Energy News, Renewable Tech & Power Innovations

LG Energy Solution Lansing Michigan battery manufacturing facility.

LG Energy Solution Starts Battery Production at Michigan Plant

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 20, 2026 6:55 pm

LG Energy Solution has started production at its new Lansing, Michigan battery plant, which will make cells for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The facility is targeting more than 35 GWh of annual capacity and is expected to employ up to 1,700 people when fully operational. The plant will also supply NMC batteries for Toyota electric vehicles built in Kentucky.

China Completes Heliostat Installation at High-Altitude Solar Plant

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 12, 2026 5:52 pm

China has completed the installation of 15,927 heliostats at a 100MW solar thermal power plant in Xizang’s Nagqu region. The high-altitude facility uses molten salt to store solar heat and is expected to produce 255 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. The project is designed to operate in the region’s extreme cold, strong winds and weak-grid conditions.

IMDEA Materials Develops Catalyst Using 75% Less Platinum

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 11, 2026 5:56 pm

Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute have developed a Cu₃Pt catalyst that achieved performance similar to pure platinum while using 75% less platinum. The team used controlled mechanical compression to change the catalyst’s atomic and electronic structure. The result could help reduce material costs in hydrogen fuel cells, although large-scale production and long-term stability still need to be tested.

JCB Hydromax hydrogen-powered streamliner racing across the Bonneville Salt Flats.

JCB Hydromax Sets Hydrogen Land Speed Record at Bonneville

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 9, 2026 4:38 pm

JCB has set a new SCTA land speed record with its hydrogen-powered Hydromax at Bonneville. The streamliner reached an average 368.347 mph, beating a 16-year-old class record. Built with two JCB hydrogen internal combustion engines, the car is now being prepared for an FIA world record attempt. The project also gives JCB real-world data for its wider hydrogen engine work in heavy-duty machines.

US Solar Telescope Reveals Hidden Magnetic Activity on the Sun

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 8, 2026 3:15 pm

Scientists using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope have captured the highest-resolution images of the Sun’s visible surface, revealing tiny magnetic whirlpools linked to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The discovery may explain how the Sun stores and releases energy, improving our understanding of solar flares, space weather, and the events that can affect satellites and power systems on Earth.

Laboratory setup demonstrating green hydrogen production using industrial waste and carbon dioxide.

US Ohio State Creates Low-Cost Green Hydrogen From Industrial Waste

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 8, 2026 2:56 pm

The Ohio State University has developed a new process that turns carbon dioxide, steel slag, and coal ash into green hydrogen and valuable calcite. The method reduces the energy needed for hydrogen production and could lower costs to less than $1 per kilogram. Researchers believe the technology could help reduce emissions while making clean hydrogen more affordable.

Foundation’s Robotic Hand V2 Catches Baseball Without Relying on Vision

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 7, 2026 5:45 pm

Foundation has introduced its Robotic Hand V2, a tendon-driven robotic hand capable of catching a baseball during a live demonstration. Led by Andrea Esposito, Head of Foundation’s Hand Division, the project combines lightweight mechanical design, software-based finger position estimation, and TMR sensors to improve robotic dexterity for future humanoid robots and industrial applications.

China's Qinling Antarctic research station with renewable energy equipment in a snowy Antarctic landscape.

China’s Qinling Antarctic Station Reaches Green Energy Milestone

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 7, 2026 5:07 pm

China’s Qinling Station has reached a major clean energy milestone by supplying about 50% of its electricity from renewable energy during the Antarctic polar night. The station combines wind, solar, hydrogen, and battery storage to reduce diesel use and support more sustainable scientific research in Antarctica.

A large electric mining truck powered by a sodium-ion battery operating at a mining site in China

China Unveils First Sodium-Ion Electric Mining Truck

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 6, 2026 3:23 pm

Hina Battery and Tonly Heavy Industry have delivered the world’s first sodium-ion electric mining truck in China. The truck features a 676 kWh battery, charges fully in 20–25 minutes, and is built for heavy mining work. Although its energy density is lower than lithium iron phosphate batteries, the project shows sodium-ion technology is moving closer to real-world commercial use.

ORNL Steps Up Californium-252 Production to Address Rising Market Demand

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk August 6, 2026 3:07 pm

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has introduced a faster process for producing californium-252, a rare isotope used to start nuclear reactors and support national security. The new method cuts production time by about one week while maintaining quality, helping ORNL prepare for rising demand as nuclear energy projects expand.