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Category: Energy

Lithium mining in Southern California’s Salton Sea geothermal system, with Dr. Pat Dobson

Traditional hard rock lithium mining is energy- and resource-intense. But lithium is a key component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, like those used in electric vehicles. We spoke with Dr. Pat Dobson of the Geothermal Systems Program at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory about his work with alternative mining techniques used in the Salton Sea, in Southern California.

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Tackling the Plastic Crisis, with Martin Bourque

In an effort to combat the increasing use of non-recyclable plastics, Martin Bourque and the Ecology Center in Berkeley advocate for laws and programs that reduce plastic consumption. Their strategies, including a bag reduction initiative and a disposable foodware ordinance, have been adopted at state levels and by other cities.

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Hydrogen Fuel’s Potential to Decarbonize Aviation

Air travel accounts for about 2.5 percent of global carbon emissions. To reduce emissions from aviation, ZeroAvia is seeking to build the world’s first zero-emission passenger jet powered by hydrogen fuel, which offers three times more energy per kilogram than jet fuel and emits no toxic fumes when combusted. Hydrogen fuel’s higher energy density and capacity for consistent electrical power make it a promising potential energy source for aircraft.

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Rerun: Could Windows Be A Source of Solar Power? with Professor Stephen Forrest


Office buildings, high rises, and greenhouses are covered in windows. What if we used all that window space to capture solar energy and add to the grid’s renewable energy supply? Listen to University of Michigan engineering professor Steven Forrest explain how a change in the semiconducors used in solar panels could allow us to transform windows into power sources — without sacrificing light and transparency.

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Cool surfaces: Reflecting heat and reducing emissions, with Ronnen Levinson

Can cool surfaces—roofs, walls, or pavements that are generally light-colored and highly reflective—help combat climate change? We spoke with Ronnen Levinson, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, about how such surfaces combat climate change by reducing heat and lowering energy consumption in buildings.

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Improving on 100% Renewable Portfolio Standards through Hourly Matching, with Jan Pepper of Peninsula Clean Energy

Electricity providers can meet renewable energy portfolio standards while still relying on fossil fuels during high-demand hours. But by matching renewable energy supply to demand every hour of the day, San Mateo County’s Peninsula Clean Energy seeks to fully decarbonize the grid. We spoke with CEO Jan Pepper to learn more.

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Municipal Investment in Clean Energy Tech through Community Choice Aggregation, with Rob Shaw

How can local governments can help advance clean energy technology? Investor-owned utilities dominate the electricity market in the United States, but community choice aggregators let municipalities control their own energy strategy. 

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The Clean Energy Potential of Nuclear Fusion, with Annie Kritcher

Unlike nuclear fission made famous by the atomic bomb, nuclear fusion produces energy by fusing together hydrogen isotopes. It’s been an elusive but ultimately unattainable goal. That is until a recent breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Physicist Annie Kritcher led the team that made this advance.

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An Induction Range, No Rewiring Required

Fans of the induction cooktops say it’s how we’ll electrify our homes, breathe cleaner air… and maybe cook better too. The hitch? Installing these cooktops often requires expensive and time consuming rewiring. We spoke to Channing Street Copper Company, a startup whose new induction cooktop could help make the technology more accessible by which plugging directly into the wall.

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