MIT-designed project achieves major advance toward fusion energy New superconducting magnet breaks magnetic field strength records, paving the way for practical, commercial, carbon-free power. Growing energy demand means the U.S. will almost certainly have to expand its electricity grid in coming years. What’s the best way to do this? A new study by MIT researchers examines legislation introduced in Congress and identifies relative tradeoffs involving reliability, cost, and emissions, depending on the proposed approach. New research emphasizes the importance of well-validated models and forecasting tools in evaluating choices for investments in clean energy technologies and policies by governments and companies. Geothermal energy, a clean, continuous energy source accessible in many locations, has been slow to catch on. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Romans made extensive use of geothermal energy — heat from the Earth — including at the spa complex at present-day Bath, England. Electricity was first produced from geothermal sources in the early 1900s in Italy. In the United States, the Geysers. At the MIT Energy Initiative’s Annual Research Conference, industry leaders agreed collaboration is key to advancing critical technologies amidst a changing energy landscape. MIT engineers built a solar-powered desalination system that produces large quantities of clean water despite variations in sunlight throughout the day. Because it requires no extra batteries, it offers a much more affordable way to produce drinking water, compared to other solar-driven designs. An MIT study shows that if U.S. nuclear power plants are retired, the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas to fill the energy gap could cause more than 5,000 premature deaths. Turning extreme heat into large-scale energy storage Fourth Power, founded by Professor Asegun Henry, is developing thermal batteries for efficiently storing excess electricity from utility grids and power producers. A look at how AI can be used to help support the clean energy transition by helping to manage power grid operations, plan infrastructure investments, guide the development of novel materials, and more. An efficient new process can convert carbon dioxide into formate, a material that can be used like hydrogen or methanol to power a fuel cell and generate electricity.