a horizontal bar chart superimposed over a dark blue map of the world.

Election day with a political junkie

Election Day was a day of firsts for me as a political reporter and long-time Washington resident. Reporter's Notebook

Amena H. Saiyid 4 min read

An illustration of a notebook with an outline of the United States and a red check mark. The notebook is surrounded by a pen and a

What does Trump’s win mean for the energy transition? We asked these 7 experts

Leading experts share what Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election means for domestic and global climate and clean energy initiatives. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 4 min read

An illustration with a black and white photo of Trump in the center, the Capitol building behind him, and text boxes filled with clean energy icons all around him.

With Donald Trump victory, here are his energy and climate positions

Donald Trump won the presidential election, injecting uncertainty and a possible slowing of the energy transition, both domestically and around the world. Explainers

Tory Lysik & Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

An illustration of the white house surrounded by energy icons — solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen tanks — and president elect Donald Trump smiling.

Amid historic U.S. election, an unprecedented energy transformation

Clean energy use is climbing, often rapidly, and yet at the same time, America has become the world’s biggest producer of oil and natural gas. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration of the U.S. Capitol building opening up and lines from a line chart are coming out of it; graph paper is the background.

Shift to clean energy will transform how the global power system works

In their new subordinate roles, fossil fuel plants will mostly serve as the grid’s safety net, providing backup power when needed. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

A colorful line chart is imposed on top of a black and white photo of a transmission line.

Why cleantech is booming in GOP-led states

Whether it’s storing carbon dioxide, making wind turbines, installing solar panels or producing electric vehicles, Republican-leaning states are outpacing their Democratic counterparts in drawing coveted investment dollars. Explainers

Amena H. Saiyid 4 min read

An illustration of the United States, with some of the states highlighted in red. Around the map there are green icons of wind turbines, solar power, nuclear energy, biofuels and batteries.

A reporter returns home to Romania to talk to coal miners

My plan was to write about miners taking courses to learn new skills for renewables jobs. But, as is so often the case, the reality turned out to be much more complex. Reporter's Notebook

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

An illustration of a notebook that says

Latin America buying more cheap solar this year

Brazil's voracious appetite for small-scale solar projects is driving Latin America's clean energy investment surge. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

A multi-colored bar chart is transposed over a black and white photo of solar panels on the roof of a house.

As coal plants shut in Romania, some miners transition to green energy while others are reluctant

Miners are witnessing the slow and steady decline of a decades-old industry as Romania prepares to phase out coal. However, not many have taken the leap to equip themselves with new skills. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 6 min read

Photo of a coal plant in the distance, with tree tops in the foreground and low mountains in the background.

In Wisconsin, I saw how the global energy transition is a local challenge

Cat Clifford shares what she learned while having tricky conversations about clean energy in Wisconsin ahead of the 2024 election. Reporter's Notebook

Cat Clifford 3 min read

Illustration for the Wisconsin Reporter's Notebook

What it takes to build green energy in fossil fuel-dependent Wisconsin

For Wisconsin to lower its reliance fossil fuels, it will need a lot more solar farms. But in politically-purple Wisconsin, government pressure to pursue more clean energy has been middling. Latest News

Cat Clifford 5 min read

A hand puts the state of Wisconsin into a ballot box surrounded by cheese and piles of coal and solar panels.

Global electricity demand set to soar, but don’t blame artificial intelligence, IEA finds

Global demand for electricity is set to soar in the coming years as the world transitions to cleaner energy largely reliant on such power systems, finds the International Energy Agency. Data Dives

Amy Harder & Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

An illustration featuring a line chart that has a sharp green line going up. In the background are photos of solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen, and large transmission lines.

Southeast Asia’s path to universal energy access and net-zero emissions

Southeast Asia is projected to keep increasing its reliance on carbon-intensive fuels like coal for the next 25 years. We need to slow, and ideally reverse, that fossil dependence. Voices

Nicole Iseppi & Sunita Dubey 4 min read

Aerial photo of a solar farm next to a small town and green fields.

A reporter finds hope at a solar-powered school in Pennsylvania

Amena H. Saiyid shares the moving experience she had visiting the Steelton-Highspire School District while reporting on clean energy in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2024 election. Reporter's Notebook

Amena H. Saiyid 3 min read

An illustration of a notebook that says

Pennsylvania schools turn to solar for a cleaner — cheaper — future

The Steelton-Highspire school runs its buildings on 100% solar power and has a fleet of electric buses. In Steelton and communities like it across this politically divided state, the interest in clean energy stems primarily from the potential cost savings. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

An illustration with a blue background that has a hand holding the shape of Pennsylvania with

Solar and China drive renewables surge over next six years — IEA

The world will be getting nearly half its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. The key to this dramatic change is — in a word — solar. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

An illustration showing two bar charts imposed over a globe with solar panels and wind turbines sticking out of it.

