In the Media

MIT unveils a megawatt motor for electric aircraft

IEEE Spectrum    ·    June 23, 2023

MIT aeroengineers, led by Professor Zoltán Spakovszky (Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics), are working on significantly shrinking the carbon footprint of aviation by creating a 1-megawatt electrical motor for commercial airliners.

Your electric bill shouldn’t be so high. Here’s how to fix it.

The Boston Globe    ·    June 23, 2023

MIT Deputy Director Christopher Knittel discusses the effect of Massachusetts’ flawed electricity pricing system on incentives to electrify.

What is the future of fusion energy?

Scientific American    ·    June 23, 2023

Fusion energy could be essential for our future energy needs. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, in partnership with MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, is building a midsize tokamak prototype called SPARC, also targeted for completion in 2025.

Chasing carbon zero

PBS/NOVA    ·    June 23, 2023

Professor Yet-Ming Chiang (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) discusses his research aimed at closing gaps in renewable energy availability when there’s no sun or wind. Through their company, Form Energy, Chiang and William Woodford PhD ’13 have developed iron-air batteries that can store electricity for up to 100 hours.

The underbelly of electric vehicles

The Washington Post    ·    June 23, 2023

What goes into making an electric vehicle? From where do EV components come and at what human cost? MIT Joint Program Deputy Director Sergey Paltsev (MITEI) comments on EV supply chain tradeoffs and ongoing dependence on China.

These powerful solar panels are as thin as a human hair

Popular Science    ·    December 19, 2022

A new development from MIT can quickly and easily turn any surface into a power source. These thin-film solar cells weigh about 100x less than conventional solar cells while generating about 18x more power-per-kg.

Holding on to power

Unexplainable    ·    November 10, 2022

Dharik Mallapragada (MITEI) joins the podcast "Unexplainable" to discuss a suite of possible energy storage options to help us decarbonize the grid.

Harnessing geothermal energy

GBH Forum Network    ·    November 10, 2022

Paul Woskov (Plasma Science and Fusion Center) is developing a method for converting coal and gas electric power plants by drilling geothermal wells to replace the fossil fuels. He joins "Science for the Public" to discuss geothermal energy and the challenges associated with accessing it.

Why the $100 per ton target for carbon removal may be "pure fantasy"

Protocol    ·    October 21, 2022

MITEI Senior Research Engineer Howard Herzog (MITEI) explains why the $100-per-ton price for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is unrealistic, even though it is the current standard used by economists, policy makers, investors, and industry to make CDR feasible at scale.

Local researchers are aiming to create the perfect battery. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

The Boston Globe    ·    October 7, 2022

The Boston Globe covers the work of Donald Sadoway (Materials Science and Engineering), who has invented a new battery that is "ethically sourced, cheap, effective, and can’t catch fire."

MIT professor develops concept for low-cost batteries with aluminium and sulphur

CNBC-TV18    ·    October 7, 2022

Donald Sadoway (Materials Science and Engineering) and a team of researchers from MIT and elsewhere have developed a new type of battery made entirely from abundant and inexpensive materials.

MIT professor develops concept for low-cost batteries with aluminium and sulphur

CNBC-TV18    ·    September 30, 2022

Donald Sadoway (Materials Science and Engineering) and a team of researchers from MIT and elsewhere have developed a new type of battery made entirely from abundant and inexpensive materials.

Teaching ‘selfish’ wind turbines to share can boost productivity

Wired    ·    September 22, 2022

Research led by Michael Howland (Civil and Environmental Engineering) shows that coordinating the orientation of turbines on a wind farm can reduce the wake effect and boost energy production.

Radio segment: The Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes capturing carbon emissions

NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday    ·    September 22, 2022

President Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes tax credits for electric cars and efficient homes, and also incentivizes pulling carbon emissions from the air. MITEI's Howard Herzog speaks with NPR about the new law's provision concerning carbon capture.

California’s move to ban sales of new gasoline-fueled cars could spread to other states

PBS NewsHour    ·    September 22, 2022

Last month, California banned the sale of new combustion engine cars by 2035. MITEI Director Robert Armstrong comments on the need to diversify the U.S. battery supply chain for electric vehicles.

DOE awards research funds for offshore nuclear generation

World Nuclear News    ·    September 22, 2022

The U.S. Department of Energy has granted funding to the MIT Energy Initiative, Core Power, and the Idaho National Laboratory for a three-year study. The study will look into the development of offshore floating nuclear power generation in the United States.

Resilience of people and ecosystems under climate stress

Pontifical Academy of Sciences    ·    September 8, 2022

MITEI Deputy Director Robert Stoner traveled to the Vatican to participate in a workshop with leading energy transition and environmental leaders from around the globe. The resulting paper recommends a powerful global response to climate change–with specific recommendations for mitigation, adaptation, and transformation.

U.S. oil refiners are doing well, even though gasoline prices are down

Marketplace Business News Podcast    ·    August 8, 2022

MITEI Deputy Director for Policy Christopher Knittel joins the Marketplace Business News Podcast to discuss “crack spread”—the difference between the cost of crude oil and the cost to refine it.

Future house, emerging solar technology

This Old House    ·    August 1, 2022

On an episode of "This Old House," home technology expert Ross Trethewey visits MIT.nano to speak with Vladimir Bulović (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) about the future of solar technology.

NightSide with Dan Rea, “Code red for humanity”

WBZ Radio    ·    August 1, 2022

In the wake of President Biden’s visit to the former Brayton Point power plant in Somerset, Massachusetts, MITEI Deputy Director for Policy Christopher Knittel joins Dan Rea on NightSide to discuss the transition to new energy.