Energy News, Renewable Tech & Power Innovations

Los Angeles Startup General Galactic Aims to Brew Rocket Fuel From Water—And Test It This Year

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 13, 2026 5:18 pm

Los Angeles startup General Galactic, founded by former SpaceX propulsion engineer Halen Mattison, plans to test a water‑to‑methane propellant system in space this fall. Its Genesis-1 pilot plant already produces 200 liters of methane daily from CO₂ and water. If successful, the modular reactor would replace the “yada yada” of lunar ice mining with on‑demand fuel synthesis—and rewrite the economics of Mars round trips.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems Friedrichshafen modular gas engine power plant with 10-30 MW H2-ready preconfigured units for German grid backup.

Germany’s Rolls-Royce Launches H₂-Ready Modular Power Plants to Backstop Renewable Grid

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 13, 2026 5:07 pm

Germany’s Rolls-Royce Power Systems has unveiled modular gas engine power plants that deliver 5 to several hundred MW from preconfigured 10, 20, and 30 MW factory-tested blocks. Led by Tobias Ostermaier and Michael Stipa, the H₂-ready turnkey plants connect to the grid in 12–18 months—dramatically faster than conventional gas infrastructure. Designed to backstop renewables during 10‑hour to multi‑week Dunkelflauten, the Friedrichshafen-built systems already support utilities and data centers with over 17 GW installed globally.

CATL and Changan Launch World’s First Sodium-Ion Battery EV, Pioneering Affordable Cold-Weather Tech

Ritambhara K February 11, 2026 3:22 pm

CATL and Changan have launched the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery EV. The Changan Nevo A06 uses a 45-kWh Naxtra pack for 400 km of range and exceptional cold-weather performance, charging at -30°C to make EVs more affordable and resilient.

The KRICT and EN2CORE pilot plant that produces sustainable aviation fuel from landfill gas.

KRICT and EN2CORE Launch Pilot Plant Producing 100 kg of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Daily from Landfill Gas

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 9, 2026 5:57 pm

KRICT’s Dr. Yun-Jo Lee and EN2CORE Technology have built a pilot plant that turns landfill gas into Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Producing 100 kg per day, the breakthrough process uses novel catalysts and a microchannel reactor to pave the way for decentralized, cost-competitive clean jet fuel.

Saarland University’s Stefanie Arnold Develops High-Capacity “Rust” Battery from Carbon Spherogels

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 9, 2026 3:30 pm

Saarland University materials scientist Stefanie Arnold is pioneering a greener battery future by packing iron oxide—common rust—into nanoscopic carbon spherogels. This innovative approach, developed with

Berkeley Lab Leads $10 Million Project to Build FORUM-AI, a First-of-its-Kind Research Assistant for Energy Materials Discovery

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 8, 2026 6:34 pm

A coalition led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is building FORUM-AI, a $10 million AI research assistant. This “agentic” platform will autonomously run simulations and lab experiments to slash discovery timelines for next-gen battery and semiconductor materials, leveraging DOE supercomputers and robotic labs.

World’s First 20-MW Offshore Wind Turbine Goes Live in China’s Fujian Seas

Sanjukta Praharaj February 8, 2026 4:53 pm

China connected the world’s first 20 megawatt offshore wind turbines to the power grid, setting a new global benchmark for

Assembly of the first hexagonal module prototype for the CMS High-Granularity Calorimeter at CERN.

CERN and Global Partners Construct First Prototype of the Revolutionary High-Granularity Calorimeter

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 7, 2026 9:03 pm

The CMS collaboration at CERN has built the first prototype for the High-Granularity Calorimeter (HGCAL), a 5D silicon detector designed for the High-Luminosity LHC. This revolutionary instrument, assembled across three continents, will process 200 simultaneous collisions to unlock the universe’s rarest secrets.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Uses Neutron Scattering to Decode Chemistry in Next-Gen Nuclear Fuel

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 6, 2026 5:46 pm

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have used neutron scattering to analyze the internal chemistry of poppy-seed-sized TRISO nuclear fuel for the first time. Led by Will Cureton, this research on HALEU-containing particles provides a critical baseline for developing safer, more efficient high-temperature gas reactors.

China Huaneng Group Connects Country’s Highest-Altitude Wind Farm to Grid in Xinjiang

Ritambhara K February 3, 2026 6:03 pm

China Huaneng Group has connected the first phase of its 300-megawatt wind farm to the grid in Xinjiang, at a record elevation of 3,700 meters. The project will power 20,000 homes annually and cut 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Energy

Los Angeles Startup General Galactic Aims to Brew Rocket Fuel From Water—And Test It This Year

Germany’s Rolls-Royce Launches H₂-Ready Modular Power Plants to Backstop Renewable Grid

CATL and Changan Launch World’s First Sodium-Ion Battery EV, Pioneering Affordable Cold-Weather Tech

KRICT and EN2CORE Launch Pilot Plant Producing 100 kg of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Daily from Landfill Gas

Saarland University’s Stefanie Arnold Develops High-Capacity “Rust” Battery from Carbon Spherogels

Berkeley Lab Leads $10 Million Project to Build FORUM-AI, a First-of-its-Kind Research Assistant for Energy Materials Discovery

World’s First 20-MW Offshore Wind Turbine Goes Live in China’s Fujian Seas

CERN and Global Partners Construct First Prototype of the Revolutionary High-Granularity Calorimeter

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Uses Neutron Scattering to Decode Chemistry in Next-Gen Nuclear Fuel

China Huaneng Group Connects Country’s Highest-Altitude Wind Farm to Grid in Xinjiang

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