A reporter returns home to Michigan to take stock of cleantech

After decades living and working overseas, Bill Spindle recently jumped at the chance to return to Ann Arbor to look at the city’s ambitious decarbonization plans ahead of the coming U.S. presidential election. Reporter's Notebook

Bill Spindle 2 min read

An illustration of a notebook with the words

In Michigan, climate and clean energy initiatives are gaining momentum

The city of Ann Arbor in eastern Michigan shows how elections can make a difference in clean energy momentum. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

Illustration of a hand putting a cutout of the state of Michigan into a ballot box, with a tree, solar panels and an electric car drawn around the ballot box.

Europe to lead floating offshore wind growth

The United Kingdom, France and Portugal are leading developments. But floating wind calls for completely new construction logistics. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

An illustration of three bar charts rising out of water, where there are also wind turbines rising out of the water.

To address surging power demand, let’s value all clean energy

To meet surging energy demand without building new fossil fuel power plants, we need to embrace new zero-carbon energy technologies — and new market mechanisms to finance them. Voices

McGee Young 3 min read

An illustration with a green background and a hand holding up a smartphone with a house with solar panels on it and wind turbines and a nuclear power reactor coming out of it. There's also a thermostat set to 72 and an arrow pointing up behind the hand.

Progress under a microscope at New York Climate Week

Cipher’s team was on the ground in the Big Apple. In all the chaos and busyness, here’s what stood out to our reporters. Latest News

Cipher Staff 6 min read

Photo of traffic in NYC, a sign above the traffic warns of gridlock.

New York leads the way on cleaning up our buildings

New York is showing other states how to transform their buildings and save people money. Voices

Sara Baldwin 3 min read

Illustration of a building in black and white with green fire escapes, light blue background.

Lower interest rates should offer relief to renewables

The events of the last few years have changed the math for clean energy projects, and the industry’s challenges are far from over. Latest News

Bill Spindle 4 min read

An illustration of a wind turbine, solar panel and hydrogen tank with a parachute lowering a percent symbol.

GOP states won’t abandon cleantech if Trump wins, report predicts

Republican-leaning states are unlikely to abandon approved clean energy projects if former President Donald Trump wins a second term in office, a new analysis by Rystad Energy shows. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration of four area charts in a grid, one has been turned into a speech bubble being held up by a hand and then another hand holds up an American flag in black and white.

China hit its wind and solar goal six years early

China’s grid was built for coal power, which generates electricity constantly, so it is struggling to adapt to wind and solar, which only generate power when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. Latest News

Xiaoying You 4 min read

A photograph of a red tug boat pulling a double-headed wind turbine out to sea.

What one reporter learned about space-based solar power

Anca Gurzu shares what drew her to writing about space-based solar power: "progress is happening in an area once confined to science fiction storytelling. I was curious to learn how it would all work and what challenges these projects would face." Reporter's Notebook

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

An illustration of a notebook with the words

Very big batteries are coming to a grid near you

Large batteries are rapidly connecting to the power grid in the United States as costs fall and the need to store electricity soars. Data Dives

Bill Spindle < 1

An illustration that shows a line graph with a sudden steep upward curve. Underneath the curve are giant battery systems. To the left of the curve, three battery symbols represent a battery charging.

How to get solar power from space

A step-by-step breakdown that involves 60,000 layers of power modules the size of coffee tables tens of thousands of miles away from Earth. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

An illustration of the Earth on the left and the Sun on the right, with a robot arm holding up a satellite in between both.

Space solar inspires hope and skepticism as it inches closer to reality

The idea of powering the planet with energy from space is revolutionary and intriguing. Until recently, it seemed unfeasible. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

An illustration of an astronaut of a ladder up into space from the surface of Earth, holding up a solar panel to get the rays of the sun. The solar panel is plugged into a plug on the surface of Earth.

Majority of top states for jobs from new clean energy projects are GOP, battleground

Politically conservative and battleground states are leading the way in jobs created by new clean energy projects announced since President Biden’s signature climate law passed two years ago. Data Dives

Cat Clifford < 1

Illustration of a bar chart on top of an outline of the United States map with a black and white photo of wind turbines inside.

Here’s how cleantech stacks up in three swing states

We take stock of cleantech and the election in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Latest News

Cipher Staff 5 min read

An illustration of the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania above a ballot box where a hand is submitting a green leaf.

Wind and solar drive new U.S. tax credit market

A new clean energy tax credit market created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is drawing transactions in the billions, essentially freeing up dollars for the clean energy developers to invest anew in the cleantech space. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration of a pie chart on top of a calculator and a computer.

How innovation, coordination and compassion can help us tackle climate change

We drive economic growth without disrupting complex human and environmental systems by focusing on three key goals. Voices

Robert Murphy 3 min read

Illustration of two sets of hands holding up a globe.

