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Latest news

Reducing carbon emissions from residential heating: A pathway forward

A new MIT study identifies steps that can lower not only emissions but also costs across the combined electric power and natural gas industries that now supply heating fuels.

A tax code boost for a zero-carbon economy

MIT Energy Initiative researchers help shape U.S. regulations intended to spur clean hydrogen production

The multi-faceted challenge of powering AI

Providing electricity to power-hungry data centers is stressing grids, raising prices for consumers, and slowing the transition to clean energy.

New MIT model of climate chemistry finds “non-negligible” climate impacts of potential hydrogen fuel leakage

An MIT study confirms the climate impacts of hydrogen and recommends that leak prevention be a priority as the infrastructure for handling this clean-burning fuel is built.

The role of modeling in the energy transition

At the MIT Energy Initiative Fall Colloquium, the administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration explained why long-term energy models are not forecasting tools—and why they’re still vitally important.

In the media

Desirée Plata: Chemist, oceanographer, engineer, entrepreneur

Chemical and Engineering News February 6, 2025

Desirée Plata (Civil and Environmental Engineering) discusses her efforts “to make our chemical processes and industries compatible with human and ecological health.”

Coming soon(ish) to a port near you: Floating nuclear plants

Politico's E&E News February 6, 2025

Nuclear startup Core Power, MIT, and the Idaho National Laboratory were awarded funds to develop floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs). “The value proposition is faster, cheaper, more versatile, and with a greater tolerance to loss of cooling events,” states Jacopo Buongiorno (Nuclear Science and Engineering) on the benefits of FNPPs.

Big Tech wants to plug data centers right into power plants. Utilities say it’s not fair.

Associated Press January 29, 2025

In order to meet the growing energy demand from data centers, tech giants are seeking to connect directly to power plants and avoid the delays and higher costs associated with using the electric grid. MITEI Director Bill Green weighs in on the time-sensitivity of related federal regulations.

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Energy Futures

Energy Futures is published twice a year, featuring energy research and other energy activities at MIT.

Decarbonizing the U.S. power grid

A new MIT online model for regional planning calculates the cost-optimized strategy for specific regions under a variety of constraints and assumptions.

Promising designs for nuclear power reactors using molten salt

Selecting the right metal can alleviate the corrosion problem.

Six innovative energy projects received MIT Energy Initiative Seed Fund grants

Annual MITEI awards support research on carbon removal, novel materials for energy storage, improved power system planning, and more.

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