Exploring Energy, Explaining Science

Green and white roofs are sustainable solutions for reducing urban heat and improving building energy performance. When combined with photovoltaic (PV) systems, they are often promoted as technologies that also enhance solar energy yield. However, our comprehensive analysis reveals that previous studies may have overstated their benefits. By evaluating year-round performance across diverse climates, we found that gains to PV electricity production…

Fusion energy promises an abundant source of clean and safe electricity. With billions of dollars already invested, we have been making unprecedented progress towards making fusion energy a reality. But what is it exactly, what’s the current status, and what are the next steps? This article explains what fusion energy is, its current state, and the pending obstacles that need to be…

With the Swiss energy transition underway, homeowners might consider investing in a photovoltaics (PV) system. However, the optimal PV system design depends on the homeowner’s preferences: We show that if the primary goal is to save money, one might favor larger PV installations, but if the main goal is to reduce the carbon footprint, a smaller PV system with a battery may…