Mapping clean energy on the highway

The very same roads that have fueled our car culture, and carbon emissions, could ultimately play a vital role powering our national grid with clean energy. Voices

Allie Kelly & Pat Cummens 3 min read

An aerial view of a highway with solar panels next to it, with a map of the highway intersection superimposed on top of it.

At two years, GOP states benefit the most from climate law

At the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, the nation's signature climate law, Republican-led states are benefiting most from the law's clean energy tax credits. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration with a green bar chart overlaid on top of a photo of two people standing by a large wind turbine in a field.

Energy storage on the rise as world bets on wind and solar

Global energy storage capacity will grow more than 600% over current levels by 2033, supporting the continued steep rise of wind and solar power. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

An illustration with an area line chart in the foreground and battery storage units and a wind turbine in the background.

Chinese solar firms pursue U.S., Europe markets despite obstacles

At a recent solar conference in Shanghai, “going overseas” — or in Mandarin, “chu hai” — was the phrase on everyone’s lips. Chinese solar panel manufacturers aim to surmount the unprecedented trade restrictions they face in the U.S. and Europe with three key strategies. Latest News

Xiaoying You 5 min read

Two men stand under a large solar array in a giant conference center space. Photo shot from floor level, looking up.

COP29: Azerbaijan official on climate finance, fossil fuels

The ambassador from Azerbaijan to the Netherlands recently sat down with Cipher to talk about the upcoming United Nations climate summit being hosted in his home country. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Aerial photo of a large solar power plant in a dry landscape.

Singapore seeks leading role in clean energy

Southeast Asia doesn't have a regional capital to act as organizer and promoter of its clean energy efforts. Singapore is trying to step into that role. Latest News

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Singapore's skyline at sunset, dotted by spectacular tall buildings.

EU set to trail in cleantech investments, risking energy goals

The United States' investments are expected to equal and then surpass the EU’s clean energy spending after 2030. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

A multi-colored line chart is set against a dark background with CO2 spelled out in clouds.

Plotting a new clean industrial revolution

Cipher journalists were on the ground in London last week covering the second-ever Breakthrough Energy Summit. Here are some of the key takeaways from that event. Latest News

Cipher Staff 6 min read

A large refurbished industrial space with steel beams and a glass ceiling. People mill about below.

U.S. and EU must accelerate energy transition despite headwinds, say top policy advisors

Progress toward decarbonization is picking up, but the challenges are also growing, three top advisors told the audience at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London. Latest News

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Four people, a woman and three men, sit on stage in front of a large audience. One man is shown gesturing with his hands as he speaks on a video screen.

Despite unprecedented clean energy growth, it’s still a fossil fuel world

It’s a testament to the exponential growth of renewables that fossil fuels’ share of global energy consumption has not risen in recent decades even as the demand for energy climbs. Data Dives

Cat Clifford < 1

An illustration showing a line chart transposed on top of an image of the smokestack of a fossil fuel power plant.

Scale matters. Let’s talk about it.

Grasping the enormity of our energy systems and the challenge of transitioning to clean energy is like trying to imagine how many teaspoons of saltwater make up the ocean. Latest News

Cat Clifford 6 min read

Illustration of a large, white factory building in a desert surrounded by mountains.

Elections highlight the missing energy transition narrative

To effectively address climate change, governments need to both enact the right laws and ensure their populations support those laws, so they stick around long enough to make a dent in our planet’s warming. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Illustration of people gathered around a table from above, table is green and holds little objects like a euro symbol made of coins, mini cows, a toy car, a toy tractor, and a small wind turbine. The hands around the table are all pointing at different objects.

Get to know this secret climate tech star

Catch up on Cipher's full profile of MIT professor and serial entrepreneur Yet-Ming Chiang. Latest News

Cat Clifford 11 min read

Illustration with a blue background showing the same man in a variety of different poses.

How a secret climate star turns ‘stone soup’ into climate progress

Professor and serial entrepreneur Yet-Ming Chiang's superpower is getting the right people around a cutting-edge idea and helping bring out their best Latest News

Cat Clifford 6 min read

Three men stand in front of a sheer rock face.

Meet the MIT professor who is a secret star of climate tech innovation

If you’re not deeply enmeshed in climate tech innovation, there’s a good chance you don’t know the name Yet-Ming Chiang. But if you are, you probably do — or you know about the companies he has helped launch. Latest News

Cat Clifford 6 min read

A man stands smiling with his arms crossed in front of scientific laboratory equipment.

The world promised to triple renewable energy. It needs to get moving.

Six months after COP28, the world's ambition to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 remains in reach, but countries will have to accelerate their plans to get there. Data Dives

Bill Spindle < 1

A bar chart in blue, red and green overlaid on top of a black and white photo of a solar panel, with a man holding up his arm and pointing at the top righthand corner of the screen.

Europe enters elections as global clean power leader

As Europeans head to the polls this weekend to vote in the European Union’s parliamentary elections, they can boast one of the cleanest electricity mixes in the world. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Lines from a line chart stretch across a black and white photo of a wind turbine in a field.

