Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down Simon Todd, PhD geologist, founder of Causeway Energies, and expert on geothermal. This is the transcript of the second half of our conversation, lightly edited. Michael Barnard [MB]: Hi, welcome back to Redefining Energy — Tech. This episode is powered by TFIE … [continued]
Ukraine has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s unexpected drone innovation hubs, driven by the brutal necessities of wartime. Thousands of sophisticated drones now soar above Ukrainian battlefields, ranging from compact FPV (first-person-view) attack drones to advanced reconnaissance platforms capable of extended missions deep into contested areas. Remarkably, this … [continued]
Perovskite solar is getting another moment in the sun, with outlandish claims matched by a lack of global perspective on advances. It’s worth stepping carefully through the various dimensions of this photovoltaic technology, weighing what enthusiasts say against what’s demonstrably true today. In doing so, it’s obvious that perovskite’s pathway … [continued]
A couple of years ago, while exploring the potential of agricultural drone technology through the lens of Hylio’s innovative spraying systems, I found myself wondering if these small machines could shift the massive inertia of global agriculture. At the time, Hylio was doing intriguing work, showcasing promising results with farmers … [continued]
At a dusty solar site outside Culcairn, New South Wales, a tracked robot methodically rolled between rows of steel posts, hoisting large photovoltaic panels with a vacuum arm and placing them onto pre-aligned mounting structures. In the brutal Australian sun, where manual laborers need regular hydration breaks and safety protocols … [continued]
China’s equivalent to Boeing and Airbus, COMAC, faces a critical strategic inflection point, driven by intensifying geopolitical tensions and a trade war that the second Trump presidency intentionally added significant accelerant to. While China’s intent to compete with Boeing and Airbus through the C919 narrow body and the upcoming C929 … [continued]
Austria’s recent announcement that it would shutter its entire network of hydrogen fueling stations caught many industry observers off guard. But for those closely tracking the economics, Austria’s exit wasn’t surprising at all. The stations faced persistently low vehicle numbers, low throughput, and mounting operating losses. This stark withdrawal illustrates … [continued]
China’s heavy vehicle sector took major strides toward electrification in 2024, underscoring the country’s continued leadership in the global transition toward zero-emission commercial transportation. Heavy road vehicles, including trucks, buses, construction equipment, and special-purpose vehicles, have traditionally lagged passenger cars in the electrification race, mainly due to operational challenges and … [continued]
The electrification of freight trucking in the United States has quietly become a central strategic challenge for decarbonization efforts. Transportation is now the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, surpassing even electricity generation, and heavy-duty trucking alone contributes disproportionately to this problem. While US rail refuses to … [continued]
China’s coal-fired electricity generation took an unexpectedly sharp turn downward in the first quarter of 2025, signaling a potentially profound shift in the world’s largest coal-consuming economy. This wasn’t merely a seasonal dip or economic distress signal; rather, it represented a clear and structural turning point. Coal generation fell by … [continued]
