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A tax code boost for a zero-carbon economy

MIT Energy Initiative researchers help shape U.S. regulations intended to spur clean hydrogen production

The multi-faceted challenge of powering AI

Providing electricity to power-hungry data centers is stressing grids, raising prices for consumers, and slowing the transition to clean energy.

New MIT model of climate chemistry finds “non-negligible” climate impacts of potential hydrogen fuel leakage

An MIT study confirms the climate impacts of hydrogen and recommends that leak prevention be a priority as the infrastructure for handling this clean-burning fuel is built.

The role of modeling in the energy transition

At the MIT Energy Initiative Fall Colloquium, the administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration explained why long-term energy models are not forecasting tools—and why they’re still vitally important.

Two absorber units at Climeworks' direct air capture and storage plant, Orca.

Technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the air: A reality check

MIT study finds that many climate-stabilization plans are based on questionable assumptions about the future cost and deployment of “direct air capture” technology and therefore may not bring about the promised reduction in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

In the media

Big Tech wants to plug data centers right into power plants. Utilities say it’s not fair.

Associated Press January 29, 2025

In order to meet the growing energy demand from data centers, tech giants are seeking to connect directly to power plants and avoid the delays and higher costs associated with using the electric grid. MITEI Director Bill Green weighs in on the time-sensitivity of related federal regulations.

Is the world ready for the transformational power of fusion?

World Economic Forum January 9, 2025

A recent MITEI report on fusion predicts that fusion power could surpass coal as the world's leading power source by 2050, reshaping the global energy market.

How giant ‘batteries’ in the Earth could slash your electricity bills

Grist December 12, 2024

A new study—led by MIT graduate student Martin Staadecker—found that large-scale, long-duration energy storage deployment is essential for renewables to reach their full potential. “Battery storage on its own—or what people call short-duration energy storage—is very important. But you can’t just rely on lithium-ion batteries, because it would be very expensive to have enough to actually provide power for an entire week,” states Staadecker.

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Energy Futures

Energy Futures is published twice a year, featuring energy research and other energy activities at MIT.

Decarbonizing the U.S. power grid

A new MIT online model for regional planning calculates the cost-optimized strategy for specific regions under a variety of constraints and assumptions.

Promising designs for nuclear power reactors using molten salt

Selecting the right metal can alleviate the corrosion problem.

Six innovative energy projects received MIT Energy Initiative Seed Fund grants

Annual MITEI awards support research on carbon removal, novel materials for energy storage, improved power system planning, and more.

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