China makes most of the world’s batteries

The energy transition depends on batteries and right now, China dominates almost every stage of the process of making them, a recent report makes clear. Data Dives

Cat Clifford < 1

This is a screenshot of the chart with the numbers removed.

Despite fossil fuels dominating, wind and solar are surging

Wind and solar power's slice of the global electricity pie is surging, having increased roughly sevenfold over the last dozen or so years. Data Dives

Jillian Mock < 1

An area chart zoomed in so you can't see either axis, chart has sections of green, blue, and grey.

Solar power poised for even greater breakthroughs

Solar panels have become the workhorse of the energy transition. Yet visits to two of the world’s leading solar power research laboratories underscore that the technology has a lot more to deliver for the energy transition. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

A field of solar panels under a blue sky.

Latin America and the Caribbean are at an energy crossroads

Leaders from the region talk about the challenges and opportunities the energy transition poses for their countries. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 9 min read

A map of Central and part of South America, with the outlines of Brazil, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago emphasized. A little sun and a solar panel sit in the top righthand corner on top of a blue background.

How China’s clean power investments are growing

China will invest more than $150 billion in renewables each year by 2030. Meanwhile, coal use in the country’s power sector will likely peak before 2030 and then decline steadily. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Latin American energy spotlight: Guyana, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago

Many Latin American and Caribbean nations could become major clean energy players — but may rely on fossil fuel revenues to do so. We take a look at the energy transition in three countries. Explainers

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

Illustration of a wooden boat on a sandy beach, pointing toward wind turbines on a small island in the distance.

Global cleantech competition threatens Latin American and Caribbean ambitions

Latin American and Caribbean nations are poised to embrace the energy transition, but stiff competition from the United States and the European Union are making those ambitions harder to meet. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

Located along the Brazil-Paraguay border on the Parana River, Itaipu Dam is the world's third largest hydroelectric dam.

Europe’s grid expansion out of sync with renewables goals

Clean energy technologies can be deployed in Europe much faster than transmission lines can be built or upgraded. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

How we know the energy transition is here

You may be under the impression the world isn't making much progress on tackling climate change. But several recent data points suggest the energy transition is happening, often faster than even some experts have predicted. Harder Line

Amy Harder 6 min read

Illustration with a blue background and a dark blue circle, in front of which are two hands planting a small plant along with a floating wind turbine and a solar panel.

Australia’s top renewable energy state aims for more, much more

The state of South Australia has too much renewable energy. It plans to build way more. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

Illustration with a light blue background, showing a mountain of solar panels and wind turbines with an Australian flag sticking out of the renewable energy mountain.

Surging power demand spurs smarter electric grid use

Electricity demand is going up; building new transmission lines is really hard. But there are a number of improvements that could help us get more out of the existing grid today. Explainers

Cat Clifford 7 min read

An illustration with a blue background with overlapping pictures of different transmission towers, with a green arrow pointing up and to the right.

Europe’s wind ambitions require a makeover for the ports

Ports are an often-overlooked yet crucial part of the wind industry. They need to expand to move around parts for increasingly bigger wind turbines. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 6 min read

Illustration with a blue background showing photos of offshore wind turbines being installed and a large ship docked at a port surrounded by tall cranes.

A political surprise in coal country could provide a lesson for oil country

Conservative U.S. states like Texas, with deep historical and economic connections to the fossil fuel industry, could learn from Poland, once a fossil fuel stronghold turning toward renewables. Voices

Pete Harrison 3 min read

Illustration of a globe with Texas and Poland emphasized with two hands in front, one holding a solar array and one holding a dump truck filled with coal.

AI teeters between climate boon and energy burden

Artificial intelligence can help tackle the thorniest climate problems. But there’s a catch: It uses a ton of energy. Latest News

Cat Clifford 6 min read

Aerial view of a modular data center, with mountains in the background of the photo.

Climate, AI and energy security drive CERAWeek confab

One of the world’s largest energy conferences, CERAWeek, is underway this week in Texas. It's the first major gathering of the energy industry since COP28. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 3 min read

An illustration of a group of people milling about in front of a sign that says

Chinese solar panel manufacturing outpaces global demand

China is producing far more solar panel modules than the world is on track to use. The implications of the mismatch could reach far beyond the country’s borders. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

Four bars in a bar chart with no labels, two green and two blue.

Your definitive guide to understanding hydrogen

What is hydrogen and why is everybody talking about it now? Consider this your hydrogen cheat sheet. Explainers

Cat Clifford 4 min read

Illustration. A hand holds a hydrogen production plant surrounded by questionmarks drawn in marker on a peach background.

