Physical sciences, Earth sciences

Could there be a cost-efficient, eco-friendly alternative to today’s solar power technology? Quite possibly, thanks to a much more efficient solar cell developed by EU-backed researchers.

With its new Voyage Energy Planner, an EU-backed project helps inland waterway vessel owners plan zero-emission voyages using its innovative swappable battery containers.

Launching on 28 February 2022, the Switch2save Architectural Design Competition is giving students and young professionals a chance to showcase lightweight switchable smart glass solutions for energy-efficient glass buildings.

Taking a major step towards a more sustainable tyre industry, an EU-funded project has produced the world’s first sustainable carbon black (sCB) material in a truly circular process.

EU-backed researchers studying the molecular structure of solid-liquid interfaces have discovered unexpectedly high energy storage capability where water meets metal surfaces.

Are storage-as-a-service models that use second-life batteries for a commercial end user economically and technically feasible? Yes, says an EU-funded project, demonstrating it at a photovoltaic (PV) plant site in Belgium.

An EU-backed consortium couples heat pumps with solar panels for more efficient energy use in residential and other buildings.

A set of EU-funded surveys has revealed a surprisingly high acceptance of water and nutrient reuse in three European countries.

Classical statistics or machine learning-based methods? EU-backed researchers perform the first objective comparison of conventional and new methods used to decode anomalous diffusion.

EU-backed scientists have successfully printed in 3D tiny gas sensors that mimic colour change mechanisms seen on peacocks. The sensors respond optically to traces of gas in homes, work settings and cars.

A groundbreaking airborne wind power system now flies in the Caribbean. The solution demonstrates how remote locations can boost their power grids with cheaper renewable energy while helping to accelerate the energy transition.

The EU has ambitions to become climate-neutral by 2050. This will require a dramatic shift toward renewable and clean energy sources, as well as drastic economic and social adaptations. The EU-funded Open ENTRANCE project is developing an open-source platform for assessing low-carbon transition pathways.

Researchers compared the performance and fatigue of flexible subsea cables. They found that using a device called a bend stiffener greatly increases their lifespan by protecting them against damage and fatigue.

What will Europe’s first seagoing ferry powered by hydrogen fuel cells look like? The EU-funded HySeas III project has released the first images as testing progresses on the ship’s key components.

An international consortium has completed the design of a single-point mooring (SPM) system platform for floating wind turbines.

A new study explores the climate and air quality benefits of removing methane from the atmosphere – a crucial complementary approach to current CO2 emissions reduction efforts.

Meet two of this year’s best EU-funded innovators: Finnish company MetGen, the overall Grand Prix winner, and C2CA Technology, the Netherlands, winner of the Sustainability Tech category.

For the first time, scientists have produced a stable 2D silicon compound, paving the way for new uses of silicon in molecular chemistry.

A hybrid concrete-plastic floating platform and its components have been validated for offshore wind energy use.

Residents in the Portuguese city of Porto get help making their own compost, and urban metabolism is analysed as an important tool in transitioning to a circular economy.