Energy News, Renewable Tech & Power Innovations

Steel slag being studied as a thermal energy storage material for renewable energy applications.

Penn State Researchers Test Steel Waste for Solar Heat Storage

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk September 18, 2026 4:56 pm

Researchers at Penn State University are testing steelmaking waste as a possible material for storing solar energy as heat. Among three types of slag studied, electric arc furnace slag showed the most promising early results because of its stability and low mass loss. More testing is needed to measure its heat-storage performance and long-term durability.

Blue Energy Advances Texas Nuclear Reactor Toward NRC Construction Review

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk September 18, 2026 4:44 pm

Blue Energy has submitted the first part of its construction permit application to the U.S. NRC for a planned BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Victoria, Texas. The project will combine GE Vernova gas turbines with nuclear power. The company plans to submit the remaining application in 2027 after completing the required site-specific data collection.

Idaho State University Reveals Site for Advanced Nuclear Reactor

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk September 18, 2026 4:30 pm

Idaho State University has revealed the site for a planned advanced research and test reactor. Developed with Idaho-based NuCube Energy through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Launch Pad USA program, the microreactor will support nuclear research, student training and reactor operations. The project builds on ISU’s long history of nuclear education and its research reactor, which has operated since 1965.

CNNC fusion research and engineering facility in China

China’s CNNC Pushes Fusion Engineering Cooperation for Future Energy

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk September 17, 2026 7:39 pm

China’s CNNC is seeking stronger international cooperation in fusion engineering to help move fusion energy beyond laboratory research. The organization has opened opportunities for global partners to participate in HL-3 experiments and signed new cooperation agreements with ITER and Thailand’s nuclear technology institute. The initiative focuses on engineering, research, testing and talent development needed for future fusion energy systems.

World’s First Open-Access Battery Imaging Library Opens 4.5TB of Data to Global Researchers

Ritambhara K September 17, 2026 6:28 pm

Scientists from the UK and other countries have helped launch the world’s first open-access battery imaging library, giving researchers free

BYD Unveils 62 MWh GC Block to Scale Grid-Forming Battery Storage Worldwide

Ritambhara K September 17, 2026 5:56 pm

BYD Energy Storage has launched GC Block, a standardized battery storage unit with up to 62 MWh of capacity. The

China Starts $4 Billion Qatar Offshore Oil Project With More Than 60 New Facilities

Ritambhara K September 16, 2026 5:27 pm

Construction has begun in eastern China on the Qatar Bul Hanine oilfield redevelopment project, described as China’s largest international offshore

Hualong One 2.0: China’s Next-Gen Nuclear Reactor Bets on Safety and Speed

Ritambhara K September 16, 2026 5:15 pm

China has unveiled Hualong One 2.0, an upgraded version of its domestically developed nuclear power technology, with changes aimed at

IAEA’s Bold 2060 Forecast: Nearly 1,000 Small Modular Reactors Could Power the Grid

Ritambhara K September 15, 2026 7:51 pm

The International Atomic Energy Agency has raised its long-term nuclear power forecast again, pointing to a major expansion in small

Proxima Fusion and Lower Saxony Plan Europe’s First HTS Tape Factory

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk September 15, 2026 5:25 pm

Proxima Fusion and Germany’s Lower Saxony have signed an agreement to develop a large-scale high-temperature superconducting tape factory. The first two phases are expected to require about €140 million, including €21 million from Lower Saxony. The facility could help supply Proxima’s future fusion machines while reducing Europe’s reliance on overseas HTS manufacturing.