Global energy watchdog puts on climate ‘referee’ hat

With higher profile, the IEA chief, Fatih Birol, faces scrutiny from all sides. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 7 min read

The exterior of a fancy marble building in Paris, lit up with blue lights and the letters

In a first, EU wind power surpasses natural gas power

Fossil generation accounted for less than a third of EU power generation last year. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Line graph

Let’s build an apprenticeship program for climate entrepreneurs

It’s time for startups to actively adopt a cleantech apprenticeship model from their inception. The urgency of climate change today means we don't have the luxury of letting apprentice-mentor relationships form organically.   Voices

Alice Havill 4 min read

Illustration of hikers in the foreground with wind turbines in the background.

Europe struggles to balance emission cuts with political realities

The EU is mulling ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2040 ahead of politically-sensitive parliamentary elections this year. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

A see saw with a wind-powered hydrogen plant on one side and a tractor on the other, with the stars of the European Union behind it.

Europe maintains renewables momentum in electricity generation

Onshore and offshore wind made up more than half of the energy coming from renewables. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Unlocking the grid is key to meeting global renewable goal

Tripling global renewable energy capacity by decade’s end is possible if all the wind and solar capacity currently languishing in regulatory limbo is hooked up to the power grid. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Bar graph in blue and green. The bar on the left side, labeled 'solar' is taller than the bar on the right side.

Why cleantech groups want the EU’s public lending arm to prop them up

They want the European Investment Bank to offer them a safety net through so-called public guarantees, which they argue would allow for a faster scale-up of emerging technologies. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

The realities of supplying abundant clean energy

We are inadvertently creating systems that either will not eliminate CO2, or will produce less abundant and less reliable energy. The solution is to focus on the complete energy system. Voices

W.D. Budinger & Paul Bauman 3 min read

Illustration of nuclear energy plant, wind turbines and solar panels.

Wind and solar drive growth of clean power in Latin America

Renewables represent more than half of annual capacity additions in the last three years. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

How Prometheus sheds light on Africa’s energy future

The current energy transition isn’t humanity’s first, but it is perhaps the most monumental. Unlike its predecessors, this transition is urgent — and must benefit everyone. Voices

Andrew Kamau 3 min read

A man holds a solar panel on the back of a motorcycle weaving through dense traffic.

Gulf petrostates bring an increasingly complex relationship with fossil fuels to COP28

With COP28 happening in Dubai, petrostates like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are in the spotlight. The glare can be harsh, but it also reveals their increasingly complicated relationship with fossil fuels. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

Skyscrapers and construction cranes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Betting on solar solutions where there is no grid

Innovative off-grid solar projects are gaining traction in the climate financing world as a way of more quickly and efficiently solving an energy access problem affecting hundreds of millions of people. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Two hands shaking above a stack of coins and a farmer tending to a field. Illustration with a green background.

Let’s harness oil and gas know-how to scale the energy transition

Now, after 30 years in oil and gas, I’m putting that knowledge to work advising climate tech startups. Voices

Jane Zhang 3 min read

A helicopter flies over an offshore oil rig surrounded by water at sunset.

Massive scale-up of hydrogen needed for net-zero goals

Most of the hydrogen would need to come from renewable electricity to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

a simplified chart showing growth needed in renewable hydroge production

Europe to find out true price of renewable hydrogen

A first-of-its-kind pilot auction, meant to ensure there will be users ready to buy renewable hydrogen, kicks off in Europe at the end of November. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Multicolored

Permitting delays could massively slow offshore wind growth

Permitting bottlenecks for renewable energy projects have been getting more attention from policymakers over the last year, but more solutions are needed, Norwegian consultancy says. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

Exclusive: In a first, MIT trains students to resolve clean energy conflicts

Students get academic credit and experience addressing real-world dilemmas, while the community and developer get free help resolving conflict. Latest News

Amy Harder 5 min read

Illustration of social panels surrounded by hands shaking in agreement

IEA saw massive shift in energy landscape in past two years

Recent events have spurred an expansion of clean energy technologies and could push coal, oil and even natural gas into decline by the end of the decade. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

green and black bars in a bar chart.

Proposed ‘forever chemicals’ ban rattles Europe’s cleantech sector

PFAS are little discussed in the clean energy industry yet they are crucial components of technologies like wind turbines, renewable hydrogen, electric batteries and power grids. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Red background with a hazard warning sign in the middle surrounded by a white drawing of a wind turbine, a battery, a solar panel, and an electrolyzer.

Federal subsidies poised to ease U.S. reliance on imported wind parts

The United States relied on Mexico, India and Spain for key onshore wind energy parts in 2022. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Blue bar chart lines running from left to right.

Here are the five states leading on cleantech investments

Electric cars and their supply chains are driving record cleantech investments across the United States, led by California, Texas and Florida. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Blue and green bar chart.

