Climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic. Cyber security attacks. Artificial intelligence (AI) and data privacy regulations. The shift to 5G. These were all common themes in 2021, and are likely to continue affecting us well into the new year. To learn more, check out our top reads from 2021: Four Cyber Security Resolutions to Adopt in […]
Renewable energies are surging. Between 2011 and 2020, the amount of energy the United States generated from solar and wind almost quadrupled. When combined with geothermal generation, it accounted for an annual growth of almost 15 percent, reports The Washington Post. Among the findings originally reported by the nonprofit Environment America Research and Policy Center […]
Power outages are soaring due to climate change. In 2020, extreme weather was responsible for a 73% spike in blackouts, according to PowerOutage.US, a site that aggregates utility power outage data. With global temperatures on track to rise by over 2.7 degrees Celsius (4.9 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, rising outages will […]
Not only are electronic devices everywhere in our homes, they also take large amounts of energy from the power grid. According to a 2015 report from the Natural Resources Defense Council, roughly a quarter of home energy consumption in the U.S. is eaten up by devices that are in idle power mode—and that doesn’t include […]
In recent weeks, natural disasters such as hurricanes and the California wildfires have wrought a path of destruction across the United States. Without investment in renewable technology that can help combat climate change, events such as these are likely to get worse. As discussed in a previous post, the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the renewable industry […]
In California, rolling blackouts have left millions of people in the dark as they rush indoors to escape both the COVID-19 pandemic and heatwaves. With so many people blasting air conditioners at once, California’s electric grid, which relies on renewables more than ever, is struggling to supply power. There are two primary reasons for the […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down cities around the world, and major transportation systems slowed to a crawl, pollution levels plummeted by around 50% in Delhi, India, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The researchers found an 8% increase in solar panel energy production as a result of clearer, less […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic winds on, it’s causing a lot of unpredictability in the renewable energy sector. BW Research Partnership predicts that half a million people employed in the industry in the U.S. will lose their jobs by the end of June. However, at the same time, solar power is providing more power than ever. […]
Renewables have greatly expanded on a global level. Last year, growth in renewables outcompeted oil, representing a minimum 70% total capacity growth in nearly all regions with the exception of Africa and the Middle East, where renewable growth constituted 52% and 26%, respectively. The expansion of renewables in 2020, however, will be less certain due […]
Although fossil fuels continue to be a major energy source, many countries are focusing on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy resources. In order to meet emissions targets, governments are putting greater effort into developing and implementing energy sources that are safe for the environment. A recent breakthrough has put society one step closer to […]
