Climate

xAI is facing a lawsuit for operating over 400 MW of gas turbines without permits

The Colossus data center operated by xAI outside of Memphis is facing a lawsuit for operating a fleet of natural gas turbines without permits. “Over the past year, xAI has installed and operated at least 35 combustion turbines and other sources of air pollution at the Colossus site without ever obtaining the necessary preconstruction or

xAI is facing a lawsuit for operating over 400 MW of gas turbines without permits Read More »

Senate GOP bill spares nuclear and geothermal energy while hammering wind and solar

One month after the House passed its version of a reconciliation bill, Senate Republicans released their take on the budget bill Monday night. The Senate Finance Committee’s language would take a sledgehammer to some parts of the renewable-friendly Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) while sparing others.  Solar, wind, and hydrogen bear the brunt of the impact.

Senate GOP bill spares nuclear and geothermal energy while hammering wind and solar Read More »

Honda dips its toes in cargo delivery micromobility

Walk around a big city like New York or Amsterdam long enough and you’re bound to notice something: tiny four-wheeled cargo carriers zipping down bike lanes. These battery-assisted vehicles, often called e-quads, are distinct from cargo e-bikes, which tend to be geared toward households. E-quads are larger and sport enclosed cargo holds, making them a

Honda dips its toes in cargo delivery micromobility Read More »

Finland warms up the world’s largest sand battery, and the economics look appealing

It doesn’t look like much, but Finland recently flipped the switch on the world’s largest sand-based battery. Yes, sand. A sand battery is a type of thermal energy storage system that uses sand or crushed rock to store heat. Electricity — typically from renewable sources — is used to heat the sand. That stored heat

Finland warms up the world’s largest sand battery, and the economics look appealing Read More »

Battery manufacturer Powin files for bankruptcy months after landing $200M loan

Battery manufacturer Powin filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. The Oregon-based company said it has more than $300 million in debt. The Chapter 11 filing will let the company continue operating while it restructures its debt. Powin manufactured grid-scale batteries using lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells from China. Powin had been searching for alternative domestic suppliers, but the

Battery manufacturer Powin files for bankruptcy months after landing $200M loan Read More »

Standard Nuclear emerges from the ashes of a failed startup

Standard Nuclear emerged from stealth Wednesday with $42 million in funding to make advanced nuclear fuel. Except Standard Nuclear isn’t an entirely new company. Rather, it’s built on assets purchased at auction following the bankruptcy of the Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) for $28 million. The new company’s CEO, Kurt Terrani, served as vice president

Standard Nuclear emerges from the ashes of a failed startup Read More »

Proxima Fusion joins the club of well-funded nuclear contenders with €130M Series A

Commercial nuclear fusion power isn’t a reality yet. But venture capital is flowing into startups that promise that clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy is no longer just a distant dream. Most fusion companies that have raised over $100 million are based in the United States. Not Proxima Fusion, a German startup that has just

Proxima Fusion joins the club of well-funded nuclear contenders with €130M Series A Read More »

Mitra Chem is raising $50M for its cheaper, domestic battery materials

Battery material startup Mitra Chem has raised $15.6 million of a planned $50 million funding round, according to a regulatory filing seen by TechCrunch. Mitra Chem is developing materials to make lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries store more energy. Automakers have begun to turn to LFP in an attempt to trim costs from electric vehicle battery packs,

Mitra Chem is raising $50M for its cheaper, domestic battery materials Read More »