G20 leaders meet as their average coal emissions rise

When leaders of the world’s 20 richest countries gather in India this weekend, they will confront an unsettling fact: Their collective emissions from coal-fired electricity actually increased over the last seven years. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart showing emission increases in G20 countries

John Podesta on big oil, extreme weather and wind woes

White House advisor John Podesta sat down with Cipher for an exclusive interview halfway through his promised two-year position leading the rollout of the biggest climate law in U.S. history. Q&A

Amy Harder 5 min read

Graphic of John Podesta

How AI and electric cars can rescue the grid

Last September, two months before the launch of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) was already helping keep the lights on for thousands of Californians during a historic heatwave. Voices

Annette Clayton 3 min read

Robotic hand adjusts a temperature dial from hot to cold. Outline of California in the background and a power transmission line.

Billions of dollars of Chinese solar panels sit in European warehouses

European imports of Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have significantly outpaced installations. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Line chart depicting imported solar panels and solar panel installations in the EU.

Wind Blows Favorably on Japan’s North Island

Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido offers some of the most promising waters for offshore wind development. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

Graphic depicting wind turbines in Japan

At year’s halfway mark, climate tech investments down

The amount of money that went into climate and cleantech venture capital investments in the first half of 2023 is roughly 29% less than the amount invested by this time last year, according to new PitchBook data shared exclusively with Cipher. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Bonus solar tax credits depend on unbuilt U.S. factories

Solar energy developers could earn bonus tax credits for using American-made content in their solar cells—but the factories making those key parts are not yet up and running. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Bar chart in shades of blue.

As tax debate rages, massive scale needed for clean hydrogen

The United States will need to turbocharge clean hydrogen production if it hopes to meet the Biden administration’s ambitious targets, according to a recent study by two think tanks. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Japan, an economic leader in Asia, lags on renewable energy

Japan, the only Asian member of the elite Group of Seven countries (G7), is lagging in its efforts to decarbonize the world’s third-largest economy, according to climate advocates and scientists. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

Offshore wind to test Europe’s teamwork

Europe is betting heavily on offshore wind to decarbonize its energy system and boost its energy security, looking at the North Sea—nestled between seven countries and connected to the Atlantic Ocean—as its next giant green power plant. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Fossil emissions contrast with increased green spending

Two separate studies out in recent days underscore the stark contrast on display in our energy systems: Coal’s persistent dominance and green energy’s rise. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart of EU coal plants top emitters in 2022

Welcome to our wild and wonky climate future

Our climate debate just went from black and white to shades of gray all over. After decades of mostly binary debates over whether climate change is real and whether Washington, D.C. should pass laws addressing it, the Inflation Reduction Act is helping usher in a new, byzantine reality that is scrambling everything and everyone. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

Permitting stands in the way of a fossil-free electric grid

With the White House and members of the United States Congress debating how to expedite the nation’s permitting process for energy projects, a recent Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study shows what’s at stake. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Chart of U.S. clean energy projects in the permitting queue in 2022

Paper weighing down Europe’s renewables push

COPENHAGEN — Dozens of thick, paper-filled binders stand carefully lined up next to each other across an office hallway. The thousands of printed pages are the documents one developer needs to physically hand in to apply for a permit to build a small wind farm in Germany. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Economic headwinds slow climate tech investments

The amount of money going into climate and cleantech venture capital investments so far this year is nearly a quarter less than at this time last year. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Chart of global venture capital deal activity in climate and cleantech

With profits reigning, clean energy struggles to compete

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund—the largest of its kind in the world at more than $1.3 trillion—has made some 10,000 investments across the global economy. Harder Line

Amy Harder 5 min read

How to understand the U.S. battle over hydrogen tax credits

A battle as complex as it is significant is brewing in the global race to secure government subsidies to scale up an American clean hydrogen economy. Explainers

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

In a first, U.S. renewables generation overtakes coal

The United States generated more electricity from renewable energy than from coal last year, a first that illustrates the transition underway in the country. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Chart showing renewables in U.S. overtaking coal-fired generation for first time in 2022

Renewables boss says world needs to prop up new energy system

Power grids, undersea cables and ports are overlooked yet essential connectors ensuring renewable energy can flow across great distances from production to consumption. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Demand for key minerals grows in net zero scenarios

The world’s journey to a cleaner energy future will require a lot of metals and minerals. By mid-century, we will see a significant uptick in the amount of metals needed, as the chart based on BloombergNEF data shows. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart of annual demand for key transition metals in energy transition

How to get the minerals we need in a clean energy future

Securing the critical minerals we need for a green energy future will require cleaning up mining practices, boosting recycling and innovating to be less dependent on them altogether. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

The massive quest for the minerals we need in a clean energy future

The rush toward a clean energy future means we need to dig, extract and process Earth’s resources faster and better than ever before. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Record U.S. renewable electricity to replace fossil fuel power

The U.S. electricity grid is undergoing a rapid energy about-face: A record amount of clean energy is set to come online this year at the same time fossil-fuel power plants keep retiring at a fast clip, according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

chart of U.S. new electric-generating capacity planned for 2023

Nuclear support grows amid push for clean hydrogen

The United States’ first hydrogen plant fueled by nuclear energy has just powered up in New York. The moment reflects two trends converging in the past few years. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 3 min read

In Norway, global tension over fossil fuels and climate change

Oslo, Norway — This Nordic country is grappling with an inner conflict, accentuated by Russia’s war in Ukraine, that pits its oil and gas wealth against its climate change ambitions. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

Energy consumption to peak by mid-century

Global energy demand is set to peak by mid-century as energy efficiency improves and energy use is increasingly decarbonized, according to the annual energy outlook from multinational oil and gas company BP released last week. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Graph of global energy consumption

Cleantech race risks sidelining developing countries

The global cleantech race underway between the United States, Europe and China could leave developing countries behind. The world’s major economies are competing to become industrial leaders in the burgeoning cleantech sector. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

In Europe and around the world, clean energy records broken

Records broken in Europe and around the world show the energy transition in action, at times driven by geopolitics. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

Graph of energy transition and fossil fuel investments

Massive cleantech deployment needed to reach net zero

Countries need to “dramatically” increase the scale and speed of clean energy technology deployment for a chance to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, the International Energy Agency (IEA) found in a new report. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

Graph of global deployment of clean energy techonologies

Long-duration energy storage projects set for growth despite hurdles

Interest in long-duration energy storage (LDES) projects is growing around the world, but developers will struggle to scale the technology up cost effectively before 2030. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

Graph of average duration of global energy storage systems

Low-carbon power and electric vehicle investments drive path to net zero

The world needs to nearly triple investments in low-carbon electricity and carbon capture technologies in the power sector for a chance to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a new report by BloombergNEF. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Graph of Global investment needs in the energy sector by 2050

Led by Vietnam, Asian nations fuel world’s solar capacity growth

Five of the top 10 nations with the most solar electricity capacity are in Asia, according to a new report. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Chart of top countries ranked by solar electricity capacity over time

How to unlock clean tech for the developing world

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt—A half day’s drive from this resort town where thousands are gathered at an annual climate gathering, one of the world’s biggest solar farms stands as a rare example of how clean energy can be financed and built in a developing country. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Clean tech is not reaching the developing world fast enough

Not enough cash is flowing to clean energy technologies in the developing world, widening the investment gap between rich and poorer countries and hampering the energy transition. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Clean energy investments on the rise, but boost needed for net zero path

Global clean energy investments need to triple between now and the end of the decade if the energy sector is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

Chart of clean energy investments by year

Energy security and new laws fuel clean energy race

Nations are increasingly competing to establish themselves as pioneers of clean energy technologies, racing to boost energy self-sufficiency and green their economies. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Looking back to move ahead: Lessons learned from cleantech 1.0

Conventional wisdom says cleantech 1.0 was a bust. In a nutshell, cleantech 1.0: Beginning in 2006, venture capitalists poured more than $25 billion into clean energy technologies. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

Renewables are cheap but not always available: storage solutions

A race for commercial solutions is underway to store renewable energy for long periods of time, but financing remains one of the main stumbling blocks to deployment. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Renewables are cheap but not always available: storage hurdles

The world is rapidly scaling up wind and solar electricity, but technology to store these variable forms of energy is lagging. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Europe grapples with energy crisis while climate pressure ramps up

World leaders are gathering this week in the United States at two key conferences aimed at ratcheting up pressure to turn ambitious climate goals into reality. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Renewables need to more than double in power sector by 2030: report

The share of renewables in global electricity generation would need to more than double by 2030 to ensure the power sector is on a path to net-zero emissions, according to a report out Tuesday by several international organizations. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart of renewable energy generation by region and technology

U.S. climate spending comes with a global perk: regained respect

The United States’ decision to pour hundreds of billions of dollars to prop up clean energy may have given the country more than what money can bring: an opportunity to renew its credibility at November’s international climate negotiations. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Forget sticks, Congress embraces carrots to tackle climate change

The U.S. government is on the cusp of its largest-ever embrace of carrots to tackle climate change. Not literally carrots, of course. That would be a lot of pressure on a vegetable. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

More investment and lower costs: Three charts on the Inflation Reduction Act

Amy Harder < 1

Chart on the Inflation Reduction Act

Rocky path to wind growth offers cautionary tale for cleantech tax credits

The U.S. Congress’ on-again-off-again relationship with wind energy tax credits portends choppy roads ahead for all types of cleantech. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Europe’s solar goals caught up in high prices—and China

The European Union wants to ally with the sun to boost energy security and meet climate goals but soaring prices for essential raw materials could thwart those plans. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

China dominates solar-power supply chain

China has increasingly dominated the market for polysilicon, the essential ingredient in solar panels, over the last dozen years. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Europe jockeys for space in renewables race

Time to take out a map and get organized. It sounds basic, yet it’s an important—and potentially contentious—exercise the European Union is embarking on to figure out the best spots to fit more wind and solar farms. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Wind, solar can be main source of EU clean grid by 2035, report says

Wind and solar energy can become Europe’s dominant source of electricity as part of an almost entirely clean power system by 2035, according to a recent report by climate think tank Ember. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

If we can’t build things, we can’t tackle climate change: potential solutions

The U.S. government, venture capitalists and academics are looking for solutions to a messy trio of local opposition, outdated permitting processes and backlogged bureaucracy that’s threatening to upend America’s rapid shift to clean energy. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

Africa poised for clean energy potential, but basic needs lacking

A lack of basic access to energy sources remains one of the main barriers to Africa’s industrial development, according to a report out this month from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

If we can’t build things, we can’t tackle climate change: the problem

Local opposition, convoluted permitting processes and backlogged bureaucracies are hamstringing our attempts to tackle climate change. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

U.S. clean energy grows, but new power lines don’t

The number of renewable energy projects seeking approval to connect to electricity grids has increased significantly in recent years, yet the number of miles of new power lines constructed over a similar timeline has gone down. Data Dives

Amy Harder 2 min read

Why the hydrogen rainbow doesn’t tell the whole story

There’s one energy source the world is increasingly betting on in the race to decarbonize the economy: hydrogen. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Electricity-powered hydrogen to dominate by 2050: report

Hydrogen produced from electricity will be the dominant form of production by mid-century, according to a forecast released this week by Oslo-based consulting group DNV. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Hydro, nuclear provide bulk of world’s zero-emitting power

This chart is a reminder of the historically dominant roles that nuclear and hydro play in providing zero-carbon electricity—and the unprecedented growth of wind and solar. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

How EU aims to use clean hydrogen

The European Commission’s plan to help the 27-member bloc end its reliance on Russian fossil fuel imports includes a quick scale-up of renewable hydrogen production and use over the next several years. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Energy savings: an easy option but a tough sell

Building renovations, heat pumps and triple-glazed windows are rarely the talk of the town—yet these kinds of energy efficiency measures are central to the European Union’s plan to shed Russian fossil fuels following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Australia, U.K. and U.S. lead in low-carbon hydrogen projects

Global investments in low-carbon hydrogen supply are ramping up, with the bulk of new projects focusing on renewable hydrogen production. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Fight brews in Europe over how to supply renewable hydrogen

Tucked between two fjords, the Norwegian peninsula of Herøya recently became home to the world’s first fully automated facility that builds electrolyzers. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Slow approval of renewables projects puts climate goals at risk

In 2012, a Danish renewable energy developer applied for a permit to build an offshore wind farm in the country’s southern waters that could power 350,000 homes. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

World risks being two-thirds short on wind energy

The world needs to scale up annual wind energy installations by a factor of four this decade to meet mid-century climate goals, according to a report released earlier this month by the Global Wind Energy Council, a global trade group representing the industry. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Africa, Middle East set to lead green hydrogen race

Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Oceania are the regions with the highest technical potential to produce green hydrogen, while Europe is likely to become a key import market. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Geopolitics lurk in EU’s bet on green hydrogen in energy transition

The European Union is working hard to rid itself of Russian natural gas, and in the process the 27-member bloc is betting on a different gas as a clean alternative: green hydrogen. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

The real test of the EU’s energy freedom goals: sticking with the plan

In the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European leaders have vowed to shed their dependence on Russian gas and charge full speed into tapping renewable energy. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Why the government needs to speed up our energy transition

To summarize almost 200 years of the developed world’s energy history in 20 words: Wood came first, and then coal was king, and now oil and natural gas are dominating energy consumption today. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

Demand for clean energy is growing, so it better be there

Tadeu Carneiro, a 40-year veteran of the metals and mining industry, has bet his career on making steel from zero-emission electricity. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

A rapidly growing electricity system

The amount of electricity capacity we need in a world reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is anywhere between four and nearly eight times more than what we have today, according to BloombergNEF. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Hurdles abound in race to build more clean energy

As conference attendees were waking up last week for the annual United Nations climate conference underway in Glasgow, Scotland, voters in Maine were rejecting a proposed power line sending Canadian hydropower to Massachusetts. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

How our energy mix is set to change over the next 30 years

The world’s energy mix will be transformed over the next 30 years, but current laws and pledges still would result in a global temperature rise of 2.3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

What’s really driving the energy crisis and how cleantech fits in

Much of the world is facing an energy crisis with skyrocketing prices of oil, natural gas and coal—or even worse, no fuel at all. Explainers

Amy Harder 3 min read

Energy storage poised to soar

Driven by massive amounts of variable wind and solar power, annual global storage deployment is set to nearly triple this year, according to a new Wood Mackenzie report. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Record-breaking investments going into climate since Paris Agreement

A record nearly $30 billion of venture capital money has gone into climate-change technologies so far this year, according to an exclusive sneak peak of a forthcoming report by PitchBook. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1